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inspired.news
special edition
krave t n e ws.c om
Alexa Hampton
Nick Olsen
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Ways To Shop
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CARY’S VIEW
T
he spirit of innovation has driven the Kravet company
for decades, and it has brought us here, to the
announcement of a new online marketplace called
CuratedKravet.com. If you’ve heard whispers of a “top
secret” project that we’ve held under wraps, this is it: a
to-the-trade only website that offers furniture and
accessories with the speed of e-commerce, backed by
the values and service of Kravet.
From furniture that’s packed and ready to ship when you
click “Buy” to one-of-a-kind accessories sourced from
around the world, the site expands the breadth of product
that’s available through Kravet, and we think you’re going
to love it. But don’t take it from us; at the heart of this site are
rooms curated by several of our industry’s tastemakers.
We are thrilled to feature Alexa Hampton and Nick Olsen
as our inaugural curators.
These are just a few aspect of the site. I encourage you
to read through this special edition of inspired.news and
learn more about CuratedKravet.com, then jump on your
phone, your tablet or your computer and get ready to
design, click, and let CuratedKravet.com deliver!
KRAVET ADDS PRODUCT CATEGORIES
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WHAT IS CURATEDKRAVET.COM?
C
uratedKravet.com is your to-the-trade only online destination for distinctive home furnishings and
accessories. Leveraging relationships that span continents and decades, Kravet has coordinated
tastemakers and manufacturers to provide designers with exclusive access to a curated collection of
products in new categories available for the first time through Kravet.
The CuratedKravet.com team hand selects the most unique pieces from the global design market, offering
them made-to-order or in-stock and ready to ship at the click of a button.
The process is simple …
H O W TO G E T STARTED
I
n order to maintain trade exclusivity, CuratedKravet.com requires customers to have an e-designtrade
account to shop the site. E-designtrade is an online trade destination exclusive to Kravet, Lee Jofa,
Brunschwig & Fils, and GP&J Baker clients that provides real-time stock and order information and order
placement capabilities. Existing e-designtrade members can log in to CuratedKravet.com using his or her
username and password.
If you are not an e-designtrade account holder, it’s easy to sign up. Simply click “register” on the
CuratedKravet.com login page. To continue, have your Kravet, Lee Jofa, Brunschwig & Fils, or GP&J Baker
account number and ZIP code handy.
To speak to a customer service representative, email [email protected] or call 800.645.9068.
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TECHNOLOGY
TH R EE W A Y S T O S H OP
Shop by
category
From one-of-a-kind carpets and art to unique accessories and lighting options, the ever-expanding
curated collections of distinctive home furnishings and accessories are organized into comprehensive
categories for ease of shopping.
Shop by
trends
Thoughtfully selected pieces specific to current design trends simplify the search for a particular style.
Check out the first trends “Natural Instincts” and “Moody Blues” [page 9].
Shop by
curated rooms
For a complete “shop-the-room” experience, leading design talent incorporates CuratedKravet.com items
into stylized spaces. View different angles of each unique room and gather ideas and inspiration from your
fellow designers. Learn more about CuratedKravet.com’s very first curators, Alexa Hampton [page 6-7]
and Nick Olsen [page 10-11].
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TRENDS
natural instincts
E
lements of nature create an earthy
atmosphere filled with agate accents,
faux-bois lighting, and artistic floral forms, bringing
a touch of scenic sophistication to a natural
indoor oasis. Textures such as smooth marble,
soft fur, and supple snakeskin stimulate the
senses, offering subtle ways to give a space an
organically layered feel.
moody blues
T
he color blue delivers a distinct feeling of
sophisticated freshness. Whether it is cool
cerulean or warm indigo, the endless nuances of
blue can influence the mood within a space.
This curated collection of uniquely chosen hand
sculpted trays and vases, artwork, furniture and
accent pieces provide both subtle and bold ways to
scheme blue into your next design. Make a splash
with a crisp cobalt sofa or add groupings of blue
and white accent pieces. With versatility and a vast
spectrum of shades, it feels good to feel blue.
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PERSPECTIVE
I N CO NV ER SA T I ON WI T H A L E X A HA M PTO N
O
ne of the exciting aspects of CuratedKravet.com is the “shop the room” experience. Designers and
tastemakers, including Alexa Hampton and Nick Olsen [pg. 10], have designed rooms and spaces
filled with furniture and accessories, all of which are available for purchase on the site. Hampton is one
of the site’s first “curators” so inspired.news recently sat down with her for an exclusive interview.
1. Most of our readers know you already, but just for fun, tell us about yourself.
I am a 43-year-old mother of twin sons and a daughter. I’m married to a Greek, so I am now a WASGO:
White Anglo Saxon Greek Orthodox. Formerly, I was Quaker! I’ve been in the design business since I was 13
years old. My father is, in my humble opinion, the unparalleled decorator Mark Hampton. I graduated from
Brown University and went to NYU’s Institute of Fine Arts for an Art History graduate degree. I left before
getting my Master’s, but I do have an honorary PhD from Moore College of Art & Design. I like to say that
I have twice the degree with half the education. I love to draw. I watch way too much TV. After my husband
and children, my favorite thing might be cheese or bread; I can’t decide. I design products and furniture for
Hickory Chair; furniture, fabrics and trimmings for Kravet; lighting for Visual Comfort; mantels for
Chesney’s; carpets for Stark; and accessories for Maitland-Smith. My artwork is sold at Mecox Gardens.
I have written two books for Potter Style, a division of Random House Publishing Company. I was the only
ever female cast member of This Old House. I like to park backwards in parking spots.
2. How would you describe your design aesthetic?
Eclectic, logical, and in constant pursuit of beauty, harmony and the personality of the owner of the
interior on which I am working.
3. What questions do you ask your clients before starting a new project?
What their current house looks like; how they live; how they’d like to live; when they need to move in;
how much money we have with which to work.
4. Conversely, what kinds of questions do your clients ask you?
All sorts. The process seems mysterious to most people. Understandably, clients are always interested in
cost and timing. When I am working for myself, I experience precisely the same concerns.
5. Designers often tell us about the challenges they face completing the last 10 percent of a project.
How do you think a website like CuratedKravet.com will assist in this process?
I sincerely look forward to CuratedKravet.com serving the design community as a vital resource. Finding
fun objects or necessary pieces of furniture online is not the fantasy it once was a decade ago.
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6. What does the word “Curated” mean to you?
“Curated” means that someone has separated the wheat from the chaff on my behalf. The result of a
curated collection will be that one doesn’t have to muck about in the trenches of ugly to find the right thing
for a project.
7. CuratedKravet.com is unique because its products are only available to the interior design trade.
Why is that important to you?
I love sharing resources with the world on retail sites, but I also want my brothers in arms in the world of
design as well as for me to flourish being able to ply our trade in a protected professional environment
where our relationship with the Kravet name is a meaningful component of the transaction. There is no
threat of working with an anonymous corporate behemoth when you are dealing with the Kravet family.
8. Who is your ideal client and why? (this can be anyone who lived at any time in history, real or imagined)
I hate to sound smug, but I really do love my current clients. I hope they have me stick around for years
to come. They are my extended family.
9. What is your favorite item in the room you designed for CuratedKravet.com?
Obviously, I love it all. The “Loft” room was especially fun because I could easily see myself living there.
The collected artwork was a thrill to assemble.
10. What accessory or styling trick in a room (generally speaking) is underrated?
I think people don’t always understand lamp shades sizing; goodness knows, I don’t always. However, an
incorrectly scaled lamp shade (they can frequently be undersized) kills a room for me.
11. What accessory or styling trick in a room (generally speaking) is overrated?
Even though I love them, and even have some in my own house, the ubiquitous, knee-jerk accessory bowl full
of balls needs a rest.
12. You’ve known about the web site for months. Now that it’s live, what is the first thing you plan to buy?
I’m not telling. I’m selfish and I want it to be in stock when I order it.
13. What was the best advice you received about your career?
I couldn’t say. I love all kinds of career insights. However, my absolute favorite advice to myself is: whatever
I am working on, I need to make sure that I make the work as fun as possible for myself. When I am able to
amplify the fun and my own excitement on any given project, I also do a much better job. Being blasé is the
first stop on the road to creative atrophy.
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SPOTLIGHT
WHY CHOOSE KRAVET FURNITURE
T
he superior quality and meticulous detail that goes
into the production of Kravet Furniture extends
beyond the aesthetic of the product. All furniture is
handmade by skilled craftsmen with years of experience
in the art of furniture production.
Some of the unique features of Kravet Furniture include:
• Kiln dried hardwoods sourced from non-rainforest
managed plantations and laminates comprise the
frame, which is guaranteed for the life of the original
owner.
• Standard seat cushions are constructed of
environmentally safe, fire retardant foam surrounding
recycled steel springs sewn into a fiber-filled,
channeled, down-proof case for superior comfort and
durability.
• Standard loose back cushion is a combination of
fiber and both duck and down feathers enclosed in a
down-proof bag for superior comfort and loft.
• All fabric is upholstered in a complete four-way match
where all patterns are matched both horizontally and
vertically. All fabric, unless otherwise specified, is
applied standard “up the bolt.”
• All welts are cut on a true bias, and all seat decks are
self-covered for a cleaner, more elegant finish.
• Tight backs are supported either with sewn recycled
springs into a Marshall Unit (custom) or with
continuous recycled wire springs.
• Individually eight-way hand tied recycled tempered
steel coil springs are hand placed into frames.
• Most legs and exposed wood are made from solid
maple stock, enhancing the beauty of Kravet
finishing.
• Most legs are built into the frame. Some legs
are removable. Both methods provide extended
durability.
With a commitment to production and excellence,
CuratedKravet.com introduces the Ready to Ship Furniture
Program: all the quality you have come to expect from
Kravet Furniture without the wait.
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INNOVATION
READY TO SHIP UPHOLSTERY
C
uratedKravet.com introduces a groundbreaking
solution for your immediate design needs: Ready
to Ship Upholstery. Without sacrificing quality or style,
the all new unprecedented furniture program answers
designers’ needs for high-quality immediacy. Sofa, chair,
and ottoman options are chosen from bestselling Kravet
frames and finishes. Each piece is outfitted in a Kravet
fabric purposefully paired to its style, packed, and ready
to ship. The Ready to Ship Upholstery program provides
unmatched versatility and ease of shopping exclusively
to the interior design trade.
Ready to Ship Upholstery offers:
• Kravet trademark quality without the wait
• Custom quality upholstery in stock and packaged
for shipment
• More than 15 design options, chosen from
bestselling Kravet frames, finishes, and fabrics
• An innovative solution for your time sensitive
design needs
Visit CuratedKravet.com for the complete Ready to Ship
Upholstery collection.
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PERSPECTIVE
IN CONVERSATION WITH NI CK OLSEN
1. Most of our readers know you already, but just for fun, tell us about yourself.
Where to start? Well I was born on a cold day in March ... kidding! I grew up on the Gulf Coast of Florida
and have always been obsessed with design: clothes, cars, furniture, homes, etc., and how each speaks to a
sense of fantasy. I studied to be an architect but fell into my dream job after college, working for the
decorator Miles Redd. He taught me the business of design, furniture planning, how to manage clients’ needs,
and opened my eyes to this fabulous world. After five years at his company I left to start my own, and
business has grown every year since. The fact that I spend my spare time shopping for furniture and
artwork, travel, and design for myself means I’ve found my calling!
2. How would you describe your design aesthetic?
Bold and colorful, with an eye toward the past and a forward-thinking sense of humor. If a room I’ve
designed makes me smile, then I’ve succeeded.
3. What questions do you ask your clients before starting a new project?
I ask TONS of questions! From the mundane like, “What’s your favorite color?” to “What drives you crazy
in your current home?” to asking for a peek inside their closets. A person’s favorite outfit is very telling.
Of course practical questions come in handy like, “Are you TV watchers?” “How often do you entertain,
if at all?” No satin upholstery for young families... I’ve learned that one the hard way!
4. Conversely, what kinds of questions do your clients ask you?
Beyond the inevitable questions about budget (there’s always a budget, no matter what anyone says) I find
my clients need reassurance that it will come together and look like them. The most gratifying compliment
one client gave is: “This looks just like me, but 10 times better than anything I could do myself!”
5. Designers often tell us about the challenges they face completing the last 10 percent of a project.
How do you think a website like CuratedKravet.com will assist in this process?
I think it will be a HUGE help in the visualization department. I am no minimalist, but even in less colorful
rooms it’s often the books, objects and accessories that bring the space to life. I’d show a client the
CuratedKravet site and say: “How lonely would that chair look without a lumbar pillow?” or “See how a table
lamp on your bar cart would lighten up that corner?” I understand why people lose steam at the end of a
project, but it’s often the earrings or handsome belt that make an outfit, and rooms are no different.
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6. What does the word “Curated” mean to you?
Carefully selected with an expert eye. I’m a devoted shopper, and it’s my job to find the best options
available at every level of the market.
7. CuratedKravet.com is unique because its products are only available to the interior design trade.
Why is that important to you?
I think it’s a vote of confidence in our profession as a whole. So much design is available to the public,
yet they’re often completely lost on how to pull their rooms together. A to-the-trade approach says,
“These are tools in the hands of professionals who will make your home (and life!) better and more
beautiful.”
8. Who is your ideal client and why?
Really anyone with an adventurous spirit and a strong point of view but also wants to collaborate.
Tilda Swinton comes to mind: she makes avant-garde fashion look effortless but also keeps a sense of
humor about herself.
9. What is your favorite item in the room you designed for CuratedKravet.com?
Difficult to pick just one! I’d say the tufted chair in the living room, upholstered in bold jumbo paisley cotton
and paired with a fuchsia silk lumbar pillow, really reflects my design aesthetic. A classic shape made
youthful with strong colors and texture contrast.
10. What accessory or styling trick in a room (generally speaking) is underrated?
Fresh flowers! Some $5 carnations from Costco bunched together in a low vase always perks up a space.
11. What accessory or styling trick in a room (generally speaking) is overrated?
Overly symmetrical bookcase styling. If the combination of books and objects is too repetitive your home
will look like a showroom.
12. You’ve known about the web site for months. Now that it’s live, what is the first thing you plan to buy?
Some of that blue and white checked bedroom wallpaper would look snappy in my bathroom at home!
13. What was the best advice you received about your career?
Miles would always turn the tables on a fabric or piece of furniture I’d selected and ask, “Would you want it
for yourself?” I love SO many styles, so much design, but that’s still the standard: if I wouldn’t live with it in
my own home, I’m not selling it to a client. That’s the service they’re paying for!
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PERSPECTIVE
MODERN LUXE
B
lending modern glamour with classic sophistication, the Modern Luxe collection offers a cohesively
merchandised ensemble of choice neutrals, delicate golden accents and subtle metallic through a
full range of luxurious qualities. This collection effortlessly coordinates with modern and traditional design
aesthetics in order to create fashionably timeless interiors with endless design possibilities.
Modern Luxe is the first Kravet collection to span multiple product categories, including fabric, furniture,
carpet, wallpaper and drapery hardware. The collection is also the first to be included on CuratedKravet.com,
with items available exclusively through the site.
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Modern Luxe fabrics are a medley of unique patterns
with varying scales, textures, and styles through
modern embroideries, weaves, applique, prints,
sheers and lavish velvets. Selections extend a distinct,
chic approach to complete room coordination.
Design team Patricia Healing and Daniel Barsanti,
founders of HB Home, have incorporated the Modern
Luxe collection into the rooms they designed for
the site, which will be fully shoppable on
CuratedKravet.com later this year.
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SPOTLIGHT
ARTWORK COLLECTION
F
rom scale to color to placement, artwork can define the feeling of a space. The exclusive collection
available through CuratedKravet.com offers a diverse range of styles by artists in the United States and
Canada, and includes paintings and prints of varied designs and colors that provide a sweeping breadth of
artistic assortment.
Abstract watercolor patterns and monochromatic botanical forms are some of the diverse styles offered in the
proprietary collection. Several of the works were chosen by curators Alexa Hampton and Nick Olsen for their
room designs. With customization options available in framing and sizing, designers can bring a bespoke
feel to their next project with artwork from CuratedKravet.com.
TH E C U R A TED CURV E
ON E STEP A HEA D
T
he Curated Curve is the official blog for CuratedKravet.com and your source for design inspiration,
industry news and continuing education. Learn about products and programs new to the industry
from an interesting perspective. Read more about the process behind designing featured rooms from
our curators, and get inspired to start curating your next project. Check out our trend feature for coveted
styles, which will highlight some of the most interesting and versatile product and give fresh tips on how
to incorporate the items into your design scheme.
This is just some of the information you can expect to receive monthly from The Curated Curve. We encourage
you to sign up for emails to stay informed and one step ahead.
follow the curve
@CuratedKravet
facebook.com/CuratedKravet
pinterest.com/CuratedKravet
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DO NOT MISS...
PENNY D RU E B A I R D ’ S N E W MO NO GRA PH
I
nterionally-renowned interior designer Penny Drue Baird creates
rooms that are universally admired for their seamless weaving of past
and present. From luxurious Manhattan apartments and a jewel-toned
Parisian pied-à-terre, to family homes in Connecticut and New Jersey,
and a whimsical Bucks County barn, Baird’s work is the result of deep
client relationships that have lasted for decades. The Architectural
Digest Top 100 interior designer debuts her third book, Dreamhouse:
Interiors by Penny Drue Baird, on April 21.
In his warmly written foreword, Mario Buatta lauds her skill and taste in
sourcing unique pieces for each room. Au courant but never trendy, with
elements both classical and contemporary, each “dreamhouse” is
infused with Penny Drue Baird’s irresistible sense of romance, charm,
and joie de vivre. Innovative ideas abound in this classic retrospective
of interior design, even as it leans toward the designer’s most dramatic
examples, such as a barn in Bucks County, Pa., converted to a
“guesthouse and entertainment center for their farmhouse.” Yet the book
also includes a historic manor house in which a casual family room
has a kid-sized kitchen and armchair tucked into the corners and a
patterned sofa to hide spills.
Most of the selected homes feel lived in rather than staged, in spite of
the spotlessness. A 1920s Park Avenue apartment in NYC gives off a
decidedly Liberace vibe, gold leaf and all. However, the book also shows
off a refined terracotta plaid set of chairs for a client with a more traditional
tastes. The sampling of styles, locations, and types of homes display
Baird’s range and ability to satisfy any client.
The Textile Museum
Upland Restaurant in NYC
he George Washington University Museum and
The Textile Museum opened its doors on March
21st to three special exhibits, including one of the
largest exhibitions in textile museum history.
amed after the West Coast town that laid the
groundwork for chef Justin Smillie’s lifelong love
of cooking, STARR Restaurants’ Upland is a beacon of
stunning California-inspired cuisine in the bustling heart
of New York City.
T
Unraveling Identity: Our Textiles, Our Stories features
more than 100 pieces that span 2,000 years and five
continents. The assortment showcases the Textile
Museum’s world-renowned historic collections and
key loans of contemporary art textiles and fashion.
Unraveling Identity will be open through Aug. 24.
The other two exhibits are historical and feature pieces
from the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection,
guest-curated by professors from GW’s Columbian
College of Arts and Sciences.
The George Washington University Museum and
The Textile Museum is located at 701 21 St. NW,
Washington, DC. Admission is free for museum members,
children and current GW students, faculty and staff.
There is an $8 suggested donation for non-members.
Visit www.museum.gwu.edu for more information.
N
Built around a culinary philosophy that takes heavy cues
from the seasons, Upland balances a familiar rusticity
with a smart global approach and a New Yorker’s eye for
detail. The menu offers an artful array of starters, entrees
and sides, each plate accented with Smillie’s enticing
and urbane touch. The wine program boasts a worldly
500-bottle list and a clever by-the-glass selection that’s
remarkably food-friendly.
Designers Roman and Williams introduces touches of
natural oak, elegant leather, custom-blown glass and
patinated copper throughout the airy open space, calling
to mind heritage and utility.
Upland is located at 345 Park Ave. South, New York.
For more information, visit uplandnyc.com