CURRENT ISSUE
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| Looking to the Stars |
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| By Jaclyn C. Hirschhaut | |
| Saturday, 30 June 2007 | |
 Developed with American style icon Barbara Smith (known simply as B. Smith) the upholstery collection reflected the life and style of this former fashion model turned restaurateur, television host, author, entrepreneur and entertainer. Celebrity endorsements have been a prominent element in home furnishings marketing strategies in the past decade and reflect a desire among Americans for more support in their buying decisions. Thirty-nine percent of consumers cited belief in a product’s quality as the main reason they would purchase a celebrity-endorsed home product, according to a national telephone survey sponsored by the American Home Furnishings Alliance in February. Of the more than 1,000 heads of household surveyed in this study, 13 percent of respondents said that a celebrity endorsement gave them confidence that their decision to buy is a good one. For 12 percent of respondents, buying a celebrity’s home product made them feel good, and 6 percent say purchasing the piece helped them communicate their own sense of style. In each market, we’re seeing exciting new introductions influenced by celebrities and inspired by amazing locations around the world. The result is an assortment of branded collections that help consumers connect with furniture on a personal level and express their own interests and lifestyle. With the help of celebrities, designers and historic landmarks, the spring’s market introductions were stylish, functional and full of flavor. Locations ranging from the English countryside to the urban meccas of New York and Los Angeles offered a bevy of unique design inspiration. Meanwhile, famous personalities known for everything from real estate to entertainment jumped on board to shape this year’s design aesthetic. Famously Inspired Furnishings Affordable luxury was the cornerstone of Lexington Home Brands’ new Trump Home. The introduction consisted of two furniture groups based on the lifestyle of real estate and television entrepreneur Donald J. Trump. Inspired by his upscale properties around the world, the Trump Home brand included two distinct collections – each with its own lifestyle look. The Westchester collection reflected Trump’s magnificent mansions and historic properties and features grand styling and opulence. More modern and contemporary, the Central Park collection reflected Trump’s metropolitan New York roots. Both collections featured bedroom, dining, upholstery, home office, home entertainment and occasional furnishings. A balance of sophisticated style with real-world functionality and comfort gave rise to the newest creations by Alexa Hampton from Hickory Chair. Designs included a mix of styles from Neoclassical to modern – all creating more multifunctional interiors. The young interior designer’s new styles built upon her existing assortment of updated, personalized silhouettes. With their abundance of curves, columns, pilasters and carvings, all of the new forms exuded an elegant, energetic spirit. Clayton Marcus made a style statement with the introduction of its B. Smith collection. Developed with American style icon Barbara Smith (known simply as B. Smith) the upholstery collection reflected the life and style of this former fashion model turned restaurateur, television host, author, entrepreneur and entertainer. Smith is a hands-on product designer and her creative direction is casual but elegant. Inspiration for her collection came primarily from the décor within her own homes, including upholstery with frames ranging from traditional to transitional, complemented by coordinating occasional tables. Drexel Heritage expanded its Postobello Home collection introduced in 2005 with this season’s high-fashion Postobello Couture collection. Created by the Los Angeles mother-daughter design team of Jude Scarboro and Jennifer Kates, the range is defined by contrasts: dark woods against light upholstery and masculine lines against feminine details. Architecture came to life in furniture with the Frank Lloyd Wright Furniture collection by Copeland Furniture. Working with the archives of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Copeland captured the authentic style of the famed architect and designer in bedroom furnishings, chairs, tables, sidepiece options and occasional seating. Vanguard Furniture added to its lifestyle collections by Michael Weiss with the Michael Weiss Classics line. The collection’s forms remained true to its roots – modern, yet polished by more classically traditional elements offering classic form with a slight edge. A more relaxed ambience infused with function, elegance and comfort is reflected in the new Series 47 collection from Wrangler Home by Flexsteel. The 75-piece assortment of upholstery, accents and casual dining is targeted to a younger consumer with its stylish urban attitude. Curvaceous serpentine fronts and enticing finishes characterized this market’s Laura Ashley Home collection from Kincaid. A low-profile sleigh bed was the highlight of the bedroom while the dining room resonated with a table featuring self-storing leaves. All were offered in solid wood and are available in three finishes-a warm brown, linen or lightly distressed black. Inspiration on Location Classic British style arrived stateside with Royal Manner: The English Country House from Highland House, a division of Century Furniture. This licensed collection was inspired by Paul Burrell, English lifestyle expert and former butler to Diana, Princess of Wales. The 60-piece collection of upholstery and case goods captured the essence of elegant English country design in antiques, updated with finishes, fabrics and functionality designed for today. The legacy of the past also provided the backdrop for the Smithsonian Collection by Bernhardt. Key pieces in the Smithsonian museum collections shaped the more than 50 historically inspired furnishings, each influenced by specific aspects of the collections. Bedroom and dining room introductions reflected primarily 19th century design with Edwardian and Empire influences. Unique accents and materials – such as antique leather, aged bronze metal, woven cane, and black marble – added elements of surprise throughout the collection. Rich finishes included figured walnut and white ash burl veneers in a Heritage Brown with cool brown tones plus pine knotty cherry veneers in a Castle Brick finish with warm brown undertones. The Mount Vernon line by Taylor King captured the spirit of the historic home of first American President George Washington. This exclusive upholstery line featured more than 20 pieces and represented collaboration between Taylor King and the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. Fabrics and frame styles reflected historical inspiration, yet were designed and styled for use by today’s consumers. With a return to antiquity, Lane’s addition to its National Geographic Home Collection was the Italia Collection. Motivated by National Geographic’s archives of ancient civilizations and excavations, this collection unveiled an array of sophisticated furnishings combining 18th century Italian design and classical Italian style. Pieces highlighted rich, traditional walnut veneers, decorative inlays, aged bronze finishes and unique focal points with fluid, sculpted lines. Additional National Geographic product to expand the Italia Collection included accent furnishings from Palecek and decorative accessories by Toyo. The vibrant, unconventional lifestyle of Southern California and Los Angeles provided the inspiration for the Folio 7 collection from Henredon. Classic European forms such as a fauteuil chair, Italiante chest and French armoire were revitalized with luminous textured patinas, exotic inlays, marquetry, carving and accent materials of stone, marble, iron and leather. The 40-plus piece collection showcased Pimentiera burl from South America as the primary wood. At the same time, Henredon refreshed its Natchez collection this season with new designs, updated finishes and a fresh aesthetic approach to traditionalism. This update represented the fourth major addition to the collection since Henredon formed a licensing agreement with the Historic Natchez Foundation in 1989. New upholstery for Natchez focused on traditional frames in a soft color palette of grass green, azalea-inspired pink and pure forsythia yellow. The capital city of the exotic island of Bali, Indonesia, inspired Denpasar, the newest group in the Richard Frinier Collection for Century Leisure. This collection depicted the exquisite architecture and landscape of the exotic location as well as the artistry, color and diversity of the island’s villages and people. Most important, the products were built to withstand outdoor exposure with routine maintenance and may be eclectically mixed in both indoor and outdoor settings. Jaclyn C. Hirschhaut is the vice president of public relations and marketing for the American Home Furnishings Alliance, located in High Point, N.C., and Washington, D.C. She can be reached at 336-884-5000 ext. 116. |
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