Fusion Designs Collaborates with Dinettes Unlimited on New Solid Wood Barstool Collection

Furniture World News Desk on 3/21/2025

Fusion Designs has collaborated with Florida-based retailer Dinettes Unlimited to launch a new line of solid wood barstools. The program was developed in response to input from Edy Attanasio, vice president of the family-owned retail chain, who identified a gap in the market for modern, American-made wooden barstools.

The partnership resulted in the Arya, Luca, and Quinn barstools, which will be introduced to Dinettes Unlimited showrooms in the coming weeks. Each model is expected to retail around $799.

“As a smaller independent retailer, it can be difficult to get your voice heard by manufacturers. I was surprised that a manufacturer not only wanted to know what we saw happening in the marketplace, but Fusion’s team really listened to our requests for more modern, smaller scale barstools in neutral and coastal finishes with swivel designs,” said Edy Attanasio.

According to Fusion Designs President Marcus Bontrager, the company regularly engages with retailers of varying sizes to inform product development.

“We listen to retailers of any size, all the time, and wherever we can collaborate and create solutions, we’re always happy to do that,” said Bontrager. “One of the advantages of being a domestic manufacturer is that we can customize and develop product for retailers in a way that global entities bringing in product from overseas simply cannot.”

Historically, most barstools available in the U.S. market have been imported and made of metal. However, Dinettes Unlimited has observed continued demand among its customer base for higher-end solid wood designs made domestically. The retailer, which operates three stores in Florida, specializes in dinettes, caster chairs, and counter and barstools.

“We experienced our first success with Fusion Designs when we floored the Livonia castor chair two years ago,” said Edy Attanasio. “In Florida, chairs on wheels are huge, but I thought the Livonia, which retails for $1,000, would be way too expensive for our middle-market customers. Then people began sitting in them. The wood is beautiful, customers can just see and feel the quality, and the chairs just kind of hug the back. The Livonia quickly became a bestseller, and it showed us that not everyone wants throw-away furniture today.”

Dinettes Unlimited continues to focus on in-store customization and sample-based sales rather than drop-ship or online orders. “We’re absolutely a specialty shop and about 70 percent of our business is custom. Our customers are willing to wait for what they want, and we make it a point to work with vendors like Fusion Designs that truly support brick and mortar stores,” said Rob Attanasio, chief operating officer.

About Fusion Designs
Founded in 1995, Fusion Designs specializes in high-quality, American-made solid wood, built-to-order case goods collections for bedroom, dining room, home office and entertainment sold to leading retailers across the U.S. Handcrafted in Indiana from domestically sourced wood species like oak, maple, cherry and hickory, and available in a choice of 35 finishes, the expansive portfolio of contemporary, transitional and mid-century modern designs is set apart by mortise and tenon construction techniques, upscale features like soft-close drawers and hand-wiped finishes that highlight the natural beauty of the woods, as well as a lifetime warranty. For more information, visit www.fusiondesign.us.