Today was a typical High Point Furniture Market day, filled with appointments and spontaneous stops in furniture, lighting and accessory showrooms. I saw lots of really wonderful new products. I especially liked the great Belgian linen fabrics at Pearson, and the Egyptian revival chair from Alexa Hampton for Hickory Chair.
The days are always long at market. Everyone works well into the evening, moving through a series of parties that begin at 5pm. These events allow us to maximize the hours at market by mixing the work of looking at new lines with the pleasure of good food (yes, in High Point) and friends we see only twice each year.
My after-five events tonight started with Rowe Furniture (I launched their event with a talk about our 2008 color and neutrals forecasts), went on to Stickley (I adore the new desk and organizer with Harvey Ellis touches) and ended at Four Hands. I had intended to get to South Cone, too, but I was having such a fine time at Four Hands that I stayed for dinner (thanks for inviting me, Anna!).
I love what the Four Hands people do. They have great imagination that is apparent in so many of their products and materials. New this time are coco shell beads in a fretwork frame over an accent light, recycled railroad ties—paired with neem wood and glass—in a collection of tables, and zinc-top tables inspired by airplane wings. But my favorite items were huge pop-art pieces for the wall that everybody loved. They were originally done only for visual display, but customers loved them so much that Four Hands may just have to offer them in their line.
Here I am after dinner at Four Hands in the company of some really great women in the industry (I am on the left). You can see that we are all working hard!