high point market ~ spring 2012 ~ oly, verellen

Let’s conclude our trip to the spring 2012 High Point Market with a visit to Oly and Verellen

First up, the Oly showroom located in a charming old building just a few blocks away from the hustle and bustle of the IHFC (International Home Furnishings Center)…let me preface by saying my visit to Oly was on the last day of Market…by the time I arrived, they were packing up the first floor of the showroom…what I thought was a huge disappointment turned out to be a blessing disguise! The entire second floor was still intact! I had the rare privilege of photographing the upstairs in peace and quiet…the morning rain had cleared and there was nothing but sunshine and warm breezes coming through the windows…natural light, steel casement windows and well worn wood floors provided a stylish backdrop for Oly’s ultra chic collection of furniture, lighting and unique objects…notice the expressive hand painted walls in the bedroom…this room offered me such a rare and special moment…maybe because I was experiencing it by myself or maybe because it was a truly remarkable work of art

below ~ Verellen

Why is the unexpected so seductive?

When the shuttle pulled up to this odd white structure (with no signage from the street) I didn’t know what to think…do I have the driver wait for me? It would be a very long walk back to the IHFC and my feet were beyond tired…but my gut was telling me to go for it, so instead, I jumped out onto the white gravel courtyard and embarked on what would be the most memorable part of my journey…with one foot in the door I knew this would be a one-of-a-kind feast for the senses…I was greeted by Jeff, lighting designer, Jen, CaDdy designer, a wood burning stove, and the sweet smell of candles burning…what seemed quite rustic at first, quickly morphed into a chic and sophisticated environment, the likes of which I had never experienced before…seducing me with a sensory overload were their linen and leather upholstered pieces finished with couture dress maker details and their artistic and earthy chandeliers, reminiscent of bird nests and canoes…a graceful combination of elements that felt timeless and inventive all at the same time…

They pride themselves on thinking outside the box, creating pieces that stretch the boundaries and excite the senses…for me, they accomplished this and so much more…they created a lifestyle…a place where you could imagine yourself living…an oasis of calm and beauty…I never wanted to leave

photography by danielle boudrot for a thoughtful eye

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high point market ~ spring 2012 ~ julian chichester, oomph, regina andrew, tozai home, noir

Let’s take a walk on the wild side and visit five eclectic exhibits from the spring 2012 High Point Market!

Having always admired their gorgeous print ads, I couldn’t wait to experience Julian Chichester‘s furniture and lighting in person! Rich jewel tones and tartan plaids joyfully co-existed with mirrored pieces and oversized lanterns in this playful yet sophisticated environment…notice the shelving pictured above and below…female silhouettes and pineapples…what imagination!

below ~ oomph

How could I walk by this fabulous red wall and not stop for a closer look? If you love color, then look no further! Oomph carries a fun-filled line of tables, pillows, chairs and now lighting…my favorite, their tini tables, available in 16 highly lacquered colors…they provide the perfect spot for your martini or beverage of choice!

below ~ Regina Andrew

Absolutely beautiful lighting! How about the Penthouse Chandelier made of silver glass leaves (shown as a pair in the first photo) or the white Coral Chandelier (fifth and sixth photos)? A modern interpretation of the classics…quite extraordinary!

below ~ Tozai Home, Dransfield & Ross

I just loved this artful exhibit…what could be more inspiring than an artist’s palette?

below ~ Noir

With a flair for the dramatic, Noir provided me with an almost theatrical experience…classic forms felt edgy and modern when paired with avant-garde paintings and oversized objects…in this case, the art and styling truly transformed the space…what  a unique and expressive adventure!

photography by danielle boudrot for a thoughtful eye

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high point market ~ spring 2012 ~ century

“We strive to make furniture of such impeccable quality that it brings joy not only to the people who own it, but also to the craftsmen who build it.” ~ Harley F. Shuford, Sr., founder of Century Furniture

While at High Point Market, I was extremely fortunate to visit the Century Furniture Showroom…my tour guide was Comer Wear, Marketing Director and grand daughter of Century’s founder Harley F. Shuford…her knowledge of the company and passion for their products was unparalleled…I can’t thank her enough for sharing her priceless stories with me…we experienced most of the 80,000 square foot showroom which included collections by Bob Timberlake, Oscar de la Renta, Charlotte Moss and Juan Montoya, just to name a few…I found there to be such a wide variety of offerings, I thought their tag line should be, “no matter what your taste, there is a collection for you!” My favorite happened to be their Archive Home collection…the Belgian inspired linens and unfinished woods instantly appealed to my senses…cozy, elegant, and oh so comfortable…please enjoy!

photography by danielle boudrot for a thoughtful eye

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high point market ~ spring 2012 ~ tara shaw, busbin, natural curiosities, eloquence, go home

Let’s visit five unique exhibits from the spring 2012 High Point Market

First up, Tara Shaw Maison…exquisite reproduction furniture honoring the authentic finishes and hand carvings of Tara’s favorite one-of-a-kind treasures from Europe…I was awed by her Italian Grisaille Architectural Wall Scene (pictured above) and Grisaille line of pillow shams (pictured below)…an artful gesture from the past re-imagined as wall decor and textiles…so beautiful and romantic

below ~ Busbin

At last spring’s High Point Market, my sister Karen fell in love with Stuart Coleman Budd’s paintings so one of our must-see visits was to Busbin! We were greeted with lively music and dancing by Busbin’s owner Russ (left) and artist Stuart (right)! Their positive energy and passion for what they do was contagious! Friends long before they became business partners, their pieces live together in perfect harmony…time worn textures combined with a soft earthy palette could describe either the furniture or paintings…what a wonderful union!

below ~ Natural Curiosities

“Great art picks up where nature ends” ~ Marc Chagall

Framed butterflies and gold feathers captured my imagination…what an innovative way to live with nature and appreciate it’s timeless beauty

below ~ Eloquence

Thoughtfully restored French antiques, reproduction furniture, lighting and objects of interest…I fell in love with this pair of antique gilded chairs pictured below…the humble burlap upholstery allowed the aged gold patina to sing…I have their beauty etched in my memory…a truly special discovery

below ~ Go Home

Unique and beautiful items from around the globe…how about a gold leather journal? Chic and functional!

photography by danielle boudrot for a thoughtful eye

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high point market ~ spring 2012 ~ baker

I’m home from my first ever High Point Market ~ The World’s Home for Home Furnishings! With more than 1.1 million square meters of exhibit space, I wasn’t able to see everything but what I did experience was amazing! Helping me sort through the chaos was a guardian angel, my sister Karen…host, mentor, and mutual design lover, I can’t thank her enough for her kindness, support and love…we ended our first day together with a glass of champagne at the Baker showroom…a fairytale ending to a perfect day

So let’s begin our journey at Baker…Megan Hunter (from Baker’s Online Marketing department) led me on a grand tour of the showroom starting with a beautiful new collection by Thomas Pheasant…soft neutrals instantly soothed my senses…I was at ease and sublimely comfortable in my surroundings…the cohesive palette and artful details flowed effortlessly from room to room, while the designer’s own photography echoed his architectural inspirations…when I say that every detail was accounted for, I truly mean it…finishes, fabrics, styling, and lighting, all united to create an ethereal environment

I was fortunate enough to meet Thomas Pheasant at the tail end of my visit (thank you Megan!)…he was just as passionate and graceful in person as I imagined he would be…I asked him if he lives with his own pieces, and he quickly responded with an enthusiastic YES! He told me that what I was experiencing in the showroom represents how he lives…a true reflection of his aesthetic…how wonderful! Please enjoy this intimate look at Thomas Pheasant’s new collection celebrating his tenth anniversary at Baker

“Inspiration is not imitation. It’s not simply recreating something you have seen…it is taking something you have experienced and allowing it to filter through your own unique sensibility, so that when it comes out, it comes out new.”

~ Thomas Pheasant

Marketing team ~ Megan Hunter, far left

My sister Karen posing on a fabulous Thomas Pheasant chair!

photography by danielle boudrot for a thoughtful eye

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