Youth debuts take on adult looks, muted hues

Youth vendors at the High Point Market pulled out all the stops with debuts running the gamut from mature and modern to whimsical and extreme.

The American Home Furnishings Alliance's panel on youth furniture set the stage for a market full of surprises. Panelists Robin Campbell, manager of advertising and marketing services, Stanley Furniture; David Corbin, vice president of marketing, Pulaski; Jack Richardson, president of American Drew and Lea Inds.; Fran Scheller, merchandise manager of bedroom, dining, casual dining and youth, Broyhill; and Ken Smith, national director of the furniture industry practice for BDO Seidman, spoke to the importance of using consumer research in conjunction with product development and outlined ways their companies are doing just that.

Smith said that while it "hasn't been a stellar year" for the furniture industry and sales are flat, it's not necessarily across the board. "Some companies are down 30% and others are up 20% so not everyone is having a bad year," he said.

It was no surprise that Pulaski's Build-A-Bear Workshop Home collection created a buzz, but it was surprising that the collection included cribs, a first for the manufacturer.

Loft also entered the crib market with an upholstered crib concept. The convertible crib turns into a fully upholstered full bed.

Stickley Furniture entered the youth category with an 18-piece Arts & Crafts collection, and Broyhill branched out with its first metal youth bed.

When it came to colors and trends, Young America's myHaven collection took center stage with its impressive wall of nightstands in 20 vibrant, yet muted hues.

Best-selling colors at market were sea grass, cotton candy, sky blue and surf blue, though many retailers bought the wall of nightstands for the wow-factor on the floor.

Creative Images and California Kids showed products that are veering slightly away from the mix of blues and chocolates we've been seeing by adding a punch of earthy oranges to the mix.

White is still a hot topic when it comes to girls' furniture. See our Up Close on page 28 for new looks in that category.

You can't talk youth furniture without mentioning storage options, and suppliers continue to offer great solutions.

Opus Designs' showed beds with two six-drawer underbed chests in their expanded showroom and Hooker offered scaled-down armoires perfect for any child's room.

SLF also expanded its showroom and the youth category went from 1,800 to 6,000 square feet.

More suppliers are realizing the benefits of being a one-stop-shop as well and manufacturers like Broyhill and Lea Inds. are offering bedding and accessories that coordinates with their collections.

Powell made a splash with its colorful Max collection and John Conrad, Anne Russell and Sean Slack took home a Pinnacle Design Achievement Award for their work on Powell's Z-Bedroom collection.

Overall, youth vendors seemed optimistic as the retailers who came to market were buying and not just window shopping.

Adesso 's Starburst table lamp, $200, features a modern and funky aesthetic. Twelve frosted bulbs alternate with steel bulbs for a sleek look. A floor version also is available.

Martinek Bebe departs from the norm with a round crib finished in a walnut shade. Martinek's Pea in the Pod, a rich combination of crushed velvet and silk in autumnal shades of brown, gold, taupe and deep red, coordinates perfectly.

Opus Designs' Omni captain's bed is part of a casual contemporary collection aimed at boys age 4–18. The value-priced group has wooden hardware and angle cut corners in a light oak finish.

Comfort Research encourages kids to take a load off their feet with this fun-shaped seat. The lounger, $79, is offered in 100 colors and is light enough to move around the room.

Barn Door's pine captain's bed, $599, has a trundle with three drawers underneath, all on wood wheels for easy maneuvering. The bookcase headboard offers even more storage.

Corsican's sleigh crib, $2,700, is made of metal and shown here in a blemished tortoise finish. Bedding from Glenna Jean completes the stately look.

SLF's two-tone debut, Sherwood, is a sophisticated look that's moving into the youth market. Suitable for girls or boys, this collection, designed by John Roser, has a cherry and black finish and is made in Northern China.

This hip lamp from Lisa B. Studios, $280, glows with hand-painted hues of green and pinks with a playful pink fringe. Lamps and pendants are available and each is made with an enameled wire frame and museum-quality, back-laminated paperboard.

The Lollipop slat crib converts to a daybed and is offered in multiple finishes. From A.P. Inds., the retail price is $399.

Broyhill expanded its youth accessory program to 50 SKUs, which includes wall décor, lamps, tables, enamelware and hand-painted pieces for both boys and girls. The accessories coordinate with all of Broyhill's youth bedrooms.

Bauer International debuted kid-sized furniture based on adult pieces like this Global Kids Hunt Club chair. It's made of hand-woven rattan with mahogany legs with a high density foam cushion.

Judith Edwards Designs showed a sleek metal lamp and accessories with circle designs in brown, olive, gold and blue — some of the seasons hottest shades, $52.

The contemporary Shutterfield collection from Hooker, made of hardwood solids and cherry veneers, features shutter detailing on the bed and case pieces, including this tall armoire with mirror.

James River Road from Vaughan features feminine details in a cherry finish with Americana styling. The full sleigh bed retails at $450.

Loft introduced the unique Athena crib, which has an upholstered back panel, shown here in a gingham print. The crib, $699, converts to a full bed with the upholstered headboard.

Wall art manufacturer Creative Images is moving into clocks, including a line of rugged wheel designs offered with or without a tire. The tire version (shown) retails around $58, and the rim version is $48.

Zocalo expands its pink Ariel collection with a grouping of case goods, including a six-drawer dresser, $499.

The Midtowne collection from Holland House is available in either a burnished oak or mocha finish. The poster bed is perfect for boys or girls and its louvered head and footboard give it an upscale, transitional look.

The Dino Roar crib collection from Traditions by Pamela Kline features colorful dinos on a white background. Pieces include a dino print pillow with cord and envelope closure, $80, a fitted dino print crib sheet, $33, a plaid, inlet check dust ruffle, $161, a plaid Narragansett bumper, $328 and more.

Though earth tones and neutrals remain best sellers, Mac Motion's soft skin peach glider and ottoman, $399, were a High Point hit as hues in the orange family begin to take center stage.

Play Ball is one of the debuts from the Kathy Ireland Home from Hallmart's Young Attitude collection. It's made from 100% cotton and features quilting, embroidery and appliqués and reverses to a striped pattern. The collection also has a coordinating rug from Shaw Rugs and sports themed pillows..

Village Craft, from Standard by Kathy Ireland, features clean lines and a medium-tone finish for a contemporary look. The media center offers storage for CDs and games on both sides of the open section and two drawers below.

Pulaski's Build-A-Bear Workshop Home collection has a multitude of SKUS including the company's first foray into cribs. The convertible cribs are offered in white or a honey finish, shown here.

Seabrook Classics showed its twin plank headboard with five whale cutouts in a breezy coastal blue painted finish.

Legacy Classic Kids introduced Glamour Girl, an elegant merlot finish group designed for the older girl. Made of cherry veneers and select hardwoods, the collection features feminine details such as ring-shaped drawer pulls and graceful curves on the beds and case pieces.

The Buzz bed from Powell, $899, is an all-metal bunk based on the popular Buzz Lightyear character from Disney's "Toy Story "movies. The bunk features a ladder or slide for top bunk access.