Thursday, October 18, 2012

2012 FALL HIGH POINT ROUND-UP PART I: WRAPPED AND READY TO GO

I have been off the grid so to speak for the past few days, doing a deep dive into furniture land in High Point, North Carolina. Sponsored by Bassett Furniture and the new HGTV Furniture Collection, fellow design bloggers and I hit the ground running and I have not come up for air till just now.
 I uncovered great new design finds, interesting silhouettes and reinterpreted and refreshed vintage classics. I noticed linen, faux shagreen and shell and rope-wrapped pieces in a variety of traditional shapes that bring fresh, light  perspective. Here is sampling of my design finds, with more to come on upholstery, tables, decorative accessories in gorgeously styled showrooms soon.

An HGTV Home Dresser wrapped in natural raffia with nickel inlay and classic circle pulls on a nickel foot.

A Parson-style raffia-wrapped desk with single square nickel pull also at at HGTV Home. This is a piece that's easy to love. I think my apartment would agree.

Next to a sofa, these raffia-wrapped HGTV Home nesting tables are the perfect place to rest a drink and place a lamp.

Enrobed in burgundy Penn shell, this diminutive dresser at Century Furniture has style by the mile.

Now this is a creative way to use a printed fabric! Hickory wrapped a large cabinet in Hable Construction's Marble fabric for Hickory Chair.

A sweet little round topped pull-up table by Hickory has a faux-shagreen wrapped base that compliments the rich polished mahogany.

An Art Deco inspired waterfall coffee table from Bassett wrapped in capiz shell has two handy drawers for storage of remote controls and extra stuff.

A veneer of agate makes the top of this tiny table at Century truly glamorous.

Bernhardt blew everyone away this market.  With the appointment of Ron Fiore as their creative director, he refreshed the brand in exciting new ways. He was brought over from Hickory Chair, where his styling and innovative eye ensured the showroom always looked divine. Hickory has tapped Skip Rumley as their new creative director, luring him away from Edward Ferrell Lewis Mittman. Having had Foire as a mentor, Rumley is bringing his own unique brand of chic to the hundred year-old iconic company.
The rope-wrapped arch table above is an example of Fiore's taking a classic and adapting it for today in a unique material.

Citrus hues on a stripey Oggetti drum table is zippy and great for tropical climes.

 Oggetti has done rope-wrapped pieces before, but the tri-color variation looks great on a little drum table.

Tres French, their tapered leg round topped bulls eye table in greys and browns is oh-so-chic.

A small seagrass table from Bernhardt in a wavy design looks as though it is covered in a drapey skirt yet it is actually a stiff material.

Nailhead trim and clean lines in Bernhardt's Parsons-style square coffee table with a storage shelf underneath is a boon to book lovers. Hello storage!

EJ Victor also had it wrapped with many simple silhouettes covered in raffia or linen or for a lighter look and feel.

The finish fan at EJ Victor.

A wrapped side table with inset drawer on top.

A round two table with simple leg and lower shelf.

With a removable tray top and metal x-base materials co-mingle.

They even have a Ming-style card table which I can never get enough of!

Oggetti's red shagreen-wrapped French Deco-inspired side table was a stunner.

On a raised gold base, Regina Andrews Jean Michel Frank-inspired raspberry faux-shagreen dresser left me agog.

The companion mirror with pointed geometric surround was also to beyond stylish.

Baker Furniture artisans hand finish this small drum side table to resemble marble. Glam alert.

Friday, October 12, 2012

WHAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO AT HIGH POINT: JEFFREY ALAN MARKS FOR PALACEK

As I head down to High Point Market this coming weekend, I already know of a few exciting line launches that I am anticipating. One of the collections I'm most looking forward to seeing live is the Million Dollar Decorator cast member, LA-based interior designer Jeffrey Alan Marks' Collection by Palacek. Taking advantage of Palacek's global design, sourcing and strength in natural materials, the line incorporates woven wicker, cerused oak, and bamboo, celebrating the artistic ability of the craftsmen who create woven goods with aplomb.  From lighting to wall art, with pillows, sofas, lots of chairs, side tables, coffee tables and accent pieces, the refined, light and beachy collection captures the design ethos that we have come to love from Jeffrey Alan Marks.  It is livable, in a very easy, California way. These are some of the highlights from the minimal chic line, and seeing the entire assortment styled together by JAM  is one of the reasons it is such  a treat to attend High Point Market.

Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Alan Marks
Photos courtesy of Palacek
New Wave Wall Decor 

Bandera Floor Lamp

Green Oaks Pendant

Lookout Pendant

Shores Tray 

Middlefork Log Holder

Pagemill Coffee Table 

Pagemill Console 

Gunn Square Stool in distressed finish 

Pagemill Etagere in distressed finish

Gunn Stool in distressed finish

Dunmere Stool

Madison Dining Table

Nash Chaise 

Bryant Lounge Chair in distressed finish 

Malawi Chair 

Stonebrook Sofa

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

CELERIE KEMBLE LAUNCHES WALLPAPER WITH SCHUMACHER

With wide-ranging stylistic influences, Celerie Kemble's debut wallpaper collection with Schumacher has patterns to suit a variety of settings. From a soft, classic acanthus motif to a boldly colored  Chinoiserie cloud, the collection can work in a mid century modern living room, a warm modern entryway, precious powder rooms and on and on. The unexpected scale and color palette make it a fun new line, and here are some favorites that caught my eye.

Cirrus Clouds in Plume

Cirrus Clouds in Shanghai

Playing off the classic tree of life motif, Hot House Flowers Sisal in Seaglass and Chalk is pretty pretty

Flame, a classic flame stitch pattern is re-interpreted in kicky colors like Cha-Cha

Stud Stripe in Natural and Bronze adds warmth and height with a linear stud design








Acanthus Leaf channels old world British glamour

In Seaglass and Chalk

Shadow is a rich grey

Feather Bloom has Art Deco undertones and delicate detailing, Emerald and Ore is a wonderful shade of green

In Two Blues

Golden Plum has a  sophisticated chic

Dove reveals the radiating pattern with contrast








Monday, October 8, 2012

HANGING AROUND: TASSEL TIME

Adding a tassel to everything was de rigueur in the 80's. Today, the tassel has its place, albeit a more subtle one. Rather than hanging them from dresser pulls, doorknobs and lamps, try them in a less conspicuous role. They will never lose their allure as tiebacks, it just depends how luxe the look you are going for.

 Photo courtesy of Geronimo Balloon Troopers
With giant hanging tassels made of ribbon, Geronimo Balloon Troopers gigantic balloons deliver happiness. Seen here, a red balloon flying high in downtown LA.

Photo courtesy of Anthropologie
Anthropologie's Sombrero Sheet Set with a mini multicolor tassel border

Photo courtesy of Leif
Like  a charm bracelet, Lennebelle's Tassel Bracelet in Topograph has a festive tassel swagger

Photo courtesy of World Market
Throw on this cheap and cheerful scarf with coral tassels to ward of the crisp autumn chill from World Market Cost Plus


Photo courtesy of Anthropologie
Pom Tassel Mini Bag from Anthropologie.

Photo courtesy of C. Wonder
A jolly orange knotted tassel on C. Wonder's Suede Foldover Tassel Clutch is simple and suave.

 Photo courtesy of Blair Ritchey
Hang a tassel on it. Add this little dash of color with Blair Ritchey's suede or lambskin tassel to a clutch or case as a zingy zipper pull.