Fav Finds @ High Point Market ~ part 2

Day 2 during High Point Design Blogger Tour was met with equally impressive showrooms and merchandise.  It's a whirlwind of loveliness wherever you turn.

Century Furniture is another favorite "go to" resource for me.  Their breath and depth of offerings spans cultures, styles and time periods and their cadre of designers keep this family owned company fresh and fashion forward.  You had me at Aspen, part of their new collection.

But there was also my friend and fellow designer Susan Jamison of Bridget Beari Design's wallpaper collection prominently featured with just enough sparkle and shine to showcase the appeal of gold on gold on gold.  You can never have enough!

I  was very  impressed with Universal Furniture.  It is a line that I will welcome into my repertoire. Their MODERN by Universal collection is clean and simple, sophisticated, functional, and well priced; everything we look for in a whole home lifestyle brand.  I gravitated towards their Smartstuff for kids collection.  Universal's Axis collection can take a little one from "crib to college and beyond."  With the birth of our 1st grandchild, this especially interested me.  It exceeds all the safety standards and includes enough bells and whistles that make this a standout option for little ones and their parents with great taste.

Huntington House, family owned and made right in North Carolina offers an eclectic collection of fine quality upholstered furniture.  They offer a fully customizable program with wonderful fabrics culled from the world over.  Chenilles from Turkey, linens from Ireland, and velvets from Belgium showcase a diverse style, texture, and color spectrum.  Their very realistic room vignettes make you feel like you could move right in.

And we did just that.  After a working lunch we tested Huntington House's reclining chair selection. Again ~ it's research : )

A little gem in the market place that keeps getting better and better is Theodore Alexander!  I don't know where to begin because they capture such a diversity of styles and periods.  Their custom program allows every piece to become personal.  The caseloads in assorted colors were captivating and the cowhide inserts in the cerused wood pieces were right on trend.  Yes please!

Wesley Hall is another manufacturer that I am glad I took another look at.  Their unparalleled commitment to their employees and customers goes back 4 generations, with a high level of personal support, as well as a high end and fashion forward product.  This is the cornerstone of what I look for when sourcing products for clients.  Wesley Hall unveiled a "Green with Envy" theme at market.  This verdant "IT" color grounded in black is always chic, sophisticated, and happens to be my favorite color.

Fell hard for the Interlude Chair

Love the Hadley Console

Ambella Home was familiar to me as a bathroom and vanity resource.  I learned their 2 year old upholstery collection with a wide range of exclusive fabrics and leathers was quite impressive. Thought out details are not overlooked as the company continues to expand.

The Claudette LEATHER embossed swivel Chair was a standout.

Whew... That's a wrap!  I want to thank everyone at High Point Marketing, Esteem Media, and all the sponsors for making the tour as fun as it was educational.  I loved the experience!






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Thanks and Giving

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."          ~ William Arthur Ward



When the kids were little, we used to go around the Thanksgiving table and everyone had to say what they were grateful for.  It was assumed that we all were grateful for family, friends, health, etc. so we had to dig a little deeper.  Often, it made room for more lively conversation.  At the time it did not occur to me that we should really be doing this everyday, not just on a holiday.

Expressing gratitude everyday, whether it be thru journaling, voicing it or meditating over it, is crucial to our state of well being.  The science is there.  It can literally be measured; heart rates lower as does blood pressure, depression can be reduced, the practice improves relationships and enriches deeper connections, encourages us to meet personal goals, and last but not least leads to a better night's sleep!

The more you practice gratitude, the longer the good vibes last, like "muscle memory" when we work out, we can train our brain to help us feel better longer.  I read somewhere that when we practice gratitude for as long as it takes us to brush our teeth we add 3 minutes to our lives.  I don't know if that's true but what do we have to lose?  What else are we doing while we brush our teeth?  I am going to make this a new practice!

Another of the many benefits of "the attitude of gratitude" is that feeling better leads to better interactions, thereby spreading the joy.  You are actually paying it forward in lots of small ways.  When someone is kind to you, you are more likely than not to be kind in return moving forward.  Hence ~ thanks and giving :  )

Fav Finds @ High Point Market -part 1

Aiden Acrylic Bed by Bernhardt ~ I NEED THIS

High Point Market, after all the parties and parades, concerts and cocktails, is at the heart BIG business.  Companies want to show you their new introductions for the following season.  Come as I show you what our sponsors were up to ~

Bernhardt brought everything I love together in their Domaine Blanc collection.  It is equal parts edgy, organic, classic, modern, adventurous, and chic.  With a nod to the 18th century as well as  geometry, it took a fresh approach, and there is something for everyone!  It was described as if "Thomas Sheraton and Alexander Wang had a baby."  Hmmm, interesting; Domaine Blanc checks every box!

Bianca Console

Eichholtz ~ This Dutch company radiates enough glitz and glamour to have made Liberace proud! Their innovative ideas and dynamic goals set them apart.  Jewelry for the home is how I would describe them with their designs rooted in the past.

Sofa La Perla

SHO Modern speaks to a fashion forward, modern clientele that wants to be "wowed".  Susan Hornbeak created a collection that has irresistible visual appeal.  Her pieces speak to those of us that like a little sparkle in our lives.

Stacked Coffee Table

The Raven Cabinet

Durable with its 180,000 sq. ft factory, now makes furniture that is as versatile and visually exciting as their fabric line that we in the industry have come to know and love.

Memphis Side Chair

Lee Industries is a go to resource for me.  For over 44 years, this family owned company has taken pride in their products, their people, and their community.  "Be honest, be respectful, be fair, and be accountable" are words they stand by.  Who can't get behind that?  Lee has a vast, eclectic assortment in each category displayed in their enormous showroom.  I zeroed in on these beauties, among many other things.

Horn Chandeliers

Crypton was on hand to demonstrate the remarkable difference their stain resistant technology has on the ability of fabrics to resist the wear and tear of everyday use.  With 20 plus years of experience and a commitment to environmentally responsible technology, their home fabric line has a feel you'd want for your home with the ability to "release and repel" stains for heavy duty use.  To prove it, we spilled soda all over a sleeper sofa and the spill just beaded and was blotted away.  That's why Crypton is considered the preeminent leader in the world of performance fabrics and is also why it is incorporated into many of the manufacturers textile lines that we saw as we toured market.
And in the name of research we ate candy and made a mess!

Castelle Luxury, an outdoor furniture lifestyle brand's motto is, "Create a space that inspires you." Outdoor as become equally as important as indoor when you think about designing a functional living, dining, entertaining space.  We want all the bells and whistles outside too.  Castelle helps us get there elegantly with their custom made to order pieces.  The 2017 collection marries sleek lines with contemporary design for today's modern lifestyle.

Fire and Ice Collection

Helios Collection

Ameriwood is a reasonably priced, ready to assemble furniture manufacturer than spans many categories.  Found mainly in big box stores, they make sure they keep their finger on the pulse of what's trending.  Creating and displaying extensive mood boards for inspiration helps inform their consumer base.  Their adjustable standing desk was a stand out, something to think about when your Apple watch tells you to stand throughout the day.

The Salon section of the trade show is where the hip and hot reside!  Temporary premiere showroom space is given to "rising" vendors in the furnishings, decor, or gift categories.  A colorful, happy corner was occupied by Joanie Design.  With a certain joie de vivre and an obsession for details, Joanie's furniture (and custom wallpaper) collection is not a secret only her clients are aware of; now it's accessible to everyone.

Katy Skelton's dream is to have her own factory one day, but in the meantime Brooklyn is home. Katy believes in transparency and employs a socially responsible work environment.  Her designs are beautiful, purposeful, functional, and slightly nostalgic. The description of her company, modern + nostalgic, fits perfectly.  The collection is quite beautiful, with each piece strong enough to be incorporated into a wide variety of spaces.  I fell hard for this steel bench!

Camp Bench 

Linear Lights and Wyeth Cabinet

My friend, the uber talented Michelle Workman collaborated with Pyar & Co to create a trim line worthy of the French court.  Feminine, flirty and extravagant, I can't wait to see what else they will dream up together.

Thayer Coggin rounds out the day, but look for an upcoming blog post on this family business with a rich history.

Whew, that's day 1, stay tuned for day 2!