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.

Living Large…and Small
With its introductions this Market, Century Furniture accommodates
two (seemingly contradictory) real estate trends.

High Point Furniture Market (March 2007)—Our nation’s homes are getting larger. They’re also getting smaller.
Unlikely as it may sound, it’s true. Affluent and upper-middle-class Americans are choosing one of two divergent paths: they’re building grand, lavishly appointed homes in the suburbs or the exurbs…or they’re moving into much smaller lofts and condos in the heart of the city.

A 2006 article in CNNMoney.com, authored by Les Christie,
included some facts from the annual American Housing Survey released by the Census Bureau: “Really big houses, 3,000 or more square feet,
have gone from relatively uncommon—11 percent of new homes in 1988—to practically mainstream; 23 percent of new homes are now
that big, according to the Census Bureau.”

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

Of course, 3,000 square feet is just the starting point. Many new homes are easily four times that size. They have amenities like soaring coffered ceilings, overscaled wainscoting, dramatic fireplaces—and such extravagant “extras” as entertainment rooms, butlers’ pantries and wine cellars. Clearly, to some well-to-do homeowners, size really does matter.

On the other hand, many people in upper income brackets are downsizing:
to luxury lofts, apartments, condos, and—the latest innovation in urban living—condo hotels. Some are empty nesters who no longer need all that room; some are young professionals with no time for a long commute; still others are city-lovers of all ages who like being within walking distance of restaurants, shops and clubs. And while such dwellings have far less space than mega-homes, the space they do have isn’t cheap.

“Just look at the numbers from Manhattan, America’s apartment mecca,” writes Robyn Goldwyn Blumenthal in a 2006 article published in the Wall Street Journal’s RealEstateJournal.com. “The average price per square foot for a condominium—and most of the new buildings are condos—continued
a long climb in the third quarter of this year, to $1,171 per square foot, pushing the median price of a unit to more than $1 million. And that’s just
the median. It’s increasingly common to see sales for $4,000, $5,000 and even $6,000 per square foot.”

Magnificent Mansions & Cozy Condos:
Furnishing Both Ends of the Size Spectrum

Whether they live in a mansion or a condo, says Edward M. Tashjian, Vice President of Marketing for Century Furniture, affluent consumers demand refinement and quality in their décor.

“It’s not always easy to find tasteful, wellcrafted furniture for homes on either end of the spectrum,” says Tashjian. “If you live in a 5,000-square-foot mansion, even fairly large furniture can give you the ‘dollhouse furniture’ effect. And if you live in a condo or loft, sure you can find smaller furniture, but it’s not always the best quality. Century solves both problems.”

At the Spring 2007 International Home Furnishings Market, Century will introduce two very different collections. Castellan, a collection of updated traditional furniture designed for twenty-first-century mansions, offers proportions and details scaled to harmonize visually with the spectacular rooms for which it’s destined. (A historical word, “castellan” means “the governor of a castle.”) Metro Luxe is international-scale furniture designed for cozy, yet elegant living spaces; it has the sleek styling, refined details
and fresh finishes for which Century is known.

“Amazingly, in an area-to-area comparison, a cocktail table from Castellan actually dwarfs a dining table from Metro Luxe!” notes Tashjian.

Filling the “As You Wish” Niche

This Market is not the first time Century has gone to extremes to meet the vastly different needs of its customer base. At any given time, it might introduce a collection of exquisite eighteenth-century furniture alongside a cool contemporary one. The only constants are top-notch design, superb quality…and a commitment to pleasing the individual customer.

Its Traditional Classics Banquet Table is a good example. As shown
on page one, it seats an astonishing sixteen dinner guests. Because it’s
customizable, however—one can order an infinite number of 44-inch
sections—it could theoretically outfit the world’s most immense dining
room.

Compare that to the relatively tiny Metro Luxe dining room (which
comfortably seats six), also on page one, and you’ll quickly realize that
Century is highly attentive to individual lifestyle needs—however
disparate they may be.

“Customization is the basis of our entire business philosophy,” notes
Tashjian. “Because we make most of our furniture here in America, we
can truly give the customer exactly what she wants, and we can do it fast.”

Of course, customization means far more than size. It means offering a
variety of finishes, upholstery fabrics and other options too numerous to cite. The photo at left shows similar china cabinets from New Traditional, introduced in 2006, and Metro Luxe. It illustrates not only the size
difference between collections, but also how different finish choices can
shift the entire look of a design.

“We’ve always based our collections on consumer research and it has
served both our customers and us very well,” says Tashjian. “We’re
determined to stay nimble and responsive to market trends. It’s what any
company in the global economy must do…and it’s the key to furnishing
a gorgeous home that truly fits.”

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