THANKFUL

What a perfect way to start the holiday season!

We are thrilled to share and so THANKFUL that our Woven Rush Side Chair has been chosen to be featured in this months, December issue of Elle Decor - The Top 10 Occasional Chairs. Thanks to everyone who helped make this possible. You can also watch the video of the designers discussing their choices here.

Smilow Design’s Dots + Dash Plate Set & Coordinating Glasses will be reintroduced at the soon to reopen Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Store

It’s Tabletop Week in New York City! What a perfect time to announce Smilow Design’s Dots + Dash Plate Set & Glasses will available again soon at the renovated & newly christened Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Shop when the museum reopens after a lengthy renovation on December 12, 2014. Just in time for the holidays!

Dots + Dashes Plate Set was first acquired by David McFadden, the museum’s curator of decorative arts, in 1987. The Sets were also featured in the exhibit and publication “Art that Works” by Lloyd Herman, then the Director of the Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian Art Museum in Washington, DC.

The sets will be on sale in the Cooper Hewitt Museum Shop. Smilow Glass can also be found in the Collections of the Brooklyn Museum and The Yale University Art Gallery.

Smilow Furniture Featured in “AmericanMade” at Suite NY During ICFF 2014

ICFF commenced with a bang when Smilow Furniture was a featured local designer at SUITE New York’s Q&A panel discussion, AmericanMade.

New York Magazine's Wendy Goodman moderated the panel, which featured designers and manufacturers Kelly Behun of Neo Laminati, Craig Bassam and Scott Fellows of BassamFellows and Mark Albrecht of Mark Albrecht Studio.

Kris Fuchs, Principal of SUITE New York noted, "The AmericanMade panel was a unique opportunity for SUITE NY to bring together several voices in American furnituremaking to discuss their shared passion for quality craftsmanship and sustainability. Maria and I are thrilled to be in partnership with these four outstanding companies that truly represent the best of American modern design." 

As the discussion centered around the trends and strategies inherent in choosing to be American Made, two things became clear; proximity and craftsmanship.

Several of the designers including Smilow pointed out the importance of factory proximity to the product development and design process for the designer when producing their hand-crafted products.

Judy Smilow also noted that for her family’s furniture line, “American Made has been less about trend strategy and positioning. For Smilow Furniture “American Made” is simply a part of our brand’s DNA.” She also pointed out that Smilow Furniture, known for their enduring Modern classics, have been made in America since 1949 and continue in that same tradition today.

The designer's furniture and products were featured in a special exhibit at SUITE New York during ICFF 2014. Smilow Furniture will continue to be available and on display in SUITE New York's showroom. 

November continues to be an exciting month for Smilow Furniture

This month, Worth Magazine in their Curator section, features the Smilow Furniture
Rail Back Collection.

We are thrilled to be featured in this terrific piece by Editor in Chief, Richard Bradley. By the way... the Art Direction is beautiful as well.

Thanks to the entire Worth crew. You can read the Curator section of the Magazine and see this page online here

History of an Ottoman

In 1955 the Woven Rush Smilow- Thielle Ottoman was chosen and included in the Pratt Institute's exhibition featuring well designed objects.Today the newly reintroduced ottoman proves the smilow furniture motto: enduring, modern, classics.

Now almost 60 years later, in the current issue of Elle Decor Nov, 2013/ "Truth in Decorating column, Smilow Furniture's Woven Rush Ottoman (RLO44) was chosen as 1 of the 10 best ottomans by designers Bernie de Le Cuona and Brian J. McCarthy.

To watch a fun video of the designers describing and enjoying the ottomans (especially coveting the Smilow funiture ottoman! click here

Smilow Furniture, RLO 44 Woven Rush Ottoman

Smilow Furniture in the News

A mid century re-introduction. Authentic design by Mel Smilow

It has been an exciting month since the Relaunch of Smilow Furniture at the ICFF. Read about Smilow Furniture in the News. Mid-Century Designer Focus: Mel Smilow Magazine July/August 2013 An unsung mid-century designer is poised for a triumphant revival. MORE >> Dwell Magazine Slide Show >> Smilow at ICFF 2013 A notable trend among the smaller makers is domestic manufacturing. East Coast factories are partnering with designers to bring back skill sets that have been handed down through the generations, reviving some long lost disciplines in the process. One of our favourite finds this show was the American company Smilow. An authentic mid-century brand that started as a retailer in NYC in 1949, Smilow has created a collection of enduring modern classics in a very accessible way.  MORE >> 50 Years In the Making: A Mid-Century Modern Master Debuts at ICFF Perhaps there’s no better testament to the enduring power of a designer and his designs than celebrating the relaunch of his signature pieces half a century after they were first produced. For Judy Smilow, who is launching a capsule collection of furniture based on Mel Smilow’s original designs at this year’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair, this enormous undertaking was much more than reintroducing the world to some of the best examples of mid-20th century modern furniture, it was a labor of love. MORE >> Old Is New Again Mel Smilow (1922–2002) was an American furniture designer, manufacturer and retailer whose seating, case goods and lighting are widely regarded as among the very best of the mid 20th century. The works were entirely crafted by hand (in America) of solid walnut, birch and oak, rather than the more common teak of the time. Known for clean lines and impeccable proportions, they were sold under the name Smilow-Thielle and offered through namesake retail stores, from the late 1940s through the 1970s. MORE >> For more information contact us at info@smilowdesign.com or visitsmilowfurniture.com. Additionally you can see and purchase the Smilow Furniture collection at reGeneration Furniture at 38 Renwick Street in New York City and DeringHall.com

A perfect Wedding Gift...Smilow Glass now available at the MAD Museum Shop

In coordination with Tabletop Week and the exhibit "Against the Grain" Wood in Contemporary Art and Design, a terrific show at the MAD Museum, in NYC. Smilow Glass "Faux Bois" Pattern in both green and brown and our "Plaid" Pattern in both gold and platinum variations are now available for purchase in the MAD (Museum of Art and Design's) gift shop at Columbus Circle.
Now that we are headed into Mothers Day and Wedding Season , consider Smilow Glass.

ANNOUNCING the Smilow Furniture re-launch!

This spring, look for and visit the re-launch of Smilow Furniture at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair...booth # 2039!

Rush Woven Lounge Chair part of the WR Collection, Made in Solid American Walnut, design c. 1955

So pleased to announce that we have chosen reGeneration to host the re-launch of the Smilow Furniture line in their booth 2039 at ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) May 18-21 in New York City. In addition, at an event co-hosted by Dering Hall, reGeneration will be featuring an additional selection of Smilow Furniture at their 38 Renwick Street showroom concurrent with the show.

Smilow Design has sourced a 50-year old family-run factory in Lancaster, Pennsylvania where the furniture will be hand crafted and made from the original Mel Smilow drawings.

reGenerations's 20 year reputation selling the finest vintage mid century modern furniture as well as their keen eye for the current market (they have their own line of contemporary pieces, "re") make them a perfect fit to partner with, for the reintroduction of the Smilow Furniture line .

"Mel Smilow's iconic work is familiar to design enthusiasts and collectors, but because most of it was unsigned, we are particularly excited to let people know whose work this is after so many years of misattributions". - Val Guariglia, co-owner reGeneration

The same Rush Lounge chair as it appeared on the cover of the New York Times Home Magazine in 1975

Between the store on Renwick street and the booth at ICFF, there will be a selection of Smilow Furniture on view, both vintage and new, including lounge chairs, tables, sofa, table and pillows with Smilow Textiles. 

Appropriate for residential, hospitality, contract, institutional and retail applications, Smilow Furniture is fully customizable and made to order.  It will be available beginning this spring to consumers and design professionals through ReGenerationFurniture, and Smilow Design.

Register for ICFF and visit us at the booth or email me if you'd like an invitation to the Smilow Furniture launch party at reGeneration on the evening of Monday May 20th. 

 

More of the  furniture that will be on view from the Smilow Furniture RB Collection. design c. 1950
These pieces will all have upholstered cushions with Pollack Fabrics inspired by the mid-century 

smilow glass...back to the beginning and new again

Back in the mid 80's, while experimenting with sandblasting on metal and glass, an idea for a tabletop line of decorated bent glass serving pieces was hatched. smilow glass started out with handmade pieces made one by one.  Soon after this I found a factory in Pennsylvania that could produce them in quantity. Bending factories were once more common in America, but by the time I found this one in Pennsylvania they were one of the last remaining factories.

   My first glass design, Dots and Dashes, 3 Piece Plate Set

   Platinum Plaid

   Fern Pattern

Over the years, my glass designs sold in many shops, a few fancy hotels (the Four Seasons is my favorite) and even found their way into some museum collections including the Cooper Hewitt National Museum for Design, Yale University Art Gallery and the Brooklyn Museum.

Except for half a dozen years at the beginning, smilow glass had been licensed to another company that marketed for me under their own name. Since last spring, I have been gearing up to reintroduce the line.

I'm excited to once again be offering my glass line under the smilow glass name.  I wanted to share that here first.

So. . . If you're reading this and are interested in purchasing the glass, Please contact me!

You can also like my page on facebook and
as soon as there are additional ways and places to find smilow glass, you'll be the first to know.

To see the whole collection of smilowglass check the smilowdesign website

   NEW for 2013:  Faux Bois in green and brown

Grand by Design

Sunlight streams through the windows in the concourse at Grand Central Terminal in New York City in 1954. (AP)

Grand Central Terminal turned 100 years old last Friday. The doors first opened on February 2, 1913 and there is currently a year-long celebration in the terminal including a show organized by the New York Transit Museum called Grand by Design: A Centennial Celebration of Grand Central Terminal.

A little background: The terminal was designed by the architectural firms of Reed and Stem and Warren and Wetmore. Built by and named for the New York Central Railroad in the heyday of American long-distance passenger rail travel, it is the largest train station in the world by number of platforms.

Reed & Stem were responsible for the overall design of the station, Warren and Wetmore added architectural details in the Beaux Arts Style. The French sculptor Jules-Alexis Coutan created what was, considered the largest sculptural group in the world at the time. Seen below, it is 48 feet (15 m) high, the clock in the center having a circumference of 13 feet (4.0 m). It depicts Mercury flanked by Hercules and Minerva and was carved by the John Donnelly Company.


If you have a moment head over to this terrific building and enjoy the many beautiful architectural and design details. In fact, the counter at the Oyster Bar on the lower level (see picture, bottom left), is a wonderful place for a quick lunch. Enjoy some oysters or a panroast and you won't believe the vaulted ceiling. Still a marvel, 100 years young, Grand Central is definitely a great example of enduring design!

Hurry....Dont miss this show !

The World of D.D. and Leslie Tillett -- Oct 17 through Feb 3

The World of D.D. and Leslie Tillett is the first retrospective of the work of textile designers D.D. Tillett (1917-2008) and Leslie Tillett (1915-1992), two important figures in the history of post-war American design. The exhibition introduces the work of these remarkable designers to a new generation.

A few weeks ago I heard about this show and dashed over to see it. What a treat! D.D. and Leslie Tillett were certainly unknown to me but as I learned, they were favorites of many such as Jacqueline Kennedy, Greta Garbo, Gary Cooper and Harry Truman. Their textiles often graced the pages of Diana Vreeland's Vogue. 

The New York Times explains the history behind this colorful couple best: "In 1944, the legendary art director Alexey Brodovitch, then working for Harper’s Bazaar, heard about beautiful textiles coming out of Cuernavaca, Mexico, and sent D.D. Doctorow to shoot a feature for the magazine...Abandoning her assignment, Ms. Doctorow canceled her return home, married Leslie, learned dye-mixing and silk-screening and joined a circle of artists that included Diego Rivera and the silversmith Bill Spratling...The Tillets moved to Manhattan in 1946, accruing a level of recognition all but unheard-of in the fabric world. Their best-known pattern is a luscious, painterly mass of chrysanthemums bursting like fireworks."

On view at the Museum of the City of New York it is a must see-- and it's only opened a few more days!