NEW YORK—Havwoods—a leading global specialist in wood flooring and surface solutions—introduces its Elegante Veneers collection, bringing a literal new dimension to its wall surface and veneer solutions. With versatility, flexibility, and sustainability at the top of mind, Havwoods is enhancing its product portfolio to offer even more design elements—perfect for both residential and commercial customers—going beyond the floor. The three-dimensional Elegante Veneers are made from reconstituted Italian ALPI veneer from Ayous trees. A tropical tree native to West and Central Africa, the Ayous tree is fast-growing and sustainably produced, offering grain-neutral timber that can be easily colored and processed to...

I attended Boutique Design New York (BDNY) this past week. As usual, the folks behind the trade show and conference—Emerald Expositions—did a great job putting together the event. The trade show floor included about 650 exhibitors and that was the highlight for me—speaking with the exhibitors, learning about their cool products, and hearing the stories behind the products. Numerous exhibitors said the quality of the traffic to their booths was strong—a reflection of the post-pandemic strength of our industry. The number of green or “greener” products has increased significantly in recent years and that was reflected on the show floor....

NEW YORK—Boutique Design New York (BDNY) wrapped up at the Javits Center earlier this week. Approximately 650 exhibitors were in attendance. Many of those companies brought along products with strong sustainability stories—products in categories ranging from furniture to bedding to floor coverings and much more. It would be impossible to tell all those stories but here are some highlights from the annual trade fair. bläanks, a women-owned business, featured its textured indoor/outdoor pillow and throws knitted in the U.S. with recycled cotton knit fibers and zero waste. FOH Worldwide displayed numerous collections but its Asheville collection is crafted from sustainable wood, each...

CROSSVILLE, TENN—The new Crossville wall tile collections provide a vast array of options for commercial and residential installations from neutral offerings to bold colors and unique textures to shapes. “Each of the Crossville wall tile collections has been specially curated for modern designs needing updated color offerings and unique new textures,” said Lindsey Waldrep, AHF’s Vice President of Crossville Marketing. “The Color Perspectives line is a unique spin on the traditional subway tile; the Cotto Moderno collection offers updated terracotta and clay tones; and the Hide and Sleek tiles incorporate three-dimensional offerings and sophisticated finishes.” Color Perspectives The Crossville Color Perspectives wall...

NEW YORK—Havwoods, a leading global specialist in wood flooring, announces its showroom-exclusive Bog Oak product from the Hand Grade Collection, derived from semi-fossilized trees that have been sourced from European lakes, rivers, and peat bogs, where they remain untouched for 100 to 1,000 years, creating a premium, high-end timber with uniquely colored boards. The deep, fully saturated black color results from a complex chemical reaction with the tannins. To create luxury flooring from ancient logs, Havwoods’ millworking specialist employs its custom drying process on the wet logs to produce less color variation from board to board. To preserve the color...

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIF.—Native Trails, a leader in artisan-crafted, sustainable kitchen and bath products with large-scale availability, exhibited for the sixth time at Boutique Design New York (BDNY) on November 12-13 at New York’s Jacob Javits Center. This year, in addition to showcasing Roma, a brand-new sink in the Murano Collection—available in two new design series, Marina and Seaspray—and Gunmetal, a new sultry, titanium-colored finish for the Precious Metals Collection, Native Trails displayed a number of pieces from its celebrated product portfolio. Show visitors were able to stop by to see Topanga, Solace, and Cuzco vanity bases paired with...

UMLUJ, SAUDI ARABIA—Enveloped by the majestic Arabian desert, The Red Sea Destination blends visionary tourism with sustainability and heritage. This is where Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea has found its home, inviting guests on an out-of-the-ordinary journey of discovery and enrichment. Inspired by the pillars of innovation, adventure, and heritage, the resort embodies the brand’s trademark wellness formula and respect for centuries past. Fredrik Blomqvist, General Manager of Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea said: “Everything we’re doing here reflects our unwavering commitment to sustainability and cultural preservation, while also pushing the boundaries of adventure and wellness. This...

RACINE, WIS.—Hotel Verdant, a full-service, upscale boutique hotel that serves as a gathering place both for the community and travelers, is now open. The 80-room, four-story hotel is in the historic Zahn’s Department Store at 500 Main St. on the centrally located Monument Square. Construction for the historic preservation project cost more than $40 million, with the start date in January 2022. Built by Dominion Properties of Milwaukee, the nearly 80,000-square-foot building includes amenities such as a first-floor signature restaurant, a rooftop restaurant and cocktail lounge with a large outdoor patio facing Lake Michigan, a dry sauna, a fitness center,...

With its LEED Green Building Program, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has certainly changed the way developers and architects approach hotel design and operations. Walking its talk, USGBC has made its new headquarters in Washington, D.C. a standing example of what to strive for. In fact, USGBC just announced that its headquarters has been awarded a prestigious triple Platinum certification in LEED, TRUE, and WELL. This trio of certifications reflects USGBC’s commitment to healthy, productive, sustainable, and responsible work environments. The headquarters, which also houses Green Business Certification, Inc. (GBCI), reflects the changing office landscape, with a clear emphasis on decarbonization, indoor environmental...

CALGARY, ALBERTA—Canadian hotelier Germain Hotels announced the official opening of its 19th property in Canada: Alt Hotel Calgary University District. This is the group’s third establishment in Calgary, following the opening of Le Germain Hotel Calgary in 2010 and Alt Hotel Calgary East Village in 2018, marking the hotelier group’s first property inauguration in Canada since 2019. The hotel is ideally situated in the heart of University District, a thoughtfully designed, mindfully made urban community in Calgary’s northwest. University District is an award-winning community. It is the first community in Alberta that has been certified LEED-ND Platinum, the highest distinction, for its...