Lexington's new Aquarius line offers colorful contemporary look

Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, March 19, 2012

HIGH POINT — Lexington Home Brands plans a bold style statement this spring with Aquarius, a contemporary case goods and upholstery line that mirrors some of today's most colorful fashion trends.

The Celestial headboard is part of Lexington Home Brands’ new Aquarius line. The traditional form is given a contemporary flavor with a white lacquer finish.

This Aquarius apothecary chest has a Mandarin red finish, contrasting polished brass hardware and Art Deco-inspired brass feet.

The 100-plus pieces in Aquarius to debut at the April High Point Market include mixed media elements such as antique mirror, polished stainless steel, clear and colored glass and faux shagreen leather. Wood pieces, which make up about 75% of the mix, use a variety of veneers such as rosewood, zebrano, walnut, mahogany, ebony and mappa burl.

Clear and natural wood finishes accentuate grain patterns.

Color is an important part of the launch, with a signature aquamarine, which is mirrored in the Aquarius logo, along with Mandarin red, burnished silver and gloss white lacquer.

Some of these colors appear on otherwise traditional forms such as a large headboard in gloss white and a mirror in a platinum finish whose curved frame is inspired by an antique. A bright red apothecary chest has contrasting polished brass hardware and Art Deco-inspired brass feet.

As with last year's launch of the Henry Link Trading Company line, Lexington is targeting the Aquarius line to designers and other buyers looking for unique statement pieces. And like Henry Link, the new collection includes items in moderate to upper end price points.

Lexington President and CEO Phil Haney said the Aquarius pieces would look at home in the Museum of Modern Art in New York just as readily as in a home.

"While great traditional design is timeless, an increasing number of today's upscale consumers are choosing a transformational approach to their lifestyle, demonstrated by their propensity to embrace clean contemporary lines that draw attention to unique statement pieces rather than matched suites that have defined prior generations," Haney said. "Further, they are looking for an edge to their styling, which makes the design process very energizing.... In fashion terms, its styling aesthetic translates as Versace as opposed to Brooks Brothers."

Aquarius should benefit from a renewed interest in contemporary among dealers and designers looking for unique pieces that can complement existing furnishings, the company said.

"We continue to hear from designers that they lack resources for unique statement pieces and dramatic accent items to punctuate the clean lines of their contemporary designs," said Katrina Patton, Lexington's vice president of product development. "Aquarius was created for that purpose. There are no matching items - each is designed with imagination and creativity to stand alone distinctively."

Aquarius will be on display during the April 21-26 market in Lexington's showroom at 1300 National Highway in Thomasville.