Retail News - September/October 2009

SMALLER SCALES

Smaller scale is also a hallmark of mid-century design and that makes it an ideal style for first-home buyers, loft and apartment dwellers and even vacation homes, said Jena Hall, vice-president of merchandising and design for Aspenhome ( www.aspenhome.net). The company’s new Origin Collection offers savvy solutions for every room by creating flexible pieces that don’t overwhelm smaller spaces.

Scale and functionality also played a key role in the design of Envision, a new casual lifestyle brand from Hooker Furniture ( www.hookerfurniture.com) aimed at young consumers, as well as those decorating on a budget. The moderately priced collection is smart-sized, according to Bruce Cohenour, senior vice-president. Pieces use vertical space to achieve maximum functionality in smaller rooms. For example, dressers in other Hooker collections are 72 inches wide, while the Envision dressers are 62 to 68.

SIMPLE STYLES

Trend watchers say that in times of turmoil consumers often revert back to the simple things in life. This quest for simplicity – as well as for lower costs and more reliable quality – is said to be fuelling growth in everything from vegetable gardening to backyard poultry farming. Furniture manufacturers are right on trend with new farmhouse pine collections. Broyhill Furniture’s ( www.broyhillfurniture.com) new Attic Heirlooms Heritage group includes a farmhouse-style trestle table with a

distressed pine finish. Antique brass hardware, plank tops and seeded glass on select accent pieces add to the nostalgic feel.

“Customers are yearning for home goods that evoke simpler days and provide a great value for their families,” said Steven Kincaid, CEO of Kincaid Furniture ( www.kincaidfurniture.com).

DECORATING OVER VACATIONING

These shifting attitudes are good news for the home industries, according to the American Furniture Home Alliance (AFHA). An ostentatious vacation may be out of the picture, but an investment in creating a relaxing haven at home is more in line with today’s priorities. Furniture manufacturers anticipated the need and unveiled a host of new collections designed to transform ordinary interiors into extraordinary retreats at the High Point markets.

Elegant furnishings influenced by Dutch and English designs, as well as the East African landscape, were introduced by Lane Home Furnishings

( www.lanefurniture.com).

Century Furniture (www.centuryfurniture. com) likewise offered homeowners the opportunity to bring the world home. The company’s new Asian Spice collection combines textile designs, architectural elements and furniture styles from Asia in an eclectic group of pieces suitable for both traditional and contemporary homes.