HFN 2011 Award of Excellence: And the Winners Are...
21450 Tue, 05/10/2011 - 3:31pm
New Brand
Lexington Furniture
Henry Link, Lexington Furniture’s new brand, hit High Point in a big way, with ubiquitous signs and billboards plastered all over the furniture capital. A visit to Lexington’s showroom revealed an initial product offering of more than 180 pieces covering every home category including upholstered seating. Henry Link is comprised of attention-getting signature pieces targeting consumers “with a passion for travel and discovery.” Materials included a range of specialty veneers, marble, penn shell, embossed leather, bamboo and exotic skins. henrylink.com
Juvenile Furniture
Magnussen Home
Magnussen Home unveiled its first youth and second bedroom program at High Point. The Next Generation program is positioned as a fashionable furniture solution for a family’s changing and growing lifestyle. Each collection offers twin and full-sized beds along with companion pieces such as dressers, mirrors, nightstands and chests. Special features include charging stations, on/off buttons for lighting and nightlights. Styles cover a broad range including casual cottage, modern, traditional and rustic. magnussen.com
RTA
Bush Furniture
Bush Furniture got plenty of attention when it introduced the kathy ireland Office Collection in Las Vegas in January. At High Point, the company added to the collection with pieces to create family work environments, targeting consumers—especially mothers—who use part of their living room, den or multi-purpose room as a home office. The practical line features Bush’s Quick-to-Assemble technology, proven to be up to five times faster to assemble than traditional RTA furniture, according to the company. bushfurniture.com
Transitional Collection
Stanley Furniture
Transitional is the key to Stanley Furniture’s new Avalon Heights collection, which includes bedroom, dining and living room pieces. Stanley describes the collection as “current, but not radical. Casual, yet with hints of glamour,” and we wouldn’t disagree. Flowing forms are the collection’s focus, ranging from serpentine shapes to projecting friezes. Many of the pieces come in large- and small-scale options to fit in homes of all sizes. stanleyfurniture.com
Lighting Fixture
Visual Comfort & Co.
Classic and clean, the new Andover design in Visual Comfort’s Lauren by Ralph Lauren collection packs a lot of style power in a pendant. Shown here in the large pendant size in an aged-iron finish, the collection includes flush mounts and mini flush mounts as well as a polished nickel finish. The pendants run from $610 to $850 retail depending on the size and the finish and whether it’s a flush mount or a hanging fixture. visualcomfort.com
Home Decor
The Phillips Collection
The Phillips Collection’s comprehensive, limited-run collection from Mexican artist Karla d’Lara showcased everything from furniture to accessories, including the Summer Dream Sculpture piece here, which stands 53 inches high. “The Summer Dream Sculpture was of particular interest due to the bold, saturated colors and the impressive scale,” said Jason Phillips, vice president, creative director. “The artwork is painted onto a colossal ceramic form and then coated in a glossy lacquer. Retailers liked that it was a showstopper.” phillipscollection.com
Upholstered Sofa
Thomasville
It was a historic market for Thomasville, which along with sister-company Drexel Heritage, introduced new showrooms in High Point. Previously, the Furniture Brands’ companies exhibited at showrooms at its Thomasville campus. Marking the occasion, Thomasville brought its A-game to the spring market with eye-popping introductions highlighted by the show-stopping Ella Sofa. Teal was a popular color at the market, and the Ella Sofa was perhaps the most stylish example. The Ella Sofa offers a fashionable lounging opportunity to everyone from urban hipsters to decadent French royalty. thomasville.com
Table Lamp
Robert Abbey
This striking table lamp from Robert Abbey’s Mary McDonald collection combines the popular gray colorway in its glass accents with a sophisticated silverplate finish for a tailored look. “Mary McDonald’s use of masculine lines balanced with glamorous finishes and touches of feminine detailing creates a timeless look that has proven very appealing,” said Caroline Sineath, product design. The table lamp is also offered in a natural brass finish with black glass accents and either a mont blanc or black painted opaque parchment shade. “Our retailers have responded enthusiastically to both finishes of the Directoire table lamp,” Sineath said. robertabbey.com
Wall Decor
Arteriors
While one person told designer Laura Kirar that her new Baroque mirror for Arteriors reminded him of a Moroccan piece, another said it looked Aztec and yet another Indian. “To me, that means that I created something modern,” she said. Inspired by tramp art, the antiqued gold leaf plain mirror has hand-applied studs and is part of Kirar’s second collection with Arteriors. “This year’s collection has a chic nighttime feel to it,” she said. “I want the room to sparkle, like it is wearing jewelry.” A floor and table lamp are also a part of the collection. arteriorshome.com
Mattress Protector
Leggett & Platt
The word “silver” might bring to mind coins, Lone Ranger’s horse or wedding anniversaries, but with its new SilverShell, Leggett & Platt hopes to make consumers think of antimicrobial mattress protectors. SilverShell utilizes pure elemental silver to inhibit the growth of stain- and odor-causing bacteria, mold and mildew. Lab tested to prevent 99.97 percent of bacteria, the company said SilverShell extends a bed’s life and adds an extra layer of comfort for a deeper, more restful sleep. It’s also 100-percent waterproof to protect against stains and accidents. leggett.com