Vacation in style
What do you get when you mix classic design elements with exotic travels around the globe? Salon, a new collection of furniture by Roger Thomas for Edward Ferrell + Lewis Mittman.
Salon, which debuted at the recent HD Expo in Las Vegas, uses cues from Greek and Italian architecture and blends them with design elements Thomas has seen during his travels, as well as taking inspiration from the style from the 1930s. It is the first collection in the new Decours brand of hospitality furniture by the High Point, N.C.-based manufacturer.
Thomas, executive vice president of design for Wynn Design and Development, said he was inspired “by my ever-changing ideas about luxury hospitality furnishings and my wish to create new and original ideas born of classic rules.”
The Ponti side table, for example, is a literal reference to classic design with its pedestal that takes the fluted column and combines it with a modern steel version.
The classic column also is the predominant feature of the Swanson side table, which takes the capital at the very top and gives it the proper proportion to serve as a side table.
His Belmondo series of tables and credenzas puts the silhouettes of Regency plaster cornice and coving moldings onto the doors and drawers of pieces with clean, modern outlines in a homage to the marquetry of 16th century Italy.
In addition to mixing design styles, the new collection often blends materials, such as bronze and marble, oak and lacquer, stainless steel and travertine.
“I would say one of the dominant design features of this collection is the way he mixes textures. He will contrast, for instance, a sandblasted oak with a highly lacquered component and even add polished stainless steel,” said Steve Mittman, chairman of EF+LM’s new Decours brand.
Additionally, Thomas has strived to make each piece in collection special in one way or another. Mittman said all of the upholstery was designed to “float” in a room.
“He made the outside of all the upholstery really interesting and as attractive from the back as they are from the front.”
Just take a look at the back of the Franco lounge chair, which has a metal architectural accent.
He also added some elements of fun. One of Mittman’s favorite pieces in the collection is the Loren spot table. The cube-shaped table is open on two sides and has a mirror on bottom. Under the top of the table is a photograph of a piece of ceiling from an Italian palazzo featuring Apollo that reflects into the mirror.
“When reflected, it appears as if it’s 2 feet down into the floor. It’s very cool, a real fun piece,” Mittman said.
Although the Decours line is new, manufacturing furnishings especially for the hospitality trade is not. Edward Ferrell and Lewis Mittman has been creating hotel furniture for roughly 25 years, specifically for Thomas and Steve Wynn’s hotels.
The decision to launch the Decours brand with a collection designed by Thomas was easy. Mittman said they had been working with Thomas for decades creating custom furnishings for Wynn properties such as Golden Nugget, Mirage, Bellagio, Wynn Las Vegas and Encore. Additionally, Thomas created his own residential collection for the company, which debuted in 2007.
“Roger will only use beautifully crafted furniture and accessories, which tend to be only available through higher-end workshops and factories, and that’s us,” Mittman said. “We’re not the only ones, but he won’t buy anything that isn’t beautiful and beautifully designed and well-crafted.”
Targeted to four- and five-star hotels, the brand will feature furniture designs from celebrity designers. In addition to Salon by Thomas, the line is expected to launch collections by William Yeoward and Dennis Miller in the fall. Mittman said they also are working on a collecting with David Rockwell of the Rockwell Group, which is expected to debut at next spring’s HD Expo in Las Vegas.
Mittman said the company decided to create a separate hospitality division to help prevent confusion among its residential clients and to differentiate themselves.
Unlike residential furniture by EF+LM that is made in the U.S. and Italy, furniture from the Decours division is being made in partnership with a factory in Shenzhen, China.
“As the world started changing a few years ago, it was a very interesting time. Our most valuable client, the Wynn, came to me, coincidentally at the same time as the economic downturn, and said they were doing a large expansion in Macau. And, because of political needs essentially, they needed to have lots of furniture produced in China. At that time, we had no presence there,” Mittman said.
And the rest is history – or at least rooted in history.
Presently, the Decours brand is available exclusively to the hospitality industry; however, Thomas’ other designs for EF+LM is available to the public.
For additional information on the collection, visit www.decourshospitality.com or ef-lm.com.
