April 2002
THE MILLING ROAD MYSTIQUE
Milling Road Introduces a Blend of Eclectic Styling This Spring

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.– Milling Road introduced an engaging series of individual forms at the Spring 2002 International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, N.C. that elevates its eclectic designs into a rich mix of stylized silhouettes designed for casual living.

The pieces, which include living, dining, and bedroom pieces, occasional tables, commode, writing table, and upholstery, still embrace familiar European forms, but there is a heightened degree of inlay, turning, and carving that enhance the new designs. These crafted details and subtle nuances lend visual relief, creating a reflective playground of shadow and light, yet continue to support the belief that pieces also need to be functional. The result is a repertoire of provincial designs evoking a classicism that works well within a range of casual settings and an ability to adapt to a variety of applications with confidence.

"Milling Road continues to evolve," explained Joe McCambridge, manager - product design, Baker Knapp & Tubbs, and visionary lead designer for the Milling Road brand over the past decade. "We have embellished our newest designs with exotic veneers, inlay and carving to decorate and enhance our forms. We approach each introduction with a renewed commitment for functional pieces that capture the imagination, suggest the possibilities, and create a natural blending to intrigue and charm Milling Road's audience."

The forms are crafted from African walnut accented with select touches of elm burl and French cherry for decorative effect. Finished in Milling Road's Chestnut, a rich, aged walnut with deep, dark undertones, it imparts the waxed glow of a well-rubbed finish, with a forgiving nature and ability to surround the wood with color without masking its natural beauty and figuring.

A significant addition to these latest designs by Milling Road is a Regency-inspired center table. Its 36-inch diameter offers an intimate scale for design flexibility. The tabletop is a field of African walnut and surrounded by a border of elm burl. A tapered hexagon post complements the form in graphic detail and terminates in a carved reeded design. The supporting shaped base rests on three reeded turned feet for an intriguing, visual silhouette.

Another discriminating piece is Milling Road's sleigh bed. Based on 19th century Empire design, it incorporates stylized elements for a creative, visual flair. The bed is crafted from African walnut solids. The serpentine shaped headboard features a six-piece book-and-butt matched, walnut field, with a finished back lending a floatable quality to the piece. The bed's surrounding lower base is detailed with a simple bead above reeded turned feet.

A remarkable blanket chest lends an 18th century Georgian sensibility in a style reminiscent of those crafted by 19th century Canadian artisans in tribute to their English origins. A half-star inlay design is created using an alternating pattern of cherry and ebonized veneer work set into a mappa burl half-moon. Greek architectural elements continue the design story in an unusual egg-and-dart border. The chest of alder solids and cherry veneers is finished in Milling Road's Chestnut finish. Equipped with a mechanism to slow the lid's closing, when opened, it exposes a deep storage well and single sliding upper tray for easy accessibility of smaller items.

A French ladder back chair provides a comfortable seating option that moves beyond standard host dining applications to include a myriad of occasional choices. Generously scaled, the chair's crest is curved and shaped and continues in the chair's ladder back design. The arms bow out slightly and flank a tight upholstered cushion for a forgiving, relaxed seat. The delicate turned legs are contrasted by the straight, supporting stretcher. A complementing ottoman is available with an attached seat, turned legs and straight stretcher design. Both these pieces come standard in a versatile beige tone-on-tone striped fabric.

Another supporting occasional player to the Milling Road mix is a chairside stand. Its versatile nature is in contradiction to the table's discriminating design. The diminutive, 19-inch diameter table boasts a top of rich mappa burl, brilliantly contrasted by its sleek, forged steel, cinched waist tripod base.

Milling Road also introduced a series of sofas, chairs, and complementing ottomans this season, including a flair arm sofa inspired by English design. Its soft, comfortable silhouette features a tight upholstered back with centering seam that carries the eye to the two loose upholstered seat cushions. The classic, rolled arms hold two flanking 20-inch pillows and its curves are detailed in nail head trim. Exposed turned reeded front legs are matched with slightly tapered back legs to lend support.

Baker Knapp & Tubbs, Inc. include Baker furniture, Baker Knapp & Tubbs Showrooms, and Baker Stores. Along with McGuire Furniture Company and Ann Sacks, it is part of the Kohler Interiors Group and a wholly owned subsidiary of Kohler Co., a global leader in kitchen and bath designs. Kohler Co. was founded in 1873. Headquartered in Kohler, Wis., it is one of the oldest and largest privately held companies in the United States.