A Touch Of Class

Let's give it up for Gretchen Bellinger's incredible LIMOUSINE CLOTH (TM).

Where she's been: It started in 1976.

Gretchen Bellinger: distinguished for her gorgeous yet understated palette, launched her first introduction with the smashing success of LIMOUSINE CLOTH (TM), a natural-fiber textile in thirteen post modern color stories.

As we revisit the 1980's and 1990's, Gretchen Bellinger received a plethora of awards and peer recognition. 

• Limousine Cloth (R) is selected by British Airways for the concorde.
• Isadora(R) and Applause(R) are chosen as part of the permanent collection for the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

"Lest we forget"; Gretchen Bellinger received numerous Roscoe (TM) Awards for Design Excellence.

How about the years 2000-2013?
With a focus on exceptional quality, classic yet sophisticated design, and a welcoming palette, Gretchen Bellinger was awarded:

• Best of the Year from Interior Design for It's Cricket (TM) in 2008 and in 2009. 
• Gretchen Bellinger's Swing Time(TM) was recognized by Interior Design's Best of the Year awards in 2013.
• BOY Award honorees for Lindy Hop (TM), Big Band (TM) and Ragtime (TM) textured in 2013.

Photo credit to: @Bill Kontzias. Pictured: Big Band (TM), Ragtime Band (TM), Square Peg in a Round Hole(TM), Tweedle Dee (TM), Lindy Hop (TM)

WHERE IS SHE GOING?
2016-2017:
Gretchen Bellinger introduced over 30 new fabrics. She continues to raise the design bar, using innovative synthetics, bamboo, and woven materials. To name a few:

• Twinkle Crinkle (TM), a pleated sheer.
• On The Plush Side, a Silk and Bamboo pile.
• Cultured Swirl, a Ribbon and Pearl embroidery.

In 2018:
New fabric introductions:

• Tweedle Dee, Textured Weave
• Come Grain or Come Shine, Viscose Velvet
• and many more.

WITHOUT QUESTION, WITHOUT RESERVATION, GRETCHEN BELLINGER REMAINS IN THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS.

Photo credit @Peter Aaron/OTTO / Elle Magazine

Barbara Beckmann Designs

"COLOR DOES NOT ADD A PLEASANT QUALITY TO DESIGN - IT REINFORCES IT."
--Pierre Bonnard

BARBARA BECKMANN DESIGNS, SHE'S BACK, AND SHE WILL CONTINUE TO:

Share with the design community of friends and fans her experience, artistry and generous use of color.

A walk through her factory in Sonoma (safe from the fires) houses yards of her well known silks and linens, with her memorable hand-painted or woven designs. Her fabrics remain versatile: specifications range from residential, commercial, hospitality, spas and yachts.

BARBARA BECKMANN IS GOING OUTDOORS!

Previewed are a sampling of her outdoor collection on Sunbrella outdoor solution dyed grounds.

Lastly, Barbara's love of color translates into her singular ability to welcome custom colors and grounds that meet your specification needs.

It is easy to work with Barbara. Her easy smile reinforces a quote by an 1800 English poet, Leigh Hunt:

"Colors are the smiles of nature."

WE WELCOME YOUR INTEREST:
MIMI: MIMIBRASCH@YAHOO.COM / 415-254-0675
BARBARA: BBECKDES@AOL.COM
http://www.barbarabeckmanndesigns.com/

Summertime and the Living is Easy

Summertime and the living is easy. "Billy" Bob Decorator will gladly share his design tips, trends and sources.

CHELLA TEXTILES: environmentally friendly, undisturbed by changing weather conditions, and in harmony with summertime and easy living. 

"Happy is the color of summer" ...Chella Textiles

Weather-wise, it is a beautiful day in the neighborhood and in your backyard, you can find an artisan design studio: ANNE KIRK TEXTILES. Quality craftsmanship is not so easy to find these days. San Francisco's  Anne Kirk Textiles remains one of the last places, certainly in the Bay Area and perhaps in the country, to design and silk-screen interior fabrics by hand. Anne's ability to combine both texture and color brings to the market fabrics ranging from Decorative Old World Designs to uncomplicated, modern and geometric patterns. The Georgina Rice Showroom on the fourth floor-Galleria is delighted and proud to announce their new representation of Anne Kirk Textiles. Please come by to view the collection and I will be calling ( no surprise there) to set up presentations of  Anne Kirk Textile Collection.

Please view their products at www.annekirktextiles.com.

Fortunately, there is no reason to be last to market any longer: J.D. STARON  is happy to launch their new Tibetan stock rug program, see samples below.

It will certainly meet the "turn on dime needs to ordering". Please do come and visit the J.D.Staron showroom on the 2nd floor Galleria and view their new collection of new cool, and chic BROADLOOM styles, some samples shown below.

View their products at www.jdstaron.com , please use the universal login: JDS110216.

We would love to share the summer days with you! Just pop into J.D.Staron showroom, nestled on the side of the 2nd floor Galleria and enjoy learning from and talking to Michael Hurley, whom I suspect you already know.  Ooops and let's not forget Maggie.

Have a splendid July, and enjoy these long summer days. Best personal regards to each of you,
Mimi

Introducing the Soft Sell

Hi everybody,
Let's take a walk among the myriad of feelings regarding the word "soft" as it refers to textiles or rugs. Foremost we will refer to the touch of the fabric on the hand or in the case of rugs, on the feet. A fabric that is soft is extraordinarily good to be touched. However, soft can also refer to one of the senses: something can look soft.

Why do we care about the hand of the fabric or the feel of the rug on our feet? I suggest that we should not want to select a fabric based solely on its appearance but always feel the fabric to ensure the hand is appropriate for its application. We could carry this thinking into the selection of rugs that are chosen for their plushness and welcoming feeling when walking on them.

One more thing, and not really related to the fabrics or rugs but just a quick note. What is the opposite of the SOFT SELL? Of course, it is the HARD SELL. That means the hand is rough to the touch and less comfortable. We would certainly not enjoy a hard sell as that would be less comfortable, not smooth and unpleasantly harsh. We do not want that in any form!!!

Introducing the new private Scottish Wool Textiles Collection from GEORGINA RICE & CO. Their woolen sheers pictured below are soft to the touch and enhances any window treatment. Ranging from $88-$98 per yard, 54" Width, these are available in an array of colors.

Made in Scotland, 100% Wool, Dry Clean Only. Colors from left to right are: Lavender, Daisy, Gold, Paprika, Fresco, Fennel, Glacier, Aqua, and Bamboo. Please visit the showroom at the SF Design Center, Suite 448.

CHELLA TEXTILES is one of the foremost environmentally friendly indoor and outdoor fabric collections, combining form and function and of course, a soft hand. Lee Menichella, at the helm of the company, was responsible for the 2005 Award for the first Solution Dyed Acrylic Chenille.

Chella Textiles, Montecatini Collection, 100% Solution Dyed Acrylic, Origin: USA

In 2007, CHELLA TEXTILES was awarded the first solution dyed acrylic velvet. View the entire collection online at www.chellatextiles.com

And lastly, a soft landing with JD STARON RUG COLLECTION. Their rugs are constructed in an array of Mohair, Bamboo Silk, Pashima, and the soft but also strong Wool. These and many other plush and "soft to the feet" rugs can be viewed at the JD Staron Showroom, Space 236 at the San Francisco Design Center and visit their website: www.jdstaron.com, for your convenience, please use the universal password: JDS110216
 

J D Staron Rug Collection, www.jdstaron.com, universal password: JDS110216

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.  Have a great weekend.
MIMI