Joan Gunin — Furniture Today
AT THE MARKET — Casual furniture resource Laneventure is launching the Tortuga collection, an
eclectic indoor/outdoor group inspired by the Caribbean seaside town in Belize.
It will be available at retail this summer.
The 31-piece assortment evokes an elegant style reminiscent of the British gentry that settled in Tortuga in the 1800s. Their mahogany furnishings were designed with cane to allow increased air circulation in the tropical temperatures.
The Laneventure collection features upholstery, dining and occasional pieces made of mahogany and wicker. It is available in more than 70 finishes and 300 fabrics, in both indoor and outdoor construction.
“The cushions and finishes and construction in this new collection are a little different for indoor or outdoor use,” said Gary McCray, vice president of marketing for Laneventure. “This is the best of two worlds: indoor and out.”
“The catalog was set up for our wicker — and now this new wood category — to make it easy for the consumer to understand the differences and the options available,” McCray said. “We have done this before, but have not packaged it like this. This represents the merging of our TradeWinds (indoor) and WeatherMaster (outdoor) brands under the Weathermaster banner.”
The options also are explained in point-of-sale materials, he said.
Highlights of the Tortuga line include a gate-leg craft console, a space-saving item for craft projects. Targeting the $25.7 billion craft market, the table features a flip-top work surface, antique hardware and storage drawers. The retail price is $1,309.
Another offering mixing mahogany and cane is a sofa or loveseat, available in two styles — a loose pillow back casual frame influenced by sleeping porches, or a classically influenced model with a button-tufted back. It is available for indoor use at $1,749, or in outdoor construction with weatherproof fabrics at $2,189.
