High Point Furniture Market - Fall 2011

I just returned from the Fall High Point Furniture Market this past Monday, inspired and excited to share all of the unique and beautiful things that I found!  My spring visit to market was somewhat disappointing, since I felt that the vendors and designers were still holding back - clinging to the neutral, understated, and restrained aesthetic that has dominated interiors since we have moved into this period of 'un-conspicuous consumption'.

Thankfully, color has returned to the marketplace, and with it a sense of optimism!  There was notably more vendors in the smaller temporary showroom spaces, including some very talented artists like Owen Mortensen, an artist out of Utah with an interesting collection of organic artwork and botanicals:

and Jeff Jones Home out of Atlanta, with a very electic mix of furniture, artwork, and lighting:

There was also a 'Made in America' Pavilion, with such talented artists as Lauren LaChance, with her stunning botanicals and prints:

We stumbled upon an entire floor of antique dealers, many from the southeast.  Timeframe was exhibiting some wonderfully unique artwork and this interesting wall art that is actually antique street sweeper brushes:

I was so interested in these framed circa 1940's (?) vintage swimsuits.  They looked so great framed as a series.  There was even a teeny little girl's bathing suit (unfortunately I didn't snap a photo of that one):

There were a few specific pieces that I was searching for during this visit, in particular, rugs.  I saw some beautiful Tibetan rugs from Tamarian:

And some great hooked rugs from The New England Collection:

 And more from Mastour:

We spotted a few design celebrities while we were there.  Coincidentally, we saw Thom Filicia in the Arteriors showroom (I can't understand why he didn't recognize us!), and Phoebe Howard of Mrs. Howard / Max & Company in the Currey & Company showroom.

But I would have to say that the most impressive showroom was the Verellen Home Collection, a furniture company based in High Point with a Belgian-influenced (read: simple, clean-lined, elegant, luxurious, relaxed) sense of style.  I have to say that the design of the showroom itself impressed me even more than the gorgeous furniture (which is saying a lot!).

We got there late in the day, just as the sun was setting, pulled into the white pea gravel lot, walked through a beautiful enfilade of small trees in planters, and into the most interesting loft showroom space.  I wanted to move right in.  The lighting was perfect, the music was hip but soothing, the concrete floors had a great patina, the windows were covered in the most interesting large, rustic shutters, and there was a great bar area surrounded by their barstools:

The textures, colors, and overall feel of the room was right up my alley.  I loved the counterpoint of the minimalist modern combined with the warm rustic and soft colors.  I just wanted to sink into one of those linen slipcovered sofas with a glass of red wine and invite a few friends over.  Tom Verellen has done an amazing job showcasing his line of furniture in a space that is so perfectly suited to the product.

Sadly, my camera's and my cell phone's batteries had died by that time, but luckily my companion's phone was hanging on.  Hopefully you can get some sense of the amazing space from our photos:

Finishing the day in the Verellen showroom was a wonderful denouement.   Just like finishing a great novel, you wish it wasn't over yet.  

Have a great week and thanks for reading,

Bronwyn