IN MARCH, BROWN JORDAN OUTDOOR KITCHENS received the Best Kitchen Award from a panel of esteemed judges at the International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) show in New York, New York. According to the IFDA, Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens’ commitment to bringing luxury to the outdoors by way of offering color, style, and design was one of the many deciding factors in recognizing the company. In addition, Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens’ ability to blur the line between indoors and outdoors captured the attention of Dwayne Clark, senior director at Dwayne Clark Interior Design Management Group.

“In an industry…

  DESIGNER RICHARD FRINIER was honored with a Gold Award in this year’s ADEX competition for his Caravan collection of Sunbrella®fabrics. Greg Rosendale, residential market manager for Glen Raven Custom Fabrics (maker of Sunbrella fabrics), says, “We’re proud to be partnered with Richard Frinier and congratulate him on this new accolade for his continued design leadership. The Caravan collection of Sunbrella fabrics represents an ideal fusion of design and performance—attributes in which we take pride.”

Frinier, who has spent more than 30 years designing high-end furniture and fabrics, drew inspiration for this collection from an extended stay in Morocco.…

  WITTUS–FIRE BY DESIGN (Pound Ridge, New York) and ETE EmTechEngineering (Leipzig, Germany) teamed up in April to compete in the Pellet Stove Design Challenge at Brookhaven National Laboratory (Long Island, New York). Hosted by Alliance for Green Heat and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the competition was created to encourage innovation in residential heating.

The Wittus/ETE EmTechEngineering stove, the Pellwood, was a clear winner, achieving the cleanest burn rate overall and the lowest emissions (less than 0.5 grams per hour). The Pellwood can burn pellets or cordwood, so if pellets are not available or there…

  THE SUNBRELLA® 2016 UPHOLSTERY COLLECTION was honored with a Platinum Award in this year’s ADEX Awards. The 2016 additions to the upholstery collection emphasize design simplicity, with new bright colors and natural-inspired neutrals. The new introductions include seven fabric groupings drawing attention to vibrant colors and patterns, as well as textural neutrals.

Greg Voorhis, design director for Glen Raven Custom Fabrics (maker of Sunbrella fabrics), says, “With these new fabrics, we’re mixing two ends of the spectrum—bright to muted, old to new—and showing how they can come together to create beautiful, unassuming design. We are proud to see…

  LAS VEGAS MARKET™reports that commitments from Napoleon Grills and Casual Classics Furniture Group have fueled category momentum for the casual/outdoor category. The casual/outdoor area will mark its first anniversary at the summer market (July 31 through August 4) with two near-capacity floors devoted to the category—augmented by a series of outdoor-specific programming for buyers and suppliers.

Buzz Homsy, director of Casual Classics, says, “The casual offering at Las Vegas Market is growing, and the organizers have done an outstanding job of attracting some of the greatest names in the outdoor industry. A lot of casual buyers, especially out West,…

  AGIO HAS LAUNCHED its new domestic-fulfillment and warehouse program, which is intended to meet the demand for the company’s brand name and product line. The 2016 domestic program allows qualified buyers to carry selected Agio collections without a container requirement or minimum order. Agio’s sales representatives will coordinate this program with buyers in their territories.

“Over the years, we have had so many requests for orders less than a container that we have had to decline. Next came e-commerce companies that wanted our brand. Now, we don’t have to turn these customers away,” Andy Sokol, Agio’s vice president…

  WITH ITS LARGE PORTFOLIO of successful luxury outdoor-furniture brands, Brown Jordan International has created a new organizational structure for its two largest brands, Brown Jordan and Tropitone. These changes are expected to improve expertise and efficiency in the company’s sales and marketing functions. Established since 1945 and 1954, respectively, the Brown Jordan and Tropitone brands have a heritage of delivering high-quality products to discriminating outdoor consumers.

John Mattson has been promoted to the position of group vice president of contract sales, and Frank Verna has been promoted to the position of group vice president of retail sales and…

  DESIGNER’S PATIO (DALLAS, TEXAS) recently held a Lunch and Learn event about outdoor rooms for design professionals. Presentations were made by Norman Hamilton, vice president of sales for the designer category and vice president of corporate marketing, Castelle/Pride Family Brands, and Marcia Blake of Sunbrella®. Presentations included Opportunities in the Outdoor Room for Designers (made by Hamilton) and Explore the Possibilities With Performance Fabrics (made by Blake).

“Castelle is honored to have been asked to participate in this designprofessional function,” Hamilton says. “Today’s furnishings and fabrics for the outdoors continue to advance in sophistication and style, creating a…