The Odegard Warehouse Pre-Holiday Sale


Odegard Hand-Knotted Carpets Decorate the Floors of Luxury Hotels


Valeriana rug at the Cove at the Atlantis


Ribs & Loops rug with white metal tables at the Roger Williams

The new luxury hotel in New York's Tribeca neighborhood, Greenwich Hotel, features Odegard hand knotted carpets, hand carved marble side-tables and handcrafted copper clad furniture in its lobby and corridors. The hotel opened in April 2008, designed by the Rockwell Group, Grayling Design and Samantha Crasco.

Recently installed in the lobby of the Roger Williams hotel in New York, Odegard’s hand knotted vegetal dyed carpets add warmth to the lobby. The reception desk, clad with hand hammered white metal, was custom made from the Stephanie Odegard Environments Collection.

For the Cove at the Atlantis on Paradise Island, architect Jeffrey Beers customized Odegard’s hand-knotted carpets to be inset in a marble floor for the VIP check in area as well as other vignettes in the lobby.

Odegard Showcases Mughal Hand Paintings in Washington Design Center DC Showroom


Stephanie Odegard has selected a collection of arguably some of the most acclaimed current Jaipur reproduction artists’ paintings to exhibit in her showroom. The Odegard DC showroom presents this collection along with Stephanie’s carpet and home furnishings collections inspired by the rich Mughal period of India (1560-1660).

The Odegard DC showroom in the Washington Design Center hosts a display collection of Mughal paintings reproduced by contemporary artisans from Jaipur, India. This display is running in concurrence with The Sackler Museum’s MURAQQA exhibition: Imperial Mughal Albums from the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin May 3, 2008 – August 3, 2008.

Open to the public: Monday through Friday 9 am – 5 pm

Odegard
Washington Design Center
300 D Street, Suite # 519 SW
Orange / Blue Line @ Federal Center SW
202.484.5888

Letter from Stephanie Odegard - April 2008


 Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to have woken up, I am alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it, I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others, to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings…I am going to benefit others as much as I can.

H.H. the XIV Dalai Lama

Everything would be a lot different if that were always among our first thoughts every morning. Given the conditions today in many parts of the world, it is tempting to turn away and to shield oneself from the reality…the turmoil, the terrorism, the extreme poverty and abuse of basic human rights that has led to this most disturbing state of affairs.

During my travels, while visiting places where our work is done, conditions in many cases are harsh. Looking at everything with my eyes wide open is difficult to bear. Sometimes I think it would be easier to go someplace else and do something different, and not to look at it at all.

But there is another way of viewing this condition and a far better way of dealing with these issues than to turn a blind eye. We can encourage, and embrace any opportunity to better understand our place and purpose in the global existence, and to affect change, however slight. There are opportunities and ways for us to do this, to benefit others as much as we can.

One is through the work that we do. Mine, is to bring you - an appreciative, sophisticated, enlightened audience - a beautiful handmade product from a place and a people who greatly benefit from being able to participate in its production.

Another way is through one’s knowledgeable and educated purchase, in consciously choosing products made in a responsible, sustainable manner, and in conditions where human rights are respected, where people are paid fairly, and where standards of living are being improved through fair labor practices. We are working through a lot of tough issues surrounding our production in many places and it is not the time to abandon them. Now, more than ever, to continue engaging through improving the lives of our producers through the process can make a difference and we can all have a hand in that.

Stephanie Odegard

Odegard Introduces Extravagant Design and Felt Collections


 Created by designer Stephanie Odegard, several new collections are being introduced this fall and winter including Extravagant Design: the Mughal, Mughal Jewelry, Musical, and Damask collections and the premier of her Felt collection of carpets.

Stephanie Odegard will be giving exclusive previews of her newest rug design collections and the stories behind their inspiration this fall and winter.

Odegard’s newest collections will be on view in the following Odegard showrooms:
Odegard Miami
12/17/08 through 1/25/08
Stephanie Odegard presentation Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008 at 1:30 pm

Odegard DC
February 19, 2008 through March 14, 2008
Stephanie Odegard presentation Tuesday, March 11th, 2008 at 2:00 pm as a part of Capital Design Week


Shown: Aurea in pumpernickel

Stephanie Odegard awarded the 2008 Twin Cities International Citizen Award


 Stephanie Odegard has been selected to receive the 2008 Twin Cities International Citizen Award presented by the International Leadership Institute of Minneapolis. The Twin Cities International Citizens Award honors individuals and corporations whose work has contributed significantly to international understanding, cooperation, friendship and development.

Although Stephanie Odegard has personally garnered numerous accolades and awards that acknowledge her design talents, commitment to social progress and philanthropic accountability, this award is especially meaningful to her because, “it is the first time I will be honored in such a way, in the city I consider my home, my birthplace, Minneapolis”.

The 2008 Twin Cities International Citizen Awards recognition dinner and gala will be held on April 23, 2008 at the Minneapolis Club from 5 – 9 PM. The event will also include a Silent Auction supporting International Leadership Institute international projects.

click to view full press release

Former Odegard Employee opens Weaving Studio


 Former Odegard employee Cynthia Alberto has founded The Weaving Hand (www.weavinghand.com) a Brooklyn based studio for children and adults that celebrates the art of hand weaving. Students work with their hands in classes, special events and private parties. Inspired by Stephanie Odegard’s hand knotted rugs that support weaving communities and raise awareness and respect for the legacy of textile and carpet weaving, Cynthia’s studio focuses on the weaving styles from countries such as Nepal, Guatemala, Bolivia, Philippines, Japan, Laos, Morocco and Tibet. Prior to working at Odegard Cynthia had studied textile surface design, with a specialization in weaving, at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City.

Classes at The Weaving Hand include the use of table, floor and lap looms, traditional teachings and uses of different materials. The Weaving Hand invites you for an international artistic experience in Park Slope Brooklyn. Please visit their website for more information.

Guatemalan TextileTrunk Show


April 25 & 26, 2008 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Guatemalan TextileTrunk Show
to benefit Guatemalan women through microcredit and education

Odegard
210 N Second St., Suite 100 Minneapolis, MN
ph 612-455-6100 

Please Join us.

www.friendshipbridge.org

The trunk show collection features exquisite indigenous and fair trade fabrics curated by textile artist Mary Anne Wise.

Eight Twin Cities interior designers have selected choice pieces from the collection to create one-of-a-kind home furnishings.

Participating designers include: Carol Belz, Lynn Barnhouse, Wendy Coggins, Tom Gunkelman, Sally Wheaton Hushcha, Marcia Morine, Gay Parker, Mary Wozniak.

For more information: www.maryannewise.com
Art Basel Artist's Series On Display




Odegard’s artist’s series featuring Robert Miller, Philippe Croq and Melissa Braddock will be on display through February 29, 2008.

Having shown Russell Sharon, Mira Lehr, Carlos Betancourt, and Raul Perdomo at past exhibits, and on the heels of hosting a successful art auction to benefit RugMark this past spring, Stephanie Odegard is honored to presenting such a wide range of artistic expression.

MELISSA BRADDOCK

Melissa Braddock, a visual artist, continues this tradition with her latest series “afternoons holding company with the boys” Originally from Tennessee she currently lives in Miami Beach, Florida. Melissa’s work is abstract expressionism. Each painting evolves as a work of art during the painting process. Her pieces are a declaration of independence from the styles and manners of many of her contemporaries, a strong poetic statement, flavored with color, free from imitation or limitation. Recent Exhibitions include: Griffin Gallery, Minneapolis, MN, Stephen Gallery, Minneapolis, MN, Holly Hunt Showroom, Minneapolis, MN.

PHILIPPE CROQ

After a cancer diagnosis Philippe Croq radically changed his life by leaving the aerospace sector where he worked and dedicated himself to painting. His original works are the result of games with sand on linen cloths and the joining of different typeset elements. His pictures are a constant search for balance where throws light on the chaos within. His “second life” has been accompanied by international recognition of his paintings, and awards in several exhibitions: XVII the Biennial of Umam in Nize, Henri Matisse award, “d'or Toison” of “Artjonction” and the first prize at the “Mossa”. Philippe Croq currently lives and works in Marseilles, France. Since 1991, his work has been exhibited in Europe and was shown for the first time in Florida at Odegard during Art Basel 2007.

ROBERT MILLER

Robert Miller continues along his Tibetan Buddhist inspired Journey, with the latest series, " Thoughts on Mt. Kailash". His previous works in this series include "Near Tibet”, " Lama Norlha” and "Remembering the future". Mr. Miller lives and paints in El Portal, Florida. His work has been exhibited at Dorothy Blau Gallery, Broward County Public Library in Ft. Lauderdale, Brook Dorsch Gallery, J. Johnson Gallery, World Arts Building, M-D Public Library Main Branch and Florida International University. He is a co-founder in " Art for World Peace", and continues to mentor artists from around the world.

Odegard at Paradeisos
The Miami Design District
3621 Northeast Miami Court
305-576-7166

Shown at left: Chrysanthemum by Melissa Braddock
Untitled 6 (not what I expected) by Phillip Croq
Thoughts on Mt Kailash 5, by Robert Miller

Stephanie Odegard Interview with Metropolitan Home



Metropolitan Home
Interviews
Stephanie Odegard and Sherri Donghia
about how Donghia textiles are turned into Odegard Rugs


click to watch video

Odegard Miami carries Karen Brown


Odegard announces a new line of chandeliers by Carl Dern Studio with Karen Brown now being sold exclusively in Miami through Odegard’s showroom in the Miami Design District.

Shown: Top Left - Cobweb Chandelier cast bonze branches tied with metal rope, draped with webs of serpentine, rock crystal, peridot, citrine, canelian, calcite and jasper.
44”d x 55” h

Bottom Left & Below - As seen in the November issue of the Miami Herald Home & Design Magazine

Custom commissions available

Contact Odegard’s Miami showroom at odegardmiami@odegardinc.com

Odegard Miami Carries Alpha Workshops


A highly regarded design studio, Alpha Workshops is the only not-for-profit organization in the country that trains and employs people living with HIV to work in the decorative arts field. Their hand painted wall coverings line, including Ling Ling Kimono as seen above, consists of 20 original patterns and won the 2002 ELLE DECO Design Award and was featured in O at Home, the New York Times, Interior Design, Metropolitan Home and House & Garden. Alpha Workshops wallpapers and lamps are available in Miami exclusively through Odegard.

Contact Odegard’s Miami showroom at odegardmiami@odegardinc.com


 Ling Ling Kimono, Alpha Workshops Wall Covering as seen in the September issue of the Miami Herald’s Home & Design Magazine.

The Odegard Award For Excellence In Rug Design Competition Winners' Tour


 

The Winners' Tour is coming to:

Mount Ida College
November 19th through January 4th, 2008
777 Dedham Street
Newton, MA 02459

This display is open to the public.

We invite you to experience the creativity of the next generation of designers as well as visit Odegard’s showroom in suite 519 to see Stephanie Odegard’s newest introductions to her carpet and furniture collections.

Winners Announced in The Odegard Award For Excellence In Rug Design Competition



New York, NY June 29, 2007

View all winning designs here
View images from the event here

Design Competition Coverage on RugNews.com

Design Competition Winner Laura Valentine featured on Virginia Tech Website

The top three winners were announced last evening at The Odegard Award for Excellence in Rug Design Awards Ceremony. Industry luminaries Dr. Barbara Bloemink, Sherri Donghia, Matilda McQuaid, Jack Lenor Larsen, and Stephanie Odegard juried over 930 student submissions and were on hand to present the awards. The competition was created to show student designers how combining modern designs with traditional hand knotting techniques can increase awareness and respect for the legacy of textile and carpet weaving.

The Gold prizewinner Laura Valentine of Virginia Tech receives a 6 x 9 carpet produced by Odegard from her design, a $2,500 cash prize, and will be offered a three month paid internship at one of Odegard’s US showrooms. The winning design will also be offered for sale in all Odegard showrooms, with the winner receiving a royalty on the sales of her design. The Silver and a $2,000 cash prize went to Jason Neufeld of the Pratt Institute. The Bronze was presented to Beth Taylor of the University of Texas, School of Architecture who received a $1,500 cash prize. All three students were awarded complimentary roundtrip airfare and two nights at the Waldorf Astoria to attend the awards ceremony last evening at the New York School of Interior Design. Also in attendance was Prof. Gina Tanner of the Miami Art Institute. Selected from a list of faculty members who incorporated the Odegard Design Competition into their curriculum, she received a trip to the awards ceremony compliments of Odegard.

Honorable mentions were presented to: Justin Losego, Miami University, Laura Shirreff, Rhode Island School of Design, Johil Wiemann, Rhode Island School of Design, and Shannon Ireland, Mount Ida College.

The Barbara Bloemink Jurors Awards went to Kyle Coburn, Miami University and Kerra Killingsworth, Samford University. The Sherri Donghia Jurors Awards went to Ruth Bohn, Rhode Island School of Design and Lauren Paul, University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Matilda McQuaid Jurors Awards went to Katrina Mosher, Miami University and Frances Nelson, Rhode Island School of Design. The Jack Lenor Larsen Jurors Awards went to Randi Tanley, O'More College and Isabel Wilson, Rhode Island School of Design. The Stephanie Odegard Jurors Awards went to Lauren Gerdeman, Miami University and Jacqueline Williams, West Valley College.

Addressed exclusively to students in the field of the arts, Odegard invited design students from over 400 U.S. colleges and universities to submit original carpet designs and received 930 submissions from 37 states, plus Canada, Cyprus, Greece, India and Turkey. Applicants were encouraged to offer designs with inspiration reflecting the spirit of Odegard’s mission by combining a modern esthetic with traditional weaving methods. The entries were judged on the merits of artistic execution and the originality of their design vision combined with the use of natural materials. Odegard hopes the competition will launch careers and help aspiring designers bridge the gap between academia and a professional life in the design world.

Following the work Stephanie Odegard has been personally involved in for over two decades; she believes this competition will demonstrate for a new generation of designers that it is possible to create luxury design through traditional industries while sustaining the artisans and local communities responsible for their production.

Stephanie Odegard Television Interview - KARE11 Minneapolis



Online Video of Stephanie Odegard Interview

Stephanie Odegard recently visted the studios of KARE11 in Minneapolis to do an interview about Odegard and her work with Rugmark.

Click here to watch the full interview
Windows Media Video file - 5MB

Odegard Gains Attention & Awards for Sustainability



Odegard Named to Domino Magazine's 2007 Green List

Click here to see Odegard in Domino

Odegard also featured on Treehugger:

TreeHugger is a fast-growing web magazine, dedicated to everything that has a modern aesthetic yet is environmentally responsible. Their goal is to make sustainability mainstream and to be the one-stop for the environment. They are looking for solutions, constructive developments and positive initiatives.

Odegard on the Green List
Treehugger article on environmentally & socially responsible rug manufacturing

Odegard Makes Fast Company's Prestigious Fast 50 List



Fast Company Magazine has named "Odegard Inc. - Weaving a Solution to Child Labor" in its 6th annual Fast 50 - Profit driven solutions for what ails the planet.

Click here to read article

Stephanie Odegard on Martha Stewart Living Radio




Click here to listen to Stephanie Odegard's interview with Gael Towey, of Design Trends on Martha Stewart Living Radio.

Stephanie discusses her line of traditional crafts and Aid to Artisans, a group that connects third-world artists and artisans with potential buyers. (www.aidtoartisans.org)

Odegard Wins ICFF Editors Award for Carpet and Flooring


May 2006

Odegard, Inc. was presented with the Editors Award for Carpet and Flooring at the 18th annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York on Sunday May 21st. Exhibiting for the first time in over six years, Odegard was selected by a jury of 10 of the top magazine editorial staff member from shelter publications worldwide as having the best-of-show products in the carpet and flooring category.

Odegard Wins in 3 categories at the Domotex 2006 Carpet Design Awards:
Best liked by Visitors
Best Modern Collection
Best Modern Design in the price range >250 Euros/square meter

When the organizers of DOMOTEX HANOVER, HALI and Modern Carpets & Textiles (MCT) announced the winners of the Carpet Design Awards (CDA) on Sunday 15th January 2006, Odegard took more awards then another other carpet company including "Best liked By Visitors". Odegard's Valeriana II voted Best Modern Design in the price range >250 Euros/square meter, was "chosen for its elegance, its subtle hues and its clever off-center design". Odegard was also awarded best Best Modern Collection for Sashiko "because of its coherence and strong theme running through the rugs as well as the great attention to detail and beautiful finish". Stephanie Odegard was most honored to have been selected in the Special Category "Best Liked by DOMOTEX Visitors". This "People's Choice award went to the Odegard company for its "Valeriana II" creation"

For full coverage of the awards visit the Domotex Website: click here

Photo: Stephan Ph. Kühne, Member of the Board of Deutsche Messe AG, Stephanie Odegard, Sebastian Ghandchi, Publisher of Hali Publications Ltd.
Photo: Valeriana II "Best Liked By Visitors" "Best Modern Design >250 Euros per sq meter"

Traditional Home Magazine hosts Collection Showroom Opening in Chicago
(November 2005)

Traditional Home Magazine's editor in chief, Ann Omvig Maine and Life style Editor Jenny Bradley hosted a party on Thursday November 19, 2005 to welcome the Stephanie Odegard Collection of hand made furniture, lighting, decorative accessories and architectural elements to the Merchandise Mart in Chicago.

Click to view images from the event.

D Home Magazine celebrates the Holidays with Odegard in Dallas

World-renowned designer Stephanie Odegard opened her first Texas showroom in the Dallas Design District in June of 2005. To celebrate Odegard's opening as well as the holidays D Home's Senior Editor Rebecca Sherman co-hosted a holiday event with Odegard's showroom manager Michael Reagan.

Although the weather made it a challenge many designers still managed to attend including Loyd Taylor of Loyd-Paxton Design, Harriett Adams, Fallon Pastore, Abby Smith and Katie Wilson both of Quorum Design and Paul Garzotto. Limor Goren Odegard's VP of Business Development as well as Odegard's Marketing Director Kirsten Brant came in from New York to enjoy the event. Also in attendance were D Home's Susan Neill, Account executive, Chris Phelps, Associate Publisher, Diana Nelson,Marketing manager ,and Casey Armijo ,marketing specialist.

Located at 1525 Slocum Street, Odegard’s signature hand knotted rug collections are now be available to design professionals in the Dallas area.

Click to view images from the event.

Odegard Donates Rugs for Lobby of Museum of Arts & Design

New York, NY – April 1, 2005 – When Steve Wanta was given the architectural challenge of a re-design of the lobby of the Museum of Arts & Design the first person he told was Stephanie Odegard.

Having worked with Stephanie Odegard on many projects over the past decade including the design of several of Odegard’s showrooms, Stephen Wanta, “knew Odegard would be a great match with the Museum and its mission to work with hand crafted pieces of art from around the globe”.

Although faced with several obstacles including only two weeks to complete the project, Stephanie agreed to design a custom wall-to-wall floor covering for the Museum of Arts & Design. Working with existing pieces from Odegard’s hearty Chickpo Collection, she formed an open spacious patchwork of rich saturated color to cover the entire lobby and store totaling over 1,400 square feet. This created a handmade artful floor designed in keeping with the spirit of the Museum of Art and Design.

“Given the institution, which has recently re-opened with an exciting new store design and new name, I was challenged and excited by the prospect of creating a floor with such great visibility to show visitors how appropriate hand made carpets are even for highly trafficked commercial areas,” said Stephanie Odegard.

“We are delighted to celebrate the hand-made with great design in our new lobby and store, perfectly exemplified by Odegard carpets,” says Holly Hotchner, director of the Museum of Arts & Design. “These beautiful, hand-knotted creations underscore our passionate commitment to the finest in materials and craftsmanship.”

Architect Stephen Wanta’s artful and elegant redesign of the Museum’s lobby and admissions spaces, as well as The Store was unveiled in early winter. Visitors now enter a much more welcoming lobby, featuring Odegard’s patchwork floor design as well as a 200-foot-long banner of Jack Lenor Larsen-designed fabric donated by Cowtan & Tout. A striking model of the Museum’s new home at Two Columbus Circle is also on prominent display.

"Company Helps Forming Economies"

October 14, 2004

To read Odegard's article in The Daily Pennsylvanian click here

To listen to a live interview of Stephanie Odegard by Startup Nation Radio on Feb 28th 2004 click here.

Odegard will be previewing its new Environments Line for commercial interiors at:
Hospitality Design 2004 (www.hdexpo.com) from April 29 - May 1 at the Sands Exposition & Convention Center in Las Vegas Nevada.

Innovation in Craft
In recognition of her innovation in design and socially responsible businesspractices, Aid to Artisans is proud to award Ms. Odegard the 2004 award for Innovation in Craft. Ms. Odegard, Founder and President of Odegard, Inc., has designed, produced and imported innovative carpets from Nepal since 1987. Her creations cover the floors of the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. One of her goals is to encourage a revival of interest in Tibetan carpets, whose tribal motifs were falling out of vogue. She is involved with RugMark, a foundation combating illegal child labor in the industry. A percentage of Odegard Inc. sales also goes back to Nepal to rehabilitate children rescued from illegal situations.

To read Stephanie Odegard's acceptance speach click here

click to view news archive