Looking for that bling-bling?
It didn’t show up at the recent International Home Furnishings Market, the twice-yearly market where designers and manufacturers show their latest to buyers and the media. There were individual standouts, but overall when it came to designs to rouse consumers from their comfortable — maybe worn — couches, there was only one four-letter word to aptly describe the offerings: flat.
What’s worse is that the flatness comes six months after an energized fall market filled with truly inspired designs — Todd Oldham’s debut collection for La-Z-Boy, Martha Stewart at Bernhardt and the National Geographic Collection, to name a few. “There were no big collections brought out this market. I always look for those, because to me that’s a sign that the manufacturers really focused on something for retailers to have something new and exciting to talk about and to sell,” said Britt Beemer, chairman of America’s Research Group, which provides research and planning services to manufacturers and retailers.
“At this market, manufacturers seemed as though they were filling gaps,” Beemer said, referring to the furniture introductions that will arrive in area stores in about six months. “In some cases, I think they were stymied by not knowing what the duty in China was going to be.”
Most of us don’t think of taxes and China while furniture shopping, but they are definitely part of the furniture equationtoday. With so much production being outsourced to China, duties certainly do have an impact on American furniture manufacturers’ bottom lines and business plans.
Thankfully, there were some exceptions — designers and manufacturers who creatively let it rip and showed what a good-looking collection can do. More attention was paid to dining-friendly table designs, such as round tables set off with stylish lazy Susan features. And more attention was paid to striking shapes — curves being the common denominator.
Thayer Coggin Inc. did it with its Radius sectional and ottoman ($8,345).
Designed by Ransom Culler, who has been creating pieces for Thayer Coggin for a decade, its undulating, circular shape is the perfect seating arrangement for family and friends to gather together. The ottoman provides additional seating, a place to kick up your heels or a place to set a tray of food for casual dining. Then check out Natuzzi. Which should make you think leather. And after seeing the Italian-based manufacturer’s Cocoon chaise ($2,399), you will think shape and health. The chaise’s curved line not only looks sensuous, it also supports your spine and elevates legs for better circulation.
Updates on classics
Things started looking up when we saw how Todd Oldham was elevating style at a place called La-Z-Boy. The fashion-turned-furnishings designer expanded his introductory collection for the Monroe, Mich.-based firm with the same creative verve seen last fall.
One of our favorites in his spring collection is the Nelson chair-and-a-half ($699 to $789) and ottoman ($349 to $379), with metal or wood conical legs. Other Oldham standouts include the Casey reclining chair ($599 to $699), whose design modernizes the classic recliner; the Jewel ottoman ($199), which is cut like a traditional diamond, and the Stone nesting tables ($649), with tops in white-, black- or topaz-colored marble and metal frames finished in satin nickel.
We went from midcentury-inspired cool with Oldham to a mix of traditional and modern at Baker Furniture, of Grand Rapids, Mich. There, dazzle from the past — as in the interpretation of 18th and 19th Century French design — splashes of modernism came together in the Jacques Garcia Collection.
“I have not tried to re-create a moment in history,” said Garcia, one of the most sought-after French designers who has completed residential and commercial projects around the world. “I have quite simply thought of the kinds of furniture we want to live with at home today, pieces that are elegant and functional, comfortable and convivial.”
The rooms dazzled with designs that shined like the Perle Mirror ($2,120), which has clear glass drops attached to a bronze metal rim. Sofas like the Concorde, the Dauphine and the Capucine (all starting at $6,890) had curve appeal — especially our favorite the Dauphine whose pillows caressed you as you settled back into its arms. In Baker’s Milling Road Collection, the Woven X Bench ($994) was one of our favorites. Based on a 19th Century Asian antique bench woven in split cane, Milling Road’s interpretation is made of water hyacinth, which is soft, light and durable.
Bolier, a relatively new High Point furniture company headed by former Baker president Christian Plasman, introduced its Kata Collection by John Black. Black’s smooth design style and Bolier’s prices won us over to Kata, which means “form” in Japanese. And the Asian influences were evident in the lines and finishes of the dining, bedding and storage pieces that make up this collection. The Kata tansu cube storage system ($795 each), made of Santo Domingan rosewood and interiors accented with red lacquer, can be stacked or grouped to form a shelving unit or room divider.Over at Bernhardt Furniture, silver linings were shining despite the legal clouds hanging over Martha Stewart. The additions to Martha Stewart Signature Furniture’s Lily Pond collection were fresh and versatile.
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M.S. Signature was a favorite with John Plunkett, the president of Plunkett Furniture who also was taken with Bernhardt’s Repertoire (designed by John Black and dubbed a “young person’s traditional” by Plunkett) and Origins (“casual transitional geared toward a younger [25-35] consumer”).
“Martha Stewart Signature with Bernhardt continues to offer fresh ideas with a twist on the traditional,” said Alex Bernhardt, chairman and chief executive officer of Lenor, N.C.-based furniture company.
The collection’s Memrie’s Gateleg Table ($799) has a fold-down tabletop and a drawer accessible with a mercury-glass knob. The drawer can open from either side to adapt to different uses and room configurations.
Name game
Todd Oldham and Martha Stewart weren’t the only designer brand names at market.
The Ernest Hemingway Collection, which was first introduced almost six years ago, was back with an expanded line that, unfortunately, was nothing to write home about.
But other new names to the furniture scene, such as Liz Claiborne’s were. . Her collection for Lexington Furniture had feminine appeal and floral fabrics that were less fuss and more about being “fashion right” than “fashion forward.”
Cristina Ferrare, talk-show host, jewelry designer and former fashion model, tossed her name into the ring with a traditionally inspired collection at Magnussen Home Furnishings Inc., of New Hamburg, Ontario.
And then there was something from Middle Earth. This scared us at first for fear that it would be gimmicky in the worst way, but there were craftsmanship and clever design elements such as the lazy Susan at the heart of the round dining table.
Middle Earth Furniture of Staffordshire, England, introduced oak and, in some cases, bronze designs inspired by the J.R.R. Tolkien book and the film “Lord of the Rings.”
There was the “Rohan and Gondor Coffee Table,” about $5,000, “Keep It Secret Chest,” about $3,000, “Darkness and Light Chair,” about $2,600, “The One Ring Table,” a dining table for $38,000, and Ancient Ent Table,” another dining table, this one with a cast-bronze map of Middle Earth on its lazy Susan for about $42,000.
The company started small with these five designs intending to add on next market.
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To learn more
For more information on furniture introduced at the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, N.C., last month, contact:
La-Z-Boy Furniture at www.lazyboy.com, or phone 734-242-1444
Thayer Coggin Inc. at www.thayercoggin.com or phone 336-841-6000
Baker Furniture at www.bakerfurniture.com or phone 800-59-BAKER (800-592-2537)
Bernhardt Furniture at www.bernhardt.com or phone 877-205-5793
Lexington Furniture at www.lexington.com or phone 800-539-4636
Thomasville Furniture at www.thomasville.com or phone 336-472-4000
Magnussen Home Furnishings Inc. at www.magnussen.com or phone the High Point office at 336-841-4424
Bolier Furniture at www.bolierco.com or phone 336-887-2815
Middle Earth Furniture Ltd. at www.middleearthfurniture.co.uk or phone 011-44-1782-207678