High Point Market Design Bloggers Tour Day 2 Details

As promised, I’m excited to take you on a tour, and share details of the incredible showrooms we were welcomed to on Day 2 of Esteem Media’s High Point Market Fall 2019 Design Bloggers Tour!  The experience was such a positive one for so many reasons … seeing things through the eyes of the other designers on the tour, gaining insight to showrooms I wasn’t already familiar with, hearing the wonderful stories behind the brands, and of course, building relationships with talented group of designers and bloggers from across the country.  Let’s get started …

Showroom 1 – Hooker Furniture

Hooker Furniture has been around since 1924 and is dedicated to making stylish, beautiful, well-made furniture. The company is one of the nation’s premier importers and manufacturers of furniture, and one of the few furniture firms still led by a member of the founding family. With core values of integrity, caring, listening, innovation, service, responsibility, citizenship and honesty, they are committed to giving back to the communities in which they live and work.

There are other brands within the Hooker family, so the options are almost endless in their extensive product line … With Bradington-Young they believe that the details make the difference, so this fully customizable line allows even the most discriminating shopper to create his or her own perfect style. Bradington-Young offers an extensive assortment of luxurious furniture all available in a wide variety of leathers as well as finish and nail options.

Sam Moore offers fresh, updated classics to trendy transitional seating styles in hundreds of custom fabrics and options anyone would love. With a selection of over 500 fabrics and dozens of finish and nail trim options, you can create a true original.

MARQ believes that modern is the future of interior design.  Their movement combines style, attitude and quality workmanship in over fifty upholstered pieces, all rooted in the midcentury modern movement, yet scaled, proportioned and detailed for today’s homes. MARQ makes modern real: On-trend, high-style sofas, chairs, ottomans and sectionals perfect for the glorious gamut of everyday life.

High Point Market Design Bloggers Tour Day 2 Details

The Melange Collection at Hooker Furniture

Showroom 2 – Hubbardton Forge

This showroom during the High Point Market Design Bloggers Tour Day 2 was a real eye-opener for so many of us on the tour!  The 45 year old company that started in a Vermont barn more than 45 years ago has grown from 2 employees to over 230 and maintains committed to creating design-driven, handcrafted luxury lighting.  They are one of the country’s largest and oldest continuously operating commercial forges. 

Although often thought of manufacturing a more traditional product, they are inspiring and wowing the design industry with their Rain Collection that features integrated LED Swarovski crystals, as well as their stunning Abacus floor to ceiling LED lamp.  Its five blown glass globes can be moved up and down their low-voltage cable “rails”, by virtue of tiny grippers on each side that allow the globes to be positioned at will to allow for exceptional customization.  This company values quality, responsiveness to clients, and is exceptionally design driven!

High Point Market Design Bloggers Tour Day 2 Details

Outdoor Lighting at Hubbardton Forge

Showroom 3 – Daniel Stuart Studio

Manufactured in Toronto, Canada, this company is committed to helping others grow their business through thoughtful design.  Their core business is made up of bedding, toss pillows, knit throws, and fabrics by the yard.  They go to great lengths to select beautiful fabrics, then hand cut and sew each product while continually focusing on quality craftsmanship.  The energy, excitement and passion was evident during our visit with the owner.  We truly had a fun time getting to know Daniel and familiarizing ourselves with his exquisite products.  They focus on texture with very little pattern and have had much success with interior designers, retailers and hotels, as you might imagine.  He even has a line of washable velvets in such an abundance of colors, I just know I’d have a tough time choosing!

High Point Market Design Bloggers Tour Day 2 Details

Bedding and Pillows at Daniel Stuart Studio

Showroom 4 – SIFAS

This Cannes based brand has been designing gardens and terraces for more than 50 years drawing continual inspiration from lovers and connoisseurs of outdoor furniture. They pay particular attention to the aesthetics of their collections, while assuring tremendous durability and great functionality.  This To-the-Trade company is very high-end, customizable and washable with soap and water.  They stock pieces in Miami and offer umbrella coverings as well.  You can feel good about placing these products in a home or commercial space, knowing that your investment will last a very long time.

High Point Market Design Bloggers Tour Day 2 Details

Kalife Round Loveseat at SIFAS

Showroom 5 – Windy O’Connor

Think color, pattern, whimsy, joy, uniqueness and inspiration, and you’ll have a pretty good vision of the Windy O’Connor showroom!  She combines her background in design with her love of abstract to create wallpaper, fabrics, pillows and art that in essence, brings life and color into the home by taking it off the walls and bringing it onto the sofa, draperies, pillows, bed, or even the entire room in the case of her beautiful wallpapers.  Her linen, velvet and cotton sateen textiles are available in one yard increments with custom pillows made to order in various sizes.  Her designs are available in wrapping paper and wallpapers, which can be offered in both smooth and grass cloth.  Her abstract art pieces are shown and available in several galleries across the country, but she will also customize the perfect piece for a home!

High Point Market Design Bloggers Tour Day 2 Details

Wallpaper at Windy O’Connor

Showroom 6 – Dorel Home

DHP (Dorel Home Products) is a destination for small space living furniture.  Their mission is to keep your home, condo, apartment, and even dorm room, both stylish and easy on the wallet!  Our tour covered a variety of their brands … Cosmopolitan Living brand is designed for the fun and fearless young female shopper with on trend designer looks at affordable prices.  The Novogratz line is inspired by Robert and Cortney Novogratz, who bring their uninhibited sense of style to products that are designed with the modern family in mind.  Little Seeds is Dorel Home’s nursery and youth brand featuring high-end styling and on-trend finishes at affordable prices that are able to grow with your child.  Dorel Living specializes in finer wood and upholstered furniture. Their product offering include bedroom, dining, kitchen, seating and accent pieces.  Their family of brands encompasses a comprehensive collection and we enjoyed our tour of this expansive showroom!

Cosmopolitan Living at Dorel Home

Showroom 7 – Smith Honig

This was a trip to the other side of the world! … Founder Melanie Honig and designer Kellie Smith have created truly globally-inspired colorful home décor and accessories.  The foundation of their business is their beautifully designed fabrics and wallpaper, which are all original designs each with a travel story.  They also offer fun and unexpected items such as their whimsical tassels, which were originally made to be worn by camels, but we believe make fantastic ornaments for a Christmas tree or a trendy add-on to a wrapped gift.  They also offer travel bags, table runners, stockings and tree skirts, and just recently came out with trim by the yard.  Do yourself a favor and check out their newest collection called Ravenswood.  The dark version is called Mystery and the light version is called Dream.  Inspired by England and its rural countryside, they’re magnificent!

An Array of Fabric Swatches at Smith Honig

Showroom 7 – Cisco Brothers

We were thrilled to have ended our Day 2 tour at this showroom! … This LA based manufacturer is the epitome of California cool, and has one of the most innovative and interesting showrooms in High Point and here’s why … Approximately 3 weeks before the start of High Point Market they ship all of their upholstery, lighting, and case goods to a massive warehouse in the heart of High Point and the team gets to work.  They build, create, merchandise, hang, style, and light the warehouse selling everything in it by the time market is done, so they don’t need to ship anything back to the west coast!  Their casual, modern, contemporary and comfortable vibe had us wanting to sit and relax for a while, and that’s exactly what we did.  They have a full kitchen and a team of talented chefs that prepare meals every day for employees, family members, designers, buyers, and anyone else that ventures in.  Here, everyone truly is family and we absolutely loved the vibe! … I’ve been so drawn back in to the environment as I’m writing that I may have forgotten to mention that I can’t wait to specify some of these casual beauties for my clients!

High Point Market Design Bloggers Tour Day 2 Details

The Chic and Casual Showroom of Cisco Brothers

After touring all of the High Point Market Design Bloggers Tour Day 2 showrooms , do you think you might have a favorite? 

 

 

Comments 12

  1. Hi Donna — I can say from experience that what you’ve said about Hooker Furniture is true. That is one publicly held company in our industry that genuinely lives its values and I love the table you shared from their collection.

    And I’d never heard of Smith Honig before all of you that were on this Tour started writing about them! I’m looking forward to visiting their showroom in the Spring.

    Thanks for the great recap!

    Sincerely,

    Leslie

    1. Thank you Leslie! … I found that so refreshing about Hooker when I learned about their history, and of course, that particular table was simply to die for! … I’m always happy to share the news about vendors that are just getting out there and have not only beautiful products but passion too!

    1. Thank you, Sheri, and I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Windy O’Connor was an introduction for me and I’m so happy to have learned of her. Fun, colorful, creative products that can’t help but make you smile!

  2. Nice recap Donna on a few of these brands that I was not familiar with seeing at market. Of course Hooker is a “blue chip” well known to most of us as well as Harbarton Forge.
    Being part of Adam Japko’s beginning of the Design Blogers tour, the goal was to also bring exposure to lesser known brands which you did marveously!

    1. Thank you Mitzi for following along, and for your kind words. That’s great to hear that you were on one of Adam Japko’s first tours? I’m sure you enjoyed your experience as much as I did. I’m glad you reiterated the goal of bringing awareness to lesser-known brands as I have witnessed excitement for many of these brands, both in their social media presence and reception, as well as readers sharing with me their excitement at learning about new brands.

    1. Thank you Mary Ann … The lighting overall during High Point was stunning. I was thrilled to really get to know Hubbardton Forge and what they are doing. I’ve already specified some of their pieces for a couple of projects.

    1. I’m so glad you enjoyed taking the showroom tour with us! … Yes, that Melange Collection from Hooker is just stunning and surprisingly the price points were very reasonable. Another great reason for me to specify these beauties to clients.

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