Bench Press
Direct-to-consumer brand BenchMade partnered with Westport actress and content creator Eva Amurri on a 19-piece capsule collection of sofas and sectionals. Accessory pieces include a bench, accent chair and ottomans. The BenchMade x Happily Eva After upholstery flaunts sculptural curves with plush deep seating. All the furnishings are made-to-order and handcrafted in the United States with a choice of more than 125 fabric and leather options. Describing the collection Amurri says, “I believe design should be both beautiful and functional—a philosophy shared with BenchMade Modern. Their commitment to creating high-quality, versatile pieces for today’s homes perfectly complements my vision.”
Sea Change
Interior designer Jeffrey Alan Marks has launched his first-ever rug collection for the Rug Company. Coastal Threads features maritime-inspired motifs in watery blues and sea glass greens in handwoven wool and bamboo silk. “The rugs are so easy to incorporate, they are powerful, yet calm and feel like an old friend that anchors a room,” says Marks. The designer, who previously lived on the West Coast and now calls Connecticut home, has never lived far from the sea, the muse for his designs. The four patterns include: Dunemere, featuring sand dollars in an asymmetrical composition; Windansea, with wave-like ripples; Avalon, echoing coastal wildflowers with delicate tendrils; and Miramar, fashioned in a fishing net motif. The rugs can be tailored in size, shape pile height or color and are available in wall-to-wall carpeting or as a stair runner.
Suitable For Framing
If you’ve been putting off framing your artwork, photos and collectibles, there is a new, cost-effective option in town. Framebridge set up shop in Connecticut this summer with a store in Westport, and plans in place for additional locations in New Canaan and Darien. Founded in 2014 by Susan Tynan, the company was created to ease the framing process with a wide selection of framing styles and sizes. In-store talented designers are available to help with material, color and mat selections. The Westport shop displays a gallery wall celebrating the town’s creative energy with local artwork and memorabilia, inventively framed for inspiration. “We’ve been looking to open a store in Westport for years now so that we can frame more fine art, photographs and memories in person,” says Tynan. “Westport is known as such a special town thanks to the best of what Connecticut has to offer—great beaches, creative neighbors and a small town feel. I can’t wait to see what Westport brings into frame!”
Designer Dinnerware
Kelly Wearstler has partnered with Belgian brand Serax on a contemporary homeware collection. The two groupings—Zuma and Dune—reflect the interior and product designer’s distinctive vision and signature style. “I always look to approach my projects—across both interiors and design—with a sense of no boundaries or restrictions on style, while incorporating functionality,” says Wearstler. “To me, luxury is about textures and sensations, but also storytelling; it is the compilation of a collection of objects, each with their own character, arranged in harmonious composition.” Organic tableware, glassware and serving accessories are presented in a mix of materials in ceramic, stone, glass and metal. Zuma includes porcelain dinnerware in a graphic pattern and amber, ombre glassware. Dune is influenced by the silohuettes and texture and of ancient Greek pottery, offering a two-tone composition of matte and high gloss finishes in alabaster or slate colorways. Wearstler adds, “When styling the collection, I found it imperative to weave together pieces of varying scale with contrasting textures, shapes and functionalities. Yet, it is the inherent versatility of this collection that sets it apart and adds a distinct allure.”