Designer Jacques Garcia Hosts Special Event On May 3 At The Baker Knapp & Tubbs New York Showroom

Furniture World Magazine

On Wednesday, May 3, internationally renowned designer, Jacques Garcia, will host a by invitation only cocktail and hors d’oeuvre reception at the Baker Knapp & Tubbs Showroom. The interior designer and media event is slated from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will be held at the Baker Knapp & Tubbs Showroom, The New York Design Center, 200 Lexington Avenue, Suite 300, New York, NY. Numerous members of the design community and media are expected to attend the event. Recipient of wide national and international acclaim, The Jacques Garcia Collection is one of the most successful launches in the history of Baker. Representing a remarkable array of pieces for residential and commercial applications, The Jacques Garcia Collection is comprised of living room, dining room, and bedroom pieces, occasional tables, mirrors, and upholstery. To support the collection, Garcia also designed a diverse series of lighting, an exclusive fabric line, and a variety of accessories and soft goods. The pieces reflect many aspects of Garcia’s personal and commercial successes and his lifelong pursuit of collecting and preserving the art of French design. The forms are symbolic of the cultural influences that have made a lasting impression on Garcia. There is a timeless modernism and spirited sophistication that carries throughout the collection line, with representative pieces from the collection shown throughout the Baker Knapp & Tubbs Showroom for the event. Unveiled At Recent High Point Furniture Market: Baker unveiled the Jacques Garcia Collection at the Spring 2004 International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, N.C. Designed by internationally renowned designer, Jacques Garcia, and handcrafted by Baker, the collection’s classic forms are an interpretive mix of 18th and 19th century French design, laced with a distinct modernism, reflecting Garcia’s discerning eye and design acumen. Representing a remarkable array of pieces for residential and commercial applications, the Jacques Garcia Collection is comprised of living room, dining room, and bedroom pieces, occasional tables, mirrors, and upholstery. To support the collection, Garcia also designed a diverse series of lighting, an exclusive fabric line, and a variety of soft goods. Describing the aesthetic inspiration for this collection, Garcia stated, “I have not tried to recreate a moment in history. I have quite simply thought of the kinds of furniture we want to live with at home today, pieces that are elegant and functional, comfortable and convivial.” The list of Garcia’s private and commercial projects speaks to his rare talent, distinctive style, and creative genius. With a career spanning almost three decades, the breadth of his work has been immortalized in four literary works and myriad publications over the years, each in lasting tribute to his impressive career. One of his most famous Paris interiors is the unforgettable Hotel Costes, where Garcia created a bar and courtyard café that is glamorous, yet intimately romantic and sought out by Parisians and visitors to the City of Light who want to see and be seen by the chic, celebrity crowd that gathers there. Garcia has become a global force in design with commercial and residential projects in France, Beirut, Baden Baden, Geneva, Monaco, Brussells, and the United States. New York, Las Vegas and Miami’s South Beach were the first recipients to bask in the glow of Garcia Style. Sexy and daring, the Hotel Victor in South Beach is one of Garcia’s latest accomplishments exploding with his signature, vibrant colors and resplendent in luxurious appointments. Jacques Garcia also created plenty of buzz with his interior designs for two of New York City’s hottest restaurants, Spice Market and V Steakhouse. Both owned by French culinary genius, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Spice Market, and V Steakhouse stay in character, reflecting the exotic, expressive décor synonymous with Garcia. Whether designing the Paris residence of the Sultan of Brunei or collaborating with the Wynn Resorts on the interior of Le Reve, its latest Las Vegas resort, Garcia’s distinctive style remain as passionate as the man. These latest designs for Baker draw from many aspects of Jacques Garcia’s personal and commercial successes and also reflect his lifelong pursuit of collecting and preserving the art of French design. The forms are symbolic of the cultural influences that have made a lasting impression on Garcia. The pieces reflect a timeless modernism and spirited sophistication fueled by emotionalism and secular heritage. Garcia has left no detail to chance. Each form is designed to stand on its own and is impeccably rendered. Woods were chosen for their beauty and compatibility, the patterning, and veneer details were carried to the sides and backs. The wood pieces are primarily crafted from avidore, mahogany and cherry solids and veneers. Baker’s master finisher, John Kiryanoff, worked closely with Garcia to create two finishes to emphasize the natural figuring and fine nuances of each of the species. The first, Chateau, wraps the wood in honeyed warmth, its lighter brown hue lending understated contrast to blend with and support darker wood finishes. Balancing Chateau are the deep, rich tones of Rivoli, designed to infuse the wood with layered, deep color in a rich display of shadow and light defining the wood’s natural character. Decorative elements include three polished marbles; cool brown Imperator, striking black Noir, and Griotte, a rare, deep red French marble. The soft cocoa tones of Imperator are complemented by a gentle swirling that moves from translucent to creamy white quartz in soft contrast to its rich brown shading. The stark black Noir is dappled in pure white for vivid contrast. Griotte creates drama with its magnificent red coloring and rich, mottled tones. Garcia also designed three signature hardware styles for the collection. The Turkish Knot and Tassel Pull are crafted using the lost wax casting process, which captures the finest details of these intricate designs. The other elaborate pull by Garcia was in a Leaf motif, its substantial presence forged from brass. All three pulls are finished in a Satin Brass finish. Other touches include gilt detail, red lacquer and black stain accents, fine carving, and just a hint of distressing to lend warmth and character to the forms. Exemplifying Garcia’s dedication to unique, sophisticated form and impeccable craftsmanship is the sculpted grace of the Trianon Armoire. Crafted from solid cherry wood, it features a simple cornice that rests above two upper cabinet doors richly decorated in matched swirl mahogany, then framed in vertically cut cherry veneers. The hinged doors swing back to expose a red lacquer interior that houses one fixed and two adjustable shelves. The lower cabinet features Garcia’s signature breakfront design and rich, red interior. The raised breakfront is inset with swirl mahogany veneer. The flanking, slightly recessed sides are decorated in vertical cut cherry veneers reflecting the upper quadrant’s sophisticated wood display. Faux key and escutcheon plates along with Turkish Knot hardware finish the piece. Inspired by the designs of French cabinetmaker, Molitor, for Louis XVI, the Pauline Dining Table has an intimate, 60-inch diameter and an elaborate veneerwork top. The top has a center field of flat-cut, slipmatched cherry veneer encircled by a band of short grain, quarter-cut cherry veneer inlaid with black line. The surrounding outer band of cherry veneer is cut to create a sunburst pattern. Surrounding the stunning design is a border of short grain, quarter-cut cherry wood, cut perpendicular to the center field, and inlaid with black line. The tabletop sets on curved, fluted cherry legs joined by a small shelf stretcher and rests on stylized cabriole feet. Creative form and distinctive, sensual styling make the Olympe Table a chic occasional piece for myriad applications. The table’s tray style top is set with brown Imperator marble, which complements the rich bronze finish. Greek-inspired, scroll supports cradle the top and sweep down into three curved legs joined by a centered ring, the legs terminating in a unique animal hoof design. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with such a rare talent as Jacques Garcia,” said Daniel R. Bradley, president – Baker Knapp & Tubbs. “The forms capture his passion for French design, with engaging warmth and charismatic style. At the hands of this master designer, the beauty of French design is creatively interpreted for a collection that is relevant and functional and which is sure to appeal to a broad audience of consumers.” Baker Knapp & Tubbs, Inc. includes Baker furniture, Baker Knapp & Tubbs Showrooms, and Baker Stores. Along with McGuire Furniture Company and Ann Sacks, it is part of the Kohler Interiors Group and a wholly owned subsidiary of Kohler Co., a global leader in kitchen and bath designs. Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wis., Kohler Co. is one of America’s oldest and largest privately held companies. Kohler is a global leader in the manufacture of kitchen and bath products, engines and power generation systems, home interiors, and hospitality services.