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Sklar Furnishings & Design Team Scores ‘Best Design’ Trifecta of Coveted 2016 ASID Awards Leading Contemporary/Modern Furniture Destination Wins For Best Showroom Design, Best Website Design and One of Its Designers Recognized For Best Bathroom Design BOCA RATON, Fla. (October 3, 2016) -- Its 15th birthday celebration starts early as Sklar Furnishings (sklarfurnishings.com) -- the only independent contemporary/modern furniture showroom and design center of its kind in the region -- was presented three of the top honors at the 2016 ASID Florida South Chapter Design Excellence Awards (DEA) Gala. With 200 of its design professionals, allied, associate, student, industry partners and media in attendance, Sklar Furnishings and one of its designers won three of the industry’s most coveted DEA awards: Best Showroom Design, Best Website Design and Best Bathroom Design. The ASID Florida South Chapter membership includes 300 industry partners, more than 900 designer members in addition to student members reaching north from Indian River County, south to Key West, east to west from Naples up to Fort Myers including Puerto Rico. To maintain the utmost professionalism and integrity of the ASID DEA Awards, the judging is done anonymously and not locally. All entries are first blinded by the local chapter –removing submitter names – before the entries are sent to another state to be judged by peers from that ASID chapter. There are no second or third place levels awarded in DEA competition, only one ‘best’ awardee in each category for which Sklar Furnishings and its Designer Sonia Longchamp, ASID won their specific categories. Sklar Shines For Best Showroom And Website Design To hands-on Co-Owners Rick and Pat Howard winning best showroom and website further validates Sklar Furnishings core values, design philosophies and leading relevancy in today’s marketplace. Sklar’s ever-changing approach to its great open-space 22,000-square-foot showroom and design center (established in 2002) as its robust website (launched in 2004) has always been to excite, stimulate and inspire clients and designers alike. Rick Howard noted that its award-winning showroom has been designed to “a dynamic environment where visitors are encouraged to dream big”. While a showroom as large as Sklar could feel cavernous or overwhelming, it has been organized to present a “space for enjoyment and reflection” with clearly defined pathways that lead through lifestyle displays for ease of navigation. The space is illuminated by a blend of natural and artificial light, reducing our energy usage and simulating the way a real home is lit. Its showroom concept is all about individuality; Sklar designers work with clients to customize the finish, upholstery and/or configuration of every piece we sell. The showroom is staffed by design experts and incorporates a full-service design center, with a library of window coverings, trimmings, flooring and wall coverings. “Just as fashion changes so does furniture product and thus we continue to travel the world to bring fresh relevant designs and then present them in a way that clients can visualize how the designs will ‘live’ in their own homes,” said Rick Howard. “Our open showroom allows us to frequently and quickly transform sections to create vignettes of intimate lifestyle spaces as new product arrive, punctuate accents and clients could stand back with more than ample space to appreciate selections from every angle. Our showroom and website are designed to prevent over-furnishing, showing every object to its best advantage…letting every piece shine.” Pat Howard added that within minutes of new product arriving, Sklar transforms on-site and online. “Because there are so many new ways in which technology now plays into furniture, a constant evolution of colors and trends featured by the finest U.S. and international vendors and fresh new designers we have organized our showroom and website to allow our clients to touch, feel, see and experience all that is new and exciting. Each space is studded with colorful accessories and accents that lend it character, humor and heart.” The new Sklar Furnishings website captures the essence of the Sklar brand, giving users a preview of the in-store experience. Sleek, modern typography, strong hits of color, intuitive navigation and responsive architecture combine in a site that looks and feels like Sklar — high end, yet approachable. It presents a visual approach that positions sklarfurnishings.com as a source of inspiration and a leader in the field of interior design. The entire site was redesigned around a flexible grid for layout variety to display beautifully on mobile devices and resizes for all screen configurations. Sleek, modern typography was introduced, along with strong hits of bold, contemporary color and fun keyline furniture illustrations. The designers added testimonials, product features, custom maps, and consistent style sheets, which work together to create a rich user experience. Sklar’s online blog and social media was built out to integrate them more fully into the site and further cement the online destination as a center of interior design expertise. The re-launched site is a more luxurious brand experience, with clean lines and a minimal, spacious, contemporary look and feel. Just like Sklar, it’s high end, yet approachable. Sklar Designer Sonia Longchamp Delivers Best Bathroom Design Since for most people, the bathroom is the first room in the home visited upon awakening it opens a new day full of endless possibilities. With that in mind, Sklar Designer Sonia Longchamp created the crisp, clean look of a renovated bathroom designed as the perfect way to start the day on a cheerful note. The goal was to do a complete demo/redesign without relocating any existing plumbing. His and her vanities were designed and created. Hers included the space and accommodations for everything a woman needs to get ready to tackle the day. A white marble look on a porcelain tile budget was achieved throughout, including the penny tile shower floor. Light blue marble for the vanity tops was a splurge item (which still worked within financial constraints). To provide spatial appeal, a freestanding tub replaced the existing tub deck. Much like its bright morning appeal, this room is equally inviting at the end of the day where a nice soak, a glass of wine and soothing music can melt the stress of the day. Sklar Furnishings, located at 6300 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, FL 33487 is open seven days a week: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sundays 12 Noon to 6 p.m. and evenings by appointment. For more information, visit sklarfurnishings.com or call (561) 862-0800. About Sklar Furnishings Complete with a full team of credentialed home and office designers and space planners, Sklar Furnishings -- the only independent contemporary furniture showroom and design center of its kind in the region -- provides high levels of design and service with customization at the foundation of its philosophy. As an industry leader committed to “Your Space, Your Lifestyle, Your Choice,” Sklar works with selected high-end furniture, accessory and lighting suppliers from North America, Italy, Scandinavia and the Far East to offer customers maximum freedom in expressing their personal style by specifying the exact color, fabric, wood finish, shape and size of their furnishings. From sofas to dining tables, chairs and wall units, clients can literally design themselves by choosing the colors, finishes, fabrics, size and configurations to fit their requirements. For more information, visit www.sklarfurnishings.com or ask for a Sklar Furnishings Design Associate at 561-862-0800. About ASID Florida South Chapter ASID Florida South Chapter is the second largest chapter in the nation, second to the Texas Chapter. There are approximately 300 Industry Partners, more than 900 designer members in addition to student members. The chapter spreads north from Indian River County, south to Key West, east to west, from Naples up to Fort Myers and includes Puerto Rico as well. Industry Partners consist of any company that is in this industry and or would serve the industry such as retail showrooms such as Sklar Furnishings, attorneys and accountants that specialize in the industry and fabric showrooms, furniture manufacturers, blind and shade manufacturers, etc. The Florida South Chapter is one of 48 chapters between USA & Canada. About ASID: “WHERE DESIGN COMES TO LIFE ASID is a community of people driven by a common love for design and committed to the belief that interior design, as a service to people, is a powerful, multifaceted profession that can positively change people’s lives. Through education, knowledge sharing, advocacy, community building and outreach, the Society strives to advance the interior design profession and, in the process, to demonstrate and celebrate the power of design to positively change people’s lives. Its more than 30,000 members engage in a variety of professional programs and activities through a network of 48 chapters throughout the United States and Canada. Founded in 1975, The American Society of Interior Designers is the largest, most reputable professional organization for interior designers. The Society celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2010, but the rich, vibrant history of the organization goes back further— much further — to the founding of its predecessor organizations, the American Institute of Interior Designers (AID) and the National Society of Interior Designers (NSID). ASID inspires and enriches its members by promoting the value of interior design, while providing indispensable knowledge and experiences that build relationships. The Society’s 18,000 practicing interior designers work in all areas of both commercial and residential design. Professional members of ASID must pass rigorous acceptance standards: They must have a combination of accredited design education and/or full-time work experience and pass a two-day accreditation examination administered by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ). ASID Industry Partners include more than 2,700 member firms with some 7,500 individual representatives, uniting the professional designer with manufacturers of design-related products and services. The Society’s membership also includes more than 10,500 students of interior design. ASID has student chapters at colleges, universities and design schools with 2- and 4-year programs throughout the U.S. and “virtual” chapters through Rhodec International and The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online.”