Maitland-Smith announced that 2009 marks the 30th anniversary of Maitland-Smith, one of the industry’s most prolific manufacturers of handmade accent furniture, decorative accessories and lighting. From the beginning the company has taken an artisan-based approach to product development, traveling the globe in search of new materials and inspiration to create furniture and accessories that meet the needs of today’s contemporary household.
To celebrate the company anniversary, Maitland-Smith is ponsoring a nationwide design competition. Open to interior designers and non-designers alike, the “ONE Design Competition” encourages participants to create a signature piece of furniture, lighting or decorative accessory using one of more than 500 silhouettes available through Maitland-Smith’s ONE Customization program. Participants will design the entire piece – be it a dining table, desk or accent lamp – by choosing from an extensive collection of wood and painted finishes, upholstery, leather and exotic materials for inlays (such as penshell or zebra hide), and hand tooled accents. The winning pieces will be hand-crafted by Maitland-Smith’s artisans, displayed at the company’s showroom during April 2010 market, and given to each of the winners.
Categories include: “Best Designer Submission”, “Best Retailer Submission”, “Best Consumer Submission” and “Website Vote Winner.” The competition runs online at www.maitland-smith.com through December 16, 2009.
Winners will be chosen in January by a distinguished panel of industry experts including acclaimed designer Barclay Butera, Howard Shattuck, historian for Maitland-Smith, Steve Hodges, president of the American Society of Furniture Designers (ASFD), ASID national board member Tim Schelfe, and Interior Design magazine senior editor Mark McMenamin. The American public gets a chance to weigh-in as well: an online public vote will choose one winning entry.
According to Maitland-Smith president Dan Bradley, the company decided to celebrate their anniversary by highlighting the ONE customization program for two reasons:
“First, our ONE program truly is one of the most comprehensive customization tools in the industry and we want people to see the difference. It was created only after we’d studied the best that was out there and came up with a way to go ten steps beyond the nearest manufacturer,” said Bradley. “And second, the ONE program truly embodies Maitland-Smith’s approach to craftsmanship – to creating unique, heirloom-quality pieces that make a statement in every room. We encourage people to experiment with the tool and realize just how attainable a signature piece
Maitland-Smith designs and manufactures fine home furnishings, decorative lighting, and unique accessories under the Maitland-Smith, La Barge and Travelers Club brand names. The company’s handcrafted pieces are sold through an authorized network of designers and furniture dealers worldwide. Headquartered in High Point, NC with company-owned workshops in the Philippines and Indonesia, Maitland-Smith is a division of Furniture Brands International . Visit the company website at www.maitland-smith.com.