Casual Designs Unveils Latest Collection

BERLIN - An historic resort area furniture business known for providing homes old and new with attractive, quality furnishings for half a century is unveiling its latest collection this weekend with the grand opening of its 'Tiki Chic' showrooms at its two locations

Casual Designs claims it 'is more than just a furniture store, it represents a lifestyle' in its advertising and promotional materials and the slogan is clearly accurate when it comes to defining its new Tiki Chic collections. With its proximity to the beach and the ocean, Casual Designs has always offered furnishings and appointments that reflect the seaside lifestyle, but the new Tiki collection, set for an unveiling during a grand opening celebration today and tomorrow, pays particular homage to the unique feeling of being in the islands.

Behind the leadership of company founder Richard Ludlam, an Ocean City native who has 50 years of experience in the furniture business, and his daughter Terry Ludlam Bell, who learned the ropes from her father and has been buying furniture for the company's showrooms for 25 years, the inspiring and dramatic new Tiki showrooms have emerged. As the name implies, the Tiki rooms combine beautiful shades of warm browns, rattans, textures of woven raffia, sea grass and banana leaves mirroring the latest in home fashion, comfort and flair.

The public is encouraged to browse through the massive showrooms at both locations on Route 50 just six miles west of Ocean City and on Route 54 in Fenwick Island just four miles west of Coastal Highway. Experienced design consultants will also be available to consult with homeowners and introduce the new collections, designs and ideas that are available.

Richard Ludlam opened his original furniture house in Berlin about 50 years ago. The original location was a mere 8,000 square feet or about the size of just one of the showrooms at Casual Designs on Route 50.

In the 1980s, the name was changed to Casual Designs to reflect the changing lifestyle in the resort area and the collections offered over the years evolved to appeal to the masses buying second homes or vacation homes or even moving to the resort areas in Maryland and Delaware.

The 'Tiki Chic' collections being unveiled during grand opening celebrations at both showrooms on Route 50 in Berlin and Route 54 is just the latest step in that evolution. The unveilings of the new collections will be held Friday, March 16 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday, March 17, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.