Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

The City Planning Commission, meanwhile, has thwarted or postponed action on three major commercial development proposals (including Troianis) since July. And the board of the citysUrban Redevelopment Authority[URA] hasnt reviewed a new development proposal of more than $20 million in value since May, when it approved an incremental step toward thestill-controversial redevelopmentof the former Civic Arena site.

Commercial development in the city this year has been not as much as Id like, said Tom Melcher, business manager to the Pittsburgh Regional Building Trades Council, an umbrella organization of construction unions. He pointed to the still-quiet arena site as an example, saying, Theres a lot of road blocks. A lot of road blocks.

Theres no sign of a slowdown in housing construction.

Greg Flisram, executive director of the citysURA, noted that the state recently awarded low-income housing tax credits to six proposals within the city, each of which will exceed $10 million in investment.

Thats consistent with Pedutos housing-first development priorities. We need to build more affordable housing, we need to build more subsidized housing, and we need to build more market-rate housing, the mayor said, while cheering the Forte project.

U.S. Census Bureau data shows that through August of this year, the Pittsburgh metropolitan area saw 81% as many new housing units approved as it did all of last year. That pace is better than those of metro Cincinnati, Baltimore, Cleveland, Toledo, Buffalo, Philadelphia or Harrisburg. (Columbus, Ohio, has performed better than Pittsburgh on housing permits, but even that city has seen an 18% drop in commercial building applications.)

The prognosis for the office-and-tech building boom in the city, though, may be darker.

Applications for commercial building permits were down 29% through September of this year versus the same period in 2019. (Some, but not all, of that drop is likely attributable to procedural changes at the citys Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections, which in May 2019 began accepting amended applications where it would previously have demanded new applications, creating duplicate permits.)

[T]he commercial real estate industry is in a period of adjustment, said Flisram. COVID-19, he said, is especially drivinguncertainty regarding office development, as developers and architects weigh the size and layout of the post-pandemic workplace. People are trying to figure out whether certain trends that they see happening now, on an interim basis, get locked in and become kind of imprinted and permanent, or whether they are kind of temporary solutions, or stopgaps.

Perhaps as a result, he has seen fewer large, new projects come before his agency, compared to earlier in the year.

Peduto said theres plenty of building coming, noting that the Penguins development team has said that theyre still going to begin construction in the first quarter of next year on the arena site. An estimated $528 million development in the Chateau neighborhood, called Esplanade, has slowed but not stopped while Millcraft Investments is working with the neighbors before seeking state aid, he added.

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto speaks at the groundbreaking of the planned Forte Condos in the Strip District. Photo by Jay Manning/PublicSource.

The mayor blamed the dip on permit applications on the spring shutdown and said there was reason to hope that it will be short term. I look at it with the major developments and how many of them have been stalled or canceled. We havent had any canceled.

Developer JMC Holdings wants to build a 20-story office building in the 1500 block of Penn Avenue. It won the endorsement (with reservations) of the community group Strip District Neighbors.

There was definitely concern about the design and size, said Chris Watts, chair of the Strip groups community development committee. But the proposal struck the group as an improvement over the empty, concrete Wholey Building that it would replace. We wanted to see that property be a contributing property and felt that there were some elements that would benefit the community.

Last month, though, the Peduto-appointedCity Planning Commissionvoted down the proposal after commissioners called it a gigantic barrier and a Lego office building. JMC has the option of returning with a new concept.

A rendering of a proposed Strip District office tower, submitted to the City Planning Commission on behalf of developer JMC Holdings, on Sept. 15, 2020 (screenshot).

Two weeks later, the commission postponed its vote on developer George Mongells proposed Uptown Tech project, a conversion of a former industrial laundry building along the Boulevard of the Allies into a technology workshop and office. Commissioners acceded to the wishes of the Hill District Community Development Corp. whose officers said the developer had not specified the amount of minority- and women-owned business involvement in the construction. The commission could vote on Oct. 13.

Neither Mongell nor JMC Holdings partner Matt Cassin responded to PublicSources emails and calls. Commission Chair Christine Mondor declined to comment, saying she could not talk about matters still before her panel, and City Planning Director Andrew Dash did not agree to an interview.

Peduto backed the commissions decisions. In Uptown, he said, commissioners want to know specifically that, in development in predominantly Black neighborhoods, there are Black contractors and women contractors that are involved in it. Regarding the Strip, he said: We dont want to see new developments overtake the historic character of a neighborhood, and the Planning Commission has made it very clear to the developer that this design overtakes the neighborhood.

He also supported the commissions July decision to bar Troianis family from demolishing the Froggys building and several adjacent addresses.

That is a historic district of Downtown, the mayor said, and it sets a bad precedent when you buy buildings, dont maintain them, then declare them not able to be saved.

The Troiani family started buying Firstside parcels about 30 years ago and owns 13 of them, said Michael Troiani. The family took steps to repair and lease the long-vacant buildings but couldnt find interested tenants. Meanwhile, several of the buildings have become a card castle, ready to tumble, he said.

Thats where the structure is joined, and its stressed out, he said, pointing to one of numerous interior walls in which large cracks, patched with mismatched mortar, are evident. This has had 100-plus years of Band-Aids on this structure.

Michael (right) and Nicholas (left) Troiani stand in one of their buildings in Downtown Pittsburghs Firstside district. They say the buildings are held together with 100-plus years of Band-Aids. Photo by Jay Manning/PublicSource.

He wants to replace the boarded-up buildings with a tower including about 150 apartments and 190,000 square feet of office space. But because the buildings are in a historic district, he needs the City Planning Commissions nod before swinging the wrecking ball.

Troiani provided a timeline showing two years of meetings with neighbors, Downtown groups, historic preservationists and city officials. He won the approval of the Downtown Community Development Corp., whose Executive Director John Valentine told PublicSource: If you get development with that type of building, youre looking at jobs, youre looking at vibrancy in an area that needs that.

Architect Ken Doyno discusses plans for a 385-foot office tower on Troiani family property in Downtowns Firstside Historic District during a City Planning Commission meeting held by Zoom on June 16, 2020 (screenshot).

In June and July, though, historic preservationists opposing the demolition wrote to the commission and then spoke at its July 14 meeting.

We think we can save the buildings, or part of the buildings, Mr. Troiani can have a new building [and] we can live congenially, said Arthur Ziegler, president emeritus of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, during the commissions July 14 meeting.

Troianis development team said the buildings couldnt be preserved. The commission then voted not to allow demolition, while inviting Troiani to return with a new, complete plan for the site.

The Troiani family appealed the commissions decision to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, where briefs are due in November. The family argues that while their buildings are within the National Register of Historic Places Firstside Historic District, they are not historically significant structures. Restoring the crumbling brick walls wouldnt be economically or physically feasible, they add.

If the commission had approved demolition, Troiani said, I would be marketing the opportunity to bring a tenant in from outside of Pittsburgh to anchor a building of about 190,000 square feet in the Golden Triangle.

Instead? I have more attorneys than I ever wanted to have in my life.

PublicSource

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The Peduto administration supports some development in the city, stops other plans. A look at what's up and down in building - NEXTpittsburgh

Have you walked past the empty lot on Sutter and Wyona Ave. and wondered what is going to built there? Well here you go.

According to YIMBY, a four-story mixed-use building will be developed at 717 Sutter AvenueinEast New York. The site is 5 blocks away from the Van Siclen Avenue subway station, serviced by the A and C trains and 8 blocks away from the 3 train.

The building will be a mixed use building, with 2,030 square feet for two retail spaces on the ground floor. Ten apartments will be created, averaging 680 square feet apiece, indicating rentals. There will be a studio apartment on the ground floor, with each remaining floor having three apartments apiece. A recreational area will be created on the ground floor.

The lot is currently vacant. Construction can start as soon as permits are approved. The estimated completion date has not been announced.

Subscribe to EastNewYork.com to receive updates about the application process for this building as well as others.

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Sutter Ave Lot in East New York To Be Developed into a 10 Unit Apartment Building - eastnewyork.com

In summary

A small group of Oakland tenants landed a deal that ensures their rents remain affordable.

When Christine Hernandez moved her familyinto a yellow apartment building on 12th Avenue in Oakland two years ago, she wasnt planning on paying rent. She knew squatting was risky, but homelessness was worse. What she didnt know was that her decision would eventually put her at the forefront of a tenant-led fight to create lifelong affordable housing for the five families living in the buildings six units.

Im shifting from being in a constant state of fear, said Hernandez, whose family of six hadnt had a stable home for half a decade. But it worked out. Now were stable, legit, long term.

Hernandez and some of the other 12th Avenue tenants earlier this year got a community land trust to buy the home theyd been living in. Land trusts buy properties, retain ownership of the land, and then build or preserve affordable housing,selling or renting units back to low-income tenants at a discount.

I had to wash my child in a bucket.

Amid the Bay Areas high rental prices,community land trustshave becoming an increasingly attractive option with at least seven now operating in the region. Last year, the Moms 4 Housing group led a similar effort in West Oakland to fight their eviction from a Magnolia Street home they had illegally occupied. The owner eventually agreed to sell the home to the Oakland Community Land Trust.

The conditions at the 12th Avenue house, tenants said, had been bad for years: a dilapidated roof that leaked, missing windows, and plumbing installed without permits, all code violations found by the city of Oakland during a 2018 inspection. The rent was cheap between $800 and $1,400 monthly but the living was hard. For halfa year, some tenants said, the building had no hot water.

I had to wash my child in a bucket, said Jayda Garlipp, a mother of two who lived in one of the buildings apartments for nine years, and paid $1,050 in monthly rent.

When the longtime owner defaulted on the home mortgage, oneof the original financial backers took possession of the home and started construction work with the intention, he said, to renovate and sell quickly.

But for Hernandez and Garlipp, that meant a new owner could decide to flip the house and evict them. So, they organized: The two women tried to discourage any interested buyers and pitched the project to the Bay Area Community Land Trust, which in June bought the building for $700,000. The longtime owner could not be reached for comment.

The land trust has started construction work, including updated plumbing, new windows, an extra room for Garlipps kids and an oven, which she hasnt had in six years. The plan is to have tenants manage the buildings maintenance and live cooperatively. Tenants will pay their same below-market rents to the land trust, and Hernandez has started paying rent too.

The 12th Avenue project wasbacked by a grant of more than $1.3 millionfrom the city of Oakland and by theBays FutureFund, the investment branch of the Partnership for the Bays Future, a collaborative that finances and advocates for affordable housing. The partnership, which includes the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the San FranciscoFoundation and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, hopes to disburse half a billion dollars to fund 8,000 affordable homes by 2025 by providing low-interest loans to land trusts or developers who want to create or preserve affordable housing.

So far, thefund has invested $97 million in 14 projects with 1,121 affordable housing units in the five-county Bay Area. The financial model behind each project varies and the housing developments range from units for chronically homeless people to emancipated foster youth cohabitating with middle-income working families, according to the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, which manages the Bays Future Funds financial portfolio.

Tenants are at the heart of this, said LISC CEO Maurice Jones. Frankly, they have the best intelligence. The only way you know whats happening is by talking directly to them.

The land trust movement, coupled with investment managers and funds like the Bays Future Fund, is making it possible for tenants to advocate for themselves in new ways, Hernandez said. But to do that, tenants need to know their rights and understand the ways to enforce them. Hernandez said the experience helped her find a new career path, one she realized shes been practicing for years.

Now, she is a co-director for the Sustainable Economies Law Centers new project: a radical real estate law school where apprentices like herself follow faculty attorneys for four years and then attempt to pass the bar. The goal is to teach future lawyers about alternativemodels of land ownership that help tenants buy and get affordable housing. In the meantime, Hernandez and Garlipp have started a Youtube channel for tenants facing eviction.

I can create new opportunities so that people can pass through them, Hernandez said. Ive been on the defensive for five years now its us getting into an offensive position.

This article is part ofThe California Divide, a collaboration among newsrooms examining income inequity and economic survival in California.

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From homelessness to real estate: How some Bay Area tenants won their affordable housing fight - CALmatters

But locals would prefer a more carfree Cairo

THE NEW flyover in Giza, near Cairo, is something to behold. The road runs so close to the adjacent apartment buildings that some residents can reach out of their windows and touch it (see picture). One jokingly told a local newspaper that he would invite passing motorists in for tea on his balcony. But the road is more than just an object of ridicule. To many Egyptians, it is a symbol of their governments ineptitude, as it pursues an ambitious national development plan.

The scale of construction, which includes highways linking new and planned cities, is vast. In August the transport minister, Kamel al-Wazir, said 130bn Egyptian pounds ($8.3bn) had been allocated to complete 1,000 bridges and tunnels by 2024 (about 600 are already done). The goal is to double Egypts urban space over the next 30 years. President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, a former general, wants the work done quickly. Roughly a fifth of Egypts 100m citizens live in Cairo, the timeworn capital.

Many Egyptians support the effort. Cairos roads are notoriously clogged. Part of the plan is to reorient the flow of traffic towards a shimmering new capital, 45km east of the current one. With new highways taking shape, commutes into central Cairo from the periphery have never been so brisk. The roads are a rare but tangible way in which the quality of life for many Egyptians has improved under Mr Sisi.

But much of the construction appears poorly planned. The new concrete bridges and flyovers are eyesores. Residents of Heliopolis, a relatively posh neighbourhood in the capital, mourn the loss of hundreds of trees. Public parks and squares have been paved over and roads have gobbled up pavements to make way for cars. Dozens of pedestrians were struck on one expanded stretch of road in the weeks after it reopened earlier this year. The carnage forced the government to station soldiers there to help people cross.

The construction also threatens Egypts heritage. One planned expressway would slice through the City of the Dead, an ancient necropolis listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site. Bulldozers have already begun rolling through a section of its more contemporary graves. Elsewhere a pair of highways is being carved through the Giza plateau, near the Great Pyramids. Egyptologists worry that archaeological treasures may be lost under concrete. (An earlier version of the Giza highway plan was scrapped in the 1990s after an outcry.)

Locals complain that the government has not consulted them (they are not allowed to protest). Urban planners say the development is misguided. They point to cities elsewhere, from Paris to Seoul, which have recently become more green and walkable. Norman Foster, an architect, put it plainly at a forum in Cairo: One has to question why one part of the world is building huge roadwork when elsewhere...the lessons have been already learned.

This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline "A rage for roads"

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Egypt is busily building expressways - The Economist

Lawrence Paquin and Tanya Bond use one of the public access computers at the Sweet Home Public Library.

Rose Peda

Library Director

SWEET HOME Sweet Home residents will have the opportunity to vote on continuing to support the public library with an annual property tax levy of $1.17 per $1,000 for five years via Ballot Measure 22-184 on Nov. 3.

The library opened in 1969, although Sweet Home has had a library since 1942, operating for many years out of the basement of City Hall. In 1942, Sweet Home had a population of about 1,100. There are now more than 9,000 residents.

The levy would begin on July 1, 2021, and is expected to generate $2,383,820 over its five-year run, ranging from $443,977 in year one to $530,670 in year five.

The librarys annual circulation is about 40,000. Its story hour program attracts more than 100 youngsters and its annual summer reading program serves more than 500 children.

The library is a member of the Linn Libraries Consortium and has five Little Free Libraries at the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Santiam; Foster, Oak Heights and Hawthorne elementary schools; and the Crawfordsville Market.

The current library at 13th and Kalmia is 51 years old and was not designed with computers in mind.

The city hired a consulting firm last year to assess library needs and to consider whether the current structure could be remodeled, or if an entirely new building is needed to meet current community needs.

The proposed levy would provide funding for operating expenses only, not remodeling or construction of a new building in the future.

Richard Gray and Joseph Store of FFA Architecture told City Council members that the building is undersized for the communitys current population, is seismically deficient and lacks space for a variety of community needs, such as tutoring for small groups, meetings for large groups, and all-ages story hours.

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5-year levy will support Sweet Home library - Lebanon Express

MondayOct12,2020at4:47PMOct12,2020at4:47PM

HGTV recently named Brookline interior designer Cecilia Casagrande the editors pick winner of the color and pattern category of the 2020 HGTV Designer of the Year.

After five weeks of voting and over 36 million page views, HGTV said Casagrandes work stood out among the rest, securing her win in a competitive field.

I am so honored to win this award featuring my Brookline Victorians colorful living room, especially since color and pattern are at the center of my design philosophy, said Casagrande. These elements are powerful design tools that shouldnt follow trends necessarily but reflect a mood or emotion.

In Casagrandes five years as an interior designer, she has worked with clients from Boston to Miami. Her work has been published in The Boston Globe Magazine, Boston Home, House + Home, Modern Luxury, LivingEtc, Lonny and The Spruce.

Casagrande credits her masters degrees in public health and social work and experience in community-based advocacy for her ability to connect with her clients and their space on an emotional level. Her travels across the Americas, Asia, Europe and Africa help Casagrande to interpret cultures and curate extraordinary pieces in her clients homes.

Casagrandes design philosophy is to create spaces that evoke positive emotions, whether they are for rest, work or play. Casagrande takes care to build from her clients individual style and personality as well as pieces that are already in place.

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Brookline resident wins color and pattern category of HGTV Designer of the Year competition - Wicked Local Brookline

Newport Beach | $4.45 MillionA new Craftsman-inspired house with four bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, on a 0.06-acre lot

This house is in the Balboa Peninsula Point section of Newport Beach, just across the bay from Corona del Mar. The neighborhood is family-oriented, with annual Fourth of July and Easter events. Within walking distance is West Jetty View Park, a strip of waterfront that includes the Wedge, a spot known for its high waves and for inspiring the surf music legend Dick Dales 1963 hit of the same name.

About a mile away is the ferry crossing to Balboa Island, where vintage boats carry passengers across an 800-foot stretch of Newport Bay. Heading inland, John Wayne Airport is about a half-hour drive, while downtown Los Angeles is about an hour away.

Size: 2,948 square feet

Price per square foot: $1,509

Indoors: A low brick wall with a gate separates the front patio from the sidewalk. The front door opens into a living room with white-oak floors that continue throughout the house. Along one wall a fireplace is framed in floor-to-ceiling white stone and flanked by built-in bookshelves. Glass doors at the front of the room open to the street-facing patio.

The living area flows into a dining space, and both are open to the kitchen, which has a waterfall island with a white-stone counter and appliances from Sub-Zero and Miele. Off the kitchen is a home office with a built-in workstation, as well as a half bathroom.

An open staircase, brightened by a skylight, leads from the front of the lower level to the second floor. Turning left at the top of the stairs leads to the primary suite, which has a limestone fireplace and more built-in storage. In the primary bathroom, which connects the bedroom to a walk-in closet and dressing area, a separate shower and soaking tub sit across from a double vanity.

Across the hall is a guest room with an en suite bathroom. At the other end of the hallway, facing the back of the property, are two more guest rooms that share a bathroom, one with a built-in window seat.

The house includes an Elan smart-home system that allows the temperature, Lutron lighting and Sonos audio systems to be controlled from a phone, tablet, remote or touch panel.

Outdoor space: A row of succulents lines the path from the street to the front door, and the street-level patio off the front entry has space for a cafe table and chairs. From the dining area at the back of the house, glass doors open to another patio with space for a small seating area. A trio of fountains is set into gravel and framed by colorful flowers. The attached garage has space for two cars.

Taxes: $52,957 (estimated)

Contact: Tara Shapiro, Pacific Sothebys International Realty, 949-478-7781; sothebysrealty.com

This property, less than half a mile from the Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, includes five acres of flat land used by the current owner, a chef with restaurants in San Francisco and Berkeley, as a fruit- and vegetable-producing farm. The home, one of the areas oldest farmhouses, was renovated in 2017 and is now a popular rental venue for weddings, writing and yoga retreats, and family gatherings. The Russian River, a major draw in this part of the state, is a five-minute drive, as is the center of Guerneville. Santa Rosa is about 22 miles away, and San Francisco is a 90-minute drive.

Size: 3,000 square feet

Price per square foot: $1,500

Indoors: A paved driveway leads from the road to the main house, which has a two-tiered patio with brick steps up to the entrance.

The entry is directly into the open living space, which retains a few original details, including a brick fireplace that separates the sitting area from the kitchen. The ceilings have exposed wood beams, and one wall has wood paneling reclaimed from a barn. Between the living area and the kitchen is a windowed dining space.

During the 2017 remodel, the kitchen got new cabinets and quartz countertops. The range is stainless steel, and open shelving is built onto the back of the brick fireplace.

Two en suite bedrooms are off the living area. The first has a private sitting area and a brick fireplace, framed by an original carved mantel. The second has a lofted storage space reached by a wooden ladder. Both bedrooms have access to the grounds.

There are four en suite bedrooms on the second level. One has a private balcony, while another has built-in bunk beds. All of the homes bathrooms were updated during the renovation, with walk-in showers and new sinks.

Outdoor space: The front patio has two levels, both with plenty of space for entertaining; on one side of the lower level is a pizza oven. On the other side of the house is a second patio, with a hot tub surrounded by a small deck made of teak. In front of the house is a small lawn; from there a path leads to the farm, where crops include garlic, tomatillos, squash, onions and chiles. The driveway has space for at least four cars.

Taxes: $56,254 (estimated)

Contact: Cam Thompson, Cam Thompson Team, Coldwell Banker, 650-302-2611; guernevillemodernfarm.com

This house, near the border of Marina del Rey and the Venice section of Los Angeles, is the residence of Kim Gordon, an interior designer who bought it in 2014 and spent several years renovating it, with a focus on bringing the outdoors inside. Abbott Kinney, a Venice neighborhood known for its upscale restaurants and markets, is about a mile north, and Marina Beach, a quiet cove with a play area, is a five-minute drive. Los Angeles International Airport is about 20 minutes away.

Size: 3,256 square feet

Price per square foot: $1,378

Indoors: A wood-and-iron gate separates the public part of the front yard from a private section, landscaped with grass and mature trees. The glass front door leads into an open living area. At the front, next to floor-to-ceiling windows that swing open to the entrance courtyard, is a space used by the owner as a home office.

Farther back in the main living space is a sitting area anchored by a fireplace with a distressed-wood mantel. Beyond that is a dining area framed by more floor-to-ceiling windows. To the right of the dining area is an open kitchen with Wolf appliances and a 10-foot island that has space for four chairs. On the other side of the kitchen is a family room with space for a breakfast table and access to the backyard.

On the second level, four bedrooms are arranged around an open landing. The primary suite is at the front of the house, with a large balcony facing the California pepper trees planted in the front yard. The primary bathroom has a chromotherapy tub with air massage and a separate steam shower. The guest room facing the front has an en suite bathroom, while the two bedrooms that face the backyard share a bathroom off the hallway. Each guest room has its own balcony.

Outdoor space: In addition to the front yard, which has built-in benches and a wood-burning stove, there are several outdoor spaces in back. The main dining area opens to an outdoor seating area with a built-in firepit and a water feature. The swimming pool has an attached waterfall-style spa, and is framed with landscaping. On the other side of the yard is a paved area with space for a dining table and chairs. The attached garage holds two cars.

Taxes: $57,007 (estimated)

Contact: Justin Alexander, Compass, 970-710-1665; compass.com

For weekly email updates on residential real estate news, sign up here. Follow us on Twitter: @nytrealestate.

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$4.5 Million Homes in California - The New York Times

The coronavirus pandemic has cratered sales in many industries, but the home furnishings category as a whole is not one of them. Big-box retailers and to-the-trade dealers alike have recordedrecord sales over the last six months as consumers look to enhance their homes for stay-at-home life. And so, after a missed Spring Market, High Point is back this fallbut dont expect it to be Market as usual.

For starters, it will last for nine days, not five, in order to spread out attendees, who must visit on the dates assigned to their geographical region. Thesocial distancing, limited capacity and safety precautions that have become the norm in every aspect of life will be omnipresent across High Point Markets 180 buildings. Showrooms will be operating at 50 percent capacity (so scheduling appointments is a must), visitors will be required to undergo daily health checks, and typical crowd-drawing events like the Keynote Series and Style Spotters Live! will be virtual.

But the industry is itching to return and reconnect with clients, masked-face to masked-face. The mood is cautious yet excited, 6-foot distances and temperature checks be damned. So pack your hand sanitizer and ready the Zoom stream. Heres everything were looking forward to, from new collaborations between old favorites to standout products and Market newcomers.

It Takes Two: 8 of our favorite High Point collaborations this fall

New Kids on theBlock: 9 Market newcomers were excited to meet this season

Fresh Fall Finds: 17 eye-catching newproducts to seek out in High Point

Looking for another way to follow along? Throughout the nine days, 23 top design talentswill take over High Point Markets Instagram account (@highpointmarket) to spotlight their favorite Market finds. Follow along to see what they are loving at the show!

Keep in mind:Appointments are strongly recommendedand for some exhibitors, may be required. Have a showroom youre eager to visit? Find exhibitor contact information here;for additional information about health and safety protocols at Market, click here.

Mark Your CalendarThese virtual events promise provocative, of-the-moment conversationsamong industry leadersand you dont have to leave your house to attend.Find links to these online Market events and more here.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14

Keynote Series: The Intersection of Wellness and Home DesignFurniture, Lighting & Decor editor in chief Diane Falvey interviews Clodagh, Charles Pavarini III, Michael Peterson and Lori Miller about the future of wellness.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15

The Well-Designed Home

In partnership with Summer Classics, Business of Home editor in chief Kaitlin Petersen sits down with Jamie Gold, author of Wellness by Design, to explore how design professionals can strengthen the link between home and health.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16

Keynote Series: The Future of Virtual Design ServicesBOHs Kaitlin Petersen talks to interior designer Nicole White about adapting a firms workflow for e-design, followed by a conversation between BOH podcast host Dennis Scully and Maiden Home founder Nidhi Kapur about the future of retail design services.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19

Not Just a Pretty Chaise: Why Communicating Value Matters

In partnership with Universal Furniture, BOHs Kaitlin Petersen leads a lively discussion with Arianne Bellizaire and Amy Mitchell about how they have tailored the language they use, both in person and online, to attract the right clients.

Keynote Series: Sustainability in TextilesEdmund Ingle, CEO of Unifimaker of a fiber derived from recycled plastic bottlesspotlights sustainability trends, the benefits of a circular economy, and brands that are making a difference.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24

Pinnacle Awards

In a virtual ceremony, the International Society of Furniture Designers announces the winners of this years Pinnacle Awards (the Oscars of the furniture industry), featuring 20 categories and a keynote address by designer Corey Damen Jenkins.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11

Style Spotters Live!

Three weeks after Fall Market, this years High Point Style Spotters gather to offer insights into the seasons leading looks and on-trend products.

Homepage image: High Point Markets fleet of buses and vans will be expanded during Market to allow for social distancing | Courtesy of High Point Market Authority

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Heading to High Point? What to know before you go - Business of Home

PLANO, TX At Home is rolling out the Grace Mitchell Collection in a partnership that builds off earlier initiatives but with this one representing a new milestone as it undertakes building an exclusive brand that will develop over time.

The collaboration that At Home has established with interior designer Mitchell is already vast, at 400 items, and meant to last, as the two parties refine their work together across categories from furniture to home decor to lighting to textiles to tabletop.

Mitchell, who in addition to doing her A Storied Style blog, has been featured in several HGTV shows including One of a Kind and Design at Your Door, is working in collaboration with a retailer for the first time.

Chad Stauffer, At Home chief merchandising officer, said the company has been pleased to craft a collection with high-end style at sharp values. Style and value will be critical in the ongoing collaboration that At Home and Mitchell will cultivate and extend. Mitchells classics with a twist styling approach provides a flexibility in development but also a grounding in practicality and practice. In the case of the initial collection, Mitchell based product development on what she experienced in renovating her 100-year-old home in Fort Worth, TX, as well as products she commonly turns to in her everyday doings.

When Grace set out to build this collection, she focused on the kinds of pieces she loves to use when decorating a room, but often has a hard time finding in stores, Stauffer said. With this collection our customer can get the kind of high-end decorator touches shes always dreamed of but at the amazing prices shes come to expect from At Home.

In approaching the collection, Mitchell said she wanted to translate traditional designs for todays consumer.

As far as the process, I came to the table with ideas of some items I wanted to create, whether they were vintage items I wanted to do a fresh take on, or products I wished I could find in stores and never could, she said. From there, we ordered samples and tweaked them as needed. Maybe the color, maybe the style, maybe the size.

Mitchell said that consumers who have been spending more time home are increasingly inclined to freshen interiors theyve been living with for what seems like too long. Although many, in an era when home decorating information and expertise is abundantly available, have at least some confidence in their ability to switch up the looks of their home, consumers dont necessarily want to just jump on the current trend. Many consumers appreciate a connection to tradition even if they dont feel altogether bound to it. Mitchell said she recognizes that such consumers want to connect the then and now, but with the added notion that they are telling a tale about who they are personally and, very often, about their families.

The message I get from people is: My whole home design is around the idea of a story, she said. I really was thinking about whoever loves home and wants to make their home feel special and unique.

As it launched in all 219 At Home stores, Stauffer pointed out that the collaboration with Mitchell emerged, at its inception, from a commonality of approach.

About a year ago, we sat down with Grace for the first time after being introduced by a mutual friend, he said. We have been incredibly focused on bringing our customer the best new home trends at the best prices, and when we met with Grace, it just clicked. Grace is all about storytelling through her designs and thats something Im incredibly passionate about: How do we use the 50,000 SKUs in our store not only to deliver great value but to help our customer build a home that tells their familys story?

Stauffer and Mitchell agreed that the collection isnt about a specific target group within the larger At Home customer base. Rather, it has been designed so that just about any shopper entering an At Home store could find something or some things attractive within the collection at an affordable pricepoint, such as a decorative clock at $12.99 or a tufted upholstered bench for $99.99.

One of the most fun parts of shopping at At Home is we really do have all dcor styles under one roof, Stauffer said. Our customer is creative and passionate about home dcor and were focused on bringing her the best of every style at an incredible value. We have set out a plan to find and partner with the best collaborators in each of the styles our customers love, and we are excited to partner with Grace on an assortment that we know will inspire and delight our traditional dcor customer.

This isnt the first collaborative collection launched by At Home even if its the first one intended to develop as an exclusive brand. Stauffer said the retailer builds design partnerships based on consistent terms. What was true in the past was true with the Mitchell collaboration even if it will be more expansive.

First off, we have a rule at At Home that we seek out partnerships with people we genuinely like, he said. That was easy with Grace. We are thrilled to be embarking on a collaboration with a partner we admire and respect as much as her. Secondly, shes Fort Worth born and raised. Were a Texas-based brand and that connection for our first full brand collaboration just made sense. And lastly, her design aesthetic is classic and timeless. Weve seen a lot of farmhouse collaborations in the market over the past few years. We thought our customer would love to see something different. Theres a lot of beauty in what Grace does: Its rooted in classic shapes but it has Graces amazing twist.

The effort At Home and Mitchell put into developing the collection effectively marks the retailers initiation into building exclusive brands.

This is really the first time weve pulled together such an extensive and long-term collaboration, Stauffer said. Given our unique model and 100,000 square-foot store, we think this is the sort of immersive shopping experience our customer could only really find at At Home. The response has already been incredible, and were excited to have several more collaborations in the pipeline.

The launch of the Mitchell collection not only represents a new phase in At Homes evolution but also as a new approach to providing shoppers with something fresh and potentially exciting.

Its been a hard year for everyone, Stauffer said. Were all spending more time at home, more time with family, and I think customers are going to want their homes to feel happy. Graces optimism and happiness are truly authentic, and it comes through in everything she touches.

Read more:
At Home Builds Mitchell Collection As Exclusive Brand - HomeWorld Business

How does a fashion professional transfer her design skills to her home? You just need to peek into the colourful abode of shoe designer Jacqueline to see its clearly second nature to some. From gallery walls decorated with a mix of witty prints, floral oil paintings and whimsical one-offs to open shelving crammed with collections of pottery, glassware and ceramics, shes an interiors natural.

Id say Im a very visual person, and always have been, says Jacqueline. I actually originally wanted to be a fine artist specialising in painting or work in ceramics, but when I was at art college I panicked, and when I discovered a degree in shoe designit seemed perfect for me. My artsy background probably explains so much you see in the house. Also, the more you do design, the better you get at developing ideas.

If you want to renovate and create a space as colourful and personal as Jacqueline's, we have ideas and helpful advice on what to do and where to start in our feature on house renovation. For more completed projects, head to our hub page.

The flower- and plant-filled kitchen looks out onto the garden, and Jacqueline has put her favourite armchair in the sunniest of spots. I spent so much time of maternity leave sitting right there, feeding Martha, she says. Kitchen and larder unit, British Standard, painted in Hague Blue and Indian Yellow, Farrow & Ball. Ligne Roset Serpentine lights, Heals. Bar stools, Olive & Fox. Armchair, Ebay. Wall-mounted planters, West Elm. Wall light, Graham & Green. Artwork, Etsy. Brackets, Oak Store Direct. Metal wall sconces, Dowsing & Reynolds

(Image credit: Jemma Watts)

The owners Jacqueline Benson (@tinyandthehouse), a shoe designer, husband Joe Mercer, a planning engineer, their daughter, Martha, and cat, TinyThe property A three-bed Edwardian end-of-terrace in Finsbury Park, north LondonProject cost 156,000

But the house didnt start as a blank canvas just awaiting a few pretty tweaks. In fact, the couples first viewings of the house were far from auspicious. With an overgrown garden, cluttered hallways and boarded up back windows, as well as about 100 tanks of various reptiles and spiders in the house, it was such a wreck that mortgage companies were turning down everyone else who looked to buy it.

Jacqueline picks up pieces wherever she travels to bring character to her home, and her collection of plants add mood-lifting greenery to the space Restored French antique woodburner, Stove Hunters. Art print, Pure Evil Gallery

(Image credit: Jemma Watts)

Our builder actually said it was the worst house he had ever seen, says Jacqueline. It took four men four days and five large skips to remove all the rubbish. They even had to take off part of the roof to get it out of the loft! And we realised that the floor above the kitchen area was about to collapse as they had so much stuff in there.

For a similar table, try the Ralph, Made. For similar chairs, try Garden Trading

(Image credit: Jemma Watts)

Looking beyond the dilapidated state of the property to its potential as the sunny family home its since become, the house was still appealing. Jacqueline says it was the spacious proportion of the rooms and the location, in a well-connected area of London, that sold it to them. From the point of exchanging contracts onwards, the project began, and work started straight away. Everything, including heating, electrics and plumbing, had to be replaced. Builders knocked down walls to create the new open-plan space at the back, and put in two new bathrooms as well as a new kitchen. Everywhere needed re-plastering and painting.

When I put up a gallery wall, I start with a large piece or a few large favourite pieces and build around it, says Jacqueline. It doesnt have to be in the centre or symmetrical, but its a good place to begin. I keep the smaller pieces to place in between gaps. This artwork is a mix of paintings and prints from galleries around the UK, including Arbon Interiors and Of Special Interest. Orange sofa, Habitat. Lamp and base, Les Couilles du Chien

(Image credit: Jemma Watts)

Luckily the renovations to the house didnt need planning permission, so the builders could proceed quickly. But as the previous owners had ripped out nearly all of the original features other than the cast-iron railings on the staircase and the wooden floorboards underneath the worn carpets the couple also had to find salvaged items to put back the period character of the house. We didnt use architects, says Jacqueline. I drew up the plans and then directed the builders. Because the house was in such a bad state, it was way beyond DIY, so we couldnt do any of the work ourselves.

I often frame things like postcards, birthday cards or anything that has sentimental value or would look good, says Jacqueline. I do love a mix. And I love to contrast colours and styles of frames for interest. SCP Oscar bed and mustard throw, Heals. Bedding, The White Company. Side tables, West Elm. Various artworks by Alana Eakin, Margot in Margate and Juniqe Art. Vase, In The Garden

(Image credit: Jemma Watts)

To save on extra rent, the couple stayed separately with relatives for three months while the heaviest work was done. We then moved back in to just a bedroom, a bathroom and a spare room, which we used as a kitchen and a store room, adds Jacqueline. Amazingly, we were bang on schedule and even though we did go a bit over budget, our builders were so hardworking. They finished exactly when they said they would.

Jacqueline isnt into the typical nursery furniture sets for baby rooms so sourced a vintage chest of drawers and wardrobe for the nursery. They were much cheaper and I think they look beautiful and add character,' she says. Walls painted in Setting Plaster, Farrow & Ball. Jimmy Cricket x Fleur Harris Woodland Teal wallpaper, Bobo Kids. Cot, Ebay. Brand Numero 74 canopy, Smallable. Prints, Easy Vintage, Max Made Me Do it and Creative Studio Caro

(Image credit: Jemma Watts)

While there werent many ways to cut costs on the build, Jacqueline budgeted by picking the best they could afford in key areas. The concrete kitchen tops, solid wood kitchen and the Heals lights that hang over their kitchen island were all big ticket items, for instance, but the couple found good value in other areas like the tiles theyve used in the bedroom fireplaces, and the fact that so much of the furniture was bought at auction or on Ebay.

The couple have fashioned a smart and stylish storage unit by using a mid-century sideboard as a basin unit. The colours in the bathroom are inspired by the paintings of L.S. Lowry, who is one of my favourites, says Jacqueline. Sideboard, Mustard Vintage. Floor tiles, Smink Things. Metro tiles, Tons of Tiles. Burlington bath, UK Bathrooms. For a similar mirror, try Perch & Parrow. Wall lights, Garden Trading

(Image credit: Jemma Watts)

Now theyve been in for a couple of years, do they have any other plans for more refurbishments? We almost sold it last year before Martha was born because I have such itchy feet to do another project, Jacqueline laughs. But luckily we stopped ourselves! Well probably stay here for a few years now. In fact, we could extend and create a fourth bedroom and also turn the loft into a fifth bedroom but lets see what happens over the next few years.

The exterior of the Edwardian house is elegant with double bay windows

(Image credit: Jemma Watts)

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Real home: this Renovated Edwardian home is full of colour and personality - Real Homes