Cumberland

Beautiful products that work

How do you define a classic? The pure swing of Arnold Palmer. The understated yet elegant suits of Coco Chanel. The powerful, spare words of Carl Sandburg. The clean, strong forms of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Each experienced a peak of vitality in the 1950s, yet their creative expressions remain equally vibrant today. Perhaps that is one definition of a classic.

Established in New York City against this backdrop of creativity, Cumberland Furniture shared with these icons a focus on the simple and straightforward, the practical and the beautiful. It began crafting desks, tables, benches, and lobby seating in a style that would come to be known as transitional—a blend of traditional and contemporary appropriate for a wide range of interiors.

An obsession with quality, an insistence on attention to detail, and the skillful use of honest materials helped build a solid reputation for Cumberland. Among those working in residential and contract settings alike, the Cumberland name was known, its products coveted, especially for fine homes and executive offices.

Then the company lost its way. It changed hands. It suffered from lack of leadership. It lost sight of its history.

That was until a renaissance began in 1998. That year, Scott Gilmore purchased Cumberland and set about putting the company back on course.

According to Gilmore, “What we’re trying to do is create beautiful objects that everybody can appreciate, and that work in today’s environment. We have a passion for design excellence and quality, and the desire to create something special. We also pride ourselves on making the experience of dealing with us as high-quality as our products.”

Can you recapture the romance of the past in the practicality of the present? Can you deliver a sense of nostalgia in an object that also embraces the best of today?

Cumberland believes it can. In doing so, it makes its case for a new definition of a classic.