FURNITURE & DESIGN BRIEFS

Design center sale to benefit area charities

The California Central Nevada chapter of American Society of Interior Designers will host its first premarket inventory clearance sale at the Las Vegas Design Center at World Market Center. Set for June 8 and 9, the event is open to the public and will benefit several area charities.

The sale is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at 495 S. Grand Central Parkway. A $10 cash admission fee will be collected at the door and will benefit the Nevada Aids Project, Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas and Opportunity Village.

Stephen Leon of the Las Vegas-based Soleil Design International and communications director of the local ASID chapter said members look forward to interacting with the public and helping to increase awareness of the design community in Las Vegas.

"Designers, showrooms and charities will all benefit from this special event," Leon said.

About 70 of the year-round showrooms in both buildings at the design center will offer a broad cross section of home-furnishings, décor and accessories at reduced prices.

Gerry Sawyer, chief operating officer of World Market Center, said the trade-show campus regularly offers merchandise sales to interior designers prior to its biannual markets. The inspiration to open the sale to the general public for the first time helps fulfill Las Vegas Market's ongoing mission to support the interior design industry and be a partner to the community.

"By opening the inventory clearance sale to the general public, we can generate exposure for local designers, for our showrooms and at the same time raise funds for some incredibly deserving organizations," Sawyer said.

All sales are final and payments must be made by Visa, MasterCard or cash. Personal checks will not be accepted.

Capital North American Van Lines will be available to arrange deliveries for a fee.

Sundance to focus on green furnishings

Sundance's new series on The Green channel, "Big Ideas for a Small Planet," will focus on environmentally friendly furniture during Tuesday's episode.

When people think about environmental degradation, home furnishings may not pop instantly to mind. Nevertheless, the production and use of home furnishings have a definite set of ecological consequences, including forest clear-cutting, landfills brimming with waste wood and off-gassing.

"Furnish" will show how green-minded designers are taking into account everything from materials to manufacturing to distribution. Those profiled in the segment include: Scott Charon and Gabe Wing, the engineers charged with developing sustainable concepts and prototypes for the iconic modernist furniture company, Herman Miller; Carlos Salgado and Bart Bettencourt of Scrapile, located in Brooklyn, N.Y., renegade designers who fashion sleek pieces of furniture out of discarded wood scraps collected from other businesses; and Columbian-born brothers Jamie and Isaac Salm, who are bringing affordable, chic and adaptable green furniture and home accessories to the masses through their Philadelphia design firm MIO.

The episode airs at 9 p.m. on Cox digital cable Channel 307.