‘Beach House’ furniture for any house: How the Tommy Bahama line shines

Michelle F. Solomon, Tribune Content Solutions

If you’re furnishing a beachside retreat or sprucing up a lakeside cabin, Beach House from Tommy Bahama Home brings an island feel in any Florida space.

Syril Lebbad, an interior designer for Baer's Furniture in Sarasota says Beach House by Tommy Bahama reimagines the possibilities of tropical style. "I have created several projects for clients working with the Beach House line. This collection is so versatile, it is the perfect fit for a primary residence or a weekend haven," she said.

Beach House easily mixes and mingles. Its transitional style features a blend of traditional and contemporary with a rich finish and natural fabrics. "The collection is complementary, too, and isn't so specific in style, which makes Beach House fit right in with existing furniture," said Lebbad.

Inspired by the traditions of island handcrafting, the Beach House collection displays refined elements of carved bamboo drawer fronts and reedy bamboo designs. Elegant blending of leather-wrapped rattan and exotic mango wood veneers in a sun-drenched largo finish adds a cool sophistication. Hardware featuring an antiqued brass finish adds a vintage element to many of the pieces.

But overall, the focus is subtlety. "This is a collection that achieves a perfect balance. It's not overly ornate, nor is it so tropical that it pushes toward the clich?," said Lebbad.

Beach House features pieces for any room, including the Belle Isle bed. The piece features carved bamboo posts wrapped in leather and panels in the headboard and footboard that feature a striking bamboo design.

For entertaining, the Boca Grande dining table is sure to be a conversation piece — Its mango wood veneer top and bamboo apron grabs attention. Pair the table with accompanying Sanibel chairs, and a dinner party becomes an island feast. For a smaller dining area, the 48-inch diameter Coconut Grove table is perfectly scaled, yet can accommodate six in comfort with the addition of its 18-inch leaf. A work of art, the base features a beautiful pattern of leather-wrapped bent rattan.

Upholstered seating, such as sofas and chairs, showcase the beauty of carved wooden frames, featuring a horizontal reed motif. Fabrics inspired by soft island colors radiate a refreshing palette for a living room that's invitingly relaxed, yet elegant.

Occasional pieces add beautiful functionality to any room. The Bonita entertainment console is an all-in-one media storage center, while Hemingway himself would surely find the sculpted Clearwater writing desk an inspiration. For the dining room, the Siesta Key buffet is elegance refined and sure to become an heirloom piece. Its felt-lined drawers are configured to accommodate fine silverware.

Beach House mixes well with old favorites, too. A weekend retreat guest room, furnished with an upholstered bed and painted dresser, gets a finishing touch with Beach House decorative nightstands, woven-cane accent tables, and a mirror framed with bamboo.

These are furnishings that are built to stand the test of time — instant classics that retain their look and value. Manufactured by Lexington Home Brands, a design leader in home furnishings for over a century, The Tommy Bahama Home collections provide classic sculpted furnishings that never go out of style. "The Tommy Bahama brand is legendary for interpreting island style in a fashion that resonates with sophisticated consumers," said Phil Haney, president and CEO of Lexington Home Brands. "Beach House is designed to offer exceptional value for consumers looking for a relaxed lifestyle that is causal and cool — be it in a condo, a loft apartment or a bungalow on the beach."

Baer's Furniture, a collection of fine furniture stores with 16 locations throughout Florida, is the largest retailer in the world of Tommy Bahama Home, and carries the widest selection of Tommy Bahama home furnishings, from furniture collections to inspired accents.