For those who watch “El Show de Cristina,” the Emmy-award winning Spanish-language talk show whose topics range from how to get rid of bad luck to interviews with stars such as Antonio Banderas, Cristina Saralegui is a household name. Now the Cubanborn talk show host — known mostly by her first name and whose popularity is compared to that of Oprah Winfrey — is bringing her love of fine design with Latin roots into the home.
Pulaski Furniture Corp. has teamed with her to create a furniture line. “Latin life is rich with warmth, family values and history,” Cristina says. “I want to bring that beauty into American homes.”
Pulaski will unveil “The Casa Cristina Furniture Collection” at the International Home Furnishings Market in October in High Point, N.C. The collection will have 100 pieces and include dining, bedroom, accent, clocks, entertainment and youth furnishings.
The buzz of this partnership started circulating last April at the twice-a-year furnituremarket held in High Point. Last week, Pulaski made it official.
“Cristina is a very influential figure in the Latin community,” says Jim Kelly, executive vice president of Pulaski’s product development. “She is trusted and looked to for advice.”
Pulaski, one of the top 20 furniture companies, last year introduced a new collection based on the “Antiques Roadshow,” the popular PBS television show. Cristina’s collection is inspired by her savvy style and different parts of her life. Marcos Avila, Cristina’s husband and president of Cristina Saralegui Enterprises Inc., says the collection will bring “the Latin spirit into an exciting furniture collection.”
Cristina’s talk show, which is in its 15th year, is one part of her life. The media star, who draws an estimated 100 million viewers worldwide, also has a magazine “Cristina” and a Web site www.cristinaonline.com.
While Kelly says Pulaski is targeting the Hispanic consumer with this collection, the designs also will appeal to consumers who enjoy European design roots mixed with Mediterranean styles.
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For store information, visit the Web site www.pulaskifurniture.com.
