Classic American design and a couple of household-name designers are among the attention-getters at the semiannual International Home Furnishings Market, which opened in High Point, N.C., on Thursday.

Reinterpretations of early 20th century styles constituted one of the common themes to emerge from the spring trade show, where manufacturers and importers hawk their wares to buyers, interior designers and others from around the world. Crescent Fine Furniture and Hooker Furniture were two manufacturers with lines based on Arts and Crafts styling, while Copeland Furniture was offering pieces based on the designs of architect and designer Frank Lloyd Wright.

Unlike recent years, few manufacturers are depending on celebrity tie-ins to lure interest to their furniture introductions. However, two familiar names are introducing new upholstery collections at the market: fashion designer Jessica McClintock, whose Victorian home was the inspiration for a line being manufactured by C.R. Laine, and HGTV star Candice Olson, who designed a collection for Ohio’s Norwalk Furniture. Another fashion designer, Alexander Julian, was showing his expanded collections for the Manchester Furniture Group.

The furniture market is always a place where visitors can see a plethora of styles, from spare contemporary to Old World ornate. Still, some trends are apparent, including:

• The maturation of youth furniture. Kids are getting some fairly sophisticated styling in youth furniture collections this spring.

• A focus on entertainment. With analog TVs slated to go out of production in 2009, furniture manufacturers are devoting increasing attention to furniture that can accommodate thin-panel TVs and all the other electronic goodies that are keeping Americans amused.

• A reappearance of oak. Long a staple of Ohio’s Amish-made furniture, oak is earning new respect among the young and hip.

The spring market arrived on the heels of a two-month slowdown in the residential furniture industry that followed a strong January. Nevertheless, industry analyst W.W. “Jerry” Epperson Jr. considered that a plus for consumers: When the industry is soft immediately before the market, he told journalists at a market-opening press breakfast, the industry typically responds with lower prices and better purchasing terms.

The market is expected to draw about 70,000 visitors from more than 110 countries during its seven-day run. Much of what they’re seeing is prototypes of furniture pieces that manufacturers will put into production if demand from the market warrants it. Furniture ordered by retailers at the spring market typically starts arriving in stores in about six months.

Source: ohio.com

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