CHICAGO (April 27, 2006) – Baker, a premier designer and manufacturer of fine home furnishings unveiled its multi-faceted Laura Kirar Collection at the Spring 2006 International Home Furnishings Market in its Baker showroom in High Point, N.C. The collection by multi-disciplinary designer, Laura Kirar, features an expressive mix of wood and upholstered furniture, lighting, accessories, softgoods and textiles.
Kirar approached her designs for Baker as she approaches any project – as an artist – drawing from her professional and personal experiences and inspirations to build a livable collection filled with universal appeal and signature pieces of iconic stature. "These pieces express the things I love – perfection of line, beauty of material and superior craftsmanship," said Kirar. "The forms make sense as a group, but there is a distinct personality, a singular beauty, captured in each. The marriage of vintage, antique, and modern pieces, creatively express a meaningful space filled with style and urbane sophistication. A room needs to be built, one piece at a time, each sharing its character with the others to form a whole, living space."
Her inspiration is based primarily in the late 19th and early 20th century design, as well as period fashion, architecture, music, fine art, philosophy and culture. Historical reference and reverence can be seen throughout the collection. "As an artist, I am drawn to clean, simple shapes, uniformity, proportion, the integrity of superb craftsmanship and the ability to meld and transform raw, natural materials into inspiring works of art. I am devoted to the quiet beauty of forms from the Vienna's secessionists, Weiner Werkstatte, and the classicism of the city's Ringstrasse architecture.
"I also love the sculptural beauty of Japanese and Scandinavian design and its seamless execution of proportionate symmetry and scale. It all captures my imagination and plays a role in my designs."
Kirar brings to Baker a strong background in residential, commercial and contract design. Kirar is the founder and creative director of TRU design, a New York-based agency, and LKDL studio in Miami. She has created beautiful residential and commercial interiors and an array of product designs for the home. "As we began to develop this collection with Laura, we were impressed not only by Laura's knowledge but her commitment to and understanding of the interiors of today," said Jay Paschall, director - product development, Baker Knapp & Tubbs, Inc. "Her Baker designs reflect that thoughtfulness. The pieces are fresh, yet familiar, a remarkable fusion of classic form with livable, functional design."
The forms are sculptural, and capture a strength of line without overpowering their surroundings. Although no two are alike, there is a thread of familiarity that reflects the Kirar aesthetic. Crafted from walnut and decorated in walnut and pau ferro veneers, the pieces are offered in Manor House, a deep, penetrating inky black, and American Walnut, a warm medium brown, rich in transparent color, allowing the wood’s fiery nature to resonate through.
Six lacquers were also created for the collection: Chalk: Creamy antiqued white with gray undertones Auberge: Glossy black-to-eggplant Coral: Succulent, gentle striaed orange with deep undertones Cinnabar: A deep, subtly layered red Soil: Pure, brown gentle striaed with black overtones Tortoise Vert: Deep black overlaid with a mottling of green hues and gold
"We worked closely with Laura to capture the color exactly as she had seen it in her mind’s eye," said John Kiryanoff, master finisher at Baker, who worked closely with Kirar on the collection finishes. "The lacquer shades needed to complement the wood finishes, but also have personal presence. For example, Laura brought a vintage Japanese bowl with her and asked that we match its brilliant coloring – Cinnabar was born."
Depth and clarity of color is achieved by first applying colored lacquer, followed with repeating coats of glaze and tint, allowing each one to dry completely before adding the next. After the last layer has dried, the lacquer is then polished and hand-rubbed to a soft glow.
"We wanted colors that were translucent, not opaque, ones that imparted remarkable color, yet somewhat understated," continued Kiyranoff. "For depth, the brushstrokes, combined with gentle striation and layers of color were used to add dimension. Auberge is an example of this technique. It is a dramatic contradiction of color. At first, Auberge appears to be a glossy black, but as you get closer, you realize through the hidden depths of color a surprising, deep eggplant shading."
Expressive, natural materials were chosen to complement Kirar's designs. Polished shades-of-black marble thickly veined in cream, a filled and polished silver travertine stone, and a softly honed, richly colored Nuit Marble are matched with hand-tooled leather and solid brass finished in Baker's rich Oil Rubbed Bronze. "I am moved by the Buddhist belief that there should be an honesty to materials and that there is beauty in irregularity," expressed Kirar. "The pieces combine artistry, craftsmanship, history and individuality. These are the touchstones of my designs. Whether recognized or intuitive, artistry touches one's life everyday through an interaction with beautifully crafted and useful objects."
The Dansu Cabinet speaks to Kirar's love of Oriental design. Its clean form is gently infused with touches of Viennese influences. The cabinet offers extraordinary storage options in a creative arrangement of five drawers, one housing a silver liner, and two, flanking cabinets. The wood cabinet is decorated in walnut veneers, finished in American Walnut, and surrounded in Viennese style by a solid brass frame finished in Polished Bronze. The inlaid top is offered in a choice of either Nuit Marble or in tinted glass top. The collection's custom Polished Bronze knobs and warm gray silk tassels finish the piece.
"The natural variations in the woods and hand finishes make these pieces special and distinct," concluded Kirar. "Baker gave me creative license to design a complete look: pivotal pieces that are the cornerstones upon which to build a room, jewelry pieces that add an unexpected moment of color or decoration, and of course, those pieces that I refer to as the little black dress, which are essential to any wardrobe, complementing surroundings and filled with subtle yet distinct personality."
Baker Knapp & Tubbs, Inc. includes Baker furniture, Baker Knapp & Tubbs Showrooms, and Baker Stores. Along with McGuire Furniture Company and Ann Sacks, it
is part of the Kohler Interiors Group and a wholly owned subsidiary of Kohler Co., a global leader in kitchen and bath designs.
Kohler Co. was founded in 1873. Headquartered in Kohler, Wis., it is one of the oldest and largest privately held companies in the United States.
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