Readers who want furniture that won’t poison them or the earth often find high price tags attached to the good stuff from companies including Palecek, Harden and Groovystuff. Well, Rowe Furniture is having none of that.

The company went into bankruptcy and bounced back last year, featuring a new collection it calls EcoRowe. Made in Elliston, Va., EcoRowe contains fabrics in natural fibers, cushions with renewable, plant-based materials and frames of wood from replenishable domestic forests.

At the High Point (N.C.) market earlier this month, the new Sanibel collection created a buzz. The frames are covered in abaca, a fiber extracted from the banana plant, and suggested prices start at about $349 for the end table/magazine rack, $399 for the ottoman, $649 for the chair and $999 for the sofa (depending on upholstery choices). The good-looking, upholstered Laine chair, above, starts at $549, ottoman at $399.

Sanibel probably won’t be available until July, but there are other EcoRowe offerings on the market now. San Francisco-area Rowe dealers include Z-Barn in the city, Papillon Home in Berkeley, Rockridge Home in Oakland and also Blue Tomatoes and Scandinavian Design stores. Visit www.rowefurniture.com for more.

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Known by many within the home furnishings and textile world, Rowe Furniture Senior Design Consultant Howard Niederman is retiring after 28 years. Neiderman helped to pioneer Rowe’s signature special order fabric program which revolutionized customization choices in the furniture industry.

For more than a quarter century, Niederman has developed designs for Rowe Furniture, taking a lead role in the styling and manufacturing of Rowe’s products. He also planned and developed designs for key accounts. Rowe President and CEO Stefanie Lucas said, “Howard was instrumental in helping Rowe develop into the style leader it is today. We would not be who we are today without the many years of Howard’s expertise and input into our product direction.” Read more »

Rowe Furniture of Ellison, which gained a new owner in January, has named Stefanie Lucas president and chief executive officer. She had been the company’s senior vice president of sales, marketing and merchandising.

Lucas succeeds Gerald Birnbach at the beleaguered company. After a prolonged financial spin, the Rowe Cos., of which Rowe Furniture had long been a subsidiary, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September.

In January a federal bankruptcy judge approved the sale of Rowe Furniture to Lexington-Rowe Furniture, a new affiliate of Florida-based Sun Capital Partners, a private investment firm. Read more »

Rowe Furniture Inc announced the appointment of Stefanie J. Lucas as President and CEO effective immediately. Rowe is an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners Inc, a leading private investment firm specializing in leveraged buyouts and investments in market-leading companies.

Rowe is a leading marketer and manufacturer of custom upholstered furniture in the United States. Lucas will replace Gerald Birnbach. Birnbach will remain as an advisor to Rowe.

Lucas has more than 20 years experience in sales, marketing and management in the home furnishings and other related industries. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Merchandising of Rowe Furniture. Read more »

Couture designers Silvano Banfi and Frank Zambrelli have teamed up with upholstery vendor Robin Bruce to create a new line of furniture for introduction at the upcoming High Point Market.

The duo is known for their signature designs for top fashion houses including Judith Leiber, Calvin Klein and Nanette Lepore, as well as their own couture shoe line.

The new furniture line, the Banfi Zambrelli for Robin Bruce collection, will be available at select stores this May. Banfi and Zambrelli will be in the Robin Bruce market showroom Monday through Wednesday, March 26-28. There will be a cocktail reception to meet the designers Tuesday, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Read more »

Rowe Furniture of Elliston has a new owner and, possibly, a brighter future.

If the beleaguered manufacturer of upholstered furniture survives and thrives, that could be good news for 825 people who work at Rowe’s factory in Elliston or its frame shop in Salem.

After a prolonged financial spiral, the Rowe Cos., of which Rowe Furniture was a subsidiary, filed in September for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The Rowe Cos., based in McLean, subsequently closed and liquidated Storehouse, its retail furniture subsidiary.

On Jan. 19, a federal bankruptcy judge approved the sale of Rowe Furniture to Lexington-Rowe Furniture, a new affiliate of Florida-based Sun Capital Partners. The sale price was $30 million, with $24 million in cash and the remainder earmarked for the assumption of certain liabilities. The deal closed Thursday night. Read more »

Furniture maker Rowe Cos. has asked a judge for an additional four months of control over its bankruptcy case while it develops a plan to repay creditors.

The McLean, Va., company said that, since filing for Chapter 11 protection in September, it hasn’t had time to craft a plan.

Once Rowe completes its retail-store closings and asset auction, it will be in position to “begin negotiating a plan of liquidation,” the company said in court documents filed Dec. 29. Read more »

A federal judge has cleared the way for Rowe Furniture Company to be sold to a private investment firm. The judge authorized McLean-based Rowe Furniture and Sun Capital Partners’ affiliate, Lexington-Rowe Furniture, to move forward with the proposed purchase of Rowe.

The deal is said to be worth $30 million. An auction date has been set for January. Rowe Companies filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in September. Executives with the company have said they will continue manufacturing operations in Elliston and Salem.

That snazzy new sofa is about to get more expensive.

Because of rising fuel and other raw-material costs, consumers will likely face higher prices for furniture in the coming months.

They will also see more offerings at the high end of the market, say participants who are convened recently in High Point, N.C., at High Point Market, a twice-yearly meeting of the nation’s home-furniture manufacturers, retailers and designers.

That is because more U.S. companies are abandoning the lower and middle-tier to the likes of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Rooms To Go to focus on lucrative luxury customers – and the interior designers they hire.

Manufacturers Laneventure and Bradington-Young both raised most prices this year because of higher foam, spring and metal costs. Read more »

U.S. companies are abandoning the lower and middle-tier to focus on lucrative luxury customers.

That snazzy new sofa is about to get more expensive.

Because of rising fuel and other raw-material costs, consumers will likely face higher prices for furniture in the coming months. They will also see more offerings at the high end of the market.

That is because more U.S. companies are abandoning the lower and middle-tier to the likes of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Rooms To Go to focus on lucrative luxury customers and the interior designers they hire.

Manufacturers Laneventure and Bradington-Young both raised most prices this year because of higher foam, spring and metal costs. Barlow Tyrie, an England-based maker known for its teak outdoor furniture, raised prices as much as 12 percent on its contemporary stainless-steel collection, citing higher metal costs.

As part of the new luxury push that will hit stores this spring, consumers will see products such as hand-distressed leather couches, more outdoor furniture for second-home verandas and massive dining-room tables.

The higher prices and bigger-ticket goods come as the U.S. furniture industry is facing tough times. U.S. retail sales of furniture and bedding rose 7.2 percent to $83.23 billion for the 12 months ended in June, according to a monthly furniture-industry report by investment bank Mann, Armistead & Epperson.

But more of those goods are being made overseas, particularly by lower-cost manufacturers in Asia. Home Depot Inc. sources nearly 60 percent of its merchandise overseas. Overall, last year, 43.1 percent of all furniture sold in the United States was made overseas, compared with just 24.3 percent that was manufactured abroad 10 years ago.

Several U.S. companies went out of business this year, including Rose Furniture and Wood Armfield. Storehouse, an Atlanta-based furniture retail chain is being liquidated to raise cash for its parent company, Rowe Furniture, after failing to find a buyer.

But luxury furniture has been one bright spot for U.S. manufacturers, and many are rolling out new lines of higher-price items. Read more »