Archive for August 30th, 2007
After buying a three-bedroom house on Baja Peninsula in Mexico near La Paz, Marjory Hawkins assumed that furnishing her vacation home would be a snap. She loaded up a trailer at her residence in Northern California with everything from pieces of living room furniture to dishes, hooked it up to her car and headed south to Mexico.
But en route, both her car and trailer were stolen off a street in front of a hotel in Ensenada, Mexico. “It was the most devastating thing,” she said. “And nothing was ever recovered.”
Instead, Ms. Hawkins, with the assistance of her Spanish speaking house caretaker, combed local furniture stores and roadside stands. “I bought at smaller furniture shops and worked with my caretaker who spoke the language, told me where to go and negotiated prices,” she said. “She knew where to go for mattresses and she knew great places for margarita glasses. It was a week-long major shopping blitz.”
Home decorating is by no means easy, but furnishing a second home can be especially trying from afar where time constraints compress shopping trips into week-long visits or weekends. And that doesn’t account for delivery snafus.
One option is to go with a design firm that can provide a complete package of furniture and appliances to owners. There are several such companies based in Britain that cater to second home buyers purchasing properties in Spain, Portugal, France and even Dubai. And in the United States there are several firms that cater their services to the second home market in Mexico and the Caribbean.
Chapman Enterprises (www.chapmanent.com) in Jupiter, Fla., is one such company. They furnish homes for home owners with properties in Mexico and the Caribbean, as well as those who have rural retreats in the United States.
“In the middle of Montana, there are those clients who would like to have more than a cowboy house,” said Sarah Chapman McDougall, owner of Chapman Enterprises, noting that her firm can outfit a house with everything from mattresses and linens to art work and barbeques, and of course, furniture. “We will do the entire house from soup spoons to ceiling fans.”
To start the design process, Ms. McDougall requests a floor plan with room dimensions and a budget. A good rule of thumb when estimating a budget, she said, is 5 to 10 percent of the purchase price of the residence. “A $300,000 condo might have a budget of $30,000,” she said. “That would be pretty typical of a two- or three-bedroom unit, while a million dollar house might go up to $85,000 or $95,000.”
Other companies focus on providing furnishings for second homes overseas. Oasis Interior Imports (www.oasisinteriorimports.com), based in Reno, Nev., offers three furniture packages for homes in Mazatlan, Mexico, ranging in price from $34,999 to $89,999. Each package comes with a set number of items for the bedrooms, living room and dining room, but buyers have choices in finishes and fabric colors.
A basic package, for instance, outfits the living room with a sofa, loveseat, coffee table, two end tables and a television stand. While a more expensive package adds two chairs, an area rug, wall art and window treatments to the mix. More expensive packages also include outdoor furniture and cooking ware for the kitchen. All of the items are handcrafted in India and Indonesia, and package prices include taxes, shipping costs and installation of the furniture.
After a frustrating experience furnishing her own vacation home on Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, Karen Scott founded Gringo Furniture (www.gringofurniture.com). “It’s stressful. You can take a week to fly down, rent a car and start driving around looking for stores,” Ms. Scott said. “Or you end up going to road-side huts, but that means carrying around a large amount of cash.”
She partnered with a local Mexican furniture maker and started selling furniture online, including armoires, mattresses, bedroom suites, dining tables, 50-inch plasma televisions and wall mirrors. Items are delivered anywhere in Mexico, with delivery time usually taking four to six weeks. She said that many of her offerings are geared to buyers who plan on renting out their properties. They look for durable, but low-cost furniture. Her sectional sofas, for instance, start at less than $500.
Donna Clark used Gringo Furniture to fill out her partly-furnished beachfront condo in Akumal, on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, buying a coffee table, bench and bar stools that were custom painted blue, red and green. The items were even delivered to the condo in her absence.
“Everything was there when we arrived on our next trip,” said Ms. Clark, noting that buying the items online left her more time to enjoy the real purpose of the visit: relaxation. “I’m only there three or four times a year,” she said. “So it’s nice not to spend the whole time shopping.”
August 30th, 2007
The tea table sat unused for decades in a dining room, just one of a number of pieces of traditional furniture in an old family house near Philadelphia. How it came to be featured in a forthcoming Americana sale at Christie’s, estimated to sell for $2 million to $3 million, is a tale in itself.
The previously unknown Philadelphia carved mahogany tilt-top tea table from about 1760 is “very near the top,” said Alan T. Miller, a Pennsylvania consultant to Americana collectors and an authority on the artisans of the pre-Revolutionary period.
“It makes your heart beat faster,” said John Hays, a longtime Americana expert at Christie’s who three years ago sold a Philadelphia tea table by the same carver from Stratford Hall Plantation in Virginia. “This table has the extra advantage of being more thoroughly carved than the Stratford table, and has the asset of retaining its original surface. It’s over the top.”
The deep carving on the scalloped edges of the table’s piecrust top and on the pedestal and base is attributed to the so-called Garvan carver. Because the identity of this 18th-century Philadelphia craftsman remains a mystery, historians have named him after a high chest in the Garvan collection at the Yale University Art Gallery.
“He’s known for the boldness and vigor of his deep carving,” Mr. Hays said. “Certain strokes, like the way he carves the end of a leaf to look like a first baseman’s glove, are uniquely, distinctly his.”
Other telltale signs: the deeply carved convex molding on the canopy over the urn, the opposing C-scrolls with trefoils atop the knees, the “rope” encircling the baluster, the jewel-like cabochons or oval discs, the intaglio floral carving and the cluster of acanthus leaves that ends in a single, overturned leaf tip.
“In the 18th century you paid for each additional carved element: pad feet, knee carving, scalloped edges,” Mr. Hays said. “It’s like paying for extras when you buy a new car.”
The table is a classic Rococo design, whether it’s open (when flipped up) or closed. “Philadelphia furniture is all about the synergy between carving and form,” Mr. Hays said. “This design stands as the most successful of the renowned Philadelphia form.”
Mr. Miller added: “These tables are extremely sculptural. They give a feeling of dancing in space.”
Though the top is both warped and cracked, the 29.5-inch-tall table retains its original (read: crusty, super-valuable) surface, probably because it has been in the same Philadelphia family for 250 years.
“It was made in Philadelphia and has always remained here; it’s from my great-great-great-great-great grandparents,” said the consignor, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of concern for her family’s privacy. “The table just sat there in the dining room, where we ate every single night. My parents didn’t use it even during dinner parties. I had no idea it was significant. We had a whole house full of traditional furniture.”
Researchers at Christie’s say the table was probably originally bought or commissioned in Philadelphia by a member of the Fisher, Fox, Pleasants or Wharton family, since it was passed down to William Wharton Fisher and his wife, Mary Pleasants Fox, in the early 1800s. A mahogany tea table is listed in the inventory of Fisher’s ancestor, William Fisher, a member of the Quaker mercantile elite who was elected mayor of Philadelphia in 1773.
In recent years the table has resided at the family’s house on the Main Line. When the consignor and her siblings went to sell the house and the table, they asked John Hook, chairman of the trusts and estates department at the Philadelphia law firm Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, to oversee the dispersion of its contents.
“We divided the furnishings into three categories: what should be left in the house to stage it for the sale, what should go to storage and what should be sold as junk,” Mr. Hook said.
He asked a man from a local auction house to look at the “junk.” By coincidence he arrived on the appointed day with an appraiser.
Mr. Hook recalled: “Because I didn’t want anyone slowing down the process, I got annoyed when the appraiser told me: ‘This is a pretty revolutionary piecrust table. It could be worth as much as the real estate.’ I said, ‘The house is worth three-quarters of a million dollars.’ He looked up and said, ‘So is this table.’ A chill went up my spine.”
The appraiser didn’t even ask for the commission. “He told me, ‘You need to involve a national auction house,’ ” Mr. Hook said.
Events then moved quickly. After Mr. Hook contacted them, Sotheby’s and Christie’s immediately sent experts to see the table on different days of the same week. Mr. Hook told them the consignor would choose the auction house by the Saturday of that week.
“When they told us how significant the table was, leaving it in the house seemed irresponsible,” the consignor said.
Mr. Hook added: “It was too much of a liability. If the house had burned down, at that point we didn’t have enough insurance to cover the value of the table. We wanted to get it out as soon as possible.”
That Friday evening, as he was about to have dinner with the consignor at the Merion Cricket Club, Mr. Hook learned she had chosen Christie’s.
Then the phone rang, and it was Mr. Hays. He said that he and a Christie’s colleague, Martha Willoughby, were five minutes away, sitting in an Escalade limousine. The two joined Mr. Hook and the consigner at dinner to discuss the sale and then returned to the house. “While John and I finished the terms of the agreement at the dining room table,” Mr. Hook said, “they wrapped up the tea table. It had taken on a life of its own. They were taking care of it like a baby.”
By 10 p.m. the contracts were signed, ending in hours a process that could have taken weeks. The tea table was secured in the limousine, and the Christie’s team drove off. The table is now scheduled for the Oct. 3 Americana sale.
The consignor is thoughtful about the table. “I would love to have heard some of the conversations that took place around this table in pre-Revolutionary Philadelphia,” she said.
Mr. Hays agreed: “It was around tea tables like this where the elite met in the 1760s to discuss whether there was going to be a revolution. Just think about the decisions they were making.”
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August 30th, 2007
It’s not fine crystal, it’s not even glass it’s high-society plastic. It is acrylic furniture, made from the same material fake finger nails come from.
“I try to do some real funky, and some of them real subtle,” designer David Muniz said.
Muniz’s furniture is made from Lucite. The synthetic polymer was first developed in 1928 and sold by a German company. Yet these designs have an island heritage.
Working with Lucite is a time-honored tradition in David’s family. His father actually began the business over in Cuba. Today, based in Miami, David is using his imagination to come up with new and innovative products.
The Lucite comes to David’s studio in sheets, similar to plywood.
“We cut it, we route it with routers, we bevel it and then we have to polish it, all the sides and all the angles.” Muniz said.
Although the angles look delicate, right down to the faux candles, the transparent designs are strong enough to hold humans during dinner and even their predators. The same acrylic material forms the glass tunnel through the Shark Encounter at SeaWorld.
If you do not want to sink your teeth into clear furniture, David can add an array of color and a style all his own.
That’s a look at Your Home.
Scott Fais, Central Florida News 13.
August 30th, 2007
Beaufurn, LLC, a high-quality commercial furniture supplier for restaurant, hospitality, airport, leisure and institutional markets, will exhibit at Booth #398 at the Hotel, Motel and Restaurant Supply Show of the Southeast, to be held January 30 – February 1, at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Beaufurn will introduce its new product line of all-weather tables and chairs to more than 22,000 foodservice and hospitality professionals expected to attend the show.
“We are excited to introduce this new collection of all-weather furniture, designed to withstand the elements and abuse of outdoor use and present a look and feel that is contemporary and inviting. We expect show attendees will be excited and inspired by these highly versatile and durable pieces,” said William (Bill) Bongaerts, President, Beaufurn, LLC.
The new products include:
• Colorful Zula and Zetta stacking outdoor chairs;
• Sleek and stylish galvanized steel Sally arm chairs;
• Artistically designed trumpet-style stainless steel table bases;
• The Ariana collection, a casual outdoor living room set consisting of loveseat, coffee and end tables and side chairs in weather-resistant PVC wicker.
Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Beaufurn, LLC supplies high-quality, innovatively designed furnishing solutions to hotels, restaurants, universities, airports, food courts, coffee shops and commercial customers worldwide. Its nationwide clients include The Cheesecake Factory, Ghirardelli Chocolate Co., Mrs. Fields/TCBY Stores, Verizon Wireless/Cellular Sales, Westmark Hotels, New York New York Casino in Las Vegas, and Princeton University. Call 336-768-2544 or visit www.beaufurn.com for more information.
August 30th, 2007
By: Furniture World Magazine
World Market Center Las Vegas, a premier home furnishings showroom and trade complex emerging as a global stage for new product introductions, launched the Summer edition of Style File on its website www.lasvegasmarket.com.
Style File, a video guide hosted by Tym Desanto, the renaissance guy on TV’s popular summer reality series HGTV Design Star, is a preview of next season’s hottest styles and trends, as they were revealed at Las Vegas Market, held July 30 – August 3, 2007.
The recent Las Vegas Market – which is the fastest growing international trade event dedicated to home furnishings – yielded its most impressive mix of quality exhibitors and buyers, more new product introductions, all the latest styles and trends, along with an unprecedented level of energy and excitement among the tens of thousands industry professionals in attendance.
“Las Vegas Market is not only the largest new industry event, but it also flourishing as a vibrant, fashion-forward marketplace where manufacturers are using it as a launching ground for their newest products and collections,” said Dana Andrew, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations. “There were a number of trend-worthy introductions that took place during our Summer Market, and we wanted to put these styles into a useful context for retailers and designers who desire to stay ahead of the curve.”
World Market Center teamed up with Sphere Trending to identify trend highlights for the year ahead as featured in Style File. Maxine Lauer of Sphere Trending, a well-respected trend and design firm dedicated to converting consumer insights into product innovation, was also a featured speaker as part of the Summer Market’s Trend Series. She outlined many of these looks – and which World Market Center showrooms they could be found in – as part of her fast-paced preview of consumer trends.
Attendees of Las Vegas Market saw 10 home furnishing trends dominate the recent show:
Sweet Natured
White-washed finishes, weathered touches, sweet florals, cut and etched glass, limed oak.
Space Race
Geometric angles, curves with motion, cheeky planetary-inspired designs, futuristic finishes and fabrics.
Florentine Formal
Rich, glowing woods, intricate scrollwork patterns, subtle damask prints, warm finishes for metals.
Function Added
Integrated features, functions that are hidden until needed, surprise and delight elements.
Downsize Me!
Innovative storage solutions, scaled-back sizing, sleek and tailored lines, uncluttered designs.
Artisan
Complex and layered metal finishes, one-of-a-kind items, hand-crafted touches, authentic detailing.
Authentically Green
Sustainable woods, environmentally friendly fabrics, dyes and other materials, natural elements, organic products
Modern Globalization
Key influences are currently coming from Asia, Africa, South America and newest to the scene, Turkey.
A Space of My Own
Sophisticated designs, touches of color, and infusions of fun.
Tradition with a Twist
Updated shapes that retain traditional roots, fun mixed with formality.
The Winter 2008 Las Vegas Market is scheduled for January 28 to February 1, 2008 at World Market Center’s Buildings A, B and Pavilions and tradeshow at the MGM Grand Hotel.
About World Market Center
World Market Center is an integrated home and hospitality contract furnishings showroom and trade complex in Las Vegas. When fully built, at 12 million square feet in 8 buildings, World Market Center will be the largest trade show complex in the world. The $3 billion, state-of-the-art campus will showcase furniture, decorative accessories, lighting, area rugs, home textile and related segments, as well as the Las Vegas Design Center (LVDC) open year-round to the trade. World Market Center produces the semi-annual Las Vegas Market, held every January and July, and is the fastest growing home furnishings trade show in the world. World Market Center is now leasing the third building to a broad cross-section of the home furnishings industry. For more information World Market Center, and to find out about leasing or exhibiting opportunities, visit the website at www.LasVegasMarket.Com or call 888-WMC-SHOW (962-7469).
August 30th, 2007
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