By Andrea Lillo
“We really know our customer—we can give them exactly what they want,” said Tom Delavan, the creative director of Gilt Home. And so it did, with the launch of Gilt Home’s first private label collection of furniture, rugs and decorative pillows last month.
Designed by Delavan, the collection was inspired by a number of things, including vintage pieces he’s seen at auction and Scandinavian mid-century decor, he told HFN at a preview event last month. The furniture pieces, made in the U.S. of American walnut, are offered in two neutral colorways, a light and a dark. Color is brought into the line with several flatweave and hemp rug designs and decorative pillows.
Delavan’s design touches include a thicker top pillow in the Luca modular sofa for extra comfort and Bruno ($1,200), a club chair that has a swivel base so it can be easily turned around in a room. The Luca chaise ($1,275) is almost the size of a twin bed, so it makes for an additional sleeping spot when needed. Available in graphite or sand, the Luca modular pieces are also available in two- and three-piece sets ($2,495 and $3,350, respectively), as well as individual pieces such as an ottoman ($675) and the armless chair ($975). The Alex sofa has a sleek, slim profile with a nubby linen/cotton fabric “that I love,” said Delavan. Other furniture pieces include the Xavier bench and the Søren chair.
With the furniture colored in neutrals, Delavan used several of the new rug designs to bring in color, including patterned flatweaves ($499 for a 5-by-8) and jewel-toned hemp rugs ($499). Though hemp is usually seen in its natural brown color, it also takes on color very well, Delavan said, and has a nice striated look. “I wanted jewel tones; they are in right now.” For a neutral look, the collection offers such geometric, cream-and-black designs as the Malone wool flatweave ($499), the Evans handtufted rug ($675) and the Noah handknotted shag ($1,320). “The Noah shag looks more vintage,” he said. “I wanted a handmade look.”
Decorative pillows include ones made of shearling ($400 for a 16-inch square) and a mohair-like cotton blend ($100 for a 23 inch square).
The collection was on sale to members for seven days last month before becoming a part of Gilt Home’s permanent line at regular prices. Already, Delavan is planning to expand the collection with case goods, lighting and more upholstery.
Twenty percent of the purchase price of each item during the seven-day sale, up to a $10,000 donation, was slated to go to Habitat for Humanity to assist with its relief effort for people affected by Hurricane Sandy.