24
Aug 09
Posted by Maegan
Denise Korn, principal of Korn Design in Boston and founder of the non-profit Youth Design Boston, asked me if I’d be interested in mentoring a YD intern for the summer. Denise organized YDB to encourage and support talented high-school students interested in the arts. This program gives top young artists the opportunity to work in a real-world office environment.
I was lucky enough to hire graphic designer, Stacy Arman. Stacy has devoted her time to creating graphics for Merida’s new business cards, as well as developing patterns for rug designs.
Here’s Stacy in action working on designs for Merida’s Hospitality Collection!
Please check back to read blogs posted by Stacy about her experience here at Merida.
20
Aug 09
Posted by Zairo
For my undergraduate thesis, I wrote about the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI). The DJSI plays a very important role in evaluating sustainability from a financial market standpoint.
The DJSI is an index that Dow Jones and SAM Group, a rating agency for social responsibility investment, established in 1999 as the first index based on SAM’s social responsibility investment criteria. SAM Group analyzes the largest 2,500 companies in the Dow Jones Global Total Stock Market Index, and then selects 10% of those companies to be components of the DJSI. The DJSI was adopted as a benchmark by asset management companies in 16 countries, whose total assets currently amount to $6 billion.
SAM Group evaluates the companies based on three criteria: economic, environmental, and social sustainability.
Source: Dow Jones Sustainability Index
Below is a chart that shows the DJSI’s performance since its launch in 1999. When compared to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and S&P 500, its superior performance can be seen. After 2005 the DJSI exceeded its benchmarks (DJIA and S&P500). What’s more, the DJSI has been resilient in the market crunch in 2009. These phenomena, I think, represent the long-term superiority of sustainable companies. I believe the DJSI’s performance shows that social and ecological sustainability is consistent with economic sustainability.
In addition, I think there is a positive feedback loop for the DJSI’s superior performance that is supported by the financial market.
Corporations are increasingly motivated to be selected as composites of the DJSI. Here I have linked to comments by DJSI component companies PepsiCo and Novartis.
The DJSI is a fantastic measure of the sustainability performances of listed companies. But the DJSI cannot evaluate unlisted companies; therefore, we need other indicators to evaluate the sustainability of those companies.
-Koji Omiya
20
Aug 09
Posted by Whitney
The Hospitality Design Boutique Expo & Conference is coming up on September 14 & 15, and we are thrilled to be exhibiting for the first time. For two days, the members of our trade sales team will meet with show attendees in booth #2604 to present our Merida Studio collection.
Visitors to our booth will also be invited to register to win a free Merida rug at the event (see photo below). All registrants will receive a reusable Envirosax shopping bag. The winner will be drawn at random on September 15 and notified via email following the show. Please email us at sales@meridameridian.com to set up an appointment, or come by booth #2604 at the show to see this exciting new line from Merida!
At HD, we will be giving away a free Serengeti rug, which is pictured here in the Charym spa in Litchfield, CT.
The Merida Studio Collection is an exclusive product line for design professionals looking to create sophisticated and unique spaces. Merida’s expertise in custom flooring solutions ensures that designers and specifiers can find exactly what they are looking for, while our distinctive designs create a unique, textural look. Items in the Studio Collection include textured sisals, flatweaves, wool/sisal blends, and carpet tiles.
12
Aug 09
Posted by Bojan
There are many factors that go into selecting the perfect area rug: color, pattern, texture and material. However, the positioning of a rug in a room is very important to take into consideration. Before you make your purchase, think about the function of the room the rug will be placed in and the other pieces of furniture you are working with.
Dining Room
- Chairs in a dining room are moved frequently, and should always have all 4 legs on the rug, even when pulled out. Measure your dining room table and add about three feet to each side to account for chair movement.
- Arearugfacts.com also suggests leaving the rest of the furniture in your dining room off the area rug. More space on the perimeter of the rug helps to create the illusion of a larger room.
Living Room
- For a rug that covers your whole living room, measure the room and deduct two feet from each side to leave space between the rug and the wall. This will give the room a unified look.
- A smaller rug can accent a coffee table or ottoman. Measure the piece of furniture and add at least two feet on all sides. This will allow enough space to walk around the table or ottoman and still be on the rug.
Hallway/Entryway
Make sure to consider the thickness of your rug in hallways or entryways with doors that are used frequently. Leave enough clearance for the door to open and close without touching the rug.- Hallway runners should be sized to leave six to twelve inches of floor space on all sides.
