High Point Highlights: Tracking the Trends – Part 1
In this three-part blog series, three New Jersey-based designers share their three top picks, trends or discoveries from the largest furniture market in the world: High Point Market in North Carolina. First up is designer Nancy Mikulich, principal designer and owner of NLM Design Interiors and Oasis Home in Asbury Park.
Designer Nancy Mikulich with celebrity designers Carson Kressley and Thom Filicia.
Find her here: NLM Designs; Oasis Home Designs; and on Instagram OasisHomeDesigns
This fall at High Point Market, I was sourcing for three projects (in addition to my shop), each in varying style and function. While on the hunt for specific items, I definitely noticed some distinct trends this market.
Multifunctional Furniture
Multifunctional pieces of furniture are of particular note to me given that many of the clients that patronize my store in Asbury Park are shopping for second homes at the shore, which are typically smaller spaces that need to accommodate both the owners and their visiting houseguests.
This multi purpose island from the Uffizi collection by Sarried can function as an island, a table for 4, and storage. Even better, the surface and waterfall sides are clad in marble-like porcelain, which is impervious to stains and heat damage. www.Sarried.com
This kitchen island/upright desk from Nest Home Collections has a hammered iron base, which supports a reclaimed wood elliptical top and side shelves. Great for an office or kitchen. www.NestHomeCollections.com
A multi purpose valet from Cooper Classics — a company known more for their clocks and mirrors — would be great in a guest room or guest bathroom. www.CooperClassics.com
A Return to Color & Boho Glam
While industrial chic and reclaimed woods and ‘the greys’ have been very much full frontal, we have seen a movement toward integrating and combining various looks, adding a bit of glamour and panache. This is most evident with the introduction of more jewel tones and lush textures to existing harder trends such as raw materials like pipes and gears for table legs, etc.
I saw a lot of Boho Glam vignettes, such as this one from Tony Duquette for Maitland-Smith. The colors, evocative of Asian (Imari) ceramics, create a warm mystique, while the lush textures of velvets and golds are very inviting. www.Maitland-Smith.com
Another nod to Boho Glam as well as the trend toward saturated color, this vignette at the Cotton + Quill showroom could easily translate from a young girls bedroom to a great dorm room idea. www.CottonAndQuill.com
An elliptical ottoman from Norwalk Furniture features a Ted Baker-like floral fabric. www.NorwalkFurniture.com
Mixed Materials & Shapes
I noted a lot of unusual materials being integrated into furnishings. Manufacturers for instance, are experimenting with integrating different reflective powders into the finishes, such as a simple mahogany finish with touches of pulverized iron oxides that produce a slight shimmer, which glams up what would normally be a traditional item. A look that is very subtle, very cool.
This composite photo features a range of interesting materials: Capiz shells on the sides of a chair from Bernhardt Furniture; cracked seeds lacquered on a table top from Gabby Home; bone and shell laser cut to form a Moroccan motif on a Bernhardt chest of drawers; an oak table from Parish Co. veneered with a starburst pattern and available in a variety of finishes. www.Bernhardt.com; www.GabbyHome.com; www.Parishltd.com
An oval table from Nest Home Collections combines a reclaimed wood top with a metal base. www.NestHomeCollections.com
Mikulich, shown with Carson Kressley and Thom Filicia at the Eastern Accents showroom. “Get a Room,” their new design show on Bravo, debuted this month. Having met Thom Filicia on several occasions, “I had the pleasure to finally meet Carson Kressley (whom I have apparently missed in my shop) and Jeff Lewis (at the Alder & Tweed showroom) who have kept me inspired and laughing for a decade now! www.EasternAccents.com; www.AlderAndTweedFurniture.com