Trump's new furniture collection brings ornate into play

Mar-a-Lago, built in the 1920s as the opulent Palm Beach, Fla., estate of Marjorie Merriweather Post, became known as a social mecca for Post's costume balls, teas, recitals and infamous square dances.

Most of us know it today as real-estate mogul Donald Trump's private club, where celebrities hobnob with folks wealthy enough to pay the $150,000 entrance fee and $9,000 in annual dues.

Now it's also a furniture collection.

Lexington Home Brands, which launched Trump Home in 2007, has introduced Mar-a-Lago as the third collection inspired by one of The Donald's homes. The others are West Chester and Central Park.

But don't expect this 75-piece collection to duplicate the furnishings or use the spectacular tile accents of the famous home.

"We did not reproduce the furniture," Phil Haney, president and CEO of Lexington Home Brands, said in a telephone interview. "We used the property for inspiration."

The Lexington design team took three trips to Mar-a-Lago to study the architecture and ambience. They also went to model homes and open houses in South Florida, Scottsdale and Los Angeles to understand the scale of new homes, which featured soaring ceilings and plenty of glass.

Haney said their goal was to combine Old World elegance with a larger scale that would fit in these new homes. For example, chests are designed 44 to 48 inches high but are narrower so they can fit in a space between two closets. A home-entertainment wall is 104 inches tall. The designs were created in rich leather, velvets, embellished silk and dramatic finishes with gold tipping.

The metal scrollwork on several pieces, including the Allegra dining table and the Aristo console, is similar to a beautiful antique bed at Mar-a-Lago, Trump said in an e-mail interview.

When asked about his favorite pieces, Trump replied in his typical over-the-top style.

"There are many phenomenal pieces in the collection. I like the Sonata poster bed, which has carved finials and burl borders," he said. "It will be one of the top-selling products. I also like the Castello buffet with the marble top and Viola lamp table, which create a great presence in any room. Also, the Haydon sofa has a beautiful look."

Some collections that are licensed with a celebrity name are just rubber-stamped. Not this time.

"I was involved in the design process and approved the line," Trump said. "I helped select everything from the hardware to the woods and fabrics, and guided the overall design direction of the collection. The Mar-a-Lago collection is a beautiful look at a terrific value. It's going to be a big success."

Suggested retail prices range from $1,039 for the Concerto mirror to $5,239 for the 92-inch-high Piazza china cabinet. The collection should be available in November.