Drexel’s new 24 Willow Crossing brings casual comfort to luxury furnishings

If furniture were an attitude, Drexel Heritage’s new 24 Willow Crossing collection would be a lazy morning with a great cup of coffee and time to indulge in your favorite pastime. It’s casual, it’s comfortable and its very livable.

“Inspiration for 24 Willow Crossing comes primarily from the more casual lifestyles that so many of us are living today,” said Carl Bundy, vice president, case goods product development, for Drexel Heritage.

And the best part? Just like your lazy morning, it can be whatever you want it to be.

24 Willow Crossing is part of the High Point, N.C.-based company’s custom paints program, which allows consumers to select from more than 50 wood stains and paints to customize their piece at no additional cost. All of the pieces are hand-finished at Drexel’s facility in North Carolina.

Additionally, the pieces were designed to be versatile, making them equally at home in the bedroom, dining room or living room.

The new collection, which will be shipped to retailers in November, includes 24 case pieces and several upholstered pieces for the whole home, including bedroom, dining room, living room and accent pieces. It mixes natural woven materials with patterned wood veneers and metal accents to create a sophisticated casual look, Bundy said.

“It’s casual but not sloppy,” said Mindi Brothers, vice president of marketing for Drexel Heritage, during the summer show at World Market Center Las Vegas.

To demonstrate the collection’s versatility, the Las Vegas showroom was created around three specific feels. It began in a casual cottage space, progressed into a more metropolitan look and ended in a somewhat coastal feel.

Bundy said the signature looks of the collection include beech veneer that has been cut and hand assembled into a herringbone design, naturally woven rope wrapped around desk and table legs and table bases, and zinc panel inserts.

According to Bundy, an antique floor was the inspiration for the herringbone design.

Other geometric patterns can be found in the metal fretwork of the Focal Point console and drum tables, wood fretwork in the Block Party display cabinet and buffet and Stencil bed, a key piece in the collection.

The bed features a large-scale lattice treatment over a panel, which makes it easier to create a unique look for your home. It was designed so the lattice and bed frame can be finished the same as the panel or contrasted with a different finish. Additionally, the panel can be covered with fabric, which is then placed behind the lattice.

Other highlights of the collection include the Open Spaces lingerie chest and sideboard provide open storage areas, a key feature in casual settings, he said. This also provides a touch of the unexpected.

Versatility is highlighted in the Evolution counter table, which has drop leafs on both sides allowing it to serve as a dining space or work surface.

Brothers said the collection’s price point also is lower than traditional Drexel Heritage pieces, making 24 Willow Crossing more of an entry-level luxury group. Several pieces are priced at $1,999 including the Herringbone dresser, dining table and cocktail table, and the Stencil bed.

The available finishes are the same ones offered in six other Drexel collections, allowing the pieces to blend with other furnishings in the home, Bundy said.

“The casual styling and the availability of 50-plus finishes gives items in 24 Willow Crossing the flexibility to be mixed into other Drexel Heritage collections. … the consumer or designer has the freedom to select pieces from all of these groups and pull them together through finish and fabric selection.”

For additional information, visit www.drexelheritage.com.