RW Collective Highlights Appeal of Modern Coastal at HPMKT

October 24, 2024  by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry   

According to furniture designer Sharlene Boyle, consumers are increasingly gravitating toward serene spaces and the elements of nature that coastal design can impart. “People are looking for refuge and calm, an escape from the chaos of the world, whether they live by the water or are completely landlocked. Since we believe that coastal design is no longer relegated to the coast, our approach is spa-like and classic, with a color palette that features new paint finishes that are really soft and soothing. Think mysterious colors like Sea Haze that are not easily definable.”

The creative vision behind Beyond Borders since the company’s founding, Boyle says her inspiration for case goods design is influenced by the expected—art and architecture—“I take pictures of iron fences and rooftops everywhere I go,”—and a love of nature and natural materials, starting with the wood itself. With her furniture designs handcrafted in the company’s factory in Indonesia, she focuses on an abundance of teak and mahogany, and using indigenous natural materials like rattan, bamboo, and this Market, abaca (a species of banana endemic to the Philippines), as well as hand-woven grass cloth. Among four new bed collections for High Point, the clean-lined, tone-on-tone Amanda exemplifies her aesthetic with white-washed abaca.

Along with Amanda, other new standouts to watch for this season include the Christopher Bed in a weathered white finish with a minimalist headboard covered in boucle and chunky, triangular legs (Suggested retail $2,637), and the Annisa Tall Bookcase. Among the designer’s favorites, the open shelving features carefully hand-woven and hand-brushed grass cloth in a shimmering pearl white for a glamorous vibe. (Suggested retail $2,697). The Roberto Console, crafted in mahogany and mindi wood is another elegant coastal look, with four drawers and sturdy carved hardwood pole legs finished in Sea Haze. It’s capped by a stunning top with strong visual wood grain in Scandinavian Blonde.

Across the season’s new product introductions, the designer said that updating hardware for a more elevated look overall was a key concentration. “Gold metals are on trend right now with a jewelry-like effect that contrasts beautifully with the natural materials,” Boyle said.

Using this to great effect are the Alana Side Table in mahogany, which doubles as a nightstand with one cane drawer outfitted with gold hardware, available in three finish choices. The Carla Nightstand in mahogany, meanwhile, sits on gold feet and features classic gold knobs with modern gold backplates, and handwoven grass cloth in striated textures that lends an earthy element and grounds the gold accents. (A chest and canopy bed round out the Carla Collection.)

The most head-turning new piece however is without doubt the coastally inspired Selamat Stool, utilizing natural rattan poles for organic appeal. Available in four finishes, the base is influenced by antique furnishings from the 18^th century. “I love earthy, tonal things, the texture and feel of wood, and the rattan poles have a “cushy” effect when you sit down on them,” the designer said. “Selamat translates to ‘good’ in Indonesia and we all need something new and fresh that speaks to our souls and simply makes us feel good about life.”

Experience Selamat and more at the Beyond Borders brand inside the multi-floor RW Collective showroom at 156 S. Main Street in High Point.

Carefully crafted with retail and design partners in mind, brands in the RW Collective portfolio currently include Atelier Home, Beyond Borders Furniture Co., Southern Sky Home, Padma’s Plantation, Jes & Gray, Rockford Trading Company, Threads Republic, and Bed Tech.