Meeting the Makers at Market
The Marketplace for Designers
High Point, North Carolina is a small city of design showrooms—temporary and permanent. This trade show brings the latest in interior design products to designers and retail showrooms. As a designer, I am always looking for unique furniture, lighting or accessory pieces that help make a space feel and look special.
What made this fall’s Market distinctive, to me, was meeting a number of product designers. I was reminded how all the furniture, lighting and accessories that make up this citywide showroom begins with an idea.
“All Thought is Creative.”
- Ernest Holmes
Dana Gibson
My neighbor, Madeline, asked if I knew her friend Dana Gibson who “has a design empire” right in Richmond. Indeed, I knew of Dana and had first seen her presenting her textiles at a local designer showroom. I was thrilled to be able to spend some time with her and see her new lighting and fabrics. I love her painterly style and bright colors. She started designing and painting pottery and then expanded into designing fabrics, lighting and furniture. Currently she has collaborations with MT Company, Norwalk and Stroheim.
Everyone needs one of her cheerful pieces in their home!
Dana let me take a seat in her beautifully designed chair.
Here’s a close up of her new toll painted sconce --- how cute is that? I love this wallpaper –don’t you think it would look great in the back of a bookcase?
Well so did this Instagram follower! Love how it turned out!
JIMMY DELAURENTIS
I met Jimmy last Spring and loved his furniture so much I bought this loveseat!
The shine on the velvet really glams it up!
His designs are glamorous and very “Hollywood” and he has the personality to match.
Part of his glamorous booth at High Point Market.
Bright, contrasting colors are a hallmark of his bold designs. His fabrics are luxurious and his furniture is built for lounging.
Thinking “Hermes” and “Tiffany”!
He is a huge dog lover; these are his rescue pups – so cute! (Danny, Giselle & Gemma)
Photo by the proud papa!
His love of dogs carries through to his furniture designs --- he designs matching luxury dog beds! I love the accessories too ---Chewy Vuitton, anyone?!
Red egg
I love going to Red Egg’s showroom, which is a partially converted farmhouse in the middle of High Point.
Carol Gregg is the owner/resident and is such an interesting person. Her Asian-inspired furniture lines are clean and colorful.
I used her Wing Buffet for a recent library design. My client’s Buddha was a perfect fit!
This year Carol redesigned her entire showroom to make room for Jill Seale Design Studio and Mill Collective.
JILL SEALE DESIGN STUDIO
I connected immediately with Jill Seale--and her name sounded so familiar…we had a great conversation during which I figured out she is the artist behind one of my favorite character designs—Sister Mary…!
I’m enjoying a Sister Mary Martini here!
She told me she worked for a French boutique shop in Alexandria (my hometown!) and they suggested she design something with nuns--the rest is history. Her work makes me smile every time I have a glass of merlot with Sister Mary Merlot or a sip of coffee with Sister Mary Morning Blend.
Now her focus is on designing beautiful marbleized textiles, wall coverings and accessories.
Apologies to Jill Seale for the terrible photo in front of her beautiful art!
Here’s a close up of “Turks Wave” from her website.
I can’t wait to use one of her textiles for a project!
Here are some of her other beautiful patterns --- they come in fabric and wallpaper!
mill collective
In addition to Jill Seale Design Studio, Carol cleared the entire first floor of Red Egg to make room for Mill Collective.
It was great to meet a couple of the up and coming furniture designers and craftsmen who make up this design platform.
Design with Purpose’s Mark Plakotoris pieces come with a special hammer so you can deconstruct them as well as put them together. His emphasis is on traditional joinery and simplicity.
Jeremy Kamiya of Kamiya Furniture designed this piece to be used in an entryway. A place for everything and everything in its’ place here. The block on the far right can be moved anywhere and has a molded wood divot for keys, coins, etc. Jeremy uses no nails, no screws and no stain in his designs. His Instagram account name says it all “Furniture is Art”
All design starts with an idea. I loved meeting some of these creative thinkers bringing their ideas quite literally to market.
Meeting all these individuals pumped up my creative juices. These are the designs that make a space one of a kind. I can’t wait to use some of these creations in a room plan. Do you have a favorite?
I think all the designers would all agree with Carol at Red Egg:
via Instagram
Don’t forget to subscribe to the blog to get all future posts straight to your inbox!