Market

edited by Alexa Yablonski -- Interior Design, 10/1/2002 12:00:00 AM

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The Suite collection of wall coverings demonstrates Wolf-Gordon's continued commitment to elevating the quality of commercial environments. Enlisting three very different but equally talented designers, the company has created a line with significant depth. There's something of interest for markets ranging from health care and hospitality to corporate and retail.

Kari Pei has designed for Wolf-Gordon before. Her new Tracery series of wall coverings and coordinating borders advances her exploration of light and shade: The patterns give an illusion of being lit from within. Suitable for both traditional and contemporary environments, Tracery Diamond evokes a classic lattice—or an eerily electrified chain-link fence. Tracery Montage was inspired by the light-filtering layers of children's tissue-paper collages.

Textile designer Carla Weisberg's flair for whimsical patterning and sophisticated color play comes through in her first foray into wallpaper design. Two patterns, Pinwheels and Circle in the Square, owe their handmade quality to imperfectly charming geometrics.

For a harder edge, consider the offerings of artist Christine Tarkowski. She digitally manipulated photographs of topographical models found in the Musée des Plans et Reliefs at the Invalides in Paris. Morphed by Tarkowski, the landscape of a Belgian hill and valley takes on a tapestrylike effect in 78:80. One can almost piece together a narrative from 09:2, an artfully modified plan of Le Château d'Oléron, a town on the island of Oléron. Tarkowski's arresting designs are art in themselves, no need for frames. 33-00 47th Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101; 800-347-0550; wolf-gordon.com. circle 343

Setting the Pace

To meet the needs of smaller, more progressive companies, Geiger teamed up with Gensler to develop Settings. Designers Ken Baker, Jordan Goldstein, and Ehren Gaag delivered an innovative horizontally oriented modular furniture system that incorporates power and light sources, storage space, and work surfaces. A structural unit stands 3 inches in front of the typical partition wall, so that wiring for technology and lighting can run through the gap; the wall itself can support shelving panels as well as white-board or tackboard. Signature elements include satin-finished aluminum legs, milled aluminum accessories, and exotic wood veneers. Gensler specifically ensured that detailing and finishing would meet the high standards of Geiger, a premium case-goods company for 38 years. Despite Geiger's history of success, however, the new effort represents a fresh approach for the company, to say nothing of the office environment generally. Settings embraces the flexibility demanded by businesses that are technologically advanced, culturally casual, and design-savvy—whether in publishing or pharmaceuticals. 6095 Fulton Industrial Boulevard SW, Atlanta, GA 30336; 800-444-8812; hmgeiger.com. circle 344

Wonders of Nature

Tiles inspired by earth, sea, and sky

1. Roku in green-tea glass by Walker Zanger. circle 316 2. Cathedral in wolfsbane-belladonna-sage crackled glass by Urban Archaeology. circle 317 3. Water in white bronze by Foundry Art. circle 318 4. Alesia porcelain-and-metal border in iris by Saloni. circle 319 5. Platelettes in aluminum by Trout Studios. circle 3206. Billancourt in perla-green ceramic by Ceramica Decorativa. circle 321 7. St. Tropez pebble stones in champagne by Ann Sacks. circle 322 8. Roku in rain glass by Walker Zanger. circle 323 9. Harlequin limestone mosaic by Paris Ceramics. circle 324

Sweet Chic

Treat your eyes to these candy-colored tiles

1. Acrylic resin-coated ceramic tile with modeling paste and gold disks by Coral Bourgeois. circle 325 2. Striped art-glass liner by Dolce. circle 326 3. Striped art-glass liners by Dolce. circle 327 4. Vitreo in orange, yellow, and red glass by Trend. circle 328 5. Smalto 08 glass-and-enamel mosaic by Bisazza. circle 329 6. Smalto 05 glass-and-enamel mosaic by Bisazza. circle 330 7. Zen Weave mosaic in bright green glass by Erin Adams Design. circle 331

Bronzed Beauties

Tiles to bestow glitter and glam

1. Ladder in white bronze by Foundry Art. circle 332 2. Crowne Jewels cement with semiprecious stones in Hapsburg by David Goldberg Design. circle 333 3. Le Tessiture TSS-Oro wood and gold ceramic mosaic by Ceramica di Treviso. circle 334 4. Square in white bronze by Foundry Art. circle 335 5. Roku in teak glass by Walker Zanger. circle 336 6. Cabochon in bronze by Foundry Art. circle 337 7. Roku in citron glass by Walker Zanger. circle 338 8. Abbey in wolfsbane-goldenrod crackled glass by Urban Archaeology. circle 339 9. Tara marble-powder and resin border in copper by Saloni. circle 340 10. Kaleidos Strip and Wave in clear glass with gold and flecks of shattered glass by Trend. circle 341 11. Brilliante glass-and-aventurine mosaic by Trend. circle 342