Archives for 2014

For interior designers, the competition for securing new interior design projects as well as having completed projects published in print and online is steep. With residential, commercial and hospitality building and renovation on the rise, active interior designers, design firms and design-oriented contractors vie for jobs among the proliferated competition. Landing new projects is almost always foundational upon having a vast portfolio of relatable design work and a trusted reputation that stems from publicity.

Rave reviews, being published, social media interaction, design awards, and design-event participation all add up to a comprehensive toolkit that becomes a designer’s most valuable marketing asset- one that leads to creating a trusted brand for a designer or design firm. At Eberly & Collard Public Relations, we help our interior design-based clients reap new business and sales by generating published articles and feature stories that showcase their services, capabilities and design expertise.

Our synergistic backgrounds in both design and design-oriented media relations make our team a natural fit for taking clients from static and reactive marketing to proactive integrated marketing and results-oriented public / media relations.

We recently secured a feature article and photo spread for our client, Knotting Hill Interiors, in the April 2014 national print issue of Romantic Homes. The magazine showcased the CEO and principal designer Kimberly Grigg’s own home, making this a much more personal experience for readers.

Our team attained and facilitated an editorial interview for Kimberly and assisted the editor with writing portions of the design case-study, which revealed great ideas from Kimberly for bringing charm and elegance with a touch of southern flair into the home of the featured homeowner. Of course, having an artistic client such as Kimberly, whose design skills and knowledge are parallel to none, makes our media relations campaigns for her a ton of fun as well.

Read and view the entire feature via the below slideshow.

As the economy steadily improves, more consumers and businesses are investing in landscaping. Immediately, we may think of office buildings or residential homes, but here we find a cemetery in Minneapolis, Minn. that sought an update. Ron Gjerde, president of the Lakewood Cemetery Association, stated that the association was worried about cemeteries “retaining relevancy” with the increase of cremations in recent years. “Here, future families can come and learn about you, learn who you are…We encourage people to use a cemetery for remembrance,” he says.

During the design and reconstruction of the Lakewood Cemetery, one question was kept at the forefront of the involved parties’ minds: “How do we connect the community and do future burials that respect modern ideals of death and dying?” One does not often think of cemetery or mausoleum grounds as personable to visitors. To alter this way of thinking, the premises were renovated into an “unabashedly contemporary” space under the collaborative efforts of the Boston-based landscape architecture office Halvorson Design Partnership and the Minneapolis-based architecture firm HGA.

The new facility exquisitely intertwines the indoor and outdoor spaces, visually and physically, while still maintaining the historic elements of the property, such as the chapel built in 1909, garden crypts of the 1960s and the mausoleum of 1967. New additions included a green roof, reflecting pool, knot garden, refinished gathering space, and another mausoleum with a reception center.

From both functional and aesthetic standpoints, the architecture and landscape create a place where one can reflect on passed loved ones in peace. Click through the photo gallery to view the Lakewood Cemetery and Mausoleum.

Photo Credit: Landscape Architecture magazine / Paul Crosby

Project Credits:

Landscape Architecture: Halvorson Design Partnership, Boston
Architecture: HGA architects & Engineers, Minneapolis
Civil & Structural Engineering: HGA architects & Engineers, Minneapolis
Cemetery Planning Consultant: Elizabeth Vizza Consulting, Brookline, Mass.
Fountain Design: Commercial Aquatic Engineering, Eden Prairie, Minn.
Horticultural Soil Scientist: Pine & Swallow Environmental Groton, Massachusetts.
Mausoleum Consultant: Carrier Mausoleums Construction, Ville Saint-Laurent, Quebec.
Owner’s Representative: Nelson, Tietz & Hoye, Minneapolis.
General Contractor: M.A. Mortenson Company, Minneapolis.
Landscape Contractors: Aloha Landscaping, Mendota Heights, Minn.; Sterling Arbor, New Germany, Minn.

The ECPR team is excited to share we have partnered with Julia Molloy, founder of Molloy Management Group, for the Business of Luxury Design (BOLD) Summit. Formerly known as the Business of Design (BOD) Conference, the annual event’s new approach to luxury design education and networking is set to take place Aug. 28-29, 2014, at the Wynn hotel, Las Vegas.

The BOLD Summit is designed to provide an exclusive group of elite interior designers, architects, design-build professionals, landscape designers and architects, and other luxury design service-providers with resourceful information and networking opportunities to enrich their business operations and success in a ground-breaking and renewed fashion.

As the BOLD Summit’s official public relations firm, we will be working diligently to promote the event to target audiences, by way of strategic traditional and social media campaigns. This includes press releases with up-to-date information about the BOLD Summit as well as regular updates on our Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and blog channels.

Serving also as a business partner and sponsor, our team’s role involves collaborating with Julia and the other partners to help shape the event’s schedule, content and overall experience for attendees, sponsors and media members.

Our team of experts will also be working closely with our good friend Julia on securing corporate and media sponsors. Potential corporate sponsors include furniture manufacturers and showrooms, kitchen and bath appliance manufacturers, home furnishings retailers, design and market centers, among others. Possible media sponsors include both high-end trade and consumer shelter publications.

The two-day event has been created specifically for business owners in the design field whose professional knowledge has outgrown other industry events, having found them to be too basic or cursory for their particular needs as luxury service providers. As the event’s new host, Julia Molloy brings over 20 years of business operations management experience to BOLD’s rebranded conference.

The BOLD Summit’s intense course aims to provide a dynamic and collaborative learning experience for design professionals to help build personal wealth and company success. Event presenters will enlighten attendees on critical business topics such as developing profit centers, luxury brand development, wealth development, and marketing in the new age of design. Attendees will participate in actionable training workshops with technical tools and financial analysis for their firms.

A very important benefit of attendance, BOLD will also feature revolutionary resources like worksheets and business planning documents that will be available for download and completed in real-time during the conference as well as a take-away DVD of the presentations.

This year’s BOLD Summit will feature a selection of seminars with top industry leaders and icons:

• Julia Molloy, Molloy Management Group and BOLD Summit host
• Mike Peterson, publisher of Luxe Interiors + Design South Florida magazine
• Christopher Kennedy, luxury interior designer and furniture line designer
• Frank Mastronuzzi, MBA, CPA and former chief financial officer of Michael Smith, Inc.
• Chris Ramey, founder of the Home Trust and the Luxury Marketing Council
• Kim Kuhteubl, authentic branding expert
• Lloyd Princeton, founder of Design Management Company
• Our own Don Eberly and Jeff Collard, co-owners of Eberly & Collard Public Relations

The event is a bold new and exciting endeavor for our staff, and, collectively, our firm couldn’t be more inspired about being a business partner, sponsor, publicist, supporter, and enthusiast. For more information about the BOLD Summit, visit www.businessofluxurydesign.com.

Interested in attending, editorially covering or sponsoring BOLD Summit? Media members, luxury furniture / appliance manufacturers, showroom owners / managers, design center marketing directors, and others desiring to know more about media or corporate sponsorship opportunities, contact us at 404-574-2900.

Keeping the tradition of American craftsmanship alive, Brian Preston founded Lamon Luther in 2009. It specializes in producing handcrafted, high-end home furnishings and accessories such as one-of-a-kind dining tables and cutting boards. The company is dedicated to supporting its craftsmen and helping them sustain a better life. The carpenters use their talented wood-working skills to design beautiful furniture made from reclaimed wood. And, behind each piece there’s a story to be heard.

Lamon Luther first started recruiting builders and craftsmen who had found themselves homeless and living in a forest near Douglasville, Ga. due to the financial crisis in 2007. As the company evolved, it was able to hire more craftsmen who had fallen on hard times. They currently feature eight artisans who specialize in anything from crafting with their hands to welders.

For more about Lamon Luther and the company’s amazing efforts to help those in need, please watch the video below.

As one of Architectural Record’s chosen case studies of “Schools of the 21st Century,” the new early-childhood education building, Earl Shapiro Hall, at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, is a marvel of sleek design and utility. Founded by John Dewey in 1896, “Lab,” as it is colloquially known, stresses the approach of “learning by doing” and demonstrates this unique style in the architecture of its newest addition.

Architectural Record – April 2014

A staunch departure from the neo-Gothic architecture of the Lab’s main campus, designer Joe Valerio of Chicago’s own Valerio Dewalt Train Associates, with FGM Architects, took a very modern approach to the building. Several blocks east of the Lab’s other facilities, Valerio was challenged with working outside of the rest of the school’s architectural framework. In reference to the many differently scaled rooms, “Really controlled space is pretty deadening,” said Valerio.

Architectural Record

Therefore, classes share small adjoining rooms meant for extracurricular activities, and outdoor “playscapes” are perched atop the roofs. Though it still strikingly resembles the University of Chicago’s traditional Collegiate Gothic style, the expansive truss-supported interior is very welcoming. However, Earl Shapiro Hall’s modern influence is also evident in the cantilevered library that rests over its steel-framed administration wing, completing the structure’s flashy outer features. These include cream-colored brick, reflective energy-efficient glass and perforated aluminum fins arranged in a variation of the Fibonacci sequence.

Architectural Record

The school’s “learning labs” have glass walls that provide expansive views of the city and are meant for cooperative lessons between classes. The open feel to the rooms is meant to foster social development, bringing children “outside” and pushing their boundaries. Though Lab School director David Magill admits the building does not have “that hugging space” of older buildings built to smaller scales, 13-foot ceilings and rooms of every shape give children the space they need for their minds to run wild.

Architectural Record

Air Vent Inc.

Air Vent Inc. manufactures a full line of attic ventilation products, including durable, high-performance ridge vent systems. Its Pro Flow™ Vented Drip Edge combines venting with a drip edge and is used to provide intake ventilation in homes with little or no soffit area. Air Vent also offers The Edge™ Vent, a shingle-over roof-edge component that provides proper intake ventilation with little or no overhang. It can be used to supplement existing soffit or undereave vents. Both products supply 9 square-inches of net-free vent area per lineal foot.

Air Vent The Edge™ Vent

Azek Decking and Trim

Azek offers low-maintenance products that are impervious to moisture and insects in efforts to limit the hassles associated with traditional wood decking and trim. Its limited lifetime warranty is against fungal decay, blistering, peeling, flaking, cracking, splitting, cupping, rotting, and other structural defects. As an all-encompassing product, Azek’s low-maintenance trim was featured in Money magazine’s “The Carefree House” article and has received rave reviews from various builders and decking companies.

Azek Decking & Trim

Icynene ProSeal Eco

Since 1986, more than 300,000 residential and commercial projects have utilized approximately 3 billion board feet of Icynene spray foam insulation. In response to the demand for more eco-friendly blowing agents, one of its newest product developments includes a 100-percent water-blown, medium-density, closed-cell spray foam for its portfolio of SPF solutions. Icynene says ProSeal Eco is a smarter and more environmentally sound replacement for chemical-based, closed-cell spray foam insulation builder products. 

Icynene ProSeal Eco

If you have used these products before, let us know your experience in the comments below. Also, take a look at our Pinterest page for more great products across all our specified industries.

#1: Be mobile-friendly for Millennials, and Just About Everyone Else on the Web

According to Cisco Systems, the number of mobile Internet users is expected to reach 1.9 billion by 2015. This means the Millennial generation may not “hear” you if your website is not “responsive.” And, in all reality, nearly all web users today are savvy enough to seek their needed information through multiple digital formats – from desktops to handhelds.

What do we mean by responsive? Our peers at Mashable.com describe responsive as the ability for a website to automatically format itself based on the device on which it is being viewed. As sales increase for tablets and smartphones, so increases the demand for mobile-friendly web design. Now, the question to ask is, “Do you need a mobile web design or a responsive web design?”

With a mobile web design, a devise-user will be automatically forwarded to your mobile-compatible webpage when they attempt to view your main website. This may be useful if you only want to limit capable actions through mobile devices, similar to the differences between online banking websites and their corresponding mobile apps. A responsive design will adjust the main website to fit the device being used. This model is easier to maintain and is a great option for companies that update content often, such as news sites or online retailers.

Photo Credit: Squixa.com

#2: Boost Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

This is a race to the high SEO finish line! Webopedia defines SEO as “a methodology…used to increase the amount of visitors to a website.” SEO can be visually defined as a website’s “placement” or “ranking” when the URL is inputted to a search engine. The sites that appear on the first “search results” page have the highest quality of SEO. So, how does a website achieve high SEO?

First, make sure your site is accessible via search engines by using appropriate tags, Meta tags, and commonly searched words within your industry. Meta description tags appear in search engine results pages and give the web surfer an overview of what your site contains. Your Meta tags should be created, generated and posted via Google and other search engines for most, if not all, pages of your website. Title tags appear in the title bar of the browser and are one of the factors used by search engines to determine the content of your page. Using “keyword rich” title tags within a 60-character limit will help search engines locate and rank your page appropriately, according to the web surfer’s search criteria.

Note: Do not excessively tag each page with the same keywords and phrases. This will cause search engines to identify your site as spam, and it could lower your SEO ranking. Make each page unique with relevant content on the page. The content needs to be exclusive within the pages of your site and in comparison to others, especially your competitors.

If writing descriptive tags while using commonly searched words for search engines is not one of your strengths, outsourcing with a company that specialize in web development and copy writing, such as our ECPR team, will benefit you greatly in your SEO improvement initiative.

Click here to learn more about SEO from “SEOman!”

On February 8, 2014, President Obama signed the Agricultural Act of 2014, commonly known as the Farm Bill, into effect. A new Farm Bill is passed approximately every five years and the latest bill, comprising a staggering 1,000+ pages, will yet again have a major effect on the agriculture, horticulture and floriculture industries, particularly the farmers and growers whose life work is harvesting the crops on which the country depends.

While many in these industries have been keeping a watchful eye on the status of the bill, the complexity of government legislation may have left some without a thorough understanding of its influence on their day-to-day businesses.

Photo credit: Michigan State University, The State News

Farmers and growers, review this concise overview which covers a few of the essential, major components of the Farm Bill our team believes to be most applicable, and learn how it will impact you.

Agriculture: Both farmers and consumers will be affected by the 2014 Farm Bill. The reduction of food stamps has brought about mixed reactions, yet the progress in the food industry delivered by the bill is notable.

• SNAP, most formally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, will be decreased to some citizens. However, those still able to utilize the program will have better access to more nutritious food, as SNAP benefits have been doubled at farmer’s markets under the Farmers Market Promotion Program. Addressing the critical issue of nutrition and public health is vital; this program, and others, will drive revenue for regional farmers and lead to expansion.

•  With only 2.2 million farms producing our nation’s food, and less than 2 percent of the U.S. population working them, the uncertainty of crop yields can deal a detrimental financial blow to farmers. What many experts consider the bill’s biggest attribute to be is a new insurance policy, which will support farmers in times of loss and help risk management.

Are you a grower of Christmas trees? A battle in the long-fought war against artificial trees was won with the signing of the bill by President Obama. A 15 cent tax will be placed on every tree sold and the funds, estimated to total $3 million in the next five years, are being directed to research and marketing to further promote the live tree industry. Horticulture / Floriculture: The reach of the 2014 Farm Bill will go beyond farmers of food; those in the nursery and floriculture trade will see increased funding to several beneficial programs.

• Several diseases have plagued the nursery grower industry in recent years, including the fungicide-resistant impatiens downy mildew disease, the quick-spreading boxwood blight and new invasive insects. The Farm Bill will lend millions of dollars more to pest and disease research, among other programs that safeguard nursery production.

• Along with fruits and vegetables, horticulture and nursery crops are designated as specialty crops by the U.S Department of Agriculture. The Specialty Crop Block Grant and Specialty Crop Research Initiative will both work to help enhance competitiveness for these crops against staple and highly lucrative crops such as soybeans, rice and corn. The block grant will involve both state and regional industry associations on marketing campaigns, while the crop research aspect will bring the necessary attention to the organic agriculture and horticulture industry.

Overall, citizens of the United States have a right to nutritious food and healthy crops of all kinds. While some people may not agree with the Farm Bill in its entirety, it is hard to deny the need for funding that will improve public health and wellness. This new legislation is allowing average citizens the ability to buy healthy food and granting hard-working farmers the capacity to grow that food, along with successful plant cultivation that aid to environmental and human well-being.

The growth of several industries is leading to major advancements in residential kitchen designs. With the consistent growth of the organic farming and food market in the United States, homeowners are becoming more and more conscious about their diets, which is also affecting their food prep spaces. In addition, the surge of available “smart appliances” and sustainable building materials in commercial kitchens is evolving even the most basic kitchen appliances, and has crossed over into the residential market. Thus, builders and designers are working to help their clients fashion chic, upgraded and functional kitchen spaces with new and innovative technologies.

K+BB January 2014

In its January 2014 issue, Kitchen + Bath Business shared the latest in commercial-style, sustainable, efficient and wireless technology now being found in residential kitchens.

Double ovens were once exclusive to major restaurateurs and caterers, but now the appealing features of LED screens displaying recipes, cooking guidance and customizable cooking cycles have reached home culinary enthusiasts.

Along with cutting-edge features, luxury and conveniences normally reserved for fine dining are also appearing in residential kitchen designs. While wine refrigerators are not necessarily new to residential kitchens, wine dispensers are providing a new experience for wine connoisseurs. No longer do wine lovers have to anguish over spoiling an unfinished bottle; their favorite Sauvignon Blanc can be easily stored and kept at the perfect temperature, ensuring that it is readily available at the touch of a button.

As all architects, designers and builders know, materials used for the home must fit the specific needs of the client. When it comes to kitchens, countertops are easily the most substantial element. Commercial kitchens have long ago adapted to be both heat- and scratch-resistant, and now both natural and synthetic sourced materials are becoming stylish options for homeowners who wish to utilize this commercial-like durability.

K+BB January 2014 – Residential Kitchens Are Taking a Page from Commercial’s Playbook

Keeping up with the latest in home products and technologies to recommend to clients is imperative, and there’s no better way to accomplish the task than attending industry conventions and events.

KBIS, the leading kitchen and bath industry show, and IBS, the largest annual residential housing construction trade event, will co-locate during Design & Construction Week, beginning February 4 – 6, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nev. This year will mark the first time the two premier shows and associations have joined together to exhibit the latest industry products, trends and technologies.

Designers, builders and retailers, don’t miss this opportunity to experience the newest offerings from top brands for all home needs and learn about high-tech and innovative products that can upgrade your clients’ kitchens.

Click here to read the full K+BB article and here to learn more about KBIS.