Sunday, June 8, 2008

World's First Eco-Chair

Recently in Las Vegas at the Hospitality Design Expo we introduced the world's first woven resin and reclaimed teak club chair.

The Palisades Collection is a line of 100% recylable resin from Viro which is the leader in woven resin manufacturing. We then combined that with reclaimed teak wood accent pieces to a very modern look.

What really made it the talk of the show though was the comfort of the chair. The cushions are made of all-weather Sunbrella, great for indoor or outdoor living.

The Palisades Chair was originally designed after the common leather club chair but for outdoors. Quickly though, the feedback was that it was so comfortable, it is blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor living.

Soon following will be an entire collection including a sofa, love seat, coffee table and side table.





Interest has been high from resorts for both indoors in common areas and around pools.
From the retail stand point, Paddy O Furniture based in Phoenix, Arizona was very impressed and is excited to bring the line on for fall of 2008.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Best Of The New West




The Arrangement furniture store with locations in Dallas and Houston is truly the "Best of the new west".
Since 1988 is an amazing store has had a single vision: To create unforgettable home and office settings inspired by the spirit of the west.
Working with collections of art, furnishings and accessories sourced from craftsment around the world, The Arrangement's designers create environments that at once entice, enchant and entertain the eye. Rooms fashioned with The Arrangement encourage the viewer to "slow down and enjoy the experience".
The resulting impression is that some pieces were inherited-while others were collected during a series of great adventures.
Whether its a primary residence, a second home, or an office interior, The Arrangements's Western Interiors Design Service can create an environment so unique that every item you acquire will appear to have its own story to tell.
Their latest advertisement in Cowboys and Indians illustrates the best in "Cowboy Outdoor Living".
For further information on The Arrangement go here.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

HD Expo 2008 Las Vegas




Sands Convention Center
Hall G, Booth # 9556
Las Vegas, Nevada, May 15-17th, 2008

Phoenix, AZ. May 6th, 2008 -- Global Surroundings, LLC
Global Surroundings introduces indoor and outdoor furniture specifically for socially responsible commercial applications. “Climate change around the world is real and it is happening every day,” explains JL Jackson, President. “The furniture industry historically has been responsible for harvesting our forests.” We are at the forefront of the movement to utilize reclaimed teak wood from old buildings in Indonesia.”
"Because we are focused on sustainable practices and innovations for hospitality design, we felt the HD Expo 2008 show was the perfect venue to introduce our versatile eco-friendly furniture", said Jackson.

Global Surroundings purchases old homes in Java, Indonesia, made of old teak wood. The Indonesian families then get a new brick home, once only a dream. “We buy and dismantle their house, re-using every part to create our furniture.” notes Jackson, “We will use the front door of an old home and add that into an armoire. Old floor boards are used in constructing beautiful dining tables. Heavy beams and posts are re-sawn to be used in table legs and other parts of furniture where one piece of wood is needed. We are constantly seeking new ways to use the existing materials.”

The Mark Suess Collection of Bellasera will be on display.

“Incorporating eco-friendly furniture into your own home is one way socially and environmentally conscious consumers can share in the passion for treating our natural environment with respect,” adds Jackson. “We contribute to a better world by pursuing sustainability and being eco-friendly”.

The Tuscano Collection will be shown from Mark Suess also.

Jackson notes an increase in consumer demand for socially responsible furniture. “People see the climate changing and they want to do their own part to help minimize the environmental impact of cutting down the rainforest,” explains JL. “Using reclaimed wood just makes sense.”
The ever popular Rusteaka Collection will be shown at the show.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Everyday Is Earth Day

Ironically the day I land at our factory in Indonesia it is regarded across the world as Earth Day. Well for the last 10 years, that is what we have been promoting with our eco-friendly furniture so we feel everyday is Earth Day.


The whole trip to Indonesia this time was initiated by a very large commercial opportunity that we have landed in Colorado. Details of this amazing resort and high-end golf/equine community will be released in June but I can say it will be the premiere resort in Colorado if not the entire rocky mountains.

I came to our factory in Indonesia to oversee the production of both indoor and outdoor furniture for this beautiful community and of course to hit an almost unatainable deadline... But we will pull it off. A quick 37 hours of travel for a one hour meeting. Actually there is much more to this trip but that was what initiated the trip across the big pond.


Some days now we are up to over 50,000 web hits a day on our web site with people interested in eco-friendly furnishings and architectural elements for both commercial and residential applications. 5 Years ago hardly anyone knew even what LEEDS was or the USGBC and trading Carbon Credits and now the bandwagon is getting interesting.


So if you are knew to our site or just interested in my latest Indonesian adventure, here goes:
Our factory is located in Java, Indonesia. What makes us unique is we buy old homes that are made of teak wood, (well, some of the house is teak).


Standing next to the owner of this home, some of the teak we would use is right behind us.


Once we give the local people money for their old wood, then they add on a brick or cement home that is much more durable and prestigious.



The right side of the home is the old teak wood and the left side is the new addition of the cement and brick that they added on.


What we do with the wood depends upon what part of the home it came from. Below illustrates old doors that we found. They will be turned into doors for a cabinet or even a dining table top.

Old Pillar bases that hold up the home can be used as the base for a coffee or side table or even a bench and add alot of character as you can see below .


Other parts of the home will be then turned into various pieces of furniture. Below is a photo of a console table that has been constructed but has not been sanded yet so the piece still has some old paint on it. Sometimes I wonder if it should be just left like that which is a funky look in its own way.




Later in the day, I took a break with some of the workers in the factory. We are in the process of designing many new products to compliment what we are already producing and the workers at the factory are always up to a new challenge on construction.


So spending Earth Day 2008 could only be fitting at our eco-friendly factory in Java, indonesia. Then again, every day is Earth Day now....

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Outdoor Conversation Furniture

They call them "chat tables" for a reason. The latest craze in outdoor furniture is to create products made to lounge in. We recently developed a Chat Table to go with the Rusteaka Club Chairs.

The Mark Suess Bellasera Benches are also great for conversation around a firepit. They are slightly curved to go perfectly with an outdoor fireplace.


They have a 3 inch thick Sunbrella fabric that is very comfortable and cozy.

March in Scottsdale, Arizona is a perfect time to enjoy outdoor living at its finest.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

The Mountains Are Green

Even though the mountains were filled with snowy roads, they really are green. This trip brought us to the surroundings areas of Vail, Beaver Creek, Snowmass, Aspen, and Telluride.

Every retailer and every magazine that featured mountain living is spreading the word about eco-friendly living.

Unloading some samples at a retailer in Glenwood Springs, CO.

Even with the slumping housing market in the mid-range pricing, the high-end communities are still going strong. Many new private enclaves are continuing to be built and the buzz words of LEEDS, carbon foot prints and being green are seeping into all aspects of the rockies.


Outside of a top design house in Ridgway, Colorado. A stunning small town.

It takes a lot of hard work especially in the middle of the winter to get to these remote regions with a van load of samples but I think these retailers and designs appreciate seeing products first hand at their facility compared to a trade show in Vegas or High Point.
The town of Telluride and up the hill in Mountain Village are booming with eco-friendly building concepts. Our reclaimed teak furniture is the perfect compliment.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Mountain Living

Last July after an 8000 mile trip through almost every major ski community it was concluded the high-end mountain towns are perfect for our rustic teak look with an eco-friendly story.

It becomes very clear very quickly, that no matter what you socio-economic status is, you clearly care about the environment, whether you live in the mountains full time or you are a part time inhabitant.

During the trip last summer, a number bonds were formed with exciting retailers and design firms from the Big Sky of Montana to Taos, New Mexico.

One design firm stood out that after 10 years of doing this business, I have never witnessed a more professional organization that specializes in mountain living at its best for both residential and commercial.


The company is Slifer Design. In mountain living, they are famous. They are regarded as the nation’s top authority on luxury resort mountain interior design.

Offering full-service interior design and interior architecture and hospitality services for over 20 years, Slifer Designs has consistently been ranked in the top three of residential interior design firms by Interior Design magazine. Luxury resort design is Slifer Designs’ specialty. Based in Edwards, Colorado, Slifer Designs has completed projects throughout the Vail Valley, Aspen, Telluride, Jackson Hole, Lake Tahoe, Park City, as well as Hawaii, Cabo San Lucas, Nantucket and Sonoma County, California.


In July of 2007, I signed up for the next possible time to present our company to their staff which was today, March 4th, 2008. Eight quick months later and here we are showing our products to a firm that includes their clients roster like:
The Chateau at Beaver Creek , Arrabelle / Vail, CO, The Grand Hyatt Denver Guestrooms / Denver, CO
Main Street Station / Breckenridge, CO
Limelite / Aspen, CO
Old Greenwood / Lake Tahoe, CA
Vail Plaza Club & Hotel / Vail, CO
Inn at Beaver Creek / Beaver Creek, CO
The Residential Suites at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch





JL discussing the virtues of reclaimed teak and why it is perfect for Mountain Living.

Casa Primera Luz / Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Eagles Nest / Beaver Creek, CO
Tomboy Mine Retreat / Telluride, CO
Exclusive Resorts / Beaver Creek, Vail and Lake Tahoe
Great Bear Lodge / North Lake Tahoe, CA
Beaver Creek Hyatt Vacation Club / Beaver Creek, CO
Teton Club / Jackson Hole, WY
Miner's Club at the Canyons / Park City, UT
Palmilla, Ultimate Resort , Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Ritz Carlton / Aspen Highlands, CO
Roaring Fork Club / Basalt, CO
Snowmass Club / Snowmass, CO
Vail Plaza Club & Hotel / Vail, CO
Flattops / Steamboat Springs, CO




The presentation included about 15-20 of the design staff looking at the many products we brought in from The Mark Suess Collection to Rusteaka and even a carved entrance door for a wine room.


The story could go on and on but the picture has been drawn, Slifer is the firm in high-end mountain living and we felt fortunate to be invited to show our exciting collections of indoor and outdoor living to them.

The world is catching on to being eco-friendly in your living spaces and Slifer Designs is at the forefront of that movement. This will be a great partnership together.

It is hard to imagine a meeting in July of 2007 would lead us to JL standing in a blizzard in Edwards (just west of Vail) in March, 2008.

At least she was able to fly up for the meeting. I was fortunate enough to drive up from Arizona with samples, get caught in a blizzard and spend a night in a gymnasium cuddling up basketballs and hoolahoops in northern New Mexico.

Off to Aspen , Telluride and Taos. Will report more later. Please come back.

Jay