My second day in the High Point Furniture Market included a mixed schedule. It began with the Press Breakfast. The panel discussion was “The Rise of the Interior Designer.” This is a timely topic given the fact that interior designers are making their biggest impact every in home décor sales. I do believe that the potential for professional designers has never been better than it is today.
I also saw companies from mid-tier to high end. Sometimes I am asked why I spend any time at all with middle price point companies. The answer: lots of innovations in functionality come from that tier, and functionality has grown to be such a key factor in any product.
One of my favorite stops today was at Hickory Chair. I am always pleased when Ron Fiori, Vice President/Creative Director, makes time to visit with me. Today he devoted over an hour to not only showing me what’s new at Hickory Chair, but also revealing his point of view about fabrics, textures and styles. This is a man worth listening to. And his assortment is worth keeping a trend eye on. The showroom looked amazing and I wanted to take home most of what I saw. This is a tribute to Ron’s great eye for materials, finish and color, as well as his knack for directing visual display.
I saw other great assortments today, too. One of them was at Burton James. There were several great pieces there but my top pick was a silk headboard with a broken pediment. So lovely! Look for my picture below today’s post.
BTW, I won one of the items I bid on in the silent charity auction at the Raymond Waites gallery last night. I am VERY excited to pick it up tomorrow. Then I have to figure out how to get it packed up and shipped home safely.