As we prepped our homes for the warm weather season, interior designer Sharon Sherman of Wyckoff’s Thyme and Place Design spent a week in April searching for new ideas at High Point Market in North Carolina. Every year, the trade show brings together designers and home furnishing professionals to see, touch, feel and buy the best and latest products in the industry. Comparable to what New York City’s Fashion Week is to the garment industry, Market, as it’s called, often introduces new colors, fabrics and collections—and Sherman shared some of her discoveries and impressions from the show with NJ HOME:
“While I am not a big trend spotter, I do look for themes and found several:
Woven and Natural Materials
These were strong at fall Market in October, particularly in furnishings and light fixtures. One line of note is Red Egg, a local showroom founded and run by women, whose mission is ‘to craft heirloom pieces that bring you joy.’ Because they are a wholesaler, you must purchase through a design professional.
Another member of the Red Egg community is Jill Seale, who produces beautiful textiles that can be used for drapery, pillows and even clothing if you like.
Lovely Curves
Curves were sexy at the National Kitchen and Bath Show in February, and they are still all the rave in the home furnishings world. Soft, sumptuous bouclé fabrics are still hot too. These chairs from American Leather are really cute and so very comfortable.
Made in the USA
This was a big theme. With lead times extended and container ships sitting (and sometimes sinking) at sea, domestically sourced and produced goods are in high demand. Let’s take a look at Charleston Forge, a furniture line I happen to love (and own). Made in Boone, N.C., in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the company has a strong commitment to using recycled materials and working with suppliers within a 100-mile radius of its factory. This image from their High Point showroom features one of their new collections.
Luxe Lighting
If hardware is the jewelry of a furniture or cabinet piece, then lighting is the jewelry of the home. Innovative lighting design was everywhere. Not just beautiful to look at, this lighting is energy efficient with LED (Light Emitting Diode) lamps and incorporates natural materials like hemp, string, leather and even slate.
Performance Fabrics
Our furniture has been working overtime as living, working, schooling and playing have become full-time, at-home activities. Many families have welcomed four-legged members to their homes too. The need for soft, luxurious, beautiful and easy-care fabrics has not gone unnoticed. Gone are the days of limited patterns and colors in fabrics that felt like cardboard when you touch them. From cotton and linen to bouclé and velvet and everything in between the selection of performance fabrics is unlimited. This display from Inside Out gives you just a small sample of the variety available.
Mixed Metals
I love to mix metal materials and colors. I have always said, ‘If it is good enough for Cartier, it is good enough for me.’ American Leather showed a chair that “floats” on a cantilever burnished bronze base.
Century Furniture also showed interesting design details with metal on this sofa.
The Hudson Valley Lighting Group showed many mixed metal finishes in their light fixture.
Splashes of Color
Art is another place where color abounds. I think my best Market find was at SPLASHWORKS. This gallery, where art meets technology, is a fabulous source for anyone looking for interesting art, artists and home décor accents on fabric. During my visit, a local artist was being featured. All the materials are sourced locally to make the frames, the labor to produce the products, and even some of the artists. They have an extensive online catalog and ship anywhere. You can find them at splashworksart.com
This beautiful wall covering from Fenwick Bartel in Hollywood, FL., is also available as a wall covering, floor covering and even as vegan leather.
Photos courtesy of Sharon Sherman