To A Prosperous 2013

After ringing in 2013, I did some reflecting and began to reorganize this little rep company. So, reluctantly I dropped Chairmasters, Arzu Studio Hope and Interna to focus on Sina Pearson Textiles, Skyline Design, EnviroLeather & Baltix Sustainable Furniture. These tried and true companies have amazing new plans for 2013 and I want to be ready and to treat each company with the respect they deserve. Make sense? Well it does to me.

So what’s new for each of these companies?

Skyline Design

I was lucky enough to begin January traveling with a representative from Skyline Design to help present all of the new goodies. This company has branched out to the office furniture dealer market offering magnetic marker glass boards, tack boards, Cleo Magnetic Mobile easels(see pic above), etched glass for demountable walls and specific programs for Herman Miller dealers and DIRTT dealers. My focus this year with Skyline Design is not only to call on the A&D market but to work closely with sales and design within the office furniture dealers.  You will read much more about Skyline in the weeks to come. For more information check out their website www.skydesign.com.

Sina Pearson Textiles

Once again I was incredibly lucky to travel with Sina and her husband Art in July last year. I was seriously nervous to drive around Ohio such an amazing and famous designer but both Sina and Art were a pleasure and I learned so much! Sina has several new lines coming out this year and I have seen them! Ha! Keep watch for the newest of the new.  If you need textiles made in the US, please check out the Made In The USA Sina Pearson Textiles page. Approximately 80% of Sina’s textiles are made in the US.

EnviroLeather

EnviroLeather has been busy too! They have two new collections Sierra & Berkshire(see pic). Both products are a PVC free polyurethane textile, bromine free, heavy metal free and animal friendly(my personal favorite). The colors in each line are outstanding and the advantages to using this textile are amazing. For specification information click here. I have had wonderful reception from the healthcare market, specifically the Cleveland Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, and  Ohio Health, in Ohio with these textiles. This year my focus with EnviroLeather will be the healthcare and higher education markets. A little birdie told me to expect more wonderful textiles from LDI Corporation this year.

This is just a tease for what’s to come. Give me a call to set up a time to see the new collections! I look forward to a healthy, happy & prosperous new year for us all!

Summer Updates 2012

Welcome to the 2012 summer updates post. With the unbearable Ohio summer heat it has been a struggle to get this post to you. Hopefully you will learn a little bit about the newest environmental collections from the Stella Group! Enjoy…

SINA PEARSON TEXTILES

I had the ultimate pleasure of traveling with Sina Pearson and Art Simmons from Sina Pearson Textiles this month. Coming off of this whirlwind trip below is the latest  SPT introductions. Stay Cool & Calm with Town & Country. Both collections are a sophisticated blend of texture, warm colors, and simplistic patterns. For more information please go to www.sinapearson.com or to order samples, contact us.

Website info: Sina Pearson Textiles’ website is a great resource for designers and specifiers. This website is updated daily and will include the most up-to-date information including price lists. The specification sheets, environmental specifications, and cleaning instructions are all posted as pdf’s on the site as well. This makes late night or early morning, as in my case, designing convenient. Take a moment to investigate this great resource: www.sinapearson.com.

SKYLINE DESIGN ARCHITECTURAL ART GLASS

Skyline Design Architectural Art Glass has once again collaborated with a great artist, Michael Graves. The 5+ Collection is clean-lined,  architectural, and cost efficient. As with all Skyline introductions, there is a dedicated web page with many interesting tidbits for the 5+ Collection.

Another introduction by Skyline Design is specifically for the furniture dealer market: Magnetic Marker Glass. Contact us your area representative to learn more about how to specify these products or how to become a preferred dealer in Ohio.

ENVIROLEATHER

EnviroLeather introduces Ink-Gard PVC Free Synthetic Leather. Using the typical EnviroLeather technology this textile has a soft hand and excellent performance but the ability to remove ink is amazing. Simply use a touch of alcohol and a soft rag and the ink is gone!

For specification information, please go to the website or contact us.

BALTIX SUSTAINABLE FURNITURE

Baltix has been busy this summer offering dealer opportunities in Ohio and Kentucky as well as GSA contract opportunities. If you are interested in learning more about these programs, please contact us.

Check out the last post on the new Baltix Sustainable Furniture’s Cartable Collection.

Stay tuned for a fantastic new collection from Arzu Studio Hope! These handmade artisan rugs are the antiques of the future.

Enjoy the last month or two of our Ohio summer. Please do not hesitate to contact us for information or to request a presentation.

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Leonardo Da Vinci

Cartables by Baltix

Baltix Sustainable Furniture has added a new collection titled Cartables Mobile Accessories Collection( CartablesBrochure12.2WebSpreads). The line encompasses mobile accessories to coordinate with the already very cool and sustainable Green Table Collection.

The Green Table Collection has many customizable options utilizing the BioSurf. BioSurf is:  biolaminate  comprised of a 100% blend of soybean and corn biopolymer. BioSurf printed material uses digital technology to embed an image beneath a clear wear layer providing improved performance and high definition clarity (borrowed from www.baltix.com). This allows for images to be placed in or on furniture such as tables, lecterns, trash receptacles, and media carts allowing customization.

If you are interested in learning more about this sustainable new collection , please contact the Stella Group or check out the Baltix website at www.baltix.com.

Responsible Holiday Gift Giving

With the holidays approaching all too quickly we must take some time to be thankful for the unseen gifts we have. Consider supporting Arzu Studio Hope’s Peace Cord mission for an inexpensive holiday gift that supports our troops and employs Afghan women. Check out the website for more information: www.peacecord.org.

Socially Responsible Gorgeous Rugs

My recently acquired new line is also my fabulous corporate socially responsible line-Arzu Studio Hope.  These beautiful hand-woven rugs made by Afghan women weavers are given a fair wage and many other opportunities with Arzu. Designers (including myself) love to specify gorgeous rugs for all occasions. Why not specify a high quality product that will help others?

Stock or Custom?  Fully sustainable, the rugs are made from 100% sheep’s wool. Arzu stocks many rugs in Chicago. Need a unusal size, color or design? Custom design is another option with Arzu.

Arzu’s Mission

ARZU, which means “hope” in Dari, is an innovative model of social entrepreneurship that helps Afghan women weavers and their families break the cycle of poverty by providing them steady income and access to education and healthcare by sourcing and selling the rugs they weave. While structured as a 501(c)(3) in the United States and an international NGO in Afghanistan, ARZU operates as a “for-benefit” corporation, using private sector practices to create jobs in desperately poor rural villages where little opportunity exists.

“ARZU STUDIO HOPE supports the reconstruction of Afghanistan by empowering women, their families and their communities. Income generation opportunities support sustainable economic development, instill personal worth and build gender equality.” 
 ~CONNIE K. DUCKWORTH, ARZU Founder and Chief Executive Officer 

Contact us today for pricing and information on Arzu Studio Hope. Please visit their website to see more beautiful designs.

Nature Trends by The Gist

One of my favorite clients to visit is Chute Gerdeman. I typically meet with their Materials & Trends Specialist, Katie Clements. Katie is an inquisitive, bright, and happy person to work with. Katie is featured in Chute Gerdeman’s blog, The Gist.  In the recent post by Katie entitled, Katie’s-Nature Inspired Top Five, she presents just that, nature-inspired products. Please check out the blog to see what she is trending.

One of the products spotlighted: Heavy by Benjamin Hubert http://www.benjaminhubert.co.uk/

Calling All Healthcare Designers!

 Picture is borrowed from Healthier Hospitals Initiative

Want to help the healthcare institutions you work with save money? Position your firm against other firms by watching this webinar: Try Greening Healthcare: A New Way to Deep Energy Savings in Hospitals. It is presented by an organization called Practice Greenhealth.

What an idea-health, sustainability, and saving money! 

With organizations like Healthcare Without Harm, Practice Greenhealth, Healthier Hospitals Initiative and Greenguide for Healthcare it is apparent greening healthcare is on the up-and-up.

Take the lead and present these ideas to not only save money for these organizations but to show designers care about the environment and health.

DESIGN RESPONSIBLY!

New Ink-Gard Collection by LDI

LDI Introduces the New Ink-Gard™ Collection

Ink-Gard™, PVC-Free Synthetic Leather

State of the art stain resistance

• Common stains can be wiped off easily
• Many difficult stains, including ink can be cleaned with rubbing alcohol
• PVC-Free, Plasticizer-Free, no heavy metals(Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act of 2008)
• Superior performance properties
• Healthcare grade chemical resistance
• High abrasion resistance

If you are interested in seeing a sample and the new color options, please contact us today! For other LDI/EnviroLeather options check out the website at www.ldisolutions.com.

duoHOME, Gordon Sq Arts District

Two of my favorite architect/interior design clients are Tim Kempf & Scott Suskowicsz, principals of duoHOME: a different design experience located in the Gordon Square Arts District of Cleveland, Ohio. Not only do I love to visit with Scott & Tim but I enjoy browsing the showroom to see the unique items they beautifully merchandise throughout their space which encompasses two city storefronts.

Why a retail space for duoHOME? “The goal of the retail
aspect of duoHOME is to offer well-made, high-style home furnishings/accessories
at a competitive price point as an alternative to “big box” stores.  We offer
personalized service and strive to present unique and eclectic items that don’t
haunt the shelves of every retail store in the greater Cleveland area.
Additionally, we are committed to offering as many “green” products as possible,
and try and incorporate green principles into our design projects.”

May I mention, I also love the fact they incorporate Sina Pearson Textiles as often as possible in their designs.

Homeowners who would like to purchase Sina Pearson Textiles , Greenplay Children’s Sustainable Furniture , EnviroKid beanbags or Filzfelt in the Cleveland area are welcome to contact duoHOME.

 

Please take the time to support Ohio small businesses and visit with Scott & Tim and the duoHOME showroom for a unique experience. I always find I leave with a smile on my face!

www.duohome.com

 

 

American-made Hospitality Seating

The Stella Group has represented, Chairmasters, a great American-made  hospitality seating line for years. Chairmasters provides all types of seating from dining chairs, bar stools, poufs, benches, lounge seating, and booth seating as well as tables. The quality is second to none. The furniture is made in New York and shipped blanket wrapped.

THEATER SEATING

Looking for traditional free-standing theater chairs? Chairmasters makes beautiful theater seating as seen locally at one of Cleveland’s historical halls.

CUSTOM RESPONSE

The website displays many of what Chairmasters has made in the past-oldies but goodies- but the majority of what is made is indeed custom from, special finishes, COM, brass nailheads, leg modifications, height, width seat changes and seat & back changes. If you are looking for a design and cannot find what you are looking for contact us for help.

BOOTH SEATING

This is a line drawing of the Chairmasters’ booth seating construction. Do you have an opportunity to design built-in furniture with character and interest? Try pricing Chairmasters for the booth seating.

As a part of corporate social responsibility, please do not forget about using furniture from American-made, smaller companies like Chairmasters. You will not be disappointed. To learn more about Chairmasters, please contact us today.