From Canvas to Cloth – Introducing the Lantz Collective Designs from Kravet

Inspired by the art of Barry Lantz, and in conjunction with his daughter Amanda, Kravet has recently partnered with the Lantz Collective to offer a “casually elegant” offering of both fabrics and original artwork.

Moving from the studio to the design showroom, and clearly inspired by Barry’s own personal artwork, Canvas to Cloth is an on-trend collection of prints and complementary solid wovens.

Not only that, but each pattern is named after an important woman in his life. “The naming of the patterns came easily,” says Barry, “there are and have been many special, influential women in my life and each pattern truly expresses my feeling for each of the women I chose to recognize.”

From Art Studio to Design Showroom

For Barry, art and design are closely tied. “Both are influenced by color, scale, form, and geometry,” he says. Barry’s first love is art, but he seamlessly made the transition into designing stunning fabric collections and interiors. “The end result of good art and design is how one feels after experiencing it,” he says. Barry used his artistry background to create Canvas to Cloth which features an array of fabrics in breezy, cool, and artistically brushed colors.

One of Barry’s favorite patterns in the collection, and arguably the pattern that anchors the collection, is Goldie, which is named after his beloved grandmother. When asked about his grandmother who encouraged his artistic abilities, Barry says, “for me, Goldie is the most important and unique pattern of all.” This is an ikat pattern interpreted into a kaleidoscopic design and reflects much of Barry’s art style.

Another standout pattern in this collection is Manders, named after his daughter and partner, Amanda. Barry credits Amanda as his inspiration and his reason to succeed. “Without Amanda’s design influence, the collection would not be what it has become,” says Barry. 

Sherlee, Tracy, and Leesa are the remaining prints and are also reminiscent of Barry’s iconic artwork. Offering clean and bright hues, Canvas to Cloth has the ability to create an effervescent ambiance we all crave in an interior. 

Also available through CuratedKravet are a selection of 21 original framed Barry Lantz art pieces. Barry, who has adored art since he was a child, has hand-signed the back of each piece of art.  The artwork selection consists of framed giclee canvas prints in a wide range of color palettes.

Get in touch with TD Fall today to discover more about Lantz Collective designs from Kravet.

Century-Old Kravet Explores Own Heritage with Kravet Couture & Modern Tailor

Based on the title of this blog post, you might think we’re explaining an altered business model from the industry leader in luxury home furnishings. After all, touting a line from Kravet named the Modern Tailor Collection could raise an eyebrow or two. However, such is not the case.

Instead, for those unaware of the company’s ongoing exploration of their heritage, Kravet Couture presents you with a collection of elegant fabrics and complementary wallcoverings. For them, this is a way for them to pay homage to their founder, Samuel Kravet, who emigrated to the US and began working as a tailor more than a century ago.

Considering the source, it should come as no surprise that, above all, “Samuel Kravet’s skilled artistry is mirrored in the exquisite details highlighted in this elegant collection.”

Coordinating Styles and Textures are Featured

So much more than an overly simplified mix 'n match approach to coordination, “The juxtaposition of scale and pattern across the whole collection offers a wide range of coordinating styles. Soft textures are blended with sharper edges and sculptural geometric  patterns; the beauty lies in how the collection sits together, much like how one would put together an outfit.”

With a name like Modern Tailor, this collection has been created as a tribute to runway fashion and trendy design.

“Finely stitched embroideries, pleated fabrics, patch-worked wools, cozy cable chenille, and mélange knits are reinvented into luxurious fabrics and wallcoverings relevant to layered decorating of today.”

Throughout the collection, Kravet continues the theme of a professionally designed and hand-tailored presentation. This is the type of twist on haute couture that will make design clients feel as though their home has become the center of high fashion.

The spotlight on style is forever brightened by, “The tailoring techniques Samuel Kravet fell in love with one century ago [which] are rendered relevant today, and are further brought into the present with updated modern construction and contemporary color stories.”

Bespoke tailoring techniques abound in the collection. “Dresscode features an updated houndstooth pattern, New Suit features a modern patched large stripe, and Proxmire is an exploded weave meant to mimic your favorite cable-knit sweater.”

From the most finely tailored fabrics which can be artfully layered with wallcoverings that add depth and texture to any space, the Modern Tailor Collection from Kravet Couture will challenge even the best designer to match its creative spark.

Get in touch with TD Fall today to discover more about the Modern Tailor Collection from Kravet.

Interior Design Trends 2021 – Comfy Durability (or is that Durable and Comfy?)

The age-old chicken/egg question persists, even when it comes to interior design trends for the new year. Whether you blame it on the pandemic itself, or the restrictions placed on businesses and the public, “livability” has replaced style in the hierarchy of needs for many homeowners. That is comfortable spaces that enhance the increased use of the home as a round-the-clock business and social environment.

Can it be said that trendy is no longer “in vogue”? Funny you should ask…

24/7 Livability is Trending: with Comfort First

According to an article at Vogue.com, and the designers they spoke with, it appears that comfort precedes durability. And yes, an increased focus on both seem to be shifting fashion and/or style toward the back burner.

“What does comfy look like, exactly?” they ask. “Think plushy, sink-into furniture,” they then answer themselves, “[with] chestnut woods, warm colors, overflowing bookshelves… Less mass-produced furniture and more reworking of passed-down family pieces or ones you already own. Fluffy towels, luxurious candles, objets d’art from local artisans rather than e-commerce giants.”

If you need more proof that top designers are already making the shift toward comfortable furnishings over trendy styles, the article does not hesitate to provide it:

• “Comfort, practicality, and making your home your sanctuary on every level,” says Martyn Lawrence Bullard.

• “Comfort in all forms is becoming more paramount,” says Timothy Corrigan.

• “Comfort over concept,” says Roman and Williams co-founder Robin Standefer.

• “The importance of comfort, wellness, and sustainability will continue to be a priority,” says Sheila Bridges.

“Essentially: ‘The trend is to embrace what lasts, what’s well made, and what makes you smile,’ says Standefer.”

This leads us to the next design trend for 2021.

Make It Last (and last, and last)

Living, working, exercising, and socializing (when and if possible) from a single location, not to mention doing it all from home, requires a new standard for furnishings. This is not to say that all sense of style should be abandoned, but increased use demands greater strength and resilience in everything from rugs and furniture to lighting and accessories.

“With everyone spending more time at home, there is a renewed emphasis on rooms that not only look good but can live up to increased use. Durability will continue to be more important and we will see a rise in using outdoor materials inside the home: there are so many great outdoor fabric options that allow you to make a mess and not worry about the clean-up, without having to sacrifice beauty,” explained Timothy Corrigan of Timothy Corrigan Inc.

If form follows function, then need determines the purpose, which will also be a priority for the foreseeable future.

“Out for 2021. . . rooms with no purpose, rooms only used for high days and holidays, furniture that has no other function but to make a statement. In 2020 we learned our lives are for living and need to be lived out in the best way we possibly can. Needless excess is out, functionality and duality in the home is in,” according to Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Martyn Lawrence Bullard Design

And yet, the clever designer will not forget that previously loved trends, such as monochromatic colorways and bare surfaces can become oppressive when a homeowner feels trapped. As a result, once comfort and durability are taken care of, adding bits of color, pattern, and statement pieces can relieve those feelings.

Ted has the experience and knowledge to help you establish and reach realistic 2021 business goals. Get in touch with TD Fall today.

New from Kravet – Don’t Forget the Furnishings Hardware!

A recent Google search for “luxury furnishings” was both eye-opening and disappointing. We were stunned to discover that the largest search engine in the world is unable to distinguish between the category of furnishings versus furniture. Of the 12 links that came up on page one of the search results, only one mentioned furnishings along with furniture. (The half-dozen question/answer boxes were also about furniture.) And none of them mentioned furnishings hardware.

Many would say we’re being pedantic and complaining about semantics, but this is not true. It’s not the least bit trivial to hope that every search engine you might use would offer a much better selection to a search query for furnishings. From our perspective, and yours, the furnishings industry provides far more to the consumer than furniture. And, as an industry, the narrowly focused search results, in this case, may be our fault.

Most consumers have no idea that the luxury furnishings industry offers a wide variety of products under that umbrella. While high-quality furniture may take up much of the space under that shelter, we all know there is much more. From handwoven rugs to a stunning array of wallcoverings. From fabrics, lighting, tile, and flooring to something as “trivial” as the hardware on cabinets, dressers, and armoires to name a few, investing in luxury furnishings means far more than merely “buying a new couch”!

Hardware That Looks Like Jewelry for Your Furniture

In a recent blog post from the luxury furnishings giant Kravet, we are introduced to Lee Addison Lesley and Katherine Weeks Mulford. In the ten years since founding their jewelry business, Addison Weeks, “the duo saw a need for versatile, high-quality fashion jewelry and eventually, furniture hardware.”

Addison Weeks Hardware offers a stunning lineup that could easily be seen as “jewelry for your furniture”, to quote the article.

Needless to say, the whole concept is exciting now that Kravet has partnered with the company.

“Our jewelry customers love to decorate their homes. They are always looking to perfect the finer details, so we were not surprised when we were asked to design hardware. Customers around the country loved our fresh take on this product category and the quality that we carry on from our jewelry making.

We continue to be inspired to see how our customers use our hardware in their various projects. We allow them to customize the products by offering multiple finishes and gemstone combinations.” (emphasis added)

Furnishing Knobs and Handles That Speak to You

While knobs and handles are often overlooked by consumers, and not a few designers and retailers, doing so can lead to disappointment with their choices in the long run. This can happen with any furnishing item where a small mistake or oversight can, when seen every day by the client, lead to lasting irritation.

This is not the case when Addison Weeks Hardware adorns a traditionally minor or “unimportant” piece.

Rather, the stunning hardware they create often makes a statement of its own, enhancing cabinets, drawers, and so much more.

“We grew up in Richmond, VA and Charlotte NC – so we have always been inspired by southern life which focuses on taking pride in your home and making your home beautiful for your family and friends to live and entertain in. We are always listening to our customers and what they want – while we have a bit of southern flair in our designs we have pieces that cater to transitional, traditional mid-century, and others.

“We are absolutely thrilled at this opportunity to partner with Kravet. For us, Kravet stands for innovation, high-design, quality, and craftsmanship and those values are at the core of our business too.”

To learn more about the beautiful Addison Weeks Furnishings Hardware line from Kravet, get in touch with us today.

Mature, Objective Design-Centric Business Advice from Ted Fall

Doing business in the real world, especially the highly competitive world of interior design requires a mature, objective approach. There is no place for emotional, irrational thinking. This is exactly the type of design-centric business advice Ted has to offer designers and home furnishing sellers. (No salt here!)

Beyond this, Ted has the experience and knowledge to help you establish and reach realistic 2021 business goals. Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Interior Design Trends and The Pantone Color of the Year for 2021

This year, instead of taking our usual tour of the many opinions and variations of the color of the year for next year, we would like to keep it simple and stick with one, and the most important: The Pantone Colors of the Year for 2021.

There’s a reason for this that you may already have guessed if you’ve read our recent post on goal setting for business in 2021. In that post, we suggest that you try to keep things simple, with modest goals for your design or furnishings business next year. The idea being that, following the turmoil of this uber crazy year, staying calm and lowering expectations in case of crisis would be not only helpful to your business but also less stressful for you.

This type of thinking blends perfectly with what the color experts at Pantone have come up with for us in the New Year. In a somewhat remarkable shift for them, we’re being presented with not one but two colors for 2021.

Unprecedented Times Call for Extraordinary Color Choices

As you may have noticed in the opening paragraph, the newest entry into the traditional annual unveiling by the color matching experts has been made plural. That is, the decision to go with a pair of colors in an extraordinary move to match the unprecedented time in which we find ourselves.

As explained on their website, the choice of these paired colors exudes, “A message of happiness supported by fortitude, the combination of Ultimate Gray + Illuminating is aspirational and gives us hope. We need to feel that everything is going to get brighter – this is essential to the human spirit.”

Indeed, whether your design clients are seeking a hopeful space that is warm and welcoming, or strong and supportive, or perhaps a unique blend of both, you can make that happen. Because these colors offer the chance to bring together what some might think of as conflicting elements, the opportunity to make novel and uncommonly complimentary design choices is unique and exciting.

“[As] two independent colors that highlight how different elements come together to support one another… Ultimate Gray + Illuminating best expresses the mood for Pantone Color of the Year 2021. Practical and rock-solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, the union of Ultimate Gray + Illuminating, is one of strength and positivity. It is a story of color that encapsulates deeper feelings of thoughtfulness with the promise of something sunny and friendly.”

Take a Spiritual Approach to Complimentary Colorways

It should come as no surprise that a need for spirituality is on the rise this year. As an increasing number of Americans express the need to be more “spiritual but not religious” (according to Pew Research), these complementary colorways can be used to enhance that sense. In other words, this unusual pairing can be used to increase the senses of peace, wholeness, and balance among the physical, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of our lives that many seek in the pursuit of healthy spirituality.

“As people look for ways to fortify themselves with energy, clarity, and hope to overcome the continuing uncertainty, spirited and emboldening shades satisfy our quest for vitality. Illuminating is a bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity, a warming yellow shade imbued with solar power. [While] Ultimate Gray is emblematic of solid and dependable elements that are everlasting and provide a firm foundation. Ultimate Gray quietly assures, encouraging feelings of composure, steadiness, and resilience.”

While choosing these colors for your client’s spaces may not be the only answer to their need for newfound peace, the calming influence combined with the strength of purpose can be promoted in subtle but influential ways.

Whether you're an interior designer or furnishing store owner, Ted has the experience and knowledge to help you adapt to unprecedented times and to employ the latest Pantone Colors of the Year to enhance your client’s home or office environment. Get in touch with TD Fall today.

2021 Home Design Trends: Bold, Natural, and Harmonious Spaces are Needed

Bold approaches that include natural woods and fabrics, as well as harmonious color choices, appear to be the latest home design trends for the New Year.

From “Shabby Chic” to “Modern Vintage” or “Cottage Core”, natural textures that include wood, cane, and even boucle fabrics should be in strong demand for 2021.

 “Why are these things trending?” you may ask. According to Hebe Hatton at RealHomes.com, “We have already been seeing some clear trends come through and so many of them are about making your house cozier, warmer, and more inviting. There's lots of nature going on, and soft textures, it definitely reflects the fact we have all been spending a lot more time at home this year and literally want to feel cocooned by our spaces.”

Such thinking makes perfect sense if you consider how many families have been homebound and isolated for much of this year. Truly, the sharp interior designer will grasp the need for comfy and cozy spaces in their client’s homes moving forward.

If you consider your client’s need to feel safe and sheltered in ways they hadn’t imagined before 2020, creating a warm, relaxed, restful, and intimate home environment for next year should be your priority.

Bold Home Designs Will Be Appreciated in 2021

Again, take a moment to think about what it has meant to your clients to have spent much of the past year to be physically constrained and locked down by circumstances beyond their control. Consider how so many families have been confined to their homes, their freedom of movement and association restricted by regulations designed “for their own good”.

If they haven’t yet developed the mindset of a shut-in, it’s likely just a matter of time before they do.

With this in mind, bold home design choices that alter the restrictive atmosphere could well enhance their sense of freedom. According to DecoreDesignTrends.com, “Home decor trends [for] 2021 offer bold materials that haven’t been used before [or have been rarely used]. This especially concerns furniture padding and wall panels.”

“Top choices for home decor ideas [in] 2021 are leather, not just for the furniture padding, [but for] wallpapers with textures, and Terrazzo which, because of its high cost, was neglected for a long time.”

Using Terrazzo “will give elegance to every interior it is integrated into. Do not be afraid to use this material for vases, cutting boards, or even decorative plates.”

Color Harmony Creates Peaceful Living Spaces

While it certainly can be said that contrasting designs and colors can add to a bold home design, contrasting color choices can also be distracting and chaotic. For anyone who’s been feeling “trapped” at home this year, it makes much more sense to keep your color choices harmonious.

Once more, we refer to the article at Décor Design Trends to reinforce this idea, “Colors are the most important details of decoration. They are the most frequently changed component of interior design trends. Like said previously, this year is all about calmness. Home decor trends 2021 give their preference to pastel tones for interior decorations.”

“The design and style that will correspond the most are kind of a county path and of course the modern style. With these styles, the owners want to create an atmosphere of calmness, purity, peace, and airiness.”

As the image shows, the consistency and shading of the colors employed in this bedroom, as well as the natural hardwood flooring, are soft and welcoming. Creating such a peaceful ambiance can also be accomplished with the use of powdery colors, sometimes beige or yellow tones, though the essence of the idea is to reduce conflicting choices from the past and enhance a new, more harmonious environment for your client’s family.

More Design Tips and Trends

Of course, there are many more home design trends we’re following for the New Year and we hope to share them with you in future posts. For now, we encourage you to consider these trends and ask yourself, “What else can I do to help my clients create a more peaceful environment in their homes for next year?”

Considering how many of us have endured a cloistered, isolated existence this year, there are likely many potential clients out there who need your help to accomplish this – whether they are conscious of the need or not.

Feeling stuck with how you might do this for your clients?

Ted remains available for business consulting support to interior designers and furnishing store owners. Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Sourcing Products and Samples Becoming Less Trying!

You have to love industry jargon, don’t you? Whether the appalling use of “clock it” to describe spiking a football to the ridiculous tech phrase “bleeding edge” to describe something that is “beyond” leading edge, we abuse the language at our own risk. In the design industry, our use of the word sourcing product and/or samples is a bit of gibberish which should make all of us cringe when we hear or use it.

Is the more accurate and grammatically correct phrase “sources of supply” really that difficult to use, instead? (OK, that’s enough blather on a subject most care nothing about!)

Anyway, despite the poor choice of words in the title, in a recent article at Business of Home, A designer’s guide to sourcing and sampling services, author Fred Nicolaus shares some good news about improving access to sources of supply and samples for interior designers.

First, he describes a familiar problem:

“Whether you’re building a massive resource library for your firm or just looking for a new kind of tile, sourcing materials can be a serious drag. There’s the hassle of sifting through endless options online, creating dozens of new accounts, digging up a rep’s contact information—and then keeping track of everything, all while running a business.”

Next, he offers a newly optimistic outlook for smaller design firms:

“Fortunately, there are tech-powered services that help bring order to the chaos. Typically, these sourcing platforms skew toward commercial designers (where there’s more volume of material, hence more money to be made on big orders). However, residential designers can certainly benefit, as well.”

New Tech Has Improved Access to Sources of Supply

While Nicolaus is more than happy to offer details of development and such, we prefer to focus on how these services can benefit the individual designer. From free to somewhat pricey, the four services described below should offer you enough diversity of section to get you heading in the right direction.

Material Bank – Designers create an account with Material Bank (there’s an approval process) and can then browse a library of materials. If you place an order for a sample by midnight EST, it will arrive via FedEx the next morning. Samples are packaged in a single box and come with a return label. The platform also connects designers with reps. Cost: FREE.

Source – Formerly known as KrowdSourced, this is a giant database of product information that designers can search with a variety of filters. Want to find phthalate-free white flooring options? Simple. From there, the platform connects designers with local reps, who answer questions and fill sample requests. Those tools are free. Source also has a premium tier, which assigns the customer a dedicated librarian who can perform research and make recommendations. Cost: Basic tier: FREE. Premium tier: $350/month.

SpecSimple – Designers create an online portal that allows them to centralize information from their favorite vendors, connect with reps, and request samples. The platform tracks products from a jaw-dropping 23,000 vendors, and the goal is to give designers a suite of tools that helps them narrow down what they’re actually looking for. For a cost, SpecSimple can also provide users with research support and assigned reps. Cost: FREE, with upgrades to $2000/year.

DecoratorsBest – Designers create a trade account (the site asks for membership in a trade association like the IIDA or ASID, or a design degree) and can then request samples for most of the represented brands. The manufacturers themselves actually fulfill the requests. For certain lines, designers can also request CFAs. Cost: FREE to designers (consumer samples are $5 each).

It should go without saying that, here at TD Fall, we are more than happy to help you with sourcing (Argh!) the products, samples, and services you need to best serve your business and your client’s design projects.

Further, Ted remains readily available for business consulting support to interior designers and furnishing store owners. Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Service and Availability Are Priorities for Kravet Fabrics and Furnishings

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From guaranteed in-stock fabrics to their innovative online Configurator for creating custom furnishings for your clients, Kravet has made service and availability their highest priority. Perhaps more important from an end-user’s point of view, quality and originality have not suffered in the least.

In fact, since the company’s founding in 1918, the business started by Samuel Kravet and his four sons has become the industry’s primary resource for fabrics and furnishings.

The business has never been the type to rest on its laurels or reputation, but rather, has always labored to remain at the forefront of the design and furnishings industries. As Kravet’s chief process and innovation officer Jesse Lazarus recently proclaimed, “It’s incredibly important to resist assuming you already know what your customers want and need.”

“Suppliers need to bring the threshold to the customer, rather than waiting for that customer to come to the supplier,” he explained. “[All] buyers are consumers in their own right, and their desire for service and availability is shaped by the environment where they do their own private shopping [whether digital or face-to-face]."

What is the Kravet Configurator?

In a time when personal interaction is at the very least frowned upon, and in some cases punishable by force of law, servicing the client demands new and innovative solutions. In some ways, our digital age makes this far easier than feared. In some, less so.

For those who are able to imagine and visualize original approaches to long-standing challenges, as well as new ones, the future can be incredibly bright. And, as many of us have come to expect, Kravet is again leading the way by developing resources and offering digital remedies to the obstacles we are all facing.

For example, imagine being able to fully visualize and customize the furnishings you hope to offer your home design clients. Will that new sofa and chair ensemble appeal to them in fabric A, or would they prefer fabric B? If only you had an image of the pieces in both!

With the Kravet Configurator, you do.

Now, with a 360-degree view of the products you're considering and using their custom Configurator, Kravet has made it much easier for interior designers to visualize their style choices on a variety of furniture frames. As you make choices to customize individual pieces, pricing is automatically updated for you in real-time.

If you're like most interior designers, your buying process begins with requesting samples, so Kravet focused on making that as simple as possible for you too. With a mobile-first strategy in place, Kravet has also simplified the process of reaching out to mobile users and a variety of platforms. This enables you to work seamlessly from your studio or on-site, from a client’s home or office.

Does that sound like a tool you could use in your design business?

NOTE on Availability: At this time, Kravet is continuing to develop and test the program, with an expected rollout coming in the New Year. (Finally, we all have something to look forward to as this crazy year comes to an end!)

For now, it is available on Kravet’s QuickShip program and the Kravet Tailor and Lee Jofa Workroom collection, which are partially up and running. Now would be a great time for you to begin familiarizing yourself with the Configurator so you are proficient in its use when you need it later.

Let Us Help You

As with so many innovative solutions, it can take a bit of time and practice to familiarize yourself and use the Configurator. But hey, that’s what we’re here for. We can answer virtually any question you may have about this virtual design tool (see what we did there?) and would love to guide you in the use of this amazing tool from our favorite luxury furnishings manufacturer.

Also, don’t forget, our founder Ted Fall, a man for whom service and availability have always been priorities, is available for business consulting support to interior designers and furnishing store owners. Get in touch with TD Fall today.

New from Kravet – Introducing Grand Bazaar by Brunschwig & Fils

Grand Bazaar by Brunschwig & Fils is an exciting line of furniture, new from Kravet, that includes new fabrics flavored with influences from Turkey, India, and Thailand.

Brunschwig & Fils takes you on a journey through Turkey with its newest collection, Grand Bazaar, inspired by the alluring charm of Turkish culture. Established by the Sultan of the Byzantine Empire over 500 years ago, the Grand Bazaar was and is known as a trading place for jewels and textiles – a melting pot of the old and new. The beguiling history, architecture and atmosphere of the market inspired this exclusive collection of gorgeous prints and coordinating wallcoverings. Let’s take a deeper look at this stunning new collection!

The colors and patterns in this collection transport you to exotic locales and traditions of the Grand Bazaar markets with blue and white hues, paired with pops of pomegranate and balanced with sophisticated jewel tones. In the spirit of the patrons shopping the enchanting market, Brunschwig & Fils scoured its archives to conjure up a Middle Eastern spirit and design elements associated with the Ottoman region.

KATIBI and MONTGUYON, Brunschwig & Fils archive favorites, have been updated to suit today’s interiors. KATIBI was inspired by an 18th century Indian Palampore and features a beautiful tree of life pattern. MONTGUYON is another revival design, first introduced in 1961, featuring antique French needlework reinterpreted in a broken warp print effect. 

KARABALI, named after a Sultan’s private garden, is an extraordinary design depicting exotic florals and foliage extracted from traditional Indian textiles. This dramatic pattern was printed in Thailand and is destined to make a grand statement in any interior.

Take in all the exotic traditions, culture, and colors this region has to offer with Brunschwig & Fils’ latest collection, Grand Bazaar.

We remain open for business and ready to support you in any way we can. We will continue to share the design trends, like lines that are new from Kravet, that we believe will benefit you most as either an interior designer or furnishings retailer. Click here to… Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Must-Have Kitchen Features for Your Design Projects

As an interior designer, do you believe there are some features your clients “must-have” in certain spaces? (People being people, we’re sure not everyone does.) According to a recent article at Houzz.com, there are six must-have kitchen features you should focus on in the design of the most-used room on the home.

In an effort to save some space, and your time, we will share three of these must-have features. Whether you wish to see more of them, we leave to you.

Kitchen Storage Solutions

“[Cabinetry] makes up the bulk of what is seen in every kitchen, so your choice of cabinet color and style is a major, consequential decision [in your design]. But the components inside your cabinets are equally important, if not more.”

“Your storage solutions determine how functional [the] kitchen is. [However], at the peak of cooking a large meal, [they will] care less about the look of [their] cabinets and more about the ease of grabbing the right tools, spices, pots, and other supplies.”

Of course, all of this means that, while the look of the kitchen cabinets is hugely important, functionality is a definite must-have. The New York kitchen by Stonington Cabinetry & Designs shown on the right and the hidden cutting board by Yancy Interiors + Home on the left, are good examples of how well designed kitchen cabinetry can work for you – and for your client.

All That, and the Kitchen Sink

By paying particular attention to the most-used features of the most-used room in their house, you show the homeowner that you place a priority on their needs. (Not just how cool your design looks.)

According to the article, “the kitchen sink is one area that always sees a lot of action. So it makes sense to put a little more effort into designing the sink area and choosing components.”

“These days, many sink manufacturers offer designs called workstations, which feature add-ons such as cutting boards, strainers and prep bowls... The Galley Workstation shown here is a popular hardworking sink that includes several inserts for prepping and cleaning.”

Must-have features on top of must-have components make this kitchen sink a wonderful must-have choice. (Too many must-haves here?)

Fulfilling the Island Fantasy

Here is where the Houzz article states the obvious:

“Perhaps no design feature in recent memory has changed kitchen design more than the island. Indeed, it’s hard to deny the benefit of a kitchen island. It adds extra countertop surface and storage and creates a spot for conversation, homework, and meals. It can be a location for a cooktop, a dishwasher, or a prep sink, and it often provides that crucial touchpoint that completes an efficient work triangle.”

While it cannot be denied that homeowners love a design that includes an island, this must-have kitchen feature is also an undeniable favorite among interior designers; adding flexibility and great functionality to the space.

“A large kitchen island is a fantastic gathering place in any open-plan kitchen and gives the homeowner a flexible space to use for dining, entertaining, or cooking.”

This Boston kitchen by SV Design is a great example of that functionality.

Beyond these three must-have kitchen features, lighting, and appliances, including range vent hoods, are critical to the success of the kitchen design you offer your clients. 

 Looking for more tips on sustainable design trends, designer marketing tips, and product ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.

“Perhaps no design feature in recent memory has changed kitchen design more than the island. Indeed, it’s hard to deny the benefit of a kitchen island. It adds extra countertop surface and storage and creates a spot for conversation, homework, and meals. It can be a location for a cooktop, a dishwasher, or a prep sink, and it often provides that crucial touchpoint that completes an efficient work triangle.”

While it cannot be denied that homeowners love a design that includes an island, this must-have kitchen feature is also an undeniable favorite among interior designers; adding flexibility and great functionality to the space.

“A large kitchen island is a fantastic gathering place in any open-plan kitchen and gives the homeowner a flexible space to use for dining, entertaining, or cooking.”

This Boston kitchen by SV Design is a great example of that functionality.

Beyond these three must-have kitchen features, lighting, and appliances, including range vent hoods, are critical to the success of the kitchen design you offer your clients. 

 Looking for more tips on sustainable design trends, designer marketing tips, and product ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.