COLORFUL EXCEPTIONS DESIGN CONTEST

HOSTED BY: GRANGE Furniture, Inc.

In 2011 we gave designers and design enthusiasts the opportunity to create a unique finish design for a piece of GRANGE furniture. We held a voting period in each market during which visitors to the GRANGE North American showrooms and stores had the opportunity to vote for their favorite local design. The winners from each market have been created by the GRANGE Factory in Lyon, France and have now moved on to the global voting round.

The contest participants have each chosen a charity (local or national) to be aligned with. The final pieces will be auctioned off with a portion (75%) of the proceeds of the price sold to benefit their chosen charity.

The global winner, chosen by the most online votes, will win a prize (minimum value $1000 USD) and be featured 2012 GRANGE marketing materials. The 7 final contestants including the winner will be featured in both national and regional design industry publications.

Scroll down to vote for your favorite design.

‘Étoile de Lumière’

Kristi Dinner, company kd, llc.

Denver, Colorado

Finishes: Amber tint cherry wood-TM12 (no dusting), Grey-T725, Sage-T630, Charcoal-T850, White-T010, Gold-T198. Interior in T010.

Inspiration: Inspired by the new Grange colors and the abstract form of a Gerber daisy, we created a large-scale stylized pattern for the front of the Provençal Single Bowfront Chest. Our design combines the daisy with bold, geometric elements found in the Art Deco period, transforming the daisy into a deco-inspired starburst. The background is a combination of soft, neutral tones, allowing the pattern to explode and shine off of the Bowfront Chest.

Charity: KIVA- loans that change lives

'Avery'

Herb Litwin, Mathew-Michael Interiors, Inc.

Dania Beach, Florida

Finishes: A010 White, A420 Pink, A440 Lilac, A460 Grape. Interior of Drawers in A010 White.

Inspiration: Inspired by a little girl’s passion for color, this cabinet is the special hiding place for her "oh-so-many" colorful outfits to be hidden safely within. Conceived for a precocious pre-schooler who loves to play dress up multiple times each day, her new "Avery" cabinet will welcome her creativity and particularly, her unique style.

Charity: Alzheimer's Foundation of America

‘Faux Bois Beaute’

Dayna Flory, Rariden Schumacher Mio & Company

Troy, Michigan

Finishes: Pink C420, Lemon C140, Orange C230, Amber tint CM12. The base and the inside of the drawers are C111 crème.

Inspiration: Faux bois is defined as the artistic imitation of wood and wood grains. With punchy paint colors, the face of each drawer has been painted in a faux bois pattern. Grange furniture traditionally has a brave and fabulous approach to color. This boldness is the inspiration for the paint selection. The frame is simply stained to highlight the grain. A truly versatile piece, sophisticated enough for a foyer entry and playful enough for a child’s bedroom.

Charity: Karmanos Cancer Institute

'Zen Zero'

Jack D. Price Jr. and Alan M. Grant, GrantPrice

Los Angeles, CA

Finishes: Blanc C010, Crème C111, Rouge C310, Carbone C850.

Inspiration: A controlled application of concentric circles to the curved faces of the furniture piece results in an intriguing graphic pattern. The bold contrast of the black and white colors selected reinforces the simplicity of the design resulting in a piece that is formal but fun.

Charity: Arthritis Foundation, Pacific Region

'Lizzie Chest'

Janet Davidsen, Details In Design, Inc.

Chicago, IL

Finishes: T550 Tourquoise and T198 Or. Interior of the drawers are in TM16 Tobacco.

Inspiration: Last summer, in the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, I looked up and saw the beautiful architectural ceiling and snapped a photo.

Charity: I will be supporting the Sunshine House of Sturgeon Bay in Door County, Wisconsin. "Sunshine House Inc. is a diverse community service organization whose purpose is to achieve full participation in society with people of special needs." My sister, Elizabeth Gierhahn participates in their programs.

'Stars & Stripes'

Tinsley Hutson-Wiley, Tinsley Hutson-Wiley Interior Design

San Francisco, CA

Finishes: C725 Gris, C850 Carbone, C797 Zinc, C510 Bleu Lavande, C370 Ox Blood, C010. Blac Frigo. Interiors in C725 Gris.

Inspiration: I was inspired by the relationship between France and the United States of America, our flags, and our Independence and Bastille Day celebrations. I reinterpreted our two flags in decorating the front of the chest with blue, white, and red stripes and complemented the star shaped hardware with an oversized star offset and hand painted in the zinc finish to recall traditional silver leaf finishes. I combined the traditional furniture form with contemporary graphic design.

Charity: Raphael House

'Sucette'

Maria Viola-Kuttruff, Viola Interior Design, LLC

Philadelphia, PA

Finishes: Natural cherry wood-TM11, Lemon-T140, Gold-T198, Orange-T230, Pink-T420, Lilac-T440, Azure Blue-T550, Apple Green-T620. Interior in T550.

Inspiration: On a recent trip to Provence, I stumbled upon a charming magasin de sucrerie. The shop’s interior was filled with whimsically wrapped bonbons and lollipops in the brightest colors, displayed in tall, transparent bins set against a background of pecan-stained cabinetry. I couldn’t help but feel my spirits lift. This inspired my design for the Grange cabinet. After all, wouldn’t it be great to see something in your home every day that made you smile?

Charity: Covenant House, Pennsylvania (serving homeless, trafficked and runaway youths).

THE VOTING PERIOD FOR THE COLORFUL EXCEPTIONS DESIGN CONTEST IS OVER.

A WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTES!