Fabric collections may be the very foundation of interior design. Because fabrics and finishes play such an important role in any good interior design project and decoration, they are one of the most fundamental elements a designer can use to achieve a specific presence and style within a particular space; whether a home or office.A savvy designer works hard to find fabrics that define the character of the space in which they’re working. Yet, accomplishing this is can be difficult, because both colors and textures must be combined in ways that ensure that the result will be simply stellar.With the introduction of three new fabric collections from Brunschwig & Fils, your job as an interior designer has just become much easier – with fabrics that convey more than character and variety, they also reflect sophistication, culture, and taste.Below, we present three stunning new fabric collections from the world-renowned weavers at Brunschwig & Fils.Cevennes Fabric Collection from Brunschwig & FilsNew from B&F comes Cevennes. Named for a cultural region and range of mountains in south-central France, these are a collection of beautiful fabrics that offer a “Sophisticated Escape” – from the everyday. The sheer variety and stunning presentation of this collection make these new fabrics impossible to resist.
Alsace Weaves Fabrics Collection from Brunschwig & FilsAlsace Weaves by B&F is a stunning collection of fabrics that reflect the mix of cultures found in its namesake region, bordering as it does Germany and Switzerland along the Rhine River. With a new take on old-world European designs, these lush fabrics present an original perspective on a traditional palette.
Normant Checks & Stripes Fabric Collection from Brunschwig & FilsThe Normant Checks and Stripes fabrics collection from B&F puts a new face on a traditional look. Refined yet sophisticated, the range of colors and textures, from muted to bold and from crisp to bulky, present interior designers with the opportunity to satisfy the palette of any homeowner or office manager.
Looking for more new home furnishings and fabric collections, the latest interior design trends, marketing tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.
New Brunschwig & Fils Patterns and Colors from Les Touches
At the Kravet blog, we have recently been introduced to some exciting new Brunschwig & Fils patterns and colors from their iconic line, Les Touches.Les Touches is one of the most recognizable patterns in Brunschwig & Fils extensive catalog. The classic design has spanned decades and taken on many forms over the years, but one thing has always remained true: it is perennially loved by interior designers.This stylized animal pattern was originally developed from a post-World War II folio of photographs. The delicate pattern looks hand-painted on the surface, offering a softer take on the striking design. With its latest offering, Brunschwig & Fils is introducing nine new colorways, bringing the total color offering up to 18. This beautiful and original assortment lends itself to many different interior aesthetics. The new colors and patterns include a range of neutrals with pops of tangerine, berry, and peridot.Brunschwig & Fils’ Expands Offering with New Colorways from Les TouchesDesigner Danielle Rollins, who famously also creates clothing out of Brunschwig fabric, says Les Touches can stand on its own in any room. “I love Les Touches because it is the classic bright happy go anywhere print. It can make a dominant statement on its own or it can bridge other patterns perfectly,” says Rollins.
For other designers, it’s about Brunschwig & Fils’ strong heritage within the design industry. “I love the legacy of Brunschwig fabrics – so many of my favorite patterns are decades-old, yet still feel very current,” says Marisa Friedman.
Les Touches is also admired for its versatility. The linear pattern, depending on its color, is suitable in a traditional and modern setting alike. “Les Touches is such a classic pattern, yet it lends itself to almost any style. In this case, I wanted to emphasize the playful nature of the pattern in a sunny, casual master bedroom,” says Liz Grina.
This versatility also allows the pattern to make its own statement in a room, or coordinate with more bold motifs. “It can play off any lead fabric and the movement works with almost any other scaled fabric,” says Emily Gonzalez. “Les Touches is so great because I can mix it in as a geometric print or a floral when needed and it is always relevant in any space and in any style.”Over the years, the Brunschwig & Fils design studio has reinvented this iconic pattern – as a print, an embroidery, a wallpaper and more. Throughout this rich history, Les Touches remains a tried and true, time-honored Brunschwig & Fils classic.If you would like to discover more of what’s new from Brunschwig & Fils home furnishing designs, Contact TD Fall today.
New from Leathercraft – Spring Market Feature
High Point Market is always an exciting time, with new products on display and new relationships starting while ongoing relationships grow. Now that spring market is behind us, and as we try to reenergize from the exhilarating and long days we spent there, we would like to share a few of the new furnishings we featured from Leathercraft.
For more than 50 years, Leathercraft has been manufacturing the finest leather and upholstered seating available. Located in the highlands of Western North Carolina, this area has the greatest concentration of skilled craftspeople in the country. These skilled people are the backbone of Leathercraft’s enduring quality. They are proud to be recognized as a leather specialist offering the freedom and flexibility to customize their products to meet your individual client’s needs – as a designer or furnishings dealer.
After Hours Sectional from Leathercraft
A huge hit at the recent Spring Market at High Point, the After Hours leather sectional caught the eye of designers and furniture dealers from across the country. It’s easy to see why in the image below, as Ted stretches out in comfort and style.
The tufted backing adds dimension, while the smooth finish of the tight seat guarantees a comfortable sitting surface. The handcrafted wood frame is supported metal legs in your choice of over 100 colors and the piece can be purchased as a two-piece sectional or as separate sofas.
This is the perfect piece for a modern lobby area or corporate waiting room.
Oasis Recliner Program from Leathercraft
The Oasis Recliner Program is a new offering with modern and transitional styling queues. With 4 arm styles, 3 back styles and 3 base styles, and with over 100 covers to choose from, as well as motorization, this new program offers endless possibilities to create comfy and stylish recliners for any homeowner to enjoy.
Here, Ted takes the time at spring market to present the stunning variety of colors and finishes available in the Oasis Recliner program from Leathercraft.
To learn more about what’s new from Leathercraft, whether sectionals, sofas, recliners or other luxury furnishings… Get in touch with TD Fall today.
Interior Design Trends – New Fabric Collections from Lee Jofa & Kravet
It’s always exciting to explore new design trends and collections; especially from leading design manufacturers like Lee Jofa and Kravet. From upholstery to trimmings and from prints and weaves to beautifully embroidered fabrics, Lee Jofa is offering some truly lovely looks and feels for the new year.Westport Collection by Lee JofaLee Jofa’s newest collection, Westport, captures a casual but sophisticated lifestyle. Inspired by an eclectic mix of design references, ranging from 19th-century Persian tile work to 20th century Art Deco textiles, the collection will inspire schemes for a variety of well-dressed rooms. These exclusive prints, weaves, and trimmings were conceived to work beautifully together and all share in the same laid-back, but luxurious, point of view. The collection’s palette is comprised of fresh, pretty colors featuring watery blues, blossoming pinks, woodsy greens and sandy neutrals combined in new and interesting ways.
Davenport Collection by Lee JofaDavenport, printed on a linen ground cloth, is a bold and graphic floral design based on a 1930’s archival textile and is offered in five signature colorways. Based on Persian motifs, Lido is a versatile design printed in England on a fine linen and cotton blend union cloth. Both Seacliffe and Laine are authentic hand blocked prints enhanced with artisanal embroidery detailing.
New Embroideries by Lee JofaLovely needlework is incorporated to produce Bradford Embroidery, a large-scaled tree-of-life design based on English crewel work. A more modern sensibility is expressed by the Ora Embroidery and Monterey Embroidery designs which have been produced in the collection’s distinctive colorations on fine linen-blend ground cloths.
Kolmar and Varona are exceptional upholstery weaves which play a supporting role to the many decorative patterns in the collection. Both are woven in Europe using a variety of yarns featuring linen blends and special finishes for a supple hand.
New Trimmings by Lee JofaThe variety of trimmings offered in the Westport collection are an assortment of four tape designs derived from and complements to the decorative patterns in the collection. Offered in a mix of sizes and qualities, they provide the essential finishing touches for drapery and upholstery applications.
View the entire Westport Collection from Lee Jofa here.Looking for more new interior design trends, marketing tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.
Design Trends for 2019 – What is the Hot New Color of the Year?
As an interior designer or furnishing supplier, you are surely curious about design trends for the new year. Like many, you are likely curious to know: What’s the hot new color of the year for 2019? As with so many things in the design and furnishings business, the answer to this question will depend on whom you ask.While the Pantone Color Institute has led the way in describing and promoting their “Color of the Year” for the past 20 years, they are certainly not the only company known for offering guidance in color trends. While they may be the best known for doing so, many others who specialize in the manufacturing of colored paint, fabrics, and plastics are also eager to share their insights into color trends.2019 Color of the YearPantone Color of the Year 2019 – Originally founded as the printing arm of an East Coast advertising firm, it is perhaps odd that Pantone has become a true trendsetter for color in the interior design and home furnishings business. Yet, thanks to their development of the Pantone Matching System (PMS), as well as the extensive research they devote to finding and following trending colors, their prominence among designers may not be surprising at all.
For 2019, Pantone has determined that Living Coral, a color which represents “playful expression,” and our “innate need for optimism”, will be the hot the color for the next 12 months.BEHR Color Trends 2019 – Behr Paint Company manufactures interior house paints, exterior house paints, decorative finishes, primers, stains, and surface preparation products (retailed exclusively at The Home Depot). Founded in 1947 when Otho Behr, Jr. sold linseed oil wood stains to paint stores from the back of his station wagon, BEHR has become one of the most recognized paint brands in North America.For 2019, the company has presented a monochromatic theme, founded in shades of blue, for their hot color trend. The foundation of this theme is known as Blueprint, with a full range of blue, teal, and gray as the key direction for their 2019 Color Trends. This enables a creative designer to layer light and dark blues on walls, cabinets, furniture, and décor items for results that make an impact.Further, ColorSmart by BEHR® is an online app which allows you, and your clients, to preview colors in uploaded sample images or photos.
Benjamin Moore Color Trends 2019 – Founded in 1883 by Benjamin Moore, and based in New Jersey, the company remains in the top 25 of North American coatings manufacturers. Dedicated to the vision of their founder, their stated goal is to produce the highest-quality paints and finishes in the industry, and to deliver them directly to their customers through a nationwide network of knowledgeable, customer-friendly, independent retail locations.Described as “calm, composed, and effortlessly sophisticated”, Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year 2019 has been labeled Metropolitan, and “exudes glamour, beauty, and balance”. Their color of the year for 2019 is supported by Color Trends 2019, a coordinating palette of 15 harmonious hues.“Metropolitan AF-690 emanates nuance, harmony, and extravagant ease. Always adaptable, it softens to matte or shimmers with sheen. It's neutral. It's understated. It just is. This is color, off-duty." – Ellen O'Neill, Benjamin Moore & Co.
Sherwin Williams 2019 Color of the Year – Established in 1866 by founders Henry Sherwin and Edward Williams, the company has firmly established itself as one of the top five coatings manufacturers in the US. Now a Fortune 500 company, they are best known for the development and marketing of the Valspar, Weatherbeater, and Dutch Boy brand paint lines.Not to be outdone by the competition, the 2019 color of the year from Sherwin Williams is known as Cavern Clay, “A warm terracotta color with ancient, elemental roots. Cavern Clay is a nod to midcentury modern style, but with the soul of the American Southwest, which together creates a desert modern aesthetic.”As described on their website: “This warm, earthy hue is both casual and refined. It can be the backdrop of a playful, welcoming dining room or kitchen when paired with bright tiles, warm stone, and sculptural greenery. Complementary materials include leather, simple woodgrains, and indigenous cacti in contemporary, sleek gardening planters.”Pittsburgh Paints (PPG) Color of the Year 2019 – Of course, no such list would be complete without the #1 paint company in the world, PPG Industries, the owner of Pittsburgh Paints. Originally founded as the Pittsburgh Glass Company in 1833, and with headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA, PPG operates in more than 70 countries around the globe and is the largest coatings company in the world.
For 2019, PPG invites you to “Experience the transformative power of paint with PPG’s 2019 Color Trends, and their 2019 Color of the Year – Night Watch – a rich, luxurious, and classic shade of green allowing spaces to emulate the feeling of lush greenery and the healing power of nature. Night Watch’s versatility allows the paint color to be used in a variety of rooms and design segments – from healthcare to commercial and residential design.”Kravet Color of the Year 2019 – We would be remiss if we did not share with you the color of the year from Kravet Inc, which owns Kravet, Lee Jofa, Groundworks, GP & J Baker, and Brunschwig & Fils – all of which are high-end fabric houses that specialize in style, luxury, and exceptional design.Taking their lead from Pantone, Kravet is fully on board with Living Coral as a featured color in the fabrics they offer for the coming year. From draperies to wallcoverings and from upholstery to trim, the Kravet designers have dedicated themselves to presenting designers and furnishing suppliers with a full palette of selections from which to choose – all of them using the Pantone color of the year.
Looking for more interior design trends and marketing tips, and design product ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.
Curated Kravet – Stunning e-Commerce Resource for Interior Designers
While it is certainly nice to be able to see and feel the high-end furnishings, fabrics, and wallcoverings you may be considering for your design clients, Kravet offers an unmatched online shopping experience for the busy interior designer. Curated Kravet offers everything from room accents to lighting and from ready-to-ship furnishings to hand-picked holiday designs.CuratedKravet.com now serves as an easy-to-use, one-stop shop for savvy designers to search for, browse, and purchase products in a variety of ways, all presented in curated spaces.“We really tried to listen to what our customers – interior designers – were looking for in the market, so we created a to-the-trade-only website of curated, shoppable rooms, and new categories of finished products like mirrors, wall art, bedding, lighting, and accessories,” said company president Cary Kravet. (ArchitecturalDigest.com)Items on Curated Kravet can be perused three ways: by category (say, lamps, sofas, or upholstery), by trend, by season, or by curated room.Curated Room Designs from KravetThe way in which curated room designs are presented at Curated Kravet is stunningly simple and absolutely practical. First, images of the room design are offered, followed by images of each item available for you to create a similar space for your own client if you choose to do so. Of course, you are not required to purchase every piece as a collection, no matter how much sense doing so might make; rather, you can pick and choose from the furnishings, lighting, accent pieces, or bedding sets presented.For example, Beachside Beauty, curated by California-based designer Jeffrey Alan Marks, provides you with an opportunity to create relaxed and sophisticated interiors for your design clients.
On the other hand, if you're searching for a more glamorous presentation, the room curated by Dallas-based designer Jan showers, appropriately named Pretty Glamorous may be more what you are looking for.
With nearly three dozen curated room design offerings available to choose from, Curated Kravet offers something for everyone – interior designer and design client alike.Timeless and Well-Traveled, curated by Nate Berkus
Natural Neutrals, curated by Joni Vanderslice
To learn more about Curated Kravet, and to view the selections available by category, click on the links below:Hand-Picked for the HolidaysReady to Ship FurnitureLight Up the HolidaysAccent Furniture FastCrafted and Curated WicklewoodQuick SolutionsPerhaps the greatest feature offered by Curated Kravet is convenience, combined with ease of shopping. Simply focus on using the site’s filters to find in stock product for everything from a completely curated room design to those last minute finishing touches that every interior design project seems to need.Looking for more new interior design trends, marketing tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.
Interior Design Trends – New Collection from Lee Jofa & Kravet
In her fourth collection with Groundworks at Lee Jofa, Kelly Wearstler addresses the latest interior design trends by presenting dynamic and illusionistic elements in a new collection of fabrics, leathers, wallcoverings, and trimmings.Geometric patterns stand out and seamlessly blend in this collection with the use of bold and subdued color. COVET piques interest with its angular nature and seemingly time-worn texture. The hard angles of a faceted gemstone are softened by the washed look of this linen-cotton blend digital print.
POST VELVET is another example of this range, featuring an overscale, graphic wood print that highlights an organic yet graphic element within the bold and neutral color stories.
Exceptional quality is at the forefront of so many patterns in this collection. PASTICHE features a maze-like embroidery that offers a soft structure to its textural ground.
CHANNELS, one of Kelly’s most adored patterns, is back with more versatile colorways, including darker shades, pushing the abstract and graphic boundaries of this bold pattern. It’s also offered as a stunning wallcovering.
New Lee Jofa Wallcoverings from KravetYet, RAPTURE PAPER is also available on silk and paper, offering a dynamic option for a more elevated and luxurious statement.
We ’re not done yet though: RARITY PAPER coordinates with its fabric counterpart, offered in a wide range of color from soft warm neutrals to blush, jade and bold blues.
Finally, one of this collection’s most exciting introductions is the new fashionable tassel fringe trimming. FELIX FRINGE is inspired by chunky constructions on textural grounds and successfully makes this vintage aesthetic feel contemporary.
This new collection from Kelly Wearstler offers an unexpected visual dialogue, enhanced by a graphic structure in patterns and nature using two and three-dimensional art, in an ever-evolving but always current color palette. Geometric and dynamic patterns stand out and seamlessly blend in this collection with the use of bold and subdued color.Looking for more new interior design trends, marketing tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.
Interior Design Tips: Pick Your Own Color of the Year
For some in the design industry, the Pantone Color of the Year may as well be considered gospel. For these folks, there is no other possibility. And yet, with their choice of purple this year (well, “Ultra Violet” according to them), you’ll not be alone if you decide to look elsewhere for hot colors for 2018.After all, doesn’t it make sense to check in with one or two, or four, of the big paint companies to see what they have to offer as Color of the Year? We offer these choices with a large “Thank you” to the Décor & You Blog.AkzoNobel/Dulux Paint – Heart Wood
Heart Wood is the quietest shade of the bunch. AkzoNobel calls it a “grown-up pink” that echoes the look and feel of natural wood and leather. If you aren’t familiar with AkzoNobel, they are a paint and coating company headquartered in Amsterdam.The firm’s Global Aesthetic Center works with design and color experts around the world who look at technology, art, design, nature, architecture, and even fashion and music before selecting a color of the year. This year, they felt that people around the world are looking to escape the noise of everyday life when they are at home. Heart Wood brings that sense of calm, relaxation, and solace.PPG Pittsburg Paints – Black Flame
To select PPG’s color of the year, the global paint company has their top 20 color experts from all over the world meet for three days to present and debate their selection. This year, they crowned Black Flame and claimed it will be the “new neutral”.Black Flame is black with a hint of deep indigo. This shade was selected to satisfy consumer’s need for privacy, optimism, and a search for things classic yet modern. This color fits the bill. It’s timeless like the little black dress; it looks great on everyone and provides an excellent canvas to highlight other colors and accessories. This idea translates perfectly into interior decorating.Benjamin Moore - Caliente
Caliente is the wild card of the bunch. This daring, energetic red is a bold choice. Benjamin Moore takes months to examine research from industry shows, fashion, and architecture seen around the globe. Red was seen prominently; in January’s Women’s March in Washington DC, in popular TV shows like The Handmaid’s Tale, and in Stockholm Royal College of Music’s concert hall.Caliente has a slight brown undertone, so it’s not a dull primary red. It evokes a sense of change, strength, and confidence. Use it to create a strong focal point or a lasting impression.Sherwin Williams – Oceanside
Oceanside is a gorgeous deep teal, almost a jewel tone. Reminiscent of the ocean and inspired by global travel, Sherwin Williams believes it will satisfy a homeowner’s search for adventure in a shade that is a balance of old and new.After examining influences from all over the world, their experts selected Oceanside for its versatility. It’s suitable for traditional spaces as well as modern; it invites a sense of clarity and is known to boost creativity. This is a color you can bathe your walls in or use more deliberately for points of interest.Looking for more new design trends, tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.
Trendy Design Trends That Are Trending in 2018
We just can’t help ourselves. Perhaps too often we spend hours every week perusing a variety of online sources for interior design trends, and predictions of new trends, for the upcoming seasons. While doing so can be illuminating, it can also be a bit more than frustrating – it sometimes seems that those who write about the design business are more interested in forcing a new trend into the marketplace than in simply reporting what is actually taking place.Having said that, we are beginning to notice at least slight agreement in a few areas for this year: Hallelujah!Have ceilings been so boring for so long that we’ve all agreed to finally take action and do something about them? Perhaps – perhaps not. What we do know is that more than one column on design trends have made the claim that making a bold statement with ceilings will be big in 2018.Bold Ceiling Designs are Hot
Elledecor.com
LAtimes.comWhile we’ve already predicted that purple will be popular this season, thanks to Pantone choosing it as the Color of the Year, plenty of scribes are predicting that shades of blue will continue to hold their own on the palettes used in home design. Not to be left out, other warmer colors will also remain in the up-to-date designer’s arsenal of color choices.Which Color Dominates the Design Market This Year?
Hgtv.com
Housebeautiful.comKitchens always feature heavily in any discussion of interior design trends, as they should. Whether speculating about how space will be allocated in the most popular room in most homes, which types of appliances should be used, or the types of cabinets, flooring, and backsplash will work best to enhance the space – a good interior designer must always pay attention kitchens.Kitchens Are Central to Any Home
Hgtv.com
LAtimes.com
Freshome.comThe sharp designer understands that they need to make sure the kitchen is as important to their design plan as it is to the homeowner. Never take kitchen designs for granted.Looking for more new design trends, tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.
How to Sell More High-End Upholstered Furniture
While upholstered furniture sales will likely generate the biggest tickets and highest revenues for your interior design business, they may not come easily. Simply presenting your offerings as “The Best” will often create a question in your client’s mind – “The best, as compared to what?” Do you have an answer for this?
Home fashion has become a rapidly shifting target, with statements ranging from traditional to transitional to contemporary. This takes place not just from client to client and from home to home, but even from room to room within the same home! Staying current with these shifting home fashion trends is a challenge that all of us must face. With the right approach, these shifting design trends can be dealt with effectively.
Descriptive Language is the Key to Luxury Furniture Sales
Capturing the imagination of your clients – and reinforcing their choices and tastes – is the key to growing your luxury furniture sales. Using descriptive language to distinguish your offerings will go a long way toward helping your clients realize that you have their best interests at heart:
- “Subtle, labor intensive decorative details include hand-sewn welting, double top-stitched seams, and pleating.”
- “Our bespoke furniture includes 8-way hand-tied and handset coil springs, as well as sustainable materials and components.”
- “Tailored from traditional materials to create a sumptuous yet modern (or contemporary) mood that speaks volumes.”
While it goes without saying that you can rarely make an overt appeal, it is also often necessary, and effective, to subtly appeal to your client’s ego; their sense of self-importance and discernment. This can often be done by engaging them in conversations that include more sensuous language, such as stylish presentations, opulence, custom tailoring, sumptuousness, gratification, curvaceous upholstery, lavish covers, artisanship, craftsmanship, bench-built, and hand-crafted.
Understanding your client’s needs, and speaking to those needs in terms that elicit an emotional response, will allow you to close more high-end upholstered furniture sales – and satisfy your client completely and repeatedly.