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'Crossovers' gain appeal in youth arena

trends

By Gerri Hunt -- Kids Today, 9/1/2009 12:00:00 AM

Michigan-based Top 100 retailer Art Van Furniture made a good decision by dedicating 2,500 to 3,000 square feet of floor space to a dozen youth vignettes. But the retailer made an even better decision when it began offering an assortment with broader appeal, what Buyer Melinda Lehman calls "crossing over."

"What is applicable to youth can also be used in a vacation home, a second room or a small master bedroom," she said. "And we floor beds in full-size, to reach out and grab a wider variety of customers."

And manufacturers are certainly on board with the concept.

Young America's MyHaven collection includes a Lilac-finished nightstand and a low-post bed in Chili Pepper.

The contemporary Novara dresser from Pali has three drawers, a sliding plexi-glass door and two adjustable shelves.

Opus Designs by Hooker Furniture recently debuted Southport, with a cottage attitude and beadboard detail. The two-tone collection includes a panel bed and a bed with storage headboard. Three stand-alone items include a lingerie dresser, a bookcase and an entertainment console — all a perfect fit in a youth or small master bedroom.

The business philosophy behind Young America by Stanley centers on its Build to Grow concept.

"That means when a consumer purchases a piece of Young America furniture, she has invested in a level of quality, flexibility and classic styling design that will be relevant to her family and her home for the life of the piece," said Glenn Prillaman, president of Stanley Furniture.

Young America's MyHaven group is a cottage-inspired design with lightly distressed beadboard treatments. Finish options range from soft pastels to bold brights — a lot of choices for any room.

But "crossing over" isn't limited just to youth collections. Several furniture companies offer convertible cribs, which can be reassembled into beds of various sizes.

Munire Furniture's Park Avenue has an upscale look with premium matched burl veneers, felt-lined top drawers, advanced ball bearing drawer glides and a cherry or cinnamon finish. Case goods include an armoire; five-drawer dresser; nine-drawer double dresser with the option of having four of its drawers as doors; mirror or lighted hutch that fits atop the double dresser; and a nightstand.

The crib has a 4-in-1 design, which converts easily to a toddler bed, daybed and full-size bed.

"We are a pioneer in styling that is more adult-driven," said Robert Omansky, national director of sales. "We check all the styling, especially on the footboards, so that when the crib converts (to a full-size bed), the footboard is a focal point."

Pali's Novara collection also features a convertible Forever Crib. The contemporary group is made of rubberwood and Anegre veneer, and comes in mocacchino and vintage cherry — finishes equally at home in a child's room as an adult's room. Case goods include a double dresser, four-drawer dresser, armoire and nightstand.

The trend in "crossing over" from youth to adult is here to stay, etched into an industry that feels the effects of youth being an indispensable category that can keep profits rolling in.

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