Excelsior Designs and Metropolitan Home Team Up

Furniture World Magazine

Excelsior Designs and its lifestyle division Casa Novalia, the publishers of Metropolitan Home magazine and Indiana-based Kittle’s Furniture sponsored a design seminar at Kittle’s Castleton Studios location in Indianapolis on May 22. Approximately 100 enthusiastic Kittle’s customers took away goodie bags and fresh ideas in home décor from the retail event. Attendees left prepared to create rooms at home to rival those featured in glossy shelter publications. From Metropolitan Home, Retail Merchandising Editor Jo-Anne Pier delivered a dynamic slide presentation that focused on mixing modern design elements and defining individual style. Kittle’s executives say turnout reflects growing demand for specific interior decorating advice and information. “We are pleased to partner with Metropolitan Home Magazine and Excelsior Designs, to bring such an entertaining and thought provoking presentation to our customers,” says John Durkott, chief executive officer. Using Excelsior Designs and Casa Novalia Italian case goods, in-store room vignettes were also created for the event by Bobbie Burns Hughes, design director for the manufacturer. She was assisted by Lu Melby, senior designer, Kittle’s Design Studio, and the store’s visual display staff, including John Strachan, Lance Richardson, Kevin Smith, Suzanne Bowles and Aaron Manifold. The modern designs were used to a variety of effects, and included classically elegant, southwestern and African motifs. “Customers are excited to see how changing accessories in a particular room setting can create dramatically different impressions,” says Durkott, adding, “That made today’s presentation especially engaging.” Metropolitan Home, Excelsior Designs and Kittle’s used direct mail and local media to promote the event. The store hosted a continental breakfast while Excelsior supplied a round beverage bar from the San Remo collection to be used as a door prize. Each guest received a gift bag that included a copy of the current issue of Met Home, as well as a copy of Classically Modern magazine, Excelsior’s new consumer publication. About Excelsior Designs, Inc.: Excelsior Designs and its lifestyle division, Casa Novalia, are headquartered in North Amityville, NY, with a permanent showroom in the International Home Furnishings Design Center in High Point, NC. Founded in 1983, Excelsior Designs produces contemporary and transitional furniture, including bedroom, dining room, home office, entertainment, and occasional lines. Casa Novalia, a division founded in 2001, specializes in the use of mixed media materials. Excelsior Designs and Casa Novalia collections are manufactured in Italy and feature exquisite polished finishes and artistic uses of exotic veneers and inlays such as sycamore, African rosewood and Birdseye maple. The products are available in fine furniture stores throughout North America. For more information visit excelsiordesigns.com and casanovalia.com. About Kittle’s Furniture: Founded in 1932, Kittle’s Furniture operates 17 stores in Indiana and Ohio. Rated among the top 60 Furniture Retailers in the country by Furniture Today magazine, Kittle’s operates several different retail concepts including Kittle’s Furniture, Kittle’s Design Studio and Rooms Express, as well as Ethan Allen and Thomasville stores.