Design Trends: A Return to Elegance

Luxury and class are back in home furnishings.

Textural Treasure

Furniture continues to embrace texture, and Jonathan Charles’ new chest from its eclectic Luxe collection marries shagreen with 1920s Art Deco influences. But no fears: No sharks or stingrays were harmed in the making of this teal beauty. The faux finish looks that real and is heightened by the color of the piece and a radial sunburst. Shown with brass legs and available at European Traditions, Naples. Call for pricing.

Door Décor Gets the Midas Touch

Architect Massimiliano Raggi continues to raise the bar at SICIS, the Italian furniture, jewelry and fine arts company that got its start in masterful mosaic tile installations. His new Armstrong door pulls designed expressly for SICIS Next Art feature aluminum decorated with tiny mosaics in gold, platinum and precious metals. The pulls officially debuted during January’s Maison & Object Paris and will be available soon in the Milan showroom. It’s going to be awhile until they’re available stateside. Check out diary.sicis.com for launches and new offerings. Pricing upon request.

Door Décor Gets the Midas Touch

Architect Massimiliano Raggi continues to raise the bar at SICIS, the Italian furniture, jewelry and fine arts company that got its start in masterful mosaic tile installations. His new Armstrong door pulls designed expressly for SICIS Next Art feature aluminum decorated with tiny mosaics in gold, platinum and precious metals. The pulls officially debuted during January’s Maison & Object Paris and will be available soon in the Milan showroom. It’s going to be awhile until they’re available stateside. Check out diary.sicis.com for launches and new offerings. Pricing upon request.

A Gem of a Table

Century Furniture dubbed its bold patterned, rich

jewel-toned and metallic-accented upholstery introductions as “maximalism.” Its Omni dining room table proves luxury need not be over-the-top ornate. Simple lines and curves are glammed up with gold-blocked leaf on the base, arced acrylic legs and a stacked top in jade-like malachite. Streamlined and leaning toward the contemporary—yes, fear not contemporary—the table’s flat planes and curves play with light. $14,997 as shown and available at Baer’s Furniture, Fort Myers and Naples.

Sweet Dreams

The hefty and oversized Old World furniture of recent years is still on the out list except where it matters—in the bedroom. Clive Daniel Home’s exclusive CDH Fine Furniture collection, designed by the company’s creative team, includes the large White Hall bed, shown with four posters, a right-now white lacquer finish, and an antique mirror- and metal-detailed headboard. Made in the good old US of A, the bed

is totally customizable, available in a variety of wood options, finishes, gold or silver leaf trim, and with or without posters. “Nothing overshadows a bed this impressive,” says CDH’s Kris Kolar. Priced from $8,999 and available at the Naples showroom.

Chinese Lanterns

Wildwood Lamps took on chinoiserie, offering a modernized version of the Chinese-inspired art in classic blue and white with an antiqued white gold glaze in its Malay, a 32-inch lamp with subtle mid-century influences and a ceramic teal glazed cylinder with bamboo detailing and footed brass base. The 42-inch-tall Suzhou features a pagoda base finished in antique silver leaf and floating on a crystal base. Available through your designer at International Design Source, Naples.

The Chinoiserie Effect, Take Two

Maitland Smith also reinterpreted the Chinese art form in its new crème-finished chest of drawers, featuring a black waxstone top and hand-painted chinoiserie motif with gilded hand carving. $5,997 at the Henredon interior design showroom, Miromar Design Center, Estero.

Bling One and Bling Two

Hooker, which tapped into the “new glamour” look years ago with its Sanctuary collection, updated the romantic sculpted headboard of its popular Bling bed with a rectilinear design that’s just as elegant as the original. The new look revisits the tufted upholstered background and is embellished with an antiqued mirror border and metallic highlights. Choose past or present (shown). The new version is priced at $1,499 for headboard and $2,299 for headboard and footboard. Available at Matter Brothers, Fort Myers and Naples.

Celebrating Luxury

Opulence and luxury made a triumphant return during the fall High Point furniture market, attended by many Southwest Florida interior designers and retailers. “There’s a celebration of luxury that seems to have exploded overnight, at least in the home sector,” says Pat Bowling, vice president of communications for the American Home Furnishings Alliance. “We’ve seen such restraint during the past 10 years.” Among the manufacturers bringing it back was Marge Carson, whose Malibu collection includes the Brigitte sofa, shown in Dashing Moonlight taupe chenille velvet with amethyst and gold undertones; cording details; and hand-sewn chocolate, topaz and gold beads and jewels accenting the front rail and pillows. $12,000 through your designer at International Design Source, Naples.

Art Meets Function

One local custom furniture and cabinetry company was already ahead of this past market’s return to opulent detailing and ornate embellishment. Thomas Riley Studio’s inaugural proprietary collection, Versailles, melds classic fine art and design to create a new spin on history’s original art furniture—the flip-top table. Designed by creative director Chad Jensen, La Petite Blanche (it’s also available in noire) features painted wood, gold mirror, polished stainless steel and a low-iron glass top with “photo fusion” by Ysabel LeMay. The imagery is printed in ceramic frit and echoes the table’s flower-inspired shape. $14,500 at Thomas Riley Studio, Naples.