Michelle Lamb with Paul Burrell
Today’s rounds at the High Point furniture market began and ended with licensed collections. My first stop was at Highland House, where Royal Manor debuted. This line of upholstery and case goods is, “Inspired by Paul Burrell.” Who is that, you might wonder? It is the man who was Princess Dianna’s butler for 10 years. Now do you remember the name?
The collection has some really nice pieces, plus a few I don’t think will be shown after market. But what I really liked was the garden-fresh color palette. Think Synthetic Gems mixed with Iridescent Accents, both from The Trend Curve Colors™ 2008. Here I am with Mr. Burrell in front of a china and a chair that shows off some of the garden palette. We are standing behind a dining table that has amazing legs that feel almost fretwork-inspired. I feel confident that this piece will be one of the group’s winners.
Donald "The Donald" Trump unveiling new line at Lexington
As you can see, I was able to visit with, and even stand next to, Paul Burrell. I was not quite so fortunate in my last stop of the day. It was at Lexington, where Donald Trump was unveiling his Central Park and Westchester lines. What a crowd! I have never seen the Lexington showroom lobby so packed.
I must admit that I had expected these collections to rate somewhere on the low end of the taste scale (don’t ask me why) and they did not. The first group is filled with Deco overtones. It is quite cleaned up, with some pieces even pushing toward plain. The second is more traditional and a bit ornate, yet immensely salable. Here is a picture from my vantage point in the sea of people waiting for The Donald to welcome Lexington dealers and the press to the launch of his furniture collection.