Vanguard Expands It’s “Make It Yours” Offering into Lifestyle Consoles

Furniture World News Desk on 10/9/2017

New CC21 Lifestyle Console. Shown in Dove Grey finish with “Thin Classic” door face, Modern Pendant hardware in Satin Brass, and Tapered Legs. It earns its name as “Lifestyle Furniture” by adapting its features to fit the needs of the lifestyle of the user.

Vanguard Furniture announced that this October, it will be expanding its highly successful “Make It Yours” program into what is being called “Lifestyle Furniture.” This is a new category which has been coined by having features that allow it to be adapted to whatever lifestyle needs the end user desires. They are often used as entertainment cabinets and buffets because they can be very long to fit special needs. Andy Bray, Vanguard’s president opined, “The days of one size fits all furniture are over. We now have the ability to affordably customize cases to meet any lifestyle need.”

Furniture makers have been chasing technology for years. As recently as 10 years ago entertainment cabinets required fancy wiring management systems, ventilation and wireless repeaters. They required space and shelving for all kinds of electronic gadgets from VCRs to CD players. Entertainment is increasingly moving to the cloud and technologists predict that within five years nearly everything that now uses a remote control will be controlled by your cell phone. And even though LP’s, cassette tapes, CDs and DVDs have gone or will eventually go the way of the dodo bird, there will always be a need for storage in any home.

At the same time, televisions are getting larger. Unless there is some form of architecture like a fireplace or built-in cabinets, rooms require long console tables to provide balance and symmetry. The length of the console depends on the width of the television which can range from 26 inches for a 30-inch television to 78.3 inches for a 90-inch television. For a screen this large, 82 inches is about perfect.

The same is true for long foyers and dining rooms. The traditional dimensions for consoles may just not be right. And, they may require doors, drawers, shelves, or a combination of all three. Each cabinet can be configured in a myriad of ways to adapt to any lifestyle need.


Vanguard has solved this problem with the addition of custom consoles to its “Make It Yours” program. This groundbreaking platform allows the end customer to be the designer, disrupting the way casegoods are sold at retail. Conceptually, the process begins by choosing one or more of ten basic frames depending on the overall desired length. Next, she picks from among seven stylish bases. She chooses from a variety of stone, glass and wooden tops cut to order to match the custom length. What really defines the overall look is a choice of distinctive door and drawer faces, from classic to modern. Next, she applies the jewelry by choosing from among 28 unique pieces of hardware—most available in three finishes for a total of more than 75 different options. Finally, she chooses from among hundreds of standard, stain or paint finishes, artisan finishes and premium leaf finishes. She can even make it a combination finish with contrasting drawers, doors, tops and panels or face styles. She can further embellish the look with options such as highlight striping, patterned striping shadowing and different sheen or distress levels. To aid in the process, Vanguard has developed an ingenious visualizer that guides the consumer step-by-step and creates a rendering in progress as she creates!

One of the dominating trends for the foreseeable future is customization,” says Bray. “This not only true in furniture, but in cars to clothing. Sophisticated consumers are no longer willing to settle for cookie-cutter solutions from mass retailers. They lean towards personalization as a form of self-expression to create a distinctive personal style. The unqualified success of our Make It Yours program taps into this mindset,” he added.

Customization is made possible through Vanguard’s unique manufacturing processes and state-of-the-art finishing capabilities that allow it to build and finish cases cost-effectively one at a time. It takes about 6 weeks from the time an MIY case is ordered to the time it is available for delivery to the end customer’s home.

More about Vanguard Furniture: Vanguard Furniture is a manufacturer and marketer of case goods and upholstery. It is a family held company, employing 600 associates and operates out of six manufacturing buildings in Hickory, North Carolina, and a 40,000-square foot showroom in High Point, NC and its newest manufacturing location in Hillsville, Virginia. Its mission is to lead home furnishings in style, value and service with a vision to enrich lives through custom-crafted furniture. It Vanguard is a founding member of the Sustainable Furniture Council and its green initiatives include recycling 95% of all post manufacturing waste; recycling paper, fabric scraps, metal, wood scrap, plastic and corrugated products. The showroom is located at 301 N Hamilton St, in High Point. For more information, see www.vanguardfurniture.com