Home from Market

Whew!  We're home from a whirlwind few days down in High Point North Carolina for the Furniture Market.  Before I was in this business I had no idea something like it even existed.  High Point is literally a little city of showrooms.  In the 3 days we were there we didn't even see half of it.  But we did get to my favorite restaurant, Printworks Bistro, at the Proximity Hotel:

{Seriously the most gorgeous restaurant ever: light, airy, fresh & completely unexpected (see the Louis dining chairs in chartreuse toile??)  They have curtains separating the dining areas and hanging boxwood balls and textural drum shades add interest.  The colors are perfection (go green!! ;)  and the food is HEAVEN. 

We found some really amazing new-to-us companies & artists:


{Owen Mortenen creates works of art out of the natural things he finds on walks. }

I'm crazy about his Golden Raintree Studies made out of seed pods found from a tree that grows in Utah:


Natural & organic-feeling yet totally modern.  To read more, click here.

I loved this sconce by Luna Bella:


Some of the showrooms had the most amazing displays:

{Luna Bella}


{Spicher and Company}

The next few are of the Karen Robertson Showroom: 




I loved seeing so many of these detailed pieces jam-packed on the walls.  Totally jaw-dropping and they made me want to do a beach house STAT.


and switching up to...

{Halo Styles}

As far as showrooms/ booths at Market go, I really love going into the "more is more" type showrooms that are jam-packed because they feel like trasure troves.  Even if they're not at all my style, I appreciate them.  Check this one out:

{Genesee River Trading Co.}

And another view of the same showroom:


I loved some of their old games tables & kitchsy things.

The best part is, I was with my partner in crime pretty much the whole time sans-kiddos.  (Although we did really miss them!!)



And we got to see some of our favorite people!!

{Me & Michele of My Notting Hill.  Michele was one of a group of bloggers invited to Market to see all of the lastest & greatest.  She sweetly invited me along with her to an Architectural Digest party as her "plus 1" where we saw lot of big designers & industry people including one of my favorites Margaret Russell.   I also met Bunny Williams (more like stalked her as she was leaving the party and she seemed to be one of the kindest, most genuine designers I've met.  She asked what my name was & where I was from (go VA!  If you know about Bunny, you might know she's from Charlottesville, VA) and  } and was just very nice. 

{scaaaary red eyes on me with my friend Paloma of La Dolce Vita & Visual Comfort.  Paloma is also an old blog friend & I've loved watching her career evolve.  She's now the director of marketing for Visual Comfort, one of the best lighting companies in the industy.  }

{Roxanne Lumme, one of my good local design friends.  We ran into so many people from home!!! }

{Me with one of my first & closest design buds, Eddie Ross.  My camera ended up going out on me that night and I didn't get a group shot Dave & I with both Eddie & Jaithan.  We're always all pretty much laughing the entire time we hang out. }

I also got to see  bloggers (but didn't get pics with- arggg!) Erin of House of Turquoise, Stephan of Architect Design , Jen Sergent, and Traci of Traci Zeller Designs.  We got to hang with Traci for a while at a party one night & it was so good to catch up.  At a Hearst Magazine party we saw our good friend Matthew Talomie of Elle Decor & got to meet the team from Elle Decor Magazine, who were all really sweet & down to earth.  We also ran into a bunch of DC Designers & friends throughout the weekend: Patrick Sutton, Erin Paige Pitts, David Mitchell, Victoria Sanchez, Barbara Franceski and Sally Steponkus.  It was SO much fun.

We got a TON accomplished at this market.  I found so many new great sources for projects that I can't wait to use.  Even though I'm exhausted right now I'm feeling pretty charged design-wise.


xoxo, Lauren

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

26 comments:

Dana Frieling said...

Do you think they'd move market to Austin, Tx next year? Ha! Why does all the good stuff have to be so far away? Thanks for letting me live vicariously.

The enchanted home said...

What a fantastic post with amazing highlights. Was supposed to go and and am so bummed it didnt' happen (too much happening with house) but really enjoying hearing all about it....many beauties!! Will keep that restaurant in mind for next spring!

The Buzz Blog @ Diane James Home said...

What fun for you to see all of these great resources, designers and bloggers! We are such huge fans of Margaret Russell and how she has given AD a new, modern look. And Eddie and Jaithan are such sweethearts, too!

Kathysue said...

Lauren it is so fun to see all of this through your eyes. Eddie and Jaithan are two of the most endearing young men and the talent between the two of them is amazing and then add you to the mix, what a perfect evening, Kathysue

Acquired Objects said...

I'm so jealous of you but in a good way, you got to see so many amazing new products. Please tell me you made it to Tara Shaw's booth she was supposed to debuting some new items. Love those seed pod pictures and all the lighting. Loks like you had the best time "working"....;)

Anonymous said...

Oh Lauren, I feel very envious of you. You caught up with some amazing people and got to look at home wares all day.....my idea of heaven!!
Thanks for sharing x

alison giese Interiors said...

Definitely sounds amazing, and certainly on my design "bucket list."
So, based on what you saw, what are you predicting we'll see a lot of in the next year?

bevy said...

The Luna Bella image is so inspiring.

Looks like you had a great time with your fellow design friends/bloggers. Thanks for sharing these photos!

bryn alexandra said...

I loved your recap!! I'm so bummed I missed you this High Point! I went on Sunday and banged it out pretty quickly.

Holly Gruszka said...

Thanks so much for the recap. That restaurant does look amazing. It's fun to see what the inside of High Point market actually looks like (at least this portion).

Anonymous said...

Luke’s Army
http://www.lukesarmy.com/

Almost three years after the death of my son, Luke Borusiewicz, who died at the age of two years old in foster care (the average age of children who die in foster care is four and under), the inquest into his death has still not begun.
A pre-inquest conference was held last week where I attended by phone, but hung up minutes into the conference after hearing blatant and misleading lies from the Queensland Department of Community Services representative. It disgusts me that anyone can tell lies about a deceased baby, but a senior representative of an agency existing in the interests of protecting children, telling lies to protect its own evil interests is incorrigible.
The judge at the conference has ruled that Luke’s death has still not been investigated properly, another abomination.

I promised Luke the last time I looked at him laying there in his coffin I would do something about what the department of community services had done to him, and that I would do something to fix the child protection and foster care system, which had mistreated him from the time they had come into our lives.
People need to realize, this is not a one off case. Atrocities like this are a daily occurrence in the department of community services, world wide.
These child protection officers are answerable to no one, they are unaccountable for their actions and operate behind a media ban which helps to conceal their mistakes and malpractice.
The department of community services complaints hotline is a smoke screen for the department, acting as an early warning system alerting the department when their dishonest and unethical behavior has been discovered, allowing time for false statements to be concocted, evidence to be destroyed, and threats against distraught parents to be made.

Whilst the media are gagged when it comes to exposing the corruption rife within the department of community services, and politicians turn their back on the problems, I have devoted my life to this issue. Parental rights are a thing of the past once a child protection worker enters a family home. The onus is on discrediting a parent, no matter how much love the child and parents have for each other. Luke was everything I ever lived for, still is and always will be. I am quite prepared to go to jail for speaking out about the abuse of power and families by the department of community services staff, especially management, which is where the root of this child stealing machine is routed.
This last month, first time visitors to the site have increased by 650%. The website Crimes Against Fathers (http://www.crimesagainstfathers.com) has contributed toward a facelift and maintenance for the site.

I am in the process of picking myself up, and dusting myself off. I still can’t talk about what was done to Luke, I wake up screaming and crying from nightmares, but my faith in God, and my solicitor, eases my anguish.
The next step for me is to establish a commercial vegetable growing enterprise entitled “Luke’s Army Vegetables”, which will be sold with labels containing links to the website, and the desperate pleas of parents who have been mistreated by the department of community services, their children wrongly removed.
This plan is already underway. Through this venture I intend to fund legal support for parents who have no hope in this corrupt and cruel system of gaining true legal support.

I would like to sincerely thank the many people who have given their support and encouragement through this sad time in my life. Thankyou so much for those who post on the site, and all who have joined Luke’s Army, which is now reaching 5000 members strong. Most of all I would like to thank my Lukey Pookey, who showed me what love is, and has given me everything I have in my life, I owe you my life Luke, I love you more than anything in the world son, for ever and ever, RIP.

Luke’s Dad,
Michael Borusiewicz

Life's misfortunes fall disproportionately upon the young

http://www.lukesarmy.com/

ArchitectDesign™ said...

Was so great seeing you guys! Made it feel like home :-)

Anonymous said...

Absolutely lovely post!
kisses

debra @ 5th and state said...

wow, what did i just scroll past.......

thanks dearest for showing us highlights via your keen eyes! i was away for 2 months and now have to stay home but your shots were inspiring. i am all over luna bella and that sconce!
great shot of you and eddie
xo
debra

Windlost said...

Looks like such an amazing time. Next year I am coming and you are taking me. :D


xo Terri

Cecilia said...

Printworks Bistro is very "Pure Style Home" in feeling! I loved seeing the showroom with all of the coral sea fans! And love to see the comraderie between all of your designer friends!

High-Heeled Foot in the door said...

Missed not seeing being there this time. Ah I love that restaurant so yummy!

Maybe I'll be able to make it out for Spring show.

I need you to come visit the in-laws in NJ so I can sneak some time in with you!

xo,

C

Barbara Bussey {The Treasured Home} said...

I am living vicariously through you! How wonderfully fun! Glad you had some fun with your hubs, too. :)

traci zeller designs said...

Oh, Lauren, I had so much fun seeing you and Dave!! The time just flies by way too quickly!! Can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip ... So many exciting things to come!!!! xoxo!!

Erin {House of Turquoise} said...

It was so fun running into you guys! I loved these pics you shared, especially of the Karen Robertson Collection. Jaw-dropping is absolutely right!

Cynthia said...

Lauren,

I'll add a trip to High Point North Carolina to my bucket list!
But most importantly I will file the photo of the sconce by Luna Bella. Amazing!

Marianne said...

So wish I could have met you in person at High Point. Everyone's busy schedules made it so hard to get together. Loved dining at Proximity, the best meal of the trip and such a stunning place!

madilla said...

The restaurant looks amazing! So inviting.

Debi said...

Love it when market rolls into town. More folks should have N.C. on their bucket list. Going to the Vietri Outlet this week in Hillsborough, NC. Gotta see it!

Ruchi said...

Lovely post..and the restaurant looks amazing..

Shelly said...

Aww so bummed I didn't make it! I still have never been..can you believe that!? And all because I'm clueless as to where to go, where to stay, etc. So chicken sometimes! Great pics. Thx for sharing!