Hasta La Ideas

Did you get your hands on a bottle of that coral-infused red polish that became a must-have accessory for designing women? Achieve a pedicure that pops thanks to Cato Pink? These trendy shades aren’t the latest creations of Chanel’s Peter Philips but part of a popular series of upholstery-themed nail colors from…KnollTextiles. Founded in 1947 by Florence Knoll (née Schust), the company prides itself on creating fabrics that “combine beauty and function in the Modernist tradition” and recently was the subject of a color-soaked (and widely lauded) exhibition at the Bard Graduate Center in New York. What began as a one-off holiday marketing move—the December 2010 introduction of Knoll Red nail polish—quickly gained traction in the design community. Soon Facebook fans were begging for limited-edition bottles of the company’s signature orangey red, and the polish even inspired a tablescape at DIFFA’s 2011 Dining by Design benefit gala. KnollTextiles wasted no time in debuting a second hue: a bright pink tribute to its beloved Cato fabric, which turned 50 last year. Its latest lacquer is Tryst, a pewter-toned polish that celebrates the unique polyurethane upholstery of the same name (pictured above, in the icicle colorway). Designed by Dorothy Cosonas, the elegant horizontal stripe has already attracted some discerning fans: earlier this year, the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum acquired the textile for its permanent collection.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.