Waverly Goes For Clean, Contemporary Design

By Michele SanFilippo -- Home Textiles Today, 4/11/2005 12:00:00 AM

At the New York Market — —

At the New York Market — Waverly Lifestyle Group stretches its traditional design aesthetic this market with two contemporary collections of fabrics and finished bedding that are meant to represent modern classics.

The company still sees its role in the market as an interior design catalyst and expects F. Schumacher & Co. to sell the division sometime this year.

“We're trying to make a statement that eclecticism is very important,” said Waverly President Dale Williams, adding that consumers have become exposed to how comfortable modern design can be.

“We are trying to show how you can put both modern and traditional together. It doesn't have to be one look or the other anymore.”

Waverly's look is evolving into a cleaner, more modern one as evidenced by the latest collections of fabric and bedding.

The featured fabric collection is Metropolitan, with fresh contemporary geometric looks that include Grand Central, Columbus Circle, Soho Stripe and Sutton Square, a woven solid, in three colorways.

The other big collection of fabrics is Harmonics, which features multiple looks derived from nature in spa-like colors with a Scandinavian feel.

From the Harmonics collection in bedding, Waverly is introducing Quadrants in squares of blues, greens and gray with accents that include Simplicity, a simple two-toned floral, the Sutton Square solid and a metallic geometric stripe called Allegro.

The other bedding pattern from this collection of fabrics is Wind that offers a simple design of different stacked leaves in earth tones.

From the Woodland Retreat collection of fabrics, Waverly introduces Laurel Springs, an overscale botanical floral on an aqua ground.

In window, there are lots of fresh casual contemporary looks this season, more than usual at Waverly, along with some plush panels. Some of the new additions include the Victoria shade, which has a tailored look with an inverted pleat and plastic clip rings to raise and lower it. The new Lauren valance also has a tailored look with chair ties and no header, while the Claire valance is still tailored but more contemporary with two pleats.