Sunbrella fabrics appear in Kitchen of the Year
Three retractable awnings featured at Rockefeller Center
-- Casual Living, 7/24/2009 2:01:00 PM
Sunbrella fabrics added shade, comfort and color to New York City last week as a national sponsor of the House Beautiful Kitchen of the Year.
From July 20-24, the Kitchen of the Year at Rockefeller Center offered cooking demonstrations and home design inspiration, complete with Sunbrella awning and furniture fabrics. Inspired by the Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten, who writes a monthly column, the exhibit will be featured in the October issue of House Beautiful and on www.housebeautiful.com.
In the exhibit’s outdoor living space, three retractable awnings covering a 40-foot outdoor living space were custom built using Solair Pro Lateral Arm Retractable Awning Systems marketed by Tri Vantage, a national distribution services company. Powered by a Somfy RTS CMO Motor, each awning is equipped with Eolis 3D RTS Wind Sensors that automatically retract the awning based on weather conditions.
The expansive awnings feature Sunbrella Cadet Grey and Natural, which were combined to create an engineered stripe of seven-inch increments. This combination was chosen specifically by Garten and Stilin to reflect the look of a Parisian café.
“Sunbrella fabrics are an ideal choice for the Kitchen of the Year,” said Gina Wicker, design and creative director for Glen Raven Custom Fabrics, the makers of Sunbrella fabrics. “For nearly 50 years, Sunbrella fabrics have been dedicated to making homes beautiful, comfortable and carefree. What better way to showcase our fabrics than in a high traffic area where performance and beauty are a must.”
Awning design, construction and installation services for the project were donated by Hudson Awning & Sign Company, a 128-year-old firm based in Bayonne, N.J. Somfy Systems provided the awning controls and motors. Awning components were donated by Tri Vantage, a subsidiary of Glen Raven, Inc.
“The Kitchen of the Year awnings provide a beautiful design element as well as protection from the elements,” said Ed Burak, owner of Hudson Awning. “This project was made possible by a strong collaboration among Sunbrella, Somfy, Tri Vantage and my company.”
Furniture in the outdoor entertaining space, provided by national retailer Crate and Barrel, was upholstered in Sunbrella Canvas Stone fabric. Additional outdoor furniture, provided by designer Robert Stilin, was upholstered in Sunbrella Canvas Natural. Vibrant Sunbrella Tuscan fabrics also were featured on dozens of umbrellas used by food vendors in Rockefeller Plaza.
For more on the Web, visit www.sunbrella.com or www.hudsonawning.com.
