Home Fashion Forecast - Summer 2008 - (Page 2)

imperfect tense My home and the products therein are not perfect. You can credit my affinity for antiques: worn finishes and the occasional imperfection are part of the charm. But also factor in the nonstop pace of balancing personal pursuits, family obligations and professional opportunities; Matt Carr, Design Director for contemporary and lifestyle products powerhouse Umbra, understands: Consumer demand for fresh product, coupled with innovations in technology, has made “product design and development exponentially faster during the last five years,” he said. “The speed with which we get things to market has become much more important.” Carr is among the design leaders featured in the month’s “Top Tastemakers," page 11. Given consumers’ whirlwind of activities and demands, he goes on to suggest that consumers will come to want “a little embellishment, a little imperfection, a little more charm—product with a bit of a story” in the near future. For home textiles enthusiast John Robshaw, another of this month’s top tastemakers, the beauty of his products lies in their “imperfections.” Consider Robshaw’s name for the collection on our cover: Misregistered, which suggests a misaligned wood block during printing. Still, the result is highly engaging. This embrace of imperfection is born of an increasing appreciation for artisan-quality products in a mass-produced world. The look remains high-end … just ask another of Home Fashion Forecast’s top tastemakers, Currey & Co.’s new Creative Director Cecil Adams. He spotted several examples during his winter trip to Paris’ Maison & Objet. Expect this affinity for handcrafted home furnishings to hit U.S. shores soon—and since today’s top tastemakers move swiftly, it will arrive sooner than you might think. Julie M. Smith, Editorial Director jmsmith@vancepublishing.com Kalco’s hand-finished Astor three-light fixture. www.kalco.com Blessing sculpture from The Lam Lee Group. www.lamleegroup.com Casablanca table with handhammered copper base from Brownstone Furniture. www.brownstonefurniture.com 2 HOME fashion forecast http://www.kalco.com http://www.lamleegroup.com http://www.brownstonefurniture.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Fashion Forecast - Summer 2008

Home Fashion Forecast - Summer 2008 Contents Ad Index Imperfect Tense Style Points: The Green Kitchen Syle Points: Black Beauties Style Points: Outdoor Elegance Top Tastemakers Fashion Folio Trend Essentials Covering the Bases Container Story

Home Fashion Forecast - Summer 2008

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