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From Home Furnishing Business
Fusion Designs Develops Solid Wood Bar Stool Program
January 8,
2025 by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry 
Fusion Designs, a leader in solid wood, domestically produced case goods, has developed a high-quality solid wood bar stool program that it expects to be the toast of Las Vegas Winter Market.
“In creating this new program, it was very important that it fit within our existing pricing structure, and that we remain competitively priced,” said Marcus Bontrager, president. “We set out to redefine the category with solid wood designs made in America that are a far cry from the retro, stainless-steel imports that have long dominated the category and typically look more at home in commercial settings. We believe we have created something entirely new and unique in the marketplace.”
Featuring reimagined versions of 16 of its top-selling bar chairs and four never-before-seen designs, the new program is set to stand apart in a sea of stainless-steel imports with soft contemporary aesthetics and the use of solid wood. With just one base design for both stationary and swivel styles, the collection, designed by Allen Bontrager, chief operating officer, offers a cohesive program with customizable options in finishes, wood types and performance fabrics.
“During last year’s winter market, we received multiple requests from customers for high-quality solid wood bar stools,” said Allen Bontrager. “We took note of the demand and went to work. Inspired by a stainless-steel base design, perfecting our new concept required developing proprietary manufacturing equipment and creating entirely new joinery because with steel, you simply weld pieces together. Woodworking is an entirely different animal.”
The company eventually combined its traditional woodworking techniques with a modern chair design—"resulting in a solid wood contemporary base that not only smoothly swivels but is also phenomenally strong,” Allen Bontrager said.
At the Market, the new base is incorporated in four entirely new bar chair designs—Arya, Quinn, Enzo, and Luca—all of which mirror the sleek, soft contemporary bent of the company’s ever-growing solid wood portfolio, as well as its newest dining collections debuting this Market.
Each of the new ergonomic statement pieces features upholstered seating for additional comfort and performance fabrics for added durability.
Beyond the brand-new designs, the company then prototyped and redesigned 16 of its current best-selling bar chairs to create a cohesive program of 20 new bar chairs that Bontrager said will only continue to grow moving forward.
Suggested retails for the solid wood barstools range from $410 to $770 for fully upholstered designs.