The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) is excited to announce the release of the 2023 Economic Outlook Report – the third installment in ASID’s annual Outlook Research Series, sponsored by Sherwin Williams.
This report delves into the current state of the economy during a pandemic-recovery period and following a brief recession in 2023, equipping the design industry with insights to inform and prepare practitioners for future shifts and trends.
Key takeaways include:
National employment has bounced back from its initial sharp decline in early 2020 and is now above its pre-pandemic peak.
In general, most major cities have excess office space in their downtown areas, though vacancy rates have fallen somewhat as some workers return to the office.
Residential construction felt the effects of the fallout from the pandemic but quickly recovered.
Are you planning on entering the 2023 Pinnacle Awards? The International Society of Furniture Designers (ISFD) announced they have extended the 2023 Pinnacle Awards entry deadline to August 3. To be considered for the industry’s highest design honor, product designers, manufacturers or students must enter the 2023 Pinnacle Awards on the ISFD website. Winners will be announced during the High Point Market, the industry’s highest profile show, at the Pinnacle Awards Gala on Monday, October 16 in the Loft at Condon Yards. Tickets will go on sale August 1.
Conceived specifically for Hoxton Rome, Contardi’s lamps skilfully deliver the mid-century modern style the designers wanted. The custom-made suspensions have a geometric structure with a dark bronze finish – in harmonious contrast with glass globes, as the dominant shapes that add a space-age touch to the environment.
From New York City to Hangzhou, China, Alexa Hampton’s project portfolio encompasses luxe, beautifully layered urban apartments, expansive town and country residences, private airplanes, and yachts. Newly inaugurated into the Architectural Digest’s AD100 Hall of Fame and a member of the Elle Décor A List and House Beautiful’s Top Designer list, Hampton translates the classical principles of good design and decoration into some of today’s most elegant, enduring, and functional domestic landscapes.
Luxury Tile and Stone Company, Walker Zanger, Hosts Grand Opening of Costa Mesa Showroom on August 3
This cutting-edge experience will feature a captivating new concept, curated exclusively by Walker Zanger, culinary delights from Michelin-starred Knife Pleat and Tesla test-drives. Alongside the excellence of their innovative showroom, guests will enjoy exclusive entertainment with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.
Jordan asked Gracie, a family business that has been crafting hand-painted wall coverings since 1898, to create a bespoke interpretation of its enchanting Linda’s Garden mural for the women’s lobby bathroom. Reimagined to capture the spirit of the Jordan Estate, the mural includes oak and citrus trees, flowering dogwood and kites and an egret—wildlife all found across the 1,200-acre Jordan Estate.
Jennifer Farrell, a renowned celebrity designer and television host, has captivated audiences with her shows and designs for over two decades. She gained national recognition as the host of the long-running series Find & Design and currently hosts popular shows like Million Dollar House Hunters, Find Me a Beach House, and Most Amazing Homes.
Wendy was an early adopter of Houzz, advertising on the platform as far back as 2015. She still attributes much of her success to Houzz, and specifically being an early adopter. For a designer getting started today, they may not have as much success on the already saturated platform. It may behoove them to get experimental and trailblaze a newer platform. Find the place in the Wild West that doesn’t already have a populated boom town and become the mayor.
With timeless track arms, durable upholstery, and legs available in either a wood or metal finish, The Fantasy Sleeper Sofa Bed comes in Full XL, Queen and King with one of Luonto’s best selling mechanisms.
LAS VEGAS, July 2023 – Hooker Furnishings’ new modern lifestyle furniture brand, M, will make its west coast debut at the Summer 2023 Las Vegas Market. Offering a casual modern style, the brand targets design conscious consumers, retailers and interior designers with a curated assortment of upholstery silhouettes and complementary occasional items that deliver an upscale, timeless aesthetic – a look the company feels will resonate strongly with its west coast customer base.
“After a successful launch on the east coast this spring, we are confident that our new M brand’s casual modern style – which carries a decidedly west coast design aesthetic – will resonate with our partners in this region.” said Johne Albanese, chief marketing officer at Hooker Furnishings. “Our partners who saw the line in Hight Point have affirmed to us that the brand aligns with the lifestyle aesthetic that today’s younger consumers are asking for.”
Combining Hooker Furnishings’ domestic upholstery manufacturing capabilities in North Carolina and Virginia with its global case goods sourcing expertise, the new brand includes upholstered sofas, sectionals, accent chairs, ottomans, dining chairs, and beds as well as a variety of accent items including occasional tables, consoles, and bookcases.
Inspired by organic earth tones that blend classic modern and transitional styles effortlessly together, pieces in the new brand range from traditional designs rooted in simplicity with clean lines and expert tailoring, to new transitional designs that embrace a more relaxed and casual feel.
“A modern design aesthetic truly lies in the details and proportion of a piece. It is never fussy or overembellished,” said Becky Weber, senior vice president, merchandising, for Hooker Furnishings’ M brand. “With that in mind, we focused intently on using the most authentic materials when creating this collection. The fabrics are soft and luxurious, featuring 100-percent cotton velvets, wool mohair, and beautiful bouclés from Europe. We also specified solid woods, like mahogany, as well as natural travertine and marble for our accent pieces.”
Highlights of the product assortment in Las Vegas include:
Myrtle Sectional: Modern, large and aesthetically dreamy, the Myrtle Sectional is everything we are loving all at once. Featuring a rich neutral color palette in a subtle plaid boucle on a solid white oak plinth base, this three-piece sectional is a chef’s kiss to the living room. Inspired by life in a different time and crafted for today’s modern consumer, the Myrtle is sure to make any room it is styled in one you never want to leave.
Ren Track Arm Sofa: Deep and dreamy, the Ren is a transitional modern track arm sofa that genuinely feels as good as it looks. Designed with arms that are subtle and recessed, back and seats that are loose, and a bump out front rail, this leather-only style demands the attention of everyone in the room. Available in a modular sectional, sofa, chair and ottoman, the Ren collection fits every interior need, and then some.
Eden Occasional Table Collection: Characterized by updated tambour design elements, the simplicity of the Eden tables with their graceful arcing silhouettes and dramatic ebony finish, allow the classic design features to speak for themselves.
Along with the new product assortment, the company also has several marketing initiatives and social events planned for the July Market:
The Daily Buzz: The Hooker Furnishings showroom will again be hosting its popular happy hour, “The Daily Buzz,” Sunday through Tuesday of Market, beginning at 3 p.m. Customers are encouraged to stop by at their leisure for “a daily download, where drinks are poured, and tea is spilled.”
Las Vegas Market 2023 Summer Designer Soiree: Hosted by Las Vegas Market, Hooker Furnishings will participate as a product sponsor at the bi-annual, invite only designer reception on Monday evening, July 31, 2023, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at Legacy Club in the Circa Resort & Casino. Invited attendees will have the opportunity to enter a raffle for the chance to win a piece of their choice from the M collection (up to a $2,000 value).
The M, Bradington-Young, Hooker Furniture and HF Custom brands can be found in the Hooker Furnishings Showroom in Building A, Space 236. Sunset West, a division of Hooker Furnishings, will continue to occupy its dedicated showroom in Building B, Space 162.
Headquartered in Martinsville, VA, Hooker Furnishings is ranked among the nation’s largest publicly traded furniture sources and encompasses 11 operating businesses. These brands include: Hooker Furniture, Bradington-Young, HF Custom, Shenandoah Furniture, H Contract, M, 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.