Design Photo Ops – High Point Market

I’m back from the High Point Furniture Market and what a market it was!  While going “undercover” to get a lot of work done, I still spent some time visiting with old friends, from far and wide.  There were a lot of new acquaintances made, too!  A market highlight of mine was to happen upon the immensely talented interior designer, Mary Douglas Drysdale.

I was strolling down Interhall, in the IHFC building, and as I turned towards a showroom, there she was!  Signature hair color and style!  When you’re at a big gathering, it’s easy to mix and mingle up to different attendees.  When a designer is in a showroom alone, you understand they may be in a moment of deep thought about their current projects.  Will something be a good fit for the client?  Is the style right?  Scale?  Etc, etc.  I was a little hesitant to interrupt any one of those sacred ponderings.

(Mary  Douglas Drysdale - I love this photo of Mary!)

Well, I guess you can figure out the rest of the story since I’m mentioning her in a post.  :)  She was absolutely a delight and enthusiastically shared her design inspirations and anecdotes with a generous fifteen minute chat.  (If you’re an interior designer on a mission, you understand that’s like hours in regular time.) 

Aside from her immense talent, I know why her clients have followed her for years.  She leaves no detail unturned – to include a kind follow-up note after our meeting.  A great reminder that the joys of life are often about the little things.

(Mary’s work is featured in this book from 1999 and the pages still hold timeless applications for today’s homes.)

So . . .  as I’m catching up from market and projects – even returning, (post market), to a showroom with a client in tow, I’ll pop in some shots I took at the market.  Just a few quick captions and I’ll share more in upcoming posts for this blog, as well as for Williams-Sonoma Designer Marketplace and Hooker Furniture Company.

(*Note:  While I do contribute interior design posts to other aforementioned industry entities, my trip to the High Point Market was sponsored by moi, so no favors are being called upon for my own blog.)

Depth and dimension at Nourison.

Tangerine touches at Thibaut.  (A fab new furniture line for them, by the way!)

Twists and turns at Elaine Smith.

Colorful collaborations at oomph.

Rings reigned at Port 68.

Plaid perfection in Tozai.

Happy hats at Wildwood.

Playful patterns at Hooker Furniture Company.

Cheerful chevron shown in Sam Moore.

Fine finishes in Pearson.

Can you believe these are just a few of the hundreds of photos I’ve taken?  And, of all things, I missed taking my own shot of Mary! 

That’s okay . . . some of the best images are captured in my memories.

Does It Matter Where Your Furniture Is Made?

The countdown to my High Point Furniture Market visit has begun, and while I’m finalizing the sourcing list, it occurred to me how past references to foreign-made furniture lines brought a certain mystique or je ne sais quoi to my clients’ minds.  It must be the idea of a piece, being from a far-a-way land, sounding a bit more intriguing as stories are shared about interior acquisitions.

Now, it seems we’re a bit more focused on items created in our own backyard.  Perhaps it’s an influence of the economy or the desire to be a little “greener” in our process.  Whatever it might be, I understand ‘Trend USA’ will be receiving a greater emphasis at market.  For some of my fellow designers, who might be new to the market or who may have missed some showrooms along the way, I’m sharing some of my favorite upholstery lines, as well as the showroom locations. 

These are literally just a few and I’ll provide a market recap when I return:

Who is your favorite American manufacturer?  Please do tell!

Undercover Assignment – High Point Furniture Market

I’ll bet my blog title captured your attention, didn’t it?  It sounds as if I’ll be donning my sunglasses and trench coat for a special assignment.  You could say it’s partly true as I’ll be stealthily zipping in and out of this spring’s High Point Furniture Market, without a lot of fanfare.

(Ingrid Bergman – 1946 - “Notorious” – A Hitchcock spy thriller.  Kind of liking this hat.)

You see, last market, I was one of the inaugural “Style Spotters”, selected by the High Point Market Authority, to take note of products I thought to be fashion forward in the world of interior design.  I took lots of photos and uploaded them to a special Pinterest page, while placing QR coded cards at the product’s location to showcase the selection.  It was great fun and while Pinterest wasn’t quite on every showrooms’ radar, at the time, I’m sure this year’s spotters will have a totally different experience.

 

(My Pinterest High Point Market Board is still online.  Drop by for a visit, if you will!)

Along with the special assignment, I slipped in and out of the various showrooms, seminars and social gatherings.

 

Design Viewpoint Series                                       Jonathan Charles – The Woodman Inn Pub

 

Bruce Barone – Photographer & Friend                   Julie Bova’s gathering at Stanford Furniture

There was the Architectural Digest party.          Oh, and yes, there were the showrooms!

This market visit will be a bit more understated.  I’ll still be taking photos and I’ll be featuring some of my finds in upcoming blogs for Hooker Furniture Company and on my posts for Williams-Sonoma Designer Marketplace. 

I’m sure I’ll run into a few friends along the way and we’ll share a quick hug and a “how are you?”.  This time, though, I’m on a mission to spend more time sourcing and getting to know some new vendors to provide product for my clients.  Projects are popping and I’ve got to have my tools ready!

(I think, along with comfy shoes, this bag will be a market must!)

Mmmm.  I’m thinking of a “Where’s Wanda?” game instead of “Where’s Waldo?”. 

Mainly because I’m not sure this is my best look!