From significant business changes to noteworthy product launches, there’s always something new happening in the world of design. In this weekly roundup, AD PRO has everything you need to know.
Product Launches
CB2 and Jennifer Fisher Debut Sculptural Collaboration
CB2’s latest collaboration is here—and it’s a good one. The furniture company asked jewelry designer Jennifer Fisher to make a handful of pieces, all of which convey Fisher’s innate sense for sculptural forms. “We were drawn to Jennifer’s signature style, point of view, and impeccable eye for details, which translates to the collection,” CB2’s president Ryan Turf says to AD PRO. “It’s an edgy, sophisticated aesthetic for anyone who wants their home to feel curated, but it’s versatile and functional too.” Speaking to AD PRO about how she approached the design process, Fisher chimed in to say, “I looked to create simple items that are timeless, clean, and modern. It was important to me that every piece was universal, meaning the designs can be seamlessly layered in with whatever you might already have in your home and can be moved around as your life changes.”
Bunny Williams Unveils New Tabletop and Furniture Designs—As Do Two Others
Love everything AD100 Hall of Fame designer Bunny Williams does? Then be sure to check out her latest product launch for Ballard Designs. Expect classic pieces like scalloped cocktail napkins, blue melamine plates, and decorative “floral specimens.” For those seeking out further ideas for a tabletop refresh, look no further than Astier de Villatte’s raw clay collection, now available through Nickey Kehoe. Finally, if the Bunny-meets-Ballard furniture offerings are too classic for your taste, Knoll unveiled three product reintroductions this week, in the form of new variations of the Platner Arm Chairs, Jumbo Table, and AD100 architect David Adjaye’s Washington Corona Coffee Table. In other words, it’s just what you (and your client) need for a spring-summer update.
A color story to show one of Armadillo & Co.’s new palettes.
Photo: Courtesy of Armadillo & Co.
Armadillo & Co. and Patterson Flynn Martin Unveil New Textile-Based Offerings
If Armadillo & Co.’s textiles, with their Aussie provenance and emphasis on natural fibers, have piqued your interest in the past, get ready for a whole new way to shop. This week, the company shared its new custom color program. Available to the trade only, the program includes 36 customized tones. Interested interior designers can now expect to be able to order wool carpets from Armadillo & Co.’s Agra line in this new array of options. Elsewhere, Patterson Flynn Martin launched two new collections, a series of woven broadloom fabrics and a handful of hemp abaca designs.
Business
Bed Bath & Beyond Announces Strategic Restructuring
It’s a tough moment for Bed Bath & Beyond, whose stock has already fallen 41% so far this year, according to Bloomberg.com. Now the retailer has announced that it will slash approximately 500 corporate jobs and eliminate some $85 million in annual expenses as part of an effort to streamline field operations. After the news was announced on Thursday, shares of the company rose 2.6% after hours.
Modsy Continues Its Expansion
Drawing on user data, online design service Modsy has expanded its D2C furniture line. Modsy saw 80% year-over-year growth in customers “asking for more conversational and creative seating solutions in their design plans.” In response, the line—which was launched last year as Minna Home and rebranded this year as Ravine Home—is now offering nine collections and 100-plus seating options, as well as five accent chairs.
The Shade Store and Lutron Form an Alliance
It’s a match made in window treatment
heaven. As of this week, The Shade Store has formed an alliance with Lutron, a company that specializes in automated shade and lighting controls. What exactly does this mean for those heading on a shopping excursion at The Shade Store soon? Better chances to buy products with quiet movement, scheduling options, and scene control. In other words, seamless products to make your client’s home run even more seamlessly itself.
Whom Home Launches an App
Whom Home, a digital purveyor of sustainable and customizable furniture, has gotten into the app market thanks to Glu Mobile’s Design Home. Its partnership with the virtual decorating app, which reaches over 1 million users a day, launched this past Monday. Considering that Design Home already features products from Williams Sonoma Inc. brands, could this be a future avenue for furniture company advertising in the digital age? Only time, and downloads, will tell.
Original Design Fellowship Returns in 2020
Be Original Americas, the nonprofit that seeks to promote authentic design, has announced a number of updates. For starters, the organization’s annual student design fellowship will return this summer. Two undergraduate students will participate in an immersive five-week program that introduces them to everything that goes into producing and marketing original design. This year, the fellowship has a global bent, with a stop in Munich to visit Steelcase’s Learning and Innovation Center, and a trip to Copenhagen to spend time with Danish brands such as Carl Hansen & Søn, Fritz Hansen, Georg Jensen, among other destinations. Furthermore, from March through December, Carl Hansen & Søn will offer a limited-edition version of Hans. J. Wegner’s classic Wishbone chair, with a portion of proceeds supporting the fellowship.
Fairs
TEFAF Maastricht to Continue Despite Coronavirus Outbreak—With Some Restrictions
This week, coronavirus began its sweep across Europe. Salone del Mobile, set to take place this spring in Milan, was postponed until June as it became clear that Milan was the epicenter of the continent’s outbreak. But for now, TEFAF has announced that its March fair in Maastricht is scheduled to take place as planned. In an official statement released by the organization, TEFAF did, however, note that journalists and visitors whose travel to the Netherlands may be restricted thanks to the virus would unfortunately not be able to attend the event.
In Memoriam
Renowned French Auctioneer Dies
This week, Le Monde and The Art Newspaper reported on the death of François Tajan, the deputy chairman of Artcurial. The cause of death for the decorative arts expert was food poisoning. A spokesperson for the organization said in a statement: “It is with great sadness that we confirm the death of François Tajan. As auctioneer and deputy chairman of Artcurial, he took the first French auction house to a new level, as much through his vision for the business as through his intellectual curiosity.”
Real Estate
A Meridith Baer Home Listing Could Set a Record Price
Home staging extraordinaire Meridith Baer’s latest project might just be poised to set a real estate record. The business woman and interior designer has staged a Florida Keys home that’s been listed for $24.5 million. If sold for that price, it would be the highest such residential sale in the region. “To highlight the stunning views, we used a white palette and low-profile furniture combined with neutral, light accessories,” Baer explains to AD PRO of her design. “We also included organic textures to complement the calming beachfront location and natural wood elements.” A natural fit for buyers as well, it would seem.
Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
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