Meet&CoATLANTA — Mid-century modern remains widely represented across the furniture market, making it increasingly important for brands rooted in the style to give the look a distinct identity. For Woodard Furniture, that means combining familiar mid-century silhouettes with American furniture references, handcrafted metalwork, updated materials and new finish options.
Source: https://www.furnituretoday.com/
The company made the design direction the central theme of its AmericasMart showroom during Casual Market Atlanta, extending the aesthetic from its products to the showroom environment.
“I start by looking at the brand because I think mid-century modern is part of Woodard‘s DNA,” in-house designer Syd Lee said.“Woodard has been around for many years, is rooted in Michigan and has iconic mid-century designs.”
Classic American Forms With Woodard Craftsmanship
Although mid-century modern shaped the overall presentation, Woodard continues to draw on traditional American furniture forms. Lee said the company looks to designs such as Windsor chairs and wingback chairs because they have a connection to American consumers and Woodard’s identity as an American brand.
The company is also using these familiar forms to highlight manufacturing techniques that may be less visible in the overall silhouette. The Reed collection, for example, features forged-metal details on its chair arms.
“We are one of the few factories in the United States that still has people who can do that kind of metalsmithing and hammer the material by hand,” Lee said.
Updating the material and color stories
Woodard is also updating its product assortment through new tabletop materials. Sintered stone was introduced across several collections, giving the company an alternative to some of its existing tabletop options.
Solona, which was previously offered with glass tops, is now available with sintered stone. Woodard also introduced Profile, a new table collection featuring sintered-stone tops with pedestal bases on its round tables, as well as square configurations.
At the same time, the supplier introduced finishes intended to give dealers and designers more opportunities to create layered, individualized presentations. Rainforest, the premium and hand-rubbed finish offered across both seating and dining.The new Louie collection was shown in Terracotta as well as Woodard‘s Black Willow finish.
Solomon said the company begins with a base color and applies a hand-glazed second layer, producing greater depth and variation.
The company also brought indoor-inspired comfort details to outdoor seating. Brisa performance upholstery was used in padded sling applications and on welting, adding softness and tailored detailing to the designs.
“That craftsmanship is part of the legacy we have,” Lee said. “As the in-house designer, I feel I should promote that legacy and explore how we can use it to make something different.”
