Bienenstock Furniture Library Adds Barbour Spangle Scholarship to Design Competition

Furniture World News Desk on 5/10/2022

The Bienenstock Furniture Library announces a new scholarship and rebranding of its annual student interior design competition to reflect a $7,500 contribution from High Point-based Barbour Spangle Design.

Led by co-founders and accredited interior designers Christi Barbour and Christi Spangle, Barbour Spangle Design is an award-winning commercial, showroom, and residential design firm recognized for excellence by industry associations including the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and International Interior Design Association (IIDA), as well as by media entities like Interior Design and Triad Business Journal.

“Barbour Spangle Design has been involved in the library’s student competition since 2013 because we’re committed to the future of our industry,” says co-founder Christ Spangle. “Over the years, we’ve witnessed the program make a huge impact on participants and their future success as design professionals, and we felt the time was right to bolster our support in a bigger way.”

Entries for the 2023 student challenge, renamed The Barbour Spangle Interior Design Competition, will be accepted in December, with two ranked winners selected and named by March 1, 2023. A check for $5000.00 will be awarded to the student earning first place in the challenge; with $1500.00 going to second place. At the first place winner’s school, the interior design department will also be awarded $1,000.

“In addition to providing financial scholarships, we’re excited to act as mentors, and to serve as a sounding board for students preparing to begin their careers,” adds Spangle. “It means a lot to us to know we are making a difference in the lives of young designers.”

Adding to the cash awards, Barbour Spangle Design will provide winning students with a professional portfolio review; an informational interview experience with a designer on staff; and a one-year mentorship program, among other gifts.

The library’s annual student Design Competition includes a challenge for furniture design students as well. This year’s sponsor of the furniture design competition is the International Society of Furniture Designers (ISFD). For more information, visit the Bienenstock Furniture Library website. 

About the Bienenstock Furniture Library: The Bernice Bienenstock Furniture Library is a worldwide center for research, design, and collaboration.  It holds the world's largest collection of rare and significant books on the history and design of furniture, with more than 5,000 volumes.

The Library is located in High Point, NC and is open to members of the home furnishings industry, students and the general public. The Library was founded in 1970 with an endowment from Furniture World Magazine and the Bienenstock family. It is supported by a board of directors from nearly every facet of the home furnishings industry. It is devoted to the advancement of knowledge about design, furniture, interiors, architecture, textiles, finishes, and constructions.

The Library's rare book collection contains volumes published since 1543. A special climate-controlled room houses these rare volumes. It is a treasure trove of inspiration for anyone interested in home furnishings and interior design.  

The Library's facilities include the Vuncannon Seminar Room, the high-tech Hadley Court Center for Design Collaboration and the Pat Plaxico Sculpture Gardens.  These areas are available for seminars, classes, events, meetings, design collaborations, networking and design retreats for a small honorarium.

For more information visit www.furniturelibrary.com or contact Karla Webb, Library Director at info@furniturelibrary.com or 336-883-4011.