Gary Evans
Concentrating more on straightforward look of five years ago

HIGH POINT — A return to neutral colors and cleaner, less gussied-up styling greeted stationary upholstery buyers attending last week’s premarket here.

Dressy neutrals in subtle textured covers prevailed in both contemporary and traditional, the two style genres that manufacturers are focusing on as they approach the April market.

The spring show will offer few layer-on-layer dress-ups in traditional, with vendors concentrating more on the straightforward look of five years ago. The indication is that retailers may be ready to get back to less drama on their upholstery floor.

This isn’t to say that the deep reds, browns, funky greens and purples have vanished. But they appear to be giving way to wheats, sages, flax, sea foam, mushroom and other less pronounced palettes that have dominated at recent markets. (One color combination that hasn’t lost its verve is chocolate/blue and hues of red.)

Bernhardt is using soft colorways in an as-yet-unnamed collection of contemporary lifestyle pieces that includes a number of exclusive fabrics. The 20-group offering — big enough to warrant a showroom remake with lighter floors — includes chocolate microsuede, pewter, grays, sage, a sleek red leather chair and a leather sectional in a pearlescent white.

The eclectic collection uses wovens, velvet-like and quilted fabrics, hound’s-tooth, chenilles, wools, and silks, a number of arm treatments and some exposed woods. There are two hair-on-hide 42-inch round ottomans and also bunching ottomans. Retail pricing, in the $1,299 to $1,499 category for a sofa, should appeal to the Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel customers looking to move up to more style and variety.

Pennsylvania House’s spotlight group here featured a contemporary sofa in wheat with contrasting welt, shown with paired armless chairs in a chocolate, spa blue and green cover.

“This is our high-style contemporary, but not too contemporary,” said Christy Younkman, showroom and gallery designer. “We don’t want to scare away our typical Pennsylvania House customer.”

The company also will offer a traditional skirted sofa group with an English arm, and will add 14 fabrics to the Grandover sectional it introduced last year.

Kincaid is adding pieces to its Classics and Kinguard (performance fabric) collections, with “concentration this market in Designers Select because a big part of our business is in special order,” said Steve Beeker, director of upholstery sales and merchandising. Designers Select is Kincaid’s upper end line for designers and high-end retailers, with retail price points from $1,399 to $1,999.

Southern will strengthen its Flea Market collection to include a carved wood frame, a high-leg sofa using a combination of stripes for the body and fringed pillows, and a deep red velvet frame with plum and green accent pillows, bun feet and nailhead accents. 

 The company also is broadening its Stainmaster line, adding 13 collections, and has developed an accent chair program in fabric and leather. “We’ve taken a multitude of frames and pulled them into a more focused presentation of both frame and fabric,” said Southern President Ken Church. Fabric sofas start at $499 retail and leather at $999.

Schnadig capitalized on its coordinated upholstery and case goods program at premarket, showing a number of new groups in a variety of looks. One that drew strong retailer attention was the Blythe sofa, a contemporary/transitional shelter arm offering with exposed wood frame in an espresso finish, a neutral linen base cloth and three pillows. It will hit the $899-$999 retail price point.

Schnadig’s April offering also will feature an import collection called Compositions, focusing on detail, fabric and value, which will top out the company’s price structure.

Vanguard’s up-front group  is a collection called Soulful Modern. Reginia Payne, creative director, described it as “a retro feel, more of a livable transitional or a rugged contemporary.”

The collection includes wood pieces in walnut veneers and fabrics in neutrals and soft boucles. A barrel chair in a faux cashmere cover has an optional swivel or casters. The company will introduce about 45 upholstery pieces, skirted and unskirted, in all its divisions.

Henredon will add many upholstery pieces this market, including 20 in its “traditional with a twist” Acquisitions collection, nine in Barbara Barry, and around 40 in the opulent, Venice-inspired Arabesque and in St. Regis, a clubby 19th century mahogany collection.

While Acquisitions upholstery makes a statement with clean, crisp styling and elegant neutral fabrics, the overall upholstery direction is more color in fabrics, said Jeff Arthur, vice president of Henredon upholstery merchandising.

“Henredon has typically played it safe, but our customers are educated and ready for it,” Arthur said.