Design refined at furniture fair

Press, 26 May 1983, Page 12

Design refined at furniture fair

Having attended furniture fairs in Italy, France, the Netherlands, Scandanavia, England, and the United States I, always consider that the Canterbury Furniture Fair is a credit to the furniture manufacturers. Of course there is furniture not all of us would choose for our homes, but particularly this year this is less so than in other countries. The birds and border prints obvious last year for upholstery have practically disappeared, and furniture is more sophisticated and refined.

The seating has ease and comfort. The contoured form, with piping or overstitching carefully chosen to tone or contrast, is well in evidence. Styling is varied, from classic to ultra-modern. Conspicious were the two and three seater settees, and the versatile modular unit.

Upholstery colours follow the world trend of soft, muted corals, silver-greys, cream, airforce blue, and a soft avocado green. Upholstery fabrics are in the main dralon, cottons, wool and leather.

The fashion in wood colours changes during the years. Because, I

think, Rimu kitchens are a fashion, we see it now in tables and hard furniture. Ruske Brothers are showing a solid rimu refectory table with a planked top and barrelshaped ends. The table will sit eight.

Wall units are not easy to find and I particularly liked M. W. Richardson’s Aotearoa collection of rimu units.

Amongst the excellent furniture I noticed John Turnbull’s small, swivel table ideal for flats. It opens out to seat four. Havana Cane have brought out a swivel bar stool ideal for breakfast bars. The Deorr Furniture home and small business computer desk is well designed.

Not to be missed is Cressey’s Scotch chest and Fairway’s electrically adjustable bed with pulsating dual massage. It was a definite improvement to have the

majority of textile wholesalers located in the one area. Textiles form such an important part in personalising our interiors. Colours here are muted. Co-ordinate fabrics and reverse image

are evident. Wilson Fabrics were showing a new range of mix-and-match cloths in which some of the prints are so subtle that the design appears to have been painted on. Ronald Griffiths and I. C. Steele were showing,

amongst other cloths, interesting ranges of textured and patterned dralons. In all, there is very little showing in the furniture fair of the extreme or exotica. Because, I think, of the

economic climate and C.E.R. the manufacturers have concentrated in up-market designs. This year they have made a positive design statement embodying comfort, detail, and beautiful timbers.