Occupying pride of place at Clarecraft Jarrah’s stand at Furnitex will be Esperance, the fabulous suite that took top honours for bedroom furniture at the 2009 Australian Furniture of the Year Awards.

The cast iron Duchess bench with its intricate filigree design is pure romance. Equally eye-catching are the outdoor table and chair settings in wicker or wrought iron and myriad other delights – among them, fibreglass fountains, marble statues and outdoor heating and lighting designs that combine the functional and decorative to winning effect.

When Peter Jennings began his company Out There Furniture almost a decade ago, he soon opted for a deliberate point of difference.

Founded in 1996, Rico specialises in sofas, accent chairs and ottomans, and allows customized selections from its wide range of fabrics and trimmings.

Sure to attract attention at Furnitex will be Dare Global's glamorous new range, Milan, with its high-gloss veneer pieces - some incorporating glass and one-touch lighting - in white, black and walnut, either single-tone or contrasting.

The ability to adapt to changing attitudes and trends has been an important factor in Cargo's longevity, but one thing hasn't changed at the 20-year-old family firm: its insistence on the time-honoured skills essential for fine handcrafted furniture.

Over the past 30 years, Via has established itself internationally as a specialist in quality dining, occasional and entertainment furniture, and decorator items. It has also solidly earned its reputation as a customer-friendly "boutique" firm

What will Sleepyhead unveil at Furnitex? As always, it's a closely guarded secret and anticipation is intense.

Marette Palo expected a warm response when the Inox collection was unveiled at a recent soft launch. She got rather more than that.

Historians remain divided about the origins of the Chesterfield sofa, though most agree the buttoned, quilted leather classic first emerged in 18th century England.