How both Mars and Venus can love a room

The Country Bar (#107-05-SAND) from the Maison Provence collection by French Heritage has beautiful, feminine curves and a charming finish, along with masculine proportions. It also provides a clever disguise for a very functional bar interior.

Will men ever appreciate the function of a toss pillow? Will women understand the appeal of a chair with built-in cup holders? Can we all just get along?

There was a time when design decisions were "woman’s work." No more! I’m finding that when my design client is a couple, the man has just as much to say about style as his partner. What changed? Women are now an integral part of the workplace and men are discovering their sensitive side. Couples are inspired by watching HGTV together. Time is at a premium for both and that makes sharing the design decisions highly desirable.

Vanguard’s V298-S sofa has two toned java and chocolate brown leather for that manly look, while the curved English arm and rolled camel back provide feminine appeal. Detailed with brass nailheads, it’s manly, yes, but she’ll like it too.

As a designer, one of my biggest challenges is acting as counselor and negotiator between the male and female of the household. The difficulty is classic Mars vs. Venus. Men are driven by function and practicality. Women are driven by emotional reaction and beauty.

Most men look at furniture and think, "What does it do?" Women, on the other hand, want the room to feel good. Understanding the priorities of each will help you help them create the perfect space.

From a design standpoint, masculine is interpreted as large scale, straight lines, bold structure and materials with inherent interest, such as wood graining or an exotic place of origin. Feminine is recognizable by curved lines, delicate proportions, embellished detailing and touchy-feely fabrics. Both want high quality and good value, but each weighs the importance differently.

Paulette and Perceval are companion tables from Italmond that demonstrate how a piece can be adapted for a masculine or feminine character. The galaxy granite top and antique gold leaf finish are gender neutral, so we can rely on the base for definition.

The most successful solutions find common ground, with a touch of compromise. Furniture and rooms with favorite elements for each individual will satisfy both. One key to success is careful attention to the scale of the furniture. His bold leather sofa does not go next to her delicate tea table.

Another approach is to place her favorite robin’s-egg blue washed finish on his Chippendale secretary, resulting in a gender-neutral piece. Take a look at the typical hot buttons for each sex, then add your client’s personal preferences and you have a mix-and-match list for building their personal look.

Hot buttons for men
Function
Clean, straight lines
Leather and firm fabrics
Bold patterns or solids
High quality
Easy access
Details inherrent in material

Hot buttons for women
Beauty
Romantic, curved lines
Silk and touchable fabrics
Delicate patterns and sheen
Good value
Hidden function
Embellished applied details

Juxtaposition of masculine and feminine features will bring a room into balance and creates a wonderful relationship, for both the room and the people living in it. With a little give and take, everyone can live happily ever after.

Adding that special touch of glamour

Whether inspired by the Golden Age of Hollywood or the lifestyles of the rich and famous, there is a popular movement towards adding glamour to everyday life. Forget the "latte factor," with financial gurus encouraging us to save our daily coffee allowance in order to add $1,000 a year to our savings account. The mentality now is that it's well worth $1,000 to feel special every single day of the year.

This philosophy is being embraced by the furniture and design communities. You can't open a shelter magazine or turn a corner at the High Point Market without seeing a touch of glamour. We no longer have to live vicariously through TV coverage of celebrity homes. Glamorous touches are now within reach and can be mixed and matched to add charm and elegance to all of our customer's current décor.

Glamour is not about price. It's about feeling important and unique. Exquisite details like the following will satisfy our customers craving for the extraordinary:

• Touch me fabrics and textures are highly desirable. Buttery soft leathers and plush, deep-pile velvets involve the senses and give physical comfort which says, "I'm worth it!”
  
  
• Luster and a shimmer of light that catches the eye is a nice surprise. Mirrored furniture, precious metal inserts, iridescent fibers and exaggerated jewelry embellishments cause us to stop and appreciate the beauty.
  
  
• Personalization with engraved or embroidered initials will transform a pretty piece into a valued family heirloom. Such custom touches guarantee exclusivity.
  
  
• Fine furniture with classic appeal will be appreciated and cherished over the years. Donald Trump says, "No matter how rich you are, no one wants to waste a million dollars."

But people will invest in their future family legend.

The human touch in a design makes it clear the creator loved the process. Hand carvings in wood, meticulously matched grain, dressmaker details and embroidered patterns contribute to the overall enchantment of a piece.It's all about the unexpected fine points which add elegance to a room. The perfectly glamorous life may be just a fantasy for most of us, but it's so much fun to add an occasional touch that will allow us to dream!

The era of smart furniture dawns

Today's consumer wants everything in the home to make life more convenient, so it's not enough for furniture simply to sit there and look pretty.

Our furniture needs to be smart.

In the early 1990s, the National Homebuilders Assn. sponsored Smart House technology and its application to new homes. The "Smart" movement encourages linking information between the environment, home systems and people in order to respond to and even anticipate our needs. Computer technology, which constantly gets better, is obviously a key element here.

The auto industry has been a leader, with cruise control, global positioning systems and memory seat settings now common options. Lexus has just introduced a car that will parallel park itself. That may not be the most demanding task we face, but this surely rates high on the scale of cool.

When we don't have time to take care of ourselves, wouldn't it be nice to have your bathtub take care of you? A store near me demonstrates tubs and showers that work with the touch of a button. The UltraBain tub will fill itself to the proper level with the desired water temperature, remember your preferred wave action for massage and emit the proper light for chromatherapy. Once you've achieved total serenity, just towel off while the tub blows itself dry. That’s pretty cool too!

We are beginning to see home entertainment furniture that incorporates technology. For instance, Ferguson Copeland is offering its Electronic Infrared System that can operate eight electronic devices from one universal remote. The cabinet doors can remain closed — no clutter in sight! — while you focus on that big screen.

Entertainment provides hours of at-home escape, and now a chair from Empower Technologies offers total immersion. It's the first chair to integrate iPod docking, surround sound, and DVD, music and video game systems. No wonder the chair won the Consumer Electronics Assn.'s 2007 Innovations Award

Furniture that supports our technology is convenient and makes sense. The Taos end table by Peters-Revington has a built-in charging station to accommodate your iPod, Blackberry and cell phone, storing them for care-free take-off in the morning without a tangle of wires.

How smart can our furniture become? Wouldn't it be wonderful if your favorite lounge chair sensed your coming home and molded itself to caress your body? Of greater significance, what if a bed could monitor the temperature and breathing of our children and elderly?

Now's the time for furniture designers and marketers to start brainstorming ... and get smart.

As a designer, I’ve been asked for Meg Ryan's "You’ve Got Mail" lace curtains, Diane Lane's "Under the Tuscan Sun" dining table and Diane Keaton's "Something’s Gotta Give" Hamptons beach house. It's obvious we relate to the movies. We laugh, we cry and we see most of life's dilemmas solved in 120 minutes or less. No wonder we're charmed by movie sets. What better scenery for our own personal journey? We can dream of living happily ever after in that "Down With Love" mechanical sofa that turns into a bed.

Diane Keaton's character Erica from "Something’s Gotta Give" would be right at home on this Tulane Settee S882-ST from Kravet’s Smartline collection. Pale upholstery with just a hint of blue trim is a perfect way to create a Hamptons beach house effect.

The first film to affect style dramatically during my design career was the first "Home Alone" movie, which exposed audiences to the entire home's traditional interior. This was always a popular style. Then, almost overnight, it was jewel tones and Queen Anne legs for everyone! Often, designers of movie sets bring cutting-edge furnishings to the masses. The exposure reinforces a budding trend and can help it really take hold. It's no coincidence the craze for Tuscan interiors corresponds with the popularity of “Under the Tuscan Sun.” Even in the knock-down, drag-out fight scene in "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," we were treated to the most sophisticated silk upholstery in the background. Yes, we’re all familiar with today's modern furniture, but here we saw it combined beautifully in a traditional, very livable home (at least until it was blown up!).

Drexel Heritage's "Under the Tuscan Sun" line was inspired by author Francis Mayes' book and the movie of the same name. The Tavola table 111-669 provides the perfect spot for family and friends to gather and celebrate life.

Already I am seeing an increased interest in South Beach style, beautifully illustrated by the modern, white oceanfront home in "Miami Vice." And although the two "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies are pure fantasy, they clearly play into the 2007 trend forecast for furniture, which sees the Spanish influence becoming more desirable.

Fremarc's Barcelona Collection neatly captures the Spanish influence associated with "Pirates of the Caribbean." The 14301 chair would be at home in your personal captain's quarters.



The "Miami Vice" movie is exposing South Beach style to the entire country. The My Pod 490 chair from Carter is a fashion-forward statement that Paris Hilton — yes, that Paris Hilton! — selected for her new Florida nightclub.

Combine our admiration of chic movie interiors and the psychological connections we all have with our homes, and it's the perfect opportunity for retailers and designers to show consumers how furniture can enhance their personal style. Setting the stage in your showroom with props, ticket stubs and movie posters will help shoppers identify and relate to the most timely movie fashions.

Imagine using the latest blockbuster movie to predict — and profit from — the next design and furniture trend! While you contemplate that possibility, it's time for me to pull out the newspaper’s movie section, put my feet up on my "Must Love Dogs" ottoman and check out the new releases!

Building on the intrigue of exotic places

World travel is having a significant influence on home design trends. Vacations are becoming more sophisticated, revolving around heritage, culture and history. Travelers are following in the footsteps of their ancestors or exploring exotic locations for a distinctive experience.

Excursions to distant lands reveal captivating architecture, furnishings and materials. When there is no opportunity to travel, escape fantasies are fueled by Internet connections. This exposure to a multicultural world is inspiring the consumer to be bold and try something new at home.

Western European design influences have been evident for years, and re-creating the mood of an English estate or a French country retreat remains popular. In addition to these fashion statements, we can look to emerging travel hot spots for new design ideas.

The American Society of Travel Agents says Italy surpassed Mexico last year as the most popular international travel destination. This is sure to rekindle interest in styles from the Italian Renaissance and Baroque periods. Customers will be shopping for the feel of architectural grandeur seen in palazzos de aristocrazia. This translates into large-scale furniture that features three-dimensional carvings and frescoed finishes. One of these pieces instantly becomes the focal point of any room.

Spain is becoming the new Tuscany for travel. Separated from the rest of Europe by the Pyrenees Mountains, Spanish and Portuguese style was heavily influenced by Moroccan and East Indian cultures. Today’s furniture features the complicated, geometricalshaped carvings of historic wood panels. The heavy proportions have more appeal when embellished with characteristic ironwork. This style brings even the most expansive space into livable scale.

In 2008, the Olympics will be held in Beijing. This is sure to reawaken interest in Oriental décor, which has been dormant for the past decade. This time around, don’t look for lacquered finishes. The appeal will be in a more primitive form featuring hand painting that replicates ancient artistry. Mandarin red and intricate latticework are features that make these pieces the perfect accent to a room.

With growing global awareness, consumers are interested in styles influenced by eccentric destinations. Exotic woods from Africa in organic forms will become popular as primitive accents in the home. Scandinavian-inspired furniture strikes the perfect balance between modern and traditional interiors for a clean, fresh look. Japan is contributing a serene simplicity with its linear, low-profile furniture.

Acknowledging the country of origin and informing the consumer is a sure way for a store to add value to its merchandise. Furniture vignettes can provide a mini escape, with well-placed maps and guidebooks that encourage conversation and create involvement. What better way to intrigue — and capture — your customers?