ADVANCE, N.C.—Beaufurn, the manufacturer of fashion-forward, functional designs, announced that it has hired Phyllis Burke Russell as Director of Design and Marketing. Burke Russell brings to Beaufurn an extensive background in marketing, visual merchandising, branding and product development. She has held executive positions of significant responsibility for marketing, strategic growth and sales analysis at furniture companies in China and Saudi Arabia. With regard to product design and development, Burke Russell has trained design staffs at firms in several countries. She began her career at Drexel Heritage.Beaufurn’s President Thomas Bongaerts stated, “We are extremely pleased to have Phyllis join our...

NATIONAL REPORT—Light has been around as long as the human race. First came fire—primitive, serving a dual purpose of heating and illumination. Fire, as a technology, was around for thousands of years. Relatively recently, roughly a hundred or so years ago, incandescent light was invented. This light source remains in use today and is a relatively simple process—passing an electrical current through a resistor, which creates both light, and heat. In the last 60 or so years, newer technologies have appeared—fluorescent, low and high-pressure sodium, metal halide, compact florescent. While these are significantly more efficient light sources than fire...

SAN FRANCISCO—Smith & Fong Co., manufacturer of Plyboo bamboo architectural plywood and flooring products, announced it is stepping up its operations and taking an active role in the Canadian marketplace, according to Smith & Fong President Angus Stocks.The expansion includes direct importation and warehousing of its extensive range of products as well as new distribution and marketing representation. The base of Smith & Fong’s Canadian operations will be Toronto.“Canada has been a great market for the Plyboo line over the years and we are very committed and excited about the potential there,” Stocks said. “So we are stepping up...

NEW YORK—Since the iconic Virgin Megastore left Times Square in 2009, New York City has been vacant of a Virgin hub. That will soon change as Virgin Hotels has broken ground with the Lam Group on Virgin Hotels New York City. Located in the NOMAD neighborhood at 1227 Broadway between 29th and 30th, the property will serve as the brand’s flagship hotel. Virgin Hotels is aiming to achieve LEED certification.“New York City isn’t just a destination for the Virgin airlines, but a place where some of the most successful Virgin brands have been incubated, where we’ve stunned crowds with...

STAMFORD, CONN.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced the debut of its eco-wise Element brand in Bozeman with the opening of Element Bozeman, marking the first Starwood hotel in the state of Montana. Owned by a group of Bozeman investors, the newly constructed Element Hotel offers a stylish and sustainable new option for travelers with 104 light-filled rooms and an atmosphere designed to fuel a life in balance while on the road.“Our eco-wise Element brand is a terrific fit for Bozeman, a thriving hub for business and entertainment and a leading destination for outdoor recreation within the Rocky Mountain region,”...

EAGLE BEACH, ARUBA—Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort continues to expand its green initiatives with its new LEED Silver certification. Known as the Caribbean property with the most sustainability certifications, Bucuti’s new LEED designation is from the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the world’s foremost program for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), January through July 2015 was the warmest seven months in recordkeeping history and 2015 is...

DALTON, GA.—Design versatility is easily achieved through J+J Flooring Group’s newest Invision carpet products: Structure and Mineral. Structure is a simple and elegant broadloom inspired by the unique details of various architectural elements. Tweedy, rugged textures combine with uneven weights and coloring evoking the charm of aging brick, hand-woven textiles and weathered woods. Rich in undertones, seven distinctive and diffused neutrals create the ideal backdrop for any high traffic area. Developed using J+J Flooring Group’s Encore SD Ultima solution dyed nylon with recycled content, Structure can transform any space, making it warm and sophisticated. Three Quick Ship options are...

CARSON CITY, NEV.—The Governor’s Office of Energy (GOE) awarded property tax incentives to 11 Caesars Entertainment affiliated casino resorts for introducing significant energy and water savings measures in tens of millions of square feet of commercial space.The resorts received the GOE incentive after meeting State regulations and receiving a prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver or Gold equivalency from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED is a rating system for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of green buildings.“Working with Caesars Casinos to make such an enormous quantity of square feet in Nevada more energy efficient...

CINCINNATI—The finalists for the 35th Gold Key Award for Excellence in Hospitality Design have been announced by HX: The Hotel Experience (formerly IHMRS). A panel of eight prominent judges considered more than 350 entries for these awards, which recognize outstanding design worldwide for hospitality projects that were completed or renovated from April 1, 2014 through May 30, 2015.“It was a thrill to set a new record for the number of entries,” says Mary Scoviak, Executive Editor of Boutique Design. “It’s a testament to the health of the hospitality industry but also to the powerful role design plays in its...

EDENTON, N.C.— LEE Industries, a manufacturer of upholstered furniture in North Carolina, has been awarded Gold Exemplary Recognition by the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC) for its deep environmental commitment and exemplary implementation of a range of best practices for sustainability. The company completed the rigorous process of demonstrating compliance with SFC’s Exemplary Manufacturer Requirements, submitting audited evidence of achievements in operations, in production, and in outreach to attain recognition at the Gold level. LEE is the only Gold Exemplary upholstery company among the organization’s nearly 400 member companies.Bondi Coley, speaking for the company said, “We are thrilled to be...