IHDG PLACES TOP NAMES UP AGAINST THE WALL

Top licensed names and properties continue to make themselves at home on walls, that is. At the National Hardware Show, Imperial Home Decor Group (IHDG), the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of residential wallcoverings, demonstrates its power to attract big names, as it launches new licensed collections from renowned designer Raymond Waites and lifestyle expert B. Smith. A borders-only collection of popular artists, as well as new patterns in today's hot juvenile licenses, will also be unveiled.

Licensed collections that feature names consumers recognize and admire give individuals the power to emulate idyllic lifestyles,² explains Jim Holthus, vice president of marketing for IHDG. "We have some of the most well-known names in every category which allows individuals to create a variety of meaningful, personal statements in their homes. Strong licensed names and collections also make it easy for consumers to create coordinated looks throughout their rooms, so that, from top to bottom, everything relates to each other.²

The classic looks of Raymond Waites

Neo-Vintage Collection
Acknowledged as a pioneering force behind the New Age of Vintage Decoration,² Raymond Waites' Neo-Vintage Collection by Imperial pays homage to the artist's design philosophy: marry casual comfort with luxury. Depicting elements of Europe's rich agricultural and architectural heritage, the collection's 16 sidewall patterns and 10 border designs are sophisticated blends of style and color. Complementary fabrics in florals, damasks and plaids are also available.

The focal points of the collection are the richly detailed coordinating borders. The striking Classical Architrave Border, for example, provides a special effect when paired with the Romanesque columns featured in the Boscoreale sidewall, which depicts an entire villa. The collection's sidewall designs include hand-painted, dimensional tiles and ornate marbles, along with floral designs and fabric-inspired textures in deep jewel tones, such as gold, ruby and lapis.

Suggested retail pricing for the Neo-Vintage Collection ranges from $28 to $32 for sidewalls and borders. The Neo-Vintage Collection is available in home centers, paint and wallpaper retailers, and specialty stores nationwide.

Vineyard Collection
Known in the late 80's as one of the founding fathers of the American Country movement, Raymond Waites brings an updated look to his classic, country flair in his second collection, Vineyard Collection, for Imperial.

The collection's sidewalls, borders and fabrics exude timeless sophistication and casual charm with Waites' well-known folk art patterns and colors. Traditional country hues, such as rich reds, yellows, and blues, saturate the collection's patterns that include images of rabbits, quaint houses and picturesque landscapes. Three fabric designs, including dragonflies, plaid, and fruits and florals, add more personality. The entire collection is a statement of casual elegance for any room in the home.

The Vineyard Collection will be available in late Fall to home centers, paint and wallpaper retailers, and specialty stores nationwide. Suggested retail pricing ranges from $28 to $32.

The world of B. Smith

B. Smith's first wallpaper collection, B. Smith With STYLE, for Imperial allows home decorators to invite global styles into their own homes.

Appealing to an eclectic blend of modern tastes and international styles, the collection's 16 sidewall designs and eight border designs feature mood-inspiring colors and patterns that help transport individuals to different places. For example, an Asian inspired floral design, shaded in soft tones of lavender and canary yellow, exudes tranquility, while a boldly colored, batik-like pattern offers energy.

Suggested retail pricing ranges from $28 to $32 per single roll. The collection is available in home centers, paint and wallpaper retailers, and specialty stores nationwide.

Best-selling borders by design
Borders continue to be one of the most popular wallpaper categories with artists and consumers. So, IHDG has created Featured Artists, a dramatic collection of 50 of the best-selling border designs, from 10 of the biggest names in the fashion and home furnishing industries, including: David Carter Brown, Marjolein Bastin, Carol Endres, Kathleen Denis and Debbie Mumm. Additional licensed names include the beloved characters of Beatrix Potter, the beautiful outdoor scenes of Ducks Unlimited, the timeless elegance of Victoria Magazine and the updated looks of Hallmark.

Through a new IHDG merchandising program, retailers can create a special four-foot "designer boutique² with customized, artist-specific flatpack cards that feature the artist's name and capture the spirit of their artistry. Additionally, IHDG has developed a separate merchandiser and point-of-purchase program for retailers who prefer to stock spooled packages of borders versus the flatpacks.

The Featured Artists program is available to home centers and specialty stores nationwide. Select borders in the program are not available in mass channels. Suggested retail pricing ranges from $10 to $12, depending on the width of the border.

Beloved children's characters on a roll
Favorite children's characters are jumping out of books and television and movie screens, and onto the walls of children's bedrooms and playrooms. On display at the National Hardware Show will be an assortment of new patterns from eight of IHDG's leading juvenile licensed lines, including Precious Moments, Looney Tunes, Baby Looney Tunes, Rugrats, Pooh, Mickey/Minnie Mouse, Baby Mickey/Minnie Mouse and 102 Dalmations (November 2000 movie release). A super-sized 20.5-inch height Rugrats mural is also available in boxed, peggable packaging. Available in home centers, paint and wallpaper retailers, and specialty stores, the borders suggested retail price range from $9 to $10.

Imperial Home Decor Group is the world's largest designer, manufacturer and distributor of residential wallcovering products. IHDG also markets commercial wallcoverings and is a premiere supplier of pool linings through the Vernon Plastics operating division. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, IHDG supplies home centers, national chains, independent dealers, mass merchants, design showrooms and specialty shops. Product lines include the Imperial, Katzenbach & Warren, Albert Van Luit, Sterling Prints, Imperial Fine Interiors, Sunworthy and Colorfields by Sunworthy brand names.

Also see: Wallpaper Borders

Author Notes:

Daryl Marples contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.beautiful-home-101.com. As webmaster I constantly add information and articles about home decor, design and building materials from suppliers and manufacturers.