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Selling Decor in a Flash
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Selling Decor in a Flash

Oct 16, 2012 by

In a recent Mashable.com article, Lauren Indvik described how several flash sale (daily deal e-commerce) websites are testing out TV advertising. (http://mashable.com/2012/10/12/onekingslane-tv-commercial/)  The article highlighted high-end home decor website OneKingsLane.com for their newly-minted spots that focus on the theme “Design is Never Done.” [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN8faU8A0qg&w=560&h=315] While the TV spots have just begun to air, and they part of a larger campaign, it is clear that ad agency Wieden+Kennedy has crafted...

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Perfectly Imperfect: Ethnic Designs in Modern Interiors
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Perfectly Imperfect: Ethnic Designs in Modern Interiors

Apr 1, 2011 by

Over the past couple of years two kinds of traditional textiles from non-western cultures have been imitated by fabric designers for upholstery and home decor markets: Suzanis and Ikats. Both of these ethnic influences appear very fresh in modern interiors. Suzanis are ornately embroidered textiles made in several Central Asian countries. These elaborately decorated cloths were presented as part of a bride’s dowry on...

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One Original TV Spot, Oh So Many Imitators
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One Original TV Spot, Oh So Many Imitators

Mar 6, 2011 by

Two years ago Ethan Allen came out with an arresting new TV commerical.  It consisted of quick cuts of stills featuring beautiful architecture, beautiful people, some beautiful  furniture, and words such as “hip, cool, pretty, elegant, chic, sexy, fresh and modern.”   The words appeared in white on a black background in a modern sans serif font. The spot did not use any voice...

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The rise of patterns and the emergence of HDTV
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The rise of patterns and the emergence of HDTV

Oct 4, 2010 by

Over the past few years, pattern has grown more prevalent in interiors. I think this can be attributed this to several things: Pendulum swing. In the early part of this century design was dominated by simplicity, Real Simple Magazine and the basic upholstery covers in the Pottery Barn catalog. After all that plain-ness it’s only natural that we would crave something more interesting. Shifts...

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High Art and Home Accessories
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High Art and Home Accessories

Sep 1, 2010 by

Last April I was walking through the temporary exhibits in the design wing of the IHFC during the High Point Market when something caught my eye: a horse head assembled from driftwood. This is one of the major, semi-annual markets of the furniture industry and what was remarkable about the site was that it seemed that the furniture industry was catching up on breakthrough...

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Should interior designers be licensed?
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Should interior designers be licensed?

Jun 30, 2010 by

Right now the Pennsylvania state legislature is debating about whether or not licenses should be required for interior designers. This has generated a lot of negative reactions from the public, primarily because the news of the deliberations broke before the budget had been passed by for the fiscal year.  Twenty-six states require interior designers to be licensed and lobbies in several other  states are...

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