ASFD Pinnacle Design Achievement Awards

Furniture World News

The American Society of Furniture Designers (ASFD) celebrated its 2006 Eleventh Annual Pinnacle Design Achievement Awards on Monday evening at the IHFC Ballroom during the High Point Market. Following a gala reception sponsored by Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company, Jim DiPersia, ASFD president welcomed the nearly 300 industry guests and thanked all sponsors for their outstanding support of the Pinnacle Awards. With special tribute to ASFD's 25th anniversary, an "Outstanding Member Service Award" presentation was made honoring Arto O. Szabo (Arto Szabo Associates, Greenwich, CT) for his unswerving, continuous loyalty, invaluable contributions and leadership to the organization since its inception in 1981. Steve Hodges, ASFD Board member (and a charter member himself) made the presentation. The 2006 ASFD President's Award was awarded to Thom O'Leary, ASFD; Partner, ApparenzA Design Studio (New York City) for demonstrated design talent and character, having attained an exceptional career at an age under thirty years old. Thom was selected by a subcommittee of the 2006 Pinnacle judges. The Pinnacle Awards ceremony came at last! Furniture/Today editor-in-chief, Ray Allegrezza served as master of ceremonies. The High Point Market Authority, MMPI and IHFC joined Furniture/Today in sponsoring the upscaled evening presentation. Special guests from the furniture retail community participated in the awards ceremony by recognizing the category finalists, announcing the winners and handing over the glass Pinnacle statue. The distinguished presenters were Leslie Fishbein, Kacey Fine Furniture; Joe Bograd, Bograd's Fine Furniture; Caroline Hipple, Storehouse; Judy George, Domain; and Michael Wilkov, Cantoni. The 2006 panel included Dr. Richard Bennington, High Point University; Gary Evans, FurnitureToday; Leslie Fishbein, Kacey Fine Furniture; Francel Goude, RFG-Global Design Group; Jackie Hirschhaut, AHFA; Dan Minor, Boyles Furniture; Dr. Thelma Lazo-Flores, Savannah College of Art & Design; Sheila Long O'Mara, Home Furnishings Business; Max Shangle, Kendall College of Art & Design; Julie Smith, Furniture Style and its supplements; John Summey, NC State/Furniture Manufacturing and Management Center; and Rhonda Wolf, Havertys. The 2006 Pinnacle Award winners including a comment from the Pinnacle Judges follows: Occasional Tables Glasgow Matt Hurley, ASFD; Dudley Moore, Jr., Susan Leis for Magnussen Home Judges Comments: Good value; innovative use of materials; retro influence; flexible utility and very saleable. Occasional Storage Larkspur Bar Cabinet Martha Stewart Signature Design Team Barbara Kurgan, Paul Loebach, Jonsara Ruth for Bernhardt Furniture Judges Comments: Upscale; sophisticated mix of materials; great, sexy legs; supports consumer trend of entertaining at home. Juvenile Furniture Z-Bedroom John Conrad, ASFD; Anne Russell, ASFD; Sean Slack, ASFD for Powell Company Judges Comments: Edgy, contemporary design; multifunctional pieces; sophisticated enough to grow with the child. Casual Dining Marga Chair Marcel Opstal and Maya Basyroel for Box Furniture Judges Comments: Poetic, lyrical and very artistic. Good combination of fabric and wood with fine tailoring; stylish low profile. Formal Dining Omni Dining William Faber for Century Furniture Judges Comments: Enduring, contemporary design. Outstanding continuity of line. Motion Upholstery Zac & Jill Rick Lee, ASFD for American Leather Judges Comments: Beautiful design. Takes recliners to a new sophistication of shape and form; dramatically heightened design standard. Stationary Upholstery Teri Nancy Genova, ASFD for John Charles Designs Judges Comments : Beautiful concise styling; tailored contemporary design. Leather Upholstery Pasadena Michael F. Galardo for Elite Leather Co. Judges Comments: Very sleek, low profile; shapely designed arms and great legs. Accessories Stone Sculptures Yuri Zatarain for The Phillips Collection Judges Comments: Novel use of ceramics; artistic interpretation of human form; interesting, delightful conversation piece. Lighting Celeste Table Lamp Ian Fowler for Decorative Crafts Judges Comments: Delicate arc; nice fluid movement; great perceived value; traditional elements elegantly balanced and updated. Home Office New Amsterdam Nickel-Inlay Secretary Martha Stewart Signature Design Team: Dale Peterson, Jonsara Ruth, Stacy Mar for Bernhardt Furn. Judges Comments: Decorative wire inlay adds panache. Sized well for laptop users and smaller spaces. Home Entertainment Umber TV Console Gordon Stannis, ASFD & Joe VanFaasen for Sligh Furniture Judges Comments: Fashion forward solutions for today's popular t.v. technologies; architectural character. Summer/Casual Sun Chaser Dale Campbell for Lloyd Flanders Judges Comments: A real conversation piece! Innovative functionality. Extraordinarily durabie and cool to the touch. Bedroom Young Classics Jena Hall, Stephanie Lena for Aspenhome Judges Comments: Loaded with functionality; scaled for today's home. Pierced fretwork of headboard compliments the form of the demilune chest. Major Collections Belle Maison Michael Black, Ed Ball for Drexel Heritage Furniture Judges Comments: Eclectic combination of a Thirties Parisian fleamarket with deep breadth of line offering with multiple finishes and larger scaling.