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The Home Office Comes Out of Hiding.

With its new collection of luxury desks and credenzas, Century Furniture
takes home office décor to a higher level.

High Point Furniture Market (October 2007)—Desks have always been part of upscale homes. It’s just that, until recently, they haven’t been highly visible. Not long ago, the typical “home office” was a converted bedroom, tucked away upstairs and appointed with ho-hum furnishings. Even in nicer homes the desk may have shared space with, say, a treadmill or random boxes of “stuff.” All that has changed. As the Internet entrenches itself more deeply into our lives, and the portable laptop
becomes ubiquitous, the home office has emerged from hiding. What was once kept behind closed doors in the no-guest zone, we now proudly spotlight.
A recent issue of Residential Design & Build had this to say: “According to the American Institute of Architects’ Home Design Trends Survey for the second quarter of 2006, home offices were considered by architects as the most popular specialty room. This number increased from 31 percent in 2005 to 49 percent of respondents in 2006. And in a survey conducted by Residential Design & Build magazine in December 2006, home offices ranked first on a list of most asked-for rooms/features.”

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

“When you walk into many new homes, the office is the first thing you see,” says Edward Tashjian, Vice President of Marketing for Century Furniture. “With the new trend toward Casual Elegance, many people have converted formal living or dining rooms into home offices. Whether they devote a whole room to it or integrate a desk and credenza into a spacious great room, more people are putting their office space near the front door and dressing it to the nines. Institutional or ‘afterthought’ furniture is out
of the question. If it’s going to be visible, it’s got to look great.”
That’s the idea behind Century’s new Home Office Collection, set to debut at the International Home Furnishings Market in October. Comprised of 16
extraordinary custom desks and credenzas in styles ranging from traditional to coolly modern, the collection is aimed at affluent homeowners who demand the same level of quality in their office décor as in the rest of
their home.
“There is no difference in quality between these pieces and any other of Century’s custom residential collections,” says Tashjian. “We’re talking the best of the best: the most exotic materials, the finest handcrafted finishes, the best craftsmanship. They are true works of art.”
“When people buy Century, they’re not really buying furniture, they’re buying a lifestyle,” he adds. “These home office pieces are no exception. A desk may convey a sense of ‘European charm’ or ‘urban chic,’ but it
always conveys good taste.”
Century’s new desks and credenzas are crafted from a variety of woods: ash, maple, alder, perillo. Opulent veneers dress up these designs. For example, the bold stripes of Macassar ebony bring an exotic flair to one
desk, while the subtle grain figures of Avodire lend a quieter elegance to another.
Most pieces may be personalized with any one of more than 50 complex, multi-step finishes replete with dry brushing, gold and silver leafing and hand rubbing options. By selecting her own finish the consumer can
put her own “style signature” on her home office décor. On those desks that offer leather writing surfaces, she may choose between black and brown. (Such customization—in conjunction with speed of delivery and a commitment to creating luxury of enduring value—is what sets Century apart from its competitors.
Of course, it’s not all about style. This furniture is highly functional as well. For instance, lateral file drawers include a hanging file system and box drawers come with sliding storage trays. All drawers feature “soft close”
glides—an unusual feature that highlights the exceptional quality of these pieces.

Tashjian points out that even in the age of the so-called paperless office, we need more file drawers than ever. (Consider the bank statements, monthly bills, insurance policies, tax records, owner’s manuals and other papers
that pile up in the typical home.) Century has proven that a file cabinet need not be an ugly, utilitarian eyesore. It can look like a resplendent bachelors chest and have as much or more functionality.
“The quality of our surroundings goes hand in hand with the quality of our lives,” reflects Tashjian. “In a global, technology driven economy, ‘work’ and ‘home’ are no longer two distinct worlds. That reality necessitates a home office that’s both beautiful and useful.”

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

Extraordinary Designs From Century Home Office Collection

Clean and understated, this Macassar Ebony and quarter-grain Ash design showcases the natural splendor of the wood. Its top, gently swelling guest side and drawer faces feature veneers of exotic ebony. An inset center panel
of walnut brown leather wraps, waterfall style, over the desk’s front edge. Metal sled feet in a stainless steel finish. Two lateral file drawers with hanging file system; four box drawers; one pencil drawer. “Soft close” glides on all drawers. Two sliding storage trays.

The top and guest side of this sophisticated desk feature veneers of Avodire—an East African hardwood with subtle streaks and swirls—arranged in a stunning starburst pattern. Concave corners, a
cove-detailed top edge and Parsons feet give it an architectural feel.
White-gold finished hardware. Two pull-out writing shelves. Two lateral file drawers with hanging file system; two box drawers with sliding storage trays; one pencil drawer. “Soft close” glides on all drawers.