You'll want to check out the refined Pompeii Collection, new from Excelsior Designs, an American firm that has its furniture crafted in Italy. Pompeii's simple, curving lines are emphasized by pale sycamore veneer applied in a checkerboard pattern for contrast and accented with cherry inlay. Perhaps softer, more easygoing designs are more in tune with your taste. But the designs are deftly executed, unlike many mixed-media pieces that look like a mishmash. In a few months, introductions from the spring International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, N.C., will be in the stores, offering an ever-growing variety of contemporary designs.
Wood finishes go from pale to dark, high-gloss to mellow.
Hollywood made popular in the '40s continue to inspire today's designers. Mirrored furniture is a hot retro look that adds glamour to an interior. If you can't find a vintage piece, several savvy manufacturers offer good alternatives. Although only 24 inches in diameter, the tightly upholstered, low-back round chair proves surprisingly comfortable. Larry Laslo tackled the trendy midcentury period with his Boomerang Collection for Directional.