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Throwback "Before Times" High Point Market: A Busy 2019 Week in Review

We're looking forward to October 2021, and we expect it will be more like April 2019. There was so much to see and do at High Point Market and while we certainly couldn't cover it all, even in a week, here are some of the highlights of our market experience

04/18/2019
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Markor Art Center Staircase
One of two spiral staircases in the new Markor Art Center

Spring 2021 High Point Market felt a little more normal than Markets we've experienced in more than a year. We're throwing back to Spring 2019, one of the busiest markets we've attended to give a glimpse of what to expect this October! So exciting. More interested in this year's finds? Click here

From April 2019:

High Point Market is like Christmas for retailers, designers and suppliers in the home furnishings industry. There’s months of work and anticipation leading up to it, and then in a flash — well, a week that feels like a flash — it’s over for another six months. And now the real work of sorting through trends, assessing new suppliers and determining what will best resonate with your consumer audience begins. 

We’ve opened our presents; now it’s time to review what we saw and what we learned. 

Furniture, Lighting & Decor is here to help! Covering all of the home furnishings categories with three editors is no easy feat, even with a week to try and get everywhere. So as we're sharing the highlights of our finds, if you saw something we may not have, please share it with us too in the comments. 

Overall, this High Point Market showcased optimism for the home furnishings industry. Product introductions were many, we saw some significant celebrity and designer collaborations — Nina Magon for Universal Furniture, Bobby Berk for A.R.T. Furniture, and Trisha Yearwood for IMAX and Klaussner to name a few — and heard of more in the offing for October's High Point Market.

Bobby Berk
"Queer Eye" host Bobby Berk launched a home collection with A.R.T. Furniture.

 

"Social" Studies

Showroom parties were crowded and extravagant, and foot traffic around town was steady (despite some rainy weather). The robust number of parties, some with celebrity entertainment and all with a steady flow of food and drink, is a sign of a strong market. Attendees were definitely having fun. 

Surya Party
Surya wowed its attendees with live music and a stocked bar. 


Beyond product introductions, there were also lots of seminars and panels. This is one of the highlights of a good market, because we’ve always got room to learn more about our businesses and new tools or have an opportunity to network with friends and business associates. 

High Point Market shared several keynotes with celebrities, retailers and designers such as Carson Kressley and Thom Filicia, and seminars could be found all around market in showrooms, helping designers and retailers stay on top of trends and happenings in the industry. 

Furniture, Lighting & Decor hosted a well-attended panel that discussed the synergies for architects, builders and designers on custom projects in Universal Furniture's learning center. Our knowledgable panel and attentive audience made for a riveting and educational hour. 

Universal Panel
Left to right: John Dorlini (architect), Theresa Dorlini (designer), Phil and Andrew Travars (custom builders). 

We also brought retailers, designers and industry players together for an intimate dinner at the String & Splinter as High Point got rolling that Friday night. It was a great way to kick off market and make new friends. 

Why We're Really Here

Obviously, while all the parties are fun and the seminars and panels open designers and retailers up to innovative business ideas, we're really all here to see the product, connect with suppliers and do business. 

As editors, we were on the hunt for trends and we found more than a few. Some of the more prevalent product trends we saw this market included hunter and mossy greens, particularly on velvet upholstery; all shades of pinks; and bold color in general, with lots of jewel tones and pastels.

Chaddock Home
Hunter green sofa from Chaddock Home.

Gone are the days of all gray this market, with medium tone browns making a comeback (think caramel and mocha) in both upholstered furniture and casegoods. Pattern was front and center as well, with watercolor-style painted and bold florals, Chinoiserie prints, and geometric and abstract patterns. 

Norwalk Furniture
Medium browns, such as this caramel sofa from Norwalk Furniture, are making a comeback.

Curved shapes were on trend, swivels were everywhere, and product developers looked to the back of their furniture to add an extra level of decor as chairs and sofas continue to float in the middle of living spaces. 

Nathan Anthony
Chair backs, like this one from Nathan Anthony, are as captivating as the fronts at this April's High Point Market. 

Finishes on accessories and lighting included matte blacks, whites and grays, unique glass treatments, and lots of warm gold accents.

Currey & Co.
The warm gold interior of this Currey & Co. ribbon chandelier emits a warm light. The matte finish exterior is on trend too.

For examples of the trends we saw this market, check out our gallery here

That's it for April High Point Market. We'll be back with more trends soon. 
 

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