Park B. Smith colors the market

By Carole Sloan -- Home Textiles Today, 9/19/2003 12:00:00 AM

NEW YORK —

There's lot of color at Park B. Smith Inc., and it extends across all product categories from bedding and windows, to rugs and kitchen accessories.

"It's not bold, bright colors but more happy shades," explained Park B. Smith Sr. chairman, and the products embrace fabrics from casual tufted chenilles to dressier faux silk and damasks.

In window coverings, "we're going a bit more formal, away from the natural look that has been so dominant," Smith said. Vintage Silk, a polyester silk-look-alike, is offered in 24 colors across all product lines. It and Dazzling Damasks, a collection of damasks, also in a wide color range, are featured in Magic Pleats and Magic Blinds, both proprietary company products, as well as pinch pleats and tab tops.

In bedding, the collections are divided among three color statements: Hibiscus, which includes ice lemon, peach, passion, chartreuse, sky blue and sail orchid; Watercolors, including sky blue, sail, orchid and white; and Primavera, including natural, butter cream, azure blue, willow and quartz violet.

Eight new beds combine a variety of fabrics, both solids and prints, within a color statement. Nantucket Duvet, embellished with grommets and ties, is mated with a Queen Ann's Lace quilt made from chambray squares inset with white lace; a tufted swirl design duvet and Kona, a Hawaiian-inspired quilt. Retails begin at $59.99, $149.99, $69.99 and $129.99, respectively.

A print ensemble, India Rose, an engineered print, is offered in both a duvet and a quilt, starting at $89.99 and $69.99. Caldonia, a tufted chenille fabric, is coordinated as a duvet at $69.99, twin; and Gerber Daisy, a yarn-dyed plaid duvet with a chenille border of Gerber flowers completes the bed at $79.99 twin.

In the bath shop, the stripe, Nantucket, Antique Eyelet, and Tufted Swirl, the tufted chenille, are featured in shower curtains and rugs. Freestanding shower curtains with novelty tufted embellishments such as chenille embroidery and crochet work, are $29.99. Vintage Silk, in the full-color range, also is $29.99.

A first for offshore production, Smith claimed, is a latex backed cotton rug in four patterns including an engineered design, each in six color.

In rugs, the Confetti Collection features lots of color and a deep dimensional effect at $14.99 for the 20" x 40". Another important addition is a looped chenille in 24 colors at $9.99 for the 22" x 40".

Placemats are highlighted by Vintage Silk, enhanced with an embroidery stitch and self-lined at $3.00.