When you’re out shopping for everyone else this holiday season, treat yourself to something new—some fabulous new furniture for your home.

LaCasa Furniture (2233 Flatbush Avenue, 718-677-1777) provides a wonderful shopping experience, and they have a collection of new merchandise, just in time for the holidays.

There are two 10,000-square foot floors of fine furniture in styles that include traditional, modern, and contemporary. If you’re looking to re-decorate your home, this is the place to shop.

The first floor features manufacturers such as Pulaski, Vaughn Bassett, Universal Furniture, Wynwood, Schnadig, Hooker Furniture, and Standard Furniture, represented by Kathy Ireland. Read more »

Apollo Awards, Manufacturer Leadership Awards and Merchandising Excellence Awards announced

Retailers recognized with Apollo Awards
For the 47th year, the Summer and Casual Furniture Manufacturers Association honored top retailers with an Apollo Award during the Casual Show last week. Winners were awarded in two categories – single store and multistore – as well as second and third place honors.

In the single store category, Sunnyland Furniture received first place; Leisure Living, second, and Dodds & Eder, third. Read more »

La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries, one of the world’s leading residential furniture producers, was recently honored as a recipient of the Wells Fargo Financial Retail Services Client Award.

The annual award recognizes select clients for success achieved with their consumer private-label credit card program through Wells Fargo Financial Retail Services. The award is based on program participation and credit card sales volume.

“We are honored to receive this award from our financial services partner Wells Fargo Financial Retail Services,” said Mark Wiltshire, president of La-Z-Boy Retail Division. “Our partnership and collaborative efforts have allowed all La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries the opportunity to provide their customers with financing options that suit their needs. The strength of the Wells Fargo Financial Retail Services and La-Z-Boy brands will continue to provide customers quality, comfort and convenience.” Read more »

Furniture First, a national buying group serving the retail home furnishings industry, was recently honored as a recipient of the Wells Fargo Financial Retail Services Client Award.

The annual award recognizes select clients for success achieved with their consumer private-label credit card program through Wells Fargo Financial Retail Services. The award is based on program participation and credit card sales volume.

“We are honored to accept this award on behalf of the board of directors and all participating members of Furniture First,” said Bill Hartman, president of Furniture First, Inc. “We are pleased to be associated with business partners who truly care about our business. We look forward to continuing our relationship and growing our mutually exclusive program with Wells Fargo Financial Retail Services.” Read more »

Berkeley Mills: A feel for craftsmanship
Berkeley Mills founders build on a tradition of durability with hands-on approach to their craft

A good friend just completed a Craftsman-style house for his family, and he was looking for furniture that would match its authentic style. On a recommendation from the Craftsman Home in Berkeley, we headed for Berkeley Mills, one of a small handful of Craftsman-inspired furniture-makers in the United States.

When we wandered into the showroom, I did not announce that I was a Chronicle contributor, or that I was a wood butcher who’d fashioned a variety of cabinetry projects (along with dozens of houses) over the past 30 years. The guy on the floor approached us, discovered our interest, and promptly led us to a sideboard, stating in an offhand way, “This is one I built.”

Now, when somebody in a showroom claims to have built — not designed, or had built, but actually made himself — an expertly crafted hardwood sideboard, my skepticism cannot be restrained. “You built this?” I asked. Read more »