Ethan Allen's new Rockville, Md. Design Center features interactive shops and inspirational room settings.

Ethan Allen has opened a new interactive design center that company officials say brings the “robust website to life.”

At the Rockville, Md., location, consumers can work with Ethan Allen design professionals in an open floor plan footprint outfitted with design stations and large touchscreens. The Rockville design center represents a new direction for the 83-year-old company, according to Farooq Kathwari, president and CEO.

"This is an Ethan Allen some people may not recognize," Kathwari said. "The products are relaxed and relevant to today's lifestyles, the technology on the floor is state-of-the-art, and the Design Center itself is located where our clients live and play."

The Design Center displays hundreds of all-new designs in “shops” and inspirational room settings, officials said. Eight experienced design professionals staff the space, and the company is also planning to hire two additional design candidates to round out its staff. To facilitate the creative process and take the guesswork out of design, the design team can help as little or as much as a client likes. In-store and in-home consultations are complimentary.

"Our new Design Center is located right in the heart of the action on Rockville Pike,” said Ethan Allen District Design Manager Judy Alto. “Its modern architecture and inviting layout are sure to appeal to residents of neighboring communities.”

Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. has a network of approximately 300 Design Centers in the United States and abroad. Ethan Allen owns and operates nine manufacturing facilities, which include six manufacturing plants and one sawmill in the United States plus one plant each in Mexico and Honduras. Approximately 70% of its products are made in its North American plants.

(Source: Furniture Today  Author: Cindy W. Hodnett)