PRESS RELEASES

February 2010
BAKER PRESENTS ICONIC PIECES AT INSPIREDESIGN 2010

CHICAGO (February 1, 2010) Baker, a premier manufacturer and designer of fine furniture featured iconic forms from three of its most successful in-house and designer collections as part of the Kohler Interiors Hospitality presentation at INSPIREDESIGN 2010 in Las Vegas. Showcasing designs from The Stately Homes Collection, The Jacques Garcia Collection, and The Bill Sofield Collection, Baker brings to the hospitality marketplace a breadth and depth of discriminating design, quality craftsmanship and range of materials to appoint the most luxurious suites and public spaces.

Additionally, in support of its focus on fulfilling the special needs and requirement of the industry, Baker kicked off its new Baker Now program in 2009. This exclusive program was created to bring Baker, one of America’s premier furniture makers, to the world’s finest hospitality properties, guaranteeing quick turn around and unparalleled support.

Baker chose a few of its finest forms from its extensive best in class Stately Homes Collection. Rarely seen in today’s marketplace, and impeccably crafted by Baker, these designs represent some of the most regal pieces of the collection’s history. The originals found in Europe’s revered castles and country estates are still used every day by their aristocratic owners and denote designs by some of the greatest minds of the golden age of furniture. Baker has continued to add to the collection since its 1981 inception, creating a repository of works as diverse as the lifestyles with which these pieces are associated.

Baker also selected designs from The Jacques Garcia Collection as part of its offering. This exclusive line of casegoods, upholstery, lighting, accessories and fabrics designed by internationally renowned designer, Jacques Garcia weaves contemporary form with traditional references evoking a refreshingly modern aesthetic. Garcia draws inspiration in part from his illustrious private endeavors, which includes commercial and residential projects in France, Beirut, Baden Baden, Geneva, Monaco, Brussels, Morocco and the United States, immortalized in numerous literary works and myriad publications over the years. The illustrious line-up includes Paris’s unforgettable Hôtel Costes bar and courtyard café, Hyatt’s red hot Hotel Victor in Miami’s South Beach, celebrity studded Hotel Metropole in Monte Carlo, the latest Etoile retail fashion shop in Dubai, and the redesign of famed, five star Hôtel Fouquet’s Barriére on the Champs-Elysée.

Rounding out the show are forms from Baker’s highly successful Bill Sofield Collection, by multi-disciplined, New York based designer, Bill Sofield. His forms pay homage to those areas he holds so close: the art of fine craft, the sensuality achieved through nuance and restraint, the necessity of functionality, and the modern timelessness that elevates the designs of today to become the heirlooms of tomorrow. Sofield designs embrace his love of 1920s sophistication and a strong nod to Hollywood glamour. He merges the breathtaking simplicity of haute couture with the reserved chic of classic French furniture form. Influenced by both his personal and commercial pursuits, Sofield’s list of commercial accomplishments include the penthouse suite at the Tribeca Grand, New York, and retail stores worldwide for Gucci and Yves St. Laurent, and an upcoming Tom Ford store location in Los Angeles.

Baker Knapp & Tubbs, Inc. includes Baker furniture, Baker Knapp & Tubbs Showrooms, and Baker Stores. Along with McGuire Furniture Company, Ann Sacks tile, stone and plumbing company, Kallista plumbing, and Mark David hospitality furniture, it is part of the Kohler Interiors Group and wholly owned subsidiary of Kohler Co., a global leader in kitchen and bath designs.

Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wis., Kohler Co. is one of America's oldest and largest privately held companies. Kohler is a global leader in the manufacture of kitchen and bath products, engines and power generation systems, cabinetry, tile and home interiors, and international host to award-winning hospitality and world-class golf destinations.