Hooker Furniture Unveils New Casual Lifestyle Collection, 'Al Fresco’

October 4, 2019  by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Industry   

Targeting consumers with more casual lifestyles, the company’s new lineup is inspired by heirloom pieces found in homes perched on cliffs along the Italian coastline of the Adriatic Sea.

The collection of bedroom, dining room, occasional and accent furniture features moderately distressed designs that are enhanced by accent paint finishes that create an eclectic feel. Al Fresco is constructed of oak, maple and hickory veneers and poplar solids, and includes several pieces with stone and metal accents  

“We’ve been following a growing consumer trend that focuses on more casual lifestyles, defined by experiences instead of material things,” said Pat Watson, vice president of merchandising at Hooker Furniture. “Reflecting that trend, we’ve taken European provincial styling and enhanced it with a more casual, coastal feel. The result is a curated collection of comfortable, well-worn pieces that look as if they’ve been proudly passed down from generation to generation.”

The principal finish, Sorrento, is a soft taupe blended with a gray two-tone paint, while a variety of gray, blue and black accent finishes add charm and warmth.

“The market has become oversaturated with gray recently, so we’ve opted for more beige and earthy color tones with this collection,” said Watson. “We haven’t abandoned gray, but it’s clearly not the dominant tone. As the pendulum continues to shift, we expect to see these warmer earthy tones to make their way back into home furnishings in a big way.”

The new collection follows on the heels of Hooker Furniture’s successful Ciao Bella collection launched last year – a lineup inspired by furniture and antiques found in the homes of families who have operated vineyards in Italy for multiple generations.

Key pieces in the Al Fresco Collection are a lightly two-toned mansion bed with multiple panels accentuated by bead moldings and an arched panel bed that is highlighted by an outer molding wrapped in textured, distressed German silver. Both beds feature adjustable height headboards, allowing them to be used in a broad range of settings.

Other bedroom pieces include an 8-drawer dresser, a foil wrapped mirror, a 6-drawer chest, a bachelor’s chest accented by mosaic quatrefoil drawer overlays, a round telephone table and a thoughtfully scaled wardrobe.

Key dining room pieces include a friendship table that has an architectural salvage look – complete with season splits on the pedestals and base and a distressed top that speaks of true authenticity. An 84-inch rectangular dining table features a trestle base with a sliding stretcher, a 60-inch round dining table with a four-pedestal base, an arched top display cabinet and a softly two-tone serpentine buffet.

Occasional pieces include two settings. The first features a square cocktail and end table with lichen stone tops and metal bases. The tops are carved to create the appearance of individual tiles. This setting also features a martini table and an accent console. The second look features a rectangular storage cocktail with a hand-painted top, front and back that is complemented by rectangular end and chairside tables. An etagere with rope twist posts and a cornice top anchors the accent offering. Additional accents include two distinctive accent chests, a floor mirror with jewelry storage, a trefoil accent table, a distinctive flip-top table with a storage bench underneath, and a 60-inch writing desk with a pair of deep drawers for file storage.

The new collection will be on display in Hooker Furniture’s High Point Market showroom, space C-1058 of the International Home Furnishings Center.