New Smart Designer

We just launched a new version of our Smart Designer. We are really excited about all that you can do with it! To view the new version (please note that it still works best in Firefox), visit http://www.smartfurniture.com/shop/smartdesigner/smartdesigner.asp

Here are a few new features:

1. From the start page, you can choose beginner, intermediate, and advance

• beginner launches a room template
• intermediate builds a room based on the dimensions entered
• advanced takes you to a 2d stage--where you can draw the room dimensions--then view in 3D The image below is how the drawing tool looks:

2. You can go from 3d back to your "Room Layout" in 2d, make room changes, then go back to 3d 3. Once you Create Room in 3d, you can then choose wall and floor options.

4. After you have created the room, you can save it, buy it, share it, or make it public for others to see in the Design Community. See http://www.smartfurniture.com/designcommunity

5. If you make it public, your room will show up in the design community. Choosing a room takes you to a page that shows a larger image of your saved room, lists the items in the room, and gives you the option to view it 3D, buy it, etc.

6. Finally, if you choose product (like an embody chair) that has a lot of options, you can click the magic wand--which launches a product configuration tool (in flash). After choosing the options with the product configuration tool, the item changes dynamically to adhere to your choices.

This is exciting stuff. We hope you go nuts with it.

The Gifted Eye of Charles Eames: a portfolio of 100 images

What: The Gifted Eye of Charles Eames Exhibit will open at the Smart Furniture Studio in Chattanooga, Tennessee on February 4th. Smart Furniture will host a reception for the exhibit which will feature a presentation by Eames Demetrios, principal of the Eames Office and grandson of Charles and Ray Eames. Charles Eames, together with his wife and design partner, Ray Eames, are among the most influential American designers of the 20th Century. They are best known for their groundbreaking contributions to furniture design, architecture, industrial design and manufacturing, textiles, and the photographic arts. For the Eameses, and particularly Charles, photography was not merely a way to record things; it was a part of the process of design. Charles had an incredible eye for detail and this is evident in his photography. This exhibition represents the first time Charles Eames’ photography has been truly celebrated on its own. These rarely seen photos feature the many facets of Charles and Ray’s life, work and travels. To choose a mere 100 images from such a massive body of work was a daunting task. All are archival images; most have not been published. In combination, each gives a taste of all: furniture, house, projects, travel, and people. When: Beginning February 4th at 6pm Where: Smart Furniture Studio, 2 North Shore, 313 Manufactures Road, Suite 107 If interested in attending please contact giftedeye@smartfurniture.com

Blu Dot Conducts a "Real Good" Experiment

Blu Dot recently decided to figure out what would happen if they left a bunch of Real Good Chairs sitting out for the taking on the streets of Manhattan. It's good to see that the folks at Blu Dot have interests besides making cool furniture.

Blu Dot Real Good Experiment from Real Good Chair on Vimeo.

Apartment Therapy's Best Shelving Sources

Rated #1 Best Shelving Source: Smart Furniture: Always on the lookout for semi-custom shelving options that work for small apartments, we were happy to be pointed toward Smart Furniture. Their grid-style shelving is of a simple design and comes in versatile sizes that could cover an entire wall or just a nook.

Gus Modern Sale

15% off all Gus Modern Products