Transitional style is popular in home furnishings
Today’s homeowners gravitate toward the eclectic look when it comes to furniture for their homes.
Gone are the days when people bought an entire collection of furniture so that everything in a room would match. Instead, they are mixing and matching, including family pieces and items made from different woods and finishes, in order to create a comfortable, coordinated look, said Catherine Cushing, vice president and co-owner of Geneva Home Works in West Chicago.
“Many are even choosing to insert rustic, distressed pieces and painted tables and cabinets alongside their more formal polished woods for a more interesting look,” she said.
Cushing has also noticed that her customers’ preferences when it comes to entertainment centers have changed along with the size of the televisions. Fewer are opting for larger entertainment armoires with doors that can be closed over the television since they no longer need to hide a mammoth TV.
“We see customers choosing lower cabinet consoles that they can display their television on today instead of the full wall of cabinets that they once purchased,” Cushing said.
And when they are watching that television, they are often choosing to do so from power motion furniture like push-button recliners and sofas with reclining sections.
“They are easy to get in and out of because all you need to do is touch a button and it raises you up or leans you back, so these have become a big seller for us.
“Most of our customers prefer the transitional look, which is a blend of traditional and contemporary styles. It is not a formal look. It is much more playful,” Cushing said. “So they are choosing rugs with bold, colorful and large patterns to place over their hardwood floors. They are also sticking with neutral browns and tans, which never go out of style, and they are inserting pops of color with pillows, lamps, rugs and other accents.”
When it comes to upholstery, leather is making a big comeback because it is so durable, timeless and easy to clean. Durable fabric blends are also popular, including suit fabrics like tweeds and herringbones for those who enjoy a more tailored look.
In business since 1990, Geneva Home Works is owned by Cushing; her brother, John McConnaughay; and her sister, Janet McCormick. The McConnaughay family has a long history of owning businesses in Geneva Township, including a beer, liquor and wine distributorship that they sold five years ago and several real estate and property businesses.
Geneva Home Works carries furniture for every room of the house, along with pictures, rugs, lamps, vases, throw pillows and other accent pieces and accessories. Fabric items like pillows and upholstered furniture can be custom ordered using the store’s full line of fabric samples from many manufacturers, Cushing said.
This weekend is the store’s annual storewide and tent sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Many overstocks and discontinued items have been sent to the tent for the sale, and Geneva Home Works’ manufacturers are even offering discounts on showroom items, including special orders.
Geneva Home Works’ showroom is located at 33W622 Roosevelt Road, West Chicago. For more information, call (630) 208-0040 or visit www.genevahomeworksfurniture.com.