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Prices shown in these press releases are approximate retail prices in U.S. dollars and may vary by retailer.
Bernhardt and the Smithsonian Institution Introduce Fine Home Office Furniture and Leather Upholstery
Westbourne Leather Chair
Suggested retail $1499
LENOIR, NC, April 7, 2008 — Celebrating the American experience—past and present—Bernhardt Furniture and the Smithsonian Institution introduce branded fine home office casegoods and premium upholstery into the Smithsonian® Collection by Bernhardt.
Designs, inspired by original objects, representing America’s history and cultural heritage and held within the vast holdings of the Smithsonian Institution, are outfitted and configured to perform efficiently in a variety of today’s home office spaces. In 2008, approximately 103 million employees in the United States worked from home at least part of each week.(1) Many studies project that by 2009, 70 percent of U.S. workers will move between home, office, and other sites to accomplish assigned work.
“Worker mobility is reshaping the American workplace,” said Heather Eidenmiller, Bernhardt director of brand development. “When you bring the office home, it needs to be as distinct and handsome as the home it occupies.”
“We think the trusted Smithsonian brand, time-honored design, and interactive nature of these home office furnishings will appeal to a growing number of home based executives and to those who conduct the business of a family,” said Eidenmiller.
The Smithsonian brand is unparalleled, ranked #1 for quality and trust among all brands in the Harris 2003 EquiTrend Brand study, and has a 94 percent brand recognition among adult Americans.
HOME OFFICE CASEGOODS
Smithsonian home office casegoods include 19 total skus, comprised of two desks, four chairs, two filing/carts, and 11 storage/display cabinets. The furniture is offered in two distinct style directions. Chesapeake features casual-traditional designs inspired by 19th-century American forms with Victorian accents. The furniture is presented in prima vera veneers in an Heirloom Russet finish. The mid-scale furniture, from stand alone pieces to multi-piece units, can be configured into custom office arrangements. (Chesapeake bedroom, dining room, and occasional furniture also is being introduced at the April High Point Market.)
American Archive features classic designs with a Southern, low country influence, presented in pin knotty cherry veneers and a warm brown Castle Brick finish. These home office pieces can be mixed with previously introduced American Archive bedroom, dining room, and occasional furniture to create efficient office settings anywhere in the home.
Smithsonian home office introductions include:
Astor Street Executive Desk 393-515C, and Astor Street Credenza and Hutch 393-506C/507C, American Archive Series. This office group is inspired by a desk designed by the pre-eminent architect Daniel H. Burnham (1846-1912) that is now housed in the Smithsonian Institution Building commonly known as the Smithsonian Castle. The original desk, which Burnham created for his own use in the library of his house in Chicago, has decorative Neo- Classical details including reeded columns with acanthus leaf capitals. The Astor Street Executive Deskmodels casual sophistication, weight and substance. It is fully outfitted for equipment and electronics, including a removable charging station and a power unit with USB hookup. Touch latch panels on the back of the cabinet conceal storage.W72 D35 H30.25, suggested retail $1,899. The Astor Street Credenza is outfitted for office equipment and electronics, including a dropfront work surface for a laptop, and may be used as a stand alone desk or credenza. The Astor Street Hutch is designed to complete the needs of most any small home office or executive suite. The hutch features four doors of beveled glass, removable glass shelves, touch lighting within, task lighting under the cabinets, and hidden cord management. Credenza & Hutch (2 pieces), W76.25 D24 H84.25, suggested retail $3,325.
PREMIUM LEATHER UPHOLSTERY
Fashioned to complement the Smithsonian home office casegoods are nine hand-crafted leather upholstery pieces inspired by classic designs drawn from America’s heritage. The comfortable club seating is covered in the richest and most luxurious pure aniline leather available and built to high standards with eight-way hand-tied construction.Vintage design elements include button-tufting on the back, rolled arms, cabriole feet, and antiqued brass nailhead trim.
Smithsonian leather seating introductions include these shown:
Westbourne Leather Chair 1423L. This winged easy chair is inspired by an illustration in a rare book from a branch of the Smithsonian Institution Libraries. Developed in England, the winged easy chair arose sometime between the late Victorian and early 20th-century periods. Prior to that time, English etiquette did not permit public lounging; therefore, the development of the easy chair was condemned as a representation of the rebelliousness of younger gentlemen. With the focus on comfort, the winged easy chair was designed to retain the warmth radiated by the fireplace, while affording a greater degree of personal privacy. The Westbourne Leather Chair offers a lot of presence and comfort with deep seating,massive wings, a button-tufted back, cigar arms, bun feet. W41 D41H37, suggested retail $1,499. The Westbourne Leather Ottoman also is available.
These home office and upholstery pieces, plus a full line of new Chesapeake designs for the entire home, join the Smithsonian Collection by Bernhardt which debuted in March 2007. Previous designs include a National Heritage series of Regency and Empire forms in figured walnut and burl veneers, and American Archive low country designs for the entire home. All pieces are designed with inspiration from the treasure trove of Smithsonian holdings.
The Smithsonian Institution, founded in 1846, is the world’s largest museum complex and research organization composed of 17 museums and the National Zoo inWashington, D.C., and two museums in New York City. The Smithsonian collections are the basis for research, exhibitions, and public programs in the arts, history, and the sciences. The collections contain nearly 137 million objects, works of art, and specimens.
In 2007, approximately 24 million people visited Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo; there were more than 188 million visits to www.si.edu.
The Bernhardt family has been crafting fine furniture since 1889. Located inWestern North Carolina, the company produces a broad line of custom-built upholstered furniture in both contemporary and traditional styles, as well as quality wood furniture for dining, living, and bedroom—all at unmatched value in the marketplace.
Smithsonian home office furniture and leather upholstery will be available to consumers in October 2008. A portion of the sales proceeds from this furniture line supports the educational mission of the Smithsonian Institution.
Prices shown in this press release are approximate retail prices in U.S. dollars and may vary by retailer.
(1) Herman Miller, Inc., “Worker Mobility: A New Look of the Office”