Interlude's new division is beachy keen
By Tracy Bulla -- Home Accents Today, 11/1/2005
Shore style all washed up? Hardly. During the October market, Interlude Home launched its Beach division, a 175-SKU collection of coastal-themed accent furniture and accessories.
"It was a tremendous market that hasn't been targeted enough by the industry," said Interlude Home President Carl Philips, citing compelling housing starts along the coastline. "We thought an entire collection inspired by the beach lifestyle would be well-received."
"People are building important homes on the coast and they need important accessories," added Sean McFadden, vice president of sales. "The accessory for that home hasn't caught up to the complexity." The Beach division will offer nautical looks with an Interlude slant: Overscale, stylish, textural.
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The extensive line of home accents from the Interlude Beach line includes everything from iconic nautical imagery like decorative captain's wheels, diver's helmets and weathervanes, to marine life interpreted into artistic forms, to more subtle pieces that capture the essence of the sea through the use of shape, color and texture. |  |
Designed to complement existing case goods, the casually chic collection presents such varied fare as porthole mirrors, stingray wall panels, nickel-on-brass decorative shells, and leafy Martinique candle sconces.
Accent furniture designs boast nautical detailing like highly polished metal and brass and distressed painted finishes in shades of blue, complementing the crisp, clean-lined styling. A diver's helmet and decorative oars provide a whimsical counterpoint to more contemporary designs like glass sandpiper sculptures and the patterned St. Malo vases.
Retail prices range from $75 to $1,200, with the collection expected to top 300 SKUs next spring.
Changes in the way people regard and use their second homes have contributed to a need for a different type of coastal design. "Twenty years ago, people went to the beach to escape," said McFadden. "Now it's to entertain and even live year-round."
"Today, you build a 5-, 6-, or 7,000-square-foot mansion at the beach, while 20 years ago it was a shack," agreed Philips. "You can find coastal accessories in local gift shops, but we want to do it with more style and presence."
"The first time we walked into the space, I was blown away," McFadden said. "The pieces create a mood and atmosphere that we never dreamed we could reach this level."
