Keith Granet on Success and The Business of Design

     Keith Granet

“Walking Under the Sun.”   It is a term most often associated with nomadic travel adventurers in the tradition of Patrick Leigh Fermor and Bruce Chatwin but it is how Rhonda and I always think of our great friend and advisor, Keith Granet.  Keith walks in the sun.  He is seemingly everywhere, always traversing the globe, unearthing the latest innovations and innovators, shining light on them and always encouraging the best out of us, our colleagues, and the design industry as a whole.

                                                                 

 The Business of Design

With his latest book, The Business of Design, heading up the bestseller list and now standard issue at design schools across the country, Keith is poised to continue his role as senior advisor with a follow up book and as one of the founders of the Design Leadership Network. We were thrilled and honored to contribute to Keith’s One Kings Lane Tastemaker Event this weekend featuring Eleish van Breems, Tara Shaw, Suzanne Kasler, Suzanne Tucker and Celerie Kemble.   Visit our Eleish van Breems selections HERE.

 Eleish van Breems items are available this weekend on 

"The Business of Design"  Tastemaker Sale on One Kings Lane.

The Business of Design Tastemaker Event on One Kings Lane runs from Saturday, March 10^th – Tuesday, March 13^th and is a great place to view our latest design selections including antique armoires,  our new scandinavian inspired sofas and chairs, Gustavian style chandeliers and so much more. This also the place to pick up a copy of Keith's wonderful book if it is not already a part of your library.  Rhonda and I caught up with Keith as he was putting the finishing logistic touches with his team on the upcoming and much anticipated Design Leadership Summit that he, Peter Sallick and Meg Touborg have organized this year to be held in Morocco. 

Keith's secrets to success are revealed in The Business of Design.

Edie and Rhonda:   Keith, this is your first book and it’s a runaway best seller!    
Did that surprise you? Tell us about how it came about and what your plans are for a sequel.

Keith Granet:   It is one thing to write a book and it is a completely different thing to write a book that is well liked.  Yes, that was a surprise because although I knew what I wanted to say and how I wanted to share the information, when you are not a writer as your "day job" you don't know whether people will relate to it.  The book has been in my head for years, it wasn't until I met Jill Cohen, my agent that it became a reality.  Jill knew this was a book that was needed and she truly made it come to life.  As for a sequel, I truly never thought I had it in me to write another book.  However, I am now on a mission to help our profession communicate the value of design and I think my next book will address that in a big way.

Keith in Copenhagen at last years Design Leadership Conference.

E / R  What do you feel are the qualities that must to be nurtured for all of us to be good 

at the business of design?

K.G. As I say in my book, there are six qualities that every successful designer must have and they are: 1. Talent, you need to find your particular talent.  2. Passion, if you don't have passion for this industry it is the wrong profession for you.  The love of design must be in your veins.  3. Discipline, you must have the ability to work at something a little bit each day to reach your goal.  4. Good Knowledge, you need to understand the profession.  5. Common Sense, the world is too hard to navigate without it and finally 6. Chutzpah, you need to be able to take risks to grow and push yourself out of your comfort zone.

E / R  You work with so many different types of clients, from architects and designers to furniture and fabric companies. What issues do you find unique to each discipline or is there an over-riding theme that comes up again and again?

K.G.  The common thread that gets most companies in trouble is their ability to communicate.  Whether it is in educating the client or communicating expectations, communication is the single biggest issue that makes companies fail.  I think the design industry is so closely attached to each profession so whether you are an architect, an interior designer, a manufacturer or a retailer in the design world, you share many of the same issues: “Does my product/service communicate its value?”- Not value in how much does it cost but value in “Is it worth it?” If something is expensive that is okay as long as it is worth it.  A designer's time is hard to qualify but the better at communicating the value of your time the more respect and ultimately the more value you will create for your time.

E / R  You are known for your inspirational business retreats - is this a practice you recommend for all companies both small and large and if so why?

K. G.  Yes, I think it's vital to your growth to get off the daily treadmill and stop and set goals for the coming year or years.  Tomorrow will be not be a new day it will be the same day if you can't stop and look at what works and what doesn't.  Retreats also connect the senior members of your firm to help support the company's growth and their own personal growth.

Keith spreading the sunshine at his book launch event in New York.

Join us tomorrow as Keith sees for the first time the unveiling of what we, Tara, Celerie, Suzanne T.

and Suzanne K. have selected for his special The Business of Design Sale on One King Lane.  We are going to find out his personal favorites – can’t wait to join him for coffee via Skype on the West Coast! 

All photos courtesy of  Granet and Associates and One Kings Lane.

Tara Shaw MAISON Collection now at Eleish van Breems

"If you want a golden rule to live by, this is it; Have nothing in your house
that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." - William Morris

It's hard to talk about beautiful, useful furniture and not mention Tara Shaw!
Rhonda and I have just returned from book signing events this past weekend at Tara Shaw's New Orleans and Houston stores. I couldn't wait for the professional photos so I am posting a few we snapped on our cell phones. (above: Rhonda, little Kari, Tara, and Edie at Tara's New Orleans store) What a wonderful time we had getting to know Tara and her crew as well as meeting so many of the guests who were aficianados of Swedish design.

The ever stylish Valorie Hart of the visual * vamp blog stopped in at the New Orleans event with Caroline Robert of Perch. ( just look at me there with Valorie...I was blog-star struck!!!) Among the attendees in Houston was Houston designer Jane Moore, whose work is featured in Swedish Country Interiors in the chapter titled White Wisteria. It was so fun to meet and catch up with both of these creative ladies.

Buffer Ergmann, (above) who is Rhonda's talented husband and one half of our book's photography team, mingled with Tara and guests. Seated on gigantic Italian armchairs, Rhonda and I felt like queens as we signed our books, a world away from the usual metal folding chairs we are used to sitting on at most bookstore signings! Tara and guests kept us busy for a while but by the end of the evening we were like kids in a candy store and had broken away to wander amongst all of the antiques.

A l'antiquaire extrordianiare, Tara (pictured here with her handsome whippet, Jack) is also a talented designer and contributing editor for Veranda magazine.We have long admired her bold pieces and serene cream palette. When we heard that she had a decided to take the plunge into manufacturing a reproduction line based on some of her best antiques we were on the phone to New Orleans immediately. Here was a concept for a line that we knew, given Tara's background, was going to be well executed and historically accurate. Actually seeing these pieces in person for the first time was such a treat. We were so impressed with the hand carvings and attention to detail and scale. Tara has done a remarkable job and we are proud to announce that Eleish van Breems is now representing the line!

Many people have covered the MAISON line on thier blogs before us but I just have to point out some of our favorite Swedish inspired pieces! This dropleaf table with demi-lune ends is dynamite. Based on an original Swedish antique slagboard and demi-lunes this is the height of good looks and practicality. The table can fold up entirely or you can keep one leaf up and use as a smaller work desk. The demi lunes look great in any room. When the time comes for an extra table for entertaing all the pieces come together to make for a long dining table. A versatile piece that is the essence of great Swedish traditional furniture design.

When I saw this large rococo mirror I could not tell it was a reproduction until I actualy looked behind it! The hand finishes are what make the difference here.

How easily this chair can mix with authentic antiques.

This is my personal favorite of the antique forms Tara has had manufactured.

The hand carvings on this Swedish Rococo style bench are really exceptional.

There is nothing quite as stunning as a Gustavian barrel back chair. Tara has chosen to have her reproduction barrel back simply uphostered in white canvas with large brass upholstery tacks. Note the delicate front legs and carvings.

For years Rhonda and I have searched for a reproduction Swedish tallcase

clock to carry for our clients but none that we found ever looked right. They were always too clunky, poorly made or the faces were just all wrong. At last perfection! It was worth the wait. Tara based this piece on an antique Swedish clock she had in her store. In real life this clock is breathtaking, perfectly proportioned and the clock face is well done. I particularly love the fact that Tara decided to leave the crack on the door of the original and had it incorporated into the new piece.

So what is next for Tara Shaw MAISON? We hear from Tara that there are always going to be new pieces in the works for the collection. Rhonda and I left New Orleans secretly hoping that this clock secretary from Tara's store there would be used as a model next. How fabulous would this be? What other pieces from her antiques collection would we like to see reproduced?

What about this bookshelf?

And here is a challenge. This staircase would be incredible..... and if Tara is

involved we know nothing is impossible!

For more information on how to buy Tara Shaw MAISON at Eleish van Breems, Ltd. just contact us at evbltd@gmail.com or look at our website http://www.evbantiques.com/. We are sooo excited to offer this amazing furniture to both retail and to the trade.

Congratulations to you, Tara, on a gorgeous collection and many, many thanks

for all of your hospitality!