2020 has certainly been one for the history books – but in the face of daunting circumstances, we found our resiliency and adapted to the new normal. We figured out how to learn and work from home. We discovered new hobbies. We reconnected with nature. We found new ways to commune with friends and loved ones.
We conquered 2020 – not the other way around.
With this in mind, we present our 2020 Year in Review: a sampling of the accomplishments – both personal and professional, big and small – of our team members here at Resource Furniture.
Enjoy this look back on our year, and cheers to the new one ahead. From our family to yours, have a healthy, happy, and transformative 2021!
Resource celebrated its milestone 20th anniversary in 2020!
What began with nothing more than a chair, a single room, and a highly curated European product catalog has since expanded to eight showrooms across the US, Canada, and Mexico; a full-service design, space-planning, and logistics team; and a dedicated Contract Division providing products and services to a wide array of real estate, hospitality, and educational clients.
Today, Resource Furniture is the North American leader in multi-functional and transforming design. For 20 years, we’ve simplified the way people live and interact with their spaces — and we look forward to designing with you for many more years to come!
When we embarked on our 20th anniversary, we wanted to show our gratitude to the people, partners, and communities who supported and shaped us through the years.
That’s why we started the Give 2020 initiative: for every purchase made through one of our showrooms in 2020, Resource Furniture made a $100 donation in your name to one of 20 charitable organizations, each one personally selected by a member of our team for its special significance to them.
We are happy to report that we supported 17 local, national, and internal charities, including the Brooklyn Community Bail Fund, ASPCA NY, International Rescue Committee, Capital Area Food Bank, Southern Poverty Law Center, Alzheimer’s Foundation, and more.
When we first developed the Give 2020 initiative we never could have imagined what the year ahead would have in store. We are grateful for the opportunity to give back to these charities that are doing incredible work in their communities, especially during these trying times.
On behalf of everyone at Resource, thank you for helping us help others all 2020 long!
This September, our new San Francisco showroom opened its doors at the famous Showplace East, located right in the heart of the Northern California Design District.
After more than five years of success in the Bay Area, we knew it was time for an upgrade. At 3,000 square feet, our new San Francisco showroom is nearly double the size of our original showroom and features all the latest pieces from our collection of space-optimizing European furniture.
In the San Francisco area? You can schedule your private showroom appointment right here!
How could we let this year go by without remembering our encounter with the one and only Brad Pitt? Back in April, Brad teamed up with the Property Brothers to makeover a detached garage for his longtime friend and makeup artist, Jean Black, on the premiere episode of the new series Celebrity I.O.U.
Using our Swing queen-size sofa wall bed and our Passo coffee-to-dining table, Brad worked with the Scott brothers to completely transform Jean’s underutilized backyard garage into a stunning, multi-purpose ADU — perfect for use as a guest house or as a makeup studio.
We were so grateful for the opportunity to participate in this heart-warming project for a very well-deserving person. Learn more about Celebrity I.O.U. and Brad Pitt’s backyard pad renovation here on our blog.
Brad Pitt’s ADU wasn’t the only space we furnished for the Property Brothers in 2020. In September, Resource Furniture made a second appearance on the hit HGTV series, Brother Vs. Brother — this time, we furnished Jonathan Scott’s own backyard bonus space with our Tango Sofa queen-size wall bed at his home in LA’s historic Hancock Park.
The end result was a beautiful, functional space that accommodated a flexible living/sleeping area, kitchen, bathroom, laundry room and storage space.
The US Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon is the ultimate test of sustainability. Every two years, the top universities from around the world compete to design, build, and operate solar-powered, net-zero energy houses that are not only energy-efficient but also hyper-functional and cost-effective. And what better way to achieve this than with transforming and multi-functional furniture?
That is why Resource Furniture has been a longtime supporter of the Solar Decathlon, having sponsored 15 teams across three competitions to date. The goals of the Solar Decathlon are completely aligned with those of Resource Furniture — to promote, support, and educate people about more sustainable and efficient ways of living. This year, we had the opportunity to sponsor two incredible teams: The University of Nevada at Las Vegas and their home Mojave Bloom, which was designed to promote mental and emotional wellness for veterans struggling with PTSD; as well as the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and their modular home concept Adapthaus, which is designed to grow and change along with its occupants over the course of their life.
Love is in the air here at Resource! This year, our Accounting Manager Melissa and her husband Marco exchanged their I do’s in a beautiful, intimate ceremony. A few months later, our resident Marketing & PR guru Gabby said yes to her beau Brian. Mazel tov!
This year, we upgraded to a bigger, new and improved warehouse for our East Coast deliveries. With new logistical advantages and a convenient location in Perth Amboy, NJ, the upgraded warehouse will help deliveries run more smoothly than ever. We couldn’t be prouder of our logistics team for overseeing the big move!
We’re always scouring Europe for the finest manufacturers and most elegantly designed products. While the annual Milan Furniture Fair may have been cancelled this year, that didn’t stop us from adding a whole 85 new products to our collection — including our gorgeous Byron modular sofa, which was a finalist for Interior Design Magazine’s Best of Year Awards and was featured in a number of publications like Dwell and Spaces!
Earning a certification or degree of any kind in 2020 was no small feat. That’s why we’re proud to say that not one, but three of our team members completed a certificate or degree!
Our own Vice President of Sales & Design Challie completed her MBA from NYU Stern School of Business; our Senior Project Manager, Kirk, passed the Project Management exam to become certified as a Project Management Professional; and our Purchasing Manager Samantha passed the CSCP exam through the Association for Supply Chain Management, becoming a Certified Supply Chain Professional!
Now that we’re all sequestered at home, what better time to welcome a new pet into your life? Two of our team members did just that, and now the Resource family has two new furry friends: Luna the labradoodle and Rocket the chocolate Havanese. (Adorable fun fact — these pups share a birthday on July 4th!)