INQUIRER.NET by Tessa Prieto-Valdes
June 09, 2018
A single piece of accent furniture could exude its presence to an entire room. In your living space, whether it’s a home or condo, furniture carrying timeless designs and high-end craftsmanship are essential in creating a lasting design aesthetic.
Having introduced multiple luxurious transitional collections to its Filipino audience, Bernhardt Furniture, a 129-year-old furniture company from the United States, has become one of the international brands appreciated and revered by top interior designers in the Philippines.
Bernhardt Furniture exudes sophistication and modernized finishes, all embodied within sleek neutral tones and elegant upholstery. Bernhardt definitely offers more feminine styles with subtle curves and ornate inspiration, but also delivers powerful masculine Collections with dark leathers and powerful form.
Bernhardt can trace its roots back to North Carolina, where it currently operates more than 10 manufacturing facilities and run a 75,000-square foot showroom. This is a testament not only to Bernhardt’s success as a high-quality furniture manufacturer, but also to its avid awareness of how important it is to support local economy.
Recently, I attended the first Appreciation Dinner of Bernhardt for its VIP patrons in its flagship design center in San Juan City. Present in the event were architects, design professionals and other notable personalities including Honorary Consul Alexander Fu, IDr. Jeizelle Go, editor-in-chief of MyHome Magazine Hazel Santos and IDr. Chat Fores.
The guests met the local Bernhardt distributors and owners of Home Mavericks Inc., HMI chairman Eric Mendoza, and managing partner, Eric Po. The select group was also the first to be introduced to Bernhardt’s latest collections, Profile and Clarendon.
The Profile Collection delivers a casual rustic feel through a unique mix of finishes and materials achieving glamour with a contemporary lean.
It starts with figured walnut veneers in a low-sheen, warm taupe finish and adorns each carefully crafted piece with rich gold detail. These elements effortlessly deliver a smart, organic luxury, perfect for both modern and classic homes.
The new collection features a warm tapestry gold finish that adds a muted shine and brightness to the collection. It is artistically flourished with clean lines that merge with serpentine shapes of wood and metal, gold painted parting rails, geometric shapes, mitered frames and metal mesh.
The wood is flat-cut, open wood grain walnut that emphasizes the natural color and character of the veneer with its warm taupe finish. The use of hardware is minimal with Profile, allowing the focus to be on the collection’s one-of-a-kind materials and forms.
Steeped in English tradition but tempered with modern touches, Clarendon Collection is a neo-traditional collection that offers sophisticated style and casual appeal.
White oak veneers are wire-brushed and given a powder glaze underneath an Arabica finish creating a cerused effect that complements burnished brass and top-stitched bonded leather, finishes both featured in the collection.
Clarendon’s brass tones pair well with its pieces that make use of antiqued mirrors, and Vienna Walnut bonded leather with leather topstitching.
Unique artistic touches include wraparound parting rails, wide-spaced reeding and stacked box case pieces.
The burnished brass that characterizes the collection is a metal finish that requires utmost care and attention to detail. The metal begins as stainless steel, which is then brass-plated, nickel-plated and finally given an acid bath before being buffed and polished.
This sophisticated finish can be seen in die-case zinc rings, knobs and pulls and other hardware that adorn the collection. Modernized Hepplewhite knobs that come in variety of shapes are also used, as well as leather inserts that add a unique appeal to other pieces.
Aligning with Bernhardt’s core values of giving the best quality furniture and design styles, as well as the finest customer experience, these new collections certainly confirm the brand’s commitment to fulfilling its promise to its clients.
More fresh introductions can be expected from Bernhardt, as it celebrates its first anniversary in the Philippines this coming September 2018.