MONDAY AUGUST 22, 2022

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WOVEN-TO-SIZE GRASSWEAVE ESSENCE COLLECTION CUSTOM WARP EDGE WOVEN-TO-SIZE GRASSWEAVE ESSENCE COLLECTION CUSTOM WARP EDGE 

Grassweave Essence™ is a foundational design offered in a broad range of sophisticated colorways. Handwoven to the size of the window, a custom warp edge is woven into the design based on your custom specifications of color, edge style, and placement. Bringing your vision to life with infinite possibilities. As easy as 1-2-3!

  1. SELECT COLOR - Select from 25 Essence colors to create the perfect combination – tone-on-tone or contrasting edge design.

  2. SELECT EDGE - The custom edge can be solid or striped with widths from ¼" to 5."

  3. SELECT PLACEMENT - Custom edge can be positioned directly on the edge or inset 2," 4," 6" or custom.

The Grassweave Essence Custom Warp Edge Order Form walks you through the above steps and makes it easy for you to place your order. We are happy to help you with any questions about your custom order. Contact H&F at 888.582.8780 or hfcr@hartmannforbes.com or visit your local showroom.

MONDAY JULY 11, 2022

LE2657 Tabaret - Lagoon | LE3012 Essence - Sand

Specification errors can be costly and lead to product delays and unhappy clients. We’ve assembled our 7 most common window shade specification errors and suggestions for how to avoid them in the future. 

 

1. Roman Shades Returned For Privacy Upgrades1. Roman Shades Returned For Privacy Upgrades

This is the most common error made when ordering shades. The majority of natural weaves are open or sheer, which makes them beautiful. However, an open weave doesn’t offer privacy or room darkening. 

SUGGESTION: If shades are being used in bedrooms or other areas where light control or privacy is required, consider this factor upfront when specifying. We offer three options for privacy and sun control: add a privacy liner, specify a dual-shade, or extra density weaving.

 

2. Roman Shade Clutch Broken From Improper Use2. Roman Shade Clutch Broken From Improper Use

The Legacy Clutch is a time-tested system that works extremely well in most applications, however, it is a delicate spear system. The most common breakage is when shades are pulled too hard in the top position as users try to pull the roman folds all the way underneath the valance of a traditional style shade, which is impossible since the folds are longer than the valance.

SUGGESTION: If shades are being used in a high-use area or in rooms where people are not familiar with operating a clutch-controlled shade, consider the new Ultra Clutch system which is a more durable tube system, or upgrade to the Newton motor system, which is slightly more in cost but delivers a significantly improved user experience.

 

3. Shades Are Mismeasured3. Shades Are Mismeasured

Unfortunately, many shades are returned for cut-downs or have to be rewoven in larger sizes due to improper measuring. This can add a significant time delay to a project’s timeline since Woven-to-Size shades are custom handwoven.

SUGGESTION: Although you can find a measuring guide at hartmannforbes.com/measure, we suggest only using self-measurement as a guide to receive a quote estimate or for self-estimating a project cost. ALWAYS use a professional installer to provide more accurate measurements for final order placement.

 

4. Shades Returned To Add Motorization 4. Shades Returned To Add Motorization 

The user experience with motorized shades is much better than with manual shades. Users find the simplification, sophistication, and overall ease of use to be greatly enhanced. Often when shades get partially ordered in manual and motorized, the customer sends back the manual shades to be motorized once compared in the home. 

SUGGESTION: Consider reviewing the budgets carefully with the client and help them understand that the initial cost of a motorized system will be worth the investment over time since the user experience is greatly improved and shades are generally operated multiple times per day. Learn more about H&F Shade Automation.

 

5. Side Returns Changed5. Side Returns Changed

Side returns on outside mount shades help to conceal componentry when viewing shades from the side. 

As methods of operation get more sophisticated they get larger and require deeper headrails, which exacerbates the need for side returns and makes them a much larger design feature of the shade. 

SUGGESTION: In general we always suggest the shortest side return possible. When specifying, be aware that the larger the method of operation, the more the side return needs to be studied and reviewed prior to ordering. Ordering a structured valance, removing the valance from the shade, and installing the shade inside the structured valance is a great option when using motors or full automation.

 

6. Old Style Roman Shade Changed To Traditional Style 6. Old Style Roman Shade Changed To Traditional Style 

An Old Style roman shade is aesthetically more modern and clean, however, the control mechanism is located behind the shade fabric, making using the shade with manual Methods of Operation more challenging. 

SUGGESTION: Consider a motorized or automated Method of Operation when specifying an Old Style shade, or specify a Traditional Style.

 

7. Roman Shade Changed To Splitview Style7. Roman Shade Changed To Splitview Style

Often shades are sent back to be changed to a Top-Down/Bottom-Up or a Top-Down only Splitview configuration to give greater privacy in homes that have windows with privacy concerns.

SUGGESTION: In bathrooms, bedrooms, and locations where privacy is critical consider a Splitview upfront when initially specifying. 

 

We are happy to help you avoid any specification errors. Contact H&F at 888.582.8780 or hfcr@hartmannforbes.com.

THURSDAY JUNE 30, 2022

Each time we create a new Reference Kit we consider it a labor of love – we thoroughly review and edit products and specifications to bring you the best nature-inspired, artisanally made products in the marketplace. It took us a while, but the 2022 Reference Kit is printed and ready to ship. 

The kit features our complete natural collection and provides design inspiration and a step-by-step system for specification. And of course, being named one of Oregon’s Top 100 Green Workplaces in 2022, rest assured, we printed with only low energy and UV inks on FSC-certified paper.

The kit Contents:

PRODUCT PORTFOLIO
Features inspirational photography, weave images and weave details worthy of showing your best client.

STYLE GUIDE
Provides visual examples of each style, specifications, and design considerations along with available options and upgrades.

PRICE LIST
Provides measuring instructions, complete fabric detail, and pricing.

We would be thrilled to walk you through the new Reference Kit in person or through a zoom call – contact us to set up an appointment, or you can download a complete list of changes. The kit is available in your local showroom or order online. The updated price list is effective July 1, 2022.

THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2022

We are incredibly honored to be recognized for the 10th consecutive year, remaining at the #6 spot, as one of Oregon Business Magazine’s “100 Best Green Workplaces.” Passionately committed to drive change within the industry, we continue to work diligently to reframe the context of responsible design by making products in ways that are environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable.

“Embedding sustainability in strategy is not only essential to a better future, but to one’s well-being. By infusing organic objects into our interior spaces, we can create a restorative human experience,” explains Michael Jones, Hartmann&Forbes Founder. “It’s an honor and a privilege to be leading a company that is so intricately intertwined with our natural world and to be recognized for it.”

Handwoven and crafted with natural fibers including ramie, water hyacinth, and abaca fibers, each Hartmann&Forbes product begins with the careful examination and selection of premium natural fibers. By cultivating unique natural fibers from well-managed ecosystems and weaving near the source, we ensure authentic craftsmanship that leaves a smaller environmental footprint. 

Congratulations to all the companies in Oregon who earned this accomplishment.

LEARN MORE ABOUT H&F SUSTAINABILITY

Pictured: President Scott Howes receiving award along with other members of Project Green. Left to right: Kim Leagjeld, Heath Strode, Scott Howes and Menna Mourad.

MONDAY JUNE 13, 2022

Can't Sleep

One of the most important factors affecting sleep is light, which regulates our internal clock, or circadian rhythms. When light hits the retina, our body uses that information to determine the time of day. Because modern life is filled with artificial light—from streetlamps to smartphones—at all hours, our circadian rhythms are compromised, as is our production of melatonin, the sleep-promoting hormone. The consequences extend beyond adequate sleep to our health and well-being, contributing to stress, seasonal affective disorder, weight gain, and cardiovascular issues.

Research has shown the best way to ensure a good night’s sleep is to make your bedroom as dark as possible. That’s the idea behind blackout shades, which block external light so you can fall—and stay—asleep. In addition, the material muffles noise and keeps sun and UV rays out for an optimal sleeping temperature.

Hartmann&Forbes offers a large selection of performance fabric rollershades designed for light blockage. Featuring refined patterns and rich textures, most are PVC-free and Greenguard Gold certified. 

View Collection

Performance Fabrics

 

MONDAY MAY 23, 2022

Masters of Linen Logo

An ancient fabric, linen has long been favored for its many attributes, among them beauty, durability, breathability, and sustainability. One of the highest designations of quality for this material is the Masters of Linen® trademark. It guarantees excellence as well as production entirely in Europe, from field to spinning to finished fabric. The mark also means the linen is sustainably made from European flax fiber with no waste, irrigation, or polluting chemicals.

To gain the coveted designation, a certified artisan must weave the fabric from linen yards that are 100% Masters of Linen-certified, with a final composition of pure linen, majority linen, or linen union (a minimum of 40% linen). All Hartmann&Forbes’ Ertheweave fabrics are 100% linen and carry this prestigious trademark, offered in seamless widths by the yard up to 118" and shades up to 114."

View Collection

MONDAY MAY 9, 2022

SUSTAINABLE FIBERS | RICH COLORWAYS | REFINED TEXTURES

“We aim to design products that are conscientious and soul-satisfying, delivering a balance of restorative beauty and time-honored craftsmanship – products that are sustainably made in every sense of the word.” ~Rebecca Welch, H&F Design Director

A passion for handweaving, design exploration and a love of nature continues to fuel the evolution and growth of our H&F Studio Collections. New products for Spring/Summer ’22 include Reflection, a zen-inspired Woven-to-Size Papyrusweave series available in two colorways. Additionally, our Soft Natural Fabric Collection gets an update that includes new colorways for the Weathered, Cords, and the Fields series, plus a Brushed series refresh now milled in one of Europe’s most revered linen mills. These linens are all Masters of Linen certified, which guarantees excellence and 100% European traceability at each stage of processing. We’re also re-introducing the high-performance, sustainably made Ecoweave and an update to the Solarweave 5000 series in our Performance Fabric Collections.

Explore All New Arrivals

 

MONDAY MAY 2, 2022


In Conversation with Designer Amy Meier

Founder and principal designer of Rancho Santa Fe-based Amy Meier Design and Amy Meier, a specialty boutique, Meier is renowned for an aesthetic that seamlessly blends tradition and innovation. Her projects have been published in such magazines as House Beautiful, Veranda, and ELLE DECOR, and she was named a Traditional Home Rising Star in 2017 and one of Veranda’s Next Legends for 2022. 

Join us for a conversation with Meier and Arianne Nardo, design editor and journalist, as they discuss the inspiration behind her collaboration with Hartmann&Forbes and her new collection of handwoven natural windowcoverings.

WEDNESDAY | MAY 11TH | 1PM ET/10AM PT

MONDAY MARCH 28, 2022

FINDING INSPIRATION from seemingly disparate sources: Japanese Minimalistic Design, the Bauhaus School, and ancient Korean cloth tradition, and then finding the common “thread” that unifies these movements: Minimalism, Functionalism, and the use of raw materials is the vision behind our latest collaboration with designer Amy Meier for Spring/Summer22.

We sat down with Meier to discuss her process, inspiration, and what it was like designing this collection with Hartmann&Forbes.

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H&F: Tell us about how this collaboration came about. What was the process like? Was it conducive to your typical design process?
AM: During the first month of the pandemic, when so little was known about how the whole thing would play out and how it would affect businesses, Rebecca, H&F’s Director of Product Development, reached out to me about the possibility of working together. At the time it felt like so many doors were potentially closing, here was an exciting opportunity to open a new door and discover what was behind it! I knew that Rebecca and I were connected via Instagram, but what I did not know was that we are basically neighbors, connected by our small Southern California community ties.

The process, in a word, was collaborative. And of course, the proximity really helped in being able to bounce things off of each other on off days and at odd hours. H&F, and Rebecca specifically, were very open to my process, my interests, and my sometimes-crazy ideas, and really supported me in being as involved as I wanted to be (VERY). They were open and supportive, they nurtured and taught when needed and also allowed me to experiment and push ideas. I never heard “No,” only “Let me see if it is possible.” We explored new materials and concepts, which actually led to the creation of a new type of pedal loom. 

Yes, the process was very similar to my typical process in that it was organic, built upon layers, and the ideas evolved over time. There was a loose holistic concept that was like a seed that germinated, and we really took the time and did the legwork to fully develop ideas and concepts.

Product Testing Gossamer - Hatch Chalk

H&F: What inspires you?
AM: Beautiful imagery, travel, art, light, craftsmanship, organization.

H&F: What was the initial inspiration behind this collection? Where did the ideas come from?
AM: I love how H&F uses natural fibers and I wanted to really embrace that, which led to this idea of creating something that felt organic and natural, but also highly structured. So I poured over images from all different eras and contexts, movements, and mediums…for ideas and images that emoted these qualities. And over and over again, I kept flagging all these seemingly disparate sources, and literally, every one of them fell into one of three buckets. Here is the bucket of wonderful examples of traditional Korean Pujagi, here in the middle is the bucket for exemplary Japanese minimalistic design, and here on the right is the bucket for the Bauhaus School. I filled up each bucket with images not knowing I had even created these buckets.

H&F: During the design process were there any unexpected surprises?
AM: Yes, there were so many! But I especially loved discovering that the backs of the weaves were as beautiful as the intended fronts, which led us to embrace them and use the reverses as well.

H&F: Are there specific patterns or colors you find yourself drawn to?
AM: Yes, neutral and natural colors, but ones that are slightly off. Like a beige with a hint of purple, or a cream with a soft pink undercurrent.

H&F: How would you describe this collection?
AM: I like to think of it as calm and relaxing, but because of its structure and organization, if that makes sense. Really, at its core, the collection is about the subtle tension between opposing forces. Rigidity versus relaxation, tight versus loose weaves. Organic yet organized.

Amy Meier with Rebecca Welch

H&F: What was it like working on a collaboration with H&F?
AM: It really was a wonderful experience working with such a talented, kind and supportive group of people, all with separate talents and roles. Everyone was super positive, helpful, and informative. They let me do my thing when appropriate but also knew when to lend their own expertise. It was a great collaboration.

H&F: How did you feel about the natural, handwoven, and sustainable elements of the collection?
AM: This is truly one of the reasons why I was so excited to work with H&F. And we really embraced the nature of the materials and used many of them in their natural form. Honestly, we looked to nature to do what it does, feel natural but also structured, organized yet free!

H&F: How important are window coverings in the overall design of a room?
AM: Huge, it is often how we start the design of a given room. For me, rooms are about emotion, and the light in a given space is the number one determinant of the emotion it will evoke. And of course, there is no better way to manipulate natural light than with window treatments and coverings.

H&F: Tell us how you envisioned the other uses for the weaves with the lighting, upholstery, and screens.
AM: I envisioned this line to be used in as many ways as possible, and yes, lighting, furniture upholstery, screens… even lanterns, and handbags. Specifically, Stipple, Fret, and Joinery were intended to be used in many of these applications as they have the most structure, but really all of them were made and intended to be used in a variety of ways.

The Amy Meier Collection by Hartmann&Forbes features seven Woven-to-Size Grassweave Windowcovering series.

TUESDAY MARCH 8, 2022

AMY MEIER, founder and principal designer of Rancho Santa Fe-based Amy Meier Design and Amy Meier, a specialty boutique, is renowned for an aesthetic that seamlessly blends tradition and innovation. Her projects have been published in such magazines as House Beautiful, Veranda, and ELLE DECOR, and she was named a Traditional Home Rising Star in 2017 and one of Veranda’s Next Legends for 2022. Her collection by Hartmann&Forbes deftly fuses inspiration from Japanese design, the Bauhaus School, and traditional Korean cloth.

“Though I drew inspiration from seemingly disparate sources: Japanese Minimalism Design, the Bauhaus School, and ancient Korean cloth tradition, it’s what these movements have in common that excited me: Minimalism, Functionalism, and the use of raw materials.  And what better medium than the naturally beautiful Hartmann&Forbes handwoven products to express the organic yet highly structured design I envisioned.  It is my hope that these individual weaves are seen and used as a whole, as it was my intention for them to work and play off of each other, creating a far richer composition.” ~Amy Meier

The Amy Meier Collection by Hartmann&Forbes features seven Woven-to-Size Grassweave windowcovering designs.

 

View the Collection

View All New Arrivals for Spring 2022

 

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