Classic styles freshen up in furniture showrooms

The ongoing trend of reinventing classic styles continues this market, even in the major furniture introductions.

Tropical styles are revisited, with British West Indies styles incorporating rattan and raffia, but they get a new feel through the use of more casual, lighter finishes.

The trend that has been so strong in home accents during the last two years, new classic, or updated traditional, hits the furniture business in a big way this show.

Examples include Spanish and Italian collections that focus less on extensive carvings and more on the intricate veneer inlays or hand-painted designs.

American designs like Arts & Crafts, artisan and other Americana get updated, offering an almost country appeal. But classic Mission styles are still making their presence known

Going hand-in-hand with the country offerings is a growing trend toward mountain retreat, lake house and lodge looks. Where the coastal looks have reigned over the last several markets, the hot trend appears to be moving inland

Other styles mentioned during the High Point pre-market include French, 18th century traditional, contemporary and Art Deco.

Here's a sampling of collections debuting at some of the big furniture showrooms in High Point this month: Compiled by Furniture/Today

A-America, CP 201 — Introductions include Sedona Valley, 13 bedroom and dining pieces, transitional Southwest ranch in pine with Rustic Honey and Walnut two-tone finish; four-piece queen is $1,999, five-piece dining is $999. Laurel Hearst, 16 dining pieces, artisan Mission with keyed tenons, traditional oak and birch, two-tone natural and chocolate finish; $899 and up.

Aico, IHFC G-777 — Palais Royal comprises 24 case pieces with a French feel of romantic Paris; ornate carvings, Rococo Cognac finish with gold tipping and some gold leaf; includes mansion bed, two sizes of dresser, high chest, armoire and bedside cabinets; dining includes heavily carved upholstered chairs, table that extends to 156 inches, two-piece china, wine-storage sideboard, server and mirror. Villa Valencia is a Spanish-influenced case goods collection, 27 pieces inspired by 1930s Barcelona; Warm Chestnut finish, domed and lighted alabaster glass; bedroom has grand canopy bed with turned-leaf carvings on columns.

Aspenhome, IHFC M-1301 — Expanding into dining by adding to Young Classics, Napa and Barolo collections. Barolo Dining offers Old World and Renaissance styling in pecan and birch with walnut accents, adding morning tables, gathering tables, dining tables, chairs and serving items. Young Classics Dining uses American Federal inspiration, self-storing leaf dining table with cherry top and cobblestone black distressed base.

Bassett, IHFC C-1200 — Introductions include Yaletown, a bedroom, dining, occasional and home entertainment collection inspired by urban renewal, cherry and burl veneers in Warm Coffee finish; low-profile queen sleigh bed with burl-veneer squares on headboard or queen storage bed with five storage cubbyholes in the headboard and lift-up storage in footboard.

Bassett Mirror, IHFC W-547. Introducing several new collections including: Le Broquet, French country bedroom in solid wood and pecan veneers with ornate carvings, bed is $2,999; Turnbridge, a bedroom with fluted pilasters topped with twisted finials; mahogany usage; plasma armoire with breakaway pilaster and wraparound doors; Sonoma Hills cherry and oak dining, crescent leaf table or trestle extension table; and Hennesey, bedroom, light bridge on headboard with microfiber upholstery; entertainment armoire with concealed storage, satin-pewter hardware.

Bernhardt, IHFC D-600 — New collections include Katonah, the new licensed Martha Stewart Signature group reflecting the warmth and atmosphere of her 1925 farmhouse north of New York City; mixes the familiar and the fancy, ornamenting rich mahogany and cherry wood finishes with 22-karat gold-plated or sterling silver-plated hardware; chinoiserie, lava stone and black lacquer; 70 SKUs including three bedrooms, two dining, three home office pieces, five occasional groups and 13 accents; two new wood finishes. Also, the No. 391 collection combines contemporary and traditional details; clean lines, soft shapes with sleek appeal; stripe sapele veneer and sapele pommele veneer. Carmel Highlands includes dining, bedroom and occasional/entertainment SKUs; birch solids and veneers and cathedral walnut veneer; robustly scaled, rustic yet polished, soft movement and light carvings; includes a substantial trestle table with burnished birch top and contrasting cathedral walnut border.

Broyhill, IHFC C-600 — One case goods group, a new dining group and a bedroom group debut. They are: Brazilia II, a contemporary take on tropical theme, cane accents and soft antique brass hardware; Mullholland, formal dining, 18th-century styling in prima vera with antique pewter hardware; Vantana, bedroom, modern Mission in cherry veneers and metal.

Century, MS 500 — New Traditions is a case goods collection combining traditional forms with contemporary elements such as chrome hardware and lacquer finishes in five colors. Targeting Baby Boomers who like nostalgia, but with a fresh look. A dozen new pieces are added to Oscar de la Renta, the licensed line developed by de la Renta with designer Miles Redd; including a signature bombé chest hand-painted in a leopard print. Orient is a cast-metal indoor/outdoor designed by Richard Frinier. Detailed fretwork and latticework, classic Chinese Chippendale designs. Casts for the frames developed from real bamboo.

Crawford Furniture, MOG 402 — The American Rustic bedroom collection includes 11 bedroom pieces, rustic with a louvered look, solid northern red oak, heavy distressing and four finish options; dark-burnished hardware; $3,995 suite.

Durham Furniture, MS 410 — George Washington: Journey to Barbados, is the second group within Mount Vernon Home; 17 bedroom pieces in solid birch and maple with cane inserts on select pieces; West Indies feel, moderately scaled, pineapple and X design elements; beds are $1,299 to $1,699, single chest $999, dressers $1,499 to $1,899. Mallard Creek is a 13-piece updated Mission designed to appeal to younger consumers; works in homes that are traditional to classic contemporary; quarter-sawn and rift-cut red oak; beds $999 to $1,299, single chest $899, dressers $1,199 to $1,299, nightstands $399 to $549.

Dutailier, IHFC M-910 — Alex is a collection of contemporary, solid birch bedroom; available in 30 finishes; new personalization option: upholstered panel for beds and cribs that you can replace or take off; new contemporary hardware (long pulls and knobs); new items include a lingerie chest with door, a one-drawer chest that can be used as a bench, and an armoire with hidden drawer.

Emerson et Cie, 200 N. Hamilton, S-205 — New collections include Prodigy, 22 pieces including dining, Louis XIII reproductions in solid oak with extensive hand-worked planking, planing and distressing; pieces retail between $674 and $4,116. Palermo is 65 pieces including bedroom and dining, European antique reproductions with cracked, warped veneers creating an authentic, distressed look with hand-applied rich, casual finishes; $1,048 to $5,241. Marseilles offers 17 pieces including bedroom and dining, Mediterranean-inspired with fine inlays and distressing; $741 to $3,741.

Fairmont Designs, NFM 610 — Tamarind Grove includes 30 pieces of bedroom, dining, occasional, entertainment and upholstery; resort styling with okome veneer and Twilight Roast finish; five-piece bedroom is $2,500, eight-piece dining is $2,600. Villa Veneto offers 35 pieces of bedroom, dining, occasional, entertainment and upholstery; Tuscan/Italian traditional designs, cherry and prima vera veneers, Tuscan Sun finish; $3,000 bedroom, $3,200 dining.

Fine Furniture Design & Marketing, US 302 —Currents is modern, combined with tropical, sleek forms softened with linear chiseled carvings; ash solids and cathedral ash veneers in a brown/cream tone; rustic brown leather, ivory- and teak-toned textured fabric; pieces range from $399 to $2,999. Sag Harbor uses Hamptons-inspired, walnut solids and rustic cherry veneers, finishes are cherry, charcoal and weathered white; pieces retail from $299 to $3,999. Lafayette bedroom and dining is a collection of classic, contemporized Louis Philippe designs crafted of walnut solids with rustic cherry veneers in a medium cherry finish; $299 to $1,999.

Hamilton & Spill, CP-118 — Quinlan is a bedroom and dining group with contemporary styling, exotic sapele veneer and espresso finish; beds start at $499, dining group starts at $899. Morocco bedroom and dining uses Art Deco influence with traditional European scaling; cherry veneers and chestnut brown finish.

Hekman, 200 N. Hamilton, S-107 — Mountain Retreat includes 32 pieces of case goods in American traditional forms that are relaxed and refined; knotty birch solids and knotty rogue cherry veneers, block-planed surfaces, peg detailing.

Hooker Furniture, IHFC W-1047 — New collections include Fallston, 16 bedroom pieces with quarter-sawn and straight-grain white oak; versatile transitional/contemporary style with functionality. Also, Brookhaven, offering seven bedroom pieces with birch solids, cherry veneers and burl accent veneers; traditional style with medium brown finish. Burbank offers 10 bedroom pieces in birch solids and prima vera veneers; upscale traditional look that would work in a contemporary setting; Merlot finish. Wexford Square is a group of Italian reproductions with swirl inlays.

Kincaid, IHFC H-1204 — Chesire, the fifth Laura Ashley Home collection, includies about 40 case goods pieces, solid alder with elements of Hepplewhite, Sheraton and antique English designs; sleigh bed has open-weave cane; also a padded leather platform sleigh bed; 72-inch to 108-inch dining table has clipped corner design. Stonewater case goods use Mission and Arts & Crafts influences with some updated touches, domestically produced.

La Barge, MS 263 — Maitland-Smith opens a separate showroom just for its La Barge line, including the new Olympics collection, an occasional line to celebrate 2008 Beijing Olympic games, with pieces offering mixed media like rattan, faux rattan and bamboo; painted finishes including chinoiserie. A new versatile banquet table seats 10 to 12 people and breaks down into three drop-leaf console/sofa tables.

Leda Furniture, IHFC G-576 — Vintage Treasures offers 18 bedroom and dining pieces in rustic casual, wormy maple; reproductions of rural, aged antiques; available in three finishes: vintage, linen and antique midnight. Bellevue is a dining collection in Louis Philippe styling with cherry solids and veneers, amaretto finish.

Magnussen Home, IHFC M-1010 — Introducing four new dining and six bedroom collections, including two full case goods groups for the Biltmore Estate for Your Home line. The new Biltmore groups are Sevenoaks bedroom and dining, traditional lines, contemporary ideals, architectural styling; flaky oak and walnut burl veneers, burnished sable finish, delicately carved rosettes and overlays; and Orchard House bedroom and dining, casual warmth, flaky oak veneers, warm chamois finish, simple silhouettes, softly worn edges and light distressing. Mercer bedroom is done in bold lines and urban, geometric shaping; ash veneers and a translucent anthracite finish with inset leather panels.

Manchester Furniture, 1515 W. Green Drive — New Alexander Julian lines debut, offering three progressive bedroom and dining collections; line now available in deeply grained oak finished in merlot or ebony as well as the new walnut finished in midtoned European color with cool, textural quality. Clean, versatile American moderne designed for urban living. Other new Julian lines include a country case goods, country bedroom and dining group Signature brand; redefined group draws from early American cabinetry with a modern spin; cherry solids and veneers in a warm brown tone; select pieces feature woven seagrass; double-beaded detailing on drawer frames, pilasters and parting rails.

Najarian Furniture, 300 S. Main St. — Expanding into a new niche with items tailored for the urban consumer in 57 new SKUs with casual contemporary designs. Four bedroom groups priced $399 to $499, four dining groups and four occasional table groups.

Pulaski Furniture, IHFC M-330 — Urban Country debuts, offering Old World charm for today's homes. Bowed fronts, waist molding, wide pilasters, beveled overlays, framed and beaded drawers, Antique Cherry finish. Pamplona uses Mediterranean style, canted posts, curved breakfront, carved and framed drawers with egg-and-dart detailing, carved overlays and an antique pecan finish. Ashton Park highlights include serpentine fronts, bun feet and hand-carved pilasters; white ash burls and chestnut finish; shell carving on the crown of the poster bed, armoire and mirror.

Riverside Furniture, IHFC C-302 — Medley is a full-line collection offering 56 pieces of bedroom, occasional, entertainment, casual dining and home office. Styling is transitional with mixed media of mindy oak, metal and marble; bedroom is $1,999, casual dining is $1,100, occasional starts at $260, entertainment wall is $1,799 and home theater group is $2,650.

Stanley Furniture, IHFC C-1158 — Toluca Lake, 12 bedroom and 13 dining, inspired by elite L.A. community; relaxed and rustic with dark, heavily distressed wormy maple and cherry; turned legs and posts, intricate beaded moldings, antique brass hardware and antiqued leather accents; low poster bed with leather headboard and diamond pattern on footboard, panel bed with European scroll-inspired metal inserts in the headboard. Lincoln Park, 15 bedroom and 12 dining, sleek and cosmopolitan, simple canted posts, box-mitered parting rails and clipped corners; cherry veneers with a clear, dark finish; fully upholstered bed, poster bed with octangonal and tapered posts, panel bed with canted posts and low footboard.

Stickley, 225 N. Elm St. — Expanding the Williamsburg Reserve collection and marking the license's sixth anniversary with the Charleston chest on chest, a reissue of an 88-inch piece based on original in Dewitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, mahogany with optional swan-neck pediment with pierced crest board, carved finial and rosettes; 11 locking drawers with brass pulls. Pasadena Bungalow is expanded with the Gamble House serving table, California Arts & Crafts style, named after one of the legendary Pasadena, Calif., residences designed and built by the Greene brothers; solid sapelli wood, 66-inch-wide overhanging breadboard top with African blackwood pegs and splines. In Mission, new case goods and entertainment pieces are added to the line, two sizes of corner TV consoles, a 42-inch-high jewelry cabinet, a 60-inch-high Gustav Stickley newel post floor lamp, two Charles Limbert-influenced occasional pieces, and a 2007 Limited Edition Harvey Ellis collector's table with inlay.

Wynwood, PS 407 — In home office, adding smaller-scaled desks to mixable office program introduced in April; 54-inch desk added to each of four groups: Wellington (traditional cherry), Camden (transitional cherry), Halton Hills (transitional oak) and Waldsworth (contemporary cherry).

Aspenhome

Bassett

Bernhardt

Broyhill

Century

Kincaid

Magnussen Home

Pulaski Furniture

Stanley Furniture

Stickley