Final HPMK Round Up - Affordable Designs and Embracing the Market Experience

White and brass accessories from Harp and Finial.

One of the misconceptions about great design, is that it has to cost a fortune to be fabulous. While it's true that hiring an interior designer for your home or business is a luxury expense, it's been proven that the expense of hiring a professional is usually well worth it.
So on my virgin trip to High Point Market, where I joined nine other design bloggers for Design Bloggers Spring Tour 2016 and toured 17 showrooms in three days, I was thrilled to tour a few showrooms with budget friendly price points.

 This sofa table/wine storage console from Hillsdale Furniture is designed just for a wine lover like me. And the price will prove gentle on your wallet. Hats   off to Barry Wooley who led an amazingly informative tour of this showroom.  

Ditto the genius wine storage options from the folks at Hobbs Design, who've designed a unique and imaginative collection of freestanding sliding drawer storage cabinets, coffee and lamp tables, with original wooden wine boxes from the famous Bordeaux Chateaux, among the most prestigious vineyards in France. I especially loved that the carts can be wheeled around to any spot in your home. Anything that wheels wine to ya is a genius idea in my book.

There were more budget-friendly furniture options from the folks at Vaughan Bassett, including this genius roll-up drawer facing to store media equipment in a bedroom chest . 

And they offered proof that there are custom options available even when furniture is affordable including multiple finish options for the wood and hardware in their various collections,

And while our touring experience over three days was a whirlwind, I was able to sneak in time for some fun times with other designers I'd only known via social media, some must-do selfies and all around shenanigans.

I followed everyone's advice and wore comfy shoes to navigate so many showroom tours, my feet were throbbing at the end of day one. Seriously. I looked up at the end of a long day and thankfully this wonderful gent came to my rescue.

 

One of the highlights of this trip was to finally meet designers I'd been besties with only via social media, including Saudah Saleem, Malene B and Ariene of Dress my Room Interiors.

Such a pleasure to meet Corey Damen Jenkins at the launch party for his collection with Leather Craft Furniture.

 Major cheesing with my design crush, Michel Boyd. 

And more cheesing with Thom Felicia

 

 My bun attracted loads of attention and kinda wanted its own hashtag, so of course it needed a selfie.

Best gift ever! This spot on caricature by the talented Breakfast Jones was a treat from the folks at Crypton Fabric.

And that's it folks. My highlights from my first trip to High Point Market, an experience of a lifetime. Huge thanks again to Adam, Luba and Bob of Esteem Media for selecting me for the Design Bloggers Tour, and the folks at High Point Market who truly made this a life altering trip.