The end of the spring and beginning of the summer has been an incredibly active time for the Gloster brand. In addition to supporting the loyal designers and clients who drive our business through the most intensive time of year for the outdoor furniture industry, the teams at our network of proprietary studios across the United States have served as hosts for major industry events in recent months. Read on to explore what has been happening in our Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago Studios.
Outside In, Inside Out—Gloster Los Angeles
The Gloster Los Angeles Studio was the first location of three to host a major industry event this spring. Having opened its doors officially in September of 2021, May 19th’s “Outside In, Inside Out” panel discussion represented another milestone moment for our studio as it continues to become an integral part of the West Hollywood design community. Hosted by Interiors Magazine and moderated by their Editor in Chief Erika Heet, this design panel discussion covered a wide range of topics that included the increasingly blurred line between indoor and outdoor design. Commenting on the event for the article written on it by Interiors for their June + July 2022 Issue, Gloster product designer Henrik Pedersen of 365° Design Studio stated that the Los Angeles studio was essential “both for attracting interest, but also [for] being able to have a personal dialogue both with architects, interior designers, and residential clients”. Remarking on the innate use of natural light in the studio, Henrik added that “it very much mimics the natural habitat of the products…Especially since the lines between indoor and outdoor are becoming increasingly more blurred; the open indoor or covered outdoor [areas] are merged into each other now”.
The Gloster’s Los Angeles studio bustling with activity during Outside In, Inside Out.
The three panelists featured for the event represented a broad spectrum of associations with the Gloster brand. West Hollywood-based designer Stephan Jones provided valuable insight stemming from his fifteen years of experience heading his own design firm and project portfolio which includes “luxury apartments, stylish townhouses and expansive country residences in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Napa, Pebble Beach, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, and Portland” (https://www.stephanjones.com/).
Interior designer, entrepreneur, lifestyle expert, and philanthropist Breegan Jane offered commentary based on her incredibly wide range of ventures. Breegan describes the foundation of her design philosophy as a mesh of “the artistic and elegant with livable comfort…[achieving] a stunning, modern aesthetic with décor that maximizes elegance and fosters simplicity, serenity, and supreme comfort” (https://breeganjane.com/about/).
A captivated audience filed our Los Angeles Studio.
Actress and Design Enthusiast Noureen DeWulf shared her experiences of working with the Gloster brand while designing her new home over the course of 2020. In addition to the August/September 2020 Issue of Interiors Magazine, this project was also featured in Gloster’s fall 2020 newsletter: Creating an Outdoor Oasis (www.gloster.com).
Erika Heet, Stephan Jones, Noureen DeWulf, and Breegan Jane served as panelists for the event.
The Art of Outdoor Entertaining—Gloster New York City
On June 8th, Gloster’s New York Studio was the next location to host an industry event, this time as part of the “Spring Market” showcase held each year in the New York City location we call home: the D&D (Decoration and Design) Building. “Known nationally and internationally as the world’s most important home to over 100+ showrooms, the D&D Building represents over 3,000 leading manufacturers dedicated to the very best in residential and business interior furnishings, educational opportunities, and resource information,” and has been a mecca for the New York City design community for over fifty years (https://ddbuilding.com/dd-spring-market-2022/). Our panel, titled “The Art of Outdoor Entertaining”, focused on the privilege and pleasure of entertaining friends and family at home in inviting spaces and was moderated by Galerie Managing Director Jill Sieracki.
Renown event producer, author, and co-founder of Van Wyck & Van Wyck, Bronson Van Wyck, joined the panel to share his knowledge on the art of outdoor entertaining gained during his long and prestigious career as one of the world’s most sought-after producers of custom celebrations (https://www.vanwyck.net/about). Lewis Miller also graced the panel—Called “The Banksy of Floral Design” by the New Yorker, Miller is acclaimed as the creator of Flower Flash, the “guerilla-style street art installations made with flowers” (https://store.lewismillerdesign.com/). Completing the trifecta of panelists was Jamie Drake. Co-Founder of the Drake/Anderson design firm, 2022 inductee into the AD100 Hall of Fame, and former Andrew Martin International Designer of the Year, Drake’s design philosophy have made his projects instantly recognizable and have garnered the attention of prominent clients like former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg whom he helped overhaul Manhattan’s iconic Gracie Mansion (https://www.drakeanderson.com/about/).
Jill Sieracki, Lewis Miller, Bronson Van Wyck, and Jamie Drake share their insights with attendees at Gloster’s New York Studio.
Neocon—Gloster Chicago
During the second week of June Gloster’s Chicago Studio welcomed guests attending Neocon, an event held annually since 1969 in the home of our studio, the Merchandise Mart. Neocon “serves as the hub for the commercial design community, uniting its designers, architects, end-users, manufacturers, dealers, service providers, associations, educators, students, and media each year in June”. Also awarded annually at Neocon since 2009, Interior Magazine’s HiP Awards “celebrate the most innovative products and design thinkers in the A+D community”. During the event, Gloster’s Garden Shower was announced as the winner of the HiP Award in the Outdoor Product category. To read more about this award or other pieces of Gloster furniture that have received industry recognition, check out our previous blogs on the subject.
