Kensington sofa, available to the trade through Michael Folks Showroom, Seattle Design Center, Ste. A-254, (206) 762-6776.
Buzz
The New Nobility
A new furniture collection from Roger Thomas—internationally known for his luxury hospitality designs—draws on elegant forms with an eye toward opulence
BY
Virginia Bunker

For travelers who love the luxury of sumptuous interiors, a beautifully appointed hotel can make the difference between an enjoyable stay and an exceptional one.

But even beautiful comes in degrees; some five-star, five-diamond resort destinations captivate the imagination for sheer daring and decorative extravagance. Few such projects have garnered as much ink as the Wynn Las Vegas and Wynn Macau, the interiors of which were designed by Roger Thomas.

The creative genius behind these and other high-profile properties, such as the Bellagio in Vegas, Thomas recently expanded his signature collection of home furnishings. The designing eye that raised the bar on eye-popping hospitality may now inform your home.

“What really struck me about Roger Thomas is his incredible passion for art history,” recalls Craig Cross, marketing manager for Seattle Design Center, who recently spoke with the designer. “He keeps a vast collection of notebooks full of global inspirations. Whenever something catches his eye, he sketches it—and refers back when the right project comes along.”

Left to right: Grenelle Dining Arm Chair, Berkley Butler’s Tray Table, Lombard Bed and
Des Vosges Console Table, available to the trade through Michael Folks Showroom,
Seattle Design Center, Ste. A-254, (206) 762-6776

The design notes for Thomas’ case goods and upholstered pieces, produced through Edward Ferrell/Lewis Mittman, cite a diverse range of influences, from the 16th-century Italian villas of Andrea Palladio to the French modernist lines of Jean-Michel Frank. And the names of each piece in the collection shed further light on Thomas’ many passions—his favorite people, places and things.


Take his Lombard Bed. This showstopper evokes the curves of a San Francisco street, a center of Italian decorative arts and a glamorous 1930s Hollywood screen idol. “I think I’ll add that to my next order,” says Michael Folks, whose eponymous SDC showroom carries furniture from Thomas’ collection. “It’s just a really sensual, great-looking piece—I love the tufted headboard and curving frame,” he says. Folks also admires Thomas’ bold use of color. “I think those vibrant accents truly hit the mark.”

Thomas’ profound respect for elegant proportions and strong, simple lines are two unifying themes that make his collection particularly versatile. His references may range from a neoclassical colonnade to a Richard Neutra home, but at any given time, his work is rooted first and foremost in the moment of his present inspiration.



Barbaro Rug, available to the trade through Terris Draheim, Inc., Seattle Design Center, Ste. P-288, (206) 763-4100
Diamond Crystal Surround Mirror, available to the trade through Polly McArthur & Associates, 607 S. Fidalgo St., (206) 768-1964.

Skip Rumley, vice president of design at Edward Ferrell/Lewis Mittman, who worked closely with Thomas to produce the furniture collection, extols the virtues of Thomas’ clean, sexy silhouettes and the organic elements that run throughout. “I view each individual piece as sculpture,” Rumley says. “Like fine art, they blend effortlessly with both traditional and modern aesthetics.”

The executive vice president of Wynn Design and Development, Roger Thomas is currently directing the Encore project at Wynn Las Vegas. He will be a keynote speaker March 12 at Seattle Design Center’s Nordex trade conference. Rumors are flying that Dale Chihuly—who collaborated with the designer when his “Fiori di Como” was chosen for the lobby ceiling at the Bellagio—wants to drop by to hear Thomas’ address.