Case goods shown in brighter settings

Tom Russell -- Furniture Today, October 17, 2012

HIGH POINT - Case goods resources are showing new product in some new ways here, including mixing the category with accent furniture and upholstery.
This is brightening up their showrooms and helping sell product.
Drexel Heritage offers one of the more dramatic examples in both inline groups and new groups such as Viage, whose bedroom and formal dining pieces are shown with accent pieces and upholstery. Viage is shown in three settings that highlight a host of traditional European design influences that also incorporate California West Coast, Tuscan and Mountain Lodge and Southwest looks.
Dealers like the eclectic mix of styles over multiple products ranging from panel beds with leather inset panels to a European farmhouse style leg table shown with various chairs and an upholstered bench, the company reports.
Also attracting interest is Drexel's range of 50 wood and paint finishes available.
One customer reportedly disliked a wood panel bed she saw in one finish, but ended up committing to the same bed in a different finish and with a leather panel.
"It's a different kind of presentation and a different kind of selling," said Chip Stewart, vice president of sales.
Kincaid Furniture is seeing success with European Villa, an 18-SKU solid alder bedroom collection with Louis Philippe and Old World design influences. With four-piece bedrooms retailing at $4,500, the collection has three beds and multiple options including eight hardware styles and three finishes.
Point of purchase materials showcase the options available, and they can also be viewed on a computer kiosk available for Kincaid Shoppe galleries.
Emerald Home Furnishings is having what may end up as its best market in recent years thanks in part to the expansion of its case goods lineup, which includes five new wood collections, two of which were seen in Las Vegas, officials said. Dealers are responding well to the mix of Rustic Americana, Old World European, American traditional and contemporary/transitional design influences of the groups.
Four-piece bedrooms retail from $1,499 to $1,999, while five-piece dining sets retail from $899 to $1,599.
"We have never had a show with so many placements on every group," said company President David Beckmann.
Dealers also like the way the company is showcasing complementary living room groups with occasional and upholstery that mirror style elements of the case pieces as seen in leg and other wood treatments.
Companies such as Broyhill, Bernhardt and Magnussen Home are showcasing sofas and chairs in large bedroom groups, reflecting the growing placement of such pieces in today's spacious master bedrooms.
HGTV Home reports strong response to its new 35-piece Modern Heritage collection, which has pieces available in two finishes, a cherry tone called Cerise and an ebony tone called Noir. It includes a panel bed and a sleigh bed and a rectangular leg and a round-to-oval pedestal base dining table.
Dealers like the updated traditional forms of the collection, including concave shaping on case pieces and copper toned hardware. They also are responding well to new accents in the line, and to pieces that are mixed and matched within three HGTV Home collections.
Contemporary and transitional designs are doing well this market including at resources such as Najarian, which is highlighting such styles in bedroom and dining. Popular design details include mirrored looks on panel beds, drawer fronts and other surfaces.
"People are buying more mirrored groups and slotting it into their assortments," said Michael Lawrence, vice president of sales.
Dealers are also responding well to its contemporary/modern leaning Barcelona bedroom, which features three-piece sets at $999. They particularly like the contrasting cherry veneers with the parchment finish on the panel headboard and drawer fronts and doors of case pieces.
Companies with licensed collections also are doing well this market, including American Drew with its new Jessica McClintock collection, Boutique, and Lacquer Craft USA with the contemporary Metropolitan Home.