Going nowhere
So as a furniture style, where is it going?
The answer is probably nowhere – not for a long, long time.
Everyone seems to like it. Manufacturers and retailers like it because it can easily be dressed up or down, and customers told that it’s whatever they’re looking for because it goes with everything.
Tables with cabriole legs, you got it. Chrome with glass, no problem. Mission? Perfect.
It’s a style that’s prevalent in the furniture industry, and has been for quite a while. And it seems to me that it’s pitch perfect for that poor old furniture shopper who’s frozen into inaction because she’s afraid to make a mistake.
It’s a nice blend of traditional and contemporary and traditional, neither stuffy nor frou-frou on the traditional side, nor cold and sterile on the contemporary side. It fits today’s casual and relaxed lifestyle. Fabrics are easy to pick since they’re generally monochromatic and understated – in creams, taupes, grays and tans. The hardest choice is pillows that pop – and most of the time that has already been accomplished by the product maker.
The only problem with transitional is that it doesn’t have anywhere to go. What does transitional transition to? It’s a bit like that old Tom Waits song: Who puts flowers on a flower’s grave?
So what do you think?
Johnie commented:
I am forever idneetbd to you for this information.
ashton mulcjher commented:
....libby langdon...paleeeez another tv / no design /designer.when will it stop ,she has done a lot of golfers homes ...impressive for sure...and shes so amazing on tv ...when will this junk go away...hire a furniture designer for your uph company instead of tv branded borax...its really getting nuts out in design world 101....we need a break from celebrity designers and soon . stop the presses is that another trump or is just a boring tv show , 6 years out of college , personality.just go away ... soon ....all of you fake designers.
Terri Babcock - Woodwright commented:
I have to agree with everyone. Transitional furniture is nice because its easy, but disapointing because its vanilla. At Woodwright we constantly strive to develope new and exciting colors and coatings for the furniture industry. The obstacle we run into is getting the furniture manufacturers to take a leap of faith and try something new. I believe that the up and coming market of 30-somethings will be shopping for comfortable/modern with accents of eye-catching, almost-edible colors.
Steve Walker commented:
One of the prettiest furniture groups I've ever seen, and still own a fair amount of, was the "transitional" design called Canova from Ethan Allen, now more than 25 years old. It still looks fantastic, ageless, and well designed. Why it didn't do better in the marketplace way back when I'll never know, but it wasn't because it wasn't eye candy.
The consumer's problem today is too many choices, not too few; that's always been true in furniture and as long as it remains true will always be the reason nobody makes any money!
Robert Mark robtwmark@verizon.net commented:
Actually it is a "no look" look that reflects nothing beyond vanilla. It is what comes from an industry that has forgotten that it was product driven when it was vibrant. When all manufacturers can do is rely on branding instead of product development and good designers, you get the bland transitional market we have. The furniture is so boring that it does not inspire customers to want to part with money for it. Electronics are more exciting and passionate. As long as the decision makers continue to plod along the transitional path, they will continue to lose their share of disposable income. No eye candy='s no customer interest. It would really benefit manufacturers to have their decision makers have to spend a solid month on a retail floor to understand what motivates a customer to buy. Until then they will keep espousing the empty business strategy of branding. As long as branding eclipses new innovative investment in design, we will be sentenced to languish in "transitional".
