FALL . AT HOMEA Guide to Furnishing Your Home Find Your Inspiration The Perfect Host Living Big in Small Spaces inside 6 5 WELCOME 6 GRAY IS THE NEW BLACK The latest in home decorating and design trends and where 14 to look for more 10 ENTERTAINING EASE Company is coming! Here’s how to enjoy the party 14 HIDES ARE HIP When it comes to contemporary furniture, beauty is indeed skin deep 22 18 MODERN MASHUP Blending contemporary home furnishings with your favorite 22 ACCENT POINT antiques and other styles you love How and where to nd accessories to give your home a nished, pulled-together look. 26 LIVING LARGE Making the most of small spaces 30 HOME GROWN Look to products made in North America for exceptional quality and value 34 YOUR LOCAL DESIGN EXPERT The advantages of shopping locally, and in a Contemporary Design Group store 26 25 independent, contemporary retailers across the country All models and styles shown may not be available Published by FurnitureCore, Inc. / Home Furnishings Business Magazine. ©2014. All rights reserved. The content contained within may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. 4 AT HOME welcome t IronHorse Home, we believe that stylish home décor can be affordable. We take the time to understand our customer’s Aneeds, and our everyday low prices put style within reach. Our family is dedicated to help our clients create the home of their dreams. Visit us today and share your vision for your dream home – we would love to help you make it a reality. Our showrooms are constantly changing. At IronHorse Home, we have furniture and accessories arriving weekly so there is always something new to discover. Take a look inside and come visit us to experience our fantastic furniture, amazing selection, incredible prices, great selection and convenient delivery. We hope to see you soon and visit us at ironhorsehome.com or facebook.com/ ironhorsehome. — The IronHorse Home Family 5 decorate Gray is the New Black Soft gray, as shown on this Palliser sectional, is adaptable and works with a wide spectrum of colors. The latest in home decorating and design trends and where to look for more If the color gray brings to mind childhood memories of charts,” relates one color expert, a comment echoed by staring out a window on a dismal day waiting for the sun Contemporary Design Group members across the board. to return, dotty elders, bankers’ suits, or some vague, In upholstery, where trend forecasters report that rounded, intermediate area, it may be time for a new appraisal. In curvy silhouettes are getting more attention than designs home furnishings at least, gray has broken free of its dreary with sharp angles or square corners, gray is now considered associations and shot to No. 1 with a bullet. Gray—in all its the “new neutral.” In wood furnishings, where walnut is ruling shades—is hot! the day, gray-toned woods appear to be gathering momen- tum. And, in metal finishes, the most in-demand looks span “Dark gray, mid-gray, light gray, if it’s gray, it’s topping the silvery gray shades like brushed chrome, steel and platinum. 6 AT HOME decorate We Gotcha Covered come and go, whether the “it” shade is purple (Pantone’s anointed color this year is Radiant Orchid), fuchsia, egg- Gray or not, neutral upholstery continues to hold sway in plant, blue, turquoise, aqua, teal, green, red, yellow, Contemporary Design Group member showrooms across orange or pink, or you are simply in the mood for a the country. “Neutral fabric—gray, black, brown, khaki, change, updating your look is quick and easy. beige, ivory and even some navy and greens—make the clean lines of a contemporary sofa or sectional frame stand An even smarter move for many shoppers now is opting for out; you can really see the design. It’s just an easier read,” something in the relatively new class of high-performance says one designer. “Then, we like to pop it with color.” fabrics. With brand names like Sunbrella, Crypton, Brisa and Ultrasuede, and durable, high-tech constructions like In fact, design experts suggest starting with a neutral microfiber, easy-care performance fabrics guard against base in an investment piece like a sofa or sectional and stains and wear, look great and feel just as good. Accidents then layering in color with pillows, accessories, artwork happen, and performance fabrics are a boon for open- and accent chairs, can be a smart and cost-effective plan spaces where food and drinks are consumed, and for way to remain on fashion’s leading edge. Then, as trends those sharing spaces with children and pets. Pink Ribbon Lime A saturated yet Add a twist of Lime Spin the to any room for a soft mid-pink shade with a cause surefire blast of worthy name. happy. Robin’s Egg Sunshine Color This smile-worthy There’s little better blue is filled with than a bright, sunny nostalgia. Team day, and Sunshine Wheel Ro bin’s Egg with delivers. Ultrasuede is a beautiful fabric nearly every color for contemporary lines. That on the spectrum Sunset Orchid said, the company offers a A visually sensual Inspired by sun- mid-range purple, wide range of colors to com- drenched Western Orchid is flexible pletely dress or accentuate all landscapes, Sunset enough for mixing of the positives. Here’s a look is reminiscent of and matching. at some of our favorites. gorgeous beach sunsets. Here’s Your Cue For those still unsure about what looks will suit them, Shoppers seeking inspiration and information about what experts suggest taking a good look in their closet. may be trending in contemporary design have more sources than ever for great ideas and style cues. In addition to the fashions in your closet, look around at the places you love most. The combination of colors in Websites like Pinterest and Houzz, the Twitter feeds of nature are fantastic and places you gravitate to may hold celebrity and professional designers, as well as other clues to your favorite palettes. home furnishings experts, home-related cable channels like HGTV, shelter magazines and publications, and of Personal taste dictates what’s going to work well and course, the imaginatively merchandised, trend-setting what you will value in the long term. As one standout and ever-changing showrooms of Contemporary Design design talent notes, “You are the one who will live with it, Group member stores. so go with your gut instinct!” 7 AMERICAN WALNUT by AMerican Leather AMERICAN WALNUT by AMerican Leather The American Walnut Collection by American Leather is a curated selection of art pieces authored by a handful of our favorite designers. Intrigued by the increased attention to mid-century modern detailing and classic elements that nod to the era, exposed walnut has intentionally been infused into each design. We’ve combined the nostalgic warmth of walnut with the current coolness of brushed stainless details resulting in a fresh, forward interpretation of the trend in the softly modern attitude of American Leather. Re-discover the beauty of natural walnut with the quality assurance of the American Leather brand through this collection of stunning conversation pieces sure to become treasured heirlooms of the future. Made in America | In your home in about 30 days. www.americanleather.com entertain ntertaining Ease Company is coming! E Here’s how to enjoy the party EVER IMAGINED YOURSELF as the host of one of those intimate dinner parties portrayed in glossy ads, surrounded by shiny, happy people looking exceptionally beautiful in the soft glow of candlelight, gathered around a table perfectly dressed with a spread only a professional food stylist could have arranged, and thought, “my friends just don’t clean up that well.” Well, we can’t help much with your social network, or for that matter, the menu for the Food Network challenge. (Hint: hire a personal chef and bartender for the evening.) We can, however, offer some insights on how to make your space look magazine-shoot ready. Take that dining room for instance. A lot of homes today don’t actually have one, or at least, a dining room that is limited strictly to dining. “Builders are eliminating the traditional dining room in many homes Fill your bar with all the necessities before company arrives. today, in favor of more open-plan layouts and multi-use spaces,” says one design expert. “Furniture designers are following suit with multi- functional pieces that adapt to these spaces, and the changing needs and uses they accommodate in an instant.” 10 AT HOME entertain Flu y Towels are Just the Beginning TO HELP GUESTS staying the night feel welcome, today’s hosts and hostesses with the most, emulate world-class hoteliers and innkeepers in the thoughtful details. Offer a selection of fluffy towels, soaps and other toiletries in the bath, and empty space in either a closet or drawer (preferably both) for guests to stow clothing and other personal items. High thread-count sheets and cloud-like pillows are, of course, de rigueur. Those who truly expect to be remembered as a five-star establishment though had better investigate the American Leather sleeper, known among true connoisseurs as the ultimate overnight accommodation, not only for its exceptionally good-looking, patent-pending design that provides comfortable seating, but because it is actually exceptionally Copeland Audrey table is equipped with easy-stow comfortable to sleep on as well. leaves, making extending your table a snap. Stirred, Not in the Least Bit Shaken Indeed, if your notion of extending the dining table to accommodate extra guests involves dragging a set of leaves out of storage once or twice a year and wrenching open the table from both ends Contemporary Design Group retailers o er three exclusive to insert them, only to reverse the whole process Comfort Sleeper designs from American Leather when the party ends, it’s time to take a look at some of the newest designs in dining.