THE IDEA THAT INTERIOR DESIGN can provide both aesthetic beauty and everyday versatility is at the heart of Perspective Los Angeles, part of a series of designer showcases addressing varying perspectives on high-end design. Cosponsored by Sunbrella® and Architectural Digest, the event featured five full-scale vignettes carefully crafted by interior designers from across the country.

From a modern Turkish pavilion to a stylishly relaxed lounge to a tribute to the classic elegance of the open-air Round Hill in Jamaica, the diverse vignettes were showcased at The Washbow (Culver City, California). Gina Wicker, creative director for Sunbrella, says, “Culver City…

THE INTERNATIONAL CASUAL FURNISHINGS ASSOCIATION (ICFA) announced its 2015 Manufacturer Leadership Awards following an online vote of ICFA’s retail, designer, and supplier members. The winners received crystal trophies on September 16, the opening day of Casual Market Chicago.

One manufacturer was honored in each of 10 categories for the overall design and quality of its products, along with its merchandising, customer service, ethics, communications, and trade relations. From the 10 category winners, a single Manufacturer of the Year, OW Lee, was selected in online voting and announced at the ICFA Awards Gala on September 18 at the Field Museum.…

THE LARGEST-EVER LAS VEGAS MARKET™—highlighted by increases in new registrations and overall attendance, as well as by expansion of leading showroom resources—exceeded buyers’ and suppliers’ expectations in August. The summer market celebrated its 10th year with five launches: casual/outdoor on C12 and C13; gourmet housewares on C11; better home decor on C5; and the Pavilions at Las Vegas Market, featuring Discoveries, a new temporary-exhibit venue with 90,000 net square feet of exhibit space.

Robert Maricich, CEO of IMC, says, “We set the bar high for our 10th anniversary this August, and we exceeded our customers’ expectations, as well as…

WHAT MAKES ELITE athletes tick? What is it like to live your dream, every day, in the hope of a star performance at the Olympics? These are two of the themes that “Uncharted Waters,” a documentary following athletes on the U.S. Sailing Team Sperry, will explore in the final year of their journey toward a spot on the Olympic and Paralympic teams that will compete in the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Made possible by Sunbrella®Fabrics, the leading supplier of performance fabric to the marine industry, “Uncharted Waters” shows what it takes to be a top-ranked Olympic– and…

HEARTH & HOME TECHNOLOGIES hosted its second annual Summer Summit in June at the historic Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. More than 400 attendees participated in two days of customized breakout sessions focusing on best practices in online marketing, human resources, sales expertise, risk management, and profit maximization, as well as in brand immersions and hands-on product demonstrations from Heatilator, Heat & Glo, Quadra-Fire, and Harman.

The nearly 20 breakout sessions featured functional experts from Hearth & Home Technologies, Houzz, Rocket 55, Alexander Group, Best Buy, Adler Group, Resultants for Business, and the University of Minnesota. In addition to…

EMPIRE COMFORT SYSTEMS HAS acquired the manufacturing rights to the Signature series of grills currently produced by Vermont Castings. Nick Bauer, Empire president, says that the acquisition will help his company in several ways. “These are high-end, U.S.–made stainless-steel grills with a great reputation for quality and durability,” Bauer says. “They will give our sales force new inroads into markets where luxury stainless-steel grills dominate.”

Empire already builds Broilmaster premium grills, and Bauer is especially excited about adding these grills. “Empire is family owned, with a passion for U.S. manufacturing, and the Signature series grills represent more products we…

MISSISSAUGA, ON - Bleu Venue Events announced the First Annual Outdoor Living Conference (www.outdoorlivingconference.com ) designed to support growth in the Canadian residential outdoor living market.

Sessions during the twoday, trade-only event for interior designers, interior decorators, and stagers will provide innovative and futuretrending product knowledge from a range of different domestic and international vendors.

Attendees will also benefit from CEU accredited seminars given by industry professionals. In association with S.O.F.A. (Source of Furniture + Accessories, www.visitsofa.com ) located at The International Centre in Toronto, Canada and for the first time ever in North America, the conference on…

SYRACUSE, IN – Indiana-based Poly-Wood is undergoing a recapitalization through Oxford Financial Group, Ltd. and Cardinal Equity Partners of Indianapolis. Each are privately held. While all original Poly-Wood shareholders have remained invested, these new long-term relationships will provide strategic direction as Poly-Wood continues to implement aggressive growth plans.

“We are pleased to be part of this exciting new chapter of the Poly-Wood story,” said Jeffrey Thomasson, managing director & CEO of Oxford. “They are truly unique in the space, offering a total solution that includes the design and development of innovative products, merchandising support, manufacturing and quick delivery.”

“Poly-Wood is…