B. Smith designs furniture, too

B. Smith has her hands in almost every part of the home - the bedroom, the kitchen, the bathroom. Now the lifestyles expert is extending her reach with two furniture lines. The B. Smith Home Collection for Hammary was unveiled at the High Point Furniture Market last month. Hammary is a division of La-Z-Boy. Smith also presented a new line of upholstered pieces for Miles Talbott Furniture.

Smith, a former model and television show host, is also a restaurateur and cookbook author. She has a home goods line that's sold at Bed, Bath and Beyond. We spoke to her byphone last month.

The customers: "My first thought is as an African-American woman," Smith says. But, "there's something for everyone. ... At the core is the woman who wants to cook, entertain, have a beautiful home, enjoys things and enjoys things beautifully. Goodstyle knows no nationality."

Inspiration: "When I was young, my mom wished she had been an interior decorator. Well, she was in our house. I grew up with style."

A world view: "We've coined the phrase 'Afrasia' ... the bringing-together of different cultural looks. I've always liked art. I've always had a world personality even though I grew up in western Pennsylvania," she says, laughing. "But my parents took us to museums."

From there to here: "When I started at Bed Bath, I started with quilts and moved throughout the home. ... I didn't want to start in the kitchen because I didn't want to get pigeonholed."

"Now I have beds, dining room tables, coffee tables, ... and I've sized it so it works in an apartment as well as in a home."

The Miles Talbott line: The B. Smith Home Collection features clean, crisp lines with modern interpretations. Rich colors and many textures and dramatic patterns lend a global influence to the fabrics she selected. "The fabrics are a blend of Asian, African and Caribbean influences," Smith said.

The Hammary line: Smith's Home Collection for Hammary includes occasional, bedroom and dining room collections with bold, dramatic lines. Among the signature items are a platform bed and dresser in a dark mahogany finish with dramatic, carved accents.

Where to get it: Both furniture lines will be available in the Triangle in the spring. The B. Smith Home Collection by Miles Talbott is available through fine furniture stores and designers. To find a store, go to www.milestalbottfurniture.com and click on the dealer locator. Find Hammary dealers at www.hammary.com and click on the dealer locator.

What else: Smith's latest cookbook, "B. Smith Cooks Southern-Style" (Scribner), puts a healthful spin on Southern fare. You'll find everything from turducken to Fancy Dressed Chitterlings.

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