Furniture that multi-tasks & looks good doing it

Coming at High Point Market: The E-Charge Center by Hooker Furniture

Ok, I’ll admit it, I tend to overcommit myself. Just a little. A little with my family, a little with work, a little with volunteering—you get the idea. You can probably relate. We as a society have embraced the “more is more” credo, and there’s no end in sight.

I’ve become an expert at trying to squeeze 20 hours of work into the 15 hours I’m awake each day. Which means I have no time for wasting. So I like everything I own to offer at least two functions. A phone that has email and a calendar, check. Tinted moisturizer with sunscreen and antioxidants, yes. Furniture that helps me stay organized in style…I could definitely use that.

Hooker Furnituremust have heard this from a few of us because they’re creating display cabinets, computer armoires and home office furnishings that are multifunctional, space-saving and truly useful. These are pieces that make it easy to stay organized—and the more organized I am, the more productive I am.

While this E-charge Center is stunning when it’s closed, it’s even more impressive once it’s open.

While having the latest technology is great—and goes a long way to helping me stay organized—it brings a new set of challenges. For me, it’s finding a place to store everything and finding the time to keep them all charged. I could definitely use one of Hooker’s new E-Charge Centers that they are set to introduce at the upcoming October High Point Furniture Market. I just love the idea of what looks like an accent furniture piece actually being a multifunctional addition to the room. It’s designed for storing portable electronic devices like tablets, phones, laptops and iPods®, and includes outlets that can charge 4-6 units at one time. That’s just smart. And as if that wasn’t enough, the shallow pull-out drawers for storing tablets and laptops are even lined with felt to avoid scratches.

The Home Organizer from the Chic Coterie Collection.

Now even with an E-Charge Center in my den, I’d still like to have the Home Organizer from the Chic Coterie Collection in the sitting room connected to my kitchen. This beautiful piece works well on its own or with the coordinating hutch. In addition to lots of well-designed storage, it also offers a hidden charging station. And there’s also a drop-front drawer for a keyboard and three locking file drawers ready for files. I could fill this piece just with the papers, forms and artwork that come home from school with my children every day.

My organization challenges follow me throughout the house. I’ve been late on many occasions because I was trying to find a specific pair of earrings—ones that I knew would be perfect with my outfit if I could just put my hands on them. Hooker’ Furniture’s solution is the lovely Rhapsody Floor Mirror.

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the most functional of all?

With hidden jewelry storage, a felt interior with ring holders, twenty hooks and 48 jewelry pouches—even I might have a chance of being on-time. Or at least, I wouldn’t be late because of unorganized jewelry.

I spend a lot of time working on my laptop while sitting in bed. This stunning Handpainted Secretarywould be a great addition to my bedroom and the perfect place to store my work at night. It’s the best of both worlds—a beautiful accent piece and a functional computer armoire, thanks to the drop-face work surface.

Now you see the clutter, now you don’t.

Over the years, it seems like furniture has really only changed in appearance. There have been a few functional improvements here or there, but mainly evolutions in style. I’m excited to see that changing. I know Hooker Furniture does a lot of consumer research, and I can see that reflected in its recent introductions. Furniture that is beautiful and thoughtfully designed—well, that’s just what I need. What about you?