Saturday, May 26, 2001

Heavenly Haute Décor

When you step off the elevator at 133 Fifth Avenue you're transported to a serene and lush setting. The HauteDécor.com showroom is decorated with their own collection, a constantly changing collection of fine lines and colors of sofas, pillows, objects d'art and items for enlightened entertaining. Three weeks ago, HauteDecor President and CEO Anthony Dunne opened the company's existing showroom to designers and clients for cocktail receptions. Drawing upon the team's extensive design-background network and Dunne's connections through his board membership of IFDA (International Furnishings and Design Association) there is no shortage of clientele. Dunne, also the chairman of the IFDA Education committee draws upon its proximity to Parsons Design School as fertile ground for future designers as guests and future clients.

Calming classical music played as designers mingled and investigated the items on display. The 20% discount, going on through June, was an added incentive to linger and snap up a real "find." Haute Décor's other location, up the street at 133 Fifth Avenue, is where their HD Studios offer fabric, product and panoramic photography services, Web site design and home-page design services for designers. Bringing designers online, exposing them to a new worldwide audience, and selling to the trade and retail makes Haute Décor a truly diverse and smart site. They're taking advantage of the web by serving multiple target audiences with a beautiful site, products and services - a combination that should show them as a company with longevity.