2008 Dream rooms
This spring, acclaimed Merchandise Mart Design Center showrooms use their own furniture, fabrics and accessories to create a luxury living space. The Dream Rooms exhibition is open to the public to discover all the luxury resources available at The Merchandise Mart Design Center.
Dates and Hours:April 25 - July 12, 2008 |
Location:The Merchandise Mart |
Green With Envy
The Kravet Dream RoomProject Team: Susan Fredman, Barbara Theile, Aimee Nemeckay,
Ruth Mortensen, Jase Frederick and Nancy Abramovitz
From the Dreamgirls of the Susan Fredman Design Group comes a savvy sitting room sponsored by Kravet. The sitting room is being used to showcase Kravet’s new and innovative green design solutions and illustrate to the public that green design can truly be beautiful. The vignette has contemporary lines and is juxtaposed with soft sexy accents. The room consists of two seating areas defined by sisal rugs which create order in the space while ceiling treatments create a sense of procession. A dark moody sexiness is fashioned through the use of a dual and tight color palette. The palette is enhanced by the lighting becoming an architectural element and following the horizontal lines of the room. Unique detailing crafts the space such as; a chair rail which transitions into an artwork frame, texture which defines an accent wall and the softness of drapery treatments that craft friction with the opposing wall. The artwork adds a finishing touch to the space and was commissioned with contemporary artist, Teri Tito. This room was designed to provide inspiration to the public and demonstrate that green design truly can be beautiful.
We were delighted to be invited by Kravet to design their 2008 Dream Room. We were equally delighted with their request that it be a Green Room. Green design is not a passing fad or trend. It is a serious and very necessary initiative intended to arrest the damage that is impacting our environment. In Kravet’s green statement they say “….we are committed to finding new ways to protect our planet. The environment sustains us. We aspire to return the favor.” We are proud to partner with them on this project and demonstrate, through our design, that Green really is glam.
In Our Room You'll Find...
On the Floor…
Recycled leather floor tile
The tile is made of more than 65% post-industrial leather scrap & natural rubber which is completely renewable within a 5 year cycle. The binding agent is Acacia tree bark which does not impact the tree during harvesting and is renewable. Recycled leather tile has a greater abrasion resistance so there is less of a need to replace because of wear.
On the Walls…
Benjamin Moore Aura paint Semi-gloss.
A new addition to the Benjamin Moore line-up of quality finishing products, Aura is self-priming, low VOC, durable, water clean up and certified GreenGuard for air quality by the GreenGuard Environmental Institute.
Kravet Grass Cloth wall covering
A good looking, natural fiber, paper-backed wall covering using natural binding agents. A smart and attractive alternative to vinyl wall coverings.
Our Furniture Selections…
All of the beautiful pieces we selected are from Kravet Furniture. In addition to the feather, down and recycled polyester fill for the back cushions and throw pillows, soy fill is now being used in the seat cushions. The coils contain recycled carbon steel wire, and the springs contain recycled metal components. The wood in the furniture frames and case pieces are provided from non-rainforest managed plantations and is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
The handsome fabrics we selected to cover our furniture choices are from the KravetGreen eco-friendly weaves collection. The majority of the fabrics used in the room are 100% recycled polyester.
In the Details…
Many of the details or accessories we chose to use in our room had a life before they made it to us. They have been reclaimed and repurposed. A knot of roots was reborn as a funky side table; a branch of petrified wood found its place as a dramatic accent to our pair of cocktail tables.
For more about the process please visit our blog:
http://www.susanfredmandesigngroup.blogspot.com/
