Tropical Twist

By Joan Gunin, Furniture/Today -- Casual Living, 5/1/2005

Artist Talin Lyman-Johnson will shift her tropical perspective from walls to wicker when she brings her tantalizing collection of licensed fabrics to Chicago and High Point, N.C., this fall.

"Talin," as she is known professionally, is recognized for her lively array of large-scale interior and exterior murals throughout South Florida.

The Delray Beach artist has entered into a licensing partnership to design The Lyman Cottage Collection of fabrics and furnishings for South Sea Rattan (imported indoor wicker and rattan), Outdoor Living by South Sea Rattan (resin/treated rattan) and Fairfax Home Furnishings (accent/occasional division).

The Lyman Cottage Collection will launch at the International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market in Chicago in September, with the balance of the collection presented for the International Home Furnishings Market, High Point, N.C., in October.

Inspired by steamy surroundings strewn with pineapples, palm fronds and plantations, Talin has emblazoned these motifs on the floors, walls and ceilings of local businesses and residences for 20 years. Talin's eye for the colors and contours of South Florida will bring new perspective to the South Sea Rattan line, said Joie Wilson of Marketplace LLC, the High Point-based licensing agent who paired the two entities. The new collection represents the first licensing agreement for both artist and importer.

"Our licensing partnership with Talin will allow us to bring a vibrant new color palette on exclusive items to our retailers," said Jacob Kuo, president and co-owner with his wife Esther Kuo, general manager, of South Sea Rattan. "Talin's artistic talent, point of view and South Florida tropical lifestyle have inspired this casual living collection which we feel will be a very successful venture."

Kuo added, "We are very excited about this collaboration as we continue to look for styles and designs, and now a branded marketing message, to enhance our value to our customers and the uniqueness of our products."

In explaining why the collaboration is a good fit, Talin said, "It was very important to me that I worked with an established company. The diversity of South Sea and Fairfax was a strong factor. This gives me a wide berth for my creativity and application. South Sea's interest in creating a product that is current, attractive and functional to today's lifestyles is a quality that I value."

The assortment will appeal not only to coastal communities, especially along the Mid-Atlantic, but also to homeowners with porches and sunrooms from Michigan to Texas and beyond, Sales Manager Jim Cameron said. "The Lyman Cottage Collection will create excitement in our line by differentiating through style and design."

The new line will target the mid- to high-range of South Sea's good-better-best pricing structure, Cameron said. Lyman Cottage will have its own hangtags too. Talin's custom line of fabrics, furnishings, hand-painted sisal and bamboo rugs, wall art, accessories and gifts has been featured in upscale shelter magazines. The designer's Web site is www.talintropic.com.

Artist Talin Lyman-Johnson is designing tropical-inspired fabrics and furnishings for wicker and rattan importer South Sea Rattan. Her newly licensed Lyman Cottage Collection will bow at Chicago's International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market in September, before heading to High Point in the fall.