Best of market

Highlights from High Point's April introductions

By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, April 24, 2005

Decor-Rest

The latest edition of Decor-Rest's Blissfull Comfort collection provides sink-in comfort with the addition of white duck feather blends. Sofa retails for about $1,299; chair, $599; ottoman, $499.

Lane

The Robert Idol collection's suite-oriented Pacific Heights flavor shows off the case goods importer's first-ever use of rosewood veneers.

Howard Miller

Fluted columns distinguish this Chatham II floor clock from Howard Miller. Other details include a crackled Dark Umber finish, carved pediment and antiqued brass lyre pendulum.

Comfort Designs

Daybeds were hot this market, including Comfort Designs' Walker model, which features a curved back and button tufting.

Philippe Langdon

The U.S. marketing arm for a Chinese plant found its strongest sales with the Madison bedroom in solid cedar and birch, featuring solid-oak drawers, antique distressed hardware and antique rich fruit finish.

Harden Furniture

Harden Furniture added 40 eclectic occasional pieces to its Tapestry collection this market, combining decorative veneers, hand-painted designs and metal accents. This No. 126 console has a faux porcelain top on alder and retails for $1,199.

Brooks

The centerpiece of Brooks Furniture's newest glider rocker collection was the model 502 in a heritage cherry finish.

Leathercraft

Undaunted by a $5,000 retail tag, dealers lapped up this lush silhouette in pure lambskin.

Encore!

The company found a good audience for its Aberdeen wall, with features that include touch lighting, forced-air ventilation for the audio compartment and storage for 320 DVDs.

Legacy Classic

This platform bed with microfiber headboard, part of the Patterns collection, was a hit for the major case goods importer. Retailers liked its cathedral and quartered cherry veneers and strong pricing at $1,499 retail for a suite.

DeCoro

This sofa, in a contemporary Euro theme, stood out among DeCoro's 65 seating introductions.

Catnapper

The contoured Glove recliner was a home run for Catnapper.

Emerald Home Furnishings

The bed shown here, from the stylized Mission collection in oak with metal accents, helped drive strong wood business for the Pacific Northwest-based importer and bedding manufacturer.

Nichols & Stone

The Main Street collection features transitional solid-wood bedroom and dining, available in two wood stains and two painted finishes.

Sligh

Sligh Furniture introduced a new line of home entertainment furniture designed for flat-screen TVs. The Innertainment collection includes this No. 9750 sliding door cabinet, which hides a plasma TV from sight when the two doors slide to the middle, revealing bookcase storage in the sides. A hidden infrared eye allows electronic components to respond to the remote, even when hidden by the doors.

Canal Dover

Urban Retreat, 10 dining pieces in solid cherry, took top honors for Canal Dover. The sideboard, shown here in an espresso finish, features sleek brushed nickel hardware, interior lighting and adjustable glass shelves.

French Heritage

This drop-front desk features lots of drawer storage and a bottom shelf with concave curve to make room for the user's legs.

Century

Designer Kelly Hoppen's trademark use of fabric runners on tables and other surfaces inspired the treatment on this bedside table for her namesake collection with Century, one of several contemporary hits.

Highland House

Highland House used a mini-plaid in red and white, print pillows and a black-painted carved wood frame to deliver its Pascal settee to the marketplace.

McKinley Leather

The Kalahari chair, designed to capture the spirit of big game hunting in Africa, garnered dealers' interest.

Butler Specialty

This hand-painted console is an addition to the popular Artists' Originals collection by Butler. In a Tuscan Crème finish, the 46-inch-wide console retails for $1,299.

Habersham

The Approach Road display piece, part of the licensed Biltmore Estate collection, was inspired by the art, architecture, history and ambiance of the famed estate in Asheville, N.C. Suggested retail is $13,709.

Trindi

Following up its debut six months ago as an imported chair resource, Trindi has now expanded into sofas and case goods. Seven sofas — including this Victoria model dressed in soft, weighty, rich leather— range in price from $1,499 to $1,999 retail.

Rowe

Designer Jonathan Adler debuted six collections for Rowe, each built around a sofa, this one being the Woodhouse.

Flexsteel

Flexsteel enjoyed considerable success with this new recliner with a tan corduroy cover.

Master Design

The No. 509 dining series from Master Design delivers a stylish urban contemporary style in a set small enough for city apartments. The maple furniture has a natural finish contrasted with a dark walnut tone. The group includes a wine bar.

Wesley Allen

The Aberdeen bed, shown here in an aged bronze finish, was a winner for Wesley Allen. It has a suggested retail of $999.

La Barge

Eglomise mirror panels highlight this bedside chest from La Barge. Inspired by a 1940-era Italian design, the chest has an Antique Blue Silver finish.

River Forks

A new exhibitor in High Point that came to town with a solid cadre of veteran reps scored big with Malibu, one of a couple of new collections in Mindi wood, a departure for the primarily mahogany-focused importer.

Hooker Furniture

The manufacturer and importer counts on shipping major tonnage of Preston Hill. The dining room, shown here, illustrates the collection's less ornate take on traditional goods.

Aspen Furniture

Known for home office and entertainment, Aspen has teamed up with Jena Hall to create a new bedroom and occasional line. This sleek Skyline sleigh bed with diamond-shaped patterned veneers was a winner.

Nourison

Nourison adds the power-loomed construction to its Calvin Klein licensed program. The Loom Select collection is made of wool and has the same subtle elegance as the handmade Calvin designs, but is priced at the moderate $700 level in a 6 by 9.

Pulaski

Inspired by Beaux Arts architectural elements found in medallions, crown molding and ceiling tiles throughout Europe, this bed is part of the grand-scale Royale collection.

Weiman

Weiman's Great Wall sculptural sectional looks good from all angles.

Johnston Casuals

Johnston Casuals gives an architectural flair to its new Deco group. The chair backs with crossed steel design resemble a 1920s-era hotel front. The group is shown in a pewter powdercoat finish.

Collezione Europa

Ladies' vanities were a popular new item this market, bringing a touch of elegance to the bedroom. This vanity with brilliant veneers comes from the No. 30000 group by Collezione Europa.

Schillig USA

Retailers were inspired by the German-engineered adjustable armrests on this Taboo sofa, which facilitate a variety of flexible seating arrangements.

American Drew

These cane-back dining chairs with elegant carving show the lighter tones and scale of the new Jessica McClintock Home collection.

Thayer Coggin

Randy Culler combined Cloud chenille tweed with calf black leather on the arms for Thayer Coggin's Wrap Sofa, which will retail for about $5,299.

Elite Leather

The La Brea sofa, exuding California cool on legs of brushed aluminum, is primed to do well on retail floors.

Broughton Hall

The solid mahogany and attractive $1,499 retail price point of the wing bed shown here helped make the Accolade collection the hit of the market for this importer.

Fine Furniture Design & Marketing

An example of adapting modern function to traditional furnishings, the Modern Classics gentleman's dressing chest has a sliding door that reveals drawers on one side, shelves on the other.

Tom Seely/Gat Creek

Tom Seely/Gat Creek added several new pieces this market, including this No. 72317 lingerie chest with ample storage options.

Riverside

This eye-catching desk and hutch are part of the Slash of Color line, aimed at teens and tweeners.

Sarreid

A new case goods collection developed with Vietnamese manufacturer A.A. Corp. is built to rigorous contract-market specs. The George III writing cabinet here features figured mahogany, 13 locking drawers, adjustable shelves and pullout surface in hand-tooled leather.

Powell

A venture into full case goods collections with licensor Michael Payne generated loads of traffic and orders in the importer's High Point showroom.

Drexel Heritage

Color was the key ingredient in the new collection from Vera Bradley for Drexel Heritage.

Emerson et Cíe

Emerson et Cíe expanded its popular Palermo collection with 10 new pieces, including this No. 25007 console table in a Portofino finish. The group features exotic veneers such as mahogany, gemelina, maple and luan, which are cracked to give an authentic distressed look.

Universal

Universal's Liberty collection epitomizes casual comfort in an Arts & Crafts-inspired design, with a second fabric option in a dry velvet in camel.

Pietrarte

The Toscana bed has a hammered Tuscan look and retails for about $999.

Amy Howard

The Westbourne buffet won buyer approval for its clean lines and classic looks, accented here with a bright red finish and hand-painted chinoiserie art.

Pennsylvania House

Today's Hallmark Cherry, a freshened-up edition of a long-running success story, placed well in part because of updated functional pieces such as the lingerie chest here, as well as veneer or solid options on several key cases.

Broyhill

The 100th Anniversary collection, a compilation of traditional themes drawn from the company's archives, took best of show honors among the full-line manufacturer and importer's many market offerings.

Sklar Peppler

This modern sectional from Sklar Peppler, both user-friendly and stylish, is targeted at $1,699 retail.

Sauder

The new Brookstone entertainment cabinet, in Caramel Birch, boasts some nice stepup touches for RTA — wide, scalloped legs, flush-set drawers and antique brass hardware.

Fashion Bed Group

The Corsica bed drew rave reviews for its Italian flair, including egg-shaped finials and a lot of sweeps and curls in the grillwork. It is shown here in a carbon gray finish.

Royal Patina

High Street illustrates the more contemporary tack that sources of mostly traditional case goods took at market in an effort to offer more casual, upbeat goods for urban consumers.

Miresco

Earth, part of the Tribute collection, uses blended loops and plush pile to create interesting textural details.

Excelsior

An armoire with full-length doors features a V pattern in the palisander veneers, with subtle matte finish and soft camel-colored lacquer. Glass drawer fronts inside allow use of a remote control on electronics.

South Sea/Fairfax

South Sea Rattan won praise from retailers by adding an open-stock leather line to its accent division, Fairfax Home Furnishings. This Mediterranean-inspired, hand-carved exposed wood frame, dressed in top-grain, dyed aniline, was among the winners.

Sharut/Icon

Sharut scored with its new IcOn line of home entertainment wall systems, which features a dramatic, backlit panel.

Lea

Lea Inds. goes after teen girls and second-bedroom shoppers with the Elation collection. Lea drew special attention with its creative storage pieces, such as this bookcase bed and two-drawer bookcase.

Magnussen Home

Cristina Ferrare's Art Deco-inspired second collection, Sunset Boulevard, includes this dramatic china in exotic zebrawood veneers in a fan pattern. A plinth base floats the case off the floor.

Natuzzi

Natuzzi had a successful debut in home theater seating with this stylish leather group.

Bauer International

Bauer drew attention this market with its licensed PGA of America collection. This spectator chair is portable.

Stickley

The debut of Antiquities by Stickley featured the Jacobean Canterbury sideboard in solid quarter-sawn white oak. Solid, cast-brass pendant hardware accent fitted drawers, while a tongue-and-groove plank shelf connects eight turned legs.

Southern

Southern used an inverted camel back for Cristina Ferrare's Arianna sofa with hand button tufting, silk quilted pillows and a plaid kidney pillow. Each sofa includes a signature pillow with a dove motif that incorporates Ferrare's initials.

KAS

Clear, powerful colors and large-scale contemporary designs are hallmarks of the KAS Signature collection. Hand tufted of wool, with hand-carved detailing. $499 in 6 by 9.

Coaster

This oak desk, with flip-down keyboard tray and sharp price point of $599 retail, was a winner.

Thomasville

The architectural traditional collection Fredericksburg, in swirl mahogany with rosewood banding, ran neck-and-neck with 20th-century modern Nocturne in terms of buyer preference at market, creating a strong one-two punch for the company.

Hammary

Hammary introduced the licensed Design in America line this market. From the Prairie collection comes this cocktail table with flaky white oak veneers. Pieces in the collection use leaded glass and antiqued metal hardware.

American Upholstery

American Upholstery, a division of American Leather, joined with well-known contemporary designer Vladimir Kagan for a new line that includes the Venessa chair.

Vanguard

Michael Weiss created a stir by mixing a cobalt blue base cloth with pillows in black-and-cream and charcoal in this piece for Vanguard.

Wynwood

Castilla includes this server and mirror in updated Spanish Colonial styling. The mirror is finished to appear as though the mercury backing is old and peeling off.

Linon

This stainless steel-topped work island generated good action in a dark finish.

Bassett

The company expanded its popular John Elway Home collection with this Old West-inspired game table.

Bernhardt

Miraval, one of three new collections from Bernhardt at market, includes this poster bed with curved and scalloped high headboard and a diamond pattern in walnut and oak with massive, barley-twist posts.

Hickory Hill

The addition of the Jaclyn Smith upholstery collection drew crowds for Hickory Hill.

C.R. Laine

C.R. Laine used an exaggerated black-and-white hounds-tooth cover to add pop to this carved wood-frame chair.

Khaden

Khaden made its High Point debut with a group of svelte contemporaries. The rugs are hand knotted in Tibet using a combination of Tibetan and New Zealand wool and wool and silk blends. Retail range is $600 to $1,000 in 5 by 8, depending on knot count.

Bush/Eric Morgan

Bush expanded its Eric Morgan program with the Bayside collection in elegant cottage styling with a painted vanilla finish and wainscot detailing.

Bedtime Inc.

Bedtime did well with this boy's collection at market. Eagle Harbor has louver-styled panels on the bed and cases in a natural cherry finish on birch solids and select veneers.

Stanley Collections

Barbados was a strong example of this market's updated takes on British Colonial. The bedroom here uses a clear finish to achieve more visual action from the wood, a departure from the chocolate tones so often seen in this category.

Hekman

Well-received additions to the Isle Verde collection included this china with rich leafy heart cherry veneer accented with woven rattan panels.