Time For a Little Napa

We've been keeping all of this juicy good content from you, what with the holiday weekend and all. Never fear... we're back with focus and ready to showcase some of the special projects we've been working on.

First up... the Napa Valley Film Festival. You'll recall Pearson was lucky enough to be asked to participate in this celebrity dotted event that took place in the stunning Napa Valley earlier this month. For the opening Gala, five furniture brands were invited to create vignettes inspired by old Hollywood Movies. Jennifer McConnell, VP of Design for Pearson, took the challenge on and selected Doris Day & Rock Hudson's movie "Pillow Talk" as her inspiration.

The positive response to Jennifer's glamorous vignette was overwhelming! It will likely be featured in an issue of Traditional Home to be published early in 2012. Naturally we won't ask you to wait until the issue runs... we have plenty of fabulous Pillow Talk inspired photos for you to admire.

A little scoop on the event: Each movie-inspired space was up for just one day, for the opening night Gala on Nov 10th at Robert Mondavi Winery. The decadent vignettes were all dismantled the next day. Approximately 800 guests attended. Word has it that Leo DeCaprio was there, although Jennifer didn't see him in the crowd.

A little about our space: The furniture was all Pearson, the white sofa fabric was donated by Sunbrella (perfect for a wine drinking event, don't you think?!) and the Currey & Co Serena Chandelier and Asturias Table Lamps were graciously provided to us by Giorgi Brothers in San Francisco. Getting that gorgeous chandelier hung in an outdoor vignette was no easy feat, but the result was well worth the labor and effort of all involved. Everyone wanted to know where that stunning light fixture came from!

I particularly love how the scene looked the night of the event. That back-lit fan-shaped wall really set the tone for intimate seating in a posh little space. Jennifer's use of happy turquoise and raspberry on top of white was just perfect for the festive event. And I have to say, how terrific to know all of that wine was safely being consumed on Sunbrella's virtually indestructible white fabric. Whew!

We can't say enough great things about and Sunbrella for their showstopping white fabric. And thank you, Giorgi Brothers for thinking outside of the box to get us the key accessory elements needed to pull together the space. Enough chatter, our yourself a glass of Cabernet and enjoy the photos!

A Nod to Mod

Now that I've stopped drooling over the incredible art featured in the space, I can admire the "come hither" vibe of the chaise. The piece in question is Pearson's 2372 chaise designed by Naples Florida, as designed by SoHo designer Robert Couturier for a Naples, Florida client. Upholstered in neutral linen this easy piece begs you to give your weary feet a rest and read the New York Times or gaze up at one one many prized pieces of art curated by the owners.

Throughout the home, Robert used bold prints and repeated the intense blue and white tones. He says of the design that a house, "must feel rooted. This house was done quickly, but it doesn’t feel that way because it’s very rooted - in the colors, the shapes, and the styles that reflect the clients. Otherwise, it wouldn’t work."

In this home, as in all of this widely lauded designer's projects, the space certainly does work. Read the store in the December 2011/January 2012 issue of House Beautiful.

High Tops

If I've noticed one thing about Pearson, it's that much attention is given to the actual top of their table designs. While many luxury brands solely focus on legs and silhouette, this one pays great attention to the view from above. And what a view it is on several of their newer designs!

I particularly love the quatrefoil table introduced this past spring. A radiant veneered quatrefoil-shaped top he top surrounded by a gallery raised on tapering legs and shaped stretchers. Eek! Glorious in every way.
But his newer sibling, the 9672 hexagon-shaped side table is definitely trying to upstage him! Just look at that faux shagreen top (a universal hit at October Market) and that striking inlaid metal pattern. Thankfully there's an equally fabulous lower shelf, otherwise this top would be a crime to cover with a lamp. Look for it to show up online quite soon once all of Pearson's new introductions appear in the online catalog. In the meantime, here's a full shot of this new beauty.

As Seen In: Market Style Report Fall/Winter 2011

It's always impressive to see the post Market recaps that appear both on and offline. One of the consistently prettier publications is actually produced by the High Point Market Authority themselves. The Market Style Report mimics the layout of a glossy magazine, showcasing the overall emerging trends that presented themselves during "fashion week for the furnishings industry" each season.

At October Market in High Point they observed lighter stains in wood furnishings, a wide array of new colors making an appearance (buh-buh safe palettes!), the unshakable trellis and Greek key patterns (showing no end of the geometric-loving trend), watercolors and artistic touches in both art and fabric... as well as a host of other terrific shifts in interior fashions. It's true that the only thing consistent is change. We're seeing quite a bit of it this year.

Further into their recap they begin chunking items from multiple brands into categories. Our chic new 220 Bench made an appearance in their "Old Hollywood" layout, alongside beautiful products from Hickory Chair, Maitland-Smith and Duralee.The recurring theme with the chosen pieces was a return to Golden Age stars and the aspirational looks that accompanied that era. Items in this category often possessed Art Deco-like flair. We think our leggy, brass-footed bench is a real showstopper. Clearly we're not alone! (p. 11 of the guide)

And in the "Shine On" section our stunning 2392 daybed, in all her tufted goodness. In this case they showcased the shot of her in shimmery chocolate velvet, which only plays up her looks. The story here being that Market highlighted luxe looks inspired from haute couture design houses. (page 15 of the guide)

Flip through the rest of the guide for more of their astute trendwatching observations. And to the team that puts this together... thank you for including us in this lovely Market recap!

Giving Thanks

First let me share a bit of background. My first memorable first impression of working closely with luxury goods came at the age of 22. I'd been brought in to Waterford/Wedgwood to focus on window displays and in-store merchandising. In a store filled with beautiful things, it was my job to find my favorites and feature them artfully. Dreamy, right? I knew at the time that this was a special privilege... and to this day I still look back fondly on that opportunity.

And so... my secret love of all things Wedgwood continues. I adore to my prized collection of demitasse cups and saucers (which I've now promised myself I'll continue to grow), but it's high time I focused on developing my "adult" tabletop.

Thanksgiving has given me the impetus (excuse?) to spend days scouring the neighboring shops for just the right set of white dinnerware. Will I do bone china or French porcelain? I can't decide. And then there's the issue of color and pattern. We all know white is the best color for actually presenting food, as it allows you to focus freely and completely on the ingredients on the plate. So why, oh why, are these stunning patterns so pretty and tempting? My absolute favorite of the moment is called Dynasty. (Lucky me, they have a demitasse cup I'll be adding to the mix!)

But during my hunt I took a step back and realized... no one cares about my place settings. No one is looking at the plates themselves but me. Thanksgiving is all about the guests, the food, the conversations, the company... your hosting skills. The most important guideline of successful hosting: be relaxed. And so it's time I focused on who is at the table rather than what is on the table. At least as much as a visually oriented person like myself can.

If those early days at Wedgwood taught me anything, it's that the only one truly focused on those gorgeous place settings is you. Don't delude yourself into thinking that your guests will turn up their nose to a great meal if you're dining on mismatched pieces or uber-affordable Ikea dinnerware. The point of quality tabletop goods is to make the hostess feel good. To help her relax and entertain with ease.

The rules of engagement for hosting are easy: prepare as much as you can before they arrive, then relax once the first guest steps into the house. That's it. Don't strive for perfection, don't try to orchestrate the movements of others. Just let it all happen. Enjoy the moment and stop to say thanks for the great life you live, the great company you keep and the miracle of life itself. (And if you must, say thanks for the lovely tabletop that you set before they all arrived.)

So I'll do what any good hostess would do: obsess about these dishes until the moment I open the door to greet my first guest. This gives me one final day, today, to search for those "perfect" place settings. Once the door opens to company on Thursday I must just let it go and focus on the task at hand: being gracious.

Here's wishing each of you a fabulous holiday meal and an even better holiday season. (And if you're still shopping for food and serving pieces, I wish you my best today. You can do it!) Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Featured: Wedgwood "Dynasty" Place Setting, Pearson 1408 Dining Chair, Georg Jensen Bernadotte Pitcher

Maison de Luxe...

Stay tuned for an exciting series of posts on the Maison de Luxe event, a terrific design event we are proud to sponsor. What's the fuss about? Prepare to see the legendary Greystone Estate of Beverly Hills reimagined by over twenty of the today's leading designers. This incredible property occupies 18.5 manicured acres and boasts an impressive 46,000+ square foot baronial-style residence built in 1928 for the Doheny family. How's that for impressive?

As you might imagine, having the opportunity to design a space in this historic property is a privilege any designer would enjoy. A few of those talented figures include some of our favorite designers: Ron Woodson and Jaime Rummerfield of Woodson and Rummerfield’s House of Design, Suzanne Rheinstein of Suzanne Rheinstein and Associates, Lori Dennis of Lori Dennis Inc. - all of whom have used Pearson pieces in their finished spaces.

These stars of interior design are working alongside notable names Martyn Lawrence-Bullard, Mary McDonald, Barry Dixon, Jamie Drake, Nathan Turner and others. A star studded lineup of today's greatest designers.

Be on the lookout for many posts coming. In the meantime, learn more about the event here. The Show House Tour is from December 2-22, Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-3pm, cost: $35. We suggest you attend the Designer Speaker Series which happens on December 2, 9, & 16 and costs $50. These events include the show house tour and are sure to be well worth any fee. Feel good knowing that a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Friends of Greystone, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the restoration of Historic Greystone Estate.

{Insider tip: grab a few friends. Groups of 20 or more will enjoy lemonade, set aside seating and tasty nibbles from the menu. Contact Fiona at (323) 732-5400 for details!}

It's Showtime!

{Look closely... what do you see? Our 1912 dining room chairs were used in this year's ad for the December Showtime Fabric Market. Love that!}

Those of you in the textile industry are waiting with bated breath for next month's Showtime Fabric Market. This bi-annual industry event for upholstery, leather and trimmings is being held December 4-7th in High Point, NC. This is the biggest fabric, leather, and trim show in the States and is NOT to be missed if you are in the business.

Oddly, few interior designers realize that they too can attend. This event isn't just for fabric industry professionals. In fact, many of the vendors sell cut yardage. It's a fantastic arena to pick up on new trends and advancements in the textile industry. Just for the education and exposure aspect alone it's an exciting event every designer should consider attending.

Need more to sway you? How about jewels and libations? There is an annual cocktail party named "Welcome Home" free for all attendees on Sunday evening. It's held in the Boiler Room in Historic Market Square. Come and rub (well covered) elbows with some of the industry's biggest names.

Which brings us to our next topic: Jane Matteson of Swarovski Elements will be on hand with her team to discuss global inspirations from the fashion, jewelry, accessories, interior design and lighting industries with the latest on-trend innovations. You'll learn what the company's in-depth research and analysis gathered from around the world reveals about upcoming shifts and evolutions in design.

We think cocktails, new textiles and inside scoop on trends and shifts in our business give you plenty of excuses to attend. Hope to see you there.

Learn more about Showtime Fabric Market: follow them on twitter, visit their blog, register for the event and like them on facebook.

As Seen In: LonnyMag's Nov/Dec Issue

We love Lonny. (And that's not just because they showcased our fall fabrics on page 56 of their Nov/Dec issue.) The latest version of the magazine has an incredible gift guide (kudos to the team on such spectacular styling), holiday entertaining tips and remarkable lifestyle tips from Jonathan Adler as we gaze into his fabulousbly quirky boutique and Deborah Needleman (of domino magazine fame) who has a new book out, The Perfectly Imperfect Home.

Lonny always features incredible interior design projects, but rather than being the least bit predictable, Michelle and crew wow us with a wide cast of characters and brands. This issue included a West Elm makeover story and a little blogger love for the dashing Mrs. Lillien. Lonny. We love you too. Thank you for delighting us with your range and creativity.

Pearson: Napa Valley Film Festival Sponsor

Now that Market has passed, Jennifer has hopped on a plane to Napa Valley for the week to outfit a space in glam style as only she knows how for the Napa Valley Film Festival. Since our last post, Pearson has become one of the sponsors of this star-studded fall event. While I can hardly wait to see photos of the finished space (as well as the reveal of the cinematic classic she chose as her inspiration), I'm also keeping my eye on the growing celebrity attendee list.

So far word has it Adrian Grenier, Heather Morris, Naya Rivera, Jeffrey Wright, James Cromwell and Dane Cook will be there. Keep your eye on their blog, as the list continues to grow every day.

For those who can head to glorious Napa for the event, here are the reasons to do so: the event is designed to "support the art of independent filmmaking and to enhance the cultural landscape and economic diversity of Napa Valley through artistic vitality... The Napa Valley Film Festival [brings] hundreds of filmmakers and thousands of film lovers into the valley; presents special sneak preview screenings of prestigious new films at various times throughout the year; and supports the development of student filmmaking programs in local schools."

Do well, drink well, enjoy the show and maybe, just maybe rub elbows with some of Hollywood's actors. Tickets available here

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Shag-adelic

Shagreen, that is. Between the NYDC event and High Point Market, there was one clear and away star of the show: shagreen. In fact, we could barely keep some of our tables on display, as designers wanted to literally walk out with them in hand. (And many of them did!) A great problem to have, wouldn't you say?

Get in on the exotic trend with one of our new shagreen table options. First, the incredible 9742 cocktail table that looks even better from above. The starburst patterned top makes this a showstopping piece for a living room. You might even find it too pretty to cover with the usual array of books and botanicals. Lucky you: there's a bottom shelf too ;) 

But the real star here is the 9675 bunching table. The new hued sister of our already popular 9651 bunching table. Somehow the newly colored top struck a chord with color-starved designers. This greyish, blueish, greenish beauty is even more mesmerizing in person than you can imagine. Photos simply don't do it justice.

Swing into your nearest Pearson showroom to see these two exotic beauties in person. We promize you won't be disappointed.

Highlights of Pearson's Market Showroom

Not to be missed, this new 2392 daybed. Tufted, crisp, and in this case wrapped in of-the-moment chocolate velvet. Cover yours any way you like it, but this one screams deliciousness.

Fabric and color were clearly the stars of the show this Market. We saw numerous snaps on style-savvy blogs of our tie-dyed fabric in fetching shades of blue. We love the juxtaposition of fresh fabric on classic silhouettes. Apparently, we were in good company!

Can you believe this looker? This was the 200 bench mentioned pre-Market. Standing next to our retro fabulous 9670 drink table we think this handsome fellow is begging to be front and center at a stylish fete.

These should all show up on the Pearson site soon. Until then, stay tuned as we unveil more fall introductions!

Elle Decor: Showroom Etiquette

While most of us know how to behave in public (with the exception of unexplained awkwardness in public elevators), there's still a risk of social fumbling for clients (and professionals) in designer showrooms. Elle Decor has gathered a list of 15 tips to remember when shopping with (and without) your clients for a project.

Being prepared and polite naturally rise to the top, but many of the other guidelines cover communication basics and setting expectations. None of these are overly complex, but I suspect these showroom shopping basics are often forgotten or ignored by even the best in the field.

For expertise and feedback from the side of the showroom staff, Elle Decor tapped Thomas Lavin of Thomas Lavin and our own J. David Hatfield, Director of Sales for Hickory Chair Pearson in New York.

I've shorteded their tips above, but you can see the full interview on ElleDecor.com.

As Seen In: St. Louis Homes & Lifestyles

St. Louis Homes & Lifestyles is consistently good to us. This week the magazine featured our sleep sofa 4409-2 (last row, second from right) as designed by G.M. Doveikis & Associates. The collection of goods they rounded up for their story Hello Handsome showcased the ongoing movement towards menswear inspired fabrics, furniture and décor. Rather than being rakish, these elements each provide quiet masculinity and balanced by sophisticated polish.

Also shown in the lineup is our undeniably handsome 2328-2 Leather Sofa. Although this can be covered in any of our fabrics, we love how it looks in tobacco colored leather with brass nailhead trim. The exposed legs and sleek arms keep the piece from being overtly mannish, but we still like his slightly rugged sensibility and feel this stylish piece would be right at home in any gentleman's quarters.

The Art of Accessorizing

{Image via Mrs. Howard personal Shopper}

I just uncovered a great blog post by interior designer Jennifer Reynolds. She lays out her five main considerations when accessorizing a space as well as revealing her favorite elements to add to a room. Her fab five were (and I quote):

• Fresh flowers (botanicals or edibles) – can also be a very high quality faux, read my lips….HIGH QUALITY:)
• Coffee table books as well as beautifully leather bound books or similar (I think I have a book fetish)
• Tall objects such as lamps, candle sticks or hurricanes
• Found objects like antiques, unique treasures or one-of-a-kinds
• Framed art and mirrors of all shapes, sizes and styles

Great list. Go back and read her post to see how she focuses on key elements like scale (Go big or go home!), quality (inexpensive should never look cheap), planning and budget basics.

Don't sully a perfectly beautiful space or incredibly made furniture by completing the room with under-scaled tchotchkes or poorly designed items. Take your time, pay closer attention and nail it with well-chosen items that enhance the space.

Trendspotting: Pretty Perching Benches

The post-Market buzz is always so telling. Hindsight being 20/20, it gives designers and buyers alike the chance to note what really stood out to them amidst the chaos of the week. Kelly & Joann of Atlanta interior design firm Kandrac and Kole spied our candy-colored perching chairs and saw them for what they truly are: stylish solutions:

"Take for example, these “perching benches” from Pearson Furniture. When you need extra seating but cannot afford to give up the visual or physical space of a full size chair – these are the perfect remedy (and soooo comfortable)."

Ladies, they are comfortable. And isn't that fabulous fabric to die for? It's one of Pearson's new fabric introductions, just released at Market. Thank CReative Director Jennifer for her vision in producing such eye-catching pieces. Small in stature, big on impact.

I also love the glam settee the duo uncovered at Sam Moore. And Kelly & Joann are right... it would be IDEAL in a nursery or foyer. Notice the use of dazzling pink in both photos. We told you color was back!

See the rest of their Market finds, and be sure to give their beautiful portfolio a closer look.