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Home Décor HOME DÉCOR 2 4 KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW n MAY 2014 n www.kitchenwarenews.com Just In The Nick Of Time…Clocks Transforming Into Decorative Accents BY DONNA BOYLE SCHWARTZ Time is fleeting—and fashion is notoriously fickle. How fortuitous it is, therefore, that clocks are becoming so much more than just timepieces, transforming into interesting, elegant and unusual accents for the home. Trends in clock designs span the style gamut, including handcrafted reproductions of classic antiques; crisp contemporary chronometers; retro Mid Century Modern silhouettes; and playful or personalized patterns. "We're seeing a surge in demand in the U.S. market for clocks that don't just feel like appliances on the wall," asserts Elli Chemel, Global Category Manager for Umbra. "A clock should be treated as a piece of furniture; like a resting place for the eyes. But a clock is only a clock if it tells the time. It needs to be viewed through both lenses of décor and function. The reality is that wall space is at a premium. Wall space is less available in new builds, so the design needs to be beautifully practical." Umbra has received a strong response to its new Cage and Madera clocks, which "both use higher quality materials than traditional mass-produced wall timepieces," Chemel notes. "Madera leverages the warmth of its wooden face to provide a sense of warmth, and the black and natural metal hands are sophisticated and modern; but not too modern. Cage brings a sense of nostalgia that really resonates with those who remember old gymnasiums with cage- protected clocks. Cage borrows its wood grain from the old gymnasium floor. While the metal cage makes the design more contemporary, and instills a sense of value to the clock. You can put Cage in your home gym if you like, but it really is a wonderful living room conversation piece." Thomas Bai, Owner and Designer of Bai Design Inc., observes that the company's line of contemporary pick-me-up alarm clocks and wall clocks are selling well "because of their functions as well as their attractive styling. Bai's modern designer wall clocks are both attractive and functional—they literally brighten up any room. The Bai aluminum wall clock easily matches the modern décor in homes and office spaces alike." Paolo Cravedi, Managing Director of Alessi USA, agrees that clocks are becoming more decorative. "Style is the most important quality," Cravedi comments. "Customers buy clocks more for decor than for their function, now that we are surrounded by electronic gadgets. In this respect, the fact that our clocks are created by famed designers and important architects—Philippe Starck, Michael Graves, the Campana Brothers, and Achille Castiglioni—adds another layer to the style factor." Alessi has been successful with several new styles, including the Firenze collection designed by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni; the Blow Up wall clock designed by Fratelli Campana, and the Blank wall clock by Martí Guixé, designed around the concept that objects are tools for perceiving reality of the every day. "This Blank wall clock allows you to write your dreams, sentences, or notes in place of the numbered hours," Cravedi explains. "I do think clocks are used more as decoration. For Alessi, it allows us to create clocks that are more stylish and unique that will enhance style in any room." A number of suppliers are offering clocks that allow purchasers to personalize their space. The Flying Birds wall clock from Copecoy Home Fashions can be scaled to fit various environments. "Flying Birds is a do-it-yourself wall clock where customers love the idea of adjusting and deciding their own diameter according to their wall space," remarks Cupecoy President and Owner Michel O'Hana. "It is very sleek and innovative." Cupecoy also has been successful with several new vintage-inspired clocks, including the Splash wall clock in chrome; the large Retro wall clock in an espresso finish; and the dramatic Raised Numbers wall clock. Mark Feldstein & Associates also has been getting a good reaction to a personalized clock concept. "One of our best selling clocks is the Design-It-Yourself Clock that allows the consumer to personalize it by inserting their favorite photos, personalized art, or quotations into the 12 individual black display frames," points out Howard Feldstein, Marketing Manager. " The DIY Clock provides consumers the opportunity to personalize and design a clock to fit any décor. " W hile keeping accurate time is paramount to the success of any clock, we feel strongly that clocks are becoming more of a home décor accent," Feldstein continues. "The success of our clock line over the years is tied to our partnering with many world- renowned licensed brands such as Audubon™, Thomas Kinkade™, Peanuts™, Ford Motor Company and others, to offer consumers themed-sound clocks that they can incorporate into their home décor. Whether it's one of our inspirational sound clocks that plays 'Amazing Grace' or our holiday sound clocks that play traditional Christmas carols, our clocks are used by consumers to create some type of ambiance in their homes." Feldstein says several new sound clocks are selling extremely well, including the limited edition "50 Years of Ford Mustang Desktop Sound Clock," and the two-sided Decorative Outdoor Singing Bird Clock Thermometer, which features the images and sounds of 12 American song birds and was a finalist for a 2014 Innovation Award from the International Housewares Association. "Mustang is one of most- recognized vehicle brands in the world with more than 9 million sold since its initial launch in 1964; its universal appeal has made it a symbol of Americana, which we played into with the development of this clock," Feldstein says, adding, "The second reason for its popularity is its unique design—we decided to incorporate the 1965 Ford Mustang Instrument panel as the main focal point of the clock, which conveys an attitude of strength and passion that represents the Mustang mystique. In addition, we added an authentic 1965 Mustang engine sound to the clock; it roars at the top of each hour." A number of suppliers are offering historic or antique-inspired reproduction clocks characterized by intricate styling and handcrafted details. Match1995, for instance is offering a number of heirloom quality pewter clocks constructed from actual 18th centur y antique molds by Italian artisans. Exquisite craftsmanship in a vintage vein is the hallmark of Luna Bella's line of table and wall clocks. "Luna Bella clocks are more than timepieces; they are elegant accents for the home," relates Teresa Costa, Co-Founder. "Our clocks are considered functional art pieces or home accent. "Luna Bella introduced a line of table clocks in 1999, and we continue to create unique, jeweled time pieces that are elegant and highly decorative; we recently unveiled three small, table clocks," Costa continues. "Their success is due to their uniqueness. Each clock is handmade in the U.S. and hand painted. And while they are reproduced, each piece is singular. Our unusual clocks are highly detailed, made of brass, wood, iron and glass, and have a certain nostalgic feel to them. Many of our fans liken our clocks to heirloom pieces." Even kitchen clocks—traditionally dominated by novelty designs and cute kitschy motifs—are getting a sophisticated makeover. "People want to keep their kitchens clean, and the kitchen is also a space where utility is really important," notes Umbra's Chemel. "Our Elapse clock is a perfect kitchen clock, offered in both white and black versions, each with high gloss, beautifully numbered using raised brushed metal. Elapse is highly legible, and the face of the clock is as clean and glossy as we all aspire to keep our kitchens." Bai's retro-themed Kitchen Timer wall clock features a one-hour timer "which comes in handy, as every kitchen can use another timer," avows Bai. The clock is offered in classic colors, including turquoise, chartreuse, red and chrome silver. Kitchen clocks from Mark Feldstein & Associates incorporate traditional kitchen sounds, including frying bacon, egg timers and coffee brewing. "Some of the most popular include our Mom's Diner Clock, Grandma's Kitchen Clock and Kitchen Utensil Clock; the dials are designed with kitchen-related themes," Feldstein comments. " The popularity of these kitchen clocks represents another example of the importance we place in incorporating 'style' into the development of our clocks." For More Information www.alessi.com/en www.cupecoyhome.com www.lunabella.com www.mfagifts.com www.match1995.com/home.html www.thomasbai.com www.umbra.com/ustore/home.site

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