High Point Market Finds

It was a great trip to the Furniture Market in High Point last month. There were lots of new and exciting products that you will be seeing on our sales floor in the coming months.

Durham Furniture launched a new eight bedroom collection called Perfect Balance. This is a scaled down furniture line which will be great for condos, 2nd bedrooms, youth, etc - the possibilities are endless. The beds can feature underbed drawer storage or the whole mattress will lift and give you access to the entire underbed space - great for those with limited storage space!

We found some awesome new transitional leather furniture. Chrome legs and frames compliment the leather and they are super comfortable.

Another great find was a line of French furnishings. Based on designs from chateau's in France, the styles and finish choices are second to none.

We invite you to stop by and see the new products .. we think you'll love them!

Fall/Winter 2012/2013 Trends Forcast

Time to “undecorate”

The UK-based trend-forecasting agency Trend Bible began working on its autumn/winter 2012/2013 in early 2011. The experts observed social, economical, cultural and consumer behavior to build a picture of what they thought the future might look like. What they found is the resurgence of “casually styled” spaces, where decor is mismatched yet sentimental and where tactile handmade goods take center stage. Learn more about these four trends on the horizon below.
        
Undone
“Artful, eclectic curation to reflect a sense of personal style” sums up this trend. Salvaged, “rustic, weather-beaten materials and finishes sit alongside warm and cozy fabrics,” according to Trend Bible. “In essence, this trend is about the celebration of tactile qualities in a post-digital era, where products that tell a story and bring a wholesome, unrefined attitude are valued.” Think reclaimed rough wood, rusted metal, hand-knitted and crocheted fabrics as well as felt, leather and wool. Distressed finishes on furniture add a tactile quality as well.

Curiosity
Dramatic yet whimsical romantic elements will carry over from spring/summer 2012. “Products have a playful quality and reminds us of our childhoods, as adults retreat into child-like worlds in times of political, economic and environmental confusion,” according to Trend Bible. Along with the romantic elements comes bold, graphic patterns and “feather-light” fabrics. Decor elements include chandeliers, pendants, flowers and nostalgic, vintage decor make up this trend story, plus soft lighting, plush rugs, flowing curtains, hand-drawn illustrative characters and damask patterns.

Grey Gardens
This trend forecast gathers inspiration from the 1970s documentary and subsequent 2009 film Grey Gardens, which tells the story of the decline of a 1920s household and its inhabitants. Once decadent and luxurious, the bohemian home slowly decayed, resulting in “flickers of faded grandeur,” reports Trend Bible. The agency’s forecasters say the trend also was inspired by the effects of the global recession, resulting in “down-at-heel glamour.” More elements picked up from the original Grey Gardens include the concept of a garden inside the house, such as wrought iron and rusty finishes, birdcages and fresh flowers; luxe finishes like plush velvets, paisley patterns and furs; and chinoiserie.

Wild spirit
This trend story celebrates different culture’s traditional handmade goods. Patterns and crafts from “Scandinavia, Mexico and South America” and Native American goods like “dreamcatchers and feather trims influence decoration and print,” according to Trend Bible. The trend includes a multicolored palette, primitive decoration, simple illustrations, handcrafted textiles, pieced and patched fabrics and wood, raw and rough-edged ceramics and strong angular geometric patterns.

A Love Affair with White - 9 Tips For Romatic Decor

By Loreen Epp  - Hooker Furniture

 

The flattering colors of flowers and cosmetics may be the historical favorites for romantic home furniture and décor. But today’s love affair with the color white is inspiring other romantic possibilities!

Perhaps it’s no surprise. White was, after all, the color of French lace, tea roses, canopy beds and wedding dresses long before it was the color of iPods. And white does have special powers! More than symbolizing purity, honesty and spirituality (…and enhancing natural daylight), white is chameleon… it can look new or old, cool or warm.

Here are a few tips for using this versatile, unique color to create a romantic lifestyle and ambiance at home…

• Thinks ‘whites’ rather than ‘white’! The most interesting white rooms feel slightly complex; the results of mixing a subtle range of white and off-white hues.

• Don’t think of white only in its purest forms. Today’s enormous range of white tones (ecru, ivory, eggshell, oatmeal, linen, etc.) offers a white hue for every style. The latest collection from Hooker Furniture, Primrose Hill features a Trellis White finish that is a perfect example of the more sophisticated and complex hues of white today.

Primrose Hill Dining Room

• Choose whites with similar undertones. Whites have either cool (blue, gray or pink) undertones… or warm (yellow, orange or brown) undertones. Mixing the two will make the warm whites look dirty.

• Use white all over! Resist the urge to add ‘accent colors’, such as black or other colors… an all-white room feels softer and more romantic. Good rule of thumb?  Use whites on everything except wood furniture or wood floors.  Or throw caution to the wind and make them white, too!

• Match white colors to the style they work with. Older-looking whites look best with well-worn woods, aged fabrics or antique mirrors. Newer-looking whites look best with contemporary shapes, dark woods or stainless steel.

• Use a range of white textures that suit your style. Think white marble with white cabinets… white damask with white garden roses or a white cane headboard…  white canvas or cotton with white-washed pine furniture or white plaster walls.

• Layer white textures. Hang white artwork on a white wall, layer two white tablecloths over one table or mix a variety of white textured pillows on a bed or sofa. Or use soft, sheer white curtains at the window for a very romantic touch as sunlight streams in behind them.

Melange's Mirrored Front Chest

• Add silver! There’s nothing quite so romantic, whether stainless steel appliances with snow-white cabinets, antique mirror-front white cabinets or silver candlesticks on a white tablecloth.

• Make it livable. Not to put a damper on the romance of white, but this uncompromising color does show more dirt. A solution is to use whitest whites on walls and ceilings, and darker whites or more textured white finishes on furniture.   (Tags: the color white, decorating with white, white furniture, white furnishings, white décor, white accents, furniture, romantic décor)

Tips For Using Ottomans, Benches & Cubes

Thanks to Loreen Epp - Hooker Furniture Company:

True, ottomans, benches and cubes are perfect for putting our feet up. But they’re taking center stage in living rooms today, offering a pretty, practical and comfy (!) alternative to coffee tables.
Below, a few tips on choosing the perfect ottomans for your home…
1.  Use more than one! Today’s ottomans are designed to be used in pairs, trios or even quartets. That gives them an appealing visual texture… and flexibility! They can be separated and moved where needed. Check out this pair of Sam Moore’s Porter cubes covered in a new pop art cabbage rose pattern in a bright magenta and tangerine.

Porter Cubes by Sam Moore

2.  Choose ottomans that match each other. There are plenty of ottoman designs to choose from today, but keep sets of ottomans the same size, shape and design. Placed next to each other, they’ll reinforce each other, look more substantial and appear as a single unit.

Ottomans by Sam Moore

3.  Choose ottomans that contrast with the sofa. Ottomans that contrast a sofa’s color, pattern or texture (a leather ottoman with a fabric sofa, or vice versa) is an easy way to add an eclectic, personalized look to your living room. If possible, repeat the ottomans’ color, pattern or texture on toss pillows or on a neighboring chair.

Ottomans by Sam Moore

4.  Size ottomans to the size (and shape) of your seating area. With a large-scaled sofa, use large-scaled ottomans. With an extra long sofa, use rectangular-shaped ottomans or a trio of square-shaped ottomans. For a sectional, consider a pair of four. Ottomans should measure roughly the same height as the sofa’s seat cushion, or the same height as a coffee table.
5.  Make a statement! Choose ottomans with an exotic pattern, interesting shape or unique leg design. They’ll add an artistic quality and even become a conversation piece!
To make ottomans ultra-functional, place a shallow, but generously-sized wood or metal tray on top of one the ottomans. It’ll corral remote controls and magazines or safely balance drinks, bowls, candles or a food platter.

New Styles From Wesley Hall

The Table Too Cocktail Ottoman  Here's the perfect blend of practicality and versatility! The luxurious tufting and beautiful hand-finished wood base of the Table Too Cocktail Ottoman are real head-turners, but it's the dual-purpose utility of this piece that will motivate consumers to buy.

The Marilyn Sofa and Chair An homage to the shapely Hollywood legend, this sofa in a sumptuous celadon chenille was a huge market success, as was the correlating leather chair. Both pieces feature a beautifully curved back, with the cushions cradled in the curved back rail. Comfort down seat cushions and Blendown backs fulfill the promise of exquisite comfort.

A Bevy of Beautiful  Chairs   Each of our fall chair introductions features an updated interpretation of classic design with the clean lines and stylish comfort preferred by today's consumer. Just a couple of examples: The Devon The Sterling

Seating for Today's Open Living/Dining Area Dining chairs have an additional role to play in today's open floor plans. Our four introductions add beauty and comfort at the dining table while providing occasional seating in the great room. For example: The Madeline The Vogue

October High Point Market Finds

High Point Furniture Market in North Carolina is the biggest location and show in all of North America to see all the newest styles and designs for the coming season. Pre-planning is very important because the show is only five days in length and you could spend weeks getting through all the vendors showrooms. Our plan is always to visit our current suppliers to see their new introductions and visit a select number of new vendors to see what make a nice addition to our sales floor.
This past October was a great market with lots of new introductions and we've ordered a number of new products which will soon be making their way into the store. Here's some photos of some of the things we saw at market.
Plan to visit us to see all the great new upholstery, bedrooms, dining rooms and accessories for your home!

Furniture Sideboards - Unsung Heros

By Nancy Lindemeyer (with thanks from our supplier, Hooker Furniture) 

Since the 1700s, sideboards have been serving as one of the home’s most useful pieces of furniture and not getting that much credit. A couple of centuries ago, the practical English began bringing in the long, slender hall table into the dining room, especially for entertaining in stately country houses. Thomas Chippendale got the idea to attach cabinets and drawers to the “board” and thus we have been making variations ever since.

Grandover Buffet

Just think of all the functions this stalwart piece of furniture provides: a place for serving as well as a bar; a wonderful stage for beautiful displays of flowers and collectibles; a safe haven to store flatware, stemware, linens, you name it. Hooker Furniture’s Grandover buffet is an example of beauty and functionality. It has the ageless quality of European design and great storage, including side drawers that swing out. So let’s give the sideboard its due in this season when entertaining moves inside the house and sideboards really come in handy. Here are five ways to enjoy your sideboard this season.

• A display of autumn fruits and flowers: Instead of the big floral arrangement in the center of the sideboard, why not have a huge bowl of apples? (Local or heritage varieties are preferable.) Smaller vases of bittersweet flanking the apples bring autumn’s color scheme inside with one simple stroke. Or use the bittersweet as a wreath around the bowl, which is also a great place for cider or punch when the apples have all been munched away or taken to the kitchen for baked apples or pie.

• Hunt breakfast buffet: No need to have horses and hounds for a hunt breakfast. It’s a wonderful way to entertain for a casual Saturday or Sunday at home. A chaffing dish with scrambled eggs, savory slices of ham or bacon, biscuits with herbed butter (recipe below), and a fresh-baked pie or coffee cake. It’s an inviting serve-yourself way to entertain graciously–or simply to enjoy with your own family. (For recipes including wonder of muffins and breakfast breads, consult “Sarahbeth’s Bakery, From My Hands to Yours.” Every page is mouth watering.)

• Afternoon tea, anyone? Silver tea sets have found a place of honor on sideboards over the years. But you don’t need to be that formal to stage a delightful tea in your dining room. Why not try a tea tasting? Make it easy with an electric kettle, a variety of tea bags from the most popular Earl Grey to fruited teas, and a bevy of cups…maybe the ones you’ve collected over the years. Aside, sugar, cream, lemon. Of course, the Brits never use anything but milk in their tea. To make things really easy, add an array of cupcakes. Of course, if you’d like a formal setting, what could be lovelier on your beautifully polished sideboard? It is a spread that would make Chippendale proud.

• By candlelight: Dining in the flickering romantic light of candles is divine. Turn off the electric lights and festoon your sideboard with candles–fat, thin, tall, tea lights. Of course, dripless will keep the surface of your furniture wax-free. But if you do get a drop or two of wax, simply heat with a hair dryer and rub off with a soft cloth or freeze with an ice cube and scrape gently with something thin like a credit card. Hurricane lamps are often a staple on sideboards and they can be the basis for candlelight dinner. Be mindful of scented candles that can clash with the wonderful food aromas. And you might want to get creative this season and find a selection of all the pumpkin, gourds, and fruit candles out there. Even when not lit, they are lots of creative fun. (I love tree candles in white, green, and gold in all sizes at Christmas.)

• Instant Art: With a stand like those used for cookbooks, you can have a wonderful piece of artwork every day. Turn to a spread in your art, decorating, or cookbooks and display it to suit your mood. Those large coffee table books now have a new purpose and you don’t have to juggle them on your lap. Or you might take a framed photograph or artwork from another room and display it to create the mood for a party or festive dinner.  Want to have Venice in view with your favorite Italian dish? As the French say, “Voila!”

• Summary: Dining Room Furniture Sideboards and Servers are not necessary evils—simply a place to stash stuff.  They are perhaps the best buy you’ll ever make for your home and lifestyle.  Enjoy.