Two words come to mind when you walk into THE FURNITURE CONNECTOR in its hidden corner of Southend…
Fresh. Energy.
The store is ready for a cozy winter with rich textures, warm burnished gold light fixtures, and vibrant colors to chase away the grayest of days when all the leaves have fallen.
Everywhere you turn there is a new interesting detail to catch your eye.
Let’s talk about the TEXTURES.
The attention to textural detail is part of what gives The Furniture Connector that unmistakable impression of freshness when you walk through the door. Nothing is boring, or, as Eric Ennis, one of the gifted design consultants at TFC, so succinctly describes it, “Vanilla.”
Take this spool chair, for example, made in neighboring Hickory.
The style is a classic one, as you probably already know, quite popular in the 60’s and 70’s. It is rendered in a unique and fresh way with the texture of the rounded wood. The pattern of its quality upholstering is a connector between the geometrics trend of yesterday, and the softer-edged, hand-painted look that is fresh right now.
Another example of the unique attention to textural detail in TFC is this Gabby chest; its simple lines and traditional shape are transformed by the creative stenciling:
The Furniture Company folks understand that there will always be a craving for Minimalism, and a love of its pure quality and dependability. But, they also know, there is a restless need for creative self-expression in our decor.
“People are tired of whites and grey,” Eric states, confidently. “It is great to lay your foundation in neutrals, but you need to breathe some life into it. Clean lines always inspire people. But bold colors are coming back in.”
Sounds awesome in theory; it can be totally overwhelming going out of one’s comfort zone like this in real life. TFC helps their clients attain it by little things, such as laying classic foundations – a simple brown leather armchair, or a high quality white couch – and adding dimension and texture in the distractingly lovely details.
The result is a layered feeling that is comforting and never clashes.
WARMTH.
The aesthetic of the entire store is ready to embrace the harsh cold of winter.
The light fixtures are bright and framed by burnished bronzes and dark golds.
Gold may have been “out” for awhile there; but the result was too flat and cold.
It is back in a big way.
VIBRANCE.
This is where the sensation of energy comes in.
You get the feeling of vibrant energy from obvious things, like pops of unexpected colors, in the upholstery of the furniture and the paintings on the walls. But you also get it from things like potted plants.
“I am always telling clients to bring in things like moss!” says Eric. “Or the fiddle leaf. It adds such texture and life to a place to prevent it from feeling sterile.”
Geometrics are taking a backseat to the hand-painted, unique, natural looking fabrics. These are hand painted and then screened by the weaver, the easiest way to add the warmth and vibrance to a room.
The artwork ranges in a wild and delightful way.
Eric lovingly calls this one “The Saved By the Bell” piece:
As Eric reminds me, art should always be unexplained and unexpected. It should simply make you happy, but it can also offer an important contrast to the space you put it in (i.e., really traditional houses are balanced out delightfully with modern art).
TFC is especially proud to be showcasing and selling a few select pieces from Mikel Frank.
A prominent artist from New York City in the 90s, Mikel Frank moved here to Charlotte in the last few years. He walked into The Furniture Connector with his wife one morning, looking to decorate his house. It was an aesthetic match made in heaven and TFC is ecstatic to offer several of his beautiful pieces right now.
The most fun thing about a pop in to the The Furniture Company, however, is not only the stuff that makes your friends walk in and gush “WHERE Did You Get That?” It is the contagious enthusiasm and knowledgeability of the designers. These people love nothing more than to help you express yourself in your own space.
According to Eric and Nancy (another gifted designer), the best new “trend” they are seeing right now, is people are paying more attention to the space that is their own house, instead of seeing it as a blank canvas that can go in any direction. They are decorating with a gut feel for the architectural surroundings. They maintain the character of their place as well as adding their own personality to it.
They take things like the shiplap trend, and make them something more sophisticated and European.
The result is organic.
The look is fresh in its textures and vibrance; warm and comfortable. Best of all, it is doable. The look lends itself best to baby steps; to simple swaps and gradual changes. This style is the perfect fit for TFC, where the designers are already not looking for a big, quick sale, but would rather cultivate a long-term partnership. Less regrets or returns, more confidence.
“Design is something that needs to develop over time,” Eric muses. “It needs to mature.
Like a good wine, it will age itself much better than you can imagine if you don’t rush the process.”
CONTACT INFO
Location: 2905 Griffith St, Charlotte, NC 28203
Phone: (704) 523-3163
Email: Rodney@thefurnitureconnector.com
Web Site: http://thefurnitureconnector.com/
