Vanguard developing Annie Selke Home furniture

Collection will launch in October at Calico Corners

Carole Sloan -- Furniture Today, August 27, 2008

PITTSFIELD, Mass. - Case goods, occasional and upholstered furniture by Vanguard plays a key role in Annie Selke Home, a new home furnishings program created by Selke, the founder and creative head of Pine Cone Hill and related companies.

The licensed program also includes decorative fabrics from P/Kaufman, a line of trims with Gelberg Braid and coordinating rugs from Selke's Dash & Albert rug division.

The Oh So dresser in washed oak features a removable charging dock for electronics.

The collection launches at retail in October at Calico Corners, the fabric and home furnishings specialty retail chain. The fabrics, select furniture pieces, trims and rugs will be featured in a special setting in 115 Calico Corners stores and on the retailer's Web site.

Calico Corners will have a year's exclusive on the collection at retail, Selke said.

The 80-piece furniture collection uses traditional design themes and elements translated into today's tastes and lifestyles. Dixon Mitchell, president of Vanguard, commented that "her stunning use of textiles, coupled with her flair for classic style that's infused with a touch of quirk, makes for products that are fresh, yet practical for today's real-life living."

In case goods, silver and gold leafing are used as contemporary embellishments on classic forms. Washed oak, Swedish white and French gray are the finish tones. Upholstered pieces reflect their traditional heritage, but with simplified lines.

Decorative bedding fashioned from the fabrics will be made by Legacy Home and will be featured exclusively by Neiman Marcus. Fabrics will retail from $24.99 to $59.99 a yard.

Calico Corners will feature the 40-SKU fabric collection as part of its mini-bolt program. It also will offer custom window treatments, decorative bedding and other custom fabric products, Selke said.