Tuesday June 24, 2014 5:31pm 82 degrees
A Baker Craft Design Event
The Baker Furniture Showroom at the New York Design Center joined Hearst Design Group and gave the design industry a peek behind the clever techniques of its artisans. A spectacular variety of painting, finishing, upholstery and carving.
About 80 people made their way to the expansive BAKER showroom in the newly remixed NYDC. White Wine, delicious summer cocktails and tray pass appetizers were in abundance. It was a warm summer evening and Baker was generously prepared. The after 5pm air-conditioning was my favorite courtesy of the evening.
BAKER says "Good design lies at the heart of fine furniture". For Baker, that means a great collection assembled one item at a time. Baker is known for building terrific furniture from a variety of periods, styles, and international influences. Their showroom is so vast that one forgets where one enters and exits. Or maybe that was the summer cocktail.
I spied The Hearst Design Group Editorial Director Newell Turner, looking sun-kissed and speaking fondly of his trip to Israel. Interior Designer,
John Eason also made an appearance with his perfectly coiffed hair and clever plaid/check shirt & tie combination. Another nice vision was NYSID's
Addie Sells who commented on the fascinating work that "expert" wood carver J.B. Gesler was sculpting during the event.
My biggest giggles came from speaking with the fabulous Baker boys: the wonderfully talented VP of Product Design and Development James Nauyok and the clever Historian Jim Caughman were so much fun while sharing the scoop about Baker's long and fascinating design history.
Here are some Baker facts
&
I'm not talking about ovens
1903: Name changes from Cook, Baker & Co. of Allegan, Michigan, to Baker & Co.
1927: Name changes again to Baker Furniture Factories, Inc.
ca. 1929: Baker is sold to Peck & Hills, national furniture wholesaler.
1969: Baker sold to Magnavox, Inc.
1972: Baker, Knapp & Tubbs formed as design showrooms subsidiary.
1986: Baker sold to Kohler Co. Continues to operate as Baker Furniture, Inc.
Thank you Hearst Design Group and Baker Furniture, your summer evening soiree was truly the ABC's of entertaining. A Baker Craft + Design Event
