apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Shoshana--

Are you in NYC? If so, the folks at Mondo Cane or Duane in TriBeCa could perhaps give you details about Pearsall. They also typically have lovong restored pieces that might help you make some reupholstery decisions.

Do you have a picture (both close up and far away) of the loveseat upholstery?

How brave you want to be with mixing patterns also depends on what final vibe you want to hit...

lovong = lovingly :P

a quick google search indicates that pearsall designed furniture for craft furniture company in the sixties. as patrick mentioned the people at duane might be able to help, it is worth a visit for inspiration.

Great chairs! If you really want a pattern, I woudl suggest something small -- large images will distract from the wonderful shape of these chairs. My preference would be a fabric that reads as a solid from a distance, but is actually a composite of different colors in the weave ot tuft.

Wow. Lovely. If they were mine, I'd go for a broad *horizontal* stripe. Say, two colours, bands between 3-5 inches wide, a little bit of sheen in the fabric.

I agree about the stripe. It just depends on the colors.

Is this your fabric on the loveseat?
http://www.strongproject.com/office-accessory/maharam-fabric-upholstery/7103/0

If so, how about this pattern:
http://www.strongproject.com/office-accessory/maharam-fabric-upholstery/9468/0

Or this one:
http://www.strongproject.com/office-accessory/maharam-fabric-upholstery/9185/0

You'd want a complementary colorway. For instance, if your cord is 7103 (jute), how about 9188? That seems to be an olive background, with beige shapes.

Or add a new color, like using the red background that has the pineapple slice design (that's sort of what they look like to me). They have the beige color in the circles.

I like the idea of a more random pattern, because you have TWO chairs. One chair you could have done in stripes or a set pattern. Two chairs you would probably want the stripes to match up between chairs.

Like if you had beige/olive wide stripes, you'd want both chairs to start with beige at the top or the left side or whatever. It would drive me NUTS if the stripes don't line up.

Plus, it would cost a lot more to have them match up EXACTLY. And you have to make sure you know and they know what you mean by "exactly"...like EXACT exactly? Or "kinda close". Because when I say EXACTLY, I really mean it.

I really like those fabric selections, and I'd love to have those on my IKEA POANG chairs. I like how they say that the fabrics can be used in commercial applications. I've never seen anything that cool at any regular place or health care organization.

Check out that site and DO let us know if that's your fabric. We might have different ideas if we know if that's the one!

I love them... what a great shape!

I'd probably do a solid ultrasuede in chocolate brown (or red - really like scarlet with olive) but the stripe also sounds really good.

My Name Jim Pearsall and my father was the designer and owner of Craft Associates, the company that manufactured your chairs. Feel free to contact me if I can be of assistance.

Dear Jim Pearsall:
Could you please provide some contact info? I've been trying to learn more about your father's co. for some time.
with thanks
jason

I have recently purchased a beautiful, Danish Modern, standing walnut lamp that was apparently also designed by Adrian Pearsall. I'm delighted with it, but would like to know how I can replace the shade which appears to be made of something like heavy rice paper and is now in ruins. I would also like to know what is the best way to treat the walnut which on my lamp, unlike the ebay photo I posted, is dull and scratched. Is Craft Associates, the company that manufactured it, still around, or would Mr. Pearsall have any suggestions? Thank you.

You may contact Jim Pearsall at playnationnj@blast.net

I know Adrian Pearsall. He owned Kraft Associates (Wilkes-Barre, PA)during the 1950 to 1960s. The company was sold to Lane and Adrian left. Later he started Comfort Design in Kingston. He sold his interest in Comfort in the 1990s. Adrian was largely responsible for the bean bag chair. He is an incredibly talented designer (in my opinion).

Cheers!

Here is a complete review of Adrian and Craft Associates from 1953 to today, Dec. 15th, 2006.

I was his original Office manager and VP Purchasing from 1953 to 1975. His brother Richard, joined the team in 54.

He started in 52 producing Wrought Iron Designs, selling to Macy's and Wanamakers. The Walnut designs started in the late 50's skyrocketing the sales and taking Adrian beyond all others in residential design. The company grew from 6 to 800 and sold in 1969 to the Lane Company in Alta Vista, Va.

That year, Adrian helped a young man, by the name of John Graham, start Comfort Designs.
I can only assume Adrian had a financial interest, because he left Craft in 72 and joined John as a visible partner. Richard closed Craft in 77. Lane tried to change from a custom plant to a production line. It failed. I left in 75. Many of the skilled workers from Craft joined Adrian as it grew successfully into tne Wicker Era.

Metal was back in style in the 90's and Adrian decided to retire again. John bought him out in the late 90's.
John sold the company and the off shore manufacturing forced the closing in early 06.

Adrian is enjoying his retirement and is currently assisting a design team to introduce the "Craft Classics", inspired by Adrian Pearsall.

The line will be unveiled in 07.

On the 14th,I posted a complete review of Adrian and the Craft History from 1953 to today.

I was Adrian's original Office Manager and VP.

When should the info be posted?

Bud

Looking forward to Craft Classics - please keep us posted on that. I was in London in February and saw a Pearsall-designed Craft Associates sofa on display at Selfridge's (they wanted 4,000 BPS for it), along with other Danish Modern or retro-type pieces.

I did a Google search for Craft Classics and came across a company called Konto furniture. Konto furniture had some great looking pictures of the new line. However, I live in the U.S. and Konto is located in Canada. I was unable to find any other information on Craft Classics or the company itself. I was wondering if anyone possibly knows of any U.S. distributors where I could view the new Craft Classics line in person or knows Jim Pearsall's new email address (as the one listed above is not working) ? Thanks!

I tried emailing Jim Pearsall at playnationnj@blast.net, the email address he provided (above) but it was bounced back. Does anyone know how I could contact him?

Thank you,
BG