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!

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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.

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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

Top trends for 2008

NeoClassical Lamp by Niermann Weeks

Canadian House and Home profiles their 'Top Trends' for interiors for 2008 in their January issue. Let's see what the New Year Brings! I will be heading to interior furnishings and decor market in January, it will be fascinating to see the new directions!

Forest - Outdoorsy graphic influences, filled with tree and tree influences (birch) , birds (owl's) and other woodsy aesthetics such as mushrooms. Look for faux (and real) branch furnishings, lighting, and nature influence in art and accessories, and prints in fabrics, and wallcoverings. Whimsy!

Canvas Art Panels

MOMA Owl Lamps

Birch Wool Rug

Jewel Box - Gemstone color influence as an accent, with hues such as emerald, ruby and sapphire. Rich textures such as velvet, satin and shantung, and finishes such as gold leaf or etching. Use as an accent or in a small space.

Casino - Hit the Vegas strip with mod 70's prints, gold and glossy surfaces, graphic wall papers and animal prints (leopard, baby!).

Granny Chic - Modern yet reminiscent, the new look takes the classics and gives them a twist, be it color, texture, or print. Vibrant candy colors and modern handicrafts define this look.

Modern Baby - trend toward sophisticated and functional (thank goodness, finally!) design in all things baby related, as in Kate Spade baby plates, clean lines and great color. (orange is the new pink and baby blue).

Fair Trade - Social responsibility hits our living room, fair trade sourced product or recycled items transformed into design with conscience.

Bamboo Fiber Rug

Neo Classical Now - Greek and Roman classic lines are updated with fun colors such as bright yellow and turquoise and unexpected materials. Design elements include egg and dart and the classic Greek fret.

Root Vegetable - We called this early, but House and Home adds beet red and carrot orange to the palette.

Global Textiles - Kilim returns, but add mola, patchwork, hand wovens and embroidered pieces for a world bazaar of fabrics in upholstery, pillows, rugs, linens and accent pieces. Once again used as an accent, don't over do it.

Hot and Cold - Warm metallics such as bronze and matte golds mix with cooler hues like lavender, while cool silver tones are mixed with warmer corals. Metals can also be mixed together.

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

Prepare for The Sales Trend in Multi-Family

Closet World

Downsizing consumers will appreciate organization upgrades

A New York Times article yesterday pointed out the obvious, housing starts are down, and the continued glut of inventory may mean more of the same for a bit longer. On the positive side, the article reported an increase in multi-family activity, including apartment buildings and condos. 'Mixed use' developments are also on the rise.

Simplifyre Modern Electric Fireplace

Design centers must be nimble and flexible as the market continues to adjust. When determining your product assortment, the condo, active adult or multi family consumer will still want options and personalization in their new home.

Simplifyre Cabinet Fireplace

Many manufacturers offer options that fit this market well. Categories that make sense include closet organization and cabinet upgrades. This is especially appropriate for those consumers who may be 'downsizing'.

Hearth and Home offers the Simplifyre Electric Fireplace. The fireplace can be built in, or is also offered in beautiful cabinet choices that can fit a variety of decor styles.

Simplifyre

The Simplifyre is a versatile choice for adding a fireplace to practically any
room in the home
Easy to install—anywhere in the house
Easy to use—no mess, no fuss
The Simplifyre features a clean-faced appearance that creates a simple,
elegant look.

Features:
Standard on/off remote
Realistic brick refractory throughout firebox
Built-in fan and heater
4,500 Btu/Hour Heat Output
Standard 120V
Standard mesh screen
Cabinet options—from traditional to contemporary
Optional fronts

Thinking ahead on options and upgrades for the multi family consumer can support design center sales in this time of change in the housing industry.

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Business
Housing Starts Decline 3.7%
By MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM
Published: December 18, 2007

The housing market, in its deepest rut since the early 1990s, showed little sign of stabilization in November, and economists expect conditions to worsen in the near term.

The report reflected a shift toward multifamily homes, like apartment buildings and condominiums, as builders predict more families will be unable to obtain mortgages in the months ahead.

Groundbreakings of multifamily units ticked up last month, keeping pace with a 22 percent rise over the last 12 months.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/business/18cnd-econ.html?ex=1355720400&en=0ae31a2bd33cddcf&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

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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

Bringing the Outside In and the Inside Out

(Photo: Bruce Buck for The New York Times)

The 2007 Better Homes and Gardens Media report that 'Holistic Design' is becoming a trend in consumer choices. "The trend is toward a mix of natural materials—and materials that mimic nature. We see the trend in all design styles. The green movement is certainly fuelling this trend as well, even if subconsciously. Some spaces are built with renewable or local sources. Even these natural materials aren’t specifically “green,” the trend to green is increasing the consciousness of natural color palettes, natural looks, and natural materials."

The report continues on to highlight the trend to eliminate the boundary between home and the outdoors. "We push so much nature away in our workday buildings, but at home we can blur the boundaries. We can bring nature into the home, feel like we’re more connected to it. With our increased consciousness that true nature is vanishing, we can have little pieces of nature in our homes—these are ways of being with it, preserving it. "

Techniques for blurring the boundary between indoor and outdoors are many. Use outdoor entertaining space as an extension of the home. Use flooring as a surface to move from indoors to outdooors to help make this transition seamless. Tile or stained cement work well indoors and in covered outdoor areas as well.

Kemiko Concrete Products

A recent New York Times House and Home profile shows how Michael Trapp brought nature inside his home in the Berkshires. He places 8 bare birch trees at the perimeter of the living space, and blurs the transition to outdoors with a floor to ceiling windows. (Ranch House Spectacular - Jane Garmey, New York Times)

Green - Satisfying the Underlying Values of the Consumer

The latest Iconoculture report digs into the green trend. Iconoculture calls the trend "SustainAbilities", defined as "How long will the planet and its resources last?" This trend is driving consumers and businesses to choose sustainable means and ways.


What is important to business in the new home sector are the values that motivate consumers to make specific purchasing decisions. We can consider these values in determining everything from our product assortment to our marketing messages, to the specific way we target each home buyer group.


If you haven't already made some moves down the 'green' road as a company, you are falling behind. Iconoculture says that "SustainAbilities" has already surfaced to the consumer mainstream in the home/garden sector , as well as beverage, community/world, fashion, food, transportation, work and learning sectors. It isn't far behind in entertainment, media, money/spending, retail and technology.


Knowing your design center is a blend of the home/garden/money/spending/retail consumer worlds, it tells us we had better get moving!


From Wikepedia: Personal Values


Personal values evolve from circumstances with the external world and can change over time. Values are applied appropriately when they are applied in the right area. Personal values are implicitly related to choice; they guide decisions by allowing for an individual's choices to be compared to each choice's associated values.


Iconoculture lists values and motivators that drive this type of green consumer behavior:


sustainability
Based in environmentalism and ethics – the notion that personal and business decisions should maintain Earth and its resources.

environmentalism
Preserving and conserving irreplaceable plants, animals, places, energy sources and other resources vital to the well being of Earth’s ecosystems.

conscience
Ethics, fairness and responsibility tug at you to do the right thing. The world will be a better place, and you might just become a better person, too.

flexibility
The ability to bend, adapt or change course quickly. Flexibility is the key to staying vital through ups and downs, highs and lows.

fulfillment
The satisfaction of realizing dreams for family, community and world.

hope
Wishes, desires, a better tomorrow – all within reach from the optimistic viewpoint of hope.

integrity
I say what I mean, mean what I say and act accordingly. Resolve, strength and courage to do what you know is right, in every arena of life.

leadership
The ability to see beyond the moment to a bigger, better future and take others from here to there. Equal parts communication, strategy and motivation.

legacy
The desire to leave behind a lasting reminder that will outlast our earthly departure.

practicality
Forget theory. Practicality gets down to the reality of how things actually work and get done.

responsibility
The buck stops here. Being accountable and answerable for your actions or the actions of others.

Every decision you make about product assortment is a perfect opportunity to show home buyers your green leadership as a builder. Work with your major manufacturers to make the best choices for this conscientious consumer. Many choices, surprisingly, are no more expensive to the builder or to the consumer.

*I recently wrote a letter to the editor of Dwell magazine, (one of the best American magazines of design, lifestyle and aesthetics, balanced by sustainability, responsibility and environmental impact) My letter chastised Dwell for showcasing a vent-free fireplace in a magazine known for targeting the green conscious consumer. (No, It hasn't been published yet, but I am watching!)


Working for Hearth and Home, a fireplace manufacturer who takes indoor air quality very seriously, I was shocked that Dwell and the project architect failed to consider the long term and unintended costs of an unvented hearth system. Excess moisture leading to mold, unhealthy indoor air quality, odor and interior soot are all potential by-products of an unvented hearth. These issues would be eliminated by specifying a direct-vent gas fireplace which is endorsed by virtually every Green building program as well as the American Lung Association). (Of course a Heat & Glo, Quadra-Fire or Heatilator hearth system could fill this need)

Case in point, as a builder, it is critical that you point out to the consumer the product and building decisions you make that support their green values, and challenge your manufacturers to share their expertise in this area. This can be done in the selling process, by packaging or bundling 'green' options, or by calling out choices with special logos or informational signing.

Iconoculture is a leading consumer strategist and trend expert company, based in Minneapolis. Their clients include companies like Toyota, Master Card and Sony. You can sign up to receive their weekly consumer trend newsletter here.
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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

'Vegetable Garden' de Provence

'Vegetable Garden' Inspiration - South of France Bistro

As stated in an earlier issue, Color Association of the United States is preparing to release their Interior and Environment forecast for 2009/20010. The Color Association is the oldest color forecasting service in the US. Since 1915, the Association has been issuing color reports in elegant, fabric-swatched booklet form. The Color Association is the only forecasting service that selects its colors through a committee panel of eight to twelve industry professionals. The two main color stories The Color Association is predicting are "Rock Crystal" and "Vegetable garden".

Aix, France

I recently returned from Europe, and found many examples of the "Vegetable Garden' color palette.I definitely saw a strong representation of the 'Vegetable Garden' palette in the South of France, especially Cannes, Nice and Aix. What was unique was the depth and clarity of color, as many colors are pigment based paints.

Nice, France

Knowledge of color and interior trends will support your goal of being a knowledgeable expert and resource to the new home consumer, and additionally ensure that your displays are current and forward in direction.

Cannes, France

According to The Color Association, "Vegetable Garden" is a delightful grouping of appetizing mid-tones like Heirloom Tomato, Butternut Squash, and a range of rich blues and leafy greens. The wholesome charm of this story is particularly suitable for the enhancing the comforts of the home."

Denyse Schmidt's Quilt Collection

This is a natural progression of the rich hues in Provence inspired decor. They point us to Denyse Schmidt's work that you may have seen in Dwell or Metropolitan Home. The Color Association Membership information and forecast purchase information are available at: http://www.colorassociation.com/site/corporatemembership.html

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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