Yesterday evening, the Baker Furniture showroom at the New York Design Center, in partnership with Hearst Design Group, gave industry friends a special look behind the techniques and processes employed by four of its craftsmen in the fields of finishing, upholstery, carving and painting.
Clockwise from top: carving details, finishing details, Marty Welch demonstrating upholstery, Donna Taylor demonstrating decorative painting
Hand decorator and painter Donna Taylor, Master Carver J.B. Gesler, Master upholsterer Marty Welch, and Director of Corporate Finishing John Kiryanoff flew to New York City from North Carolina where Baker Furniture is made to give guests an inside look at the time-honored artisanship that goes into fine furniture making in America.
This was the first time ever that Baker provided access to the craftsmen behind their most iconic pieces and have lifted the veil on processes and innovations unique to Baker Furniture.
Guests with Master Carver J.B. Gesler
The evening kicked off with a tour for bloggers and designers who walked from station to station for a demonstration on the materials and labor that go into making upholstered and decorative pieces.
Yusef Austin
Following the tour, bloggers and designers were invited to stay for a lively cocktail party featuring craft cocktails by Yusef Austin aka "The Cocktail Architect."
Austin Rothbard, Newell Turner
John Douglas Eason, Young Huh, Tanu Grewal, Thom Filicia, Laura Beck
Alexis Hiller, Jim Caughman, Brenda Saget Darling, Kate Kelly Smith
Baker executives including President Austin Rothbard, VP of Product Design and Development James Nauyok, VP of Marketing Tanu Grewal and Master Historian Jim Caughman were all in attendance chatting with guests and answering questions about Baker's 124 year history.
The Hearst Design Group team, including Editorial Director Newell Turner, Senior Vice President & Publishing Director Kate Kelly Smith, Veranda Editor in Chief Clinton Smith, Market Editor Orli Ben-Dor, Veranda Associate Publisher Katie Brockman and ELLE DECOR executive director, home furnishings Karen Marx, made appearances, snapping pictures and checking out the craft stations. Other notable attendees included interior designers Mariette Himes Gomez, Thom Filicia, Young Huh, John Douglas Eason and Jennifer Mehditash.
Marisa Marcantonio and John Kiryanoff
Stay tuned for EditorTV coverage of this event.
