What would going to High Point Market be like if you didn’t see something new? Fortunately there were tons of new types of design, furniture and accessories to see and inspire and you can always go for the showrooms and socializing. Of course some things old are now new again like:
1) Focus on Nature’s objects — seashells, bugs and coral displayed in unusual ways, this includes vegetables, fruits and florals, artichokes and butterflies — right up our alley with our own Artichaut and Butterfly and Starfish designs.
Karen Robertson Showrooms had one of the best booths that we saw. I love her work and the displays in her showrooms, all color coordinated, were fantastic! She also has a wonderful blog run by Emily Hartford, where she posted her three favorite booths and one of hers is also mine below, E. Lawrence, Ltd Booksellers.
I went back to Kelly O’Neal of Design Legacy‘s showroom twice. I couldn’t get enough of his butterfly and bug fabrics fashioned into chairs and small benches that make major statements.
2) This also includes interest in realistic drawings and scientific illustrations, i.e., the resurgence of Abertus Seba‘s Cabinet of Natural Curiosities from the 17th century with hand colored etchings and vintage prints.
There were so many fabulous butterfly and seashell prints that it became hard to choose. These are from the Vintage Print Gallery, Lo Forti Fine Prints, and Trowbridge Showrooms.
When would you want bugs crawling on your walls? When they are Christopher Marley’s. His Pheromone bugs blew me away. Although these look like expensive jewels, they are iridescent bugs and drop dead gorgeous. Who would have thought bugs could be so beautiful. He also does similar arrangements with butterflies and other insects and seashells.
3) Global Views Showrooms (both the show room and designs) from African to Asian to Tunisia to Thailand and any culture in between with rich colors and patterns, like India.
4) Ikats to Chevrons, pattern is back.
5) There’s a 60’s comeback and anything with “Mad Men Style” bar carts to boomerang shapes with a space age look are all new.
6) Color, color, color — particularly orange and teal and sea glass colors.
Jamie Young Company had beautiful deep peacock blue-teal glass base lamps. Lighting at High Point had sheer shades within drum chandeliers and lots of metals and glass.
But other bold colors were in abundance at Currey & Company Showrooms, which was one of my favorite permanent showrooms. Their lighting is stunning.
7) Re-discovery in the fine tuning of details that make a piece exciting like beading, ties, techno bonding, and unusual fabrication among others.
These examples are from Caracole and Luna Bella Showrooms both with exceptional twists on classic design and detailing.
8. Peacocks at the Global Views Showrooms – personally, I never thought they went out of style. I’ve always loved these birds and my favorite color combo is blue and green so I’m finally getting around to working on the design I’ve had on my list for years.
Erika Ward, an interior designer and blogger on Houzz, picked up on the same peacock reference I did and shows others in her post, House Proud: Peacock Grandeur in Home Décor.
9) Various takes on the Greek Key Motif is huge for sophisticated chic and a recall to Hollywood glamour. A little goes a long way, however.
Becky Harris, one of our favorite bloggers on Houzz was at High Point the same time and took this pictures below. If we had only been able to coordinate to run into each other.
10) Horses are supposedly big as are lacquer furniture and gold patina, but I didn’t see as much of these as I did the others.
After all this showroom shopping we were lucky to be able to treat ourselves to a little socializing at The Hickory Chair Showrooms party, as guests of Mary Douglas Drysdale. We really did enjoy our time and chance to meet other well known interior designers, the editor in chief of House Beautiful and the CEO of Hickory Chair and see friends among the DC contingent, Jennifer Sergent (DC by Design blog and Marketing Manager of the DC Design Center) as well as Barry Dixon briefly and other prominent DC designers. The showroom itself was so wonderfully assembled and so welcoming, like someone’s sophisticated yet comfortable home. Everyone was enjoying themselves, including us.
Daytime was not without it’s famous as well. My mother and I attended a Tobi Fairley lecture. She had just signed a license with Hickory Chair. We had the delightful company at our table of interior designers Tim Shelfe and Marlene Heymer of Schelfe and Associates. Tim was heading off to the NeoCon Conference in Baltimore the next weekend. We were exhausted. I don’t know how he had the energy to do another — must be the creative force of interior design that brings fortitude.
— Ashley
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