NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

Home Designer Mike Ragan & Manufacturer Rags Launch mikeraganhome.com; Web Store

Apparel for the Home

mikeraganhome.com is an online retail store that brings the best in coastal, mountain and urban lifestyle home decor to the consumer. Just as the Gucci or Armani coat add sophistication to wardrobe, Mike Ragan creates sophisticated yet warm and comfortable looks for home with his collection of Rags beaded tropical pillows, exotic rugs, glassware, dinner and flatware, books and original paintings. Mike Ragan Home brings the "best of Rags" along with other manufacturers and artists, personally selected to complement the Mike Ragan Home lifestyle. Manufacturers include Vietri, Mane Lion, Cork Pops, Rizolli Books, Zodax, Crystal Clear, Mariposa, Trapp Candles, The Rug Market, Arthur Court and original artwork by Alvin Clayton.

The foundation of Rags client base is with high quality department and specialty stores: Robb and Stucky, Carl's, and the very successful lifestyle retailer, Tommy Bahama. Catalogs such as Neiman Marcus, Gumps, Soft Surroundings, and Koo Koo Bear Kids are big promoters of Rags. Leading items have included bedding, tabletop and pillows as well as Mike Ragan's patented coffee table sleeper. Design firms make up the balance of Rags customer base. Mr. Ragan has also developed a licensing program with Bauer International and The Rug Market for his line of Exotic Tropicals and Mountain Spirit Rugs now offered at Bloomingdale's.

The entertainment industry is a big supporter of the line with contract work produced for MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, and Flower Films. Celebrity projects have included: Drew Barrymore, Warren Beatty, Angelica Huston, Kelly Gray and Rosie O'Donnell. Mike Ragan Home has been featured in magazines such as House Beautiful, In Style, Vogue, Coastal Living, Southern Accents, Florida Design, Better Homes and Gardens and Elle Décor. Mike Ragan and his home have been featured on HGTV's "Kitty Bartholomew's: You're Home," "Awesome Interiors" and "Home's Across America."

Mike Ragan has taken home décor to a new level with the same passion he pursued his Broadway career, dancing for Bob Fosse and Michael Bennet. His fabric, texture and color intensive designs and concepts have created innovative furnishings marking him as a leader in the Home Furnishings Industry for over a decade. Mike Ragan's design philosophy is to create the most beautiful home furnishings with handcrafted quality to last a lifetime -- see www.mikeraganhome.com today.