Home show trends are ‘green’ and popular

By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — The address may say 141 North Street in Houlton, but the renovated showroom for Dunn Furniture could be on just about any fashionable street in a major U.S. city. The 12,000 square foot space looks modern, upbeat and capable of outfitting just about any home no matter the style preference from cottage to urban chic.
Pioneer Times photo/Elna Seabrooks
NEW LOOK FOR FAMILY BUSINESS — Frank Dunn surveys the renovated showroom of his 100 year-old family business that has furnishings for any room in the house. The newest, most popular trends are eco-friendly products. Dunn is standing on the new floor plan where shoppers can see some of the possibilities in floor coverings. Previously, the floors were completely carpeted.
    The renovation, says Frank Dunn, president of Dunn Furniture, “was messy, dusty, expensive” and like most renovations, took longer than expected. But, the showroom now has energy-saving lighting, the latest  paint colors, a new floor plan showcasing different types of floor coverings from carpet, vinyl and ceramic to hard woods. He credits noted international store designer Connie Post with the new “spectacular look” of his showroom which has also added a juvenile department.
    From bedding and sofas to dining sets and room-size rugs with all the appointments to decorate, like vases, mirrors, artwork and wall hangings, the showroom is, indeed, a showplace. Dunn says “if you have an empty home, we’ll fill it.”
    Soothing earth tones are very evident, but, by no means bland. There is vibrancy and vitality in subtle  and complimentary shades of brown, burgundy and green. In fact, Dunn says, at the recent International Home Furnishing Market in North Carolina a salesman told him about the hot colors that are selling: “any color — as long as it’s green.”
    Today, take green for its literal meaning and the eco-friendly connotation, as well. Dunn says recycled steel and nylon are getting new life in furniture manufacturing. And, he says you can plant yourself in a nice soybean-based foam cushion which reduces the need for petroleum in polyurethane foam cushions. Thus, another life for the humble and popular legume has cropped up, not in the kitchen, but in the furniture industry.
Contributed photo/Michael Blanchard
SAMPLE GROUPINGS — Just one of many possible rooms on display at Dunn Furniture is this inset photo.
    If you are struggling with how to put your renovated or new home together, Dunn says have confidence in your preferences. “Put things you like together and they’ll go together. And, it’s easier if you pick your pattern first. Then, getting colors that go together are a breeze.” If you’re in the market for house paint, the store has worked out a deal with the Sherwin-Williams Company for free coupons to get 20 percent discounts on regular paint and 5 percent discounts on sale paints.
    A team of sales associates is on hand to, as Dunn puts it, guide the consumer from making obvious mistakes like buying a 104-inch sofa for a 9-foot by 12-foot room. Dunn Furniture is open weekdays until 5:30 p.m. including Saturday. It’s open late on Friday until 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 4 p.m.
RUGS – Dunn Furniture has many rugs in their renovated showroom.