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.

HPMK Round Up: Color and Texture Explosion

 
If you've followed me and our design projects over the years, you know we are all about color and texture. 
And there was no shortage of both during the Design Bloggers Spring Tour 2016, where myself and nine other bloggers toured 17 showrooms in three days. Earlier this month I dished about the abundance of mixed metals I saw at market. But now let's talk about the color explosion, and layers and layers of texture that we saw at every turn.

The folks at AmbellaHome had my color-loving heart swooning at every turn. This pop of fuchsia chair greeted us as we entered the showroom.

The chairs colors and patterns were repeated here on a bold, white and black sofa. FYI: nailhead details will never die. They were also ubiquitous at market.

More fuchsia goodness at Huntington House

Sweet Jesus, if this orange velvet tufted "Piece of Cake" ottoman didn't reaffirm my love of orange.  Not only is it a bad ass in all its orange splendor, but the design allows for multiple formations to fit your home. 

Definitely a win. 

More orange love at the Bernhardt showroom, as the bold color perfectly frames their Soho Luxe bed and nightstand.

                                             And these ottomans. 

Floral abounded in most showrooms like this showstopper at the Theodore Alexander showroom. And green and blue are fast becoming my second/third color faves.

Color inspiration via the VanguardFurniture showroom

 

More blues via this denim and cowhide beauty from the rug purveyors Nourison. 

Green, black and white for the win at the Vanguard Furniture showroom. I'll take the boots as well, please and thank you.

The vast array of colors and patterned Crypton performance fabrics also available at Vanguard Furniture. Love that almost any upholstered piece from headboard to sofa can be personalized and made virtually indestructible with the Crypton stain resistant technology.

The folks at Kenian didn't skimp on color either, offering varied color options for their Chinese Chippendale chairs.

Any well designed space will need some texture to balance color repetitions, and there were some great options throughout market.

I may or may not have circled this wood and acrylic table a few times at the VanguardFurniture showroom. Seriously? What a conversation piece.


                       Ditto this piece from Huntington House

Woven goodness from Sauder exemplified their promise of livable luxury.

And since we use buffet/console pieces often in our design projects, I was especially smitten with the wood details I saw on several pieces at market including this beauty from Hurtado whose owner lives right here in South Florida.

Loved the pattern play detail on this buffet from Vanguard Furniture.

And this, oh so functional console from Universal Furniture

was styled to perfection with a cobalt blue lamp, against a green wall. 

 It was a genius vignette, and I think I stood there for quite a few minutes wanted to slap someone on the back for doing color and texture so damn well. Tune in later this week for my final High Point round up. It'll include some selfies. #dontjudgeme

High Point Market Round Up: Mixed Metals For the Win

The Aiden, Acrylic Canopy Upholstered Bed from Bernhardt

I've wanted to go to High Point Market, the furniture and accessories mecca, for interior designers, for many many years. This year I was committed to go at all cost. I also applied, on a whim, to be chosen as a design blogger and much to my surprise, I was chosen along with nine other talented bloggers to attend.
Bags packed, I was finally bound for my first market experience, and loaded with the three must have items I'd gleaned from market veterans: comfy shoes, phone chargers and pain medication for the sore feet and inevitable hangovers. PS There are a million cocktail parties and plenty of bubbly all day at market.
The High Point Market is the largest furnishings industry trade show in the world, bringing more than 75,000 people to High Point every six months. there are 180 buildings, 11.5 million sq feet of showspace, an average of 75,000 attendees visiting more than 2000 exhibitors.
Once I got over the shock of the vastness of High Point, and attended my first market cocktail soiree, I got my self together for day one. We would tour 17 sponsored showrooms in 3 days, a dizzying experience in the best of ways aka straight up design candy shop.
Inspiration seeped from ever crevice of this tour, so instead of giving you the blow by blow of each visit, I'll do three posts to recap key trends I spotted including a round up and what you'll need to make it through market when you do visit.The overwhelming trend I saw in almost every showroom we visited were an abundance of metals - brass, chrome and mixed metals on upholstery pieces, tables, accessories and case goods.

 This "Pick Up Sticks" dining table base from the AmbellaHome showroom made my heart swoon with all its iron metal with an antique gold finish beauty. Like, seriously? Who would be able to focus on dinner with this base underfoot? 
 

 

More metal goodness at AmbellaHome via this "Magic Fluted Chest"

and their "Origami Chest'. Design tip: I often use these large chests as nightstands, usually with a king sized bed. Loads of storage, and often with more unexpected details than you'd find in a traditional nightstand.

I had a what the what moment at this brass and marble coffee table at the Vanguard Furniture showroom. This is coffee table as art at its finest.

One of my favorite showrooms on our tour was Bernhardt. I've used items from their various collections for years, so it was sheer delight to finally see their showroom.

They are known for classic pieces with stunning lines, and chrome shined bright throughout many of their collections.

  

  Ohh, this buffet is working those metal curves!

I especially loved the manipulation of metal on this four poster bed. This was definitely a showstopper.

The Flint table by Michael Berman.

 Interior designer Michael Berman launched his collection for the Theodore Alexander showroom and it was breathtaking. Like, seriously had to catch my breath. He is using brass extensively throughout this collection.
 

 Yes, please to the hammered metal pull and lines on this buffet  

Even this dome light fixture in brass was designed specifically for Berman's collection for Theodore Alexander. 

 The folks at Harp and Finial have mastered the mixed metal trend with mirrors, lamps and accessories. And with budget-friendly prices to boot.

 

I really loved the fun, energetic vibe of their collection - hello monkey! And look forward to using some of their pieces in some upcoming projects. And that's it for the first round up. Check in later this week for round two.

Guess Who's Been Chosen for High Point Market - Spring 2016 Design Bloggers Tour?

I've been dreaming of going to High Point Market (HPMKT), the mecca of home furnishings and decor items, for many, many years.
So you can only imagine how excited I was to learn I was selected as one of the 10 top design bloggers to tour HPMKT next month. Let me just say I kinda squealed when I got that email.
 


It'll be an exciting time to make my first trip, while doing so as part of an official tour to see some spectacular showrooms.  
So what exactly is HPMKT? High Point Market (formerly the International Home Furnishings Market and the Southern Furniture Market), made its debut in March 1909. Held in High Point, North Carolina, it is the largest semi-annual home furnishings industry trade show in the world.
There will be an insane number of designers, industry leaders and reps from some of our favorite vendors we've sourced over the years.  
Use the hashtag #designbloggerstour to follow our tweets, Instagram and Facebook postings during Market Week, April 16-20. And be sure to check in here as well for my detailed posts throughout and after market. Can't wait!

P.S Be sure to check out the other blog tour designers:

Courtney Allison: www.frenchcountrycottage.net

Robin Baron: www.simplifyingfabulous.com

Janet Coon: www.shabbyfufublog.com

Amanda Gates: www.gatesinteriordesign.com/blog

Linda Holt: www.lindaholtinteriors.com/blog

Tamara Matthews-Stephenson: www.nestnestnest.blogspot.com

Lisa Mende: www.lisamendedesign.blogspot.com

Holly Hollingsworth Phillips: http://www.theenglishroom.biz

Rachel Shingleton: www.pencilshavingsstudio.com/blog