Seven designers achieve the 'Pinnacle' of success.

Exceptional style, mixed materials and ingenious problem-solving add up to 1997 Pinnacle Award-winning furniture.

The American Society of Furniture Designers presented seven awards for outstanding achievement in home furnishings design and two "special recognition" awards at its second annual Pinnacle Awards dinner in High Point, NC, Oct. 17.

The Pinnacle Award winners were selected from 24 furniture industry finalists, all of whose entries are in current production and are available in at least 10 retail locations. To qualify for the competition, no entry could be more than two years old.

In addition, ASFD president David Kline presented member Karl Felperin with a special Pinnacle Award for recognition of his service as chairman of the 1996 and 1997 award competitions. Dr. Richard Bennington, professor of business and director of home furnishings marketing at High Point University, received a lifetime honorary membership to ASFD for outstanding contributions to the furniture industry.

The Envelope, Please

Last year's Designers of the Year, Berry & Clark Design Associates, repeated their 1996 winning effort. The team again placed first in two categories: Major Collections and Occasional Furniture. Their entry Intarsia, a collection of high-end sculptural case goods in maple and maple veneers, is manufactured by Mobil Fresno of Spain and includes a wide variety of transitional pieces for use anywhere in the home.

In the second category, Berry & Clark's mixed media Lofty Living 92000 Group, offered by Hammary Furniture, includes occasional tables, casual dining, home entertainment and home office furnishings. Cherry veneer tops on forged iron bases provide streamlined solutions for storage and display.

Separate categories last year, Casual Dining and Formal Dining, were combined into the Dining category, and Juvenile Furniture was merged into the Bedroom category. In addition, Lighting and Accessories categories were dropped because of insufficient entries.

Alain Juneau and the late Vell Hubel, staff designers for Baronet, won the Bedroom category prize for Ungava. The original collection, designed by Mr. Hubel, who died in July 1996, is offered by more than 100 retail stores throughout the United States, Canada and the Middle East. The winning entry is an elegantly simple solid maple and birch veneer Nordic bed introduced in April.

Thomas McDaniel and Scott Coley, ASFD, combined solid cherry and hand-forged iron in their Blackberry Road Collection, winner of the Dining category. The English Cottage style collection is produced by Charleston Forge, whose furniture is noted for hand craftsmanship and combinations of material. Each piece is distressed for an antique look. A two-drawer, two-door sideboard with hutch, a baker's rack and a wine rack are included.

Home Office and Upholstery Winners

In the Home Office category, Joe Miller's winning design of the mobile Milano Collection for RTA manufacturer Bush Furniture achieves innovative and functional design at unprecedented price points. Every piece - computer desk, executive workcenter, lateral file and library table - is cradled in satin-finished steel end frames with tubular steel post legs ending in 3-inch casters. Bush's Euro Beech laminate and Jade Green WearGuard worksurfaces provide color contrast.

The Stationary Upholstery winner was Mark Mascheroni for the Tiffany leather sofa, which blends contemporary and traditional elements for a classical look. The sofa is part of the Studio Mascheroni Collection created for LeatherTech. Mascheroni said the sofa is designed to look and feel comfortable while providing large scale architectural presence in a room.

Carl Schauble's stylishly tailored reclining Manhattan chair is offered in leather or fabric. The winning Motion Upholstery design features curved arms, 6-inch thick, boxed and welted seat and back cushions and a tapered block leg. Action Ind. introduced the chair in April.