High style in high point.

Bigger-than-life case goods, light woods, innovative contemporary styles and furniture "with a past" play prominent roles at the October Market in High Point.

Now appearing in starring roles at the International Home Furnishings Market are:

* High style, overscaled furniture made of light-colored woods, in combination with metal, marble or stone, and glass.

* Soft contemporary looks. Curvilinear shapes and velvety finishes replace hard-edged, slick lacquer.

* American Arts & Crafts furniture, once out of fashion's favor, now considered classic design.

* Lifestyle furniture with counterfeit history and so-called ambience, seeking to push buttons of nostalgic buyers.

* Ecologically correct furnishings.

In High Point in October, furniture "with a past" -- major introductions by Stanley Furniture and Thomasville -- shared the spotlight with "soft contemporary," as executed by Bernhardt, Century and National Mt. Airy.

Stanley's Norman Rockwell Collection includes 120 pieces of wood and upholstered furniture -- not so much inspired by the famous Saturday Evening Post cover artist as commemorating the centennial of his birth. "The furniture is inspired by the lifestyles of the people depicted in Rockwell's cover illustrations," said Robin Campbell, manager of marketing services.

Twenty to 25 of Rockwell's most popular illustrations were given new life by printing them on wood furniture, such as a drop front desk whose four panels depict the celebrated Four Freedoms series, or by representing them in upholstery. (Rosie the Riveter backed by the Stars and Stripes occupy the entire back and seat of a classic wing chair.)

"This is only the tip of the iceberg," Campbell added. "The Curtis Publishing Co. archives owns rights to 321 Saturday Evening Post covers. We chose just a few of the most popular for the inaugural pieces."

Bill Sibbick, Stanley's vice president of product development, worked with Warren and Associates, Grand Rapids, to create the new group. One memorable piece from the collection is a massive table with plank top and large side drawer (and no illustration). Scalloped mouldings similar to those on Victorian home exteriors accent an entertainment armoire.

Old style for a New Age

While its design origins lie in the Craftsman style of the early 20th century, Thomasville's all new, 125-piece American Revival is "for families ready to decorate 21st century homes," said Guy Walters, Thomasville director of product design. "The criteria for what is beautiful has come full circle in the 20th century and we are back on familiar ground as the century comes to an end."

Clean, rectilinear styling occurs consistently throughout the collection, which includes a triple-door wardrobe whose center door features a full-length mirror; bed with 5 1/2-foot-high paneled headboard; tabletops, nightstands and plant stands with granite inserts; and studio tambour desk, rescaled as a lady's writing desk. The collection is crafted in oak with a pale golden finish glazed in white.

Soft, blond and contemporary

Bernhardt Furniture Co. premiered Napa Valley, a comprehensive collection in solid oak with light, spattered finish, twist and bail handle hardware and vineyard motifs. Burnished brass metal vines accent beds, tables, mirrors and china cabinets. Selected pieces have natural stone tops.

Designer Bill Faber and Century Furniture product manager Stephen Giles spent a year developing Cashmere, a 60-piece, "soft contemporary" collection in maple solids and quartered ash veneers in harlequin patterns. Rounded and ribbed sides, serpentine fronts and dynamic combinations of wood, metal, glass and marble characterize the collection.

The name Cashmere allows some idea of the tactile quality and low sheen of the finish and softness of the shapes for which Faber deliberately avoided 90-degree corners and angles. "I tried to break away from the square box mentality of furniture design," the designer said.

National Mt. Airy, Bassett Furniture's high-end division, played on the word 'oval' and its shape in Ovations, the first collection by designer Shawn Stanton. Headboards, mirrors, chair backs and hardware are all distinguished by the oval shape, while shallow rout lines add depth to panels, drawers and door fronts. Ash solids and figured quartered ash veneers are finished in light chestnut.

Up-scale Henredon put a new spin on Country, after steering clear of the category in the past. Designed by Tom Keller and George Koehler, vice president of product development, pale-toned Laurel Canyon lends a "refined and soft look to casual, cosmopolitan living." Henredon also introduced seven limited edition period pieces to commemorate the company's 50th anniversary.

Ecologically appropriate

In keeping with New Age priorities, designer Dave Vanderbloemen's South Seas Collection for Century is crafted of natural water hyacinth, rather than wicker or rattan. Use of the invasive plant "helps to clear waterways in Thailand and to provide jobs for local people," Vanderbloemen said.

Also, popular watercolor artist and Lexington Furniture spokesman Bob Timberlake signed a licensing agreement between The Bob Timberlake Collection and Keep America Beautiful to promote environmental responsibility in wood sourcing, recycling and finishing.

Sand River Safaris, San Antonio, is importing furniture from recycled railroad ties that were laid in African jungles more than a century ago and are now being replaced with concrete. African natives, using simple hand tools, rework the exotic hardwoods, such as yellow jarrah, Rhodesian teak, panga panga and mahogany, into sturdy refectory tables, benches, chairs and chests.