Twice a year, the quiet town of High Point, North Carolina, plays host to the largest home-furnishings trade show in the world. Industry attendees number in the tens of thousands — and I was lucky enough to be among them for the recent Spring Market. I walked my feet off, going from showroom to showroom, building to building, in search of the latest and greatest. And, boy, did I find them! I came away with tons of inspiration and product ideas for client projects (and a few ideas I’d love to bring into my own home).
During my search, two big trends emerged — or, rather, continued to show a strong presence. First, furnishings that showcase the natural beauty of wood or highlight wood in interesting ways (either through a grain, treatment, inlay or live-edge) were everywhere. Second, shell and stone accents remain popular. Both design elements are great ways to add texture, dimension and interest to a space.
Check out these artisanal coffee tables from TARACEA, which marry contemporary design with the raw beauty of wood:
I love how the TARACEA pieces somehow manage to be elegant and earthy all at once!
Here are a few pieces from various vendors that prove the natural-beauty-of-wood trend is alive and well — and runs the gamut from rustic to refined:
These examples show just some of the many ways I saw the beauty of wood featured and optimized in High Point.
The shell and stone thread also ran throughout the market. I love to incorporate both materials in my designs, so I was happy to see so many shining examples (pun intended!). I’m sharing a few of my favorites. My ABSOLUTE FAVORITE market find are the exquisite onyx bowls and canoes from Verona Privé. One for my client, one for me!
These onyx vessels are the perfect finishing touch for almost any space! Another on-trend way to add a touch of stone or shell to a space is with a tabletop…and examples were evident around every turn at Market. Here are a few I spotted:
If you want to participate in the shell trend in a subtle yet stunning way, look no further than the gorgeous hardware from Addison Weeks.
Wouldn’t these be perfect in a beach kitchen or bath? Or in a glamorous bar anywhere? If I had a she shed, I’d definitely find a use for these!
Another amazing line that features drop-dead-gorgeous stone accessories is Kathryn McCoy. Imagine these candleholders, with lighted candles, sparkling at your next dinner party:
What I love about these two trends is that you can make a big splash or just dip your toe in. So what do you think? Will you be incorporating more pieces that showcase the natural beauty of wood, stone and shell into your future projects?
I’ll be sharing more favorite finds from High Point Spring Market soon, so stay tuned!
Great Room Challenge: Puzzling Out a Large Space
