High Point Market Spring Show 2022 – Inspiration Everywhere
High Point, North Carolina is the epicenter of the design world for five days each spring and fall. In early April we were thrilled to be in the thick of it all at the spring show! The High Point Market is the largest furnishings tradeshow in the world, hosting a ridiculous, nearly 75,000, designers, architects, and retail furnishing buyers. The scene is electric.
Before hitting North Carolina, we plotted our strategy – which reps from our existing lines we needed to connect with, and which new suppliers and lines caught our eye. At the show inspiration was literally everywhere we looked. Our design cups overflowed.
We came home inspired, and ready to share what we saw with our clients. Here’s a sneak peek of what you’ll be seeing in stores, showrooms and homes in the coming year!
Texture, Detail and Color – Oh My!
Texture ran beautifully rampant through the fabrics introduced at the show. Raised elements were featured and embroidery was sprinkled throughout. We were in a state of constant delight with the attention to detail everywhere we looked. Fringe and tassels even made an appearance to add further dimension.
When it came to color, if you dream in technicolor, this was your show. We were struck by the bold nature of its use. Consistently, saturated color choices were shown in larger scale furniture pieces and textiles, not just in throw pillows and accents of a smaller scale. This gives homeowners greater choice in how to incorporate a favorite tone or hue.
Upholstery Lead Time and Options
Through our conversations with multiple vendors, we confirmed that lead time throughout the industry stands at 20-30 weeks for custom upholstered pieces. Deep breath! We did, however, unearth that some ready-to-ship items are available in less time. If there is a piece you have your eye on, we’ll work with you to manage the timeframe the best we can.
It was interesting to see that some of the different upholstery lines carry the same fabrics. When installed on different styles and shapes of furniture the fabric gives each piece a unique feel. It really tells you that design is limitless. As designers, it makes us happy to have so many options available to find the right fit and style for a client.
Furniture Test Drives and Customization
We spent a good deal of time sitting and lounging in various chairs and sofas in each showroom. Playing musical chairs provided a lot of smiles. Oh, what we won’t do for our clients! We were truly “test driving” the pieces to report back on fit and comfort in addition to style.
Furniture manufacturers shared such a wide variety of styles, fabrics, finishes, custom leg, pillow, and size options at the show. Customization reigned supreme. From seat cushions to the style of legs, there is a dizzying array of options out there. You can truly have what you want. We hope that by us spending the time on the showroom floor, we can narrow the scope of options available and steer you in the right direction.
Specific to furniture lines, we saw a casual chair and side table option from one of our favorite table, chair and stool vendors featuring nearly indestructible pieces. A Danish family-owned furniture company added reclining options for sofas and chairs. And we found a new line of swivel rocker chairs. We’ve had a few clients in the last couple of years looking for good-looking options. Mission accomplished!
Outdoor Furniture Shining Brightly
Outdoor living continues to have its moment in the sun – pun fully intended! The options afforded to homeowners when looking for outdoor design elements have never been more plentiful. Durability no longer takes a back seat to style in this category. It is incredibly exciting to see the range of options for outdoor seating and dining options. At times it was difficult to tell if the pieces were intended for inside the home or out! What could be more impressive than that?
Celebrity Encounters
We crossed paths with several celebrities at the show – both of the two-legged and four-legged variety. Hard to say who was our favorite – Carson Kressley, from the original Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, or Stew, the Weiner Dog. We were starstruck indeed!
Southern Hospitality
Lest you think we toiled and troubled through each day, let us assure you that the hospitality of High Point Market is unmatched. About the time our hunger or thirst would get the better of us, a gracious showroom host would offer us decadent food and drink. With a nod to the South, biscuits and gravy adorned our plate in one showroom, while an indulgent lobster mac and cheese stole the show in another. We neither went hungry, nor thirsty during our stay. All in the name of product and industry research!
Bringing The Show Home
While we love to travel far and wide in search of inspiration, it’s always good to come back home. It is especially energizing for us as Che Bella designers to return with fresh, on-trend ideas to meet the needs of our clients. Our goal remains to help you create a home that is beautifully yours and to be your partners from concept to completion!
If you’re looking for a little design or home remodeling inspiration, contact us or stop into our Burnsville, MN design studio. We showcase many different furniture manufacturer pieces and have thousands of different fabric options on hand that you can touch and feel. In the coming weeks and months we’ll be able to share with you what we saw at the show – come take a peek!
