Jun 5, 2013

Retailers and Designers Will Get Ahead of the Curve at Summer Las Vegas Market with Signature Panel of Top Tastemakers and Trends

Once again offering market attendees an exclusive preview of the hottest new trends and designs in home furnishings and décor through the lens of today’s top tastemakers, International Market Centers (IMC) hosts the signature Ahead of the Curve panel for a sixth installment at Summer 2013 Las Vegas Market. The always popular Ahead of the Curve live show boasts an extraordinary line-up of top U.S. designers at the upcoming market, including Alexa Hampton, Ron Woodson and Windsor Smith—and will deliver a fresh new format that will allow market attendees to get up close and personal with the panel’s favorite finds.

These top design authorities will scour the five million square feet of showrooms at Las Vegas Market, and share their top picks during a live panel discussion and via social media channels, which will include a question and answer segment. In a new twist, the best-of-the-best product will be “on set” during the live panel discussion allowing these tastemakers to share more intimately with the audience what’s hot from market and how to incorporate these fashion-forward looks into current design projects.

Moderated by TODAY Show contributor, design author and tastemaker Susanna Salk, the presentation will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 1 at 9:00 a.m. in Building B’s WorldView Ballroom, and offers CEU-accreditation to interior designers.

“I am not only excited to host another stellar line up of top designers but also give our audience an up close look at some of the pieces these tastemakers find most exciting from market,” said Susanna Salk, host of Ahead of the Curve and TODAY Show contributor. “This year’s refreshed format promises to be intimate and inspiring!”

The star-studded design cast features Alexa Hampton, owner of New York City-based Mark Hampton LLC, and known around the globe for her classic, traditional and eclectic work. Her industry tenure, accomplishments and influence make her one of the most sought after designers in the U.S., and she was recently honored as the 2013 Design Icon during Winter Las Vegas Market.

Hampton’s involvement in design goes far beyond serving as president and featured designer of Mark Hampton LLC, one of the country’s most prestigious and respected interior design firms. A perennial member of Architectural Digest and House Beautiful’s top designers’ list and Elle Décor’s A-List, Hampton has received countless recognition from other premier outlets, from The New York Times to Cosmopolitan to Cottages and Gardens, as well as from international publications. She is a trustee for the board of the New York School of Interior Design, a published author, a contributing columnist to the Wall Street Journal and was one of three interior designers who launched Gilt Group’s Home Design Boutique. Additionally, she has designed a number of successful eponymous collections of furniture, fabrics, trimming, lighting, rugs, and mantels.

Also joining the panel is Ron Woodson, co-founder of Woodson and Rummerfield’s House of Design, who leads an award winning interior design firm based in Los Angeles with partner Jamie Rummerfield. Together they specialize in creating luxurious interiors — combining Hollywood opulence and sleek modernity for a discerning clientèle. With more than 15 years in the design industry, Woodson’s passions span a range of architectural forms – from ultra-modern, Regency style, Spanish, and mid-century architecture.

Ron attended the UCLA school of Interior Design and was recently named one of the Top 20 Black Designers in America. Woodson and Rummerfield have been featured in over 50 design magazines and publications worldwide. Both have been named to House Beautiful’s Top 50 young designers list, Metropolitan Home’s top 100 list, Traditional Home’s 20 to watch list and Luxe Interiors + Design’s Gold list.

Finally, Las Vegas Market will welcome Windsor Smith, founder and creator of Windsor Smith Home, Inc. and Windsor Smith Home Collection. Widely known as a force in the design industry, Windsor’s elegant interiors are infused with a modern sensibility and are frequently featured in shelter magazines. Windsor is a favorite of design bloggers and editors thanks to her fresh approach to modern day living. In fact, Windsor was honored by Veranda magazine as one of the top 25 design influencers in their 25-year history.

As a frequent guest speaker on design panels across the country, Windsor captivates varied audiences with her engaging candor and fresh approach to design. Windsor brings her unique sensibility to a signature collection of both indoor and outdoor fabrics and rugs with Kravet, as well as her own beautifully hand crafted line of furniture offered exclusively through Windsor Smith Home Collection. Windsor has recently been named the new icon with her eponymous collection for Century Furniture, and her latest venture is the digital platform “Room in a Box.

“Now in its six installment, past designer participants in Ahead of the Curve included Betsy Burnham, Philip Gorrivan, and Darren Henault at the most recent Summer market. Prior years featured the likes of design luminaries including Jeffrey Alan Marks, Nathan Turner, Anthony Baratta, Mary McDonald, Darryl Carter, Kishani Perera, Timothy Corrigan, Laura Kirar and Vicente Wolf, Barclay Butera, Amy Lau and Joe Nye.

About Las Vegas Market and International Market Centers, L.P. Las Vegas Market is an international furnishings showcase that combines style, inspiration and productivity in an unrivaled, world-class destination. Las Vegas Market features a comprehensive array of new product from thousands of leading manufacturers and lines in furniture, mattress, lighting, decorative accessories, floor coverings, home textiles and more—delivering Today’s Total Marketplace. Retailers and designers can shop product offerings from trend-setters in all home furnishings categories as well as benefit from complimentary educational, networking and hospitality events. With two markets each year, Las Vegas Market is the only major home furnishings market in the western U.S. offering a unique cross-section of suppliers and buyers spanning the home furnishings, décor and gift industries. For more information, visit www.lasvegasmarket.com. Find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Las Vegas Market is owned and managed by International Market Centers, L.P. (IMC), the world’s largest operator of premier showroom space for the furnishings, home décor and gift industries. International Market Centers owns and operates 11.5 million square feet of world-class exhibition space in High Point, N.C. and Las Vegas. IMC’s mission is to build and operate an innovative, sustainable, profitable and scalable platform for the furnishings, home décor and gift industries. For more information on IMC, visit www.imcenters.com.