GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. April 2, 2008 – Internationally renowned interior designer Carleton Varney will share his observations about the rising popularity of furniture inspired by the designs of Dorothy Draper at 9 a.m. Wednesday during High Point Market. Varney, who has consulted on the restoration and decoration of legendary hotels and resorts worldwide, will chat with attendees over coffee at the Kindel Highpoint showroom at 242 North Hamilton Street from 8:30 until he gives his formal remarks at 9 a.m.

Among a number of high profile projects, Varney most recently decorated the famous Architectural Digest Green Room at the 80th Academy Awards ceremony at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles in February.

In addition to his insights into contemporary tastes, Varney will address some of the aspects of 20 new furniture pieces based on Draper’s original designs that Kindel Furniture will be unveil at the show. Pieces include coffee tables, lamp tables, case goods, upholstered chairs and mirrors that are faithful adaptations of furniture following Draper’s designs. Draper is credited with founding in 1923 the first interior design firm in the United States, thereby establishing interior design as a profession, and with inventing the Modern Baroque style that lent itself well to large public spaces and modern architecture. Draper’s influence grew through her interior design of some of the country’s most frequented hotels, restaurants, theaters, and department stores to the point that her name was synonymous with good taste in decorating.

Varney, president of Dororthy Draper & Co. Inc. in New York City who worked closely with Draper, has been associated with the restoration and decoration of a number of the world’s most recognizable hotels and resorts, including Dromoland Castle in Ireland, The Waldorf Towers and Plaza Hotel in New York, Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in Michigan, The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida and the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs in West Virginia. He is the author of 14 books on the practice of interior design, a biography of Dorothy Draper, an autobiography and two novels.