i`ve long believed that intelligent, discerning

I
I’VE LONG BELIEVED THAT INTELLIGENT, DISCERNING CONSUMERS MAKE THE BEST
CLIENTS. WITH THAT IN MIND, I WENT TO THIS YEAR’S INTERNATIONAL HOME
FURNISHING MARKET IN HIGH POINT, NC WITH AN EYE TOWARD CAPTURING AND
SHARING SOME OF MY KNOWLEDGE. WITH 12 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF SHOWROOM
SPACE AND 2300 EXHIBITORS IN 188 SEPARATE BUILDINGS, IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE
TO SEE EVERYTHING. EVEN SO, THE SHOW GAVE ME A VERY CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT
CONSUMERS CAN EXPECT TO SEE IN THE COMING YEAR.
Evocative Designs and a New Talent to Watch at Baker
Baker is known for its standard, high quality, well made
furniture. And I certainly saw a lot of that. But this year,
the company enthusiastically introduced its new “Studio”
collection, whose pieces evoke exotic travel, timeless legacy and a sense of peaceful tranquility. The most exciting
pieces included a big coffee table with simple lines and
hardware that really highlighted the beauty of the wood.
I also liked the sophisticated bleached coconut surface
of the Reef Server. I could easily see this piece giving real
punch to a room with a confident, eclectic sense of style.
During our visit, we met with Shaun Melvin, the
company’s in-house case goods designer and one of the
next big names in design. His look has been influenced
by the design leaders with whom he has worked, as well
as the revolutionary early 20th century Austrian architect
and designer, Josef Hoffman. Melvin’s Hoffman-esque
aesthetic, with its strong shapes and surfaces driving the
structure of his pieces, really resonated with me. I loved
his chandeliers and sconces made of bone china from
Florence, Italy. And the sleek lines and stylized geometry
of his chest of drawers really stood out.
This is why I see Shaun Melvin as “the thinking designer’s
designer.” A whole room of these pieces might seem too
fast or sleek. But Smart interior designers will cherry-pick
items like the chest and perhaps some of Shaun’s lamps and
occasional pieces for a refined look and a level of quality that
far exceeds that found at the “big box” furniture retailers.
I was particularly drawn to the Ralph Lauren Hither
Hills oak collection, which offered a fresh, high-end
interpretation of our grandparents’ favorite wood. The solid
oak dresser was set off by marble accents and handles that
were almost as long as the drawers they pulled. These pieces
would really shine as part of a fabulous mountain home.
Old Friends in New Clothes at Century
My overall impression of the Century showroom was
one of old friends in new clothes. The collection featured
a number of the manufacturer’s most popular pieces in
some very attractive new finishes and fabrics. For example,
a tailored tufted sofa was attractive to look at, however, the
real beauty was inside – it felt so comfortable.
Century’s new Metro Luxe collection featured fabulous
new crimson lacquered finishes that were downright sexy,
and a new black lacquer that is as close to the distinctive
finish on a Steinway piano as I’ve ever seen. The whole
collection offers something sleek and dramatic for a
younger, forward-thinking client.
The biggest hit at Century for me, was one of the desks
in their Monarch collection. It’s a beautiful, oval desk,
perfectly sized and scaled to be an elegant, yet relatively small
place to pay bills or write letters. But here’s the fun part:
I pulled a handle and out popped an integrated desk chair. It
wasn’t just a gimmick. Sitting at the desk was so comfortable
that it felt custom-designed. It was at once modern and like
something I could find at a London antique store for maybe
$20,000 – $30,000. Fortunately for our customers, the price
on this desk isn’t anywhere near that high. I already expect
Legacy Style and New Design Ideas at Henredon
Henredon’s New Natchez Collection is reminiscent of the many of my clients to eat this piece up!
old, red mahogany pieces originally from the Mississippi Affordable, Hand Crafted Elegance at Emerson Et Cie
estate of the same name. This look has always been popu- I was tired and a bit cranky after a longer-than-expected
lar, but even some of the most conservative Southerners are drive to the Emerson Et Cie showroom. Then we saw the
moving away from traditional, staid mahoganies. This new collection and at least two pieces made it all worthwhile.
collection uses more brown tones that complement a widTheir inlaid wood plasma TV cabinet looks hand crafted,
er array of interiors. My favorite piece was a new double- yet will cost a fraction of what a truly custom made piece
width china cabinet with a large bonnet top, which I know would run. Against stacked stone or drywall, it is an exquiwe’ve already bought for our showroom at Beverly Hall.
sitely beautiful way to keep the “electronic eye” out of sight.
No discussion of Henredon would be complete withLikewise, the big, chunky star mirror will make a fantastic
out mentioning Ralph Lauren, whose furniture designs statement virtually anywhere, from a front entryway to a
are represented by the manufacturer. Having worked for master bedroom. And, again, the price is very affordable.
Ralph Lauren in the 1980s and 1990s, I find his “old money”
style inimitable, and no one understands it better than the Quality Upholstery and Faux Finishes at
Ralph Lauren design team at Henredon. Their dining room Southwood and Henkel Harris
display didn’t miss a thing: Linens on the tables. Orchids Our second day took us to the Southwood showroom,
at each place setting. A party of 18 could have sat down which offered a textbook example of high quality, very reato dinner right there. The Noble Estate center table with sonably priced upholstery. Southwood may not be as big
black marble communicated the idea that “less is more.” I a name as some of the other showrooms we saw. But their
expect to include the Noble Estate settee in one of the next entire collection is new, fresh and comfortable. Especially
for classic, basic pieces, it’s a furniture name to remember.
“gentleman’s libraries” I design.
COVER: “Wall of Pictures” created by Henredon Senior Vice President of Creative Design, Michael Delgavdio. THIS PAGE TOP: Century oval desk with integrated desk chair TOP RIGHT: Chest
on Stand, designed by Shaun Melvin for Baker’s Lexicon collection BOTTOM LEFT: Hickory Chair Christenson Table. Available with multiple bases and paint finishes for outstanding flexibility.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Alexa Hampton’s Olson Chair for Hickory Chair.
One botanical print fabric combined classic greens with a fairly edgy aquamarine. The result was upholstery that felt less like a Cotswold cottage and more like a fresh way to bring the outdoors in. Throughout the
market, I saw a many faux wood finishes, but Southwood’s faux Elm burl impressed me with its gentle, realistic
curves that truly resembled a real Elm burl.
From Southwood, we visited the Henkel Harris showroom, where a china cabinet that has been in their
line for perhaps fifty years was painted an astonishing shade of opal with gold accents. The shade is almost the
robin’s egg turquoise that is very trendy today, to the point of cliché. Almost. But Henkel Harris’ opal is a color
that I haven’t seen anywhere else – and it’s simply lovely.
Whimsical Accessories Complement Consistency at Althorp
Althorp, as many people know, is the 500 year old home of Britain’s Spencer family – yes, as in Princess
Diana’s family – and that all proceeds from furniture sales go toward the upkeep of their estate in North
Hamptonshire. But the Althorp pieces I saw at High Point were about neither celebrity nor history.
The watchword for Althorp furniture is consistency and centuries of tasteful, livable furniture. But how
many new ideas can come from eighteenth century English and French furniture? The answer is – quite a lot.
The accessories were especially surprising in their wit and whimsy. I saw burl veneer vases. Rosewood lamps
with green silk shades that almost felt like art deco. A pair of bronzed Victorian ladies gloves. And a set of
miniature Chippendale chairs that were downright charming. With any of these elements, one can own a piece
of the past without having to spend a fortune in expensive antique shops.
High Points from
High
Point
Best-in-Show Creativity, Flexibility and Quality at Hickory Chair
Hickory Chair wins my personal “best in show,” and I don’t think I’m the only one who feels that way.
In fact, one store owner was so impressed that she grabbed her cell phone, called her buyer and insisted,
“I don’t care what appointment you have to break. I need you over here to place some orders now!”
The company’s collection from second generation top designer Alexa Hampton featured a number of highly
creative pieces. Her Olson chair’s exposed wood with upholstery on the arms looked perfectly beautiful. More
importantly, everything about this chair felt right. The only thing missing was my copy of the Sunday Times.
One associate remarked, “Alexa finally succeeded in recreating her father’s favorite chair.” The statement was
so evocative; Alexa’s father, after all, was the famous designer Mark Hampton. There would be no way that his
favorite chair would be anything short of perfect.
The Christenson table showed extraordinary flexibility. With multiple bases and paint finishes, it could
be adapted to virtually any dining room. The entire collection is modular, so a dining ensemble could seat
as many people as a room could hold.
What I love about Hickory Chair is their creativity with fabrics and. especially, finishes. I saw exciting new
aquamarine tones combined with warm, cocoa browns. I was taken by their 48 inch round table with a surface
of beautifully faux finished ash wood – an example of “pickling for the 21st century.” This finish highlights so
much more texture and strong ash grain than yesterday’s bleached offerings. It’s a great piece for so many
different rooms, from a charming breakfast nook to a sunny sitting area.
Hickory Chair used to be synonymous with “old-style, 18th century mahogany.” Not anymore. Today, the
company is all about item-driven collections, with seemingly endless fabric and finish customization options.
Some pieces are imported – but the company insists on adding its own creative, high-quality paint and stain
finishes domestically. One could order a whole room full of Hickory Chair pieces and it wouldn’t feel like a
cookie-cutter display.
The company also has made a firm commitment to the intrinsic value of every piece in their collection.
Hickory Chair began to reinvent its style about eight years ago, yet hasn’t raised prices in the past six years.
If that’s not an example of high quality value, I don’t know what is.
Conclusion
Any designer will come away from the High Point show with new ideas, but really, one can’t expect to see many
genuinely new looks. More likely, we’ll see fresh interpretations of old styles or “riffs” on a trend. Fortunately,
there are always exceptions. Michael Delgavdio, Henredon’s Senior VP of Creative Design, set off one collection
with a lavish wall of pictures, hanging over each other. This highly dramatic wall could have overshadowed the
furniture in the room.. Instead, it helped to pull all of the elements of the room together into a cohesive whole.
Like many a striking design, this type of display may be difficult to imitate – but it does have me thinking. And
that’s the point of High Point. There are truly unique items coming to market that will help my clients develop rooms
that are truly right for the way they live. And the value that these innovations represent is truly extraordinary.
Overall, the Spring Market at High Point has ignited my imagination with new perspectives, color
combinations, furniture possibilities and ideas. More importantly, I feel certain that everything I’ve seen will
help my clients accomplish great things in their homes.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Intelligent, discerning homeowners trust Mark Sunderland to create exquisite
interiors. His extensive experience with classic Beverly Hall furnishings, deep industry knowledge and
commitment to clients assure on-time installations, without surprises. His intrinsic understanding of light,
texture, color, space and proportion inspires rooms that radiate integrity and charm.
STORY BY MARK SUNDERLAND FOR BEVERLY HALL, ALLIED MEMBER ASID