High Point Furniture Market, High Point, NC: Day 1

Greetings from North Carolina, the “Furniture Capital of the World”!

I know, I know, I posted on the New York show yesterday, and today I’m writing from the High Point Furniture Market in High Point, NC. So, now that you know where I am, here we go!  

 

 

 

I’m going to start with the end of the day where we were introduced to the hottest design duo in the marketplace, Mr. & Mrs. Howard. This couple, really married to one another, is an interesting design team: She’s an interior designer, and he’s an architect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Their upholstered seating was “pitch perfect”! Not in the sound way, but in the way it felt, sat, or to use industry lingo “it had a great ride”.

Likewise the casegoods were beautifully proportioned and finished. The upholstery was shown in a soft color palette for their debut in the “Furniture Capital of the World”, which was indicative of the emerging color trend at this show: Fabrics in soft blush pinks, and grayed lilacs, soft grey, ivory lacquered casegoods with “dirty” silver-leaf details, parchment (leather) covered tables and cabinets, and gesso finishes, all in-line with trends here.

 

 

 

 

 

One of the most interesting things was the walls in the main salon. What looked like beautiful Gracie wall covering, turned out to be hand painted walls in the Gracie style. I talked to Phoebe Howard and she said she had her painter come up from Atlanta to do the wall painting. In another room he created the look of aged wood paneling, in paint! The work was fabulous!

 

 

 

 

 

The Howard's have offices in Atlanta, GA, Jacksonville, FL, and Charlotte, NC. but you can buy it as both Cabana Home stores beginning mid-December!

 

Okay, so now we will go back to the start of the day and our first appointment: Bennett Galleries. Rick Bennett is an art dealer and owner of a furniture store in Nashville, TN. He also designs and imports handmade furniture from Italy.

His furniture is truly some of the most wonderfully designed and made furniture that we sell. The waxed finishes include simple to complex wood inlays, ebony and blonde wood stains, and simple lines.

We talked about just how incredibly accurate the finishes were on the pieces that replicate antiques, and he said that some antique dealers by these pieces and resell them as antiques. That's how good they are.
Expensive?  You bet! Worth it? Absolutely!
See these newest acquisitions at Cabana Home Santa Barbara in mid- November.
 

Next was a mad dash in the Antique & Design Center. Here we bought a vintage wood surveyors stand made into a floor lamp; a large vintage wood gear wheel, which I will make into a cocktail table; huge rusted vintage chains made into a table lamp, and a pair vintage lamps made from dies, one etched with an Indian head and the other etched with an eagle.  we also fond a great pillow lady, who specializes in vintage Fortuny pillows. we bought several pairs of them and you can see them in about ten days at Cabana Home- Santa Barbara.

 

There were a few things that we found and liked, but passed on (you can’t have it all!). We didn’t buy a wonderful Cheese making table with the most beautiful burled wood top which had developed a wonderful old patina; and a glow blower who also makes lamps from old gears and then mouth blows the glass shades, he also builds tables from reclaimed steel factory equipment in combination with reclaimed wood.

On the way out of the building we stopped and bought a few mirrors from Carvers Guild. We met the owner/artist, who actually hand carves the original herself. See the mirrors picture below, and the detail picture. Beautiful work and we are excited to have found these mirrors and look forward to receiving them at Cabana Home Santa Barbara.
 

Also in the mirror showroom which was kind of random, was designer Sarah Canner who was showing her line of “day into evening” girly biking clothes, Vespertine. Her shtick is that her clothing offers reflective detailing, and was great looking. This is not biking clothing that you change into, this is clothing that goes from bike to the office. She may be doing for bikewear what lululemon did for work out clothes.

Picture above, one of the jackets in the line without any bright light on it.
Picture below, the same jacket with a flashlight shining on it.

We did a cursory walk through of another upholstery manufacturer who was showing some wonderful Moroccan textiles on ottomans, and Dining chairs. Really fabulous, not too organic, and great colors. They also showed a slip covered dining chair that had an exposed zipper in a high contrast color on the back of the chair; very electric and fun.   

 

        

Next stop was the hip Dwell Studio line, which showed some mid-century inspired leather furniture:

A leather clad cocktail table printed in a shagreen pattern, above; A chaise lounge with a channeled leather seat, and a great looking Chair and ottoman in channelled Grey leather.

 

Our last appointment was with a vendor who manufacturers a large line of casegoods. We’ve been feeling like we wanted to add more selections in a mid-priced line of furniture, without sacrificing either the styling or the quality (shown below). I think we found it, and you will love the pricing, and especially the styling. We found well priced and unique Dining chairs and tables, occasional tables, mirrors and even some great pieces for the bedroom. More on this later!

 

From The Old Wood Company (shown below), a great looking line of tables made from reclaimed and naturally fallen trees. The table, show here, had a “live edge”, and sits atop a tree truck base with exposed roots of cast metal.

 

WORST IN SHOW:

Okay, today was all in all a day in good taste! However, there is always at least one thing or person that makes this category and today we have one of each!

A very “done up” woman with jacked-up hair, severe eyebrows, and a sequined top that looked like it tangled with a weed eater, was in a showroom as a designer, assisting her customer with some selections. This woman had on Chanel everything (glasses, hand bag, brief case…), CFP (her heels), a black stud encrusted wide belt (aka an Elvis Belt), and about 50 bracelets on each arm… need I say more!

And then…. and then, as if it’s not enough that we have Restoration this, and Pottery that, chock full of reclaimed junk made into other things, this thing takes the cake: An army gas can made into a lamp! Neat. Really?

Obviously by the above entry, this has been a very long day. So much so that when we finished the last room in the last showroom that we worked, the sign read: “This is the end”, and I agree.

 

 

Good night moon.

NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL GIFT FAIR: Day Four- Part II

The New York International Gift Show: Day 4, Part 2

Okay, this really is the last of the New York International Gift Show! It’s still Day 4, so let’s finish up this show! These last rows in the Javitz Center were the home linens section where we found more than we were looking for!


 

 

 

 

We discovered the FRESCO Towel line, which had the most vibrant and fun bath towels we’ve seen. These towels were so richly colored with wonderful paisley and ethnic patterns. I don’t know if I’d want them for everyday use, but they’d be great for the pool house, cabana, or your Moroccan riad.


 

 

 

HAMBURG HOUSE Linens (above), offered some fresh embroidered linens, and unique color combinations.

 

 

 

RYAN STUDIOS (shown above) throw pillows looked great showing some ethnicity as well. They have linen pillows in organic coloration's and well-priced as always. See these in Cabana Home stores in mid-November.


 

 

 

 

 

LIBECO Linens (above). Just couldn’t get enough of this famed Belgian linen source, and stopped by to buy into their home collection of linen rugs, table top linens, throw pillows, bath linens, and select top of bed linens. We are very excited about this line so look for them in cabana Home stores after the first of the year.

LEITNER Linens (below) from Italy were beautiful, unassuming, something that one might imagine inside one of Palladio’s fabulous villas so many centuries ago. The look was of hand spun and woven linen, hand washed and pressed, now soft from use, offered in soft earthy colors and faint patterns. As Cabana Home enters further into the Bed linens business, this line would have to be part of the mix.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We saw this fun take on an historic style Sunburst mirror (below): A mirror with pencils instead of the traditional gold or silver leafed sun rays. Yep, that’s your regular old No. 2 yellow pencil you see there!
 

 

Recycled Glass wine bottles (below), melted flat are recreated as cheese boards and serving trays. They also used the bottom of wine bottles and cut them off at about the height of a double old fashion glass, and etched detail into the glass. May be of interest to you oenophiles.

 

 

 

Another booth, this one from China, showed beautifully executed serving bowls lined with gold (vermeil) on the inside, and unfinished aluminum on the outside (below). An unusual contrast of materials, and really wonderful!
 

 

 

One of the last and most important finds was the DONNA KAREN Home Collection that she did for LENOX. I know, Lenox, right? Well, we were so taken with it that we left the show and went to the official Lenox showroom on Lexington Avenue. The collection is shown in its entirety, and we loved it. Both Cabana Home stores bought in to the line and it should be in stores in time or Christmas giving.

 

 

 

She had metals and glass in unique matt and polished finishes, organic shapes, serving pieces, vases and some items that were just good art.

 

 

 

 

 

Since we’d already talked our way past the guard desk to get to the elevators on our way to see the Lenox showroom, and since we hadn’t relinquished our passes, we decided to seize the moment and see what other showrooms were ensconced in this building.  

First stop HERMES, sharing a showroom with SAINT LOUIS Crystal. These top drawer French companies, purveyors of all things fabulous and expensive, were wonderful to see and fondle. Formal and quiet, the French showroom manager appeared out of nowhere and approached us like he was the Gendarme.  He quickly warmed to us when he saw our name tags, which included our Santa Barbara address.  So what’s in a name? ….We were impressed with one another for different reasons. Unfortunately our good impression wasn’t good enough because we didn’t get an invitation to their Park Avenue soiree where Hermes celebrated their 175 year anniversary. The fete, titled Festival des Métiers, was a weeklong “festival of trades”. Guests watched as a Hermes craftsman assembled a Kelly Bag on the spot, and a gilder decorated a Saint Louis goblet, a diamond setter and more. See the story in Elle Décor, November 2012.  

Both lines are beautiful and so well made. You have to hand it to the French, where they sometimes fall short on politeness, they make up for in their beautifully executed products.

Next stop, the RALPH LAUREN Showroom (above), featuring his table top products. Is there any category that Ralph isn’t in? As expected, the décor included wood, raised panel walls, and inlaid wood parquet floors.  Here, one may complete his or her table top wardrobe and match them to your own Ralph clothing.
If high-end prepdom is your desire, then this is your kingdom. Mostly traditional with lots of Silver plated objects d’ art and serving pieces, linens, wooden accessories in the English style, China, crystal and silver dinner and serveware. A very attractive showroom that was beautifully presented, but a little boring.

We left the building and rounded up a cab for a ride downtown to one of our fav’s, ABC CARPET & HOME, where we had lunch in their terrific little café at the back of the store.  Now I love this place, it’s become a real New York institution, but am I just getting old, or is this place turning into a three ring circus? I took a photo in the middle of the store, and after reviewing it, I honestly could not tell what it is that they sell.

Or maybe I should look at it like this: What is it that they don’t sell? Yeah, I think it’s the latter. They sell clothing, candles, lighting, mattresses, bed and bath linens from Pratesi along with cheap Indian imported linens, curtains, hardware,  and every type and style of furniture including the low, medium, and high-end, carpets and rugs, home accessories, and books. The only major category I didn’t see was home appliances. That’s it! No matter, this is the place to see the trends and stay in tune with what’s hot and what’s not, because these buyers don’t miss much, as in nothing!

Fun find at ABC Carpet & Home: This lacquer table top supported by a tree root base!

WORST of SHOW:  Yeah…I just can’t resist!

A chain set, no not that kind! These chains put together to create a swingy mini skirt and open “crotched” vest. What does one wear under this get-up?

 

Celine Blue! Not possible on a cheap, tufted sofa upholstered in faux silk satin—it’s just plain awful, no matter the color. This thing is enough to get Celine’s Blue put on Mr. Blackwell’s Worst Dressed list.

Sonny Angle Doll (above, left): What the hell is this? Maybe it was this thing that caused the Teletubbies to turn gay?
Photo, above right: An adult size Tinky Winky costume from the Teletubbies television series

For the  Obama Junkies (above): Barrack and Michelle Obama realized in porcelain at Lenox. They also offer coasters with the two of them engraved on them, as well as a bronze bust of the current President. Could this be why we don’t think of Lenox as a high end company ?

HOT GIRL’S PEARL’S 9 (shown below): They market their pearl necklaces in an ice cooler, yes like the large coolers in front of 7-11. Their motto is, “Global Cooling, One Woman at a Time.” All right ladies, get to it!

All for today! Join the Design Guy for “Day Five in New York”, not at the New York International Gift Show!

 

Good night moon.