CMI showroom redesign comes naturally

Staff -- Casual Living, 7/1/2007 12:00:00 AM

Colonial Mills, Inc., a braided-texture area rugs and accessories manufacturer, has taken its inspiration from nature and the "greening" of America with the redesign of its showrooms at the International Area Rug Market in Atlanta, (AmericasMart 5A6), the High Point Market in High Point, N.C. (Suites at Market Square G-1332) and at its headquarters in Pawtucket, R.I. The company will also be opening a permanent showroom with a similar design footprint at the Las Vegas Market in 2008.

The floors of the redesigned showrooms feature several of cmi's indoor/outdoor braided-texture rugs that promote an earthy look and feel, most notable the bamboozle bamboo collection. However, the company took the natural theme a step further by choosing furniture and items made from sustainable materials.

"It's rare to find someone like cmi's (President and CEO) Don Scarlata, who is a trained businessperson yet is also a real savant when it comes to knowing what the next design trend is going to be," said Steve Hedrick, president of Hedrick Gathright Designs in Richmond, Va., lead designer for the showroom project.