Melissa Allen, Senior Interior Designer at Romanza Interior Design, and a few others from the award-winning team recently ventured to High Point Market in North Carolina. 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. If you can’t find it in High Point Market, it probably doesn’t exist. Melissa shares what it was like and the latest design trends you should keep in mind. But first, some Market Facts:
Current Demographics
-180 Buildings
-5 Million Square Feet of Show Space
-75,000 Attendees Each Market
-More Than 2000 Exhibitors
-100+ Countries Represented
-Tens of Thousands of New Product Introductions
-Approximately 10% of Attendees Are International
We averaged about 14,000 steps per day, barreling through as many showrooms as we could during our three-day stay. Our goal to bring back as much product as we could to specify for current and future projects, was certainly met.
Here are some of the latest trends and new introductions we encountered during our experience:
Good as Gold
Gold metal, gold leaf, and metallic gold finishes are everywhere! This trend has been brewing for a few years. With this revived gold trend, I am happy to report polished brass faucets and hardware has not followed suit. The golds are warmer, brushed, and elegant. Use polished nickel faucets and oil rubbed bronze door hardware in conjunction with this new trend.
Anything Furry or Hairy Goes
Anything furry or hairy goes! My advice, limit the use of it. A key item in a room, be it an area rug, stool, or accent furniture, would make an interesting statement piece without over doing it.
Let’s Be Clear
Add Lucite to anything hairy or gold and you will be keeping up with the latest trends. Lucite works in any furniture setting subtly and easily. It is a great material to balance woods, metals, and stone.
The Silver Lining
For those of you who still prefer silver, check out this newly introduced Barcelona Credenza from Bernhardt. It is a nickel alloy wrapped case in German silver finish (including back) with an embossed pattern over reclaimed teak wood.
Color Trends
In past Markets, color trends were very apparent from exhibitor to exhibitor. I am pleased to say, during the past few markets I have attended, there are a wide array of colors being shown, which makes personalizing and variety from project to project so pleasing. If I had to narrow down what colors dominated more than others, here is what I observed:
Soft blush accents with golds were very apparent. This vignette from Emporium Home, a new find for us at Market, spoke to me. Add chocolate brown and definitely a winner
Green with blues. Green with Terracotta. Anything green. This particular photo also displays John Richard’s beautiful Ghost White Credenza.
Blue is still having a huge impact and it was predominantly blended with orange.
On the whole, we saw a good amount of grey, which was surprising and welcomed in the same breath. We all thought grays were on its way out, but we have been proven wrong. I loved this new scoop chair from Tomlinson. Using a left and right facing scoop, it is great for conversations. And they are extremely comfortable.
Home Fashion Trends
High Point Market has their own "Style Spotters,” home fashion trendsetters that showcase top new styles of each Market. I thought it would be fun to be Romanza’s official "Style Spotter" for this season's Market. Here are my discoveries:
I was obsessed with John Richard’s selection of cabinets. This Faux Bois Credenza has a quartered reversed, painted faux wood grain glass panel with a centered brass handle. The case is finished in bushed bronze.
CHC Art, abstract fine art giclees, is a new line we found. I can’t wait to share it with our clientele and display in our model homes. This piece of art is showing off the green and Terracotta color combination displayed well at Market.
Bernhardt Furniture really has a fabulous showroom and the new introductions were very exciting. Can’t wait to use Bernhardt's Palma King Bed. It is an oak headboard and footboard, wrapped in a grey-washed woven Abaca, with steel collars and brackets plated in brass and then again in nickel. Unfortunately, it is not available to ship for another six months.
Legend of Asia accessories is a new find for us and we placed an order for upcoming models on the spot. Finding really great new accessories we can incorporate in our homes is like the icing on the cake. Check out this White Marble Yuan Ingot Bowl.
Visual Comfort Lighting is just beautiful. Their website does not do these fixtures justice. It was so nice to see these fixtures in person and take in there beauty. This Kate Spade piece is the Casktle Peak Large Bath Sconce in polished nickel with etched clear glass.
Saving the best for last ... we were all speechless at Baker Furniture. The Friday evening before the show opened, we were cordially invited to a cocktail party at the showroom, mingling with many talented designers. I was asked what my favorite piece was and I must have rattled off about six pieces before I stopped, realizing it is impossible to have a favorite with such finely crafted designs. I did love this Iron Eye Sideboard, shown with an ivory gloss case, graphic gesso doors, and antique bronze metal and hardware.
By Melissa Allen, Senior Interior Designer, Romanza Interior Design
Melissa Allen is an award-winning Senior Interior Designer at Romanza Interior Design, where she has been creating unique spaces and custom designs for more than 20 years. www.Romanza.com