One of my favorite showrooms is the Kravet Showroom in the Houston Decorative Center. Besides having one of the best selections of fabrics, trims, and furniture lines... they have a staff that is always so helpful and welcoming. One of the things that I appreciate about Kravet is that they always go the extra mile in presenting events that are informative, enlightening and entertaining.
For designers wanting to learn more about Social Media and how this marketing method can expand and enhance your business exposure, you will want to attend on June 1st in the Houston Showroom. On June 2nd., they will be having the event in their Dallas Showroom.
Social Media is constantly evolving... and it has become as necessary a tool for business as the telephone or email. It can be a real challenge to keep up with it. But even the smallest of steps forward can bring bigger rewards. This event is designed to help those that want to get started... but not quite sure which way to go, or how to get there. It will be an informal panel discussion, and should be not only informative but a great networking opportunity.
For a reservation please call 713.850.1461 ext. 303
There is so much to discover and learn... and even though I am pleased to be on the panel, I am looking forward to hearing the opinions and advice from the other panelists. Hope to see you there...
I was in the Kravet/ Lee Jofa Houston showrooms recently and the color scheme that was repeated in their vignettes caught my eye.The sofas were neutral in mostly linen tones with the accent colors used on the pillows, chairs and ottoman/bench coffee tables.The accent colors were in hues of blue/green and yellow/greens.Perhaps a subtle interpretation of the touted turquoise color for 2010. The shapes were a mix of contemporary with traditional, while the fabric patterns used were more modern, mostly due to scale.
But one vignette at the front of the Lee Jofa showroom particularly caught my attention.The dominate accent color was a magenta… almost mauve… but a fresher take on it.This was mixed with a subtle blue/green colored chevron pattern on the ottoman and additional accent pillows.The bold, large-scale pattern on the chairs injected the modern edge that it needed to keep it from looking dated.
After reading the trend summary by Kravet’s contributing Blogger JP on their blog at inspired.talk… I can certainly see what inspired their displays.The following is taken from JP’s February 4th blog as a recap of the trends seen at the recent Maison & Objet in Paris…
Last week the industry’s top names flocked to Paris for Maison & Objet. Everyone else (like me) just obsessively checked the Twitter feed and lived vicariously through photos and status updates. I asked Kim Grimsley, design and marketing director from Circa 1801, what she thought about some of the trends coming out of the show, and she gave me some great notes. True to Parisian style, this show featured looks and trends that were classic and understated, modern and sophisticated. The biggest trends, she said, were grey as a foundation color and linen fabrics.
Grey
Grey was everywhere and in every single booth. This was the grounding color, with all other accents layering over it. It appeared warmer, almost taupe or brownish grey, more so than in years past.
Linen
This was the other top trend of the show, linen everywhere! There is definitely a shift happening toward soft, natural textures, including hand woven natural looks and linen on everything from tables to furniture to bedding.
Pink
All manner and style of pink was represented. Lavenders and muted pinks layered well with all of the grey. Hot pink and fuchsia played off of green-cast yellows and reds. Deep burgundies and blueish reds combined with greys and browns. However, the most interesting shade was a new mauve/ lavender. Kim predicts we will definitely see this color again and again, as it’s strong yet understated and a great complement to greys.
Natural Wood Finishes
Not one bit of stained mahogany or traditional wood finishes here! Kim spotted mostly raw and reclaimed natural wood finishes, bleached woods and painted wood case pieces. Even the painted wood pieces had a very grey appearance.
Metallics
This is a trend that has been gaining momentum for years, and is really making an impact on all different types on fabrics, especially skins and textures. Embossed velvets and leathers remained strongly represented.
Over-scaled Motifs
Traditional patterns like plaid appeared here in huge scale, making them more of a feature. Scale was less about size and more about impact, with bold patterns, florals and framed damasks. Kim said she is already seeing a trend toward drama through accessories, like pillows, and designers are achieving that through boldness of scale.
Stripes
Usually the most reserved and hardly a trend, this year stripes appeared in every scale and construction, with the most interesting being the funky and unbalanced patterns and monochromatic iterations.
Ethnic
This trend is still going strong with bold yet soft to the touch kilims, ikats and textures and stripes. Ethnic prints have been modernized and softened, and are being translated into multiple settings.
Transitional
In years past there was always strong representation from more traditional vendors. This was the first year where the transitional category really took over and began to encompass every niche of design. The renewed interest in art deco and art nouveau blended well with modern and transitional styles, and came across less strict and regimented as in years past.
Based on this report, I don’t think it is too difficult to see the influence of the interest in Belgian design in the overall market… In reference to the Kravet vignettes, is certainly not a case of cut and paste... especially with the wood tones which are dark rather than the greyed woods, but does have many of the characteristics and could easily transition into a country style interior… very countrypolitan!
Yesterday I attended the Decorative Center of Houston’s Fall Market and for most… finding a parking space was not exactly a moment of luxury.I opted for the free valet parking.Why make life more challenging than it already is? It was no wonder that the parking situation was difficult, because two of the countries most respected interior designers were attending.
Houston’s own Bill Stubbs was the keynote speaker for the event.Mr. Stubbs is a seasoned speaker and his boyish southern charm and charisma would make any conversation or topic interesting.In his presentation he revealed behind the scene stories about his lifestyle series that premiered in 2008 on PBS…“Moment of Luxury”.He is now in his second season.
Mr. Stubbs also talked about a two year overseas project that he worked on designing the interior of a 100 million dollar jet.In his warm and humorous manor he spoke about his perseverance in creating the design that would be worthy of his client, against the rigorous challenges of meeting aviation code and manufacturing.
If you ever get the chance to see him in person, don’t miss the opportunity.And be sure and check out his series on PBS.
Kathryn M. Ireland was scheduled for a book signing at the Dorian Bahr showroom, but unfortunately had to cancel…because, apparently the Queen “mother” has requested that Kathryn come to see her.Well… I guess we know where her priorities lie!
It was a disappointment having Kathryn Ireland cancel... but, that was quickly forgotten upon attending the presentation of interior designer Barclay Butera.Barclay, who gave his presentation on “Decorating in a New Economy” in the Kravet showroom, is now part of the Kravet family of renowned designers. He is as charming as you would expect him to be.He talked about his roots in design…growing up in his mother’s interior design business and then setting his own path.His mother has a company in southern California that specializes in model home interiors.The first design firm that I worked with in California was a major competitor of hers.
Barclay, who is know for his blue and white interiors and his use of animal prints, had some wonderful photos in his slide presentation.Part of the emphasis of his presentation was on the use of decorative pillows as a way to offset lower budgets, with big impact.Barclay believes that there are no rules when it comes to designing.His own style in warm and eclectic, and he has a great eye for placement.I can see the influence that working in the model home industry had on his design choices, but he has gone so much further and is now designing 5 star hotels.It was a real treat to hear him speak.
