Internet, it’s taken me a solid week to ruminate on all the things that happened this past week at High Point Market. It was a major career high for me — and I’m not going to lie, also a major anxiety-inducing event. But nonetheless, an absolute highlight to this year, which is of course totally welcome.
Explaining or describing High Point Market is a tricky proposition. But I’ve gotten a bunch of questions on what this whole thing was about, so I’ll try to explain it.
WHAT IS HIGH POINT MARKET?
Twice a year, the entire furniture world descends on the wee town of High Point, North Carolina for furniture market. This is when anybody in the design trade (like interior designers, store owners, etc.) can come to shop all the different vendors that choose to exhibit there. It is known as the world’s largest furniture market for good reason: there are hundreds of showrooms and over 75,000 people attend it. If you want to get super technical, there’s over 11.5 million square feet to hit spread out over 180 buildings.
In short, it’s complete design overwhelm to the max. Every possible furniture designer you’ve ever heard of is represented there. And thus, all the brands you can think of shop there: West Elm, Pottery Barn, Serena & Lily, Ballard, Anthropologie.
SO WHY WERE YOU THERE?
Good question! I was invited earlier in the year by the Rowe showroom to design a 500 square foot showcase from top to bottom, using as many of their pieces as possible, as part of their #MyRoweDesign campaign for spring market. Sita Montgomery and Parker Kennedy Living were also featured designers and we were there to promote Rowe via social media and to be in the showroom during market for special events like a designer’s brunch and opening night party.
They gave each of us free reign to do whatever we wanted to our respective spaces which was AMAZING and a little bit overwhelming – so many options! But I knew I wanted to do something with blush and that gorgeous blue wallpaper, so it was an easy jumping-of point for me. But because Rowe only does upholstery, we had additional sponsors to help us round out our space. The sponsors for this included Thibaut, Mitchell Black, Jaipur, Shadowcatchers Art, Annie Selke, Barbara Cosgrove and some other to-the-trade sources.
I absolutely LOVED how the bedroom turned out with those Barbara Cosgrove fixtures hanging on either side of the bed. So so pretty.
CAN ANYBODY GO TO HIGH POINT MARKET?
Only qualified members of the design trade can go, unfortunately. The general public isn’t allowed.
LOVE those stools – the legs are soooo pretty, and they’ve got just a hint of brass nailhead trim for a little extra pizzazz.
And in the living room, that blush velvet tuxedo sofa was EVERYTHING. I knew immediately that it was the piece I wanted to use. I’m still trying to figure out a place to put the white Crypton-covered Monroe chairs.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FURNITURE?
Most of the borrowed pieces (the lighting, tables, and non-upholstery items) go back to their vendors. And the upholstery pieces remain with Rowe to be sold or used at later markets.
FLAMINGO!
I can’t say enough good things about the amazing people at Rowe. We had so much fun — everybody was kind, funny, and so crazy welcoming. The entire sales team was so pumped up and excited about sharing the #MyRoweDesign concept and it was truly overwhelming to me the amount of great response we got. rwo
I love this scene so much: those drapes, that table, that light fixture, those paneled walls. YES YES YES.
And it’s all about that pop of tomato red.
Rowe also had a lovely florist on hand who created all our beautiful floral arrangements. Total dream.
The best part was when Simon flew out to spend the weekend there with me. I was SO HAPPY to have him there to see everything, and we had such a blast running around, exploring all the showrooms. He’s my biggest cheerleader and so crazy supportive. He really is the best at asking questions and helping me to round out ideas. I’m a lucky, lucky girl!
All in all, it was a total smashing success and I could not be more proud of what we accomplished. BIG huge thanks to Rowe for having me, and the Restyle Source team for everything they did to help us make it happen. And thanks to Kristen Mayfield for several of these photos!
