Awards given for best designs in home furnishings

The search for new and useful designs for the home never ceases, and each year various design-award programs ferret out some of the best of recent market introductions.

The Resources Council Inc., representing the decorative side of the home-furnishings industry, recently presented its 12th annual Roscoe awards for outstanding and innovative product design during 1982.

Twenty-four winners were chosen from the 373 entries. These were selected by the jury on the basis of their creativity, imaginative use of color, craftsmanship, and contribution to the total design scene. The jury included members of the American Society of Interior Designers and other professionals.

Shown here are four winners from various categories, which included furniture , fabrics, rugs and carpets, wallcoverings, lighting, and decorative accessories.

''Gina'' is the name of a beechwood chair designed by Bernd Makulik, made in Italy, and imported by Stendig Inc., of New York. It is described as a ''go-anywhere, all-purpose'' chair, since it can be a dining or occasional chair in the home, as well as a firm, durable chair for conference rooms, lounges, and offices. ''A basic chair like this must not look too utilitarian,'' the importer says. ''To fit in well, it must be graceful as well as sturdy. This lacquered version has a nice flare in the arm, and is finely detailed, and these add to its versatility.''

In the casual furniture category, ''Steamer Lounge Chair,'' designed by Thomas Lamb for Ambiant Systems Limited of Toronto, evokes a bygone era. Employing highly contemporary technologies, it recalls the days of sleek ocean liners, comfortable deck chairs, and a more leisurely mode of travel. All component parts of this steamer chair (with optional foot rest and cushions) are molded from 9-ply Canadian-maple plywood, and have dowel joints that are glued.

The ''Duchess Table Lamp'' designed by Rick Buxie for Designs by Buxie, of Los Angeles, represents one man's effort to put together a quality lamp of metal and Lucite. It is slightly art deco in feeling, and though it makes its own artistic statement, it is not trendy.

The ''Kane Table'' designed by Brian Kane for Metropolitan Furniture Company of San Francisco, employs a new cast-polyester-resin process in its manufacture. Mr. Kane offers the table in 18 colors, as well as in custom colors. The color is underneath the clear resin on top, with a wood substratum beneath. Metropolitan has been perfecting this process of creating forms with cast or molded parts for several years. The table shown here is 48 inches square, 29 inches high, and can be used for dining, or as a study table, desk, or conference table. Surface scratches on the molded resin surface can be easily removed by buffing with a polishing compound.