Kim Salmela Brings Life and Style to The Norwalk Showroom
Furniture World News Desk on
10/25/2024
Visitors to Norwalk Furniture during High Point Market will step into a vibrant, reimagined
showroom brought to life by acclaimed designer Kim Salmela. Featuring dynamic vignettes that tell captivating,
contemporary storylines, the new showroom experience promises to offer a new perspective on the Ohio-based
manufacturer’s latest collections.
Salmela–an L.A.-based manufacturer, furniture and textile designer—is a long-time collaborator with the
Norwalk brand, who has developed furnishings for the company since 2017. But this market is the first time
she’s had carte blanche over the entire showroom.
“Kim’s eye for color, texture, pattern, and form, along with her ability to integrate those into livable
scenarios, provides us with a merchandising strategy that makes sense to our retailers,” said Norwalk CEO Tim
Newlin.
“At previous markets, we kept my frames and Norwalk frames in different areas of the showroom,” said
Salmela. “Now they are integrated and you can’t tell which is which. It has been fun to re-envision the
existing Norwalk frames, so it’s one cohesive line with different lifestyles.”
Salmela’s showroom takeover is organized into five styles. “I wanted our customers to imagine the
consumer through these distinct viewpoints on living.”
- Organic Modern – Natural while remaining on the pulse of modern living, this lifestyle features curved
shapes.
- Modern Country – Incorporates a modern aesthetic with a relaxed frame and scale. Includes slipcovers, with
nature-inspired patterns and colors.
- Traditional – Classic pieces and shapes, skirted forms and patterns like toiles, florals and brocades.
- New Victorian – Enrobed in English references like menswear, plaids, roll arms, layers of pattern, and
vintage touches.
- Coastal - Classic coastal but also palettes that go beyond blue and white, incorporating soft colors like
neutrals and even blacks. It covers the East Coast, the West Coast and all the lake settings in between.
New Fabrics
Norwalk will add 80 to 100 new fabrics this market to its in-stock fabric program.
And Kim Salmela’s line of textiles for Crypton Home Fabrics will be expanding this fall with the addition of
new colors.
“I really want to show people the value in this line,” said Salmela. “They will be surprised by the
grade levels. The message is you don’t have to sacrifice style to have really great price points.”
Showroom Events
The Norwalk showroom will host two events during High Point Market. Both events are open to all marketgoers.
- Saturday, October 26: Showroom tours with Kim Salmela from 3 to 5 p.m., sponsored by Valdese Weavers.
- Sunday, October 27: Happiest Hour with Crypton Fabric and Rue Magazine from 3 to 5 p.m.
About Norwalk
Norwalk Furniture offers great design, customizable options, high quality, competitive pricing and industry-leading
delivery. Upholstered products are offered in more than 800 fabrics and over 100 leathers. The Norwalk, Ohio,
employee-owned company manufactures upholstered furniture in its 440,000-square-foot facility.