Carniege Textiles

Swiss textile manufacturer Création Baumann recently presented its new Halina and Halina Stripe curtain fabric – an airy textile with an African touch from the new Living Line collection ‘Inspired’- at imm Cologne. Carneige Textile was showing the fabric at Neocon and it won gold award in textile category.

 Halina is a finely striped weave with the color woven in a heavier yarn.  In order to achieve a 3D effect, the finely striped weave is vertically pleated and horizontally embossed. Halina Stripe is a broad stripe of contrasting colors reminiscent of woven raffia. The design picks up on current fashion trends and adds an up-to-the-minute touch to any interior.

Celebrating it’s 30th  anniversary, Carnegie added two new patterns to the Xorel brand of multitasking textiles.  Xorel Pixie & Cascade Appliqué explore the blending of a modern innovative material (Xorel) with traditional textile craft process. Xorel, a high performance solution textile is embellished by appliquéing decorative design motifs in secondary layer of Xorel.

DesignTex

Through a licensing program, the Museum of New Mexico Foundation invites manufacturers to reap decorative harvests from its four museums, six monuments, and single archaeological-studies office. The roster of partners hits 18 with the debut of the Shelter collection from Designtex. After vice president of design Kimberle Frost connected with the foundation’s director of licensing, Pamela Kelly, a yearlong series of product-development trips to Santa Fe commenced. Frost huddled with two curators—the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture’s Valerie Verzuh and the Museum of International Folk Art’s Bobbie Sumberg—and mined their vast collections as sources for 11 upholstery patterns.

Wolf Gordon

Wolf Gordonhas turned out innovative and amazing wall coverings for forty years. Not one to  rest on their laurels,  the natural progression is toward textiles Fabrics by Vescom, named for the mill that’s manufacturing the line, includes 19 polyester drapery fabrics. Burano is one of the bold solids. In pattern territory, recurring geometrics read organic in Minu. Beadlike lines embellish Zembra. And wide bands of color dominate Etolin. All meeting or exceeding Association for Contract Textiles guidelines for colorfastness, breaking strength, and flame resistance, the

Knoll Textiles

I am always excited to see what Knoll Textiles will introduce or revamp from their rich storied archives. I am never disappointed!

Designer Suzanne Tick introduces Fila, a 100% high performance polyester drapery fabric, is the little sister to Suzanne Tick’s Escala.  This smaller scale warp knit potentially allows for interesting scale pairings when used together with the original.  It comes in 6 colorways and is 118 in. wide. 

 With her latest collection for Knoll Luxe, Dorothy Cosonas draws inspiration from current fashion with three upholstery fabrics, Arabella, Gramercy, and Vermeer. The collection includes two large scale velvet upholstery fabrics, which offer a modern twist on a traditional concept, as well as a classic Knoll nubby texture.

Inspired by trends on the runway, Arabellais a modern take on a classic plaid. Digitally printed on 100% cotton velvet, it comes in six colorways, including Serenade, a fresh combination of gray and yellow. This fabric is Greenguard certified and is made from 100% cotton. LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Gramercy is a large-scale geometric cut velvet that combines a modern pattern with old-world technology. Colors range from classics like gray and camel to fashion-forward green and purple. It is made from 100% cotton and comes in six color ways. This fabric is Greenguard certified.

Included Archival reintroductions  is the expansion of Cato, which is celebrating its 50^thanniversary. Since its introduction in 1961, Cato has never gone out of production.  It was originally hand-woven in Germany in 30 yard runs.  In the 70’s, it was turned into machine woven goods in Scotland, where it has been made ever since.  Cato has become an iconic design for KnollTextiles, often pictured on classic KnollStudio pieces such as Eero Saarinen’s Womb chair.  Over the years KnollTextiles has added and deleted colors; For Cato’s 50^thbirthday, Dorothy Cosonas has brought back three colors from the original 60’s archives: natural, yellow and hot pink.  This high performance fabric is made of 86% wool and 14% rayon. It exceeds 100,000 double rubs, is now available in 12 colorways. 

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Mecho Shade Iceland Collection

MechoSystems has launched a new series of fully recyclable shadecloths, created in collaboration with William McDonough, one of the world’s most well-known advocates for sustainable design.Based on MechoSystems’ EcoVeil® shadecloths, this collection has a unique and highly personal inspiration. The patterns in this series are inspired by McDonough’s own photographs, collected during his visits to Iceland. The collection includes 5 jacquard weave patterns , each in several colorways interpreting the stunning natural landscape of Iceland.

The shadecloth material is a technical nutrient—the Cradle to Cradle term for non-natural materials that are safe, highly stable, and used in closed-loop manufacturing cycles that take materials from producer to consumer and back again indefinitely. (Typically, shadecloths are woven with a PVC jacket and a core of fiberglass or polyester core, which cannot be separated for reuse.)  The Thermoplastic Olefin (TPO) yarn used in the shadecloth fabric is more than merely PVC-free; it can be reclaimed and recycled indefinitely.

UPDATE: Shadecloth Sample Box. 

The shadecloth package is MechoSystems’ completely redesigned collection of window-covering samples.The ensemble—including both the legacy and brand-new shadecloth groups—provides architects and designers with all the shadecloth information they require, assembled in a handsome eco-friendly polyethylene box.

Features of the Shadecloth Solutions collection:
• More than 190 shadecloths
• Visually transparent blackout and acoustical materials
• Many GreenGuard® and Cradle to Cradle Certified^CM
  examples
• A handsome translucent container
• Graphically clear shadecloth selection guide
• Provision of all technical data
• Ease of use
• Ergonomic package design
• A range of color-coded booklets
• Recyclable PVC-free polyethylene box

Sebastopol Occasional Table for Coalesse

Speaking of Iceland…

The Sebastopol collection features two perfectly-matched shapes that are available in two heights enabling the creation of limitless table configurations. A uniquely flexible line, Sebastopol transforms to accommodate a variety of settings; from a lounge setting to an impromptu meeting space.

Wanting a large work surface, but not having the room for one in her small space, designer Emilia Borgthorsdottir  broke up the whole surface and started playing with  geometric shapes; refining them until the proportions felt right. “I am a problem solving person and bringing up new perspectives is one of my strengths,” said Borgthorsdottir.  “I like to create aesthetically pleasing products that ease the activities of daily living, focusing on the function and ergonomic value of the design.”

Originally from Iceland, but now working and living in the U.S., Emilie said that after seeing the finished product it reminds her of the glaciers in her native Iceland and how they can break away or butt together. She submitted the drawings to Coalesse 2 years ago at NeoCon, one week after graduating from design school. After hearing that Coalesse was not adding them to their collection she moved on in the design world until last summer when they contacted her telling her that they wanted to produce the tables. One year later she’s back in Chicago launching the collection.  Sebastopol is offered in an impressive mix of surface materials to match almost any décor.  It has glossy interiors that come in five different laminate colors balanced with wood exteriors in oak or walnut veneer with optional sheen finishes.

 Mannington Equinox Collection

Mannington’s new collection is a great example of the new work- where it’s all about collaboration. Reaching out to Korean design firm,Ryan Harc through the Behance  to create Equinox; it’s obvious that this was a winning move.   is inspired by the play of light and shadow.  Equinox offers visual fields of light & shadow rendered as pure texture. Further testament that collaboration leads to innovation, the collection Uses a proprietary ultra-large denier fiber with patented variable twist technology.

Mannington Commercial @ NeoCon 2011 (Natalie Jones) from neoconwtf on Vimeo.

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NeoCon will furnish your mind with the power of design – three days of pure energy, new thinking, new resources, and bursting with new products. I am off to discover thousands of innovative products and resources for corporate, hospitality, healthcare,and residential interiors from more than 700 showrooms and exhibitors. NeoCon is North America’s largest design exposition and conference for commercial interiorsbut I ALWAYS find something that works in my business from wallcoverings to the new paint forecasts to seating and textiles. Here’s a preview.

Dream Home at the Merchandise Mart

A must-see for all attendees. I never miss to see what new inspiration I can gain.

Julia Edelman for Buckingham ID

Julia believes in mixing aged objects with modern elements and it shows through in this welcoming space.

Michael Abrams for Michael Abrams Limited

Wanting simplicity and elegance enveloped in  luxury was Michae’ls goal in this bedroom.

Wallcovering by LG

LG Hausys debuts its new line of vinyl wallcoverings designed by Anya Larkin. Seventy four new patterns from animal prints to damasks and crinkle looks will be shown. Booth 8- 4116.

NUB by Patricia Uriquola for Andreu World.

Love everything this prolific designer does. Love the fact that a childhood memory inspired the chair… ”I used to play with my grandmother’s bobbins for making lace,” she recalls. “These small wooden bars were playmates that I have now reimagined.” Traditional woodworking techniques, gently updated, produce the wing chair and side chair’s notable beech backrest: Its bars widen at the height of the lumbar region, alternating to add dimensionality. The frame comes in red, white, or black lacquer and 21 wood finishes. Multiple solids and patterns are available for the seat upholstery. Merchandise Mart 10-132

Hear Patricia Uriquola  Tuesday at MCA for a lecture sponsored by Luminaire and featuring her groundbreaking work for B&B Italia.  See you there.

Haworth Collection

Employers shrinking the size of their offices and staff have translated to tough times for office furniture manufacturers. One example of a company looking for revenue beyond cubicle and desk chair sales is Haworth. The Haworth Collection is the company’s foray into offering crossover products for the home based on their experience as a commercial furniture manufacturer. The aim is to offer high quality products which are designed to compliment a residential environment but contain functionality and durability derived from their commercial office furniture heritage. Merchandise Mart 312.

So after posting the preview of the Haworth Collection this bit of news came across my desk. =Looks like they are really serious about moving into new markets….

Retailer Crate & Barrel announced today that it will carry three products from contract furniture giant Haworth.

“With two great brands coming together, our customers can get beautiful, high quality products previously only available on the commercial market,” says Raymond Arenson, executive vice president for merchandising and design for Crate & Barrel. “Haworth’s products make a great addition to our portfolio of products.”

The three products sold will be the new Eddy table, available in July, followed by the Very Task and Very Conference chairs, available in August.

“With this Crate and Barrel relationship, Haworth can take another measured step into the retail world,” says Tom DeBoer, Haworth product manager. “We find ourselves pulled in the retail direction due to beauty and quality of our products and with the trend of office and residential coming together. We are excited to work with a great retail brand like Crate & Barrel.”

The products will be in Crate and Barrel catalogs, on crateandbarrel.com, and at more than 100 of Crate & Barrel’s retail stores across the country.

The Very chair to be carried by Crate and Barrel

Next up in our Preview:  Textiles.

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NeoCon 2010 opens tomorrow and I am off to walk the aisles and see the showrooms to get my annual dose of creativity and innovation from the contract industry. Here are my perennial favorites and my list of must -stop- and- sees in the next couple of days.

Knoll Textiles- I can’t miss the new Knoll Luxe Rodarte collection.

Lowell

Keats

Maharam always delights the eye.

 Designtex too!

 B & B Italia to see the Patricia Uriquola Outdoor Collection- Crinoline.

Mecho Shade will show their sloped shades.

Bergamo Fabrics introduces Aligator Viscose.

Perennial fav- Maya Romanoff shows the  Meditations collection of hand made paper by Nepalese artisans.  The luxurious texture and shimmer of Meditations wallpaper may look glamorous, but it’s also a feel-good product: Production of the handmade lokta paper employs Nepalese artisans, requires minimal energy use, and offers a portion of profits to Aid to Artisans.

Tricycle unveils the Ample Sample winner and I need to get the inside scoop if they are branching out into more industries.

This year’s winner is Steven Rothe’s Cynch Stool. Rothe, a designer from Minnesota with 11 years of experience who works for Meyer, Scherer, & Rockcastle, Ltd., explains, “The Cynch Stool’s aesthetic was driven by the goal of creating a piece of furniture that was crisper, softer, and streamlined, while not being overly heavy to allow for easy mobility of the object.”The design for Cynch is a classic combination of form and function.  With a clean and minimal aesthetic, this stool is able to meet realistic stresses while weighing less than 30% of a comparable design of solid carpet tile.  By using less total resources on top of a design that already takes advantage of almost 100% of every tile, Cynch allows the design waste stream to go further.  And by being held together with mechanical fasteners and straps, the stool is completely recyclable at the end of its life span.  The Cynch design offers minimal cutting, a simple assembly process and a lighter yet attractive stool, making it a cinch.

Herman Miller- the list goes on…. Plus, I know I’ll find a gem or two hidden in the temporary suites or find a great new source from the new exhibitors.

Monday, June 14th, Susan and I will be presenting a seminar in the Fine Design Residential Seminar Track titled: High Impact Materials for High Income Projects at 2:30-3:30 on the 15^th floor.

While I am there, I’ll be checking out the Guerilla Truck Show at Fulton Market- it’s the sixth year where young designers back up 18 wheelers to a loading dock and for 4 hours showcase their newest work. Participating groups include Strand Design, Object Society, Studio Murmur, Object Design League, and Uncommon. Object Society in it’s second annual show, offering more exciting new furniture and designed objects from even more of Chicago’s best independent designers. In the auxiliary gallery, Object Design League will be showing work from their 2010 workshop: Bags, based on the popular Midwestern game Cornhole. The public is invited inside to play our special “Bags Course,” featuring 15 designers’ interpretations of games with projectiles and targets.

 If yousee me in the booths. Stop and say hi!

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Here’s a sneak peek of what NeoCon  ’09 will have to offer next week. From textiles to technology, Neocon never disappoints.

Maharam Digital Projects combines content and execution, making the work of today’s leading artists and designers affordable and accessible as a curated repository of images printed using the highest quality digital techniques available.  Digital Projects is a carefully curated repository of museum quality installations for walls, including two 10′ by 36′ works by Douglas Gordon and Karel Martens. Digital Projects can be used for contract and residential applications; this versatile medium provides visual vocabulary drawn from emerging and established artists, internationally renowned graphic designers, and longtime Maharam collaborators.

Defining Leather through design. Whatever you can create can now come to life in genuine leather and then be upholstered onto the furniture piece of your choice. SIF Technology is raising the bar on creativity in the contract market with its new Digital Leather image process-a unique printable laminate that permanently fuses high resolution aniline and semi-aniline colors, full color photos and graphic images onto and into the surface of genuine leather. What a perfect way to showcase it but with the Pantone Chair.

Several innovative, technical methods were fundamental to the success of these Momentum fabrics. Classique features a unique carving finish which results in a vertical rib effect on the face of the velvet. Sartorial’s dimensional pleat construction is unusual in the industry. Most pleated or puckered fabrics are created using a stretch yarn or a finishing or chemical process which can lead to a flattening of the pleat during the upholstering process or through standard use. It took more than five years of experimentation for Momentum’s collaborative mill professionals to achieve a hand-woven pleat effect in production. While Sartorial is not the only pleated fabric on the market, it is the only pleated fabric which is also embroidered. Delano features a Trieste yarn which is a custom made novelty weft yarn from Italy. The striations that the Trieste accomplishes are unique. They are long and graceful rather than the shorter, choppier striations most often seen. This very special yarn was used in tandem with a carefully fashioned woven structure to create an unusually soft and slick tweed look. 

Designers want a web experience that reflects and enhances their design and product selection process. The Virtual Library by Mannington Commercial delivers on these desires by complementing the creative process and keeping key tools at a designer’s fingertips. The Virtual Library, the first of its kind for our industry, enables exploration from any location with online access and shortens the sales cycle – all while reducing unnecessary use of valuable space in design firms’ libraries or contributing to landfill waste.  This immersive online experience uses 3-dimensional and Flash technology to simulate the experience of being in a product library for every hard and soft surface floorcovering in Mannington Commercial’s complete product mix, and to stimulate exploring and experimenting with product choices with virtual flip book technology -letting designers flip thru  pages the same way as a designer would look through a paper catalog.

As its name suggests, Stucco  by Geneieve Bennett resembles molding sculpted on a plaster wall, but it is actually a cleverly designed, three-dimensional wall panel adorned with cut leather pieces. The resulting composition of abstracted leaves and flowers comes just in time for spring. While custom colors and sizes are available, it comes standard in a 30 1/3-inch-by-39 1/3-inch panel.

Finally, My favorite- I have already downloaded it!

 With Colorsnap by Sherwin Williams you can discover how coordinating colors and bringing ideas to life is easier than you ever imagined. Find a color you love, snap the photo and receive the matching Sherwin-Williams paint color and coordinating palette. And it’s all FREE!

• Choose a color that inspires you and match it with one of our 1,500 Sherwin-Williams paint colors.
• Receive a coordinating palette that complements your color.
• Find your local Sherwin-Williams store where the experts will help you bring your vision to life.
• Save colors to your “My Saved Colors” library for future inspiration.

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