Accessible design

Don’t talk about how Chris Madden is making the moves on Martha Stewart’s territory. It’s hard not to—with her moves into so many realms on the home front. But this domestic design diva isn’t about following in anyone’s footsteps.

She’s been grooving to her own beat for 30 years. Now she has hit her stride with a design tune sure to reach more people.

The tune is all about making home design more affordable and more accessible.

So it’s no wonder that the ever-evolving Madden and a surprisingly cooler-looking JC Penney are an item. The Chris Madden Home Collection with J.C. Penney Co. debuted this month at Penney’s 1,000 stores across the country.

If you’re remembering that not so long ago Madden and Bassett Furniture Co. announced they were a pair, you’re right. With her new Penney’s deal, she is no longer designing furnishings for Bassett. They have parted as friends. There were only 80 Bassett Home Direct stores.

With so much going on in Madden’s home (furnishings) life, we called her up to find out more details.

We learned that with the good—her new furniture collection, new book called “Haven: Finding the Keys to Your Personal Decorating Style” (Clarkson Potter, 160 pages, $29.95) and a magazine and TV show in the works — there was also the sad — the loss of her parents within six months of each other.

Q. Let’s get the Martha Stewart part out of the way. How are you preparing to be the next Martha?

A. (She pauses.) Hmmm.

I have done it my way for three decades. It’s great she paved the way for all of us. She made it easier for women’s voices to be heard in the design arena. She opened the doors for us to love our homes. My appearances on “Oprah” were a real steppingstone for me. I’m way too busy to even think about it, but, yes, Martha opened the doors for us to love our homes.

But I do it my way.

Q. Tell us about your plans for a magazine called “Haven.”

A. We were asked to do one. Hearst (Publishing) wanted to see if we were interested. We have put together a prototype, but right now, we are concentrating on the products for Penney. After the launch, we’ll give that and the new TV show more of our attention. We are signed on with a production company. (She can’t disclose the name of the production company but says they are looking at both network and cable.) I prefer cable because it gets a more defined and focused audience.

Q. Now let’s talk about the new furniture collection with Penney’s and what did or didn’t happen at Bassett.

A. It was a great relationship at Bassett. Nothing really happened except the opportunity for me to expand my brand offering. If I was going to stay that was going to be problematic.

I picked J.C. Penney after a year of trying to decide who we were going with—one major retailer or many equally powerful manufacturers. After a year of trying to decide, I chose to go with Penney.

Q. What’s your new collection like?

A. It’s three styles — adventurous, romantic and serene.

Adventurous features a more West Indies feel with deep rich mahogany — all plantation grown mahogany — and great carvings.

Romantic is more cottage pine and comes in white with a Scandinavian happy feel.

Serene, which will be out later this year, has clean modern lines and a dark ebony finish.

And to coordinate with each collection there are lamps, rugs and bedding.

There is something for every room of your home. self end