Join Now
Join Now

34th Academy of Achievement Honoree – Maria Mullen

Sep 20, 2023 | Press Releases

Maria Mullen to Receive ARTS Awards Academy of Achievement Honor
—CEO of Hubbardton Forge to accept industry’s highest accolade at 34th event—

September 20, 2023 – Dallas Market Center and ART, the creative home furnishings network, have announced that Maria Mullen, CEO of Hubbardton Forge, will receive the Academy of Achievement honor at the 34th ARTS Awards taking place at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas on Friday, January 12, 2024. The ARTS Awards, presented annually during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, celebrates preeminent manufacturers, retailers, interior designers, product designers, and sales representatives.

“Maria’s decades of leadership are respected across the lighting and home industries,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “Her positive impact on the business is significant, her mentorship is outstanding, and she continues to be a visionary leader.”

Sharon Davis, executive director of ART, added: “It’s an honor to present the Academy of Achievement to someone who has added so much value to the industry through her career achievements, but also through her commitment to industry organizations and philanthropic efforts.”

Maria Mullen has served as CEO of Hubbardton Forge since 2020. The 50-year-old company produces made to order lighting in its 100,000 square foot facility in Castleton, VT. Maria began her career in the fashion and sporting goods industries. Stints at Bruno Magli and Gianni Versace as well as Champion Products and Ewing Athletics took her around the world and exposed her to everything from professional sports to high fashion. In 1998 Maria joined Murray Feiss, now part of Visual Comfort & Co. Her eye for design and her sales acumen led founder Murray Feiss to add her to the company’s design committee, where she helped the company to even greater success. In 2005 Maria left Murray Feiss and joined The Uttermost Company as VP of Sales. She led the company’s initiative into fixed lighting and introduced their first lighting line in January of 2007. In 2009 she returned to Murray Feiss, then a Generation Brands company at the behest of then President, Greg Vandia. The company had suffered during the Great Recession and she spearheaded the rebuilding by, once again, focusing the company on great product and customer service. In 2011 she was elevated to President of the newly formed Feiss/Monte Carlo. In 2013 Maria departed Feiss/Monte Carlo and founded Kalizma Home with her partner Barb Cote. Kalizma Home is a design consultancy firm that designs and develops private label lighting products for many industry partners. In 2020 Maria turned over control of Kalizma to Barb to join Hubbardton Forge.

In addition to her corporate leadership, Maria has been committed to industry organizations and charitable organizations. She is an active participant in ALA, Women in Lighting, and WITHIT. She currently serves on The Dallas Market Center’s Lighting Board of Governors. For more than 20 years she has worked tirelessly for the H Foundation, a charitable organization that raises funds for basic cancer research. She sits on their Board of Directors. In 2021 Maria, with the H Foundation, launched a special fund to raise awareness and money for research into BRCA in memory of her friend Karen Krieger.

In addition to the Academy of Achievement, there are dozens of category awards being presented at the ARTS Awards to retailers, manufacturers, designers and sales representatives.  All 34th ARTS Awards finalists can be viewed here. Reservations for the ARTS Awards open October 4th. Tickets will be $170 for ART members and $200 for non-members. Discounted rates for full tables of (8) and (10) guests are also available.

Sponsors for the 34th ARTS Awards include Aspire Design & Home; Furniture, Lighting & Décor; Business of Home; Home Accents Today; Décor News Now; Houstonia; Home Textiles Today; Designers Today; Furniture Today; Gifts & Decorative Accessories; Modern Luxury Interiors; Paper City; Interior Design Society, and Sustainable Furnishings Council.

For more information, visit the ARTS Awards website.

Home vs Hunger Supporting Maui Wildfire Victims

Sep 12, 2023 | Press Releases

Wildfires in Hawaii have become the deadliest blazes in the U.S. in more than a century. World Central Kitchen (WCK) teams are on the ground in Maui working with partners to serve thousands of meals daily to
evacuees and emergency workers.

In partnership with Gift for Life, Home vs Hunger is raising funds to aid crisis-related hunger relief in Maui. Donations will be accepted through the Fall 2023 High Point Market, October 14-18, 2023.

Home vs Hunger was formed in 2023 as a new charitable initiative that unifies the Home industry around a cause everyone can support: No one should ever go hungry!
Join our industry-wide commitment to make a difference in our communities and around the world. Scan the QR code, or visit https://donate.wck.org/HomevsHungerHelpsHawaii to learn more and make a contribution.

 

 

 

Scan the QR code to learn more, join our efforts, or make a contribution.

34th ARTS Awards Judges Announced

Sep 12, 2023 | Press Releases

September 12, 2023 – Dallas Market Center and ART, the creative home furnishings network, have announced the judges for the 34th ARTS Awards, taking place in Dallas on Friday, January 12, 2024 at Hilton Anatole Hotel. The ARTS Awards, presented annually during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, celebrates preeminent manufacturers, retailers, interior designers, product designers, and sales representatives.

The esteemed judging panel will select winners from digital submissions that vary based upon category and may consist of product development, marketing, merchandising, company differentiation examples, or professional information.

In November, the judges will convene in Dallas for two days to review each individual or company submission. Once all components of judging are complete, a designated accounting firm tabulates and secures the scores until the winners are announced for the first time at the ARTS Awards gala.

The 34th ARTS Awards judges are:

Courtney Garrigan, Co-Owner, Coco & Dash. She is one half of the dynamic partnership whose personal and creative style is the foundation for the award-winning home decor retail shop, Coco & Dash.
While Courtney has developed a signature style that embodies beauty and function, she has a propensity for quirky touches seamlessly incorporated with classic elements. Passionate about her love of color and imperfection in design she brings a fresh approach to retail and interior design.

Leslie Newby, Founder & CEO, WorkTheBrand™. Leslie Newby is a communications professional with expertise in the residential and commercial furnishings and design sectors. She founded WorkTheBrand in 2005 to partner with companies and organizations in the residential and commercial furnishings and design sectors seeking PR and marketing communications expertise.

Patti Carpenter, Principal, Carpenter & Company. Patti is Principal of carpenter + company and an award- winning Designer in globally sourced home décor, accessories, fragrance, and gifts, with experience in product design and development, merchandising and color + trend forecasting. As a Micro-Enterprise specialist with U.S. presidential recognition for domestic and international expertise in artisan development, small producer and entrepreneurial training and economic development.

Rebecca Miller, CEO, ARTful Communications/OMAGGIO STUDIO. Rebecca is an executive with a track record of building market share for companies seeking growth. She is recognized for her vision, innovation, and excellence in brand development and for achieving operational efficiencies and revenue performance improvements. Her passions include art, architecture, food and wine, animals, world culture and is an avid traveler.

Scarlette Tapp, executive director, Sustainable Furnishings Council and Sustainable Furnishings Educational Fund. Scarlette exclusively serves as the Green Award judge and reviews only the manufacturing finalists’ submissions. She is a nonprofit professional with extensive experience in fundraising, communications, and strategic planning. Throughout her nonprofit career, she has worked with organizations in the sectors of nature conservancy, the arts, and education. Scarlette’s track record for building capacity has served nonprofits in Western NC and Upstate SC for over 13 years.

Warren Shoulberg, Business Journalist and Contributing Editor, Home Furnishings Journalist. Warren Shoulberg knows home furnishings. He has been a regular contributor to The Robin Report, Forbes.com, The Business of Home and Home Textiles Today as well as his own blog Warrensreport.com. As the former editor-in-chief for several leading business-to-business publications specializing in home furnishings retailing he has chronicled the good, the bad and the ugly of the business in an award-winning career spanning four decades. He has guest lectured at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business and been honored by the International Furnishings and Design Association, Gift for Life and the Fashion Institute of Technology. He has been cited by the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN, ABC News and other media as an expert in the field.

All 34th ARTS Awards finalists can be viewed here. Reservations for the ARTS Awards open October 3rd. Tickets will be $170 for ART members and $200 for non-members. Discounted rates for full tables of (8) and (10) guests are also available.

Sponsors for the 34th ARTS Awards include Aspire Design & Home; Furniture, Lighting & Décor; Business of Home; Home Accents Today; Décor News Now; Houstonia; Home Textiles Today; Designers Today; Furniture Today; Gifts & Decorative Accessories; Modern Luxury Interiors; Paper City; Interior Design Society, and Sustainable Furnishings Council.

For more information, visit the ARTS Awards website.

34th ARTS Awards Finalists Announced

Aug 28, 2023 | Press Releases

August 29, 2023 – Dallas Market Center and ART, the creative home furnishings network, have announced the finalists for the 34th ARTS Awards. The ARTS Awards is the premier international awards program dedicated to home industry excellence and achievement.

A committee of industry experts evaluated hundreds of submitted nominations to determine the list of finalists. The announced finalists will submit materials for judging in the fall, and award recipients will be announced at a gala event in Dallas on Friday, January 12, 2024. Special category awards including Academy of Achievement and the HEARTS Award will be announced at a later date.

“This year’s finalists include many new names as well as previous honorees,” said Sharon Davis, executive director of ART. “We congratulate them on this achievement.” Added Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center: “Strong commitment to excellence in our industry is clearly on display with this list of finalists. We look forward to celebrating them in Dallas.”

The 34th ARTS Awards finalists are:

MANUFACTURER
Accent Furniture
Gabby
Hooker
Revelation by Uttermost

Area Rugs
Jaipur Living
Loloi
Momeni
Nourison

Home Accents
Cyan Design
Elk Home
Harp & Finial
Howard Elliott Collection
Uttermost

Home Textiles
Amity Home
Ann Gish
Aviva Stanoff Design
Cloud9 Design

Lamps
Eichholtz
Port 68
Regina Andrew
Ro Sham Beaux
Visual Comfort & Co.

Lighting Fixtures
Crystorama
Currey & Co.
Hinkley
John Richard
Varaluz

Outdoor Living
Bernhardt Exteriors
Palecek
POLYWOOD

Tabletop
Annieglass
Hester & Cook
Vietri

Wall Décor
Phillips Collection
Wendover
Wexel Art

PRODUCT DESIGNER
Tom Caldwell – Currey & Co.
Dann Foley – Dann Foley Lifestyle
Ron Henderson – Varaluz
Jason Phillips – Phillips Collection
Jill Seale – Jill Seale Design Studio

INTERIOR DESIGNER
Traci Connell – Traci Connell Interiors
Wendy Glaister – Wendy Glaister Interiors
Kristi Hopper – Kristi Hopper Designs
Lisa McDennon – Lisa McDennon Design
Denise McGaha – Denise McGaha Interiors

SALES REPRESENTATIVE
East/Atlantic
Hannah Hollis – Codarus
Karen Harris – Jdouglas
Russ Jones – Ivystone

Midwest/Southwest
Angelique Wade – Global Views
Graham Church – Summer Classics, Gabby
Mindy Lowack – In-Detail

West
Christie Schellenbach – Ivystone, Luxe Home
Georgia Fea – Bassman Blaine
Mari Mack – Norwalk Furniture

RETAILER
Design Studio
Christopher Todd Design – Henderson, NV
Dixon Rye – Atlanta, GA
In Detail Interiors – Pensacola, FL
Jamie Merida – Easton, MD
Oasis Home Designs/NLM Design Interiors – Asbury Park, NJ

Furniture Store – Multiple Locations
Clive Daniel Home – Naples, FL
Cokas Diko Home – Santa Rosa, CA
HOM Furniture – Coon Rapids, MN
Trove Warehouse – Columbus, OH

Furniture Store – Single Location
Christopher Collection – Homewood, AL
Dwell Home Furnishings & Interior Design – Coralville, IA
Found – Houston, TX
Kathy Adams Furniture & Design – Plano, TX

Home Accents Store – East/Atlantic
Domain by Laura Hodges Studio – Catonsville, MD
Foundry 42 – Port Jervis, NY
Huff Harrington – Atlanta, GA
Mustard Seed Market & Home – Blowing Rock, NC

Home Accents Store – Midwest/Southwest
Kenneth Ludwig – Chicago, IL
Leon & Lulu – Clawson, MI

Home Accents Store – West
Lulu’s Furniture & Décor – Greenwood, CO
Made for Home by Hannesson Home – Billings, MT
The Fox Shop – Holladay, UT

Lighting Showroom – East/Atlantic
Alcott & Bentley – Louisville, KY
Chloe Winston Lighting Design – Norwalk, CT
Dominion Lighting – Arlington, VA
J. Landon Decorative Lighting – Charlotte, NC

Lighting Showroom – Midwest/Southwest
Amber’s Lighting & Home Accessories – Stillwater, OK
Bright Ideas – Albuquerque, NM
City Lights Detroit – Troy, MI
Lightology – Chicago, IL

Lighting Showroom – West
City Lights – San Francisco, CA
Illuminations – Tucson, AZ
Lightopia – Costa Mesa, CA
Western Montana Lighting – Missoula, MT

The ARTS Awards process begins with the nomination of retailers, manufacturers, designers, and sales representatives. Nominations are received online through the end of June. After nominations are received, a nomination committee of industry peers evaluates the entries and determines finalists. A separate judging panel then convenes in the fall to review and score finalists’ materials. Neither membership in ART nor representation at Dallas Market Center is necessary to nominate or to be a nominee.

Sponsors for the ARTS Awards include Aspire Design & Home; Furniture, Lighting & Décor; Business of Home; Home Accents Today; Décor News Now; Houstonia; Home Textiles Today; Designers Today; Furniture Today; Gifts & Decorative Accessories; Modern Luxury Interiors; Paper City; Interior Design Society, and Sustainable Furnishings Council.

34th ARTS Awards Nominating Panel and Committee Announced

Aug 18, 2023 | Press Releases

August 18, 2023 – Dallas Market Center and ART, the creative home furnishings network, have announced the nominating committee and panel for the 34th ARTS Awards, the the premier awards program dedicated to the home industry.
The ARTS Awards committee consists of three industry professionals charged with overseeing the nomination and selection of the ARTS Awards categories of Academy of Achievement and HEARTS Award. They also serve on the nominating panel. The committee are: Andrew Knapp, Vice President of Sales, Hubbardton Forge; Kirsten Recce, Owner of Black Whale Home; and Cherry Bernish, sales representative In-Detail.  .
The ARTS Awards nominating panel consists of a group of independent industry professionals who will evaluate the list of hundreds of nominees submitted online. The results will be the list of ARTS Awards finalists, who will then submit materials for judging in the fall. The nominating panel are:
1. Michael Bauer, Director of Trade Relations, Feizy Rugs
2. Jamie Bernal, Principal, Jonathan’s Coastal Living
3. Caroline Biggs, Market Editor, Business of Home
4. Laurie Burns, Executive Director, The Gift and Home Trade Assocation
5. Jenny Cano, Director, Interior Design Society (IDS)
6. Jane Dagmi, Managing Director, High Point x Design
7. Diane Falvey, Editor-in-Chief, Furniture Lighting & Décor
8. Teddie Garrigan, Co-Owner, Coco & Dash
9. Caroline Hipple, President, Norwalk
10. Susan Jones, Publisher, Furniture Lighting & Décor
11. Connie Lineberry, President, Connie Lineberry and Associates
12. Monica Loving, Vice President, Ivystone
13. Jaye Anna Mize, Vice President of Creative, Fashion Snoops
14. Cheminne Taylor Smith, CEO, Cheminne.com
15. Allison Zisko, Editor-in-Chief, Home Accents Today

The ARTS Awards process begins with the nomination of retailers, manufacturers, designers, and sales representatives. After nominations are received, a nomination panel of industry peers evaluates the entries and determines finalists. A separate judging panel then convenes in the fall to review and score finalists’ materials. Winners will be announced during a gala event on Friday, January 12, 2024. Neither membership in ART nor representation at Dallas Market Center is necessary to nominate or to be a nominee.

Sponsors for the ARTS Awards include Aspire Design & Home; Furniture, Lighting & Décor; Business of Home; Home Accents Today; ; Décor News Now; Houstonia; Home Textiles Today; Designers Today; Furniture Today; Gifts & Decorative Accessories; Modern Luxury Interiors; Paper City; Interior Design Society, and Sustainable Furnishings Council.

Member News – Jola & Hubbardton Forge

Jun 7, 2023 | Members News, Press Releases

May 2023 –  Jola Interactive, a renowned industry leader in website development, applications, and 3D solutions for the design industry, is proud to announce its recent distinction with two prestigious Web Excellence Awards, a leading international interactive web awards competition. The accolades commend the outstanding design, functionality, and originality showcased in the Hubbardton Forge and Verellen websites, representing excellence in home renovation and interior design categories.

Hubbardton Forge, with its headquarters in Castleton, Vermont, is one of America’s oldest and largest continuously-operating commercial forges, admired for their skilled design and production of hand-forged lighting and furniture, all of which are proudly American-made. Their dedication to excellence is also reflected in their award-winning website, which received the 2023 Excellence Award for Best Home Renovation and Interior Design Website. This lauded website was designed and developed by Jola Interactive, a specialist in eCommerce websites and 3D solutions for the home furnishings sector, based in Westchester, NY.

In this high-tech digital world, the role of creative artists has become essential in every domain. Whether it’s developing a website or mobile app, working on social media campaigns, or producing videos, the contribution made by these creators cannot be underestimated. Their dedication and creativity are commendable, from designers to creators, freelancers, creative agencies, and entrepreneurs worldwide. With this idea in mind, the Web Excellence Awards brings one of the most prestigious competitions to promote excellence on the Web and applaud the remarkable works of creative artists. Like every competition, the Web Excellence Awards are thrilled to have received hundreds of entries from all across the world and are now announcing the winners.

The 9th Web Excellence Awards competition set a record by receiving over 1,350 submissions from 29 countries worldwide, including 38 US states and other countries such as Australia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, India, Turkey, Sweden, the Netherlands, Iran, and more. The Web Excellence Awards winners are selected by marketing gurus, advertisers, communications specialists, and web experts. These experts base their evaluation on the innovation, creativity, implementation, and impacts of all the projects submitted.

The Web Excellence Awards primarily aim to acknowledge and promote creative ideas, business models, and innovative technologies on the Web. The Excellence Awards winners are chosen from six categories: website, advertising & marketing, video and podcast, apps & mobile, social media, and printing. Each category then includes themes ranging from activism to health and beauty, fitness, sports, travel, and more. These winners inspire millions to think outside the box through their work and innovative approach. Due to the ever-evolving nature of digital media and the emergence of distinguished artists, the task of choosing the winners has not only been challenging but also remarkable. For more information, visit the Web Excellence Awards online: https://we-awards.com/winners/.