NEW YORK - Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills, the fourth-generation family mill based in New Jersey, and its Bella-Dura® brand of high performance textiles, have a new director of Sales, effective immediately.     Stuart Schneider brings with him more than 20 years of experience in the textile industry. In his new role, he will be tasked with increasing sales and driving business forward.     “Stuart’s expertise throughout the home furnishings field, his wide range of contacts both nationally and internationally, along with a deep understanding of emerging industry trends make him an ideal choice,” said Irwin Gasner, president of Wearbest/Bella-Dura. “We are poised to build our business

Golden Blount, hearth-industry veteran and founder of Golden Blount Inc. (Dallas, Texas), passed away on March 6, 2014, at the age of 85. Blount started working in the hearth industry in 1970, as a manufacturers’ representative for Puritan, Glo- Fire, Hearth Craft, Thermo-Rite, Seymour, Trueheat, DuraVent, Metal-Fab, and Heat & Glo. His business quickly evolved into a distributorship, and in the 1980s, he began to import tool sets and screens from Taiwan.

He developed and began importing some of the first glass doors to come from Taiwan, and by the early 1990s, he had begun manufacturing these domestically, in Dallas. Today, his company is one of

Chic pinkish reds are finding their way into home fashion, and Phifer’s new Designed Fabrics Living Color collection follows suit with livable indoor/outdoor palettes that use these colors on bold scales. Botanically inspired florals, stripes, and stylized geometrics provide substance, anchoring this upscale palette’s theme. Energetic azalea pairs easily with soft shades of fig and coral, earthy greens, and creamy neutrals, keeping the Living Color collection fun, fresh, and slightly feminine.

Phifer’s Designed Fabrics—which include plush, 100% recyclable GeoBella®cushion fabrics and sleek, sling-ready Phifertex®outdoor fabrics— are perfect choices for creating outdoor furniture that feels welcoming and

According to Napoleon Gourmet Grills, today’s barbecues are much more than just cooking racks over a fire. A high-quality grill—with some features that make more experimentation with different cooking methods and styles possible and others that help make life easier and complement the backyard oasis where people escape from the daily grind—is an investment in a home.

Stephen Schroeter, senior vice president of Napoleon, says, “The versatility of today’s grills makes them vital tools for your culinary adventure. The innovations and features in new grills hitting the market this year build on making your barbecue an extension of

Agio-USA recently named Douglas J. DeFouw as senior vice president, product design. Bob Gaylord, president, Agio-USA, explains, “This promotion is a testament to Doug’s tireless work, keen eye, and design instincts with Agio over the past decade. It greatly pleases me that this key position was filled from within our own ranks.”

DeFouw came to Agio-USA in 2004 and has led some of the brand’s most successful design endeavors. He has manned Agio’s gas-firepit projects, stone-top tables, and several of Agio’s most successful high-end dining and deep seating collections. DeFouw has also led teams on some of Agio’s