The TrendSpot

Shade Recall Webinar

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 04:04:00 +0000

Are you confused about which corded products you should be selling?
Do you wonder whether or not you should be contacting clients about retrofitting their existing shades?
Perhaps you think you’re not affected by the pending new standards for corded products?

If you have these and other questions about the recent recall and how it will impact you, please read on:
As you may already know, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recently ordered a massive recall of corded shades. The Window Covering Safety Council has also announced a voluntary corrective action plan (VCAP) and continues to work with the CPSC on calling for consumers to replace or retrofit their existing corded products while developing new, more stringent standards. This Recall is a crucial issue facing our industry. It is not a “scam” and it will not simply “go away.” You owe it to yourself to be aware of the issue as it unfolds.
The Window Coverings Association of America (WCAA), Window Fashion Certified Professionals™ (WFCP) and Custom Home Furnishings Academy (CHF) understand the impact that this will have on our members and industry stakeholders. As premier organizations in the window covering industry, we believe that open communication and timely information is vital. To that end, we will be hosting an informational webinar to make sure all industry professionals have access to the standards as soon as they are released.
We are anticipating the announcement of the new standards in the next several weeks and dates and times will be scheduled as soon as we have a hard release date. We expect a high level of interest from our industry, so we will be offering multiple seatings of the webinars for your convenience. Watch your inbox for days, times and how to register.
What’s the SAFETY RECALL webinar series all about?
We’ll be offering a two part series designed to give you the full story and real answers to the CPSC shade recall and pending standards.

Part 1- Jenna Abbott, Executive Director of WCAA will moderate a panel discussion with representatives from the WCSC and industry experts. We will ask the burning questions surrounding the recall, clearing up confusion and discussing the new standards. This session will be focused on and geared towards the custom shade fabricator and seller. We will follow the discussion with a Q and A session where attendees will be able to ask questions that may not have been answered during the panel discussion.

Part 2- CHF, WFCP and industry pros will discuss the details involved in administering, implementing and complying with the new CPSC standards. We will tackle questions such as what techniques meet the new standards and what has to change in the way we fabricate, etc.
We can’t stress the importance of this issue enough - please forward this on to friends and colleagues in the industry. THESE NOT TO BE MISSED SESSIONS are where you can get real answers and the full story.
Thank You,
Jenna Abbott
Executive Director, Window Coverings Association of America

Deb Barrett
Window Fashion Certified Professionals™

Jeanelle DechDirector/CEO
CHF Academy, LLC

Questions? Contact WCAA at info@wcaa.org or WFCP at deb@gracemcnamarainc.com or CHF at jeanelle@chfschool.com.

Heimtextil Preview- Durable Values Inspire 2010/11 Trends

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:10:00 +0000

The trend theme for the January 2010 edition of Heimtextil is Uni(re)verse. The 10-person trend team took into account the intensity and uncertainty facing us—from obscure financial formulas to obvious ecological issues, from globalization’s pros and cons to the ups and downs of capitalism. So many critical issues demand our attention and force us to redefine what it means to be a producer, a consumer, a developer, a user, and of course, a designer.
Faced with all this confusion, our biggest challenge is to continually develop our creativity, to explore all cultures and all avenues for information. Most importantly perhaps is to learn the lessons of nature: responsible innovation, respect for diversity and an indomitable optimism.
It’s here that we can find the universal values that will help direct us out of the maze of confusion we find ourselves in. Nature’s lessons—time-tested and easily observed—offer gentleness, energy, refinement, elegance and simplicity, universal values to shape the outlines of new lifestyles, simultaneously optimistic and respectful.

REFINED ROOTS: Nature presented with modern, refined aesthetics.
LESSTRAVAGANCE: Between strict minimalism and over-the-top ostentation is a new take on EcoLuxury.
INFINITE TIME: Responsible design—for humans and the environment—over the lifetime of a product. The need for simplicity and the strong demand for quality come together in a responsible approach, where timeless authenticity is captured in a range of earthy colors; these themes connect elegance, ease and character.

INTIMATE BUBBLE: Breaking away—within the safety of closed spaces—to experience our desires of the moment.
IRRESISTIBLE STAGING: Playing with traditional references to confirm our individual personalities; a modern form of theatrical seduction.
DIGITAL CLASSICS: Virtual worlds increasingly offer new possibilities to create an imaginary existence. By mingling modern technology and decorative classicism, we achieve a dramatic exaggeration demonstrated in a theatrical range of opulent colors.

IMPULSIVE CREATIVITY: The beauty of everyday gestures and the energy of spontaneous creation.
GRAPHIC FASCINATION: Understandable, high-impact communication across all global markets.
MAGIC SIMPLICITY: Reinventing rituals and rediscovering enchantment. Instead of austere functionality, the mood is one of creative invention. Modular constructions, reworked geometrics and color-blocking are explored in pigments reminiscent of the 1980’s.

BENEFICIAL INNOVATION: Creating the time and space to allow nature to nurture.
ORGANO’TECH: Reducing daily complexities to enhance global well-being.
LAYERING REALITY: Integrating emotional added-value through technology, blending poetry and science. Natural inspiration for “soft” technologies that improve health and wellness; a range of fresh colors—from washed blues to smoky darks—provides multiple solutions from the most basic to the most complex.

What are The Worst Window Fashion Mistakes?

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:23:00 +0000

We bet you have seen your share of window design projects in your time, and we know some make you shake your head with a range of emotions from exasperation to sheer pity. How many times have you asked, " What were they thinking?" What are your “pet peeves,” those things you despise most about today’s window fashion scene? What have you seen that makes you cringe? What is your biggest no-no?
Post your story -upload pics if you have them- in the comments section. We’ll be posting some of them in next month’s WFCP newsletter.

We'll get you started with this decorative hardware mounting mistake. I wish I could grab the rod and push it up a couple more inches. Comments?

FutureVision 2020 Offers Unique Insight

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:07:00 +0000

Design Professionals From Across the U.S. to Reporton Current Conditions and Future Expectations

NEW YORK—December 17, 2009—FutureVision 2020, an overview of the current state of the U.S. design market along with insights into the social and cultural current that will impact consumers’ motivations, values and lifestyles over the next 10 years, will be a featured event at IMM Cologne. FutureVision consists of a group of interior design professionals representing major U.S. markets including New York, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Atlanta. In addition to the presentation, which will take place on January 20 at 11:30 pm at the Stage Area in Hall 3.2, the FutureVision designers will be meeting with European vendors to research new products for the U.S. market and develop business relationships.

FutureVision debuted to overwhelmingly positive reviews at the 2009 NeoCon trade show in Chicago, North America’s largest contract furniture market. That presentation examined how the combined volatility of uncertain economic conditions and dramatic changes within the design industry are working to reshape the role of the design professional in the U.S. The members of the FutureVision panel will report from the front lines of this rapidly changing industry.

“The market for design in the U.S. achieved tremendous growth in the last decade or so, but the design consumer is changing, the interior design business model is changing, and there are critical shifts in long-term consumer values and behaviors,” said Susan Schultz, a co-developer of the FutureVision 2020. “Given the different demands and requirements based on distinct regional differences; it all adds up to a highly complex market.”

The designers in the FutureVision group offer European press the opportunity to gain valuable insight to the latest trends in the U.S. interior design market. To arrange individual or group interviews, receive complete bios, headshots, and contact information for the individual designers, please contact Ms. Schultz at susan@spacedowntown.com by January 17. To attend the FutureVision presentation, please RSVP by January 18 to susan@spacedowntown.com.

FutureVision Group Overview

Deb Barrett, FutureVision Co-Developer
As an award-winning designer based out of the Chicago area, Deb Barrett has built a reputation for cutting edge couture treatments and soft furnishings; and is an accomplished speaker, editor and author. Barrett regularly speaks at design industry events on a variety of design, business and trend topics. Barrett has attended and reported on the European design fairs for a decade, developing trend and product reports for design industry clients. Her fascination with what’s around the corner and the constant search for inspiration has led her to her current roles as consultant, speaker and design blogger

Susan Schultz, FutureVision Co-Developer
With a background in design communication, marketing and product development, Susan Schultz looks a big-picture design industry changes with a view as to how companies can best adapt and succeed in a rapidly evolving market. A highly respected speaker at design industry events, Schultz has been covering the European design markets for over a decade, reporting on product and material trends, business opportunities and new design directions. Based in New York City, she originated the first-ever NYC off-site design event to run along with ICFF.

Jackie Von Tobel is an interior designer, illustrator, author and product designer with almost 20 years of experience in turnkey residential and interior design. Based out of Las Vegas, she has authored and illustrated three design encyclopedias for Gibbs Smith and has recently created a line of eco-friendly fabrics available through her website, Jackie Von Tobel

Beth Hodges owns and operates a custom workroom in the Atlanta area that provides wholesale drapery, soft furnishings and upholstery services to design professionals. With over 20 years of experience as a business owner, Hodges is also the immediate past president of the Window Coverings Association of America, an organization with over 30 chapters across the U.S., having served in that role for two consecutive terms. Hodges is also an experienced instructor and seminar leader.

Susan Sifakis established her custom workroom in the Boston area in 1996 to provides wholesale drapery, soft furnishings and upholstery services to design professionals. Throughout her career she has pursued educational and business development opportunities, to improve both her own business and the status of the design industry. She currently serves on the Drapery & Design Professional Advisory Board and as a WCAA Industry Education Guidelines committee.

Sharon Woodward is an interior design consultant based in Scottsdale who works with a national client base. In her 15+ years in the design business she has adapted to changing clientele and locations, having moved her successful business from the Chicago area in 2003. She has since served as WCAA chapter president in the Scottsdale region and is the 2010 IFDA Arizona chapter president-elect.

About FutureVision:
Developed by Deb Barrett and Susan Schultz, two interior design professionals who share a passion for market intelligence, trend development and new business directions, FutureVision is a platform for leading designers and other industry figures to share their insights and experiences with other design professionals through market research, business development consultations, training sessions, workshops and unique opportunities. More information can be found at www.designbusinessRx.com.

Somfy is Looking for Your Best Work

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:47:00 +0000

The Trendspot team just got a call from Somfy and asked us to help them find some fabulous photos for an upcoming marketing campaign. Check out their call for photos below:

Somfy is looking for your best photos of soft shading products! Send us room photos featuring Roman shades, Austrian shades, Balloon shades and draperies. If your photo is selected you'll receive credit on the photo for photography and fabrication and also receive a $100 American Express gift card. Please send entries to ipmarketing@somfy.com and cc: shannonl@gracemcnamarainc.com by December 21st for consideration.

Good Luck! We know there is some amazing work out there. Strut your stuff!

Pantone Announces Color of the Year for 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:17:00 +0000

Pantone LLC ,the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, today announced PANTONE® 15-5519 Turquoise, an inviting, luminous hue, as the color of the year for 2010. Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise evokes thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing.

“In many cultures, Turquoise occupies a very special position in the world of color,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that Turquoise represents an escape to many – taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy.”
Whether envisioned as a tranquil ocean surrounding a tropical island or a protective stone warding off evil spirits, Turquoise is a color that most people respond to positively. It is universally flattering, has appeal for men and women, and translates easily to fashion and interiors. With both warm and cool undertones, Turquoise pairs nicely with any other color in the spectrum. Turquoise adds a splash of excitement to neutrals and browns, complements reds and pinks, creates a classic maritime look with deep blues, livens up all other greens, and is especially trend-setting with yellow-greens.

In fashion, Turquoise makes a statement that can look elegant and dressy in fine silk and gemstones, or casual and fun in cotton and athletic apparel. Because of its versatility, Turquoise is a great accent color in jewelry, purses, shoes, hair accessories and even nail polish for women, and ties, shirts and sportswear for men.

Tinsley from Jet Set Next

Taylor from Dramatical

Trendspot saw this coming and showed Turquoise in several tints and shades in our 2009-2010 Trend Color Palettes. Most notably in Dramatical and Jet Set Next.

The TrendSpot: Win a Trip to Paris

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:18:00 +0000

The TrendSpot: Win a Trip to Paris

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:17:00 +0000

The TrendSpot: Win a Trip to Paris

Win a Trip to Paris

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:08:00 +0000

Opportunité Fantastique!
(Just a little French lingo to announce a spectacular opportunity for one lucky and talented design professional!)
Industry movers and shakers Jay and Mark of Helser Brothers are offering a trip to the City of Lights, PARIS! As in France! The winner will join Industry Experts Deb Barrett and Susan Schultz as one of a select group of 12 at the Maison et Objet show January 19-27, 2010. The trip includes a Cruise on the Seine and a visit to the Louvre among many other delights. It is truly the trip of a lifetime. There are a few qualifications, a passport, an engaging personality, and the ability to share the journey as you blog for us through 7 days of non-stop Francophile fun. You will get to be our eyes and ears on this trip, submitting daily posts about the products you see and your ongoing adventure.See the fine print below for details on just what is included in this offer and apply today! The trip is coming fast so we need to choose a winner on November 30th. Just send an e-mail to sendmetoparis@helserbrothers.com explaining why you are the perfect person for the job, then keep an eye on www.whyhelser.com for the big announcement. Ooh la la! (Wow in French – start practicing!)

The Fine Print:
Paris 2010 includes:

- 7 days /7 nights, January 19 – January 27, 2010, in the City of Lights
- Airfare to/from JFK or Chicago. (Winner is responsible for getting to JFK or Chicago.)
- Hotel d’ Aubusson, Four-star, double-occupancy Superior room in the heart of St. Germain (Super-convenient location and we’ve stayed in this hotel and love it!) Five minute walk to the subway, direct line to the show. Walking distance of the Louvre, Orsay, Notre Dame, Sorbonne; surrounded by art galleries, restaurants and shops.
- Daily Breakfast at the hotel. Value of $140.00
- Airport transfers Value of $80.00
- All zone metro passes/carnets for 7 days. Value of $85.00
- Admission to Maison&Objet and Planet Mueble trade shows. Value of $78.00
- Welcome reception at M&O from show management
- Exclusive M&O trend presentation with Q&A opportunity Priceless!
- As-you-wish meet-ups for cocktails or dinner to review the day, compare notes, share stories, etc.
- Pre-travel web session(s) with Deb and Susan to preview locations, M&O planning, travel details, our Paris faves and more
- Cruise on the river Seine. Value of $80.00
- Free entrance to the Louvre or Orsay. Value of $26.00
- High Tea one afternoon in the Aubusson’s Grand Salon. Value of $25.00
- All taxes and service included.

Need more info? Visit DebBarrett.com

imm Cologne News

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:55:00 +0000

IMM Cologne has just released the details of several interesting tours developed to introduce U.S. visitors to the wider array of design available throughout Cologne. The half-day tour (conducted in English) will include stops at several of Cologne's “mini design centers" including Rheinauhafen, Spicherhoefe and ending up at Design Post, a year-round showroom destination right across the street from IMM.
In the course of the tour, visitors will be able to visit showrooms including Boffi, B&B Italia, Moroso, Kvadrat, Nya Nordiska and many others. The schedule is such that you can do the tour (lunch included) and still have a few hours in the afternoon at the show.

Other tours include:

2000 years of architecture in Cologne: From the Romans to Renzo Piano

Rheinauhafen -The new architectural highlight of Cologne is the former dockyard along the Rhine which has been changed in an architectural playground. According to the New York Times this is one place to be visited among 44 worldwide. We want to invite you in an architectural office which has been working in the historical Rheinkontor since the late 80s. With insider talk
and presentations of old documentation material we will offer you a view inside the exciting
development of the dockyard.
For a more details and complete schedule, contact IMM Cologne’s U.S. office.

{via Vision Editor's blog}

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:43:00 +0000

Challenging the notion that Christmas gift-giving has to be about spending lots of money, and buying the latest hot item, Folksy (a kind of UK based Etsy) and Sue Ryder Care (a health care charity) are running a competition called Upcycle Christmas. The goal of the contest is to transform second hand goods into fresh new creations suitable for holiday gift-giving. There are five different categories: most innovative piece, craftsmanship, best use of materials, playfulness and people’s choice. Winners will have their wares displayed at the Sue Ryder Care Camden store for a month, and all proceeds from sales will go to Sue Ryder Care.
For more information, or to get involved, head over to the Folksy Blog.

Who will be the first to upcycle something into curtains draperies ?

[via I Like]

OH ! B.O.Y.

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:37:00 +0000

It’s that time again; time for the 2009 Interior Design Best of Year Awards. The fourth installment of this annual event features awards in both product and project categories and they have put the call out to you, the design community to be their jury. So embrace your inner critic and take a few minutes to check out the categories and vote.
Interior Design compiled a selection of hundreds of product entries in over 40 categories and your keen eyes and professional voices will narrow down the finalists in each group. Online voting is open and continues until Sunday, October 11, 2009, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
Only architecture, facilities management, and interior design professionals are eligible to participate in the voting and only one entry per person is allowed. This year’s Best of Year Award winners will be announced in a celebration on December 3, 2009 at New York’s Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

I have been voting for several years and follow the window treatment nominees with interest.
Notably missing in the category are some of our industry players and product categories. Though several manufacturers have stepped up this year to enter motorization products. Here are the nominees in the window treatment category. What nominees are missing from your point of view? Who would be your Best of the Year winner? Is it on the list?

Iriduium by Stacy Garcia

A la Mode by Stacy Garcia

Sivoia by Lutron

Whisper Motors by Hunter Douglas

Motorized Drapery by Hunter Douglas

Steeling Beauty by Gretchen Bellinger

Engaging II by Rodolph Textiles

Kirbe Vertical Drapery by Lutron

Noonday Sun by Hartmann and Forbes

Kalahari by Conrad Shades

Air Rights by Knoll Textiles

Cerus Technology by Lutron

Things We Care About: Northfield Scholarships

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:41:00 +0000

We are alway amazed at generosity and the magnitude of the charitable efforts of the members of our industry. Jay, Christine and all the drapery and window covering professionals involved in the Northfield Project- Best Wishes!

Interested in getting involved? Read on........

Republished from WhyHelser.com Posted by Jay Helser

Christine Shepard, the tireless coordinator of the Northfield Foundation renovation and design effort, invited me out to see the project while I was in Virginia last week. She treated me to a wonderful tour of the house complete with details of the plantations’ extensive history, but what I found most fascinating were the stories of the people behind the Northfield project. Christine is clearly passionate about Northfield, and that passion was most evident as she fought her emotions to deliver heartfelt accounts of the selfless folks who had pitched in. I was profoundly moved by what’s going on out there in Virginia, so as soon as I got in on Monday I told Mark all about the experience and a conversation ensued about the best way to help. Christine had mentioned that there were many people who would love to attend the October 23-25 Educational Fundraising Event but are struggling to muster the funds, so Mark and I have decided to offer 5 “All Inclusive Event Package” scholarships valued at $345.00 each.
Nominate an industry colleague (or yourself) by leaving them as “comments” to the WHY HELSER post, and we will draw the winners from “the hat” on Friday Oct. 2nd at midnight. Each nominee will have one chance even if they have multiple nominations.

OBESSION: Suzanis

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 03:27:00 +0000

Since I first saw their bright colors peeking out of piles of textiles in the booths of Hall 1 at M&O, I have been obsessed with Suzanis. Those of you who know me, know that I am a fabric-oholic. I decided right then that I needed to add one of those fabulous specimens to my small, but growing textile collection.

So I cut out suzani inspiration and posted it on my office wall, read about them; dreamed about them upholstered on my reproduction Louis balloon chair; designed window treatments with them. After all, if I could use it as a sample; then I could maybe justify the purchase. As I coveted my suzani they became more popular and I watched them ride the trend curve. First showing up in the design affluents , then moving into the mainstream and showing up as printed textile pattern inspiration. I continued to obsess.

I came close to owning my first one in January pouring over the abundance of suzanis on my visit to M&O, but when you are presented with too many options, the paradox of choice kicks in. I decided not to decide.
This month when Susan went to Paris for the design shows, she asked if I had a Paris shopping list- I said to myself- I deserve it- and put the suzani on my list. I sent her my inspiration photos, my budget and left it in her hands. She did fabulously! I got a sneak peek via email last week and I can now say I am the proud owner of a suzani.

My Suzani

What is a Suzani?
The Central Asian equivalent to an heirloom quilt. Handmade, hand stitched and handed down.
A lavishly embroidered cloth ( suzan means needle in Persian) produced for centuries by talented needle workers as folk art and adorning tables walls, beds and horses. After the iron curtain lifted, we rediscovered them.

Corner Detail

The Backstory
Traditionally made on silk or cotton backgrounds; Suzanis are first taken to a baster who stitches together the narrow widths and draws the design on the seamed cloth. Then it is taken apart and each female family member embroiders a separate strip; working finely stitched s stylized designs with a kind of small crochet hook. Colors are spectacularly created with dyes from granate skins, walnuts, and indigo.When finished, they are reassembled. Because they were heavily used, the earliest examples we have are from 18th century, but the designs- palmettes, botahs, tulips-suggest the Greek and Ottoman Empire. Older suzanis were on neutral grounds; unlike today’s colored backgrounds of red, gold, pink and sometimes violet.

What to look for
Antique Suzanis run $3000 - $5000.
Outstanding needlework- look for overstitching with subtle differences in shadings in different light s
Changing designs with no set pattern repeats are more exciting
Large medallion suzanis from mid 19th century

What to avoid
Worn pieces. Hold up to the light for holes and wear marks
Overly bright colors could be synthetic
Over faded examples. Keep yours out of direct sunlight
Fragments; unless you are piecing.

Look at the floral facing on the reverse side

SPOTTED: Bag a Scraps

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:06:00 +0000

You might be familiar with the hip clothing company, American Apparel. They have always been in the forefront of new and innovative ways to make cotton knit more exciting. They were one of the first retailers in Second Life, Crowdsourcing is their middle name and their efforts to up the American consumer’s taste levels through innovative non-American products is admirable. But when I saw their latest venture all I could say is GENIUS! American Apparel will now be bypassing design and production altogether and opting to sell the Bag-O-Scraps, which the AA website describes as :

“collected cuttings from some of your favorite fun fabrics from around the
American Apparel factory to make one-of-a-kind bags of scrap fabrics. Use them
for all sorts of arts and crafts. Make clever jewelry, accessories, a card for
your grandma or a colorful hanging sculpture for your apartment. Each bag comes with a zine (printed on scrap paper, of course) with five fun and easy scrap
projects, complete with how-to instructions.”
Workrooms and designers take note- those plastic garbage bags of scraps and unwanted leftovers are your next money maker. If AA can do it so can you!
They also encourage buyers to then send off pics of their own creations to be featured and maybe have their chance at 15 minutes of fame.
Think about it- sell your scraps with a how-to booklet; set up a flickr account to upload images; run a contest; build a community- What a brillant idea! If you take this on please keep Trendspot posted- we’ll help spread the word!

Color Inspiration is a Snap!

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 01:07:00 +0000

The upcoming Sept/Oct WF Vision magazine is our always popular Color issue and we're extending an invite to all iPhone groupies a unique way to get involved. For those of you who might not have heard the news, Sherwin Williams launched a fantastic little iPhone app earlier this year call ColorSnap. Take a look at the intro details on the ColorSnap home page, which includes a link to the free download. It's easy, fun, practical and addictive!

Share your ColorSnaps with the Vision community and be entered into a drawing for 5 Sherwin Williams Professional Color Files. Let us know what's inspiring you...a recent vacation? a beautiful floral display? an exotic fabric? What is it, what does it mean to you and how would you love to use it in a design? We’ll share your inspiration with our readers in the Color issue.

We've started a Flickr group for this and/or you can post to the Vision Facebook gallery, or feel free to simply e-mail us with your ColorSnap inspirations. Watch for the Sept./Oct. issue to see if your color inspiration made the pages and the drawing winners. Let's all go get creative!

Vignette Viewer's Choice Announced

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:22:00 +0000

Attendees were kept busy photographing the innovative vignettes located on the show floor, at this year's IWCE: Vision'09 while they were voting for their favorite vignette throughout the three-day event. GMI is pleased to announce this year’s Viewers Choice winner Robin McCallister, Robin McCallister Designs, Jacksonville, Florida .

Using this year’s IWCE theme, Vision- the vignette designers were asked to choose a hypothetical client dossier filled with all the challenges, twists and turns of navigating the new consumer landscape. Then they designed and fabricated a window vignette that answers the question- How did you map your client’s personality, needs, views onto a window fashion?

Robin’s vignette was done for the Lifecaching/ Boho Soul consumer. Life caching is saving every moment of our lives with the expectation to relive experiences and have instant access. It’s about collecting, storing and displaying one's life through scrapbooks, i phones, Flickr. Boho Soul has us decorating with our experiences either ones we’ve had or hope for. “After interviewing my client, I decided to create a space that was an oasis. It might be in the corner of a busy family space, a small little niche up in the attic, a little sitting area that allows one to dream and reflect and see precious memories,“ says McCallister.

Inspired by her love of travel and a friend's recent trip to India, Robin created a vignette that hit all the touch points- displaying one’s life and evoking memories of times past ,travel, family or rituals. Design Pros attending Showtime, held in High Point, NC June 7-10 were also treated to Robin's vignette along with Candace Phelp's More Adventuress vignette, this year's runner up.

The following manufacturers were generous in their donation of the following materials for the vignette.
Award Fabrics- Trimmings
Conso- Trimmings
Catania Silks- Silk organza
Hanes Fabrics- Lining and interlining
Helser Brothers- Jewels Collection
Rowley- Pillow Forms
Thibaut Design - Wallcoverings
Highland Court- Pillow fabrics
RM CoCo- Swag Fabric
Silk Loom- Panel Fabric

Check out all of this year's vignettes, their backstories and their generous sponsors at wf-vision.com.

Ahead of the Curve: Sweet Hope

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:42:00 +0000

Sweet Hope is a curtain fabric designed by the acclaimed Japanese designer Akira Minagawa for Kvadrat. It’s ideal for south and west facing windows, because it offers superb heat and light regulation properties. This textile is made from reflective Trevira CS yarns and is fabricated by knitting two layers together, which fixes the fabric against stretching. It’s unique in that usually different layers have traditionally been woven together. The front side of Sweet Hope has colorful mat finish and the back is reflective and behaves like a metal in reflecting light and heat. Unlike many textiles with technical properties, there is no metal used in the construction of Sweet Hope. It is a natural choice for those looking to minimize their environmental impact.

The innovation in Sweet Hope lies in the novel reflection of light and the good transmission values. No metallic process is involved in the production, meaning there is no aluminum vaporized onto the textile. The fabric remains soft, semi-transparent and falls nicely.Inspired by feelings and natural images, such as soft sunlight falling through the foliage, Akira Minagawa has developed nine gentle, earthy and different colors for Sweet Hope: autumnal browns, a cool blue, mustard green, a dusty olive, soft greys and white. The inviting and accessible character of the textile has it roots in the designer’s vision. With Sweet Hope he aims to create lasting feelings of warmth, hope, happiness and togetherness with friends and family.

Who’s the Designer?
Akira Minagawa is a Japanese textile and clothes designer mainly known for his

minä perhonen fashion label, which is characterized by a romantic, slightly naive style. His designs are detail-oriented and conscientiously worked out and his garments are in great demand among fashion-conscious, young Japanese women. The variations of his textiles are virtually endless, or as he puts it: «as many as there are varieties of butterfly».

Minagawa is able to combine his fascination Scandinavia with his own cultural roots and create the absolutely unique, personal style that have made his fashions and interior designs so popular. In 2006 Minagawa was awarded Designer of the Year by the Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun.

«I try to design clothes so that they last for a long time and improve with
everyday use. I do not want to be just a fad or give a strong impact that does
not last. I think of upholstery in the same way.» - Akira Minagawa

mina perhonen store in Kyoto

Embroidered coat by Minagawa for mina perhonen

Textile designs by Mingawa

ColorSnap is Genius!

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 02:08:00 +0000

In the weeks before NeoCon, I receive loads of press releases touting all the new products that were launched during the show. One in particular caught my eye - Sherwin Williams' Color Snap. This Apple iPhone application allows users to quickly and easily capture hues from their surroundings and match them to more than 1,500 Sherwin-Williams colors! So I downloaded the app to my shiny new iPhone before NeoCon and when I arrived at NeoCon I headed to the Sherwin William's booth to get a quick tutorial. This is how it works-Find a color you love, snap the photo and receive the matching Sherwin-Williams paint color and coordinating palette. You even get coordinating color schemes, and RGB numbers and can create your own inspiration library of saved colors. And it's free!

I have already used it several times matching colors while shopping for rugs for a new client. Definitely a must have for your Designer toolkit.

Runway to Window Fashion Show

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:31:00 +0000

Runway to Window Top Fashion Trends for the Home Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:45:00 +0000

Light Layering
Another oft-dismissed fabric, tulle, is part of a larger movement in fashion toward bigger layers and soft volume. With significant exceptions--Christian Dior’s New Look and the Christian Lacroix pouf in the ‘80s among them--fashion is often about the draper’s art. Bias cut, fitted to the body, sleek and sexy, these have been key fashion themes for decades. But over the past several seasons soft, light layers of chiffon, tulle and even featherweight knits have shown up with increasing frequency on the runway. In some cases there’s a overlap with another trend, ruffles, in that these lightweight, translucent fabrics add volume and movement to what would otherwise be straightforward shifts and sheath dresses. Think ballgown panels and petticoats of tulle, netting, lace peeking thru bottom valance hems.

This Poiret Collar could translate into a tieback or fabulous header

Sex in the City SJP- wears light layers that are reminiscent of bishop sleeves.

My Fav!!!- I translated this into a panel with red taffeta rose header for our Runway to Window seminar.

Structured Ruffles
The third ultra-feminine look to be reinvented on the runway has to be ruffles. While the Light Layering trend uses ruffles in a fairly traditional manner, although in softer fabrics, designers working with Structured Ruffles have taken a sculptural, textural approach. Ruffles are worked in patent leather or stiffened suede, freezing the movement in place; or broad ribbons of fabric are worked into pleated, minimalist rows.

These approaches, taken by Marni, Fendi, Giambattista Valli and perhaps most influentially by Alber Elbaz at Lanvin, reconstruct the ruffle as something more sophisticated, more interesting and more intriguing than the word initially connotes.

Modern Volume
This last trend is the most recent and, in a sense, the most radical. It’s about reshaping the familiar in unlikely ways, and it may take our eye a while a to adjust. It ranges from the recent re-introduction of peplums and volume at the waist, to apparently rigidly structured looks that are surprisingly soft, to the use of stiffer fabrics that fall the large cones rather than soft folds. Dynasty-era big shoulders are re-invented, skirts flair and pouf in odd angles and shapes, fabrics billow and gather in deep folds. The trend toward wider-leg, 1940s style trousers with a higher waist is the most familiar iteration of this look, a complete reshaping of the mid-to-late ‘90s ultra low waistline/bootcut pairing, but designers such as Nicolas Ghesquière at Balenciaga, Francisco Costa at Calvin Klein, Alber Elbaz at Lanvin and Alexander McQueen are among the leaders in rethinking the shape of things to come.

Nothing but a over scaled Inverted Box pleat

Love the cut and band - What a fabulous panel!

Who says you can't get inspiration from the runway?!

Runway to Window

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:40:00 +0000

Straight from the catwalks of Milan, Paris, London and New York into America’s room and windows- Fashion’s top trends have always sparked interior designers’ imaginations.
Here are our top six Fashion trends for the home in 2009/2010 as presented at IWCE in May. Today we'll focus on three. Check back Tuesday for the other three.
Lace
There’s no doubt that lace is a potential taste trap So to make lace look at all appealing required a fresh sets of eyes, a different approach to technology. Over the past several seasons lace has been slowly been making its way back into fashion—we first cited lace as an inspiration back in 2006/2007, but it was the fall 2008 fashion season that really put lace back into spotlight. Prada used guipure lace is various colors–metallic gold, midnight blue, classic black, saffron, taupe,, and more—in 90% of her runway looks; and in many of her lower-priced Mui Mui pices. She left it unlined, layering it over flesh colored body-suits, granny panties and bras, and high-collared turtlenecks; an inversion of the typical lace peek-a-boo approach. At the same time, designers such as Stella McCartney, Sophia Kokosalaki and Riccardo Tisci at Givenchy were approaching lace in terms of piecing, laser-cutting and other structured looks. Lace could be tough without be trashy. Lace is no longer confined to the special occasion ghetto, or for “women of a certain age”. Some houses, including Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana and John Varvatos are showing lace looks for men.
For an interesting look at the “lace capital of the world” check out this short article in the New York Times Style magazine, go to http://www.nytimes.com/ and enter Playing the Lace Card in the search box.

Christain LaCroix Lace Detailing

Fendi Laser Cut Lace

Jakob Schlaepfler's Pizzogrande for

their '09 Home Collection

Patricia Urquoila for Mutina Tiles

Pattern Mixing
Fashion has always been comfortable mixing things up, an approach that has entered the home lexicon as the ambiguously named “eclectic” style. But in recent seasons we’ve seen an ever-more intriguing take on this, spear-headed by the spring 2008 collection of Dries Van Noten, whose intricate and colorful florals were engineered to look as if the different prints occurred by coincidence and just happened to look fabulous. It’s important to remember that a kind of WASP-y disregard for style conventions has always been a key part of this looks—from Lilly Pulitzer shift dresses to the bleeding madras of East Coast prep school kids, to the swirling psychedelia of Pucci prints. A more recent touchstone for this look is Patricia Field, who developed the off-center looks for Sex and the City and currently for the title character in Ugly Betty.

Besides the literal translation, Interiors can take a page from this fashion trend in a couple of ways- literally taking color blocking up a notch by using patterns and taking advantage of digital printing to engineer prints to the end window treatment style- box pleated, attached valances all engineered on one run of cloth.

Dries Van Noten

Boro by Kenzo Maison

Punky/Chunky
The ‘80s are alive and well in terms of fashion inspiration. Chains, studs, rivets and especially zippers have migrated from accessories to the main event, showing up in dresses from Balmain, Versace, Max Azria, Gucci, and more.

The slightly dangerous, sexy vibe of how the ‘80s punk scene was originally interpreted by Madonna shows up in layers of chains and pearls, and the piling on of bracelets and cuffs; while the edgier London-based punk scene pioneered by Vivienne Westwood is evident in the studded leather, the widespread use of zippers and the imagery of bondage transformed into fashion.

An outgrowth of this look is the big hardware look that has shown up in accessories—oversize details on glasses, handbags and especially jewelry.

This year's chunky jewelry becomes tiebacks

Color de Seda's Molokai tiebacks

Caviar Tieback by Color de Seda

Sacho Hessein Tiebacks- Armor and Lancelot

IWCE : Vision'09

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Thu, 21 May 2009 17:43:00 +0000

Debby Lodder sent me this link to her day by day coverage of the IWCE in Atlanta last week.http://window--coverings.blogspot.com/

Take a look. More to come- including the Runway to Fashion show we held in our seminar and on the show floor on Friday, May 15, 2009.

Vision'09

noreply@blogger.com (Trendspot) — Mon, 11 May 2009 18:40:00 +0000

Hi all,

I am in ATL this week for Vision '09:IWCE . Watch for posts and pics of all the new exciting products and services launched at the show. I'll be posting this year's fabulous vignettes, video of floor presentations and some surprises too!

If you Twitter, you can follow me at http://twitter.com/windowdressings

Color Cues!

noreply@blogger.com (Bruce Knott) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:28:00 +0000

Greetings from sunny - yes, sunny! Seattle, where I'm spending most of the week at the Color Marketing Group's Spring Conference. We're ere to determine the upcoming color forecast for all industries, and of course, my main interest is what's happening with color in Home.

I can't give away all our secrets, but I can share this with you:

Red is getting warmer, and moving towards yellow, which means it can pass itself off as a red-orange. Blue-based reds are going away for now. Coral is back plays well with dark browns as well as with gray. Orange remains browned down and earthy - a continuation of the warm, spicy oranges that have been popular - think terra cotta. The look is "comfortable" yet upscale. A new, bright, juicy orange has been introduced that will make a great fun accent color.

Yellow-green is still strong, as is a mid-tone yellow, but the news is that greens are moving towards blue (think blue spruce) and yellow is moving towards green (think lemongrass). A new blackened green - darker than hunter green - has also been added to the forecast.

Two very different purples are forecast - one is a bright saucy purple that will enhance yellow-greens, caramels, and charcoals. The other is a blackened plum - deep, dark, and rich that can stand alone or work with copper, grayed greens, and yellow-oranges. Both move away from lavender and lilac and have much more chroma.

Browns are lightening up, yet a new true chocolate was introduced. As Seattle has a historical underground, this was appropriately named "underground brown", in tribute to our host city.

As mentioned in a previous post, it's no surprise that several gray hues made the forecast. Gray makes the perfect background for other bright colors, so it's very versatile.

My last morning in Seattle brought the normal colored sky - gray with rain. A perfect ending to a great conference, and just the right shade of gray at that.

Bruce Knott CMG