By Patricia Sheridan, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
HIGH POINT, N.C. — Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz has made his reputation as an innovative, colorful interior designer. His book “Emotional Rooms” is about the elements that give a space life and how they come together to move us.

“The most important element in that is color,” he said. “Of course, my apartment is about 20 shades of white.”

His New York City apartment is a respite from the bold colors Mr. Noriega-Ortiz works with all day, he explains.


“Also, I wanted to focus on the shapes of the pieces in the apartment. They are very sculptural and sensual.”

The designer will be at Perlora in the South Side on Thursday for the Pittsburgh introduction of his Metropolitan Home Collection of contemporary furniture. Jo-Anne Pier, the magazine’s merchandising editor, will also be on hand for the 11 a.m. seminar and the Black Tie Bash that evening.

The furniture, which debuted last year during the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, was meant to be an entry point for those wishing to add some interest to their own rooms without feeling intimidated by a profile that was too cutting-edge.

“The pieces we developed for the collection were meant to be non-threatening. I used familiar forms and just tweaked them enough,” Mr. Noriega-Ortiz said.

Because his work had been featured on the cover of the magazine many times, he jumped at the chance when editor Donna Warner approached him about doing the line. He knew his audience well.

“The readers, regardless of age, all have one thing in common: They are forward-thinking and like modern, contemporary living. They express it in their interiors,” he said.

Knowing that homeowners prefer not to start from scratch, Mr. Noriega-Ortiz created his chairs and sofas, cocktail tables and side tables to fit right into an established interior but not disappear.

“It is definitely transitional furniture. Any piece can be put into an already decorated room and flow with it.”

Familiar lines make his furniture non-intrusive, he said.

“For example, I have a chair based on a Klismos chair, an ancient Egyptian design everybody has based a chair on.”

There is also an urn-backed chair that mimics the classic shield back.

“The idea was not to be scary but to be comfortable in every setting,” he explained.

At each of the past three markets, the collection has been shown in different colors. During the fall market this week, he is showing it in “jazzy blue.” Blue, perhaps because this is the last time the original collection will be shown as it was debuted.

“We have spent the last three markets concentrating on fabrics and textures,” he said. “Next market [April 2015], I will be doing a brand-new collection, along with bedroom additions to the first collection.”

Tickets are $20 for the seminar with Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz at 11 a.m. Thursday. Tickets are $50 per person for the seminar and Black Tie Bash, which runs from 7 to 10 p.m., also at the Perlora showroom, 2220 E. Carson St., South Side. All proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Call 412-431-2220 for reservations for both events.
First published on October 6, 2014 at 12:00 am
Patricia Sheridan can be reached at psheridan@post-gazette.com or 412-263-2613.