Fantastic Furnishings

Ramp up your luxe factor with high-end furniture

By Erinn Morgan

Do your dispensary's furnishings complement the luxury frames carried within? A unified front in a high-end dispensary sends a consistent message to customers and entices them to linger longer.

"Our furniture was an investment, but we believe our success is due to both the ambiance of our office and the quality of our staff," says Cindy Harmon, office manager and co-owner of Sonoma Eyeworks, a high-end optical shop in Santa Rosa, Calif., that has been named the North Bay's best optical shop for nine years in a row by the North Bay Bohemian. As a luxury retailer, Sonoma Eyeworks' average eyewear sale is $450.

Nine years ago when the shop was opened, Harmon hired a local interior decorator to pull a luxury look together, including the right color scheme and furniture mix. "We wanted something that would stay current for a long time," she says, "and it has remained current to this day."

For Sonoma Eyeworks' sitting area, which is located in the center of the dispensary, Harmon and her designer chose modern furniture from Nienkamper, a Canadian office and home furnishing firm, with a comfortable low profile.

"We wanted low-profile pieces that didn't obstruct the office's eye flow," she says. "The frames and the dispensary remain the number-one focus." She also notes that the low-profile style fits customers ranging from five to over six feet tall.

When it came time to replace two of the original Nienkamper pieces, Harmon chose to buy the same furniture despite the $5,800 price tag. "We looked locally to find something less expensive, but we decided that we didn't want to mess with the overall feel of the office," says Harmon.

Contemplating a new, higher-end furniture look for your dispensary? Such an investment could certainly pay off in the long run. EB

A luxury setting has signature styling that isn't found in every neighborhood dispensary, mixing new and antique, catalog and custom pieces. Shown clockwise from left: Artist Jeff Soderberg's mirror, Gazelle, and table, Rosette, Sonoma Eyework's reception desk and dispensary

Trends

1 HEAVY METALS: This trend found its inspiration in red-carpet wardrobes and brings metallics into furniture finishes. This look works very well in sleek, modern spaces with black-and-white color schemes.
2 BRIGHT COLORS: Since wall paints are trending to more neutral hues such as gray and off-white, colors that pop are all the rage in furniture. Brightly colored sofas (or neutral sofas with bright throw pillows), in particular, are taking center stage.
3 WHAT'S OLD IS NEW: As the economic downturn lingers, "comfort" furniture that connects with the olden days is coming into favor. This includes refurbished antiques and new furniture that has been distressed.
4 ECO AWARENESS: Furniture with a conscience continues to be in favor for 2010, including pieces that are fashioned from recycled or reclaimed wood.
5 ASIAN PERSUASION: Fabrics inspired by Japanese art are gracing popular furniture pieces.