High Point Market may be over but interior designers are still sorting through the product debuts they found there, as many items addressed the customizable and/or unique solutions they need for their projects.
As the market caters to this trade, many new collections targeted interior designers, being designed either for them or by them.
One such debut was the much-anticipated launch from designer DuVäl, who teamed up with Sherrill Furniture for his first foray into furniture. Features within his collection solved function or style issues, such as lower backs on dining room chairs for better sightlines, a cocktail table that has seating on casters so they can be tucked underneath when not in use, and different arm widths to better suit the user, an executive said. DuVäl also “hates doing the math” when configuring sectional pieces, she added, so DuVäl’s sectional seating pieces are all the same width, while the sectional’s table is half that – no math degree required.
Designer Charlotte Lucas brought her love of color and whimsy to her launch collection at Taylor King, which drew inspiration from a few of her favorite places: Palm Beach, New York and North Carolina. Items included a bedroom canopy that hangs from the ceiling, a double-sided settee, a bench meant for placement by a fireside and a cocktail table that can also serve as a seat with the flip of the top – with plenty of trims and ruffles throughout.
Related: Interior designers step into the product world at High Point Market
Abner Henry bolstered its designer collaborations at market with the debut of The Collective, a partnership program that brings together design talent with the company’s craftmanship. The four inaugural design firms – Helen Bergin Interiors, Nikki Levy Interiors, Studio Dixon Rye and Betsy Wentz Interior Design – expressed their individual aesthetics through bespoke furniture.
Noz Nozawa expanded her lighting collection at Corbett Lighting, and one new option, the Kune collection, addressed lower ceiling heights, Nozawa said. “It’s structured but confident,” she said, with armature that dips below the ceiling plane to give it presence without taking up too much space.
The Design Besties also unveiled new partnerships. Whitney Atkinson showcased her Wugs weighted outdoor rugs and other products at Telescope, which will sell 12 exclusive Wug designs; she created the collection because her outdoor rugs were either blowing away or curling up at the corners, she said.
Fellow Design Bestie Nikki Watson of The Design Quad partnered with Zuo Modern to launch the Zuo Staging Program, which offers designers coordinated furniture collections for the living room, dining area, kitchen and bedroom. Each group contains stocked items and quick-ship warehouse support.
Seating solutions
Among the seating debuts at market was Theodore Alexander’s Dante sofa, a more modern take with channeling on the bottom and subtle company branding. It also celebrated its 20th anniversary with Lord Charles Spencer with the Althorp collection, which brought back items from the archives.
Known for its sleeper sofas, American Leather debuted 15 styles as sofas only, as some designers wanted the look of a sleeper sofa design without the sleeping option, said Lance Trachier, creative director. It also highlighted Gideon, a motion sofa that is ideal for a couple, he said, because its back can be lowered or raised depending on the user’s height. In addition, it showcased vintage, not-for-sale American Leather furniture designed by Vladimir Kagan.
Related: Roll, deal and play: New game tables at High Point Market
Taylor King highlighted its existing Sausalito sectional program in its showroom, which it called the longest sectional at market.
Addressing designer pain points
Thompson addressed two designer pain points – budgets and lead times – with a new semi-custom range hood program launching this summer called Elevate by Thompson. Offered in 36- and 48-width sizes, the program brings Thompson’s handcraft expertise together with a streamlined, design-forward approach. With eight finishes and eight trim combinations, the program will have a lead time of two weeks max, executives said.
Sherrill expanded its bespoke “by Design” programs into bars and credenzas, as its Bed by Design launch last year was “one of the most successful things we’ve done in the last 30 years,” said Dax Allen, senior vice president of marketing and casegood merchandising. The new Bars and Credenzas by Design program offers two heights and three widths as well as two new bases. Other bespoke program debuts at market include Sherrill Upholstery’s 3 Series Design Your Own, Hickory White’s 8 Series and Lillian August’s Bespoke Sectional program, based on the brand’s best-selling Milan sofa.
Related: Abner Henry’s the Collective unites four design firms in bespoke furniture debut
South + English embraced transitional design at market, bringing old world looks with updated designs, said co-founder Palmer Linwood Smith; one dining table debut was based on an antique found in London with nailhead detail. The company already sells original wall art from Smith and partner DJE, and it’s since expanded into furniture painted by them as well, decorating the doors to create unique art-forward pieces, which “has been blowing up,” said Smith.
Designers were also courted at the debut of the Amadi Collective x Design Social, a curated showcase of textile-forward brands. “It’s very craft driven,” said Taz Ahmadi, co-owner of Amadi Carpets, the company behind Amadi Collective. The 30-plus exhibitors are “not vendors but makers.” He plans to hold the event at every market going forward.
