Inspired.talk

Steve Nobel Presents: Hug Your Clients

Steve Nobel presenting "Hug Your Client" in NYC Wednesday.

This past week at Kravet in the D&D Building in New York City, design branding consultant Steve Nobel introduced a new lecture series titled “Hug Your Clients.”

Nobel, a well known speaker on the topic of luxury and affluence in our industry, presents a compelling case for establishing fulfilling relationships with your clients that are built on a foundation of transparency and accountability.

The presentation is filled with simple suggestions for ways to put your client at ease and create a mutual benefit. By singling out topics like pricing and invoicing, contracts, mark up, timelines, follow through and the “big reveal,” the take aways, while intuitive, will be a game changer for designers.

Nobel will be traveling the country, presenting at various Kravet showrooms. Upcoming cities include:

Atlanta May 9

San Francisco May 15

Denver June 26 

Chicago June 28

If you’re in one of those cities, you will not regret setting aside the time to hear this presentation. Throughout the year, Kravet hosts similar events all over the country. Check with your local showroom to get an upcoming events schedule.

Ask Alice: How is Ikat Fabric Made?

A few years ago, the centuries-old weaving technique called ikat enjoyed a resurgence, and everyone called it a trend. Now, with several years of hindsight we can definitely say ikat is here to stay.  But what separates this ethnic design from the rest? We’re glad you asked. Here, Kravet’s own Alice Guercio tells us how ikats are made, and we’ve put together this video showing the process in action. Let us know what you think in the comments.

-JP

 

One of the most popular trends in interior design today is ikat. The word ikat comes from the Malaysian word ‘mengikat’ or to tie, bind or wrap around. The proper pronunciation of the word has long been debated; however, the correct way to pronounce is ‘ee-kaht’ not ‘eye-cat.’ This ancient style of weaving uses a resist dyeing process similar to tie-dye where the warp and/or the weft yarns are dyed before the fabric is woven on the loom. The result of this process is a motif which is “blurred” in appearance. This ‘cloudy’ look comes from the slight bleeding of the dyes into the resist areas.

Bansuri, a popular ikat from Echo Design, shown here in multiple colorways. Available through Kravet.

Ikat is a universal weaving style common to many world cultures and is likely to be one of the oldest forms of textile decorations now. It is extremely difficult to determine where the technique originated. It probably developed in several different locations independently. For instance, during the 19th century, the Silk Road deserts of Bukhara and Samarkand were famous for their fine silk Uzbek Ikat. India, Japan and many South-East nations such as Cambodia, Myanmar, Philippines and Thailand have weaving cultures with long histories of ikat production. In addition, these designs were also common in Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Mexico.

Thom Filicia for Kravet room setting, featuring his signature Prospect ikat. Available through Kravet.

The ikat design is created by tying areas of the threads into bundles using grasses, wax or even plastic to prevent penetration of the dye. What this means is the weaver needs to figure out where on the loose threads the dye should go in order for it to form the proper pattern when it is woven. For more exact patterning, a weaver will typically use warp ikats, where they can see the pattern on the loom. With a weft ikat, the pattern is less exact because the design is not visible until it is already woven. The most difficult is the double ikat. This is when both the warp and weft are dyed to create the pattern. This form of weaving requires the most skill for precise patterns to be woven and it is considered to be the highest form of ikat. As you add colors, the process becomes more complicated.

Westmount Wall ikat from David Easton, available through Lee Jofa.

Many design motifs may have ethnic, ritual or symbolic meaning. Traditionally, ikats are symbols of status, wealth, power and prestige. Today, ikat has become a generic word used to describe the process, the cloth itself and the type of motif that is created as a result.

Oscar de la Renta's Kublai Kahn ikat (on pillow), available at Lee Jofa.

Alice Guercio, Vice President of Product Coordination and a Kravet veteran for more than 15 years, travels the world to source and develop new product for Kravet. She is one of our top experts on textiles. If you have a question about fabric for Alice, email her at [email protected] and your question may become the subject of a future article.

 

Kravet Dining: A Modern Twist on a Formal Category

The kitchen is the new American living room, and the cultural center of a home. When your dining area is at its best, the food tastes better, the homework has fewer mistakes, and family time is more enriching and enjoyable than ever. Don’t believe us? Don’t take our word for it, see what’s new from Kravet Modern Dining and imagine yourself or your clients with a new and improved modern dining room.

The latest furniture collection from Kravet features modern styles and frames, which is a new direction for the brand and an exciting addition to our already expansive dining collection.

The modern aesthetic of this collection utilizes clean, sculptural lines and interesting materials to enhance what’s already available through Kravet Dining. Everything available from Kravet Furniture can be customized to create the perfect piece for any room, so these new additions mean the sky is the limit for your dining room!

Kravet Modern Dining added six colorful and clear wood stains to our available options, all of which are inspired by the simplicity of nature. Modern parquet patterns like Greek Key and spider web designs are stylish and versatile, enhancing the ability to move seamlessly from traditional through transitional and into a modern statement.

New additions to the collection doubled Kravet Dining’s chair collection and supplemented the serving pieces with the addition of beautiful etageres and stunning cabinets.

Kravet Modern Dining allows you to create the perfect setting for your lifestyle and dining needs. For more on Kravet Dining and to view the collection, visit www.kravet.com.

These images and more, as well as detailed product information, can be found in our digital catalog.

Blogfest 2012 News

We have so many exciting updates for Blogfest, we couldn’t contain it in a tweet or Facebook status update. Ready?

Parties Added: More the Merrier  

We just got confirmation that the opening party, hosted by Margaret Russell and Architectural Digest, will take place at the Kips Bay Decorator Show House. This year’s show house will take place in two penthouse apartments at the Aldyn, a luxury building on Manhattan’s West Side. Mingle with editors and A-list designers in a penthouse, snap photos of beautiful interiors, that’s what Blogfest is all about!

Kips Bay 2011 Show House

Monday night, after you’ve partied uptown with AD, and made your way downtown (we’ll get you there!) to meet Thom Filicia and see the space he designed for the Savant Experience Center, the party won’t stop. Savior Beds is opening its Soho showroom for an after-after party. (And really, what better place for an after party than a showroom filled with amazing beds!) Who needs sleep when we have design?

A snapshot from ICFF 2010

Just like last year, you’ll all get a free ticket to ICFF so you can visit before Blogfest begins. Wilsonart, the world-leading producer of decorative surfacing products, has generously offered to host all of the bloggers that attend ICFF on Monday afternoon at their booth AND provide transportation from the Javits Center to Kips Bay around 4pm. So if you’re in town early, they are making it super easy to attend ICFF and head straight to the kick off.

Baccarat

Have you heard that Baccarat is opening its first US showroom right here in New York City? Well, it gets better. During Blogfest, they are popping the cork and breaking out the good crystal (it’s all they have!) for an exclusive event just for us, hosted by Vicente Wolf. On Tuesday afternoon, Blogfest attendees will be the very first to see the brand new Baccarat showroom in the D&D Building.

Where will you stay? 

If you still haven’t booked your hotel, we have secured a discount rate at the Ace Hotel, right around the corner from the now-sold-out Flatiron Hotel. The rate is $329 for a single, $379 for a double. This rate, which is about 40% off the regular rate, will be available through May 4 but inventory is limited so book soon!

Ship your goodies home and lighten your load 

Sponsors have come from far and wide to get their goodies into your hands, and we are thrilled about the great gift bag. But, it is HEAVY! This year you have the option to ship your gift bag to your home or office. No more weighing the merits (not to mention actual weight) of each item before trying to fit it all in an already overstuffed suitcase. Check your email for details.   

Speaking of Facebook and Twitter, make sure you’re following us so you don’t miss any updates.

See you in May!

Kelly Wearstler for Groundworks

Los Angeles interior designer and tastemaker Kelly Wearstler has introduced a new collection of vibrant and inspiring fabrics through Groundworks. In this second collaboration, Wearstler brings together her love for natural materials, graphic patterns and unique colors. The fabrics are a curated mix of prints, wovens and embroideries that can transform an interior and inspire a mood.

The collection features organic and textural designs that are elegant and dramatic, including a velvet tie dye design, raw silks in a range of Kelly’s favorite hues, and a delicate print based on the natural veining found in marble. The line also features the bold graphic patterns that have become Kelly Wearstler signatures – a graphic diagonal stripe interpreted in sumptuous velvet, an abstracted animal print with an ikat influence, and a striking design of hand painted brushstrokes that crisscross dynamically across a linen ground cloth.

All are available in an inspiring color range that Kelly uses throughout her interior design and fashion projects –black and white, periwinkle blues, pistachio greens, smokey aubergines and corals, citrine yellow and warm charcoal greys and ivory. For more on the collection, visit www.leejofa.com.

Top to bottom: Agate in Ebony/Beige GWF-3102-816, Serpent in Ebony GWF-3107-8, custom design, Channels in Ebony/Ivory GWF-3101-816, Feline in Ebony/Beige GWF-3106-816

Top to bottom: Channels in Taupe/Ivory GWF-3101-616, Patina Linen in Gold GWF-3115-4, Barcelo in Truffle GWF-3105-68, Serpent Natural in Linen GWF-3114-616, Sonoma in Straw GWF-3109-416, Agate in Taupe/Gold GWF-3102-411,Oblique in Straw/Grey GWF-3050-411, Barcelo in Alabaster GWF-3105-116, Currents Linen in Linen/Gold GWF-3113-416

The latest ad from Groundworks, featuring the new Kelly Wearstler collection.

Top to bottom: Mala in Lake GWF-3103-513, Agate in Slate/Linen GWF-3102-516, Sonoma in Cornflower GWF-3109-510, Barcelo in Taupe GWF-3105-611, Oblique in Slate/Graphite GWF-3050-511, Channels in Periwinkle/Oat GWF-3101-516, Sunbleached in Linen GWF-3110-616, Mineral in Indigo/Slate, GWF-3104-511, Sunbleached in Graphite GWF-3110-11

    A vignette from Kelly Wearstler's flagship store in West Hollywood.

Channels in Ebony/Ivory GWF-3101-816

Top to bottom: Feline in Lake/Slate GWF-3106-313, Sonoma in Lake GWF-3109-313, Agate in Lake/Mink GWF-3102-138, Oblique in Lake/Linen GWF-3050-311, Sunbleached in Lake GWF-3110-313, Mineral in Juniper/Lake GWF-3104-3