Insiders View of High Point Market: Part 1

I’m still processing the whirlwind 2-day adventure of High Point, as I was selected by Esteem Media to be on the High Point Market Fall 2018 “Design Bloggers Tour” along with 9 incredibly accomplished blogger/influencers. It was an amazing experience & I have so many insights I want to share with you!!

First, what IS High Point exactly? As someone explained to me, "High Point Market is like 'Fashion Week for Home Design,” and that ended up being spot on. Some 70,000 people in the design world show up in this tiny town, where you can literally see all the trends, products, fabrics & furniture that will be appearing in retail stores & decorating magazines in the next 6-12 months.

Our group was ushered through showrooms in quick succession, getting to meet the designers, stylists and in some cases owners of the brands. Each was so unique with their own aesthetic, I didn’t see a lot of commonality — until I went back and looked at all my photos & saw some striking themes. I’m going to give you a quick summary here, & have some more goodies for you that I’ll add in upcoming posts!

This Market showed furniture designers and stylists putting huge amount of attention into TEXTURE and DETAIL — everything was very tactile. Maybe it’s in response to the crazy times we live in, but there was a big emphasis on softness and a sense of being handcrafted that I think we all crave now more than ever…Nothing felt like it just came off the assembly line - even lower price point pieces had some visual interest and texture that made it feel organic and layered.

Ralph Lauren’s collection for EJ Victor, for example - heavenly!

On the other end of the texture spectrum, this cozy little pouf from Surya is adorable (modeled by our very helpful showroom guide - thank you, Jasmine!).

Speaking of comfort, I can’t say enough good things about what I saw at Cisco Brothers, a family-owned business that has all Eco-friendly, sustainable fabrics and furniture. This bed, layered with breathable fabrics and soft color palette, is divine...

How 'bout their dimpled and quilted poufs below??

Even lighting got into the act of inviting a kind of tactile, handcrafted quality - check out these from Hudson Valley Lighting (I see a place for them in our house in New Hampshire for sure!):

One of my absolute favorite stops was to see Kelly Wearstler’s collection for EJ Victor — no one does texture or organic forms quite the way she does!! I could have spent all day here….

Love the attention to detail & bespoke quality in the little brass leg of her sofa...

As you can see, I made myself quite at home:)

Another stop on the tour that gave that same sense of tactile comfort was Lloyd Flanders, a family-owned business that continues to make all their wicker products in Michigan. A chair like this adds a sense of being handcrafted and timeless….

The huge showroom of Austin TX based Four Hands had incredibly affordable price points but it too offered all kinds of texture and detail in their designs. I love this little media cabinet, which could go modern or country depending on how you style it….

And last but not least, I’ve got to find a spot for this intricate “Ruffina Accent Table” from Bernhardt! Throughout the Bernhardt showroom, they used all kinds of organic forms and details to make their pieces seem one of a kind….

So there you have it! Do you have soft, handmade pieces around your house that you can put front and center? If so, you’ll be right in style - and comfort!

Stay tuned for more updates from High Point in coming weeks --

Enjoy,

Lee