This week on design, those looking for inspiration might want to take a page from designer (and newly minted Substacker) Kelly Wearstler's book—her method for sparking creativity includes meditation, daily reading, sauna sessions, and lots of lists. Stay up to date with our weekly roundup of headlines, product launches, events, recommended reads and more.
Business News
The investment arm of Ikea parent company Ingka Group has announced plans to pour $1.03 billion into recycling companies. The business of fashion Reports. About a third of the funds will go to projects the company has already invested in – such as mattress recycling company RetourMatras and plastic recycling company Morssinkhof Rymoplast, both based in the Netherlands – while the rest will go to new investments with a focus on textiles and wood . The move is in line with Ingka Group's goal of achieving a fully circular economy by 2030.
Auburn, Maine-based high-end wood furniture manufacturer Thos. After 53 years of family ownership, Moser was acquired by the holding company Chenmark (based in nearby Portland). Furniture today Reports. The terms of the contract were not disclosed. The company was founded in 1972 by Tom Moser and his son Aaron has led the company since 2016. He is now moving into the role of “ambassador” and Philip Hussey, Vice President of Chenmark, has taken on the position of CEO. Otherwise, the manufacturer's existing team will remain in place and the company's operations will continue to be based in Maine.
The fabric and wallcovering company Dedar has acquired the Italian partner company Filippo Uecher Srl, the parent company of the Mariaflora brand. Founded in 2015, Mariaflora locally produces a range of outdoor and performance textiles which are supplied to furniture brands.
Two long-standing, family-owned real estate dealers closed this week. First, after 79 years in business, Dixie Furniture & Mattress is going out of business and liquidating its stores in North Charleston and Walterboro, South Carolina. Furniture today Reports. The retailer was founded in 1946 by Abe Kirshstein, who sold the company for decades from a horse-drawn carriage on the streets of downtown Charleston (closed in 2004 and another in 2017). It has been run by the third generation owners of the Kirshstein family for the past 35 years. Second, the 72-year-old Comeaux Furniture, Appliance and Mattress, based in Metairie, Louisiana, is closing following the retirement of the company's president and owner, Michael Comeaux. Planned Furniture Promotions will handle closing sales for both companies.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit against Brooklyn-based home e-commerce company Payless Furniture, claiming the retailer defrauded hundreds of customers. Furniture today Reports. In a press release, James says her office has received “hundreds of complaints” against the company – which also goes by the name 1StopBedrooms – for a number of violations, including falsely advertised delivery times; “exorbitant” cancellation and return fees; and delivering damaged products without giving customers the option of a refund or exchange. In a comment to FT1StopBedrooms denied the allegations.
Less than a year after Badcock Home Furniture closed following the bankruptcy of parent company Conn's, two former executives are teaming up to open a new retailer called Hometown Furniture. Home News Now Reports. Robert Ball is CEO and Matt Pridemore is COO of the newly formed company, which is working with 11 former Badcock dealers to open 33 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina. According to the duo, Hometown Furniture will offer a similar selection of low- and mid-priced offerings, while also introducing some high-quality, sophisticated items.
Florida furniture retailer Kane's, which operates 18 stores across the state, has agreed to pay nearly $1.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging the company implemented discriminatory hiring policies. Furniture today Reports. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit, the company routinely screened out women who applied for driving and warehouse jobs. One applicant named in the lawsuit claims she was told she was unable to lift heavy objects as required by the job – despite similar experience in a previous position – before being told by the company that “Kane's “I couldn't offer her the job because she was female.” In addition to the payment, the settlement requires Kane's to review its hiring practices with the help of an independent expert.
Daniel Lalonde, CEO of Flos B&B Italia Group, is no longer in the company's top position. Daily women's clothing Reports. According to a statement from Flos B&B Italia Group released last week, former Flos CEO Piero Gandini has been appointed chairman of the board “with immediate effect.” Lalonde, meanwhile, remains on the company's board “to support the company's future development.” The statement did not mention who will replace him at the helm of the group, only saying: “The group and its shareholders sincerely thank Mr. Lalonde for his vision and leadership over the past years and his continued commitment and commitment to the group. Lalonde was named CEO in 2021 and made it his mission to make the company the “LVMH of Home.” He led the strategy that brought together the various brands – B&B Italia, Flos, Louis Poulsen, Maxalto, Arclinea and Azucena – under one group and presented them together in a new shared showroom in New York. As the new year begins, Gandini explains that his goal at the helm of the group will be to “consolidate our position as a benchmark of excellence in global markets.”
The 46th annual San Francisco Decorator Showcase will take place this spring at a 1902 home by architect T. Paterson Ross in Pacific HeightsClay Seibert
Market launches and collaborations
Scandinavian furniture, decor and lifestyle company Teak New York has announced the opening of a 1,265 square meter pop-up shop in Beverly Hills, which will be open until the end of March. In addition to the brand's standard merchandise, the pop-up will offer resources to those affected by the recent wildfires, including a donation center for essential items such as clothing, linens, toiletries and non-perishable foods; Workshops for local designers, architects and construction professionals to collaborate on reconstruction efforts; and supplement for in-store donations.
California-based home furnishings and apparel brand Coyuchi has ventured into a new category with the launch of its first mattress. The bespoke piece is made from sustainably sourced materials such as organic cotton and wool, expanding the brand's existing eco-friendly sleep range.
After 15 years under the name La Cienega Design Quarter, the Los Angeles design district is renamed Design Los Angeles. There will also be a number of structural changes, including an expansion of the group's scope beyond the current LCDQ area – it will now include exhibition spaces, galleries and studios across the city. In addition to hosting the Legends Design Festival, the organization offers exclusive membership to invited showrooms and companies, as well as a “Friends of” tier for “key contributors to LA’s creative landscape,” including interior designers, restaurants, hotels and cultural institutions. This year, the group will also work with brands and sponsors to support the community's recovery efforts following this month's wildfires.
Show houses
The 46th annual San Francisco Decorator Showcase will take place this spring at a 1902 home by architect T. Paterson Ross in Pacific Heights. The residence spans 9,400 square feet, five levels, and eight bedrooms – complete with a rooftop terrace with views of the San Francisco skyline and Bay. The space is being redesigned by a group of designers including Diane Rosenblum, Katie Monkhouse, Assel Teskey and more. The event is open to the public from April 26th to May 26th and proceeds will benefit the San Francisco University High School Financial Aid Program.
Recommended reading
Food is a regular (if inedible) fixture in Jonny Carmack's home: a stack of donuts, a peppermint, and a pink gummy bear each take shape in his furniture. For The New York TimesJosh Ocampo examines the social media frenzy that has led collectors like Carmack to visit discount retailers in search of culinary-inspired pieces and build an online community in the process.
The problem with traditional room scenting methods such as candles, diffusers and plug-ins is that people are only programmed to register their scent for a few seconds. Due to a condition known as smell blindness, we have evolved to quickly screen out smells to immediately detect threats and avoid overstimulation – but new scent technology may have found a solution. For Fast companywrites Elizabeth Segran about Estée Lauder Companies' recent investment in a fragrance startup called Exuud, which promises a new home fragrance system that prevents desensitization.
Call for contributions
The High Point Market Authority is now seeking applicants for the Design Influencers Tour at the Spring High Point Market. Created in collaboration with Esteem Media, the program selects 10 interior designers and design-focused influencers to cover the event and share their favorite experiences and products with their online audience – for a fee covering creative services, accommodation and travel expenses. To apply before the February 14th deadline, click here.