As many of you are aware, this is IFDA’s 75th anniversary! | |
It’s a great time to reflect back on all that we’ve achieved and to look forward, to finding our path for the next 75 years. The new Network Now is one part of our ongoing evolution. It will arrive in your inbox monthly featuring the latest news, industry info, member profiles, and chapter updates. Whenever you have news to share, let us know! From a national perspective, our membership continues to grow. We’re adding national industry partners that support our mission and our members. Your Council of Presidents is working hard to review and update how we serve you and our industry. Your Board of Directors is strengthening our ties with other organizations, associations, and entities, deepening our relationships in ways that help elevate IFDA and bring more opportunities to you.
April High Point Market was a blockbuster for IFDA. We also participated with a booth at the International Window Coverings Expo in Fort Lauderdale just after High Point, gaining more visibility and interest. We look forward to upcoming events at ICFF in May, Dallas in June, and the Atlanta and Las Vegas Markets in July. If you’re attending any of these markets, stay tuned for more on the networking events we’re hosting. We’re looking for IFDA members that are attending any important markets to share your observations, new products, and trends to include in Network Now.
Thank you to Grace McNamara and her team for spearheading Network Now. To those who’ve volunteered to be regular contributors—Maureen Klein, Judith Clark, Helen Wagner, Janet Stevenson, Linda Kulla, and each and every chapter—kudos to you all.
Enjoy!
Dawn Brinson, FIFDA
IFDA President
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Welcome Jessica Thomsen!
Jessica graduated from Virginia Tech Interior Design ( go hokies! ). A lover of all things custom building but obviously plumbing is my expertise with many years in wholesale plumbing/lighting showrooms as well as custom window treatments. I do abstract painting exploring texture and depth of white tones, or the contrast between color and white. I’m a mom of 2 ginger babies Magnus & Margot, so I’m currently learning the art of balancing work and home life.
If anyone has tips, please tell me! I’m also a proud Navy wife, married to my husband Christian who is a decorated medic for special ops Marines. I’m always interested in meeting new people, so please reach out to connect!
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CHAPTER
HIGHLIGHTS & NEWS
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DC CHAPTER
January Knowledge College - Virtual "Accounting and Tax Success for Designers in 2022" Steps you can take to make sure your financial goals are achieved in 2022 presented by Peter Lang, the Designer CPA.
February 15 Tuesday Talks -Virtual A Roundtable Discussion for our chapter on how your business survived the pandemic, what are some new business practices you implemented, and some tips to share for 2022.
February 24 - in-person "Behind the Scenes" a trade-only presentation at Carpet Creations and Flooring our student event offering manufacturing and fabricating insights, as well as tips from manufacturers reps.
April 28 - in-person "Bloomin' Educational Foundation Fundraiser" with Ali Chrisler of Blue Ribbon Floral conducted a floral workshop on the care and arranging of cut flowers. The event was hosted by Dominion Electric and we raised over $300 for EF at this event.
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NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER
IFDA New England President, Larissa Cook was recently featured in the May issue of Boston Magazine.
Throughout her 15-plus years in the design industry, Larissa Cook has earned an impeccable reputation built on commitment, integrity and collaboration.
She is the New England Chapter President of the International Furnishings and Design Association’s (IFDA), as well as Executive Vice President at FBN Construction, one of Boston’s premier residential construction and remodeling firms, and was chosen as one of Boston Magazine 2021 Faces of Women in Design.
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The GREAT Outdoors! Read about trends for outside including the state of the outdoor window treatment industry, performance fabrics, sustainability, and shading plus hot topics of 2022 such as natures influence on interiors. | |
Article provided by Window Fashion VISION magazine | |
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IFDA Show Spotters
by Maureen Klein
After two years of a lot of no-shows, some IFDA members tipped their toes into the pool of offerings from Orlando, High Point, Vegas, and Fort Lauderdale to find the latest products, meet up with colleagues, get some on-site learning from the pros, and simply to have fun.
Here are a few snapshots of their findings!
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High Point Spring Market, NC: April 2-6, 2022
Ida McCausland, IFDA past International President and interior designer, who is located outside Philadelphia noticed GREEN… the color itself was making a comeback as well as green aka sustainability being mentioned a lot. More customization and the move to performance fabrics and finishes were being touted as well- something consumers will really like. There was an embrace of more color, in fabrics, rugs, and finishes. The show was a little smaller than she remembered from her 6 years of attending, but she felt she could really see more this round… when not working the IFDA booth or helping to prepare for the IFDA Selects Awards and 75th Anniversary opening celebration, which was the talk of the Point! This was the second time for Joyful Home Design’s (landscape and interiors) Lori Shaw who lives in Waxhaw, NC to attend the High Point market. Lori was super impressed with discovering Design Legacy, BoBo, and finding the antique market all in one area.
A maximalist at heart, she especially liked the woven feeling and designs of the peel-and-stick wall coverings at Design Legacy. She was so glad she took the insider tour with Jeanne Chung all day Saturday— it was AMAZING. Time only permitted attending one seminar— Working with Luxury Clients (Sunday am) and it was fabulous said, Lori. It was definitely a great show and she will be back for more. Be sure to read this member’s back story to find some real-life inspirational joy HERE.
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IWCE, International Window Coverings Expo,
Fort Lauderdale, April 5-7, 2022
An IWCE attendee on and off since 2004, Zahava Schwartz, Clear Eyes Imp. LLC is an award-winning window treatment fabrication specialist from New Jersey who says attending this trade show and seminars over the years has helped her business grow immensely. The new ripple-fold tape being shown by AngBejar and Dofix especially caught her attention this year. The tape does not have the usual snaps and can eliminate the topstitching usually seen on the front side of this style drape. Finding more exhibitors that integrate smart home connections was also helpful for her to source. Seminars on motorization were very helpful since she is incorporating this more and more into the projects she fabricates, especially when used on the trending roller and roman shades. As people stay more at home and use their outdoor space, Zahava said she was thrilled to see the wide range of outdoor fabrics being shown, including velvets, chenille, and lightweight drapery fabrics. Outdoor screening was also abundant, something she and other fabricators are getting many queries about-- installing screening roller shades in outdoor spaces. Though smaller than some of the previous shows she attended, probably due to Covid, Zahava described this year’s IWCE in Fort Lauderdale as one big celebration and very energizing!
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Above: For peel-and-stick, Lori Shaw appreciated the good “hand” she found in patterns such as mural #HP0422 and Hendrix Cyan wallcoverings from Design Legacy.
Below: Wavy “ripple fold” style drapes are easier to create these days with specialty tapes and rods from AngBejar, and Dofix found at IWCE 2022.
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Las Vegas, Nevada Winter Market 2022- Jan 23-27, 2022
Interior Designer Karen Wirrig, FIFDA, of Karen Cole Designs, who splits her time between California and Colorado, looks forward to catching the Las Vegas Markets which have grown considerably these last 17 years that she has attended. Shiny or organic, traditional with a twist, Karen saw some amazing light fixtures and so many to choose from. The daybed from Norwalk, that easily pulls out to queen size was fabulous she thought. Karen took some time to attend a wonderful seminar with Mary Ann Esposito that discussed how to identify authentic food products from Italy. In trend…Karen saw a lot of curves– in upholstered furniture, case goods, and light fixtures. The show itself did not have quite as many vendors and not as many social activities like lunches, cocktail parties, etc. but they still had a headliner entertainment act, pop-rock band, OneRepublic which she and her colleagues made sure to catch.
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A sampling of some of the eye-catching finds at Las Vegas Market! | |
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KBIS, Kitchen & Bath Industry Show,
Feb 8-10, 2022, Orlando, Florida
Barbara Haberman, a selling professional in the home department of Bloomingdale’s Flagship NYC store, has attended KBIS for the past 5 years. Her tip, be sure to check out the Discovery District and Kickstarter area to get an overview of new brands, products and first-time exhibitors. New technology in appliances which keep food, fruits, and vegetables fresh for longer really caught her attention. Cooking with technology was showing up in all manners and forms.
Also in attendance was Donna Ralston, FIFDA, DRL Total Environments, from Alexandria, VA who specializes in kitchen and bath interiors. Donna noted this show was so well attended by the design/builder community - too bad so many of the larger vendors decided we wouldn't come and they did not show! Their loss.
Emtek, has a new collection of hardware that is done with 3-D printing! Very lacy yet substantial. My one other silly, but so simple, not sure why it took this long-to-develop find, was the Rev-a-Shelf's fold-out storage drawer insert, which works like old fashion tackle or sewing boxes. Genius. Of course, Smeg did it again- love showing my clients their newest show-stopper— Dolce&Gabbana, Maiolica Collection. As far as color/ finishes/ trends… More shades of matte gold/champagne, black, with tech on everything.
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The first 48” French-door Signature Kitchen Suite refrigerator features lots of storage flexibility and functionality and earned the Best of KBIS Gold Award. The Italian-made Smeg Dolce&Gabbana was a show stopper. | |
Hunter Douglas Debuts Silhouette® Halo™ Shadings | |
Hunter Douglas released the NEW Silhouette® Halo™ Shadings featuring unique dual vanes that over-rotate to offer additional light control and privacy. Silhouette Window Shadings diffuse natural light with S-shaped fabric vanes positioned between two sheers. This innovative design creates a soft, warm ambiance throughout a room. Hunter Douglas is introducing a new offering to the collection - Silhouette Halo Shadings, featuring dual-layered vanes that over-rotate to offer precise light control and the utmost level of daytime privacy. The double-vane construction eliminates harsh shadows and the over-rotation redirects sunlight to protect furniture, flooring, and artwork. | |
European Home Introduces the Gyrofocus Gas | | |
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European Home, manufacturer and importer of innovative and contemporary fireplace products, has debuted the first and only suspended and pivoting gas fireplace by Focus in the U.S. and Canada. In 1967, French metal sculptor Dominique Imbert designed his first fireplace for his personal use in his studio in the medieval village of Viols-le-Fort. A year later, he sculpted the Gyrofocus. “I want my fireplace to touch the sky, even to hang from it”. This was how Focus, the original suspended fireplace, was born.
Now the iconic Gyrofocus has evolved again to become a groundbreaking design in modern fireplaces. Until now suspended fireplaces could not be set up for gas but the engineers at Focus developed a way without losing any original design elements. Read more!
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For You and Your
BUSINESS
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Join over 250 interior designers, educators, and business experts on June 7, 2022, for a full afternoon of insights from design experts, our legendary product Gift-Aways, CEUs, and much more. All interior designers attend for FREE! Register now! | | | | |
