Finding the right style for your home can often feel like navigating a complex road. Just as personal style in fashion is a matter of individual taste, home style becomes a collaborative journey, especially when sharing your living space. This rings true for many, including myself, as my partner and I embarked on a home renovation, which quickly evolved into a style evolution for our shared spaces.
My personal inclination leans towards a modern, contemporary aesthetic. However, I’m not talking about stark minimalism with cold concrete and overly futuristic designs. My preference is for a contemporary style that still feels warm and inviting. My partner, on the other hand, is drawn to the charm of classic, traditional elements, appreciating pieces that carry a sense of history and character – think aged, distressed finishes rather than strictly antiques. While we deeply respect each other’s tastes, blending these different visions for our home furnishings presented a significant design puzzle.
Initially, I was optimistic about finding common ground. However, furnishing our bedroom, the first space we tackled, quickly revealed the stylistic divide. The furniture pieces we encountered were either distinctly modern or resolutely traditional. My selections leaned too contemporary; her choices were too steeped in tradition.
Realistically, I considered conceding to a more traditional style, acknowledging the common wisdom that in home décor decisions, women often have the final say. But my partner, in her insightful way, believed that a harmonious blend of traditional and contemporary styles was not just a dream but an achievable reality. Just as I was about to relinquish my contemporary aspirations, we discovered it – the Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Collection. It was the stylistic bridge we were searching for, a perfect marriage of contemporary lines and classic forms. This collection masterfully combines woods, metals, and materials in classic silhouettes, yet with a modern sensibility. It satisfied my desire for a contemporary feel while honoring her appreciation for character and the enduring appeal of traditional pieces. The Stanley Avalon Heights Collection proved to be the ideal solution, offering what we can think of as the “Mercedes Benz Couch” equivalent in home furnishings – a blend of luxury, style, and timeless design.
Unveiling the Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Collection: A Symphony of Styles
Defining the Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Collection is akin to describing a multifaceted work of art. It’s contemporary, yet grounded; casual, yet undeniably luxurious. It’s a masterful blend of modern and traditional design principles, creating a unique and inviting aesthetic.
It’s important to note that the Avalon Heights Collection extends beyond just bedroom furniture. It’s a comprehensive collection designed for the entire home, encompassing living areas, dining spaces, and home offices. While my initial purchases focused on bedroom pieces (which I will elaborate on), the collection provides this harmonious contemporary-traditional fusion throughout the home.
What immediately captivated both my partner and me about the Avalon Heights Collection was the distinctive shaping of each piece. While conventional contemporary style often favors simple, straightforward forms, Avalon Heights embraces curves and serpentine shapes. Projecting friezes soften harsh lines and edges, resulting in a collection that feels significantly warmer and more inviting than typical contemporary furniture, without sacrificing its modern edge. Adding to the unique design language, the collection incorporates Lyre shapes, reminiscent of those made famous by Duncan Phyfe chair backs, seamlessly integrating classic motifs into modern designs.
The second defining characteristic, and what has become my personal favorite aspect of the Avalon Heights Collection, is the exquisite material palette. Luxurious woods like cherry, mapa burl, and anigre fiddle are expertly combined with glass and metal accents. This material interplay is crucial in achieving Avalon Heights’ signature contemporary yet classic aesthetic. Furthermore, select pieces feature blanc noir leather and chrome fabric, introducing additional layers of texture that are both luxurious and modern. The result is a cohesive collection where each piece, despite its individuality, harmonizes beautifully with the others. This versatility is a hallmark of Avalon Heights. Pieces are designed to be interchangeable throughout the house. A lamp table can serve as a nightstand, a living room accent table, or stand alone as a statement piece. Chairs can grace a dining room or provide extra seating in a bedroom. The entire collection is conceived to work in concert, where individual pieces retain their unique character while contributing to a unified design narrative.
Finally, the defining element of Stanley Furniture’s Avalon Heights Collection lies in the meticulous details of each piece. To imbue the collection with a warmer, more traditional sensibility, Stanley has incorporated various aging techniques, including rock, spatter, fly speck, cowtailing, and water marks. These subtle touches lend the pieces a lived-in, slightly more relaxed feel. Piano scratch distressing on surface tops adds further character, as does soft skiving on select surfaces, creating gentle indentations in the wood for a ripple effect. Beyond distressing, smaller architectural and finish details play a vital role in Avalon Heights’ rich and refined appearance. Carved posts that evoke Provencal furniture, collared and fully-turned sabre legs, hidden cedar storage drawers, and felt-lined serving drawers are just some of the thoughtful features integrated into the furnishings. Stanley has masterfully imbued each piece with richness and beauty, layering incredible detail throughout the Avalon Heights Collection.
The Avalon Heights Bedroom Collection: Crafting a Sanctuary of Style and Comfort
When furnishing our new home, my partner and I prioritized the bedroom, recognizing it as the sanctuary we retreat to each night and the first space we greet each morning. After a long day, a calming and relaxing bedroom is essential, but equally important is waking up to a space that feels stylish and inspiring. The Avalon Heights Bedroom Collection perfectly captures this balance. It’s inviting and elegant, yet also distinctly stylish, reflecting a modern sensibility while maintaining a sense of timelessness, much like the interior of a Mercedes Benz – a blend of luxury and cutting-edge design.
The Avalon Heights Bedroom Collection feels almost like two collections interwoven into one. It features two distinct bed designs – one leaning slightly more contemporary, the other more traditional – mirrored by two dresser and chest styles. At one end of the design spectrum, dressers and chests exhibit a grander, more formal aesthetic, while at the other end, they are somewhat smaller and less imposing. However, the genius of the collection lies in the seamless integration of all pieces. The varying scales offer remarkable flexibility, making it suitable for both expansive master suites and more intimate bedroom spaces.
My partner and I were particularly drawn to the larger, more formal designs, and I will detail our chosen pieces below. However, the gallery at the end of this article showcases the full spectrum of Avalon Heights bedroom pieces. Each piece is undeniably stunning, and regardless of your stylistic preference within the collection, you are sure to find pieces that resonate with your taste. The entire collection is simply exceptional, and after living with our selected pieces for the past couple of months, I can confidently say that we absolutely adore every element.
Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Fair Park Upholstered Storage Bed: The Bedroom Centerpiece
The focal point of our bedroom, the Avalon Heights Fair Park Upholstered Storage Bed, is a brilliant fusion of traditional, contemporary, and functional design. Featuring a beautiful cherry frame with wide panel rails, the tall upholstered headboard commands attention, showcasing exquisite Blanc Noir ivory top-grain leather. Its overall shape is relatively clean and simple, lending it a contemporary feel, yet it exudes an elegance worthy of a sophisticated urban penthouse. Adding to its practicality, two large cedar storage drawers with touch latch drawer guides are integrated at the foot of the bed, providing discreet and ample storage for bedding, pillows, and more.
Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Neo Deco Lamp Table: Versatile Elegance
Perhaps the most adaptable piece within the Avalon Heights Bedroom Collection, the Neo Deco lamp table functions beautifully as a bedside companion, but it is equally at home in a living area or a cozy reading nook. The mapa burl center medallion on the tabletop is a striking design element, and the lyre-inspired base introduces a graceful serpentine form to the piece. For added functionality, a single drawer is seamlessly incorporated into the Neo Deco lamp table’s design. In person, the Neo Deco lamp table is simply exquisite, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail while retaining a warm and inviting character. Its refined aesthetic is reminiscent of the sophisticated detailing found in a Mercedes Benz interior.
Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Swingtime Dresser: Ample Storage with Serpentine Style
In the bedroom, ample storage is essential for maintaining order and tranquility. The Avalon Heights Swingtime dresser delivers generously with nine storage drawers, all while embodying Avalon Heights’ signature blend of contemporary and traditional design. Featuring a gently curved front and fluted bar pulls, the Swingtime dresser is a perfect example of modern lines meeting classic elegance. Like the entire Avalon Heights Collection, it infuses the space with an approachable sophistication. It’s beautiful, functional, inviting, and a stunning complement to the rest of the Avalon Heights Bedroom Collection.
Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Swingtime Night Stand: Bedside Harmony
The final piece from the Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Collection that my partner and I selected was the Swingtime night stand, the perfect companion to the Swingtime dresser. Mirroring the dresser, the night stand features a subtle serpentine shape, enhanced by beautifully carved frame posts. It offers practical storage with three drawers and includes an integrated electrical outlet at the rear for lamps, phone chargers, and other devices. Completing its refined style, a stunning Chelsea finish in cherry and scalloped knobs in tarnished nickel create a warm, elegant look that perfectly complements the Fair Park upholstered bed, creating a cohesive and luxurious bedroom ensemble.
Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Collection: A Conclusion of Comfort and Style
It might sound repetitive, but the Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Collection is truly unique in its ability to seamlessly merge contemporary and traditional styles in a welcoming and warm manner. It achieves a perfect equilibrium of detail, materials, and design, resulting in a collection that is remarkably approachable. The Avalon Heights Collection is not furniture intended for display alone; it’s a gorgeous collection designed to be lived with, to be used, to become a part of your daily life. And therein lies the true beauty of Avalon Heights. For all its style, elegance, and sophistication – qualities you might seek in a “Mercedes Benz couch” for your living room – it is, above all, furniture that invites comfort and relaxation. When it comes to creating a home, and defining your personal home style, comfort is paramount. In this regard, Stanley’s Avalon Heights Collection stands in a class of its own, offering a level of comfort and style that is truly unparalleled.
To explore the Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Collection further, including a closer examination of the various finishes and materials, please visit the official Stanley Furniture website. You can also view a selection of pieces from the Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Collection, including the bedroom pieces I’ve highlighted, in the gallery below.
