To download high-resolution images of the furniture collection in this release, please visit www.centuryfurniturepresskits.com. Additional photos and Suggested Retail Prices become available after our press kit has been printed, so we invite you to visit the Web site periodically.

Barcelona, new from Century Furniture, lets you infuse your home with plenty of rich, glorious, nature-inspired color.

High Point Furniture Market (April 2008)—Close your eyes and picture
a carpet of dazzling bluebells…the gentle green spirit of the forest as
it awakens each summer…a profusion of yellow wildflowers rippling across
a meadow. Can you feel your heart gladden and your tension melt away?
Yes, color is a universal draw for humans of all nationalities and cultures.
We love it blooming in our gardens, adorning our bodies, and—now
more than ever—commanding attention in our homes.
“People aren’t shying away from splashes of color these days,” says
Edward M. Tashjian, VP of Marketing for Century Furniture.
“They’re celebrating it in big, bold, dramatic ways. Color adds a dash
of personality in the same way jewelry does. You don’t want a whole room
of it, but a splash here and there serves as a focal point and improves
the mood of any living environment.”

Century Furniture,P.O.Box 608,Hickory,North Carolina 28603
Telephone:828-328-1851 •Fax:828-328-2176

Barcelona, introduced at the Spring 2008 International Home Furnishings Market, is Century’s response to this trend. A Spanish inspired collection of bedroom, dining room and occasional pieces, it reflects the sophisticated yet casual culture of the Mediterranean.
“That means color, color, and more color,” asserts Tashjian. “This furniture is all about the colors of Barcelona—the blues of the sky and sea, the green of the hillsides, the fruit markets overflowing with lemons, the bright mosaics of the Alhambra.”
Like other Century Furniture collections, Barcelona is available in 60 custom finishes ranging from glorious natural wood hues to vibrant paints. Several finishes will debut with this new collection: Bluebell,
Green Apple, Buttercup, and Vanilla in the “color” spectrum, Driftwood and Aged Amaretto in the “wood” family.
Crafted with ash and Colombian walnut veneers, these pieces are deeply distressed to create a gorgeously weathered and worn patina. Design
elements include wrought iron, leather trim and nail heads reminiscent
of the Moorish influenced architecture seen in Barcelona. Rustic
“oxidized” hardware completes the collection’s wonderfully casual look.
All of this rusticity, of course, meshes perfectly with the relaxed mood that’s created by the liberal use of color. When you place a brilliantly colored piece of furniture in a room, the décor simply can’t be stuffy or overly formal. Instead it is relaxed, refined, and comfortable to the eye as well as to the soul.
Want to decorate with color? There really are no “rules,” but Tashjian offers a few principles to keep in mind:

• Don’t be afraid to go bold and bright. Traditionally, people were hesitant to use big splashes of color. They assumed a primary piece like a credenza should be more conservative (read brown) so it would stand the test
of time. Not necessarily, says Tashjian, pointing to Century’s Barcelona Blue Credenza, shown here finished in Bluebell and Driftwood, as proof—it’s as at home in 21st century America as it would have been in an 18th century Spanish farmhouse.“When you let nature be your guide, you can’t go wrong with
color,” he promises.

• Let color set a particular mood. Feeling stressed? You won’t be when
you spend a few minutes gazing at the luscious Buttercup finish on Century’s Old Country Chest. (Its top is finished in Walnut.) “Besides being a popular color right now, yellow is inherently sunny and
optimistic,” notes Tashjian. “This shade is soft and muted, yet it
mmediately draws the eye.
“All colors have connotations,” he adds. “Green is relaxing and reassuring, blue is airy and peaceful, red is exciting and fiery. Pay attention to the feelings you get when you contemplate various colors, and choose the ones that set the mood you want.”

• Don’t forget about black and white. You may not think of them as
“colors” and, indeed, whether they are or aren’t is a hotly debated question. (One popular theory is that black is the absence of all colors while white is the presence of all colors.) Still, in furniture terms, black and white are considered colors since they’re a departure from the neutral browns that characterize most wood.
“Black represents mystery and sophistication, while white represents
purity and innocence,” says Tashjian. “They’re the yin and yang of the color spectrum, and both can create spectacular effects in décor.”

• Dress one piece in two contrasting colors. Many of Century’s introductions feature a vivid paint finish as the “main” color and a quieter wood tone on the top and/or drawer pulls. In other cases, such as the Vintners Cabinet, the rich wood finish is the star of the show and the color— in this case a gorgeous shade of green—takes on the “accent” role. Either way, choosing two finishes adds instant visual oomph.
“We’ve built our entire company around customization,” says Tashjian.
“Sophisticated, self-confident people express themselves in their furnishings. They love getting two gorgeous finishes in one piece of
furniture.”

• Still not sure about going all out? Let accessories tell the color story.
Some people just aren’t ready for big, bold, colorful pieces of furniture.
That’s okay, says Tashjian. If you’re one of them, just choose a design
with lots of non-color-related drama—like Century’s Castillo Dining
Table, complete with marble and wrought iron—and top it with a
spectacularly bright centerpiece. The Driftwood finish shown here is the
perfect foil for the bowl of vivid citrus fruit.
“The great thing about Barcelona is that there’s so much texture, so many gorgeous materials, so much to touch and see, that you don’t have to rely on big, bright splashes of color if that’s not your style,” he says. “It’s
going to be stunning anyway.”

For many people, though, bright colors used with abandon
stimulate the eye and spark the imagination. And Tashjian points out that
in times of strife or uncertainty (and let’s face it: there are plenty of both right now), they simply help us feel better.
“It’s almost a ‘seize the day’ mentality,” he reflects. “When we surround ourselves with the colors we love, we feel happier, we feel inspired, we feel positive and optimistic. And even in difficult times— maybe especially in such times—that’s the way home should make us feel.”

# # #

For more information, please contact Michelle Roll
(828) 326-8260
mroll@centuryfurniture.com.

To download high-resolution images of the furniture collection in this release, please visit www.centuryfurniturepresskits.com.