Furniture will have key role in Bloomingdale's fall event
By Carole Sloan -- Furniture Today, August 11, 2003
New York — Furiture will play a pivotal role in Bloomingdale's fall home furnishings event, CasaItalia.
Most of the furniture will be made in Italy, but "it will not necessarily be completely of Italian design derivation," said Lester Gribetz, vice president of home fashion for the Federated department store.
The home furnishings event, which launches in mid-September with the mailing of Bloomingdale's home catalog, will be showcased in vignettes across the furniture floor in the flagship store here rather than in model rooms, which are typical of the store's furniture fashion presentations.
"CasaItalia is founded on the artistry and workmanship that is prevalent in Italy, and is reflected in the upholstery and case goods we are featuring," Gribetz said, "but not necessarily Italian design."
Upholstery is contemporary and includes sofas, sectionals, sofa-sleepers and recliners from Natuzzi, Nicoletti and Calia. The case goods feature Biedermeier-inspired bedroom and dining room pieces from Zichele, with accent pieces from Sacchetto.
The Biedermeier looks, in a rich, polished walnut burl, lighter in tone than usual, are designed to fit a more formal lifestyle. "The case goods are absolutely fantastic," Gribetz said, and are inspired by museum pieces from the turn of the 19th century.
Predominant colors are tones of gold, and fall reds and yellows. "There's no taupe," Gribetz said.
Meanwhile, Bloomingdale's will open in September its second Home + Furniture store in metro Chicago's Oakbrook Center. The first was opened in February in downtown's Medinah Temple.
