New at Market: RTA

• All prices retail • In-depth stories on RTA introductions will appear in Furniture/Today's opening-day issue •

By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, March 31, 2002

Product Trends

• That's Showbiz: New home entertainment pieces abound, with plenty of configurations and storage options.

• All Done: From traditional wood finishes to new ideas with textures and mixed media, the look is the thing.

• Starting Up: For flatpack producers, starting price points cannot be ignored.

4D Concepts 220 Elm 104

The company is expanding its line of contemporary step-up product with a strong focus on bedroom and storage.

• A new youth bedroom includes a captain's bed, headboard, bookcase and student desk for $299 retail. New veneered shelves, constructed from 1.5 inch thick hollow-core board, are set to retail for $99 while room dividers from the same series will retail from $199 to $299 in veneer or $99 to $149 in cherry or beech finished laminate.

Altra Furniture 401 S. Wrenn St.

Introducing a new concept in RTA manufacturing with the Classic Series, a traditionally styled product line that features wood details for a high-value look. Priced to compete directly with promotional RTA furniture, the group includes entertainment, home office, kitchen, storage and bedroom pieces with key price points from $99 to $199.

Ameriwood C&D 9A

Introducing two collections:

• One includes computer desk, student computer desk, armoire, nightstand and five-drawer chest. Contemporary in styling and available in Driftwood finish, pieces feature plenty of storage space and sleek, brushed-metal hardware.

• Second group — more traditional in styling — includes armoire, nightstand, entertainment center and five-drawer chest. Pieces feature scalloped rails on top, Old Fashioned Pine finish and traditional-looking hardware.

Bush Furniture IHFC W547

Entertainment is the big focus here, with price points ranging from $99 to $499 for a comprehensive variety of configurations reflecting the changing shapes of today's TVs.

• The company will have at least four new collections of entertainment furniture, including metal and glass, laminates and laminates and solids.

• Also looking to present a stronger selection at some lower price points to support its popular Stratus series, with finishes in black, maple, oak and cherry.

• The company's European imports are growing, too, with a new collection to complement the existing Skater group.

Club 8 220 Elm 310

Flat-pack functional design, modularity and flexibility are expanding here with Basic 3D, a full line of modular furniture that covers bedroom, office, dining and especially entertainment. Wall units go up to 92 inches with ample media storage. The Occa TV-depth units will accommodate screens up to 36 inches. Several pieces have two-inch thick boards for style depth.

Doxey Furniture 320 S. Wrenn St.

Doxey has developed a new assembly method for RTA case goods, significantly reducing assembly time. The company has two new bedroom collections and two new office groups, and all are available in either veneer or laminate.

• The Heritage Oak and the Lodge bedroom collections each include five pieces that will retail at $499.

• In home office, Heritage Oak and Classic Cherry are new with three pieces retailing for $699.

Gusdorf C&D 8B, 8N

Adding new models to its already successful entertainment program, Gusdorf is offering new looks in metal and glass, wood laminates and textured finishes. In a new showroom, the company will have promotional pieces retailing at $149 and $199, including:

• A TV credenza finished in black and silver for flat-screen technology and an audio tower with open storage glass shelves inside a black and silver frame.

• At $399, the company is introducing a comprehensive new projection TV entertainment center. Available in three finishes, the unit features modular adjustable shelves, drawers and a spacious storage area. The adjustable bridge can accommodate any size projection TV.

O'Sullivan 220 ELM 120

• New O'Sullivan collections include Capistrano Hills, in Mission with a Landverry Oak finish; Handcrafted Home, featuring details such as corner medallions and a new Marguerite cherry finish; and Plantations, which features large scaling and an embossed pattern on doors, in a Landverry Oak finish.

• Industria is a group of stylized metal kitchen storage carts with solid wood tops. Retail ranges from $79 to $199.

• New to the Intelligent Designs line of light commercial office furniture is the Maestro modular office system. Features worktables, hutches and filing that can be configured for single, multiple or team work environments. Offers Armortop laminate desktops for durability, and 3-mm commercial edgebanding for dent resistance. Cable management and task lighting included. Priced from $99 to $299, with immediate availability.

• Adding several new pieces with the Digital Dock feature, which relocates the CPU from floor level to the desktop. They include corner workcenters in the McCormick Work Group and Living Dimensions collections of Intelligent Designs, priced at $399 retail; and new pieces in O'Sullivan's Xtreme Office collection of youth-focused furniture in wood and metal. Priced at $179 retail.

Sauder 220 Elm 218

Sauder's designers continue to develop the entertainment category, with the debut of a wide range of entertainment centers, armoires and universal stands in a variety of styles – from the traditional new Willow Falls Collection to the contemporary XWave collection. Sauder is answering the growing demand for entertainment furnishings with versatile and flexible solutions that fit today's array of electronic options, including expandable home theatre furnishings to suit large-scaled electronic equipment and accessories.

• For a home office with limited space, unveiling a budget-conscious collection of Corner Workcenters in a variety of finishes. Sauder's computer armoires are designed to be both practical and stylish workspaces.

• Expanding the Adaptech line of commercial-grade, modular office furniture with the debut of an all-new finish combination, American Cherry with Graystone accents. Available with a variety of components and finishes.

• The new Willow Falls collection conveys warmth through its pure design and earthy American Cherry finish.

• The Mission collection combines the softness of an age-old styling with the versatility of its functional entertainment offerings.

• The Chambery collection showcases an updated version of the traditional Louis Phillipe design, enhanced by the techno-fitted features of its various home office and entertainment pieces.

• The robust proportions and rustic design of the Cottage Home collection evokes the current trend toward lodge décor.

Tvilum-Scanbirk MS 145

• Introducing the No. 600 corner desk configuration with organizing hutches, modesty panel and built-in wire management. Made of chipboard with melamine surface in cherry or maple.

• Also adding a line of free-standing bookcases and room dividers on casters in cherry, beech or maple finishes.

Exhibitors Directory Key

IHFC: Int'l Home Furnishings Center

C&D: Commerce & Design Building

CP: CenterPoint

FP: Furniture Plaza

HM: Hamilton Market

HPN: High Point National

HS: Hamilton Square

H/W: Hamilton/Wrenn

IDP: Italian Design Pavilion

MOG: Market on Green

MS: Market Square

MST: Market Square Towers

NFM: National Furniture Mart

PS: Plaza Suites

SMS: Suites at Market Square

SP: Showplace