Evening star., 1937-10-16
NEW FURNITURE
DESIGNS READY
Grand Rapids Show in No.
vember Also to Reveal
Finish Development.
Spec:al Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich, October
l6.-Always the Nations most i'm
portant source of furniture style in
spiration, Grand Rapids will offer an
unusual number of new ideas in de-
sign and construction at the forth
coming market, November to 6.
Many exhibitors in the Grand Rap
ids Furniture Exposition regard No
vember as the major market for dis
play Of their complete new lines for
Spring retail selling, and the greatly
increased attendance at this market
In 1886 has led every exhibitor to
unusual activity in the preparation of
new designs.
Wide interest will attach to mod
ern group that has been designed to
correct all the mistakes of earlier
contemporary furniture. 1t is made
of mahogany and prima vera and is
more in the manner of Swedish mod
ern than anything previously shown
in this country. 1t avoids the boxlike
construction which has so often been
criticized, and all the pieces are off
the floor with legs. Light finishes
are used and stitched leather is used
on pulls and mirror frames. The
group will include two bed rooms, a
dining room and living room.
Knotty Pine Utilized.
Another modern suite is made of
knotty pine in light finish and also
utilizes stitched leather, which here
forms the tops of chests.
4 new note in wood to be presented
at the November market is the use
of English yew, which has always been
a popular cabinet wood in England,
but has been little used in this coun-
try. One exhibitor will show a num-
Der of pieces of Georgian furniture
made Of yeW, and also uses this wood
as banding on mahogany.
While eighteenth century English
(Chippendale, Hepplewhite, Adam
Sheraton) and American Colonial
furniture in maple and mahogany will
continue to be the leading styles in
Grand Rapids, the November market
will show greatly increased number
Of French and French provincial suites
and individual pieces. The Louis XIV
and XVI designs are somewhat SIM
plified in decoration from the original
models.
Federal American designs are also
IN the ascendant, especially in bed
room and dining room furniture
Tulip wood banding lends a note OF
individuality to one bed room suite OF
this style.
Victorian styles will continue to be
represented in most of the show rooms
where upholstered furniture is shown
More interesting contemporary styles
will be shown than at any previous
Grand Rapids market.
New Finishes Forecast.
Many new finishes will be intro
duced. One mahogany finish called
Russell is due for wide popularity be-
cause it answers the demand fol-
lighter finishes while retaining the
soft, warm wood tones that many
people find more acceptable than the
more advanced blond finishes. Antique
A4illSllCo al Z W Uc LluCll Ill 6NlQeIlCe dIlC
an increase in distressed" finishes
formerly used only on the higher
priced lines.
A fruitwood group in eighteenth
century English design will be offered
in new 'limed" finish.
Interesting combinations of pine and
mahogany will be shown in some suites
In the higher brackets.
Oak will come in for increased at
tention, not only in the usual seven
teenth century Elizabethian ano
Tudor styles, but also in Franch Pro-
vincial groups for which this wood is
In as much demand as walnut or fruit
woods
In upholstered furniture, both ira
ditional and modern, many interesting
new upholstery fabrics will be pre-
sented in plain and printed mohairs
linens, chintzes, stitched and plain
colored feathers, homespuns, brocades
and damasks. Webbing both in home
spun fabrics and in leather will be seen
on many chairs, especially for dining
room use.