Twice a year, a smaller city, in North Carolina, resembles a much larger one as the High Point Furniture Market comes to town. (Well, the showroom buildings are there, in between shows, but the transformation occurs when the downtown area becomes the epicenter to the home furnishings and fashion industry.) Fast-paced industry executives, furniture and design icons, vendors, manufacturers, mom and pop operations, and interior designers all converge for a week’s worth of unveilings of new introductions and to revisit tried and true best sellers.
As I am packing up my bags and checking off client wish lists, I thought I would give you a peek into some of the many showrooms I’ll be visiting, during my trip. I could fill the entire blog with entries, so this will be just a sampling. As I return, I hope to have photos of great finds!
Global Views – This grouping hints at a transitional to modern approach. Notice the backs of the chairs and the mirror top. A Chinese influence is a great way to make the transition, without going to the “ultra” category. Love the mix of poppy and stone!
Bungalow 5 – Is it a table or is it sculpture? Casegoods, which are chosen to share both attributes, are a lovely way to keep spaces clear of clutter. This could work well in a smaller scale apartment, as well as in a larger urban loft.
Bungalow 5 – This is a popular shape in table lamps. I’ll see this in many versions, as I travel the showrooms. Bungalow 5 added their own twist of color and pattern. Elegant and fun! (I think I have a thing for orange!)
Soicher Marin – I have been a big fan for several years. (I’ve also enjoyed sharing Tweets with Ed Marin, the owner, as well as Jennifer and Tracey!) Art is such a personal choice and I am sometime hesitant to speculate for clients. With all of the custom services they offer, if we can’t find it at Soicher Marin, we haven’t looked hard enough!
Taylor King – An NC based upholstery manufacturer offers a complete line of custom product and they are embracing the eco-friendly approach to their products. Consumers are much more interested in not only watching out for their exterior environment, they want that way of life to translate to healthy interior spaces, too.
Pearson Furniture – I can’t say enough about their fine upholstery, the attention to detail, the customer service – and they are another NC manufacturer. They are so accomodating in allowing me to create special options, in order to meet my client’s needs. Aside from the way they handle their manufacturing process, what makes them more eco-friendly is that the distance of shipping from their door to yours, is much shorter than by boat! Pearson furniture proudly “lives” in the White House and the Vatican.
Regina Andrew - This lamp is a lovely mix of rustic and refinement. The shape of the hammered zinc base is finely repeated in the fabric shade. Couture is not only for apparel!
Regina Andrew – Gold and brass finishes are peaking back into the scene. If you shudder to think of some of the fixtures of yesteryear, this hanging lamp, with it’s delicate design and fabric lining, should allay any concerns. Notice how it has been paired with a scrubbed furniture finish? That’s what I love about market – great design is never predictable.
Company C – I love a showroom with a cause! Because I have so many friends and acquaintances who are breast cancer survivors, and October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I’ll have to stop by to give them kudos for this display. (And I have to confess, this combination makes me think of berries and chocolate – truly yummy!)
Scott Thomas – This showroom is lovely, not only because of their fabulous furnishings, Shannon Hamed, the manager, has done so much to support interior designers, both during market and in between. I can pop by, most days, with a client, and she is there to help make their wishes come true. I think this nest of tables could even find a home in the Horton household!
Well, there you have it! Just a quick peak of what I’ll be seeing, this week. Wish I could take you with me! Oh, did you know I really can?! Several of the showrooms, I’ve featured, are open to interior designers, by appointment, after the market has passed. I have taken several clients on special product sourcing day trips. We’ve had a great time finding the perfect pieces, they get to see the “inner sanctum”, we have a great lunch, secure the items, and head back home to wait for delivery and installation day to arrive. It’s one of the perks of working with a designer who has market privileges! It also saves valuable time.
Before I go, I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who makes the market happen . . . manufacturers, vendors, the Market Authority, showroom managers, delivery staffs, design teams, maintenance staffs, caterers, shuttle drivers, you name them! It’s all about team work, and you, the consumer, are also a big part of what keeps us going! Thank you!
MarketCheers! - Wanda
