The American Society of Furniture Designers (ASFD) held its Fifteenth Annual Pinnacle Design Achievement Awards banquet on Monday evening, last week during the High Point Market..
Long time ASFD member and Pinnacle supporter, Hickory Springs Mfg. sponsored the welcome cocktail reception for well over two hundred industry guests which was followed by a "land and sea" banquet dinner in the IHFC ballroom. ASFD President Steve Hodges opened the evening ceremony by greeting everyone and particularly acknowledged and thanked the 2010 Pinnacle sponsors for their outstanding support. 2010 Pinnacle sponsors include Furniture/Today , Continental Brass, Earth Care Inside, Furniture Design Studios, Hickory Springs Mfg., High Point Market Authority, Home Furnishings Business, Home Lighting & Accessories, IHFC, Leggett & Platt, Market Square & Suites, Sustainable Furnishings Council and Wright of Thomasville. Pinnacle ceremony special lighting effects were provided by the Powell Company.
Emcee Ray Allegrezza, editor-in-chief of Furniture/Today introduced the Pinnacle judges and described the judging criteria for which the entrants were measured and the finalists chosen. The judges were Dr. Richard Bennington, High Point University; Gary Evans, Furniture/Today; Jim Hering, V.P. & co-founder, HW Home; Ellen Gefen, Gefen Productions; Jackie Hirschhaut, AHFA; Sheila Long O’Mara, Home Furnishings Business; Linda Longo, Home Lighting & Accessories; Chuck Portaro, Furnitureland South; Dianne Ray, Garden City Furniture; Max Shangle, Kendall College of Art & Design; Julie Smith, Nine Muses Media; and Ron Werner, president & co-founder, HW Home.
Angelo Surmelis, lifestyle designer and "t.v. guy" served as the evening co-host. Surmelis presented ASFD's first annual sustainable furnishings award, named the "Green Leaf Award" to Bob Dillon, CEO of Hubbardton Forge who accepted on behalf of the HF designers of the "Ondrian Table & Floor Lamps.
Several retail company executives were honored to present the finalists and the Pinnacle Winner in each of fifteen categories. They were Rhonda Wolf, V.P. Merchandising, Havertys; Eric Foucrier, President, Linder's Furniture; Bob Price, V.P. Merchandising, Art Van Furniture; Bob Huber, Co-President, Oskar Huber; and Ron Werner, President, HW Home.
After the event, retail guest Bob Huber wrote, "thank you (asfd) for allowing me to participate in the Pinnacle awards ceremony. It allowed me to see a side of the industry that I had previously not been exposed to. It was a flawless evening, and I enjoyed being a part of it."
The 2010 Pinnacle winners, including comments from the judges were:
Green Leaf Award
Ondrian Table & FloorLamps David Martin, ASFD; David Kitts, ASFD; George Chandler, ASFD for Hubbardton Forge
Judges Comments: Hats off to Hubbardton Forge for developing production processes that should serve as a model to all U.S.-based companies! The Ondrian Lamps represent good design in tandem with 100% recycled materials. We applaud their stem-to-stern green processes and their attention to their carbon footprint.
Occasional Tables
Modern Craftsman Richard Schroeder, ASFD; Denis Kissane, ASFD Gary Hokanson for Stanley Furniture
Judges Comments: This collection by Stanley Furniture offers an appealing choice of finish options and lots of functionality features. The styling reflects a charming smorgasbord of architectural elements. We see it as a perfect choice in a really modern loft.
Occasional Storage
Lexicon Chest on Stand Shaun Melvin, ASFD for Baker Furniture
Judges Comments: We love the updated Danish Modern inspiration for this beautiful chest of drawers at Baker Furniture. It’s a simple but elegant design with a spectacular finish and stunning hardware. This design aesthetic is especially tailored to the younger generation of consumers which our industry is anxious to cultivate.
Juvenile Furniture
Young Classics Jena Hall, ASFD; Stephanie Lena, ASFD; Brent Camfferman for aspenhome
Judges Comments: There is tremendous appeal in this collection from Aspenhome that’s youthful, but not child-like. The modern amenities certainly apply to the way that children and teens live today. It provides an easy assimilation for a second generation as well as application in a guest bedroom or vacation home. And, best of all, this collection boasts a very strong price point value.
Casual Dining
Mango Bay, Tim L. Annas, ASFD for Kincaid Furniture Co., Inc.
Judges Comments: Interesting sculptured fronts on many of the pieces in this collection that add a visual movement for the eye. The unique custom hardware is a distinctive complement to the mature mango wood. A number of pieces in the collection suggest dual function options and could be easily placed in various rooms of a home.
Formal Dining
Wellington Court - Christopher Bergelin, ASFD; Thad Bergelin for Century Furniture
Judges Comments: We admire the beautiful execution with thoughtful details in Wellington Court by Century Furniture. True to its roots in the late 18th and early 19th Centuries, the intimate scale allows placement in spaces that aren’t necessarily built for a king! We take special note of the very strong chair options.
Motion Upholstery
WELCOME Sofa Normand Couture, ASFD for Couture International
Judges Comments: Couture International has demonstrated an innovative take on the motion upholstery category. This frame is creatively executed with attention to style and comfort.
Stationary Upholstery
Fairmont Lounge Chair David Francis for David Francis Furniture
Judges Comments: We applaud the innovative frame design from David Francis that looks good from every angle. The silhouette makes for a great accent chair and the extensive choice of finish options is an extra advantage.
Leather Upholstery
Lugano Michael A. Galardo, Michael Felix Galardo, ASFD for Elite Leather Company
Judges Comments: We recognize the challenge in working in the leather upholstery category and appreciate the modern, yet warm and inviting quality of this design from Elite Leather. We acknowledge the very comfortable scale and unique lines, and especially praise the value-oriented price point.
Accessories
Burled Bowl Jason Phillips, ASFD for The Phillips Collection
Judges Comments: Decorative accessories are the jewelry of any room setting, and we love the one-of-a-kind look of the Burled Bowl from the Phillips Collection. The versatility of the eco-like materials imbue a rich quality with its modern finishes.
Lighting
Antasia David Martin, ASFD; David Kitts, ASFD; George Chandler, ASFD for Hubbardton Forge
Judges Comments: We admire the terrific scale and versatility of this lighting collection from Hubbardton Forge, which is equally suitable in a masculine or feminine decorating setting. The ample texture is perfectly paired with smart shade choices.
Home Office
Greenwich Street Secretary Paul Galli, Jason Culler, Rosma Gutierrez for Bernhardt Furniture Company
Judges Comments: We like the clean elegance of the Greenwich Street Secretary by Bernhardt and believe that it is a nicely scaled silhouette for a home office. The companion pieces provide functional and innovative add-ons and we give high marks to the technology compatible features.
Entertainment Centers
STAX Thomas M. McDaniel, ASFD; D. Scott Coley, ASFD for Bassett Furniture Co.
Judges Comments: Bassett Furniture has tapped into the urban industrial loft for inspiration for its STAX collection, which showcases an exceptional application with cubes. This entertainment center has a nice mixture of textures that looks much more high-end but is actually a great value. The design offers the consumer lots of interchangeability with the units in their home.
Summer/Casual
Cabo Lounge Chair Norman Coley, Bobby Gantt for LEE Industries., Inc.
Judges Comments: Lee Industries has introduced a completely new and innovative approach to outdoor furniture. We consider this concept as a breakthrough application that allows conventional upholstery to transcend the outdoors. On top of the versatility, the frames are extremely comfortable.
Bedroom
Louis XVI Bed Clare Heyboer for Kindel Furniture Co.
Judges Comments: We consider the Louis XVI bed by Kindel Furniture to be impeccably designed and finished. We are impressed by the beautiful jewelry detail. We also believe that the ambience of the piece is particularly mood provoking.
Major Collections
Forecast Berry & Clark Design Associates for Pennsylvania House Brands
Judges Comments: The Forecast Collection from Pennsylvania House ranks as our pick for the best major collection because of its multigenerational appeal and what we believe is an extremely fresh, new look for the moderate price point. We think it exudes an interesting eclectic mixture of materials, with notable naturalness of wood and striking hardware.