Taupe rules, but color counts
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, March 19, 2007
High Point — Despite the broad palette of warm, lush colors that's available, when it comes to microfiber, taupe comes out on top.
At Catnapper, "brown, beige, brown and beige" are the most popular color choices, said Don Hunter, senior vice president of major accounts. "While most of our successes have been in earth tones, we do have one group doing well in a padded merlot, and a sectional in a padded graphite (smoky gray) that's also done real well."
Catnapper's line includes 10 types of microfiber covers, Hunter added — three padded "faux leather" looks, six padded covers with grains or surface texture, and one flat suede.
Although Best Home Furnishings offers about eight different types of microfiber covers, including padded and textures, plain is its mainstay, said Sales Manager Greg Sicard.
As for colors, "seal" — in the taupe family — ranks No. 1 across all its microfiber choices. "It's so neutral, it goes with everything," Sicard said.
But among Best's textured microfiber styles, such as Culp's Stampede, "dark browns" have a leg up, he said.
Various shades of taupe are most requested at Natuzzi Americas, too, said Fred Starr, president.
Palliser's top colors include "earth tones to khakis, and also rope and straw," said John Phillips, executive vice president of sales.
