Universal Furniture and Coastal Living will debut their first collaboration, aptly named Escape, at the fall 2018 High Point Market.
“The designs evoke a feeling of leisure,” says Jeff Scheffer, Universal Furniture President and CEO. “We carefully developed designs, finishes and fabrics that speak to a relaxed lifestyle, which is synonymous with coastal life.”
“Universal is a natural partner because they really understand the ethos of life on the coast,” said Sid Evans, Editor-in-Chief of Coastal Living magazine. “Coastal Living is about a sense of ease and a deep connection with the outdoors, so we needed to create furnishings that could stand up to everything that happens there, from saltwater and sand to renters and generational use.”
The whole home collection comprises more than 60 designs across bedroom, dining room, kitchen, upholstery, home entertainment and accent categories. With five different finishes, five woven materials and two wood species, it feels collected, not suited, and appropriate for a casual setting, whether it’s on the coast or inland.
While there is a nod to coastal design, especially in the woven pieces, the collection doesn’t appear themed. It’s much more about the informal lifestyle and inspiration borrowed from coastal towns and venues that define this collection.
“Many of the pieces are made from organic materials like rattan and bamboo, which are part of the fabric of regions like Florida and the Caribbean islands, and have been for generations,” said Evans. “We pulled the finish colors straight from the coastal landscape, so everything feels very authentic. That was important to us.”
The primary finish is Sandbar – a white stain that beautifully exposes the varied and complex grain of the wire brushed oak veneers found on core casegood items. A secondary finish, Boardwalk, is a fresh gray stain over wire brushed pine veneers. Two accent finishes – Sea Spray, a soft gray and Marina, a deep marine blue – utilize the age-old gesso technique and have a linen-like appearance. Finally, Sailcloth, a bright, white painted finish, complements the other finishes in the collection.
Five natural materials in natural and painted finishes — rattan, raffia, abaca, Lloyd Loom and wicker— distinguish chair designs, a console, an etagere, a mirror, a bench and bed frames.
