TWENTY SIXTH EDITION | WINTER 2026
NEW COLLECTIONS
Meet Inspired Design
UPHOLSTERY Favorite Fabrics & Frames
DESIGNER MADE
MODERN
Jessica Duce
Mist & Veil
Discover Universal. Explore Home. Define Your Style.
Explore Home Magazine is your invitation to experience the art of living beautifully. Created for the design community, it’s a space for possibility—a resource to spark creativity, introduce fresh collections, and inspire new ways to bring your vision to life with Universal Furniture. It’s a call to collaborate, innovate, and reimagine the meaning of home for every client you serve. Within Explore Home, inspiration meets real-world design. Through our Designer Made series, gain an inside look at how leading designers interpret, style, and elevate Universal Furniture in projects that push creativity forward.
ON THE COVER: New married to frame styles that are stocked and ready to ship quickly from our North Carolina warehouse. All fabrics are carefully
As you move through this issue, we invite you to discover ideas that resonate, materials that inspire, and stories that spark fresh perspectives.
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hand selected by our merchandising team to ensure quality and style.
04 Inspired Pieces, Exceptional Fabrics An inside look at VP of Upholstery Rick
Interior Designer Jessica Duce
Lovegrove’s favorite upholstery frames
An inside look at Jessica’s journey to
and fabrics—timeless choices he trusts
sourcing and crafting custom upholstery
for both form and performance.
pieces for a countryside getaway.
06 From Design to Doorstep Explore our special order
CONTENTS
12 An Interview with
14 The New Speed of Style
Core4Homes leverages our in-stock
upholstery program, highlighting
inventory to deliver seamless, high-
the customization process that
end installations with a polished,
brings tailored visions to life.
custom feel.
08 The Birchaven Blueprint
VP of Merchandising Janine Wagers
16 Elevating Your Process
Our To The Trade program is a true
shares her perspective on effective
partnership—designed to elevate your
showroom design.
work and streamline every step of the
10 Modern Mist & Veil
A showcase of our commitment to craftsmanship—where thoughtful
design process.
18 Discover The Learning Center Hear from influential voices in
design, skilled artistry, and
interior design as they share
meticulous attention to detail
why the Learning Center is an
come together in every piece.
invaluable resource they rely on.
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LUCCA RECLINER + EL PASO T O F F E E Designing a chair that delivers both function and style is a continual challenge for product designers, but the Lucca Chair rises to it with ease. It captures the refined elements of mid-century design and is finished in full-grain Italian performance leather for a look that’s classic, tailored, and effortlessly livable.
INSPIRED PIECES, EXCEPTIONAL FABRICS. 4 I UNIVERSALFURNITURE.COM
Rick Lovegrove VP of Upholstery
EL PASO TOFFEE TIER L1 | F-001847-6
A WORLD OF COLOR AND CRAFT, CURATED WITH PURPOSE This season, our merchandising team fully embraced the color-drenching movement sweeping both home and fashion design. Earthy greens and rich browns all draw from the natural world to create a sense of grounded connection to the outdoors within the sanctuary of the home. These deep, saturated hues create environments that feel intimate and warm, imparting a welcome sense of security and calm. We layer naturally intriguing materials and play with shape and texture to craft compositions that feel both unique and quietly familiar. Our team draws inspiration from every corner of the world. From industry showcases in Germany and Milan to unexpected finds tucked away in Parisian flea markets, each discovery informs a collection shaped with intention. We look past trends, focusing instead on timeless design and craftsmanship to create pieces that feel personal, enduring, and unmistakably our own.
LIZA WHEAT TIER 4 | F-001904-2
A M A R I L L I O S W I V E L + L I Z A W H E A T The iconic wing chair, reimagined with a modern twist. Our Liza Wheat textile reflects the shift away from cool minimalism toward warmth, comfort, and texture. A blend of terracotta, mustard, and mocha yarns creates a rich, dimensional fabric that feels at home in both modern and transitional spaces.
F I L M O R E S O F A + R A V I N A C U B The clean lines of Filmore offer a timeless and versatile silhouette that works with many decor styles, from modern to traditional. Our Ravina Cub faux mohair aligns with a distinct resurgence in soft, tactile textiles that nod to both luxury and elegance. Velvets and mohairs never really fall out of fashion, but this season we are seeing this connected to the 90’s trend we are seeing both in home and fashion.
RAVINA CUB TIER 4 | F-001889-1
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UPHOLSTERY & SPECIAL ORDER
From design to doorstep Design your perfect home furnishings from hundreds of frame styles—sofas, sectionals, chairs, ottomans and beds. Choose your ideal fabric, leather, and finish for a truly custom piece. Every item is bench-made by skilled artisans for superior quality, and your special order ships in just 6-8 weeks.
PRESERVING THE CRAFT We preserve the esteemed American tradition of bench-made upholstery in North Carolina. Our artisans meticulously handcraft each piece from premium materials, ensuring unparalleled quality and enduring comfort with timeless elegance.
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the journey of bespoke comfort FIRST
THEN
SELECT YOUR FRAME
ARTISAN BEGINS WORK
Choose from hundreds of frame styles featuring accent chairs, dining chairs, beds, sofas, sectionals and ottomans.
Our bench-made process means each piece is carefully crafted by skilled artisans from start to finish. This hands-on approach ensures exceptional attention to detail, superior quality, and a finished product that’s truly built to last.
NEXT
CHOOSE YOUR FABRIC Customize to your unique specifications, whether you choose family and pet friendly performance materials or luxe textures, you have full control over the final design. Select the perfect fabric or leather, the ideal finish and the precise cushion core that will make your piece truly your own.
FINALLY
ENJOY UNIQUE COMFORT Special Order items are ready to ship within 6-8 weeks, balancing careful craftsmanship with timely delivery to bring quality furnishings to your home without unnecessary wait.
7
the
BIRCHAVEN
BLUEPRINT How do you approach showroom design differently than you approach residential design? Showroom design is a combination of residential design and theatrical design. We create a stage to present the collection, one that has to inspire and intrigue our customers. Our goal is to create an environment that’s more dramatic than a retail store, so the impression lasts long after HPMKT is over. Our showroom design must inspire and excite designers and retailers, so we stand out from our competitors. 8 I UNIVERSALFURNITURE.COM
What is your goal when designing a showroom space for a new collection? We strive to create an environment so irresistible, that designers and retailers want to emulate the setting on their shop floor. How do you simultaneously design a space that's attractive to both retailers and interior designers? Vignettes are designed to be stimulating and inspiring for both retailers and designers, because both of them are looking for new ways to bring beauty to their customers. And each
An interview with Janine Wagers, VP of Merchandising
space we develop must be achievable on the retail floor as well as in the home. Tell us about the process of a new collection. From your first knowledge of the collection to when the final detail is in place for market - are there standard steps you take... or what might it look like? Up to a year before a new collection hits the showroom floor, we start working with product development and marketing, reviewing inspirational images, discussing how they will be positioned in the marketplace relative to style and price.
The collection’s materials play an important role in what ultimately comes to life in the showroom. We examine finishes on specific wood substrates, metal hardware, stone accents, and other accent finishes like concrete and recycled glass. Those seemingly small details play into the overall look of the collection and how it is portrayed in the showroom.
“Our showroom has 115,000 sq ft, so we position the collection’s location strategically.”
Our showroom has 115,000 square feet, so we position the collection’s location strategically. Where will it have the most impact with our visitors? Construction and architectural detail work begins in earnest. Simultaneously we are searching for new fabrics at the Interwoven show, choosing patterns and colors that will complement each other and carry the style of the collection to fruition. Accessories are the final element. How long does the design process take? We work on a 6-month cycle. When one market ends, we immediately begin designing for the next market. Where do you go for showroom design inspiration? Ideas come from everywhere—walking in the woods, window shopping retail, traveling, enjoying restaurants and hotels, attending the Atlanta Gift and Accessory market. Design inspiration can’t be turned off and on. We constantly absorb and filter what we see and experience, which often sparks an idea for a collection presentation. What elements/characteristics/materials of Birchaven stood out to you and gave fodder for interesting design elements in the showroom? We saw Birchaven as a sophisticated cottage collection, that needed drama. The opening room was painted SW7017 Dorian Gray for a dark and dramatic look. We also wanted to show the same finish in a light and airy setting with SW0055 Light French Gray between the modern white shiplap. As designers, we always appreciate inspiration boards, so we made them part of the Birchaven showroom presentation. Visitors enjoyed seeing how we developed the color, fabric, and accessory story. And we played off the collection name, using our Birch tree stems as art. 9
A C O L L E C T I O N D E F I N E D B Y C R A F T At the heart of Mist & Veil is a commitment to meticulous craftsmanship—an approach that guides every texture and surface across the collection. Nowhere is this clearer than in the Blossom Credenza, a true study in handwork. Each of its 5,712 leather fleurettes is individually stamped, cut, stitched, and applied by hand, creating a dimensional surface that feels alive under shifting light. Offered in Mist’s soft light oak or Veil’s deep dark oak, the credenza reflects an artistry rooted in discipline and precision. That same dedication to craft extends to the Mist Credenza and Haze Round Dining Table, where a striking starburst veneer pattern reflects the dedicated craftsmanship happening behind the scenes. Thin, elongated triangular pieces of walnut are cut and pieced together by hand, forming a radial effect that expands from the center outward. The result is a surface rich in movement and clarity— one that quietly reflects the precision required to achieve perfect symmetry. The Cirrus Cocktail Table features a hand-poured, recycled cast-glass top that gives each piece its own natural character. Its subtle variations and organic clarity highlight the craftsmanship behind the process, while the use of recycled materials underscores a thoughtful commitment to sustainability. Additionally, with an Outdoor Under Cover rating, the Cirrus collection extends this refined craftsmanship to protected exterior spaces.
CRAF TED FROM RECYCLED GLASS, THIS TABLE IS A BEAUTIFUL E XAMPLE OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN THAT TURNS RECLAIMED MATERIALS INTO SOMETHING E XCEPTIONAL . CIRRUS COCK TAIL TABLE U560829 | 36w x 36d x 17h 10 I UNIVERSALFURNITURE.COM
HAND-ASSEMBLED, PRECISIONCUT WALNUT TO FORM A REFINED STARBURST CENTER MIST CREDENZA U560A678 | 89w x 21d x 34h
HAZE ROUND DINING TABLE U560656 | 54w x 54d x 30h
THE BLOSSOM CREDENZA FEATURES OVER 5,000 LEATHER FLEURET TES U560E966 | 96w x 19d x 36h
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Modern Marilyn End Table U365822; Atlantic Sleeper Sofa in Rush Emerald U033531; Archie Chair U443503-1771-1
“You are creating a space for someone you will never meet.”
JESSICA DUCE AN INTERVIEW WITH
INTERIOR DESIGNER
H
ouston-based interior design Jessica Duce of JDuce Design creates engaging and profitable designs for short-term rental properties across the country. In her most recent project – a ranch in the tiny town of Brenham, Texas – Duce called on Universal to supply custom upholstery for the living spaces of this countryside getaway, just a hop, skip and a jump from the famous Round Top antiques market.
Travers Cocktail Ottoman 687514-1186-5; Atlantic Sleeper Sofa in Felix Fog U033531; Special Order Pillows in Rush Toffee and Velvet Emerald; Scarlett End Table U365840
Photography and styling by: Avery Nicole Photo @averynicolephoto and Postscript Styling @postscript_styling
Jocelyn Swivel Glider Chair U066503-1118-16
WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST DESIGN CHALLENGE IN THE SPACE AND HOW DID YOU SOLVE IT? The original home was occupied by
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR DESIGN FIRM. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS? JDuce Design has been designing homes for 20
years. The firm began with residential projects and now focuses on short-term rental properties, with real estate investor clients across the country from New York to Texas, Tennessee, California and Oregon. I began as a solopreneur and now have a team to support me in the design, procurement, marketing and administration areas of my business. The firm was initially located in Denver, until my family moved south during the pandemic. We’ve lived in Houston for almost 6 years. The second part of my business is managing Vacation Rental Designers a collective of short-term rental designers, which I developed in 2023. Our members enjoy exclusive brand partnership discounts, mentoring, business guidance and the support of a community that understands their niche. We’re happy to have Universal Furniture as a proud sponsor. WHAT LED YOU TO BECOME AN INTERIOR DESIGNER? I’m the daughter of an interior designer and I tried my best to go a different direction, but always came back to design. I was working for Wells Fargo in Nebraska when the branch manager asked me to help with an office decorating project. A year later, I was designing the company’s lobbies across Omaha. And my mom said, “Do you realize you have a design job inside a bank?” It was at that point I knew I had to follow this desire.
a small family and needed a complete redesign to become a rental that can accommodate 16. The primary bedroom was the same size as the living space and the house lacked sufficient bathrooms and gathering spaces. We changed the floor plan to accommodate four bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, plus several gathering spaces including a speakeasy located behind a paneled wall. Outdoors we built a covered stage so the owners could use it as a venue for their rock band. And a venue means a lot of people, which necessitates a lot of bathrooms. So in the adjacent bunkhouse, we created bunkhouse style bathrooms with two toilets, two showers and two sinks in each. In the main house, we added a bathroom accessible by an exterior entrance. AS A SHORT-TERM RENTAL DESIGNER, YOU GET TO CREATE SPACES THAT MIGHT NOT BE PART OF A PRIMARY RESIDENCE. DOES THIS HOME HAVE ANY UNUSUAL FEATURES? Quite a few! A
speakeasy in the main house is accessed by a hidden door. The bunkhouse includes a sports bar. And the signature feature on the property is a swimming pool in the shape of an electric guitar. There are more things special in this property than not. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE UNIVERSAL FURNITURE AS YOUR PARTNER FOR THIS PROJECT? I visit the Universal Furniture showroom every High Point Market and I’ve used the brand in previous homes, so I know the company is reliable and has beautiful products. I’d heard about the special-order upholstery program and wanted to use it for this project. Universal Furniture is a brand partner of VRD, and I always try to show our partners some love.
Modern Elemental Side Table U365834B; Josie Chair Special Order in Leather Mont Blanc Winterpine U069503
YOUR PROJECT IS A DEPARTURE FROM THE HOMES WE TYPICALLY FEATURE IN THIS COLUMN. TELL ME HOW YOU DESIGN DIFFERENTLY FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS. You are creating a
space for someone you will never meet, so you must anticipate how guests will engage in the homes you create. You target the needs of the many, not one. STR design is a hybrid of a personal home and a boutique hotel, with multiple audiences to please. You want guests to feel welcome, but you also want to boost ROI for the investor and make cleaning the property a breeze for the housekeeping staff. The experience of the guest is your number one priority. The space has to look different than a residence because people aren’t searching for rentals that look like their own house. They are searching for an experience.
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THE NEW SPEED OF STYLE
INSTANT LUXURY Core4Homes has set the standard for luxury building, and leading the design is stager and curator Keri Bibighaus. By showcasing spaces that are not only impeccably designed but also fully furnished with immediately available, high-end pieces, Keri ensures that the aspirational lifestyle Core4Homes creates is instantly achievable. This feature highlights a collection that combines award-winning design with the unparalleled convenience of in-stock availability.
HIGH POINT INVENTORY, ZERO WAIT
For today’s fast-paced design and staging projects, time is the ultimate luxury. Our exclusive program eliminates frustrating lead times by focusing on speed and inventory depth. We maintain a robust stock of popular upholstery options and warehouse our stylish casegoods in High Point, making it simple for designers to secure exactly what they need, exactly when they need it. Say goodbye to delays and hello to reliable, high-volume sourcing that keeps your projects on schedule.
Jensen Accent Chair 687535-1771-1 34w x 36d x 35h
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“As a designer, I value partners who elevate the process, and Universal Furniture does exactly that. Their extensive collection allows me to curate complete, cohesive spaces with ease, while their quality and pricing flexibility support projects of every scale. The reliable instock options and impeccable communication—paired with a sales rep who is consistently attentive—make Universal a standout resource in my work.” KERI BIBIGHAUS Luxury Interior Designer
EFFORTLESS INSTALLATION, ELEVATED RESULTS
Transforming a space shouldn’t take months. Because every item featured—from the luxurious Summerland King Bed and complementing Dove Nightstand to the sculptural Kinetic Stool—is currently in stock, you can execute pristine, highend installations instantly. Whether you’re staging a custom build or completing a residential refresh, our inventory commitment ensures swift turnaround, minimizing friction and maximizing impact. A complete, magazine-ready look is just an order away.
Modern Dove Nightstand U365C350 28w x 18d x 28h
Cosmo Credenza U365966 96w x 18d x 31h
AWARD-WINNING DESIGN, READY NOW
Daxton Cocktail Table U365C828 44w x 44d x 17h
Experience the confluence of high design and comfort in the living room setting. Featured pieces like the sleek Theo Sofa, the sophisticated Daxton Cocktail Table, and the inviting Jensen Accent Chair anchor the space with tailored modernity. They are complemented by a true statement piece: the Cosmo Credenza, recognized industry-wide as a Pinnacle Award winner. These selections are curated to deliver visual impact and lasting quality, ensuring a stunning result every time.
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To The Trade: Your Whole Home Resource
Elevating Your Process. s an interior designer, your vision and expertise are unparalleled. At Universal Furniture, we believe that the right partnership is the crucial ingredient that transforms that vision into seamless reality. Our To The Trade program proves that great partnerships are defined by what they deliver. Our goal is simple: to remove the obstacles from your process, empowering you to achieve exceptional results for every client, every time. Our Brand Product & Design Philosophy Universal Furniture offers a comprehensive assortment of case goods, upholstery, motion and accent furniture across living room, dining room, bedroom and home office categories. Our collections span transitional, modern, contemporary and casual lifestyles, enabling retailers and designers to create complete, cohesive environments. We are widely recognized for our design leadership, lifestyle storytelling and visual merchandising, delivering furniture that resonates with today’s consumer while maintaining long-term relevance at retail. We’ve structured our program to provide tangible, meaningful benefits that streamline your workflow and protect your bottom line. You gain immediate access to competitive pricing and an expansive, versatile inventory of high-quality products, ensuring you can meet any design aesthetic or project timeline. Furthermore, your dedicated Designer Concierge acts as an extension of your team, providing personalized assistance with complex logistics, custom sourcing, and efficient order management. We handle the heavy lifting—the inventory, the tracking, the delivery—so you are free to focus exclusively on the creative mastery your clients expect. 16 I UNIVERSALFURNITURE.COM
We understand that time is your most precious commodity. That’s why our partnership extends deep into the operational side of your business. Our commitment to in-stock availability and reliable, transparent lead times means you can specify with confidence, drastically reducing the uncertainty and delays that often plague the industry. For projects requiring a unique touch, our specialists can guide you through customization options, leveraging our manufacturing flexibility to perfectly realize those one-of-a-kind elements your design demands. This logistical “Our To The Trade reliability is program proves that great the bedrock of our partnership, partnerships are defined allowing you by what they deliver.” to promise and deliver exceptional quality on schedule. You are part of an inner circle that gets a first look at the trends and innovations we are bringing to the home furnishings landscape, giving you a competitive edge when presenting fresh concepts to clients. We offer specialized resources, including high resolution imagery, detailed specifications, and samples to help you present and specify product flawlessly. We see our relationship with you as an investment—an investment in the future of good design. Join us, and discover how truly effortless high-end sourcing can be when you partner with a manufacturer whose entire structure is devoted to your success. Let’s elevate design together.
“It’s about offering unparalleled support, logistical simplicity, and the custom options designers need to deliver truly differentiated, spaces for their clients.” SEAN O’CONNOR, President 17
discover
Isabel Ladd
THE UNIVERSAL LEARNING CENTER
Melissa Galt
Sharon Sherman
LADD INTERIORS
DESIGN BUSINESS COACH
THYME & PLACE DESIGN
“What I love so much about High Point, and what makes High Point so unique from other trade shows, is the pillar of community and the pillar of education. There are so many opportunities to attend panels, to learn, to attend networking events, and to make great connections. There are pillars to source—of course you can source from so many of these other trade shows—but it’s really that community and the many different outlets that High Point offers that let you continue growing and evolving as a designer.”
“You know, High Point is really the it place to be twice a year, and I do come spring and fall. I speak at multiple locations—my favorite being Universal, because the training room is just so epic and Universal is so hospitable. They also do an amazing job with lunch and breakfast. But you know, if you’re here to connect with your colleagues, to find new besties, to get new vendors, to get inspired, to fall back in love with design— High Point Market is the best place to do that.”
“Universal is the best of both worlds. They have amazing products, they work with the trades, and they provide such a valuable service to the interior design community through all of their wonderful education and designers. As you can see, they’re starving for that information. There’s no really good source for them to be able to get their questions answered, and you [Universal] provide the most beautiful place to experience all of this—panels, education, workshops.”
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THE LEARNING CENTER From visionary keynotes to intimate panels, each conversation is crafted to inform and inspire. And for those who wish to revisit or discover anew, our collection of recorded sessions offers access to design insight anytime, anywhere. 19
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