Madmen & Rickrack

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Spring High Point furniture market is now just a memory, but thanks to my iron clad memory and the help of my trusty ever-ready phone, I've got a lot to share with you.

It seems that we just can't get enough of the cocktail swilling Don Draper. And do we want to? Noooo. The Mid-Century look was alive and well at the High Point spring market.
Clean modern lines, just the right amount of tufting and a vodka martini, extra dirty. The Mad Ad men were evident in many of the showrooms
This years market saw a lot of patterns, Chevrons, Rickrack ribbons (zig-zag) and Menswear; from the plaids to paisley, hounds tooth to argyle, it was all well represented.

The color of the season was most definitely tangerine.  We saw the citrus shade represented on lamps to dresser drawers.  Mixed in with the tangerine was royal blue, bright turquoise and various shades of purple, from lilac to plum.  Copper and platinum were woven into fabrics giving  them a  new life and sheen.

Oh, and there were flocks of birds- everywhere.  Bird motifs on upholstery, rugs and lamps.  I guess these birds don't migrate, because we saw this reoccurring theme in last years market as well.

Elegant and refined, raffia, burlap and grass cloth was used in a more sophisticated way.  Gone was the rugged, southwestern feel.  This years market saw a new more elegant use for these products on lamps and chests of drawers.



Bolts and rivets, old-to-new was evident in the sort of re purposed Industrial chic look.  We saw a Morocco influence with spicy patterns and pallets, carved arches, lanterns and medallions.  Surprisingly, there was a strong segment of hand-crafted styling with authentic details, hammered metals, artisan designs.  Manufactured products made to look hand-crafted.

So, in all the above, what's the take away for the consumer?

A “green mentality” has consumers turning to pieces that are locally sourced. Manufacturers are trying to duplicate this "look," as seen in Industrial chic look mentioned above.

A global, more rough hewn look is “in".

Don't be "matchy".  It's a mistake to buy all the pieces in a matching bedroom set or a "Room to Go", shake it up a bit. Same is true when dressing your beds. Mix it up. Cream fitted sheet with chocolate top sheet. Buy two favorite colors and mix them.

Mixing patterns and materials makes for the best design.  Surprise yourself and mix in a peroba wood cocktail table paired with a sofa with moden lines.

No matter what, architecture, scale, proportion should dictate design, not trends.