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Furnishing Home in a Warm, Inviting, Lively Style
From European Villa To American Interiors Bernhardt Introduces Italian-Inspired “Casa Bella”
Casa Bella Armoire
Casa Bella Buffet
LENOIR, NC, April 7, 2008 - The lure of Italy grows stronger. Today Bernhardt Furniture responds with the introduction of Casa Bella, a luxurious, stylish collection of traditional European design with strong Italian influence.
The warm, inviting, Italian style of decorating is increasingly popular in American interiors, as evidenced in model homes and showhouses nationwide. This year, too, Americans are increasing their travels to Florence/Tuscany, and Rome maintains its position as the fourth most popular European destination, according to the 2008 Travel Trends Survey from Carson Wagonlit, a vacation planning firm.
“Luxury comes in many forms,” says Heather Eidenmiller, director of brand development, “including an elegant and comfortable home with interiors that make a statement. For all of its opulence, Casa Bella creates a relaxed environment, just like the family- worn Renaissance villas on which the designs are based.”
Casa Bella is grandly scaled and replete with movement and shape, offering 55 skus for the entire home. The collection is presented in rich pin knotty cherry and walnut burl veneers with a craftsman finish, Distressed Marrone, achieved through much hand-work and soft polishing. Artful use of moldings, overlays, and curving fronts lend drama to the designs. Mirrors and metal dining pieces are especially fanciful.
Accents include leather, oil-rubbed Dark Emperador marble, hand-forged metal, and a gilded accent finish on specialty pieces. Solid, weighty brass hardware – including overscale knobs, escutcheons, pulls, and back plates – is highly decorative, having been created with the lost wax technique to showcase intricate details.
SIGNATURE PIECES INCLUDE:
Casa Bella Buffet 306/136. Grandly scaled with added height, this buffet is striking in its beauty and movement. Intricate moldings, ogee curves, and decorative walnut burl veneers combine to create a lively anchor for dining or entry areas. W82 D23 H46.25.
Casa Bella Armoire 306/146/147. Large panel doors with decorative overlays and overscaled knobs showcase this armoire’s Tuscan design. The interior accommodates a television and other electronics, along with ample drawers and shelving. W67 D27.5 H91.5 (two pieces).
Casa Bella by Bernhardt will be available to consumers in October 2008.