NEW YORK—Carnegie, a leading manufacturer and innovator of textiles and wallcoverings, announced it has joined Be Original Americas; an organization committed to informing, educating and influencing manufacturers, design professionals and individuals on the economic, ethical, and environmental value of authentic design while preserving and investing in its future. Carnegie views its practice and support of original design as both a corporate and social responsibility.“We think it is important to support original design because the proliferation of knockoffs is a true threat not only to design driven companies like Carnegie but also to the value of creativity, problem solving and...

LOS ANGELES— EcoSense, a fast-growing manufacturer of high-performance LED lighting technologies, announced that it was recognized in two prestigious competitions, the RIBA Stirling Prize for the Best New Building of the Year and two 2014 Product Innovation Awards (PIA) from Architectural Products Magazine.EcoSpec Linear HP EXT Wall Wash luminaires from EcoSense illuminate the exterior of the RIBA award-winning Everyman Theatre in Liverpool, England. The original Everyman Theatre opened in 1964 but recently underwent a complete renovation to create an entirely new and sustainable building. The lighting design team was tasked with ensuring that the soul of the old Everyman...

NEW YORK—Starwood Capital Group Chairman and CEO Barry Sternlicht announced the launch of the new mission-driven luxury lifestyle brand 1 Hotels. The first property debuted in South Beach on March 25, followed by Central Park in late spring and Brooklyn Bridge Park at the end of 2015. 1 Hotels aims to change industry standards—more than a hospitality brand, from no paper or plastic in the guestrooms to nature as art and lobby farmstands.1 Hotels celebrates nature while encouraging sophisticated travelers to live well, do better, and connect with the world around them. Each hotel in the portfolio is consciously...

WHEELING, ILL.—Brentano’s first Sunbrella Contract products, two eco-friendly, third-party certified, ACT Facts Silver fabrics, join the textile designers’ spring Studio collection. Indoor/outdoor upholstery fabric Majalis (67 percent Sunbrella solution-dyed acrylic and 33 percent Sunbrella solution-dyed polyester) channels the Asiri women of Saudi Arabia whose vivid frescos wrap entire rooms in colorful geometric motifs. Like these traditional paintings, Majalis’ seven colorways express eclectic individuality in a 17-plus-inch vertical repeat of patterned stripes.Both Majalis and its textural complement Numayla (79 percent Sunbrella solution-dyed acrylic, 33 percent Sunbrella solution-dyed recycled acrylic and 1 percent other fibers for a heathered look) exhibit extreme...

GREENSBORO, N.C.—Green Hides introduces Venus, a top grain leather that combines old world traditions with modern finishing techniques providing a transparent finish and smooth hand. Venus is suitable for both public and private environments.Venus is processed using low emission mineral tanning formulas which are environmentally respectful. The hides are retanned in aged oak drums using vegetable agents, natural fat liquors and oils along with dyes that ensure the leather is properly through dyed. Venus complies with the strict regulations of the EU environmental normative CE2000/53. Natural color variations may occur even within the same dye lot.Go to Green Hides.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Thomas Banks, who was Chief Operating Officer/Deputy Executive Director of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) from 1998 to 2014, has joined ForrestPerkins as Vice President.“I am excited to join the ForrestPerkins team, which has completed such an impressive array of luxury hotels, resorts and multi-residential projects,” said Banks, who is an honorary fellow of ASID and was the founding President of the Interior Design Continuing Education Council. “I look forward to combining my operational and client-focused background with ForrestPerkins’ award-winning design expertise to create extraordinary value for our clients.”“I welcome Thom, whom I have known since...

DALTON, GA.—Tandus Centiva announced the Antron brand as a contributing supplier in its support of Publicolor to raise funding and awareness for the Publicolor Summer Design Studio. Suzanne Tick designs a collection of soft surface flooring products for Tandus Centiva. When a product from this collection is specified and purchased for an education project, Suzanne Tick Inc. (STI) and Tandus Centiva have each committed a $0.10/sq. yd. (totaling a $0.20) donation to Publicolor. Antron has committed to matching an additional $0.10/sq. yd. (totaling a $0.30) donation to Publicolor for products using Antron fiber.“We are pleased to join Suzanne Tick...

LOS ANGELES—EcoChic Lifestyles’ colorful, weather-resistant new outdoor line is available now at its online store. The creator of upscale, sustainable furniture is offering free worldwide shipping on any of its one-of-a-kind furnishings through March 2015.EcoChic Lifestyles’ new outdoor line comprises the same reclaimed teak wood and iron from bridges as its original line. Consumers will find that the larger coffee-table sizes they’ve been requesting are in place. Okeanos (large) and Samudera (medium) coffee tables complement the company’s Oceanic (small) coffee table. The new Backshore (large) and Breakwater (medium) coffee tables offer fans of EcoChic Lifestyles’ Beach Buoys (small) coffee...

NATIONAL REPORT—Several leading associations that develop codes and standards to create green buildings are collaborating to align the International Green Construction Code (IgCC), ANSI/ASHRAE/IES/USGBC Standard 189.1 and the LEED green building program. The initiative is being welcomed by code officials, architects, engineers and contractors.“In just a few years we progressed from developing the first model code for green buildings to a new cooperative document that will make it easier for owners, designers, builders and code officials to deliver sustainable, high-performing buildings,” said International Code Council (ICC) Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. “Thank you to our cooperating sponsors, ICC...

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIF.—Native Trails, known for its artisan-made kitchen and bath products, has added several new items to its copper sink collection for 2015. Copper Trough sinks build on the momentum created by the company’s recent NativeStone concrete trough sink introduction, by utilizing hand-hammered copper in the popular sink shape. Available in 30”, 36” and 48” widths, these new products will be available in June 2015.The Copper Trough Collection is hand made by coppersmiths residing in a small Mexican village. Hand hammered thousands of times over several days, the sinks retain the hallmarks of their artisan craftsmanship in...