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The article evaluates the interior design of the Ruti Zisser clothing store in San Francisco, California, that was designed by Nicole Hollis.

The article presents information about glass textiles. This breathable, paintable wallcovering is a natural product that is more paper than glass. Recycled glass and sand that is melted down and spun into a yarn-like filament, it's the raw material that gives this natural, eco-friendly product its name. Roy Purgavie, vice president of corporate development for Glass Textiles North America, says this product has many inherent benefits--it is breathable, so it will not promote mold or mildew. And it won't burn because glass is the raw material.

The article focuses on Davis Furniture's COMpod Lounge Series. Imagining the office and furniture of the future may be a common assignment for design students, but many of the resulting creations and theories often remain on paper. For Austrian designer Philipp Haselwander, however, the assignment went beyond a final grade with the development of Davis Furniture's COMpod Lounge Series. The genesis of COMpod began when Austrian manufacturer Weisner-Hager approached students at the University of Graz in Austria to imagine what office environments of the future would look like, and how furniture would interact with its users, space, and tools.

This article presents information on SIM, a digitally tufted carpet from Tricycle Inc. The technology combines yarn color information, manufacturing machine data, and a computer aided design pattern file that manufactures the carpet digitally, and outputs simulations as high quality paper prints. They are so realistic that many who experience one for the first time feel compelled to touch it to prove to themselves that it is not an actual piece of carpet. According to Caleb Ludwick, market researcher for Tricycle, traditional carpet samples can cost anywhere from $150 to $500 per sample, where SIM from Tricycle samples can cost as little as $40 a piece.

The article focuses on Creative Excellence Awards. From the rippled pivoting doors and elevated backlit pavers, to the glazed canopies, the space draws the visitor into a well-defined glazed cocoon. The space is a stunning marriage of showroom and experiential product education. The design was by Joel Berman Glass. Ingenious is the one word that describes this tiniest of booths at NeoCon®. The wall-mounted samples of the simulated carpet prints allow the visitor to weigh the environmental difference between using actual carpet samples and Tricycle's simulated paper samples.

It is one of the strongest natural grown fibers, has superior absorbency to cotton, and can be grown without pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. It produces more pulp per acre than timber on a sustainable basis, and is said to have more than 25,000 diverse uses ranging from printing inks, paper, food, canvas, building materials, and textiles. The controversy stems from hemp's origins as part of the plant genus Cannabis, of which another derivative is marijuana. Although industrial hemp and marijuana are of the same family, the difference between the two lies in the levels of two molecular compounds, or cannabinoids, found in each species: THC, a psychoactive cannabinoid, and CBD, an antipsychoactive cannabinoid.

The article offers information on the More North Gallery in Manhattan, New York City. In developing the space, More North's principal partners and owners Monika A. Heimbold, Lena Bjorck Kaplan, and Linda Nordberg sought to create a hybrid program that would celebrate all things Nordic, from Icelandic art to Swedish glass work, Finnish lamps to Danish tables. Taking the programmatic needs into consideration, New York-based KOKO Architecture created a refined interior scheme.

Shigeru Ban, Designer of the Year 2001, created paper buildings that opened up radical new possibilities for greening architecture, housing refugees, injecting warmth into minimalist spaces, and eliminating barriers between the interior and the exterior. This would also be the year that the competition was opened to the future of the profession with the Student/Conceptual category. Both combining to show that the awards program was off to an impressive start for the 21st Century.

Since their development in 1908, high pressure laminates have been helping designers realize their creative vision within the confines of a limited budget. From edgy primary colors to embossed and brushed metals, texturized cork, and delicate rice paper, laminates offer virtually unlimited color and pattern options for a variety of surfaces. Randi Selleck, an interior architect at Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership in Portland, Oregon thinks the wood grain patterns in the marketplace are becoming rather impressive. Wilsonart typically offers small scale laminate designs because large scale patterns are difficult to repeat.

The article evaluates several products from different companies including Avonite Surfaces, HBF Textiles and Abet Laminati Inc.

The article offers information on several floor and wall coverings tiles including Field formations tiles by Way cooler x concrete collaborative; Natural gifts wallpaper by Juju papers; Dover flooring by Northern wide plank; Community garden collection by Mazy path; and Florescence collection by Super flower studio.

After ImageNet Inc. completed its Oklahoma City office last year, management realized they were on to something. They won Contract's 2003 Interiors Award for Small Offices, but they also won their biggest client ever, one hour after giving them a tour of the space. This year ImageNet's Carrollton, Texas corporate headquarters received the same treatment from Elliot Associates. And once again it came away with the Small Office award and so much more. ImageNet's new corporate office creates immediate excitement. Three overhead doors show that this corporate office is also a working warehouse and a place to see and buy copy machines.

Design firm Avery Brooks & Associates (ABA) decided to break from the dull with an elegant Las Vegas, Nevada office that speaks of harmony, comfort, beauty, and budget. A new, 9,000-square feet, single-story building would allow ABA to orchestrate a singular experience, starting in the parking lot and continuing throughout, that embodies the firm's commitment to design. Luxurious interiors within a fixed budget, luckily, are a hallmark of ABA's work. Clients like The Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, and the Maccioni Brothers of Le Cirque fame demand it. Instead of lavishing dollars on every square inch, ABA creates a strong architectural framework out of relatively inexpensive materials. One of the most popular areas in ABA's offices is the massive pinup wall. Sixty-five linear feet of theatrically lit black fabric allow for huge presentations of multiple projects or grandly staged single environments with nine feet high renderings.

The article reviews the architectural design of the office building of Villanova Capital in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, which was designed by Phillips Group Cos.

The article review several interior design products to be showcased at International Contemporary Furniture Fair including Hammered Egg Knob from Emtek; Unit Cell LED Wallpaper from Meystyle and Thinscape Engineered Surfaces from Wilsonart.

The article provides information about IdeaPaint. It states that IdeaPaint is a patented, single-coat paint that can transform any surface into a high performance dry-erase board created by the three young entrepreneurs Jeff Avalon, John Goscha, and Morgen Newman from Babson College. Newman says that the idea originated when they were working on a college project and they posted up big pieces of paper on the walls as writing surfaces.

The article focuses on new traditional wood case goods. One can see more unusual material applications, such as rice-paper encased in acrylic and leather-wrapped panels. Harden Contract's Quin Collection exudes fine elegance with its detailed joinery and solid wood construction. Its work surface also adjusts from 26 to 31 inches, making it pleasing to the eye. Tuohy Furniture Corp. offers a stitched faux-leather panel for its case goods.

This article presents information about new casegoods launched by different companies. Knoll casegood is an elegant product recently introduced into the Knoll family by AutoStrada. It can be used to unify an office. The same aesthetic principles of the open office environment can be woven into the private office workspace, thereby creating an integrated furniture solution. The materials palette is varied enough to allow for wood veneers, techgrains, and plastic laminates coupled with anodized aluminum accents. Another casegood, Krug from Vestrada, has integrated desktop technology power-port, a detail that one typically finds in a conference table. These simple metal elements combined with modular components create a contemporary casegood that is easy to reconfigure and customize.

This article presents information regarding the project IniAni Coffee Shop of Paul Lewis and his team. Lewis, along with his brother Peter and Marc Tsurumaki, is known for using everyday materials in extraordinary ways. As with many other projects, materials, namely, those used in a paper coffee cup, account for a large part of the design program here. Wood and steel used in the floor and cage are used in the coffee tables, tables, and chairs. Representing an innovative response to a limited budget, the material palette provides a low-tech, inexpensive solution to achieve high-end results.

The commission to design a new headquarters for The Washington Post is a heady task, given the paper's storied history, its more than 60 Pulitzer Prizes, and its position as [...]

From experiments with sustainable materials to twists on contemporary classics, the article lists "Contract's" top lead-pulling products for interior decoration, for the year 2003. Taking a cue from Impressionist painters, Marmoleum's Passione Artoleum flooring uses pure colors applied in dots or stripes. The collection's vivid colors are each emphasized through the pointillist technique of using a myriad small, pure dots. Created for designers searching for an alternative to traditional ceramic, Vitrium's New Hope is a luxury tile line made from pure glass. Available in standard sizes, as well as custom designed pieces up to 18 by 24 inches in size, the line comes in more than 25 iridescent colors. Decorative light filters through a weave of parchment paper and iron in Elite's Nito lamps. Inspired by Nitus, a trailing fern from the Philippines Islands, the Nito lamps, available for both floor and wall, come in a number of sizes. A see-through screen is also part of the collection.

The article evaluates several wall coverings and dividers including Vintage by Hemingway Design wallpaper from the wallpaper company Graham & Brown, Brick architectural mesh from the architectural mesh company Cambridge Architectural and Audrey glazed ceramic tile panel from the ceramic company Lea Ceramiche.

Serious wine study is not enhanced by ambiance. The Culinary Institute of America (CIA), Greystone Campus understands the importance of a perfect wine environment. So when the school found its wine program growing, they called Architectural Resources Group (ARG) to create an optimal setting, the Rudd Center for Wine Education. At first, a white laboratory environment theme was kicked around but the concept seemed a bit too severe. Instead, ARG treated the space which includes a soaring, two-story entrance lobby, two wine tasting classrooms, office and kitchen pantry a bit more warmly.

In this article, several interior designers evaluate wall cladding materials including Rex Ray Infused Veneer Panels from the building supply company B+N Industries, Reclaimed Barnwood from Everitt & Schilling Tile, and Crescent stone tiles from Island Stone.

The article offers information on Overlapping Stripe, nineteenth woven textile design of Paul Smith in collaboration with Maharam Design Studio and original pattern, Crossover Stripe, was developed by way of layering thin strips of transparent tissue paper.

The article offers brief information on Ink wallcovering by graphic designer Abbott Miller for KnollTextiles.

The article presents an executive summary of a comprehensive white paper which discusses the importance among the organizations to establish a strategic planning in the workplace. It stresses the need to hire workers who are technology-savvy and the need to replace office with collaboration center to meet specific need with multiple options. It also highlights the significance of repositioning the workplace for optimum performance particularly in the midst of global financial crisis.

The article reports that Ayse Birsel and Bibi Seck, partners in Birsel+Seck design studio has created storage systems for Herman Miller Inc. The storage system not only adapts to a variety of situations but also offers more than 80 different configurations, all revolving around a basic skeleton of two aluminum rings. It is claimed that because of the two-ring structure, several units can be built together, such as wall units that are five or six pieces long.

The article focuses on the problems in interior design related to molds usually thrive in moist environment and could contribute poor indoor air quality in the U.S. With energy efficiency becoming a greater part of the design process, mold is indeed a concern to designers. Meanwhile, two new mold-resistant materials are available to builders and designers, the DensArmor from Georgia-Pacific Corp. and the NORDOT Adhesives from Synthetic Surfaces Inc.

A list of architectural firms featured in the current issue of "Contract" is presented. Among the firms which are listed in this article is Frances Cauffman Foley Hoffman which is featured in a research paper titled "Relieves Congestion." The firm is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Another firm which is featured in a research paper titled "Shoecase" is Randy Brown Architects, which is located in Omaha, Nebraska. The firm Architecture TM is featured in the research paper titled "A Thousand Words," and is located in San Francisco, California.

A list of firms featured in this issue's design stories is presented. It includes Huntsman Architectural Group in San Francisco, California, SKB Architecture and Design in Washington, D.C. and Ewincole in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The article presents information on better working environment as workstations are shaping up in a new form. Furniture systems have entered the anti-cube zone. The harshness has passed to reveal more curvilinear, cockpit-like designs that are conducive to task working and group collaboration. Brigitte Preston, design principal says that the system gives the user more control over his environment because the pieces, worksurfaces and paper management elements are easier to move than a standard product. A recent design shows that the systems furniture was a key element in solving spatial and operational issues.

This article presents corrections to two papers published in the previous issues of the periodical "Contract." In one of the papers titled "Reinventing the Wall," the photograph for the Teknion Altos product is misidentified. This paper was published in the May 2005 issue of the periodical. Another correction has been made to a letter to the editor by Frank M. Guillot published in the June 2005 issue of the periodical.

This article presents questions and answers related to eco-friendly products. The answer to a question about the meaning of 'cradle.' is mentioned. "Cradle to cradle" is the fundamental catch phrase for the green movement. It describes the principle of conscientious manufacturing that avoids sending waste products to landfills. Manufacturers who don't adhere to such principles of re-use are referred to as "cradle to grave" factories. Another answer is about the wallcoverings. Green" wallcoverings are made of non-vinyl materials such as cellulose, paper, wood, recycled polyester, and natural fibers

The article informs that former U.S. President Bill Clinton made quite a paper trail during his eight years in the White House— an estimated 80 million documents and 21 million e-mails, to be exact. Add to those two million photographs, as well as a desire to illustrate his legacy with exhibits, and it's easy to see why there was a need for the William J. Clinton Presidential Center and a great looking one, at that. The $165-million Center is located within a new 28-acre public park along the south bank of the Arkansas River, revitalizing an area once dominated by old warehouses and undeveloped space.

Bio-based products produced from readily renewable, biological resources are replacing less sustainable ones in many applications — from cleaning products made from corn, oats, and soy to paper manufactured from kenaf, an African hibiscus, chicken feathers, and various agricultural waste fibers like the corn feed used for livestock. Organic resources have also made their way into interior design and architectural products. Cargill Dow LLC made a splash when it introduced Ingeo®, a manmade fiber derived from corn and other plants rather than petroleum-based resources. Ingeo® fibers are being used for carpet, drapery, panels, and wallcoverings, delivering excellent UV and stain resistance. Carpet with BioBalance polymers can contribute five percent of the total building materials requirement for rapidly renewable materials under the USGBC's LEED certification's Materials and Resources section. Soy and other plant oils can be used to make ink.

The article focuses on the adaptive reuse of military bunker designed into the International Wine Shanghai & Spirits Museum located in Shanghai, China designed by design firm Shanghai Godolphin.

The article discusses the THA Architecture Inc. has used Climate Smart's Web tools to offset the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for maintaining green business processes. It is stated that THA has used Climate's training and Web-based tools to document and calculate gas emissions in 2009, which suggested to control business travel to the West Coast region in the U.S. It is also given that Tsoi/Kobus & Associates has joined the challenge for Sustainability, to control GHG emission.

Several images of wallcoverings are presented from textile and wallcovering companies including Wolf-Gordon, MDC and Designtex.

The article evaluates several furniture including the Dojo indoor/outdoor floor lamp from Hinson Lightning, the Kubu collection from Walters Wicker, and the architectural panels from Trespa Meteon.

The article discusses the use of sustainable resources in the design industry. It is reported that today's product markets have become saturated with sustainable resources, and the forecast for new innovation promises an even greener conscience from design and manufacturing. The article refers to the group REBAR's 2005 "PARK(ing) day" transformation of a metered parking stall into a public green space.

The article focuses on various wallcovering which are preferred by two interior designers. One of the designer working in Denise Ducray Design in New York, likes Innovations, Crossings, Fossil, a wallpaper which comes in 12 rich and fun colors. The subtle geometric pattern enables this product to be used for diverse applications. Another wallpaper liked by her is Innvironments, Cork, Honey; which is known for its natural variations, texture, and depth. On the other hand, another interior designer who works in ADD Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts, likes Intarsia and Etched Damask, and Wolf Gordon, Lundie; the two different wallpapers.

The article reports that the heavy, mahogany aesthetic associated with traditional casegoods is slowly being replaced with light woods and contemporary designs, Along with visual evolution, comes functional upgrades. Technology has introduced flat screen monitors and smaller PC towers, allowing for more creative use of corner space. According to Barbara Zieve, associate partner at Butler Rogers Baskett Architects, the work surface can be entirely freed of the flat screen if it is hung on a vertical surface or cantilevered over the work surface via a moveable arm.

The article discusses renovation of American Enterprise Group headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa by architecture firm Berkebile Nelson Immenschuh McDowell (BNIM) Inc.; and renovation of a Brutalist office structure, designed by Edward Larrabee Barnes, in Kansas City, Missouri by BNIM for its office.

The article focuses on the interior design of the offices of the newspaper "The Washington Post" and the magazine "Sunset" designed by architect RMW Architecture & Interiors.

The article discusses the architectural and interior design of the Newell Rubbermaid Design Center, which is located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia, was designed by the firm Perkins + Will and won the Office: Large Interiors Award from the periodical "Contract."

The article evaluates various products that can be used in interior decoration including the Ambit aluminum lampshade from the Stockholm, Sweden-based TAF Architects, the Field Lounge Chair from the design firm Blu Dot and the Modern Collection from Arzu Studio Hope.

Discusses the importance of working desks in an office with reference to the increasing versatility in desk designs. Comments of interior designers on the need for flexibility in desk designs with change in work environments; Requirements that need to be fulfilled from freestanding desks; Importance of functional and space suitability of desks in an office.

Reports on the launch of Green Label Program by the Carpet and Rug Institute to monitor the level of volatile organic compounds used in the carpet industry in the U.S. Criteria for monitoring the carpet industry; Prospects of recyclable carpets; Percentage share of U.S. in the world carpet market.