Spring 2023 High Point Furniture Market
This past week I went to the Spring 2023 furniture market in High Point, NC. I went last fall as well, and I usually don’t go to back to back markets but I hadn’t been in a few years due to the pandemic and there is a lot of ground to cover. After the fall market I realized I hadn’t been able to focus on upholstery vendors and that was my goal for this spring market. As my clients know, I generally do not order from retail stores, so it is important to check in with various “to the trade” vendors to see what’s new, what’s changing, is quality being maintained, are there new vendors to consider, etc. With upholstery vendors I sit in a ton of chairs, sofas, ottomans, daybeds, chaises, and all the things necessary to get a good feel for the comfort and quality of the line in general. I also speak with the reps to get the behind the scenes information on lead times, construction standards, and materials being used in the frames and cushions. It is a lot of information to take in at once, and from multiple showrooms, but I’d rather have all the knowledge to specify the best product for each particular project.
I look for inspiring details…
I’m always looking for some unique feature in any piece of furniture, otherwise things can get boring. Here’s what I loved in the pieces below… (clockwise) 1. the stool: the curvy legs of this counter stool reminded me of an animal’s leg and then it meets up under the seat to a simple arch 2. the leather chair: this leather was soft and buttery, and the frame handsome, but what surprised me most was how extremely comfortable this chair was to sit in, very relaxing for an accent chair 3. the console: the arches at the top contrasting with the angles at the bottom are what makes this piece interesting and eye catching, and the neutral tone makes it work everywhere 4. the rope backed chair: this is actually an indoor chair with the nautical touch usually seen on outdoor furniture, and I could use that a lot in the coastal homes I work on 5. shaggy rugs: these were draped against a wall and look so comforting! not too shaggy, just furry enough and of course I love the blues and greens but also the neutral with the geometric lines, I’d love to use them in any project! 6. knot backed chair: another indoor piece just waiting for a sunroom to live in; I’d use a darker/brighter fabric to contrast with the frame and make those knots pop.
Twin Beds!
It’s not hard to find highly stylized kids rooms adorable. I thought both these vignettes were exciting for kids’ rooms in different ways. The first one has the traditional bed updated with the weave of rope detail along the side rails. So simple and cool. I also love the wild print on the ottoman at the foot of the bed. And the vignette on the right shines with the playful shaped ottomans and wavy topped headboards and upholstered beds. These kids are cute sophisticates.
My new favorite showroom…
Highland House was a showroom I hadn’t seen in years, but this brand always sticks in my mind as one of high quality for its manufacturing and the style it offers. As I walked through the showroom I was constantly wowed by each design that had been carefully curated. The brand seems to have been reinvigorated with a blend of traditional, transitional and unexpected accents. My beloved Brimfield market find, a $65 slipper chair in gold velvet, still has its Highland House tag on it. Who knows where it has lived or how it has been handled, but the frame is still sturdy and the cushion is in great shape. I’d specify Highland House any day of the week!
It was a whirlwind tour of many large established showrooms and a few up and coming brands that look promising. High Point Market is always a great experience and well worth the effort to see all the furnishings first hand and learn about each brand’s offerings. Even a local trade showroom is not able to have many pieces of each manufacturer they carry, so I rely on these trips to inform me as to the quality I can expect when I place orders directly with each manufacturer. Sometimes prospective clients wonder why I don’t use typical retail stores. Retail stores usually have their own designers that use their furnishings and can help with overall design, but they are limited to their specific furnishings. I love using “to the trade” vendors because my options are limitless and my design is not dictated by any one aesthetic.
Looking to update your home? Contact me, and I’ll be in touch shortly.