First there were the colorful, pattern-emblazoned vases, trays, and rugs by Nigeria-born designer Duro Olowu that flew off the shelves. Then J.C. Penney rolled out home goods by design luminaries Jonathan Adler, Michael Graves, and Sir Terence Conran.
The increased home design focus is part of the Plano-based retailer’s strategy to create comprehensive “Home World” neighborhoods in stores around the country. In addition to familiar appliance and cookware brands such as Cuisinart and Calphalon, the newly expanded and remodeled spaces will house shop-in-shops featuring high-style home goods from the designer collaborations.
Design fans will likely recognize Graves’ whimsical kitchen accessories from his previous line for Target and Adler’s poppy, preppy wares from, well, everywhere. Conran, however, is a bit of a new kid stateside. The legendary retailer, designer, and restaurateur has created a formidable lifestyle brand in his native England, and, with the J.C. Penney collaboration, his Scandinavian-inspired wood sideboards, neo-traditional nesting tables, and slate wall clocks will be accessible and affordable on this side of the pond.
Pieces from all three collaborations span a wide range of price points (from $8 for a sleek Michael Graves wooden spoon to $1,850 for a Jonathan Adler sofa). That means it’s perfectly possible for practically everyone to add a dose of style to their abode.
