HIGH POINT FURNITURE MARKET, HIGH POINT, NC: Day 2

First of all I want to wish my friend Manju, a wonderful birthday today! Happy birthday Manju!

Day 2: More emerging trends and confirmation of others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The trends continue!  Yesterday I talked about fabrics in soft blush pinks, grayed lilacs, soft grey, ivory lacquered casegoods with “dirty” silver-leaf details, crème parchment (leather) covered tables, beds and cabinets, and gesso finishes.   Now at the end of Day 2 we’ve see some confirmation of these trends as we discovered today throughout the marketplace. Today’s post will cover the categories in relation to these trends.

First we’ll cover colors and finishes, then metals used for hardware and accents on furniture and lighting. Next we’ll talk about some of the most interesting furniture we are seeing: Occasional Chairs, Slipper Chairs, a great Chaise Lounge, Tables, and the cool factor of some other special pieces of furniture. We’ll end on Worst in Show, where there is never a lack of candidates!

 

 

 

 

 

Color and Finishes: Ivory was the most prevalent color lacquered on furniture at Henredon, Council, and at Baker.

 

 

 

 

 

The look was shown at opening price point lines like Noir, and at mid-price lines such as Bernhardt. Ivory paint was often used in combination with other stained wood details on a cabinet, and sometimes the entire piece was painted. Occasionally the painted piece would include all three finishes: Ivory paint, stained wood, and silver detailing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pieces of furniture were entirely silver-leafed in either “mat” or “dirty” silver leaf finish like the new oval silver leafed cocktail table, and a silver legged Ottoman upholstered in ivory leather.   And a fabulous new bed style covered in Ivory colored parchment (leather). All of these pieces were new intros by “Barbara Barry as Realized by Henredon”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soft colors were evident in decorative accessories like the Table Lamps at Baker in a soft greyed-Lilac blown glass; top of Bed and decorative Pillows featured the softest Blush Pink, Lilac, and Grey.

 

 

The cool factor was most evident today in seating. We loved the new Chaise Lounge and Bench by “Barbara Barry as Realized by Henredon”.

 

 

 

 

 

Sensuous lines prevailed in most all of Barbara’s pieces, though she may prefer I call them feminine!

 

 

 

 

Bernhardt Interiors, of late a trendsetter with their Bernhardt Interiors line launched two years ago, which is often featured on the pages of Elle Décor and Veranda Magazine showed two interesting chairs: One was an occasional chair whose frame was made of ivory colored resin which realistically captured the details of some type of exotic animal horns. This chair was upholstered in ivory hair-on-hide for an incredible white on white look --- a brilliant combination of textures and materials. You will see this chair in mid-January at Cabana Home stores in Santa Barbara and Mill Valley, CA.  

 

 

 

 

Also at Bernhardt was a stylized French Dining Arm Chair, upholstered in all of this season’s colors. It featured an unusual back of chair detail--  where fabric is usually inserted in the outer back side of this style chair, this one featured a chalk board, where a hostess might opt to write the guests names on the back of the chair to mark that guests place at the table, or perhaps some other clever message! So long place cards at the formal dining table!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Metal detailing on hardware and furniture ornamentation were notable, with even the jeweler David Yurmans name invoked to describe the etched hardware on several chests and cabinets at Henredon. Polished nickel versions of last year’s brass cocktail and end tables were front and center in a number of showrooms.

 

 

 

There was a classic Georgian chair at Bernhardt Interiors that featured polished nickel arms and stretcher base which traditionally would have been in stained mahogany wood!

 

 

 

There was a fab textured metal top center table in the Entry Hall at Baker Furniture’s luxe showroom, there for their semi-annual cocktail party, which was a statement piece by designer Thomas Pheasant for Baker! 

 

 

 

The Baker party was a real snooze of a party, so I took a self-guided tour of the showroom where I spotted a new cast bronze framed cocktail table by Barbara Barry for Baker (the gal does get around), and a chandelier with gold textured detailing by Thomas Pheasant for Baker. 

 

 

 

A faux branch cast in metal was the base for a large glass topped cocktail table at Henredon, and a cast brass 3-light sconce at Noir was quite wonderful and organic.

 

 

Interesting tables and casegoods included a saber leg occasional Table with silver leaf base and wood stained inlay top, and  a round chairside Table with Pen Shell top on tapered Brass base both by Barbara Barry as Realized by Henredon. 

 

 

 

Bernhardt Interiors weighed in with two offerings: An interesting hexagonal Game Table, fully clad in a narrow gauge hemp rope, for an organically inspired look; and a round, Brass clad Cocktail Table with black glass top.

Several Occasional Chairs were stand outs today: A Shield Back Chair by Barbara Barry

 

 

 

A leather chair with simply turned bleached legs from Hancock & Moore, another chair at Hancock & Moore that was a cross between Egyptian, Moorish and Santa Fe style!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A great looking take on a Barrel back chair with a channeled barrel back by Designer/Stylist Linda Lane Design for Jessica Charles.

 

 

Notable Slipper chairs (an armless upholstered chair with short legs, sits lower to the ground) were seen throughout the market place, particularly of not was the slipper chair with the hint of winged shoulders at Jessica Charles (also by Linda Lane Design), a slightly barrel backed chair at Bernhardt Interiors, and a hard edged upholstered model trimmed in wood at its base supported on four sabre legs at Council. All three slipper chairs fabulous!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Council furniture, two standout occasional chairs: A red lacquered contemporary take on a classic fauteuil chair (a fauteuil is an open-arm chair with a primarily exposed wooden frame originating in France in the early 18th century) --- such a hottie!

 

 

 

The other, also at Council, a contemporary wood framed bergere chair (a bergère is an enclosed upholstered French armchair (fauteuil with an upholstered back and armrests on upholstered frame). Almost deco in style, with a simple wood frame that was simple in execution but long on style! Elegant lines with great proportions were supported on tapered front legs and sabre back legs.

 

 

Two fresh takes on the classic Klismos chair (a Klismos chair is a type of ancient Greek chair): One was executed in wood with a woven rush seat, and the other was in polished Nickel with an upholstered seat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Worst in Show: Well today’s pic’s include several from one important vendor that should have known better. I won’t name them, but the colors were on the edge while the company is not.

 

 

 

I happened by a market sample sale room in one building and saw the purpose of a market sample sale room when I spotted a pink trimmed zebra wing chair.

 

 

 

There was a sculptured table with a face made as a console, and an ornately carved hall chair with a built-in umbrella stand.  

 

 

 

You see, there really is something for everyone here!

Please join me tomorrow for Day 3!

 

Goodnight moon.