October 2002
Baker Revisits the Stately Homes of Europe in a Series of Discriminating Designs

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - At the Fall 2002 International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, N.C., Baker introduced new pieces to its best of class Stately Homes collection. Some of the pieces hearken from previously unvisited European stately homes, and all cater to the dining room and library. A Chippendale-inspired tea table and pyramid bookcase are among the 13 discriminating occasional pieces that make its way into this highly regarded line.

Sir Humphry Wakefield, Baronet and owner of the 800-year-old Chillingham Castle, and foremost authority on English antiques, continues to direct Baker in its choices. Sir Humphry has personally selected unique items from the castles and country estates of British aristocracy, which are still used every day by their noble owners. Each rendering within the collection showcases the original designs of the some of the greatest minds of the golden age of furniture.

Through Baker's relationship with Sir Humphry, and its ability to procure pieces employing the elements of Old World craftsmanship, Stately Homes made its commercial debut to wide acclaim in 1980. Baker has added to the collection over the years, creating a collection as diverse as the lifestyles in which these items are associated. Baker's latest travels with Sir Humphry included visits to some of England, Scotland, and Ireland's most prestigious homes. The final choices include pieces Sir Humphry has resigned from the extraordinary breadth of antiques found in his personal collection that decorate the rooms of Chillingham castle.

The pieces are crafted from mahogany, walnut, maple, and cherry woods, and entertain a rich complement of hand-rubbed wood finishes, and a broad range of classic effects, including hand-applied gilt, and hand-painted chinoiserie, stone borders, hand-planed tops, and a library cabinet fitted with seeded glass. True to 18th century design, ornate veneers of crotch mahogany, pau ferro, satinwood, and English oak burl add visual relief, as does the elaborate carving and tooling used in the designs, and honed by Baker's exacting standards.

An elegant palette, chosen by independent consultant and renowned interior designer, Dan Carithers, dresses the collection. Cut and uncut velvet, textured silks, in shades of cream, taupe, and pomegranate red, are matched with light coffee and luggage brown leathers. Walls and floors are washed in cream and chocolate brown, with window coverings in rich, broad striped fabrics, including a Chelsea green with hints of cream in a stria pattern. The sensational effect creates both continuity and refinement, fitting the collection's regal past.

"The Stately Homes collection continues to be a remarkable interplay of acquired pieces rendered from fine woods and age old, handcrafted techniques, that are brimming with provenance," said Dan Carithers. "These pieces require little introduction, and color is needed only as a backdrop to its strong character. The rooms float with a crafted softness that is clean and tailored - a lack of defined color that surrounds but does not overwhelm. It is simply a matter of color that has been used well."

Baker Knapp & Tubbs, Inc. includes 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.