Entertaining at home drives new designs
By Jeff Linville -- Furniture Today, April 25, 2005
High Point — As sociologists predicted, Americans have spent more time at home since 9/11, watching movies and playing games with family and friends. April market introductions include a larger-than-ever selection of occasional furniture designed to support these pastimes.
It's more than just watching a sporting event on TV, said John Conrad, vice president of merchandising for Powell Limited. People are watching DVDs together, playing cards and bringing back board games.
Powell and other manufacturers are responding by offering game tables, home theater seating, home bars and pub sets.
Card games have gotten a lot of airplay on television during the past few years, with programs like the real-life "World Series of Poker," "World Poker Tour" and "Celebrity Poker Showdown," and dramas like "Tilt" and "Las Vegas." Discovery and The Learning Channel also get in on the mix with real-life looks at casinos and card sharks.
Powell drew a strong crowd last market with a mini-casino set up in its showroom. This market, along with a big line of game tables, Powell is introducing a new versatile gaming piece that combines a choice of gambling options such as craps, roulette and blackjack, with an attractive cherry bar top.
The company also has a new hexagonal poker table with a removable top. One side has cherry veneers for dining use, and the other has recessed areas for cups and poker chips with an inset felt card surface. Underneath the top is a roulette wheel and mobile chip holders.
Bassett Mirror is placing heavy emphasis on entertaining at home this market, adding four game tables as well as the High Rise line of small casual dining tables that expand when guests come over.
This is the third market that Bassett Mirror has offered a flip-top game table, said Ron Cepulo, vice president of merchandising. Included this market is a 46-inch-by-72-inch Texas Hold 'Em table with double pedestal and flip-top game surface; the table and four castered seats retail for $1,499. The company also offers a chess table where the top rotates and flips open to reveal a felt card surface. The table and four chairs is $599 retail.
Hooker Furniture also offers both occasional and casual dining suited for entertainment. Its new Preston Ridge collection includes a flip-top, counter-height game table with a matching vertical bar cabinet and kitchen island.
Powell's new hexagonal table is part of the Brandon group, which includes a 60-inch bar with cherry finish and swivel barstools. The company also is introducing the Martini bar, a metal-and-wood frame with crotch mahogany veneer, styled for an upscale Manhattan apartment, said Conrad. The bar, $599 to $699 retail, features three martini glasses in metal across the front, an element that is carried over to a matching Martini pub table, small chairside table and metal barstool.
Pulaski Furniture said late last year that home bars were a hot category in 2004. Building on that success, the company is introducing six new models with stools, including its first-ever bar with bombé shaping.
Broyhill Furniture is showing bars for the first time, while AICO is adding bars and barstools to several collections: Cortina, Eden, Excelsior, Firenze, Trevi, Tuscano, Venetian, and Villagio.
Universal Furniture is expanding its Great Room Living concept with key items like a bar, barstools and plasma TV consoles.
Several occasional companies have had success with pieces that offer bar function or wine storage, and more case goods companies are adding to this niche.
That includes Bernhardt, which has a wine cabinet with hammered copper top, seven horizontal bottle holders and stemware holders.
Klaussner and A-America are introducing new licensed collections based on wineries. Klaussner adds Vintner's Blend to its Napa Valley line, through a license with Flora Springs Winery & Vineyards.
A-America is offering four groups within the Wine Country umbrella in its initial offering based on a license with Columbia Crest Winery.
Klaussner also is distributing some novelty wine pieces from brand partner 2-Day Designs, such as a kitchen island made from wine barrels and a table using an empty wine barrel as a pedestal base.
