Timberlake to debut new furniture collection at High Point Market

After focusing on painting for the past several years, Lexington artist and designer Bob Timberlake is getting back into the furniture business with a new licensed collection called American Home.

The collection, done in partnership with Archbold, Ohio-based Archbold Furniture and their Amish business partners in the area as well as Conover, N.C.-based Carolina Custom Leather, will debut at the spring High Point Market, which opens Saturday. Timberlake said the new collection, like his previous licensed home furnishings collections for Hickory, N.C.-based Century Furniture and The World of Bob Timberlake made by Lexington Furniture Industries, will have a traditional style that he is known for “but with cleaner lines” for an updated look.

The World of Bob Timberlake, launched in 1990, was one of the longest-running and most-successful licensing agreements in the history of the industry. But he went to Century after a falling out with LFI after they decided to make the collection overseas and closed local factories.

But Timberlake said he had been wanting to get back into the furniture business to continue his legacy of merging art with practical design in furnishings that epitomize American craftsmanship, comfort and elegance. So, in early 2023, Timberlake asked his son, Dan Timberlake, to look into possible manufacturing partners who met his criteria.

“He said he wanted solid wood, great finish and Made in America,” Dan recalled. “So what we have now is a collection made in America by Americans for American homes.” Family-owned Archbold has been in business for more than 100 years and started as a producer of unfinished furniture until 2010 when the company began partnering with nearby Amish families to do finishing as well as build some wood furniture. Timberlake said he went to Ohio to meet the company owners,

Pat and Logan McNamara, a little more than a year ago and they hit it off after he visited the factory and Amish country. He also met with Todd Stroud, president of Carolina Custom Leather, who started the upholstery company in 2008 and now has two grown sons involved in the business as well.

Timberlake said he was not only impressed with the product quality of both companies but the family orientation of the people involved. “We share a common commitment to faith, family and friends and designed each product with these values in mind,” Timberlake said. “I want American Home to be pieces I'm remembered for which become the antiques of the future for families to cherish.”

Archbold is introducing a little more than 60 wood pieces Including three bedrooms, three home offices, three dining rooms and some occasional pieces, according to Brian Mosser, business developer for the manufacturer. There are nine wood finishes available.

Stroud said his upholstery company, which only uses solid hardwood frames and eight-way, hand-tied construction, is introducing six sofas, eight chairs, two office chairs and three dining chairs. He noted the company primarily offers leather upholstery but has a new fabric division and some of the new pieces will have a combination of leather and fabric.

“Bob is such an icon in the furniture business and a great guy,” Stroud said. “He’s just one of those people you want to do business with.” A select group of retailers have actually been showing some pieces in the collection on their floors since the October 2023 market to get feedback from customers. “We’ve had a lot of good response,” Stroud said. “Some really good retailers are already purchasing it,” Mosser noted. Timberlake said the Bob Timberlake Gallery & Museum on East Center Street Extension in Lexington, which showcases his art and licensed home furnishings, has been selling sample pieces but will have the whole line available after the furniture market.

{Photo By: Vikki Broughton Hodges/Davidson Local} This display of finish and hardware options for the American Home collection by Bob Timberlake is at the Bob Timberlake Gallery & Museum in Lexington, which already has some pieces in the collection and will be stocking more after the High Point Market.

Timberlake said he has enjoyed collaborating with the two companies and two interior designers, Sharon Kepley and Sherry Sink of Master’s Design, who have worked with him on previous home furnishings collections. “They’ve worked with me so long they know what I’m thinking,” he said. “The collaboration with people is the fun part about this.” Timberlake said there are plans to add licensed accessories, such as lighting and rug collections, to American Home at the October market for a total home presentation. Dan Timberlake said it’s been gratifying to see his father engaged with the furniture industry again and looking forward to the market.

“My father has really enjoyed getting back into it,” he noted. Timberlake, who turned 87 in January, said he has no plans to slow down, noting he has a new book, “Birds of a Feather: The Joys of Friendship and the great Outdoors,” which is co-authored by Mark Erwin. He also has a new painting, “Spring Flowers,” which will be celebrated with a Spring Release Party on Saturday, April 20, at the gallery. The American Home collection will also be on display at the event.

“When I turned 87, I said I think I should start working half a day 12 hours,” he said with a laugh.

{All Photos By; Vikki Broughton Hodges/Davidson Local} Bob Timberlake sits on a sofa from his new licensed collection called American Home. The upholstery, made by Carolina Custom Leather in Conover, N.C., will be shown at the High Point Market that opens Saturday.

(Above In the lead photo) This signature post bed is one of the pieces in the new Bob Timberlake-licensed furniture collection called American Home, which is made by Archbold Furniture and Amish artisans in Ohio.