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Universal Furniture appoints Kayla Miller director of marketing

Universal Furniture has promoted Kayla Miller to the position of director of marketing for the company. Kayla’s journey with Universal began in 2019 as a creative marketing specialist, where she quickly showcased her talent and dedication to the company’s success.

Industry trailblazer Michael Bauer shares insights on his 1st Anniversary with international rug brand Feizy

nown throughout the home furnishings and lighting industries for his immense warmth and undeniable talent, Michael Bauer is sharing how he looks at all aspects of the business of design, his insights into supporting the national Interior Design Community, and what it’s like to celebrate his 1st Anniversary at his “dream job” as the Director of Trade Relations at International Rug Brand Feizy.

Designing the whole ‘crib’ with Christina Ishida

Ishida began her design career by selling elevated gifts, furnishings, and antiques primarily for nurseries at her petite Cici Crib shop in New York. Her unique and sophisticated approach to children’s rooms facilitated a seamless transition into designing for adults. She is currently the head designer at Splurge Home and the principal of CiCi Crib Interiors, the prominent design firm in Pittsburg, PA, specializing in transforming the whole ‘crib.’ Our conversation not only explores her shift from nurseries to comprehensive home design and from shop ownership to interior design but also delves into topics such as establishing trust with clients and considering the personality of furniture and architectural elements within a project.

Interior Design Society Announces 2024 Board of Directors

The Interior Design Society (IDS) is pleased to introduce its elected 2024 National Board of Directors. The 12-member volunteer board is comprised of individuals from many sectors of the design industry.

Ryan Saghian’s latest real estate venture

His first foray into home rehabbing involved gutting and re-envisioning a 1920’s residence in Beverly Grove. Once on the market, that home received multiple offers and sold within a week. With his latest real estate investment, 8671 Clifton, Saghian has a bold new concept: His goal is to sell the Beverly Hills home, then stay on as the interior designer, working every step of the way with the new owners to create a truly customized dream home.  

Hooker Furnishings appoints sales and merchandising leads

Headquartered in Martinsville, VA, Hooker Furnishings is ranked among the nation’s largest publicly traded furniture sources and encompasses 12 operating businesses. These brands include: Hooker Furniture, Bradington-Young, HF Custom, Shenandoah Furniture, H Contract, M, BOBO Intriguing Objects, Pulaski Furniture, Samuel Lawrence Furniture, Prime Resource International, Samuel Lawrence Hospitality, and Sunset West. Hooker Furnishings Corporation’s corporate offices and upholstery manufacturing facilities are located throughout Virginia and North Carolina, and the company has showrooms in High Point, North Carolina, Atlanta, Georgia, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Hooker Furnishings operates distribution centers in the United States, China, and Vietnam. The company’s stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol HOFT.

“What’s the best that can happen?” a chat with designer Shaolin Low

Low is a self-taught interior designer, albeit one who grew up with a mother who is an interior designer and a father who is a general contractor. At one point, Low’s mother asked her to take Sandra Funk’s Interior Design Standard program focused on the business side of design and to implement its templates, processes and recommendations in her mother’s business. “I went through the entire course in one day,” Low recalls, “and by the end of the day, I was like, ‘Oh, this is how you run a business!’”

Glen Raven, Inc. names Bret Kelley president of Trivantage, LLC

“Bret is laser-focused on solutions for Trivantage customers,” said Leib Oehmig, CEO of Glen Raven. “He demonstrates every day the power of relationships and puts the customer first and foremost in every decision. Bret’s vision and tireless energy will serve him well as the next president of Trivantage.

Sunbrella’s Greg Voorhis on success in textiles

Sunbrella is known for its durability and resistance to fading and stains. How do you balance these functional requirements with creating aesthetically pleasing designs?

GV: At Sunbrella, we never have to worry about compromising the look and feel of new designs to maintain performance. Sunbrella fabrics are filled with texture and softness due to our unique bank of specialty yarns, weaving and finishing techniques. Each fiber of every yarn is saturated to the core with UV-stable pigments, resulting in vibrant color that allows our fabrics to retain the same look over time, even after continual cleaning and usage.

Design Influencers tour application now open for Fall market

“The Design Influencers Tour is a win-win for participants and for the sponsoring showrooms,” says Tammy Nagem, president and CEO of the High Point Market Authority. “This is one of our most popular Market programs and there’s a lot of brand exposure to be gained for everyone involved.”