Best of Show: Architectural Digest Home Design Show, Part II.

As you may be aware, the ECPR team first showcased the Architectural Digest Home Design Show “Sneak Peek” series prior to the show last month. Immediately following the show, we published a follow up about the show entitled “The Best of Beautiful Design from NYC,” dated March 25 on our blog.

Since then we have begun the “Best of Show” series, featuring the latest and greatest products and companies ranging from art, home furnishings, accessories, kitchens, appliances, and more. Be sure to read Part I for the full introduction to the “Best of Show” series.

Naula Workshop made its 4th appearance at the show this year, officially debuting The Plaza Bed. This luxurious bed designed by Angel Naula from the company’s new collection of customizable home furnishings has clean, modern lines in an effort to showcase its new minimalist designs. The Plaza Bed was featured in Esquire’s SoHo Penthouse “Bachelor Pad” last year. Since 2002, Angel Naula has brought together a group of artisans and designers to create a workshop that thrives on the idea that, at its inception, each piece is of its own unique design. All furnishings are manufactured, lacquered and upholstered in Brooklyn, NY. To view more of Naula Workshop’s new home furnishings line, visit the company’s website at www.naulaworkshop.com.

The Exclusif Sectional by Didier Gomez for Ligne Roset is as comfortable and luxurious as the picture portrays. The sectional sofa was highly popular at the Architectural Digest Home Design Show, particularly, in a stunning gray fabric sure to set new trends. (Shown here in light gray). Designed with great emphasis on extreme softness and comfort, this sectional would be a perfect addition to a family room with panache or a modern condo or apartment well-suited for entertaining. Uniquely, there are two types of armrests from which to choose: a low, wide rectangular version and a high, narrow trapezoid version. They can be combined with one another for what can be considered an asymmetrical element. Additionally, and most impressive to us, the Exclusif Sectional can be designed to the customer’s liking. When juxtaposed with the piece’s eye-catching styling, this flexibility is unlike all others we encountered in the category. Given standard and customized options, the plush Exclusif Sectional allows for a wide range of seating, from loveseats and banquettes to lounge sofas and ottomans.

Ligne Roset, an international contemporary furnishings company based in France, was founded in 1860. The company features high-end, design-forward lines of household furniture, lighting, accessories, and textiles geared toward the modern lifestyle. Ligne Roset has stores worldwide, including premiere U.S. locations in New York, Miami and Philadelphia. These stores were represented at the show in an exhibit space well-liked for its bold essence. For additional information on the Exclusif Sectional or to view more furnishings and collections from Ligne Roset, visit www.lignerosetny.com, www.rosetphilly.com, and www.lignerosetmiami.com.

Derived from an original Mayan stone sculpture, TON Art’s Mayan Wheel has started a new generation of art speakers. It is one of the more creative show examples of form and function, in that, the sculpture acts as wall art as well as audio speaker. With its rough, hand-crafted, and painted surface resembling the original’s ancient stone, the speaker’s design made a positive impact at the show. The Mayan Wheel has two gold-leafed boxes illuminated by soft incandescent bulbs. Additionally, it boasts four speakers, two on each side. Each state-of-the-art speaker provides exceptional sound for large areas. Collaborating with designers, artists and craftspeople, the company’s art speakers are able to replace traditional speakers to create a serene, organic look. TON Art has a variety of speakers for indoor and outdoor use, all of which incorporate top-of-the-line technology and are able to connect easily with any sound system. For additional information, visit the company’s website at www.tonartllc.com.

The Grothouse Lumber Company’s Walnut Sink was brilliantly showcased at the Architectural Digest Home Design Show last month. Its wood composition made it stop show-goers in their tracks. Earning a nomination for the “Best of Show’ series, the Walnut Sink is available in over 60 species of wood with distressing and custom-stain matching. The company’s wooden sinks are a unique alternative to stainless steel, stone and ceramic sinks. Every hand-crafted solid-wood sink is coated with an exclusive Durata® permanent finish.

The company was founded in 1994 by Paul Grothouse. His extensive knowledge and background in woodworking and engineering resulted in starting his own company. With a 20,000 square foot, solar-powered facility in Pennsylvania, The Grothouse Lumber Company strives to be environmentally-friendly. While it did not surprise us in the least, the company’s award-winning designs have been featured in a number of magazines, books and on one of our staff’s favorite television shows, “This Old House”. In addition to the line of solid wood sinks, the company also crafts fine custom wood countertops, butcher blocks, table, and bar tops. The Grothouse Lumbar Company distributes worldwide and each organic surface ships in 2-3 weeks. Installation and blanket-wrap delivery are available in select markets. Last, but not least, FSC & LEED products are available, offering designers and homeowners the sustainability factor. Visit www.glumber.com for more information.

* To vote for your favorite “Best of Show” product, add your “Comments” below. Be sure to indicate the name of the product in your comment. At the end of our article series, the product with the most comments will be awarded the top “Best of Show” status.

Note: Click on the above photos to enlarge them.

~ ECPR