The Joe Ruggiero Collection

360 Degrees of Decorating

From every angle imaginable, Joe Ruggiero’s all encompassing design career has impacted the industry in a meaningful way. From fabrics, upholstered furniture, case goods, lighting, and art, his ideas contribute to making homes beautiful, yet practical.

When most people of a certain age are considering retirement, Joe is enthusiastically looking for new venues for his ideas. And, as evidenced by the accolades his collection is receiving from the furniture industry, he’s right in staying front and center.

Joe freely acknowledges that he's inspired by Hubert de Givenchy, the French fashion designer credited with creating iconic styles for Audrey Hepburn and Jacquellne Kennedy Onassis. “Givenchy’s attention to detail set a standard for me, and I follow it to this day.” This standard is clearly evident in all the designs that carry Joe Ruggiero’s name. 

From fabric designs for Sunbrella® to implementing those fabrics on Miles Talbott Furniture, Joe’s practical sense leads his design sense; everything is kid and pet friendly and beautiful at the same time.

Joe's concept of furniture design is, as he says, "A nod to the past but with a look to the future," and that "every room can be a living room." These principles guide him in his work and are clearly evidenced in the results: fabrics that are beautiful and practical, and furniture that's simultaneously classic and modern.

In addition to fabric and upholstered furniture, Joe designs case goods for Gat Creek. He applies the same elegant and practical approach in this area as well by taking a holistic approach to designing and building wood furniture. The woods used in his pieces are from sustainable and growing forests, and are artisan made in the USA. When a piece is finished it includes the signature of the craftsman who built it.

Why stop at designing just the furniture? Casa Fiora is the company that translates Joe’s fabric designs into table linens, bedding and draperies to give a room that “completed” look where all the fabrics in a space complement each other.

And when all the fabrics and furniture are in place, the lighting is the element that gives them the satisfying glow of a room beautifully designed. Craftsmade works with Joe Ruggiero for a lighting collection that fulfills this request.

Additionally, Craftsman produces Joe’s collection of all-seasons outdoor wicker furniture so the outside living space of a home has the same elegant appearance as the interior.

The final element, graceful art, is one more piece of the Joe Ruggiero Collection.  E. King Ambler, Inc. produces fine art giclee reproductions of Joe’s original artwork and photographs from his world travels.

To see these beautiful fabrics on his designs for upholstered pieces, the wood furniture, bedding, drapery and table pieces, all beautifully lit and complemented with an art collection sets one’s imagination in high gear for how to create a pleasing room for the entire family to enjoy.

Beyond all his professional endeavors, Joe’s life is well-balanced because, as Joe says, “It’s important to replenish your soul with good memories.” Everyone who's in contact with Joe comes away from the experience with a wonderful memory of being near him. He’s truly a person who walks the talk.

Each aspect of The Joe Ruggiero Collection is available at select retail furniture stores and at design showrooms through design professionals. For more information about the collection, you can visit Joe Ruggiero's web site: http://www.joeruggiero.com/


All photographs used with permission from The Joe Ruggiero Collection.

Sandra Jordan Textiles and Home

Imagine going to work in a studio that’s in a small, wooden building surrounded by vineyards, fig trees, and goats grazing on a nearby hillside. Now imagine that the building houses yards and yards of magnificent alpaca fabric, the fax is ringing with orders coming in, and the scheduling board is filled with upcoming events where people are looking forward to meeting the designer of this sumptuous fabric.

You have a just seen a small slice of Sandra Jordan’s life.

Owner of the eponymous firm that specializes in all things beautiful, Sandra Jordan spends her time smiling, entertaining guests, and working. But the satisfaction in what she does in her very busy day is evident in her calm countenance.

The building adjacent to the studio is a barn, but not your ordinary hay-on-the-floor, animal inhabited structure. 

Instead, walking through the oversized door is like falling through the rabbit hole into a designer’s wonderland filled with furniture of Sandra’s design. Silver and horn objects that she also designs are artfully juxtaposed and displayed. The two-storey high walls are covered with art, another in-the-works project of this multi-talented woman. The light filters in through windows high on the walls, bathing the beautiful objects and furniture in a soft glow that magically enhances the tone of the space.

Sandra Jordan’s furniture is upholstered in her signature alpaca fabric. The wood frame is painted the exact same color as the fabric to give antique styles a modern twist. The table and accessories are just some of the products sold by her company.

 

A glowing display of silver creates a focal point in the large space. All items are available through Sandra Jordan’s web site.

The table is a replica of a French wine table; the zinc canisters hold ice to keep the wine bottles chilled. It’s another one of the many pieces in the Sandra Jordan line of furniture.

Furniture shown in this magnificent space isn’t just for being admired; this wing chair and complementary ottoman are used by guests during concerts that are held in the “barn.”

French champagne riddling racks line the walls of the warehouse where items are packaged and ready to be shipped to clients.

The tour continues to another building, this one a more utilitarian looking structure. But again, its exterior belies the wonders within. Collecting antiques on her travels is another of Sandra’s interests, and the large space filled with beautiful furniture is testimony to her exquisite taste. Everything is for sale, but by appointment only.

Antique chairs and a dresser are lined up, awaiting delivery to a fortunate client who purchased these beautiful pieces. 

Small antiques are looking to find a new home.

A treasure trove of statuary, large urns, framed art, and mirrors are just a few of the items in this interesting collection of found objects.

Barrels and baskets are stacked in front of armoires and cabinets. There’s something here for just about every style of decorating.

Antique doors are lined up in the entry of the barn. They’d be  wonderful as doors on a remodeled house, or to be repurposed as headboards, tables, or whatever else your imagination can conjure. 

Cardboard tubes stand in the ready for fabric orders to be packed and shipped. 

Vineyards just across the road are idyllic for inspiring creativity.

Sandra Jordan fabric is available through interior designers and decorators at showrooms throughout the country, and the silver and horn items are available at retail stores and through the company’s web site: http://www.sandrajordan.com