ARTS Awards Finalists announced by Dallas Market Center

The Dallas Market Center and the Accessories Resource Team has announced the finalists for the 20^th annual ARTS Awards, which recognize outstanding retailers, product designers, manufacturers and sales representatives in the home furnishings industry.

The ARTS Awards will be presented during a gala on Jan. 17, 2009, during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, taking place Jan. 14-20 at the Dallas Market Center.

Finalists were nominated by fellow members of the home furnishings industry, and each finalist must submit a portfolio that will be reviewed by a panel of judges to determine the winners.

This year, the judges include: Mark McMenamin, Senior Editor at Interior Design magazine; Janace Clarke, associate professor of fashion merchandising at Texas Christian University; Rawlins Gililand, retail consultant and expert; Helen Erdman, founder of Helen Erdman Interiors; and Pat Mayfield, founder and president of a business consulting company.

The following are the list of nominees:

Manufacturers

Accent Furniture

• Bungalow Five, Inc – Oakland, NJ
• Selamat Designs – Mill Valley, CA
• Vintage – Lancaster, KY

Area Rugs

• Feizy Rugs – Dallas, TX
• Loloi Rugs – Dallas, TX
• Surya – Calhoun, GA

Decorative Accessories

• Cyan Design – Fort Worth, TX
• IMAX Corporation – Tulsa, OK
• The Phillips Collection – High Point, NC
• Two’s Company, Inc. – Elmsford, NY

Lighting Fixtures

• Fine Art Lamps – Miami Lakes, FL
• Kalco Lighting, LLC – Las Vegas, NV
• Progress Lighting – Greenville, SC
• Stonegate Designs – St. Joseph, MI
• Uncommon Radiance – Chicago, IL

Outdoor Living

• Emissary – Atlanta, GA
• Palecek – Richmond, CA
• Starlight Lanterns, Inc. – Fort Walton Beach, FL

Permanent Floral

• Immortalis Botanicals – Farmville, VA
• SIA Home Fashion – France
• Winward International, Inc. – Union City, CA

Portable Lamps

• Arteriors Home – Dallas, TX
• Oriental Accent, Inc. – Dallas, TX
• Sterling Industries – Norcross, GA
• Visual Comfort & Co. – Houston, TX

Tabletop

• Arthur Court Designs – Brisbane, CA
• Beatriz Ball Collection – Harvey, LA
• The Mary Carol Home Collection by Gerson Companies – Olathe, KS
• Vietri – Hillsborough, NC

Wall Décor

• Art Dreams Home – Ventura, CA
• Paragon – Albertville, AL
• Uttermost – Rocky Mount, VA

International Retail Store

• Casa de Linos y Blancos – S.A. de C.V., Mexico, DF
• Ma Maison Interiores – Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico, DF
• Union Lighting & Furnishings – Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Product Designer

• Allan Palececk, Palecek – Richmond, CA
• Karyl Pierce Paxton, Pierce Paxton Design Studio – New Orleans, LA
• Lance Marconi, EMI Design – Chicago, IL
• Mark Abrams, Mark Abrams Design – Greensboro, NC

Sales Representative

East/Atlantic

• Danny Weave, Danny Weaver & Associates, Inc. – Pickens, SC
• Lizzette Hayes Winters, Lightlines – Pleasant View, TN
• Russ Jones, OneCoast Northeast Home – New York, NY

Midwest/Southwest

• Derrick Ricketts, Codarus – Pearland, TX
• Martha Kean, Doris Sanders LTD – Houston, TX
• Michelle Cheek, OneCoast Southwest Home – Morrilton, AR

West

• Laura Fast, OneCoast – Denver, CO
• Laurel Sprawkins, Northwest Lighting – Gresham, OR
• Linda Northcutt, LGN, Inc. – Bothell, WA

Rising Star Retailer

• Lyteworks – Bradenton, FL
• Leon & Lulu – Clawson, MI
• Oz Collection – Louisville, KY

Retailer

Furniture Store

East/Atlantic

• 24e – Savannah, GA
• Atchison Imports, Inc. – Mobile, AL
• Robb & Stucky Interiors – Fort Myers, FL

Midwest/South

• HW Home – Boulder, CO
• Kohl-Linscomb – Houston, TX
• Noel Furniture – Houston, TX

West

• Interior Illusions – West Hollywood, CA
• Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery – Portland, OR

Home Accent Store

East/Atlantic

• Ambiance Interiors & Gifts – Suwanee, GA
• Gracious Home – New York, NY
• L&M Designs – Gaithersburg, MD

Midwest/Southwest

• BJ’s Home Accents, Inc. – Newburgh, IN
• Nell Hill’s – Atchison, KS
• The Burlap Horse – Boerne, TX

West

• Fitzsu – Los Angeles, CA
• Pandora’s – Santa Fe, NM
• Seaside Home – La Jolla, CA

Lighting Showroom

East/Atlantic

• Capitol Lighting – Boca Raton, FL
• Ferguson – Charleston, SC
• Klaff’s, Inc. – Norwalk, CT

Midwest/Southwest

• Echo Lighting Design Gallery – Omaha, NE
• Lights Fantastic – Carrollton, TX

West

• Five Rivers, Inc. – Boise, ID
• James Ashjian Lighting & Home – Fresno, CA
• Legacy Lighting & Home – Scottsdale, AZ

Download The 20^th Annual ARTS Awards Finalist List (PDF)

Caperton Furnitureworks Wins IDEA Design Award

A private label piece produced by case goods source Caperton Furnitureworks was awarded an International Design Excellence Award, or IDEA, Silver Medal for 2008 in the Home Living Category.

IDEA awards are presented each year by the Industrial Designers of America, which represents the professional industrial design industry.

The Centerbrook Slapstick Table and bench designed by Mark Simon of Centerbrook Architects of Centerbook, Conn., was produced by Caperton and sold through the Curran Catalog and its Web site.

The table, made of Appalachian black cherry, is a modern take on a classic farm table, featuring a distinctive crisscrossing leg and stretcher detail.

This Centerbrook Slapstick Table by Caperton Furnitureworks has won an International Design Excellence Award.

Sage Award nominations due by Sept. 5

HIGH POINT - Nominees are being sought for the Sage Awards, which will recognize companies employing sustainability practices in the home furnishings industry.

The awards, developed by the American Home Furnishings Alliance and sponsored by Cargill's BiOH polyols, will be given to a manufacturer, retailer or designer of finished home furnishings or bedding. According to a press release, the nominees must show leadership in reducing their company's environmental footprint and expanding its positive social impact while running a profitable business.

The deadline to enter is 5 p.m. EST Friday, Sept. 5. Click here for an online entry form and instructions.

The entries will be judged by a cross-section of journalists and industry representatives. They are: Ray Allegrezza, editor-in-chief of Furniture/Today; Seth Bauer, vice president, editorial director of National Geographic's Green Guide; Derick Belden, executive editor of Southern Living Magazine; Steve DeHaan, executive vice president of the National Home Furnishings Assn.; Richard Doyle, president of the International Sleep Products Assn.; Daphne Hewitt, project manager for the Rainforest Alliance TREES Program; Susan Inglis, executive director of the Sustainable Furnishings Council; Bill Perdue, vice president of Environment, Health and Safety for the American Home Furnishings Alliance; Leanne Powell, manager of National Corporate Leadership for United Way of America; and Powell Slaughter, senior editor for Home Furnishings Business.

Company names will be removed from the applications and will not be shared with judges during the process.

Up to three finalists will be named at a 7:30 a.m. breakfast on Oct. 21 during the High Point Market. The winner will be announced at a reception on Nov. 13 during the AHFA's Sustainability Summit. That event is set for 5:30 p.m. at the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, N.C.

ASID announces 2008 Pinnacle Awards Finalists

The American Society of Furniture Designers has announced the finalists for the 2008 Pinnacle Design Achievement Award.

According to Jane Matteson, Executive Director of the American Society of Furniture Designers, a record number of companies submitted their work to be considered for a prize this year.

This year's judging panel included Julie M. Smith, Publisher of Furniture Style, De. Richard Bennington of High Point University, Steve Walker of North Carolina State University, Max Shangle of Kendall College, Jo Fleisher of Home Furnishings Business, Terry Allen, a furniture industry expert, Daren K. Konig of City Furniture, Rhonda Wolf of Havertys, Judth Cushman Hammer of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Jackie Hirschhaut of the American Home Furnishings Alliance.

Three finalists were selected as the best in each furniture design category. The winners in each category will be announced during a gala reception on Oct. 20 during the fall High Point Market. The event will take place at the Natuzzi showroom building and will be hosted by HGTV's Nancy Glass and Furniture Today's Ray Allegrezza.

This year’s finalists include:

Major Furniture Collections

• Ethan Allen, for the New Horizon collection, designed by Paul Rosebrock/Craig Stout
• Century, for the Metro Luxe collection, designed by William Faber
• Berhardt, for the Cascade collection, designed by Clark/Binns/Lehman

Stationary Upholstery Furniture

• Rene Casares, for Ari Sofa, designed by Rene Cazares
• Berhardt, for Cadden Cutaway, designed by Brown/Culler/Galli
• Century, for Natural, designed by Craig Staton

Motion Upholstery Furniture

• Klausser, for Savoy, designed by Rick Hendrix
• American Leather, for Spinnaker, designed by Louis Lara
• Couture, for Jazz, designed by Normand Coture

Leather Upholstery Furniture

• David Francis, for Bordeaux, designed by David Francis
• Century, for Stilleto, designed by Joe Mallison
• Elite, for Candemir, designed by Nathan Turner

Bedroom Furniture

• Box Collection, for Generation, designed by Opstal/Basyroel
• Lexington, for Zacara, designed by Troy Hollis
• Century, for Stainless Bed, designed by William Faber

Casual Dining Furniture

• Lexington, for Long Cove, designed by Aulbert/Patton
• Brown Jordan, for Campaign, designed by John Caldwell
• Phillips, for Origins, designed by Nikom

Formal Dining Furniture

• Stanley, for Continuuim, designed by hokanson/Schroeder
• Aspenhome, for Potomac, designed by Hall/Lena
• Scott Thomas, for New Vienna, designed by Scott Hamed

Home Office Furniture

• Sligh, for Palm Beach, designed by Warren/Lookabill
• Century, for Ebony Desk/Credenza, designed by David Zagaroli
• Maitland Smith, for Map Desk, designed by Glenn Yelvington

Juvenile

• Green Frog, for Mod Frog 11, designed by Kelly Neal Mariotti
• Q Collection, for Stella Stackables, designed by Jonsara Ruth
• Q Collection, for Celestial Crib, designed by Jonsara Ruth

Lighting

• Murray Feiss, for Ribbon Lamp, designed by Kauffman/Hannoosh
• Murray Feiss, for Silver Glass, designed by Kauffman/Hannoosh
• Hubbardton Forge, for Dyad Tale Lamp

Home Accessories

• Phillips Collection, for Origins Wall Décor, designed by Nikom
• Phillips Collection, for River Rock Planters, designed by Jason Phillips
• Phillips Collection, for Stella, designed by Nikom

Home Entertainment Furniture

• Century, for Ash Credenza, designed by Eric Graham
• aspenhome, for Adagio Entertainment, designed by Neilson/Levi
• Klaussner, for New Horizons, designed by Chris Rayle

Occasional Tables

• Palliser, for Bar Box, designed by Futhark
• aspenhome, for Adagio Tables, designed by Neilson/Levi
• Ethan Allen, for Wire Form Table, designed by Rosebrock/Stout

Occasional Storage Furniture

• Brastilo, for Console, designed by Katie Hatch
• Brastilo, for Bench with Tray, designed by Katie Hatch
• Four Hands, for Copenhagen Sidebd, designed by Anna Ogden

Summer Casual Furniture

• Gloster, for Symphony, designed by John Caldwell
• Century, for Orient, designed by Richard Frinier
• Selemat, for Stratus, designed by Jarrod Lim

First prize awarded to Nube Chair: a seating concept with essential lines wins

Now in its twelfth year, Promosedia International Design Competition – Caiazza Memorial Challenge remains a point of reference on a worldwide level for under-40 designers, including architects, designers and students from Architecture Faculties and Institutes of Design from every continent. Three hundred designs were entered for the 2008 event, which rewarded six seats with one First Prize, two Honourable Mentions and three Special Mentions.

An international shortlist of young winners – aged between 26 and 34 – coming from East and West and all male on this occasion. Six talents of different origins, personalities and training, who set about designing an interior chair in wood, in order to create models with essential lines which, while reinterpreting classic style with innovative and contemporary touches, lend themselves to practical or multifunctional use.

The decision was the responsibility of an authoritative Jury of designers and journalists comprising: Luisa Bocchietto (architect, designer and Chairman of ADI - Italian Association for Industrial Design); Philippe Bestenheider, (designer); Paola Carimati (Design and Trends journalist for Elle Dècor); Bénédicte Duhalde (Deputy Editor of the French publication Intramuros); Fabio Feruglio, (Director of the Scientific and Technological Park "L. Danieli" in Udine); Daniele Lattanzi (Banca FriulAdria - Crédit Agricole) and Matteo Tonon (President of Promosedia SpA).

The first prize was awarded to Nube Chair by Tomás Alonso, because “it is a cutting edge project, though reinterpreting tradition; its reference to the classical Thonet chair and its use of curved wood is refreshed in form, colour and proportion. The modular structure of some of its parts and the introduction of contemporary lines make the Nube Chair a new piece of furniture. Feasibility and construction stability are also taken into consideration”. Tomás Alonso, Spanish, born in 1974, postgraduate diploma in Product Design from the Royal College of Art, travelled extensively and gained professional experience in America, Australia, France and Italy. Now he lives in London where he established OKAYstudio in conjunction with 5 other designers. His creations, both personal and designed together with the studio, have been displayed at major design exhibitions throughout Europe.

The two Honourable Mentions were awarded to Daniel Fintzi (Israel) for the Askew chair and to Paolo Cappello (Italy) for the Iri chair.

Askew was considered an original project, combining the reassuring image of a classic chair with contemporary and dynamic features, suitable for residential use as much as for use in a contract space. Born in 1980, a graduate in Industrial Design from the IED in Milan and having worked in France and England, Fintzi chose Shanghai as his professional home. There, he collaborates with studios and companies, creating customised furniture and related products.

The Iri chair conveys the essence of wood with expressive simplicity and very few essential lines, allowing the sinuosity and natural features to emerge. The only Italian awarded at this event, Paolo Cappello works in design, art direction, exhibit design and graphics. Born in Verona in 1980, he works in Milan, where he graduated in Industrial Design from the Polytechnic and collaborates with the Palomba Serafini Associati Studio, taking part in projects for important international companies.

In addition, the Jury singled out three designs, considered to be worthy of merit and awarded a Special Mention: (0.5) C by Ricky and Tommy Yuen (Hong Kong), Blizzard of August by Aleksej Sabirullov (Russia) and finally Also by Akin Bacioglu (Turkey). The uniqueness of the (0.5) C design lies in its being a modular chair with peculiar proportions and easy to use, suitable for public areas. It is the creation of brothers Ricky and Tommy Yuen, born in 1975 and 1979, who graduated in Australia and the United States, in Industrial Design and Architecture respectively. Following their studies, both undertook brilliant individual careers, while at the same time combining their creativity and experience to develop new ideas and designs together. Blizzard of August was awarded a prize for the originality of the high back, which evokes suggestions of nature and enhances the main element of the competition: wood. Aleksej Sabirullov, born 1981 and a graduate from the Ural State Academy of Architecture and Arts, works in industrial and graphical design in his own studio in Moscow, which he opened last year. Other awards received included first prize in the Bombay glass competition 2005, organised by Bombay Sapphire.

Finally, Also is a chair which becomes a table if necessary, holding books and magazines, a practical design for young-style areas with little space. The ability to achieve a double function for the chair resulted in a Special Mention for Akin Bacioglu: born in 1982, he graduated from the department of Industrial Product Design at Istanbul Technical University last year. Despite his young age he has already worked as a designer for many companies, while at the same time obtaining awards in industrial and graphical design competitions.

Prototypes of the winning models will be exhibited at the Promosedia 2008 – 32nd International Chair Exhibition (13-16 September) where the prize-giving ceremony will also take place.

Spanish designer wins Promosedia prize

UDINE, Italy — Spanish designer Tomas Alonso has won this year’s Promosedia International Design Competition — Caiazza Memorial Challenge for his Nube chair.

Three hundred designs were entered in this year’s contest, which recognizes architects, designers and students younger than 40 for their designs of wood chairs.

One first prize, two honorable mentions and three special mentions were awarded. Promosedia, the chair exhibition held here annually, will display the winning prototypes at its upcoming show Sept. 13-16 in this northern Italian city.

Promosedia judges called the Nube chair, which uses steam-bent wood, “a cutting edge project, though reinterpreting tradition; its reference to the classic Thonet chair and its use of curved wood is refreshed in form, color and proportion.”

Alonso has traveled extensively from his native Spain to work in America, Australia, France and Italy, and now lives in London, where he established the Okaystudio with five other designers.

Honorable mentions went to Daniel Fintzi of Israel for his Askew chair and Paolo Cappello of Italy for a design called IRI.

The judges also awarded a special mention to Ricky and Tommy Yuen of Hong Kong, Aleksej Sabirullov of Russia, and Akin Bacioglu of Turkey.

Model name: NUBE Chair Designer: Tomas Alonso Reason: The project was cutting edge even in how it reinterpreted tradition; its reference to the classical Thonet chair and its use of curved wood is refreshing in form, colour and proportion. The modular structure of some of its parts and the introduction of contemporary lines make the Nube Chair a new item. We also took its feasibility and construction stability into consideration.

Model name: IRI Designer: Paolo Cappello	Model name: ASKEW Designer: Daniel Fintzi

Model name: ALSO Designer: Akin Bacioglu	Model name: (0.5)C Designer: Ricky and Tommy Yuen	Model name: BLIZZARD OF AUGUST Designer: Alexey Sabirullov

AHFA accepting nominations for Sage Award

HIGH POINT, N.C. — The American Home Furnishings Alliance has posted the award criteria and complete entry form for the 2008 Sage Award. It is now available online at http://www.sustainablebydesign.us/sageaward.aspx.

The Sage Award was created to recognize excellence in the home furnishings industry in the areas of sustainable business practices, social responsibility and profitable growth.

The award is sponsored by Cargill’s BiOH polyols and will honor its first recipient at AHFA’s Sustainability Summit on Nov. 13 in Greensboro.

Cargill’s BiOH polyols, which are used in flexible foams, also will sponsor the two-day Sustainability Summit.

The Sage Award will recognize a manufacturer or designer of finished home furnishings or bedding products or a retailer in the home furnishings or bedding industry.

Nominees must demonstrate leadership in reducing the industry’s environmental footprint and expanding its positive social impact while running a profitable business.

The deadline for submitting an entry for the 2008 Award is Sept. 5.

An independent panel of judges from throughout the home furnishings and bedding industries, as well as from environmental and social organizations, will evaluate each entry.

Company names will be removed from all applications and will not be shared with the judges at any time during the judging process. Applicants need not be AHFA members or users of Cargill’s BiOH polyols to enter.

Criteria for the Award include:

• Sustainable Business Practices. The nominee’s organizational policies and procedures related to environmental stewardship will be assessed. Environmental impact programs and initiatives will be taken into account, including reducing energy usage, water consumption, and waste; responsible raw materials sourcing; recycling efforts; and employee education.
• Social Practices. The applicant’s leadership in supporting community involvement and social equity will be taken into account. Items considered might include supplier management practices or codes of conduct and recognition or reward of employee and supplier social stewardship efforts.
• Profitable Growth. Applicants must demonstrate how their sustainable business practices have translated into business growth and success.

Additional considerations will include product design and merchandising that promotes sustainability or extends product lifecycle; shipping, manufacturing and warehousing operations that reduce use of non-renewable energy in transportation; and support of organizations focused on addressing environmental challenges.

Leslie Jones Zeller Wins First Place in Illinois ASID Competition

	Designer Leslie Jones Zeller, of Chicago’s Leslie Jones & Assoc. Inc., created a winning combination of textures—sisal, silk and linen, to name a few—and Art Deco and Moderne home furnishings to produce a backdrop for her clients’ photography collection. The result? A Design Excellence Award from the American Society of Interior Designers’ Illinois chapter for Zeller and her work in this Lake Shore Drive residence.
	Zeller’s choice of armchairs introduces a luxurious texture into the mix. Upholstered in a crushed velvet fabric, Safavieh’s #8033SV Sloping armchair emulates the look with its rich surface appeal and clean, transitional lines.
	Art-deco-furniture: Art Deco and Moderne furnishings accompany this texture-filled space, adding interesting shapes, smooth surfaces and warm wood tones. Treated to a Classic Walnut finish, Vienna rectangular cocktail table, designed by Stanley Friedman for Allan Copley Designs, offers a sleek design—and function, too. It measures 54 inches long by 24 inches wide by 18 inches high.
	Showcasing the artwork was the key design objective for Leslie Jones Zeller’s award-winning residential design. A piece of modern wall art that deserves as much attention is #6832 In Too Deep by artist Bingham for Paragon’s Candice Olson Collection. Measuring 28 inches high by 40 inches wide, In Too Deep is a canvas transfer with gallery style framing.
	The broadloom carpet in Zeller’s living room adds a natural, textured element to the space. Gulistan’s Natural Hammock Weave area rug brings the same effect to an interior. It’s woven by hand from 100 percent natural jute.