Inspired.talk

From the Intern’s Desk

By Meg Del Col

I know what colors I want in my house when I get older. I’ll decorate my living room lime green, gold and white. Or maybe I should make it teal and chocolate brown, or even slate blue with a little gray thrown in. Who am I kidding? I have no idea what colors I want in my house, let alone the type of fabric. Those were the thoughts flooding through my head as I toured Kravet’s three showrooms in New York City.

I was astounded by the multitude of fabrics that Kravet offers in every conceivable color and pattern. I could not stop touching each one to feel the material and imagine how it would look on a chair or couch in my future home. I was ready to buy a house immediately after I saw the showcase rooms for each designer’s collections. Even though that isn’t possible, seeing the unique ways designers put together the collection gave me the inspiration to see the beauty all around me and inspired me to incorporate it into my everyday life.

In addition to touring the Kravet showroom, I was able to go “behind the scenes” at the main office where I met many of the employees and learned about their roles in the company. What astounded me most was the number of employees who have been working at Kravet for many, many years – some for several decades. Not only that, but they still love what they do, you could hear the passion for Kravet when they talked about their jobs. It made me realize that Kravet is a family company in more ways than one.  Everyone who works there becomes a part of the Kravet family, enabling them to design, develop and manufacture the best quality products.

Shadowing Kravet employees for two days was an extremely enriching experience. I not only gained a better understanding of marketing and its role within an organization, but more importantly, I learned that company culture and employee satisfaction can be a key element in a company’s success. 

Meg Del Col is a junior psychology major at Lafayette College. For two days in January, she shadowed Kravet Inc. marketing team members and was exposed to many different areas of our business.

 

Choosing the Perfect Sofa – Advice from the Experts

The moment eventually comes around for everyone: It’s time to get a new sofa. While this experience can be a burden, whether it’s fighting against indecisiveness or having separation anxiety about parting with the current sofa, we all share the same struggle.  In order to put your mind at ease during your next search for the perfect sofa, Kravet has turned to the design experts, who have some guidance in choosing the perfect sofa, to share some helpful advice. What we discovered is essential to turning this impossible task into an overall positive experience. Focus your sofa search on fulfilling the five key aspects: comfort, mood, customization, practicality and personal preference.

Aspect #1: comfort -Windsor Smith

According to Windsor Smith, the most common need when looking for a new sofa is comfort. This is a purchase that will become not just a decoration, but a staple in your home or space for years to come. When comfortable, a sofa can become your new solace and friend, but if it lacks that much needed comfort, you will most likely find yourself counting down the years until it is time to purchase a new one. “I don’t own a sofa that isn’t at least 40 inches deep, so I can curl up. Anything shallower feels like it belongs in a dentist’s lobby,” say Smith.

Aspect #2: mood - Barbara Barry

Barbara Barry, who enjoys working with a variety of patterns, colors and textures, explains that when it comes to choosing a sofa, the color will dictate the mood of the entire room. Often acting as a main focal point of a space, a sofa has the power to incite a certain atmosphere that will be evident to any person who enters. Barry explains, “To establish calm, I upholster sofas in a solid that’s the same color as the walls and curtains.” Therefore, be careful in choosing a sofa, make sure the color compliments the room in the way you would like it to, creating the desired mood.

Aspect #3: customization - David Easton

Designer David Easton acknowledges an important lesson: certain sofas are right for certain rooms. “If you have 8-foot ceilings, you’ll want a low sofa, which gives the impression that the ceiling is taller than it is. In a room with a high ceiling, you want a high-back sofa to be a weighty presence that can hold up the room.” People spend so much time choosing the perfect sofa because they want it to look good so don’t comprise the look of the room by choosing an ill-fitting shaped sofa. This principle coincides with Easton’s strong belief that the architecture of a room should always be respected while decorating. Make sure to follow the rules and customize your sofa needs in order to make the room look the best it possibly can.

Aspect #4: practicality - Alexa Hampton

As a working mother, Alexa Hampton knows that when looking for a sofa, practicality takes priority. She believes in a fresh approach to classic, traditional styling, all while displaying the perfect amount of warmth and softness. “As a mother of three, my sofa needs are few, but firmly formulated: I needed my sofa to be comfortable and maintainable. So I selected a tight-back Bridgewater style, because it requires minimal fluffing (just the seat) to appear tidy. The saddle arm cradles my neck perfectly during naps, and although tufting is a detail I love on sofas, I avoided it because, with young children, tufts collect crumbs. I may turn to my sofa for naps but I don’t want to turn to it for snacks. Yuck!” Therefore, make sure to choose a sofa that will make your life easier, not harder.

Aspect #5: personal preference - Suzanne Rheinstein

Lastly, Suzanne Rheinstein reminds us that while searching for a new sofa, remember that this process is about you so always adhere to your own personal preferences. “I like 80% down, 20% feathers in my sofa cushions. Though I prefer 100% down in the decorative pillows.” It doesn’t matter if you have incredibly high standards or an extremely unique sense of style, you should always choose the sofa that will make you happiest. 

Now, the next time you find yourself in the market for a new sofa remember the five key aspects: comfort, mood, customization, practicality and personal preference and I ensure you that you’ll end up with the perfect sofa to accent your space.

-JB

*Quotes originally appeared in the May 2013 issue of House Beautiful

Windsor Smith Podium at the D&D Building in NYC

Windsor Smith is known for a relaxed style that is strongly influenced by her travels. Her latest collection for Kravet expands on her existing offering of beautiful home interior fabrics, uniting modern and graphic patterns with fresh plains.

For the Kravet podium display Windsor created in New York City, she was inspired by the past. “I really wanted to recreate a country club atmosphere in the 50s,” she said. The podium reflects that retro, colorful vibe with Astroturf, framed vintage prints, and a custom bar for serving cocktails. Throughout the space, Windsor’s bright fabrics add pops of color and pattern.

Stripes, geometrics and ethnic-inspired textures make this collection ideal for upholstery and drapery uses throughout the home. The collection is now available online and in showrooms across the country.

Pillows left to right: 1, 2, 3

Limoges arm chair, fabric, pillow and trim, Cabana outer fabric and inner fabric

Radcliffe ottoman, fabric and tape trim, Vintage chair fabric

Holden sectional, fabric and contrast welt, Alfred side tables

Rennes swivel bar stools, fabric, Linked etageres

Floor pillow and trim, floor pillow and trim

 

Kravet Soleil – Echo Design and Windsor Smith Home

Hammock fabric: Echo Design Merton Stripe in Prism - 31716-410; Echo Design pillows left to right: Torbali in Papaya - 31700-12, Torbali in Maritime - 31700-5, Torbali in Lime - 31700-3, Torbali in Surf - 31700-13, Torbali in Tobacco - 31700-6, Torbali in Punch - 31700-17

Two new collections for Kravet Soleil, Echo Design and Windsor Smith, are the perfect antidote to winter’s cold temperatures. Bright colors and patterns appear on fabrics that have been specially treated for durability and UV protection.

Windsor Smith is known for a relaxed style that is strongly influenced by her travels. This collection is designed for and inspired by outdoor living, and unites modern and graphic patterns with fresh plains. The vibrant and fresh color palette of brilliant greens, orchid pinks, ocean blues, sunny yellows and strong neutrals, evokes a beach paradise where surf, sun and sand meet.

The essential elements of an Echo Design collection: color, print, pattern and texture, combine beautifully for the latest collection of outdoor fabrics for Kravet. The vivid color palette of sky blues, lime greens, rich oranges and sophisticated neutrals conjure up the feelings of a modern market place, where bold stripes, intricate textures and beautiful patterns coexist in harmony. These high performance fabrics are designed for sun exposure and maximum durability, making them ideal for both indoor and outdoor settings.

Windsor Smith Home fabric on Umbrellas: Mandella in Citrine - Mandella-40; Chairs and ottomans fabric: Mandella in Oasis - Mandella-106; Front pillows: Windsor Smith Home Kapaa in Akuatik - 31764-135, Back left pillow: Windsor Smith Home Kanekopa in Gardenia - 31725-130; Back right pillow: Windsor Smith Home Moloko in Paradiso - 31727-135

Echo Design fabrics top to bottom: Ogee Knot in Ocean - 31708-13, Nestled in White - 31734-101, A Pois in Maritime - 31702-5, Torbali in Tobacco - 31700-6, Esparto Stripe in Peacock - 31701-5, Ogee Knot in Maritime - 31708-5

Windsor Smith Home fabrics left to right: Kanekopa in Akuatic - 31725-13, Kura Kura in Orkid - Kura Kura-17, Halua in Hibiscus - 31718-317, Kura Kura in Haze - Kura Kura-6, Mandella in Orkid - Mandella-17, Halua in Parakeet - 31718-540, Kura Kura in Veridian - Kura Kura-3, Mandella in Haze - Mandella-6, Kura Kura in Akuatik - Kura Kura-13

Echo Design fabrics left to right: A Pois in Cashew - 31702-6, Magnifikat in Gold Dust -31696-416, Melanger in Smoke - 31695-106, Solola in Cocoa - 31697-616, Ogee Knot in Almond - 31708-6, Philo inCocoa - 31698-616

Windsor Smith Home pillows going clockwise: Kanekopa in Gardenia -31725-130, Kura Kura in Akuatik - Kura Kura-13, Moloko in Paradiso - 31727-135, Kapaa in Akuatik - 31764-135; Ottoman fabric: Kanekopa in Akuatic - 31725-13

Windsor Smith and Luxe Magazine at What’s New What’s Next

 
Windsor Smith

Next week, on September 20, the New York Design Center is hosting What’s New What’s Next, a celebration of the current trends and ideas that are shaping the future of our industry. 

As part of this exciting program, Luxe Interiors + Design magazine is hosting a special chat with famed interior designer Windsor Smith. Smith, who recently generated industry buzz for her House of Windsor project in LA, is also launching a new collection of colorful outdoor fabrics with Kravet.

Join us next Wednesday at 4pm in Suite 401, the Kravet showroom at the NYDC, to meet Windsor Smith and Pamela Jaccarino, Editor-in-Chief of Luxe Interiors + Design, and to preview Smith’s new collection with Kravet.