25spring 200524 spring 2005 www.iida .org

ONLY THE BEST

Forward-thinking designs inspired by history, art, fashion and technology take the top honors at the

8th annual Hospitality Design Product Awards.

BY JUDI KETTELER

Janus et Cie’s Orbit chairs, this page,and Lounge seating, opposite page,are designed to be moved, reconfig-ured and rearranged to accommodatea variety of hospitality settings.

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27spring 2005

Judges at the 2004 IIDA Hospitality Design

Product Awards chose designs that reached beyond

their respective categories and focused on innovation in

the hospitality market as a whole. The award-winning

products represent designs in tune with a hospitality

market that’s becoming more and more about creating

a unique experience for customers.

BEST OF COMPETITION

DaisyCake Chain Curtains, Daisycake.com Inc.

When Neil Morrow, President of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based

Daisycake.com Inc., envisioned the specialty accessory

curtain he wanted to create, one thing came to mind:

aluminum chain. “Chain is the most analog of prod-

ucts,” he says. Originally a symbol of strength during

the industrial revolution, it eventually took on a new

meaning. “Workers were told to break their chains,” he

says. Now, the image of a chain link has a distinct con-

nection to the information age. “A link of chain is a

pixel of information,” Morrow says. It was that histori-

cal thread that served as Morrow’s main inspiration.

Though Morrow has been in the textile industry

since the early 1970s, the DaisyCake Chain Curtain was

his first foray into the commercial world. “I became

interested in chain as a textile element — specifically the

way it creates space, as opposed to dividing it,” he says.

The chain curtain, which comes anodized in 15

pigments and can hold any design, has applications

for restaurants and bars, lobby spaces, stages and

runways. Morrow even created a piece for this year’s

Academy Awards: a huge chain bearing the image of an

Oscar that opened and closed to reveal presenters.

Primarily, the art-inspired chain curtain acts as a

mural, or a colorful backdrop for a space. But it’s also

two-dimensional. People can experience it, touch it and

walk through it. Soft and supple, it moves and breathes,

and it grabs attention. “People are drawn to it. It makes

them laugh; it makes them happy,” Morrow says. “And

you want happy customers.”

What’s more, because the links are made from alu-

minum, they are 100 percent recyclable. Morrow

became interested in creating sustainable, visually

interesting products after attending a sustainable prod-

ucts training program in 2002. “I think that fashion will

drive the sustainable movement. Designers are taking

up the challenge,” he says.

WINNERS: APPLIED FINISHES

Beadazzled, by Maya Romanoff Corp.

The first-ever flexible glass-bead wall covering, Beadazzled

originally was developed for Victoria’s Secret. Though the

product uses a high-tech adhesive to attach its clear glass

beads to a non-woven wall covering, it is completely hand-

made. Its flexibility makes it innovative: It can be wrapped

around columns and cases, adhered to ceilings, die cut and

the wall covering comes in multiple colors. It’s a popular

wall covering for hotel powder rooms and columns, and

it’s currently showcased on tabletops at Las Vegas’ Bellagio

hotel. “It offers limitless creativity,” says Laura Romanoff,

Vice President of Sales and Marketing for The Maya

Romanoff Corp., based in Chicago.

Its flexibility also means it will change the way

designers envision the function of high-end wall cov-

erings. It makes a great substitute for a red carpet,

says Romanoff, or for a tabletop. It’s about catching a

customer’s eye: “There are no more limits as to where

you can add extra sparkle.”

Faux-Marble Finish Glass, Studio G3 Glass

Glass artist Naser Niki, co-owner of Studio G3 Glass in

British Columbia, Canada, paints every single piece of

26 spring 2005 www.iida .org

The first-ever flexible glass-bead wall covering,Beadazzled uses a high-tech adhesive to attach itsclear glass beads to a non-woven wall covering.

Maya Romanoff’s winning glass-bead wall covering, Beadazzled,comes in multiple colors and isbecoming popular in hotel lobbiesand powder rooms.

DaisyCake’schain curtainscan be cus-tomized to carry any design or color.

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Faux-Marble Finish Glass by hand. A love of composition

and color in art and photography serves as the major

inspiration for his designs. “Because it’s made piece by

piece, each design is random,” says Niki.

The glass, which takes on the look of marble, has

been specified by hotels, spas and restaurants for coun-

tertops, bartops and tabletops. In a world of mass-pro-

duced glass products, the faux-marble glass makes an

unmistakable artistic statement that could influence

what types of accent pieces designers and builder/own-

ers specify, especially in areas like Japan, where the

market is flooded with heavily manufactured products

imported from China.

WINNER: SPECIALTIES/HARDWARE

The Rocky Mountain Hardware Collection, Rocky

Mountain Hardware

Rocky Mountain’s high-end line of bronze door hardware

provides a cutting-edge backdrop for key card door locks.

In a world where most hotels’ key card locks are designed

strictly for functionality, Rocky Mountain found a way to

introduce style with its custom bronze lever, knob and

backplate. “This opens up lots of new opportunities for

designers and architects,” says Patsy Nickum, co-owner of

Rocky Mountain Hardware in Sun Valley, Idaho. Rocky

Mountain offers five standard escutcheons, 28 different

levers and varieties of knobs, two different bronzes and

seven patinas to create dozens of unique looks. Bronze

also lends itself to many different architectural styles,

Nickum says, from rustic to Mediterranean to con-

temporary. “Bronze just has that texture — it fits in well

anywhere,” she says.

WINNERS: FLOORING

Ever Technology, Milliken Carpet

High-definition television (HDTV) can be likened to

Milliken Carpet’s newest carpet patterning technology,

says Tracy Francis, Marketing Manager for LaGrange,

Ga.-based Milliken Carpet. “We wanted to bring designs

to life with greater clarity than ever,” she says. “The same

way that HDTV brings a picture to life.”

In the hospitality arena, Milliken’s proprietary

system has applications for casinos, restaurants and

hotels that want their flooring to make a statement. The

emphasis on digital technology to produce increased

clarity in color and picture signals a new trend in visual

expectations for the design of public spaces. In addition

to placing logos on the carpet, Milliken can use the

patterning technology to create custom flooring from

a sketch or picture. “It looks like a painting,” Francis

says. Mosaic tile and leaves, grass and stones have

been some of the more popular designs. “It just goes to

show that what people only imagined before is possible

now,” she says.

28 spring 2005 www.iida .org

Rocky Mountain Hardware’scollection of door hardwareintroduces style into an areathat had previously beenfocused on utility.

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Stone Marquetry, Architectural Systems Inc.

An ancient tradition of handcrafted stone, marquetry has

always been prohibitively expensive for use in the com-

mercial arena. New York City’s Architectural Systems

decided to create a new technique to revive interest in

the ancient craft. “We basically applied modern technology

to laser-cut the stone,” says Nancy Jackson, President of

Architectural Systems Inc., New York.

This updated version of stone marquetry highlights

a growing trend: looking at the past through the lens of

modern technology — to deliver a sense of authenticity.

This is particularly attractive to the hospitality market,

where it’s all about creating a one-of-a-kind experience

for the customer. Fabricated on glass or aluminum

honeycomb, Stone Marquetry is a good signature mate-

rial for furniture, feature walls and flooring. The stone

comes in multiple colors, from yellow onyx to lapis

blue to black marble. According to Jackson, it’s attractive

to the hospitality market because it’s unlike anything

else out there.

WINNERS: TEXTILES

DT Home Collection, DesignTex

When Design Director Jane Wicks and her design staff

at New York-based DesignTex set out to create a beautiful

new sheer for upscale hotels, they looked toward trends

in clothing to guide some of their choices. They noticed

that the hand-stitched look was making the rounds in

New York and Paris, and they brought that cutting-edge

embroidered look to their new drapery collection. “We

wanted an embellished sheer, a beautiful pattern that

would stand out,” Wicks says.

Such a unique style is important, because upscale

hotels are always looking for ways to add sophistication

and comfort to their guest rooms. More often, guests

staying in upscale hotels and spas expect to their sur-

roundings to create an experience: pricey linens,

Jacuzzi tubs and tasteful furnishings have become sta-

ples. DesignTex’s drapery patterns are designed to create

that luxurious experience.

Honorable MentionsSerafini, Denovo Wall (Applied Finishes/Wall Covering)

Fancourt, Masland Contract (Flooring/Carpet)

Illuminessence Glass, Crossville (Flooring/Hard Surface)

Digital Airwave, Static Screen, Knoll Textiles (Textiles/Bedding & Drapery)

Color Compendium, Richmond Textiles, Inc. (Textiles/Bedding & Drapery)

Sudden, Maharam Design Studio (Textiles/Upholstery)

(u)phoria!, Mobern Inc. (Textiles/Upholstery)

Architectural Systems’winning replication ofancient stone marquetryis being revived todayin hotels, bars andrestaurants, such asWSens in London,shown here.

NightLife Collection, Edelman Leather

Meant to evoke an image of a night out on the town full

of glitz and glamour, the Nightlife Collection offers a

new way to look at upholstery, says Teddy Edelman,

Chairperson of New Milford, Conn., Edelman Leather.

Like sequins on blue jeans, the metallic embellished

leather blends the unlikely. “It’s a response to using

extraordinary materials in ordinary ways,” she says,

noting the influence of fashion heavy-hitters such as

Prada and Versace.

The collection appeals to hospitality venues in search

of the unusual. “We looked far and wide to find extraor-

dinary colors,” Edelman says. While it’s been a hit in

Las Vegas, it’s also being used by more toned-down

restaurants and hotels to create a highlight piece.

WINNERS: SEATING

Lounge, Janus et Cie

A modular seating system, the Lounge collection by

Hollywood, Calif.-based Janus et Cie was designed with flex-

ibility in mind — not just in its multitude of configurations,

but in its indoor/outdoor adaptability, says Janice

Feldman, President. Made of Hularo®, a synthetic fiber,

the Lounge pieces are as at home poolside as they are

in a hotel lobby.

The clean, angular design speaks to the functionality

of the pieces, she says. “They have a soft, chalky look;

it’s an organic look, designed to blend well with dark

woods or green lawns.” Durability is also a big selling

point. Edges won’t get worn and the fiber resists the

growth of bacteria and fungi — a crucial factor if the

pieces are to be used outdoors in a humid climate. “It’s

about being limitless,” Feldman says.

Orbit, Janus et Cie

Named for its orb-like shape and its ability to spin, (the

Orbit chairs sit on removable in-line skate wheels), the

Orbit collection introduces a touch of whimsy to the hos-

pitality furniture arena. Yet the designs are still 100 percent

practical, according to Feldman. “It’s fantastic for public

spaces because it’s so resistant to everything: ultra-violet

light, food stains, kids, animals — you name it.”

The round shape is meant to inspire a sense of con-

nection, whether it’s as a cozy space for one, a romantic

date or a family-friendly gathering. The chairs come with

or without a canopy and are suitable inside or out. Wheels

mean that your view can easily turn as you follow the

afternoon sun across the sky. Made of high-tech Hularo®

fabric, each Orbit piece is handcrafted — a juxtaposition

Feldman loves. “This piece represents a very interesting

marriage of craft and industry,” she says.

WINNER: CASEGOODS/FURNITURE

Heavy Cast Glass Furniture, Nathan Allan Glass

Studios Inc.

Designed to revolutionize the look and feel of glass

tabletops, the heavy cast method for fusing glass is a

highly scientific process with eye-catching results, says

Barry Allan, director of the British Columbia, Canada-

based Nathan Allan Glass Studios Inc. Eight layers of

glass are stacked on top of a mold, placed in a kiln and

fired. The bottom layer picks up the texture.

“No one else in the industry is even attempting to do

this,” Allan says. Most tabletop glass has a maximum

thickness of 3/4 inch. By contrast, the heavy cast glass

ranges from 1 to 4 inches. Another first: texturing the

edge of the glass. “It’s brand new,” Allan says. The heavy

cast glass is showing up on hotel registration desks, casino

bar tops and restaurant tabletops.

33spring 200532 spring 2005 www.iida .org

This display of DaisyCake Chain Curtains at the 2004 Toronto Interior Design Showillustrates the wide range of colors and

designs the product is capable of inhabiting. PH

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Janus et Cie’s Orbit chair

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