Attend Hearth and Home Profit Solutions Seminar at IBS!

The International Builder's Show will be held February 13th - 16th in Orlando Florida. The focus this year for every builder and design center will no doubt be " How can increase the number of homes I sell, increase the average dollar of upgrades and increase my customer satisfaction? ".

I am excited to invite you to the Hearth and Home 'Profit Solutions' presentation, which will be perfect information for design center, marketing and purchasing teams. In a short 15 minute presentation, you will learn how to satisfy your customer, increase options and upgrades and actually make more profit with the fireplace category. The presentations will run continually every 30 minutes throughout the show.

One Patio campfire given away at every session!

I will be discussing ways to earn more profit through your design center, design trends in mantels and surrounds, and what the customer will be seeking in 2008 and beyond. Come join us and sit by our fire! In 15 minutes, you will learn 6 different ways to make more profit with fireplaces. Every attendee will receive 15 minutes off of their feet, a cold bottle of water and a $5 gift card from your favorite coffee retailer! One lucky winner in every session will win an outdoor patio campfire.

Perfect for " The 'New Urbanism' home buyer" - The Paloma

You will also be interested to see the amazing new designs in fireplaces, mantels and surrounds that will exceed the expectations of each of your home consumers. See the newest innovations, healthy and green hearth choices, cutting edge styles and design and builder profit solutions to help you have a more profitable 2008. Please stop by the Hearth and Home booth , location W1159 at the IBS show. I would love to meet you!

__________________________________________
The Design Minds at Hearth and Home Blog is geared to support design center staff and the new construction industry in selling options and upgrades to the new home consumer. Subscribe for updates. Contact Krisann Parker-Brown for merchandising or marketing support of your design center. She will be happy to work with you on your assortment and presentation to ensure you are on track for the upcoming decor trends.

Krisann Parker-Brown is the merchandising manager for Hearth and Home Technologies, the leading manufacturer and retailer of fireplaces and hearth systems. Krisann supports design centers and new construction builders in presenting Heat & Glo, Heatilator and Quadra-Fire hearth systems, and consulting on design center merchandising, point of sale and the consumer experience. Contact her at brownkr@hearthnhome.com or 952-985-6537

Design Update - Mantel Display

Caroline's mantel-scape featured in Design Sponge

Helen Glenn Court writes that "One of the most powerful interior design tools at your fingertips are the mantel decorations of your fireplace...The fireplace remains the focal point of the home, no matter the overall design, furniture style, upholstery, or window treatments. It is by far the strongest voice in house design."

Grace at Design Sponge is one of my favorite design bloggers. I get a new idea or resource every day from her posts. I was delighted to see today's topic of mantel-scapes, which inspired me to bring you some additional and creative ways to present your fireplaces and facings in your design centers.

A fireplace mantel is a decorative surface that you can decorate in either a symmetrical or asymmetrical manner. Symmetrical, balanced decorating gives the fireplace a formal and elegant look, whereas using asymmetrical placement creates an informal, artful and creative air. You can achieve an asymmetrical look for your fireplace mantel by grouping odd-numbered objects in different sizes and even color. Maintain some balance in the asymmetrical decoration in order to create the best effect.

Periwinkle Bedroom Photo from Sunshinesyrie's site at flickr

GnomeG's White Mantel Photo from flickr

Melisann's Mantel Scape from her flickr Album

Mantel Scape by Artist Lisa de John (Design*Sponge)

You will find a link to Design Sponge on my 'links' list. Design*Sponge is a daily website dedicated to home and product design run by Brooklyn-based writer, Grace Bonney. Design*Sponge features store and product reviews, sale and contest announcements, new designer profiles, trend forecasting and store/studio tours. In addition, Design*Sponge features a unique section dedicated to covering student design, national and international design shows.

_________________________________________________________

The Design Minds at Hearth and Home Blog is geared to support design center staff and the new construction industry in selling options and upgrades to the new home consumer. Subscribe for updates. Contact Krisann Parker-Brown for merchandising or marketing support of your design center. She will be happy to work with you on your assortment and presentation to ensure you are on track for the upcoming decor trends.

Krisann Parker-Brown is the merchandising manager for Hearth and Home Technologies, the leading manufacturer and retailer of fireplaces and hearth systems. Krisann supports design centers and new construction builders in presenting Heat & Glo, Heatilator and Quadra-Fire hearth systems, and consulting on design center merchandising, point of sale and the consumer experience. Contact her at brownkr@hearthnhome.com or 952-985-6537