 |
|
High Point Market
At the end of April, I will attend the High Point Market where semi-annually more than two thousand exhibitors present their products to the home furnishings industry. This is always a preview for the next season because tens of thousands of new products make their debut alongside the timeless classics and proven performers in the vast category of home furnishings. Clients often ask about the size and scope of this market; here are some indicators of the impressive scope of High Point Market:
• 188 buildings involved
• 12 million square feet of show space
• 85,000 attendees at each market
• 110 countries represented
• Approximately 10% of attendees are
international
The size and sheer volume of new products presented each Market can be daunting; but once there, I always enjoy the opportunity to locate new vendors and compare and evaluate new offerings with the classics. If there are any requests for specific items, such as furniture, accessories, rugs, or lamps, that I might locate for you, please contact me at SWhiteInt@aol.com. No item is too unusual. For example, I am currently searching for a large, wooden bird cage and am confident I will locate it somewhere within those 188 buildings!
|
|
The Green Way to Lighten Up
Lighting is magic! It is one of the most effective ways to add intrigue and drama to a space. Lighting can make a small space appear larger, or taller. It can highlight, accent, define, and contribute ambiance to your room. We highly recommend LED's which are cool bright lights best suited to indirect lighting sources. You'll be delighted with their ability to bounce off your warmer colored surfaces with a soothing, homey effect. LED's are ideal for under cupboards or valences, around bathroom vanities, as night-lights, for driveway lighting, and in mood lighting situations.
I've discovered a similar George Kovacs' LED light (see below) that I'll use for a set of four built-in bunk beds. These work perfectly for this application: no danger to children because the lights do not get hot. Since the light can be hardwired, the pin tail is not necessary and will present an even more compact and flat look than regular lighting
|
|
The Green Question
How can the consumer know if a product is truly green? Ever since sustainable design has become firmly rooted in the design and architecture fields, answering the question has not been easy. Products have many shades of green and others may not be green at all.
Some criteria have recently been developed by the American Society of Interior Designers when they introduced the 2009 Bloom Awards, an annual awards program honoring products that embody both aesthetics and environmental responsibility. Some of the criteria include:
- how the product promotes sustainability, including, but not limited to, energy savings, recycled content, recyclability, Life Cycle Assessments, and end-of-life management;
- materials selection within the manufacturing process (such as substitution of hazardous and toxic chemicals for those that are less harmful);
- resource efficiency within the manufacturing process (particularly water and energy use);
- recycling and waste management within the manufacturing process;
- recycling and waste management after the product has completed its life-cycle
One of the products recently selected for this award is ReFresh Fiber by Universal Fibers. This pioneering company uniquely addresses the challenge of reducing the more than 1 billion pounds of used, nylon carpet coming up off the floor each year and going straight to land-fills. This company has figured out how to manufacture carpet by recycling the old fibers; all polymeric manufacturing waste is recovered and reused. It is a product that reduces oil consumption and clearly saves energy.
|
|
|
 |
Photos of Ikats
The Ikat design is a style of weaving that uses a resist dying process, similar to tie-dye, to create a pattern or design. Ikat means "to tie" or "to bind" and has come to describe both the process and the cloth itself. These designs are known to have exisited since at least the sixth century and, like any craft or art form, ikats vary widely from country to country and region to region. Some designs may have ritual meaning and were often symbols of status, wealth, power, and prestige. Perhaps because of the difficulty and time required to make ikats, some cultures believe the cloth is imbued with magical powers.
The bold ikat pictured is a current design and one of my favorite fabrics. How about this chair or an ottoman with this fabric in your family room? Instant intrigue and drama. The softer blue colorway could be fabricated into a tailored Roman shade for a bedroom.
Any Ideas for future issues? Please contact me, I'll respond in the next newsletter.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
