Grange Expands Into Bedding, Rugs

By Carole Sloan -- Home Textiles Today, 12/13/2004 12:00:00 AM

New York — —

New York — Grange, the high-end French furniture manufacturer, has been expanding its product mix to become a full-line home furnishings source for the designer market and high-end retail stores.

Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, the Lyon, France-based company is expanding its luxury bedding program, launching an area rug program, and next year plans to introduce luxury mattresses, according to Valerie Moran, CEO of the U.S. unit.

Currently, Grange has showrooms in 16 cities, one in Los Angeles that is primarily to the trade but also has some retail, and another in Montreal, Canada, as well as about 50 luxury retailers across the country.

The luxury bedding program, which is done with Thief River Linen, is designed to work with the theme of the furniture groups, “but not matched,” Moran explained. As an example, she cited an upholstery group that features yellow as the color theme, “and now we're doing top of the bed with it. We try to create lifestyles, not coordinates like Provence, a romantic collection.”

An important element in the bedding program is the range of washable silk sheets which sets the company apart from the more mainstream market as a designer source. “The washable silk sheet sets are the hit of the textile collection,” she remarked.

Another important part of the textiles business, Moran noted, is COM, which like the upholstered furniture segment accounts for about 40 percent of each business. “We have a wide fabric selection for both furniture and bedding, but designers like to have the option to provide their own fabrics.”

The new rug program will feature 12 pieces from AgaJohn and is designed to fill a gap that designers have needed, Moran said.

British luxury stove and fireplace manufacturer Aga made a major investment in Grange in 2002 “and the addition of their luxury stoves into the showrooms is doing great. It's a unique product and it creates a new ambience and traffic pattern with the cooking that goes on in the showrooms. As a result, we've added kitchen tables, and we're looking hard at the bath area,” Moran related.