Accent chairs offer style, color, function
By Jeff Linville -- Furniture Today, April 24, 2004
At The Market — At The Market— Sofas and beds may get all the glory, but occasional chairs offer a lot of style, color and function in a small package.
Scattered about showrooms, these chairs come in a huge variety of wood finishes and fabrics, allowing for coordinated or eclectic looks.
The personality of a piece often can't come out in a fully upholstered item like a sofa or recliner because product designers must be so concerned about functionality, said designer Lillian August, who has a licensed line with Drexel Heritage. "Occasional chairs are the most fun piece in the living room."
"The occasional chair is the jewel of the room," agreed Celerie Kemble, a New York designer working with Lane-venture. It should be architecturally interesting and provide a "precious shot of color."
The prettiest fabrics aren't always used on sofas because of the cost, Kemble explained. Instead, manufacturers tend to use such materials in smaller spots like throw pillows and accent seating.
Designers can even select whimsical patterns that wouldn't look right on a larger piece, August said. She likes to think of chairs in terms of companionship; samples of sofa fabrics are shown with three to four swatches that don't match the pattern, but coordinate, to be used with chairs and pillows.
Touch of romance
The chair is romantic and causes the consumer to fall in love with it, said Carol Hicks Bolton, a designer working with E.J. Victor. She tries to instill nostalgia into the look so that it evokes memories.
Occasional chairs serve two purposes, said Roger Turnbow, director of fashion and design for Bernhardt's upholstery division. First, the chair provides aesthetic value through colors and patterns; second, it functions in any environment.
These chairs should work in dining rooms, home offices, living rooms and anywhere else a seat is needed in the home, said Kim Shaver, Hooker director of marketing communications and brand manager.
E.J. Victor's philosophy is to create a stand-alone look that can fit with a collection, said Bolton. The consumer doesn't want a chair that can only go in one place; a good occasional chair can slide up to the dining table or card table when company comes over.
In order to make moving the chair easier, August designed many of her chairs with casters on the front legs. A woman can lift the back of the chair and roll it to where she wants it, she said.
Occasional chairs are a growing business for many companies this year. One reason is that the average home size is increasing, according to Scott Ballard, vice president of sales for Lexington Home Brands. People have more space and want to fill it with something that's both stylish and functional, he said.
This "rapidly growing business" from Lexington includes more than 100 chairs across the various brands with 28 custom finishes and more than 1,000 fabrics sourced globally. The most-popular styles hit several price points, with goods ranging from $499 to $1,499.
Greens, pastels and prints
Ballard said Lexington is seeing more greens, pastels and prints coming back on chairs, more so than on sofas. The fabrics add color without overwhelming the eye.
Ultimate Accents drew on its expertise in hand-painted occasional furniture when it launched a chair program last year. The chair backs have hand-painted designs that can be coordinated with occasional pieces, such as a bombé chest or chairside table.
The idea was to offer something unique to the marketplace, said Ray Steele, Ultimate Accents' vice president of sales and marketing.
With imported goods lowering price points, "nothing is exclusive anymore," Steele said. "A few years ago, leather was only sold at high-end stores, but now everyone, including Wal-Mart, has leather."
Ultimate's chair prices range from $299 to $499, depending on the style and whether they are shipped from the company's U.S. warehouse or by direct container.
Hooker's occasional chair program includes 63 frames, 31 finishes and about 180 fabrics. The program is available by direct container, with 48 of the chairs backed up in its U.S. warehouse for quick shipping.
Bernhardt has 35 chairs in the line with more than 300 fabrics and about 50 leather options, said Turnbow. Some have exposed wood and carvings; many have traditional or clean transitional lines.
Prices depend on how much carving is involved and what fabric is chosen, but generally range from $699 to $1,499 retail.
For more chair coverage, visit www.furnituretoday.com.
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