Already heralded as one of the most anticipated hotel openings this year, and maybe even the decade, the new TWA Hotel is a remarkable salute to the golden era of air travel. Housed in the former TWA terminal at JFK airport in New York, the property pays tribute to the 1960's design aesthetic by staying true to that era, all thanks to some incredible design. This month we are speaking with two individuals intimately involved in the creation of this fantastic project, to learn

What does quality furniture design really mean? To find out the answer, we sought two accomplished professionals to share their experience as they distinguish furniture of the highest quality. First, we spoke to Sylvie Blondeau AIA, LEED GA; Project Manager with MCR Investors, which just debuted the incredible new TWA Hotel at JFK, and Samuelson Furniture’s in-house design expert Mike Rinaldi. Here’s how they approach great furniture design: Quality Furniture Design: An Inter

From time to time we like to focus on the challenges purchasing pros have within the hospitality community. They often find themselves caught between the needs of designers, vendors, and of course the project’s owners. Professionals must navigate an array of demands when purchasing hospitality FF&E, from negotiating the best products and pricing to ensuring everything is delivered on time and within budget. We explored some of the industry’s larger challenges with Steven A. “

In capturing today’s savvy travelers, design professionals face an increasingly competitive hospitality landscape filled with emerging hotel brands. With a focus on brand identity and brand differentiation, creating an authentic guest experience while meeting a brand’s specific design standards requires a careful balance between what the brand represents and the client’s unique design vision. Ultimately, the goal is to create a memorable, personal experience that sets a hotel

Samuelson Furniture conducted a survey to capture design input on evolving hospitality trends of 2019. We are fortunate in providing two forward thinking, top designers for their look into the direction taking place within the hotel industry. The time and consideration of the following designers are greatly appreciated for their valuable insight: Geoff Cramer (GC) of Seifert Murphy, Dallas and Austin Texas As a partner with Seifert Murphy, Geoff consistently exhibits the sam

Furniture design isn’t easy, presenting many challenges when it comes to teaching the next generation of designers. For this month’s blog we spoke with 2 designers, a design educator and a student to understand how they interpret the learning process when it comes to furniture design with a particular focus on seating. In addition, they discuss the ways in which technologies impact this process. Chair Design: Interview Judd Brown III, Owner / President Studio JBD Custom Occa

Bringing the historic hotel Saranac back to life isn’t easy. Especially if it’s been closed for an extended period. Plus, ensuring the property meets the needs of the current guests while still honoring its legacy is a hearty challenge. Enter Sue Pollio, RSJ Associates, LLC, President and Founder, and an owner tasked with reinventing the Hotel Saranac, which originally debuted in 1927. Now $30 million and three years later, Pollio shares with Samuelson Furniture what the exp

The furniture industry has gained great benefit from the 3D rendering, photo-realistic process. Producing virtual, high quality images digitally provide clear visualization of abstract concepts, unlimited means of customization, and efficient revision of particular elements of a model. The flexibility of this technology accelerates the approval process while enhancing visual communication with precise and accurate renderings. We asked our design team to put together a list o

Technology in hospitality design has become the backbone of the hotel business on many levels. This includes the ways in which properties are operated behind the scenes as well as guest-facing technologies, and of course the latest electronic contraptions hotel customers use when on site. 8383 Custom wall unit showcasing pull out bar cabinet with LED lights, pull out dining table top with 2 ottomans, TV in Mirror, Desk with data ports and closet. Designed with Design Force It

An important, time saving process of creating a technical drawing in the world of design and architecture is known as CAD, or Computer Aided Design technology. The creation of these precision drawings reduces the probability of human error, provide greater accuracy, and greatly shorten the design cycle. This is how you Minimize Redlines in Custom Furniture Design. From a napkin sketch to final product, a custom-designed furniture piece passes through multiple variances, twea

With HD Expo upon us, our HD Expo Guide takes a look at some of the best experiences amazing Las Vegas has to offer. Sure, this massive trade show is a great place to get business done, but it’s also a place to let loose, have fun, and enjoy the incredible amenities Sin City has to offer. We spoke with loyal HD Expo attendees Pam Niemann, Principal Designer & Owner of Niemann Interiors; Katie Novelen, Senior Interior Designer at Tandem Interior Design Studio; and Britni Flore

Hotel design has inexorably shifted to highlighting the look and feel of the community in which the property is located. This has change the way in which projects are conceived and executed. It’s no longer about fungible design that simply checks off a series of boxes. Rather, it’s about understanding the cultural, historical and visual cues of the individual community; then creating a visual and functional aesthetic highlighting those elements unique to that neighborhood’s

The notion of what furniture is, and should be, is changing. Sure, visual appeal, comfort, quality and usability remain important. But now there is an additional feature to consider; technology. At Samuelson Furniture, we’ve been ahead of this trend, adding electronic elements to our pieces for years. But it’s not as easy as it looks. Putting the spotlight on LED changes the way product is designed and constructed. Therefore, it is essential to incorporate best practices and

As we all get set to maximize opportunity in 2018, it’s critical to understand the trends which could potentially have the most positive effect regarding your business. To get a sense of areas of opportunity in the New Year and the trends behind them, we tracked down some of the hotel industry’s top designers to see which emerging trends they find the most relevant and those they are personally excited to explore. We spoke with three prominent hospitality designers to underst

Left to Right - Michael Chalfin, Laurie Chalfin, Lawrence Chalfin, Ruth Chalfin Chasolen They say the hotel business is one big happy family. That rings true both figuratively and literally. Here at Samuelson Furniture, we proudly carry a family tradition spanning four generations and 90+ years. While the distinction of being a generational business is uncommon today, we know others in the industry who have accomplished this. Family businesses within the hospitality industr

Keeping ahead of the trends is paramount here at Samuelson Furniture, and to accomplish this we must continually invest in our business. After all, being in a family owned and operated business for more than 80 years means we never rest on our laurels. We must continually invest in our future to provide our clientele with the most exceptional results and ensure our position as industry leaders for many more decades to come. For this reason, Samuelson Furniture has significant

The upholstery trade as a craft evolved throughout many centuries and various eras as it gradually integrated into the furniture making process. While stages of comfort levels increased, tradesmen provided materials for the covering of chairs, seats and sofas. The coordination of padding, springs, webbing, fabric and/or leather materials covering a wood frame or platform is the essence of this artistic skill. Fabrication of seating furniture requires design aesthetic with t

This month we are investigating how those tasked with purchasing furniture approach their role in delivering a long lasting product that pleases both ownership and guests, all while anchoring the in-room experience. We connected with two industry superstars; Joe Motley, Program Manager at Walt Disney World, and Neil Locke, principal at Neil Locke & Associates, and asked them to share their thoughts on the importance of Maximizing ROI with FF&E. How do you think furniture rela

There has been a big shift in hospitality during the last five years. Public spaces in hotels, especially the lobby, are officially the front and center attraction. While they have always been the first thing guests see, there is a new focus. This relates to setting the stage for experience while simultaneously creating engaging spaces where people want to hang out, and importantly, spend money. Ritz Carlton San Juan Puerto Rico - Streetsense Therefore, it is no surprise; th

Purchasing Pro Tips: From P.O. to Delivery We all know what purchasers do, they purchase! But knowing what they do is very different than understanding how they do it. So, we spoke to a couple of purchasing experts to find out exactly how they spend their days. Hint: It’s a lot more involved than shopping for pretty things. Turns out, there’s a lot of management and skill required to ensure projects come in on time, on budget, and feature products that can live up to the rigo