High Point Market, a week-long event taking place twice a year in High Point, North Carolina, is the Fashion Week of the furniture world. Instead of models walking down runways, attendees explore an approximately 600,000-square foot showroom as they discover new and innovative furniture design.
High Point Market draws attendees from all over the world to see work from up-and-coming designers, network with others in the industry, and draw inspiration for their own work. The event is one of my favorites, as I always return home with new design ideas and new vendors to help give my clients a wide range of options as I design unique, luxurious interiors.
Spring 2017’s Biggest Trend: Midcentury Modern
During the Spring 2017 market, one noticeable trend was the resurgence of Midcentury Modern design.
Midcentury modern, a term coined back in 1984 by author Cara Greenberg, is a style that became popular in the 1950s. Furniture of this aesthetic features clean and simple lines, offering pared-down forms and natural materials (wood furniture is particularly popular in the midcentury modern aesthetic). The look is all about only adding what’s needed: you won’t find any excessive and unnecessary details here.
However, while midcentury modern furniture may sound boring to those with a distaste for minimalism, the pared-down forms are often balanced out by fun, funky patterns. A midcentury modern chair may be paired with a fun, geometric pattern fabric, or a wall covered with a wallpaper featuring a curvaceous pattern.
From Furniture to Fashion: The Midcentury Modern Aesthetic
Midcentury modern isn’t just making a comeback in the interior design world: we see it in the fashion world, too! AMC’s popular show Mad Men, set in the 1960s, brought the look to the masses, even spawning a midcentury modern capsule collection at Banana Republic.
One designer who beautifully masters the mid-century look is Ralph Lauren, who incorporates this sexy, uncomplicated style into both his garments and interiors.
Clothing of midcentury modern style tends to have a romantic flair; feminine shapes – as seen in a typical “hold-your-breath waist and domed skirt,” as the Telegraph explains it – offers a more put-together look than today’s casual-everywhere style, where getting dressed up is becoming a more rare occasion.
Other Highlights from High Point Spring 2017 Market
In addition to being wowed by the incredible midcentury modern pieces,
I loved getting a glimpse of collections produced by some of the most forward-thinking interior designers in the business.
Some of my personal favorite collections at High Point Spring 2017 Market include:
Kelly Wearstler – Kelly’s collection was all about fresh, clean lines. I loved the warm palate and feminine touch she incorporated into her designs, which all felt very current.
Mary McDonald –Mary’s designs used black & white as a canvas for a totally “Hollywood” collection, which incorporated brushed gold, geometric shapes and a feminine feel to create glamorous pieces.
Century Furniture – The collection Century Furniture showed at High Point Spring 2017 was some of my favorite work they’ve produced in recent memory. Their collection felt very fresh and new, and I loved the pops of lilac and green incorporated throughout their pieces. Windsor Smith, the designer Century Furniture was showcasing, did an outstanding job creating stunning looks that I personally would love to have in my own home.