On assignment for a couple of our editor contacts, and to gather information for our blog, Jeff and I went on a two-day hunt at the Atlanta International Gift, Home Furnishings & Area Rug Market. Since the “Mart” is only a few blocks from our office, this is one market for which no travel was needed. The proximity gave us more time to soak in trend-based products, work with clients, see old friends, and meet many new ones.
Our product picks and reviews will be seen in a variety of online and print publications – both trade and consumer – during 2010. We’ll post updates as publication evolves. For now, we wanted to share information about one of our most preferred companies and its impressive outdoor furniture and accessories.
Elegant Earth is a company specializing in furnishings and decorative accoutrements for the outdoors, tables, chairs, benches, containers, fountains, pedestals, and more. Each piece the company produces has its start in the past. Discovered antiques become models or inspirations for production of new items.
Just as with interior design, accessorizing the exterior with furniture should combine practical use with beauty, and bring character to outdoor living areas, decks, patios, and verandahs. Scale is a key component to the company’s design decisions, with attention to detail and pieces that solve problems for homeowners and their designers. The combination of a classic look and style, frost-proof durability, and a lower cost point than the norm for such high quality is a unique selling proposition.
Retailers, designers, and members of the media, take a look at the following favorites we thought you might like:
French Teak: Side Chair and Loveseats (Also available as an arm chair) – These reproductions are based on a style Elegant Earth came across during its many searches for antiques and new product inspiration. The frames are welded wrought iron with a powder-coated finish in a neutral dark-brown. The durability and style of the hand-finished teak makes this a handsome and functional outdoor seating option. Pairing them with Elegant Earth’s 84-inch Old English Dining Table provides a taste of Old World ambience. Designers, consider this pairing for your next outdoor room installation.
Firewood Console – This accessory is an adaptation of Elegant Earth’s sleek 72-inch Console Table. This highly functional 8-piece set offers multiple units that can be placed side by side to create a truly dramatic effect. All pieces are manufactured from re-enforced concrete and hand finished in one of six standard finishes. This pieces’ juxtaposition of application and beauty makes it a focal point with a purpose. Retailers, you could use this piece to change the way your customers think about cold temperatures and frosty days.
Perfect Oval Bistro Table – A reproduction of a piece that hails from the Provence region of France, its simple design is an elegant statement inside or out. The oval shape can be used as an outdoor bistro table or as a center or side table in a large foyer. Cast in re-enforced concrete and hand finished in one of six standard finishes, this oval table was one of Elegant Earth’s best selling pieces in 2009. Possibly, its best feature, the table has an elegant appearance, yet offers extreme stability against strong winds.
Designers / retailers, request a catalog at www.elegantearth.com. Media members, let us know if you’d like photos or more information. Look for previous and future posts based upon our top product picks from the Mart and other markets / tradeshows.
~ Don
