Case goods go casual
Smaller pieces, sharp prices on tap
By Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, March 30, 2009
High Point — Seeking an audience intent on simplifying their lives, case goods companies are serving up a menu of largely casual furniture for next month's High Point Market, in mostly transitional and contemporary style footprints.
Some of the groups previewed at last week's premarket here also are scaled down, and are priced for still-nervous consumers looking for added value without exceeding their budgets.
Among the standouts at premarket were four bedrooms from Hooker Furniture in mostly transitional or contemporary styling, offered in a new division called Envision. Targeted to retail at around $1,995 for four-piece sets, they are priced about 25% below typical Hooker case goods and are geared toward consumers ages 24 to 44.
Hooker also is moving in a more exotic contemporary direction with the 70-piece Kinston. It features book-matched bamboo veneers on table tops and door fronts set against black frames, giving the group an island/Asian flair.
American Drew's Synergy is a casual contemporary group made with ash veneers that also has soft Asian influences seen in the splayed feet on case pieces and the curvature of the headboard.
Classic, modern/contemporary designs with Art Deco influences are also on tap, including American Drew's Echelon bedroom. The group is made with primavera veneers and hardwood solids in a dark finish that contrasts with shapely brushed nickel accents.
Aspenhome's 75-piece Destination is inspired by the early 20th century Deco work of France's Emile-Jacques Rulhmann. The group is made with rosewood and American cherry veneers and features swirling patterns repeated in the inlaid marquetry on dining tables, and also in the custom brass filigree hardware and Lalique-inspired glasswork in the center of a cocktail table.
Kincaid is launching Alston, a 30-piece modern/traditional, Deco-inspired bedroom, dining room and occasional group in solid European beech in a dark chocolate finish. Signature pieces include a four-piece bed with a curved leather headboard, a leg dining table that extends to 114 inches, and a console with a smoked glass top.
"We needed a modern traditional look," said Tim Annas, vice president of merchandising. "We have a lot of traditional and contemporary and we needed something to bridge that gap."
Also new from Kincaid is Newberry Street, which has a clean-lined, almost Scandinavian design and features a platform bed with contrasting solid-cherry panels bordered by ash solids.
Traditional looks also are plentiful this market, although many are updated to present a soft, comfortable approach.
Universal's new 50-plus-piece Paula Deen Home has traditional forms with Southern design influences, in part inspired by pieces in the Savannah, Ga., home of celebrity cook Paula Deen. Major case pieces are in tobacco and linen gesso finishes, while a handful of accents also come in Spanish moss and sea oat finishes. Southern and plantation/West Indies design influences are seen in louvered doors and dramatic turnings on dining table legs and bed posts.
"If there is one word to describe this furniture, it's comfortable," said Jeff Scheffer, Universal president and CEO.
Bernhardt's 30-piece James Island also has traditional Southern antebellum design elements seen in the figured cathedral prima vera veneers. Features include bowed case fronts, rounded pilasters and subtle carvings on table and chair legs.
This contrasts with Bernhardt's Silver Lake, a 30-piece transitional collection influenced by design elements found in a century-old bohemian neighborhood in Los Angeles.
Heritage, Broyhill's latest addition to Attic Heirlooms, is a 30-piece pine collection with farmhouse or rustic mountain lodge-inspired elements. Available in a pine finish, it has antique brass hardware and features plank tops on tables and case pieces.
After a successful launch of its casual Coastal Living licensed collection last fall, Stanley Furniture is going in an opposite style direction this season with two of the most traditional collections available this market.
The 52-piece Grand Continental is a European traditional collection with Italian baroque and Portuguese design influences. The grand scale of the group is softened by slightly curved cases, a hand-waxed toffee-colored finish, and large glass doors that allow maximum light into a bunching curio.
City Club is a 54-piece relaxed English traditional collection with Federal and Queen Anne design elements. Made with highly figured cherry veneers and maple solids, the look is softened with pieces including a sleigh bed that has a thick blue velvet upholstered headboard.
Other updated traditional designs can be seen at A.R.T., Legacy Classic, Hooker, SLF, Pulaski and Vaughan Furniture, which is launching 10 new groups in its Kathy Ireland Home licensed collection this market.
Vaughan-Bassett has four new oak bedrooms with traditional Arts & Crafts elements such as spindle headboards and footboards. Hardware and finish options can give the pieces either a more transitional or contemporary flair.
A.R.T's Modern Country is a 40-piece collection in elm with Shaker design influences seen in signature pieces such as a canopy bed and a rectangular dining table with splayed legs.
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Case goods go casual for High Point Market
Mar 31, 2009
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