Terra Furniture Signs Designer Joe Ruggiero For New Outdoor Lines

Furniture World News

Terra Furniture will manufacturer and market designer and HGTV host Joe Ruggiero’s newest project, a line of outdoor furniture. The Joe Ruggiero Studio Collection by Terra will bow in Spring 2004 and will consist of two complete suites plus an eclectic selection of occasional tables intended to be used interchangeably among the styles. Ruggiero is one of the most respected designers in the home furnishings industry. “The lines have blurred between inside living and outdoor living,” says Ruggiero. “Some of the most intriguing and inviting spaces I have seen in my travels around the world have been outside the house, not in. I’ve admired many environments. My styling and materials for this new line will challenge further the notion that furniture made for the outdoors must suffer in elegant design.” Joe is most noted for bringing the subject of home design to network and cable television. Over 10 years, he has produced four television series for Home & Garden Television (HGTV): The Best of American Design, Rooms for Improvement, Homes Across America, and The Best of World Design. This has included hundreds of sites in 16 countries. Responding to studies that pointed to the cocooning of America, shows riveted on making the home the center of entertaining and enjoyment were sure to attract a broad spectrum of viewers. Indeed. Over 83 million households receive his programs. Joe began his TV work by editing and hosting The Living Magazine for The Lifetime cable network. Next, he joined This Old House as the Interior Designer for nine of the houses on that program. Later, he served as Design Correspondent for ABC’s Good Morning America. As Editor In Chief and Publishing Director for Hachette’s Home Magazine, Joe made appearances on Oprah and Regis & Kathie Lee. Continuing his involvement with ABC, Joe produced and designed a new design series for The Home Show, a weekly program in which he remodeled three homes for every episode in a two year period. Recognized as the developer of the “Idea House” concept, Joe spearheaded what has become a “buzz word” now, a full-scale environment built in design centers in five cities throughout the country. He is the author of the design source book, “Found Objects” and received the ‘Star of the Year’ Award from the International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) in 1995. Joe currently has a line of case goods and upholstery, The Joe Ruggiero Collection, distributed throughout the country in design centers and Norwalk Stores. The Collection has been awarded the Pinnacle Achievement Award from the American Society of Furniture Designers and the American Furniture Award. He has designed a textile collection for Sunbrella and Valdese Weavers as well as an accessory and lighting collection for John Richard. “We are just thrilled with our new partnership with Joe,” says Ken Burrows, Terra’s President, “he’s an accomplished furniture designer with a very specific point of view for today’s outdoor lifestyle. He enriches Terra’s mix of quality options for the discerning client.” Terra Casual Furniture and Outdoor Lighting was founded by Burrows and his business partner Gary Stafford. Both men had been in top management positions with Brown Jordan when they established their Terra venture 31 years ago. To see the current indoor Ruggerio Collection, visit www.ruggieroideas.com. For more information about Terra Furniture, or to request a color catalog, call (626) 912-8523 or visit www.terrafurniture.com.