After taking a back seat in recent years to popular Americana, cottage, classic and traditional styles, clean-lined contemporary designs are enjoying a resurgence in home furnishings.

Retailers shopping the International Home Furnishings Market here have found a broad array of contemporary upholstery and wood collections spanning all price points.

“Many of these new collections are targeting consumers in their 20s and 30s,” explains Jackie Hirschhaut, vice president of the American Furniture Manufacturers Association. “They have moved from dorm room to first apartment or from first apartment to first home, and furniture is now a priority. Simple designs that easily mix and match as their environments change are ideal first purchases.”

Comfort Designs

The new aesthetic appeals to more established homeowners as well, Hirschhaut adds. “With home refinancing and remodeling reaching record levels in the past year, many homeowners have a new space to furnish. Those looking for something fresh to update their homes will not be disappointed.”

One of the most recognized brands in home furnishings turned to one of the most recognized designers of the MTV generation to bridge this design gap. Todd Oldham, who hosted and directed “Todd Time,” a regular feature on MTV’s popular series, “House of Style,” from 1993-1996, brings his fun functionality to La-Z-Boy in upholstery, occasional and decorative accessories. Colors are reminiscent of the dorm room products he created for Target in 2002. Combined with La-Z-Boy comfort and quality, the line takes Oldham’s penchant for practicality to a new level. The Snap convertible sofa, for example, has a removable back and arms that allow it to transform from bench to sofa to chaise.

Bassett’s Echo Collection also targets echo Boomers with mixed materials and multi-function. This fall’s additions to the original collection, Carbon, include Oxygen and Nitrogen. While Oxygen is more serene, with simple lines and louvers, Nitrogen blends metal with wood and woven hemp for textural impact. The slipcover bed is a focal point of the collection. Available in coffee bean, toffee, linen or a range of custom order options, the slipcover allows you to change the look of the bed and the room.

Century’s elegant Grade Pacific collection demonstrates the breadth of the contemporary trend, which extends well beyond price- and design-conscious younger consumers to those in the luxury end of the market. Clean lines, simple forms and smooth, glossy surfaces in this new collection are designed to reflect the sophisticated side of upscale, coastal living. Pieces are crafted in mahogany with a deep Cordovan finish that highlights the intricate patterns of the veneer and the brushed nickel hardware.

The expansion of the Bogart Collection at Thomasville also speaks to this trend. “The Bogart Collection has tapped into something very special across a variety of demographics,” explains Thomasville President Tom Tilley. “It is…the perfect blend of retro style and modern design that customers want today.”

Inspired by the romance of Humphrey Bogart and 1940s Hollywood glamour, the Bogart Collection is expanded this fall to include entertainment cabinets and home office furnishings. Mahogany veneers, sterling silver-finished hardware and sleek, sculptural details characterize the new pieces, among them a plasma TV cabinet with remote control doors to hide the TV platform and a pedestal desk with channel-back chair designed to evoke a movie studio executive’s office.

New upholstered pieces in the Bogart collection likewise embrace a retro modern aesthetic. The Martini Group includes a sofa and chair in black leather with curved channel backs and smooth, architectural lines.

Contemporary design is a change of pace for some companies this season but the driving force behind Thayer Coggin, which introduced the final collection from renowned teacher and pioneer of 20th century modern furniture, Milo Baughman, who died earlier this year.

Among the distinctive pieces in Studio MB is a high back chair with angular maple arms and base in an ebony finish. His collection also includes a sofa, lounge chair, sectional, tables and ottomans.

What’s new?

Additional contemporary offerings at the recent home furnishings market include:

4 “Rock N Roll” chairs for the home office from Johnston Casuals. With new swivel/tilt features, these chairs are as comfortable as they are contemporary.Contemporary in small doses from accent furniture maker Butler Specialty Company. A diminutive new side table has a dramatic impact with its sinuous silver legs and polished cherry veneer shelves.

4 A chic, lighted platform bed with leather headboard and angular, cerused oak base from Pulaski Furniture’s new Understated Elegance collection. The 10-piece contemporary group also includes a low, sweeping, nine-drawer dresser and glass-top nightstands. The generously scaled “Go Anywhere” sectional from Comfort Designs, with matching left- and right-arm chaises.

4 Tantalizing “Sorbet” porcelain from Toyo’s hip NexT division. Designed by Jill Rosenwald, this vibrant, berry-color collection of plates, vases and bowls delivers a fashion-forward splash of contemporary.

The American Furniture Manufacturers Association is headquartered in High Point, N.C. the furniture capital of the world and represents more than 200 leading U.S. furniture manufacturers and 250 suppliers to the industry.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

BASSETT

The Echo Collection from Bassett Furniture Industries targets echo boomers with distinctive, clean designs like the louvered Oxygen Sleigh Bed, available in three finishes coffee bean, toffee and linen. Approximate retail price is $499. (www.bassettfurniture.com)

BUTLER

A silver tone finish and sinuous curves distinguish this diminutive contemporary side table from Butler Specialty Company. Part of the Masterpiece Collection, the table has a cherry veneer top and shelves. Approximate retail price is $299. (www.butlerspecialty.net)

CENTURY

Crafted in mahogany with a deep Cordovan finish, the Grande Pacific collection from Century features very little ornamentation. The Stiletto Leg Chairside Table is shown here next to the leather upholstered bed. Approximate retail price is $2,175. (www.centuryfurniture.com)

COMFORT DESIGNS

The Go Anywhere sectional from Comfort Designs has soft, contemporary lines and features left and right facing chaises. Approximate retail price is $3,400. (www.comfortdesigns.com)

JOHNSTON CASUALS

Johnston Casuals brings sleek, contemporary seating to the home office with its Rock N Roll program. By adding a swivel/tilt function, dining chairs become functional home office chairs. Approximate retail price is $498. (www.johnstoncasuals.com)

PULASKI

The sleek, sophisticated Platform Bed from Pulaski brings a dramatic touch of contemporary to the bedroom with its clean lines, oversized wood frame and deeply padded upholstered leather headboard. Approximate retail price is $2,999. (www.pulaskifurniture.com)

THAYER COGGIN

The high back chair is an original design from renowned 20th century designer Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin. Its maple arms and base are shown in ebony but are available in any Thayer Coggin wood or lacquer finish. Approximate retail price is $2,472. (www.thayercoggin.com)

TOYO

Vibrant accessories in the “Sorbet” collection by Jill Rosenwald for Toyo NexT add a rich array of contemporary color to any room. Plates, vases and bowls feature details in bubble gum pink, green apple, wild cherry, blue raspberry, cranberry and creamcicle orange. Approximate retail price is $60-120. (www.toyotrading.com)