Casual Market

Atlanta Market Announces January Casual Expansions

dfalvey — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 16:56:58 +0000

Atlanta Market Announces January Casual Expansions dfalvey Thu, 12/14/2023 - 10:56

The casual and outdoor category at AmericasMart Atlanta, welcomes 16 showroom updates in time for the January 16-22, 2024, Atlanta Market. These new and expanding showrooms provide a sneak peek into all casual offerings featured at the Summer 2024 Casual Market Atlanta, running July 15-18, 2024, at AmericasMart Atlanta.

“Six months after a successful launch of Casual Market Atlanta, AmericasMart Atlanta is proud to expand casual offerings at the turn of the new year,” said Dorothy Belshaw, ANDMORE℠ executive vice president, chief growth officer. “These category updates give Atlanta Market and AmericasMart’s Open Year-Round buyers a first look at the new and next of outdoor in 2024.”

New Casual Market Showrooms Bring Fresh Product

With new and expanding showrooms, AmericasMart Atlanta offers nearly 400,000 square feet of casual furniture and outdoor accessory resources across five floors in Building 1. In January 2024, 15 showrooms are new, and one expands in the outdoor furnishings category, bringing the total number of casual/outdoor showrooms to more than 65.

New showrooms are America’s Backyards & Outdoor Living (backyard patio furnishings); Armen Living Furniture (outdoor seating); Breezesta (recycled poly outdoor furniture); CABANACOAST (luxury residential and commercial patio furniture); COUTURE Jardin (elevated outdoor furnishings); Ideal Living (patio accessories and seating); International Home Miami (modern wooden patio furnishings); Pacific Casual (outdoor living products); Prestige Casual (outdoor seating); Skyline Design (premium outdoor furniture); Sunset West (contemporary patio furnishings); Suns Outdoors (garden furniture and lifestyle); Tempo Patio (shade solutions); TULP Outdoor Furniture (European-style outdoor furniture); and Vanguard Furniture Co. (traditional patio entertainment and furnishings). Mode Patio Living (sustainable high-end outdoor furniture) expands and relocates to a new showroom.

In addition to these new and expanding showrooms, industry leaders return to the casual showcase in January. Some notable names include: Agio (high-end outdoor furniture); Alfresco Home (casual furniture, garden planters and patio accents); Bambrella USA (aluminum and bamboo market and patio umbrellas); Jensen Outdoor (sustainable wood outdoor furniture); Plank & Hide Co. (outdoor lifestyle and indoor entertainment furniture); POLYWOOD (outdoor furniture made from recycled plastic materials); Summer Classics (modern outdoor furniture); Telescope Casual Furniture (wicker, aluminum and resin outdoor furniture); and TUUCI (shade products). A full list of AmericasMart Atlanta exhibitors is available at AmericasMart.com/exhibitor/exhibitor-directory.

The presentation of these 65+ casual furniture and outdoor accessories showrooms create cross-market business opportunities for Atlanta Market buyers to source the latest in outdoor furnishings, accessories, fabrics and more from industry leaders and innovative newcomers. Casual Market Atlanta buyers have easy access to Atlanta Market’s 6,000 complementary furnishings, gift, lifestyle, seasonal, housewares and gourmet lines; and casual and outdoor brands can connect with tens of thousands of retailers and designers from across the U.S. and around the world visiting the January 16-22 and July 16-22 buying events. In addition, AmericasMart Atlanta’s Open Year Round collection showcases 350 home and décor showrooms with lighting, accent furniture, casual furnishings, rugs, wall décor, linens, textiles and more.

Atlanta Market Updates Home and Decor Offerings

dfalvey — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 12:54:04 +0000

Atlanta Market Updates Home and Decor Offerings dfalvey Wed, 11/16/2022 - 06:54

New resources in accent furnishings, one-of-a kind, vintage, textiles, pillows and more expand 350+ design-driven whole-home showroom offerings at Atlanta Market in Winter 2023. Complementing the resource growth – some six home decor showroom updates join the previously announced nearly 50 casual furniture showroom openings – is a series of buyer tours focused on product discovery and trends at the January 10-16, 2023, buying event.

“Exciting updates to the AmericasMart home décor offerings make Atlanta Market a top destination for designers and retailers this Winter,” said Scott Eckman, International Market Centers (IMC) executive vice president, chief revenue officer. “New, trend-driven product abounds with updates from home décor leaders adding to significant new resources in our all-new casual furniture and outdoor living collection.”
Updates Across the Décor Spectrum

Winter 2023 home decor updates bring new resources to the more than 300 showrooms presenting lighting, accent furniture, rugs, wall décor and linens and nearly 50 new showrooms presenting casual furniture on 12 floors in AmericasMart Building 1.

Three new showrooms are Avasa Home (home furnishings with a focus on natural, sustainable and organic fabrics), Bedford Collections (hand-knit and woven throws and textiles) and Square Feathers (luxury decorative pillows, furniture and home décor). Three expansions are Alicia Adams Alpaca (alpaca wool textiles and clothing), JDouglas (representing 17 fine home décor brands) and Square Feathers (luxury decorative pillows, furniture and home décor).

Also in Winter 2023, some eleven brands – representing accent furniture, art, bedding, decorative items, textiles and more – renew their commitments to Atlanta Market: Adaste Home, Allegria, America Arts Inc., Art and Frame Source, Auskin Sheepskin Company, Bojay, Inc., CMA Home, Orchids Lux Home, Pendulux, UMA Home Décor and Yves Delorme.

Augmenting the showroom offerings are 200+ home décor temporary exhibitors open January 11-15, 2023. The Home Accents & Home Furnishings and Fine Linens & Home Textiles categories are in a new location in Building 1, Floor 8 – directly below corresponding home décor showrooms – in Winter 2023. More home furnishings are in ANTIQUES (Building 2, Floor 1; closes January 14, 2023), HIGH DESIGN (Building 2, Floor 1) and HIGH DESIGN LUXE (Building 2, Floor 1).

A full list of exhibitors is available at AtlantaMarket.com.

New Casual Furniture Destination

Buyers sourcing in Atlanta Market’s home and décor offerings have more to explore in Winter 2023 with the launch of a new casual furniture and outdoor living destination. The Casual/Outdoor Furnishings collection’s location on Floors 2-5 of AmericasMart Building 1 encourages home buyers to discover new resources in the lucrative outdoor living sector.

As previously announced, the inaugural Casual/Outdoor Furnishings brands include Agio USA, Alfresco Home, Bambrella USA, Barlow Tyrie, Berlin Gardens, Brown Jordan, C. R. Plastics Products, Castelle, Casual Cushion Corp., Ebel Inc., Elaine Smith Inc, Foremost Home Inc., Frankford Umbrellas, Gensun, Hanamint Corporation, Homecrest Outdoor Living, Illuminated Trees Inc., Inspired Visions by Peak Season, Jensen Outdoor Furniture, Jordan Manufacturing, KETTLER International Inc., Kingsley Bate, Kingston Casual, Lane Venture, Les Jardins, Lloyd Flanders Industries, Mallin Furniture, MAMAGREEN, MoDe Patio Living, Northcape, O.W. Lee Company, Outdoor Interiors, Outdura by Sattler, Patio Renaissance, Plank & Hide Co., POLYWOOD, RATANA, Seaside Casual, Summer Classics, Summerset Casual, Sunvilla Corporation, Telescope Casual Furniture, Three Birds Casual, Treasure Garden, Tropitone, TUUCI, Winston and Woodard Furniture.

New Home and Décor Tours

New buyers and veterans looking for new resources can explore Atlanta Market’s home décor offerings in a series of guided tours at the Winter 2023 Market. The New Buyer Tour: CASUAL in Casual/Outdoor Furnishings collection is on Tuesday, January 10 at 9 a.m. The home furnishings temporary exhibits are a stop on the New Buyer Tour: TEMPORARIES on Wednesday, January 11 at 9 a.m. New Buyer Tour: HOME is an overview of AmericasMart’s home furnishings resources on Thursday, January 12 at 9 a.m. Trending home décor product is featured in the New Buyer Tour: TRENDS on Friday, January 13 at 9 a.m. These tours are part of five days of designer-focused programming set for Atlanta Market. A full list of programming is forthcoming.

Held semi-annually at AmericasMart Atlanta, Atlanta Market attracts retailers and designers from every U.S. state and more than 60 countries. Registration for the January 10-16, 2023 Atlanta Market is open now at AtlantaMarket.com.

Atlanta Market Announces New Resources for Winter 2023

dfalvey — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 13:18:55 +0000

Atlanta Market Announces New Resources for Winter 2023 dfalvey Thu, 10/06/2022 - 08:18

Atlanta Market invites exploration with new gift and home decor product offerings and extensions of its must-see programming at the Winter 2023 staging, January 10-16, at AmericasMart Atlanta. Highlights include the debut of four floors of casual furnishings and outdoor living products, new online access to the Market’s High Design exhibitors and the premier of FIRST LOOK EAST, an expansion of IMC’s celebrated trend programming.

“Atlanta Market’s unmatched product and programming offerings will entice buyers to come explore with us this January,” said Bob Maricich, International Market Centers (IMC) CEO. “With an exceptional depth and breadth of product, engaging programming and the opportunity to connect and network with other retailers and designers, new opportunities abound at Atlanta Market. Our easy-to-shop marketplace allows buyers to harness new opportunities at the start of a new retail year.”

New Casual Furniture Destination

A new casual furniture destination is opening at AmericasMart in January 2023 to expand resources for home décor buyers at Atlanta Market. Nearly 50 outdoor living and casual furniture showrooms are set to open on four redesigned floors (2-5) of Building 1. The location of the new collection will allow buyers to seamlessly source outdoor furniture, décor and more alongside complementary interior and seasonal product also in the building. Joining the purpose-built showrooms are new amenities including a buyer’s lounge and food service area.

AmericasMart’s casual furniture showrooms on Floors 2-4 also will be open throughout the year as part of the market center’s Open Year Round offerings and during the International Casual Furnishings Association’s (ICFA) Casual Market Atlanta, to be staged each July at AmericasMart

High Design Online Debuts

As part of IMC’s continued integration of its physical and digital markets, JuniperMarket introduces High Design Online – an “online popup” of brands in Atlanta Market’s celebrated design-led juried temporary exhibits. This first-ever Atlanta Market omnichannel buying opportunity will allow designers and retailers to connect with brands in person and seamlessly source from them before, during and after the market. As part of the Atlanta Market registration process, buyers can activate an account for JuniperMarket, IMC’s new B2B ecommerce marketplace.

Fresh Gift and Home Décor Product

Atlanta Market’s unmatched resources – some 8,000+ lines – are refreshed in Winter 2023. Buyers will find new, expanded and relocated brands and sales agencies throughout its 1,000+ showrooms and 1,100+ temporary exhibits.

The refinement of the home décor buying experience at Atlanta Market includes new, expanded and relocated resources among some 300+ showrooms presented on 10 floors in Building 1. The gift offerings – 700+ showrooms on 19 floors in Buildings 1, 2 and 3 – offer new introductions highlighted by growth in the seasonal / holiday resources plus strong collections in general gift, gourmet and housewares, tabletop, outdoor living, children’s and more.

Atlanta Market’s expansive temporary exhibits feature some 3,000+ lines in 30+ categories in 10 exhibit halls across AmericasMart’s three buildings. Of note for Winter 2023 is continued partnerships with industry associations to expand sourcing opportunities on the trade show floor. GC Buying Group presents its second GCX Expo & Education which brings retailer education and new gourmet brands to the market. The Greeting Card Association’s (GCA) *Noted @ Atlanta Market pavilion showcases emerging paper and stationery artists. Museum Store Association (MSA) brings new unique exhibitors to The Museum Collective pavilion.

For a full list of Atlanta Market exhibitors, visit AtlantaMarket.com/exhibitor/exhibitor-directory

New Market Programming Experiences

Atlanta Market will present a full roster of seminars, cooking demonstrations, tours, events, celebrations and amenities this winter with highlights including the expansion of IMC’s industry-leading trend programming.

New for 2023 is the debut of the East Coast edition of IMC’s proprietary and celebrated FIRST LOOK multi-part trend program. Julie Smith Vincenti, a design expert with more than 25 years in magazine editing and home furnishings trend forecasting, will curate new trends using product available at Atlanta Market. Attendees can explore the FIRST LOOK EAST trends through a fast-paced, image-rich pre-market webinar, at-market events, a product vignette and trend guide.

Other programming includes five days of business-focused seminars including the East Coast edition of the Ahead of the Curve Panel; four days of cooking demonstrations in the Atlanta Market Demonstration Kitchen; three days of marquee events on the Building 3 atrium stage; four tours highlighting the best of market; and the popular Market Kickoff Party.

Atlanta Market offerings add excitement and convenience. Attendees can pose in all-new photo ops in all three buildings and explore a series of displays featuring new exhibitors, trending products featured in the Market Snapshot program and new casual furniture introductions. Market amenities include daily happy hours, free refreshments, hotel shuttles and more.

A full list of events, seminars and amenities will be available soon at AtlantaMarket.com/Attend/Events.

Atlanta Market Registration and Planning Tools

Registration is open now for the January 10-16, 2023 (temporaries January 11-15) buying event at AtlantaMarket.com/Attend/Registration.

Atlanta Market attendees can start planning for market now using AtlantaMarket.com tools including the Atlanta Market exhibitor directory, travel information and more. More planning resources include Market Snapshot, showcasing new and innovative products on the Atlanta Market (@AmericasMartATL) social media pages beginning in November; the Atlanta Market Magazine available in December; and the Atlanta Market Buyer’s Guide available in January.

For the Winter 2023 Atlanta Market, showrooms are open Tuesday, January 10 – Monday, January 16, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (selected showrooms open until 8 p.m. on Thursday, January 12 and Friday, January 13). Temporary exhibits are open Wednesday, January 11 – Saturday, January 16, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, January 15 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

ICFA Raises Funds for City of Hope at Casual Market

dfalvey — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 14:18:35 +0000

ICFA Raises Funds for City of Hope at Casual Market dfalvey Tue, 09/20/2022 - 09:18

Through three fundraising activities hosted at Casual Market Chicago in July, the International Casual Furnishings Association received donations totaling $25,500 for City of Hope, the association’s philanthropy partner. City of Hope is the renowned Duarte, CA-based research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.

On opening day, most members responded to a promotional ICFA social media invitation to #PACKOURPINK with an abundance of pink clothing as the wardrobe color of the day. Intended to raise awareness of breast cancer, the group demonstrated support of today’s fighters, survivors and those remembered. Many attendees made contributions of more than $50 and received a pink stone bracelet or hot-pink pocket square as a gift.

During the first two days of the market, a team of volunteers distributed pink ribbons and literature at a station along the main showroom corridor at theMART. TUUCI provided a hot-pink, fringed umbrella to enhance the station. In addition, ICFA directed a significant portion of registration fees from its Retail Seminar and tickets for its Awards Gala to the City of Hope fundraising effort.

Among upcoming ICFA fundraising activities for City of Hope is the Walk for Hope to raise awareness of women’s’ cancers scheduled on November 6. Members are encouraged to join the ICFA Sunshine team – https://ourhope.cityofhope.org/WalkforHope2022ICFASunshineTeam – and conduct a “walk” near their business for company employees and friends.

Plans are also underway to salute Doug Sanicola, president of Outdoor Elegance in La Verne, CA, who will be an honoree at City of Hope’s West Coast Golf & Tennis Tournament on June 12, 2023, at Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club in Southern California. Non-golfers are invited to join the group for dinner and a silent auction.

ICFA Refreshes Casual Market Branding Ahead of Atlanta Move

dfalvey — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 14:33:47 +0000

ICFA Refreshes Casual Market Branding Ahead of Atlanta Move dfalvey Mon, 08/15/2022 - 09:33

As the Casual Market relocates to AmericasMart in Atlanta beginning in 2023, the International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA) is refreshing and reimagining the 60+-year-old event. The inaugural Casual Market Atlanta will be held July 10-13, 2023, in a dynamic new casual furnishings destination featuring five full floors of permanent showrooms and temporary exhibits.

“As we close one chapter in Chicago, we are very excited to open a new one in Atlanta,” said Jackie Hirschhaut, ICFA Executive Director. “The move to AmericasMart is not only a fresh start and opportunity to further the growth of ICFA, but for the outdoor and casual furnishings industry as a whole.”

Casual furnishing leasing has accelerated in anticipation of the 2023 debut of Casual Market Atlanta with four floors filled by permanent, purpose-built showrooms for 43 leading outdoor living brands.

For the July 2023 launch, Casual Market Atlanta will also showcase some 100+ temporary exhibits on Floor 7 of Building 1. The tradeshow will feature additional outdoor furniture brands plus fire pits, hammocks, outdoor and garden accessories, outdoor lighting, statuary, umbrellas and more.

New synergies will be created through Casual Market’s co-location with the summer edition of International Market Centers’ (IMC) Atlanta Market, which will take place July 11-17, 2023, at AmericasMart – offering an added benefit for casual buyers and sellers.

“ICFA’s move to Atlanta delivers both casual furnishing resources as well as a broad program of educational and social events to our new home,” added Steve Elton, Brown Jordan Chief Brand Curator and ICFA board chair. “This launch marks a new era for ICFA, and we look forward to the fresh, exciting opportunities that it will bring for our diverse range of members, including manufacturers, retailers, sales representatives, designers and Solution Partners.”

In addition to the major industry event in July, ICFA and AmericasMart will host the Outdoor Design Week, September 18-20, 2023, for product sourcing, education and industry networking. This event will overlap with AmericasMart’s Fall Market offering opportunities for gift and home product sourcing.

New Branding for a New City

In connection with the relocation, Casual Market Atlanta is introducing a fresh logo and branding. Inspired by the sun in a lively blue color palette, the logo represents a new beginning for the market. The upcoming Casual Market Atlanta website – CasualMarketAtlanta.com – will feature market information, exhibitor listings and more. The updated brand identity and new online resource center will reinforce the Casual Market Atlanta’s new permanent home in Atlanta.

Expanding AmericasMart Resources at Markets and Year-Round

Outdoor living brands have begun the move to Atlanta to optimize connections opportunities with AmericasMart’s home décor and lifestyle buyers. Permanent showrooms will be open in time for the Winter 2023 Atlanta Market, January 10-16, 2023. In addition, showrooms located on Floors 2, 3, and 4 of Building 1 will be open Mondays through Fridays between markets, joining the 400+ décor, gift and lifestyle showrooms that are open year-round for retailer and designer sourcing.

“We are beyond excited for the new opportunities presented by Casual Market’s new home in Atlanta and welcome the industry with IMC’s hallmark hospitality,” said Bob Maricich, IMC CEO. “Both buyers and sellers within the Casual industry will benefit from the robust collection of complementary gift and home resources and buying power found at AmericasMart.”

Winward Names New EVP of Sales and Marketing

dfalvey — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 13:37:01 +0000

Winward Names New EVP of Sales and Marketing dfalvey Wed, 09/08/2021 - 08:37

Windward Design Group of Sarasota, FL has announced that casual industry veteran Charles Emmons has joined the company as Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In addition to his responsibilities leading the sales and marketing efforts, Emmons will join the executive team headed by Chief Information Officer, Rachel Peace, to carry out the long-term growth mission of the company.

“Charlie is an exceptional leader and a consummate professional with immense knowledge of the casual furnishings category,” said Rachel Peace, CIO, Windward Design Group. “He has proven to be a strategic thinker, respected leader and cultivator of relationships with not only retail partners, but independent representative teams as well. He will be invaluable to our organization as we build upon previous success and look to advance our growth agenda.”

Emmons has held management positions within the casual industry for more than 25 years; working in both retail and wholesale. Immediately prior to joining Windward Design Group, he served as Vice President and CMO for Cast Classics. His experience includes sales and marketing, team building, product development and customer-centric relationship building.

“Windward is in the absolute perfect position for today’s new marketplace,” stated Emmons. “Made in the USA has never meant more to a consumer than it does right now and dealers are hungry for products that deliver on it. For the first time in history, customers will actually save by buying “Made in the USA” over imports. Windward is known for their impeccable quality and unparalleled value; and their new state-of-the-art 280k sf facility in Sarasota is more than capable of supplying 3x their current demand. These are the key elements that drew me to Windward and are the very same things that make them the ideal partner for dealers.”

Emmons will be on hand along with Winward’s 2022 line-up in aluminum and MGP at Windward Design Group’s temporary show space on the 7th floor of the Chicago Merchandise Mart at (space 7-10052) during the Casual Market Chicago, which will take place from September 21 – 24, 2021.

Outdoor Product Trends, Highlights from Chicago's 2019 Casual Market

amcintosh — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 17:44:40 +0000

Outdoor Product Trends, Highlights from Chicago's 2019 Casual Market amcintosh Fri, 09/20/2019 - 12:44

Casual Market is the world’s largest exhibition of outdoor furnishings and accessories, presented by the International Casual Furnishings Association and the Mart. This year’s market, held Sept. 10-13, 2019 in Chicago, filled more than 350,000 square feet of exhibit space on four floors of the Mart.

Across the board, manufacturers and designers spoke about the growing importance of outdoor spaces. No longer an afterthought for clients, outdoors is being considered an extension of their indoor spaces, and they seem to be willing to make the investment in furnishings that offer the same beauty and comfort they expect inside.

Below are some of the new products, trends and highlights we saw at this year's Casual Market.

Crafted in powder-coated aluminum with a white finish, designer Allison Paladino's Sail collection sits a bit higher off the ground to accommodate her older Florida clientele.

Designer Allison Paladino showed us Sail, her new outdoor collection at Century Furniture. Paladino set out to create a simple-yet-luxurious outdoor collection that she was unable to find anywhere else.

Brown Jordan's original Walter Lamb chair and ottoman are made from piping salvaged from sunken Pearl Harbor ships.

For their 75th anniversary, Brown Jordan displayed a piece from the brand’s original Walter Lamb line, which made use of reclaimed materials long before today’s sustainability movement. The 1948 chair and ottoman on display were made from piping salvaged from sunken Pearl Harbor ships. Brown Jordan also had an updated version of the classic line on display.

This table from Tommy Bahama Home's Key Largo collection has a composite concrete top with a textured sunburst pattern.

Lexington Home Brands' Tommy Bahama Home debuted five new outdoor lines (South Beach, Key Largo, St. Tropez, Los Altos Valley View and Harbor Isle) in their new Chicago showroom, representing a range of lifestyles.

Lillian August's new outdoor collection takes inspiration from some of the brand's indoor lines.

Lillian August also launched a new outdoor collection at Casual Market, with more than 70 pieces made from a range of materials and inspired by the company’s popular indoor lines.

The Lane Venture showroom paired a wicker sofa with an aluminum table, demonstrating the versatile nature of the pieces.

Mixed materials — whether on the same piece or mixing matching pieces in a set — were prevalent at the market, as were outdoor seating options with high, curved arms, offering added comfort. Sectionals are gaining traction in outdoor as well, as many companies are adding sectional versions of existing outdoor sofas for greater customization and to accommodate larger outdoor spaces.

The side cushions on the Anatra sofa from Janus et Cie are removable for a more casual feel.

ICFA’s gala awards celebration was held the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 11, recognizing manufacturing and retailing excellence, spotlight top product designs and pay tribute to the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award recipients.

Thursday Sept. 12 was Designer Day at the Casual Market, with programming designed for interior designers.

Pictured left to right: Moderator John Cialone, Tom Stringer Design Partners; Donna Mondi, Donna Mondi Interior Design; Kim Scodro, Kim Scodro Interiors; James Dolenc, JamesThomas.

At the “Interior Design for Exterior Environments” panel in the Lane Venture showroom, designers James Dolenc, Donna Mondi and Kim Scodro joined designer and ASID Illinois President John Cialone for a discussion about working on outdoor spaces for interior clients. All panelists agreed that outdoor living is becoming a priority for clients, and they all said that if a client has an outdoor space, it will always be considered as part of the design project. Panelists also discussed the importance of customer service when working with outdoor furnishings vendors, and why it’s vital to educate clients on the advantages of opting for high-quality outdoor furniture over sets from big box stores.

Later in the afternoon, Steve Nobel owner of Nobelinks and business consultant to interior designers, presented, “Design Outdoor: New Places for Profit” and gave designers tips for making outdoor spaces part of ongoing client conversations. He encouraged attendees to ask the right questions to create new business opportunities and remain profitable. He advised designers to be transparent with clients about where their money is going, and to not rely on product markups to make a profit.

Interior Looks and Connection to Nature Drive Outdoor Design Trends

amcintosh — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 14:24:32 +0000

Interior Looks and Connection to Nature Drive Outdoor Design Trends amcintosh Thu, 09/19/2019 - 09:24

Marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols called the remarkable effects of water on health and well-being “blue mind” in his bestselling book about how being near water can make a person happier. Internationally acclaimed Palm Beach-based designer Allison Paladino understands the concept quite well. Her state of blue mind has led to the debut of a new licensed collection of outdoor furniture for Century Furniture, debuting this month at the Casual Market in Chicago.

Known for exquisite interiors that exude a soft, transitional elegance, and for her exclusive lines of licensed luxury home furnishings, Paladino has long enjoyed paddle boarding in South Florida waterways as a way to unwind and recalibrate after long days immersed in a high-profile design business that encompassed both residential and commercial projects around the globe. Then, a few years ago, she met her significant other, an expert sailor and boat captain, and began spending a lot more time on the water. These days the couple brings paddleboards along on their travels aboard a full-size sailboat, and Paladino’s new collection born of spending “a lot of time on the water,” and “white, crisp material against fabulous blue skies,” is aptly named SAIL.

Readying for launch and tightly furled at press time, SAIL encompasses one dozen pieces crafted in powder-coated aluminum with a white finish. (Occasional tables feature tempered glass tops and upholstered seating stands apart with welt-less cushions). The overall feel is luxe and modern, and quite classical.

“I had been having trouble finding a very simple, very clean, outdoor line that was both luxe and accessibly priced that really bridged the gap between modern and transitional,” says the designer who studied under the tutelage of industry icon Thomas Pheasant before launching her eponymous firm in the late ‘90s. “While a lot of our work now is contemporary, I don’t like hard-edged. I like a little softness and warmth. A lot of the product out there is so severe and blocky, without much grace, and it’s also low to the ground. That’s a big issue for me because many of my clients are older. They obviously want great style, but they also want furniture that is easy to get up out of and really comfortable whether it is a dining chair or lounging poolside.”

In essence, Paladino suggests, clients want outdoor furnishings that are becoming less and less distinguishable from their indoor counterparts. This means that the feel of the outdoor fabrics must be as luxurious as those she uses inside, where she covers 80 percent of upholstered furniture in her projects in Perennials luxury performance fabrics. “They also do the most fabulous outdoor rugs that you can literally clean with bleach.” Paladino herself is set to launch a collection of rugs with Perennials in 2020.

Blurred Lines

Interior designer Sarah Barnard seamlessly blends an ocean view with a clean, contemporary and organic vibe.

Santa Monica, CA-based interior designer Sarah Barnard is currently in the midst of completing a Manhattan Beach roof deck with fully upholstered modular furniture.

“We custom made almost all of the furniture for the roof of the beach house, partly because it is accessed by three flights of stairs with turns, but also because with the exception of very expensive, non-customizable Italian outdoor brands, there is not a lot of super-luxury, indoor-looking furniture made for the outside. Taking one of those brands that could not be modified as inspiration, we reworked the dimensions and component sizes to fit with our client’s actual needs. This enabled us to create a very cushy, lounge-looking space that will survive the elements, that doesn’t at all look like outdoor furniture.”

Whether it’s true or not, Barnard says outdoor furniture is perceived by her clients as less comfortable than indoor furniture. “Restoration Hardware has broadly marketed their Cloud sofa and so people have this vision in their minds that comfort looks…puffy. It’s the thing you sink into, that looks comfortable, whereas tight-back and tight seat cushions that you typically see on wood- or metal-framed outdoor furniture doesn’t call to you in the same kind of fluffy, down-comforter-kind-of-cushiness that indoor sofas do.”

While there are other family room spaces in this large, beach-front home, this garden level space is a casual, ‘family-only’ zone, with solution-dyed acrylic fabrics that are similar in hue and values to the interior textiles, but durable enough for children and the outdoors.

Cost becomes a factor in transitioning that comfortable feel outside, and likely why fully upholstered designs—available in the marketplace overseas—will not be readily in evidence at the Chicago Market this month. “Interior furniture can be made out of much less-expensive materials because it is not exposed to the elements,” Barnard describes. “In exterior furniture, the frame either needs to be marine-grade plywood or stainless steel or something that can survive the elements. Beyond the framing materials, there’s the foam required, and foam that can survive outside, that will drain water quickly if it gets rained on, is very different from the foam used on interior sofas which would sop up everything like a sponge.”

Essentially, thanks to quickly advancing technologies in performance fabrics and fills, “everything is possible now. It’s just more expensive.” Too, Barnard adds, Californians tend to be early adopters when it comes to new trends in outdoor spaces. While the outdoor category was for decades a seasonal, Memorial-through-Labor Day type business on the East Coast (at least until the relatively recent advent of fire elements), “we have the luxury of entertaining outside almost all year-round. I mean, we joke that we don’t know it’s winter until people start complaining about their flip-flops getting wet in the rain. We don’t really transition out of outdoor living seasonally; we just sort of exist there all the time.”

The good news for interior designers with outdoor projects and the industry as a whole, is that “homeowners are finally hip to the idea that quality really does matter, that spending more up front for a product that lasts really is a worthwhile investment, not only for long-time enjoyment with less maintenance, but also for environmental responsibility.”

In her own practice, she describes her clients as “the one percent with a conscience. They are the folks who can afford anything they want but they want to choose the right thing for their family and for the planet and their community. So, we see ourselves as the team to facilitate doing the right thing and living your best life.”

Making it work requires creativity and an awareness of biophilia—the concept that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life. In Southern California, “it’s beachfronts and beach-adjacent areas that are highly desirable. Many of our clients acquire these properties, and the perk is the beautiful view of the sea but the downside is that there is very little actual outside space. There’s the beautiful boardwalk and the coastline, but outside space that belongs to you is pretty minimal. That’s where pottery as jewelry, and succulent gardens and even herb gardens that are potted can provide a garden-esque feeling to what probably is more likely called a patio or porch.”

“I think most cultures have known for a long time that being connected to nature makes us feel better and more mentally alert, happier and more connected to friends and family. We just published a related story on our blog—Sarah Barnard Design—encouraging people to get outside, because I think a lot of folks, even those with ocean views, need a reminder to not just look out the window, but to physically go outside and feel the sun on your face.”

Naturally Traditional

Interior designer Kelley Proxmire and her husband regularly enjoy meals together on this screened-porch space overlooking their backyard.

On the East Coast, Kelley Proxmire, based in Bethesda, MD, says “paying attention to scale, and doing a floorplan, even for furnishings outside, is very important in creating outdoor spaces. Right now, for example, we’re working on a house where a pergola is being added, and we’ve got to figure out the size of that in relationship to the furniture that’s going to be underneath it.”

The other key to an interesting outdoor space, she contends, is variety. “I don’t like everything to be the same, and I don’t like to see ‘sets.’ ” On the screen porch overlooking her own backyard, the eclectic mix of high and low ranges from McKinnon & Harris, “which is fabulous and very expensive,” to Pierce Martin and pieces purchased via Frontgate. All of the fabrics are indoor/outdoor, as is the fill.

A working fireplace, teak furniture and “very comfortable” seating extends the “outdoor” dining and relaxing season for a Washington D.C.-based client.

In terms of trends, wicker and rattan, which are currently making a resurgence across all home furnishings categories, never really passed out of style for this specialist in “tailored traditional interiors. It’s a classic look,” she says. But like her counterparts across the country and to the South, she says performance fabrics have made the greatest impact on what’s possible both indoors and out. “It’s been a huge change. I just had a meeting with a client yesterday where we wanted to put a cushion in her bay window in white. She said, “Oh! You can’t possibly!” I said, “I understand your concern, but here is the fabric and I want you to spill red wine on it tonight, catsup, whatever you can think of. Sure enough she did, and it all came out. Now she’s a believer. And we can do the white cushions.”