Designer Barry Dixon with Interior Designers Caroline Thompson & Steve Thompson at the Fall High Point Market. Once a year we make an all day trek back to the East coast to the largest home furnishings show in the world, The High Point Market in High Point, NC. We make this trek only to trek through 12 million square feet of showrooms and factories scattered over the entire city center and in the adjacent small towns and burgs.
Now I must tell you, the people here are lovely in everyway, with manners to spare! It reminds me of why I love the South and Southern ways!
We had a look at Aerin, the line of home furnishings by Aerin Lauder, heir to the Estee Lauder fortune and granddaughter of the grand dame herself, Estee Lauder. Our sales rep shared Aerin’s motto with us: “Beauty is my families history, but home furnishings are my passion“.
Aerin Lauder with a console and lamp she designed that was featured in Architectural Digest.
I’d say we had high expectations for Ms. Aerin, as a descendant of her uber powerful grand mum who was the only woman listed on Time Magazine’s 1998 list of the 20 most influential business geniuses of the 20th century!
Above: Estee Lauder applies makeup to a client (1966)
The collection was nice, very nice. It seems the heiress has real panache in the home furnishings arena. Her look is fresh with a confident take on mid-century modern and Asian antique furniture, as well as in lighting.
Lacquered Cabinet with doors covered in burlap with gold-leaf overlay- interesting
Lauders take on this mid century modern desk is executed in mahogany on brass legs
Aerin has designed a handsome line lighting that includes the sconces shown, above and below.
As in her lighting collection, Lauder uses sinuous lines throughout her collection such as in the chairs, above, and in the design of the circular pattern on the legs of the occasional table, below
Below: Detail of the tables base, shown in solid, cast brass.
And more name dropping: Ralph Lauren (born Ralph Lifshitz– no shitz!). Pictured below, a handsome Mr. Lauren as photographed several years ago.
Lauren’s showroom featured slick lacquered finishes and mahogany on pieces like the new Duke Bar and the Avalon Bedroom Group.
Shown: A pair of bars. Above, a lacquered bookcase opens to reveal mahogany detailing and polished nickel hardware. Below: A mahogany chest opens on each side and at the top for bar service.
Below: The Avalon Bedroom Collection
The collection included a nod to Mr. Lauren’s casual/ranchy side with the introduction of an unfinished wood dining table base with glass top, shown with unfinished wood chairs with rush detailing and saddle leather seats and back.
Shown below: The North Atlantic Coast Dining Table is an addition to the unfinished offerings in the new Ralph Lauren Home collection.
We love the new RL pine chest, shown below, with oversized nail head detail that would make a great bedside piece.
And then there was Calvin Klein, most famous for his ads featuring a pubescent Brooke Shields in jeans, and his hard bodied boys in underwear, is now in the furniture business, joining the furniture league already populated by fellow rag business guru Giorgio Armani.
Mr. Klein looking his age, finally!
First famous for his sensational Calvin Klein Jeans ads featuring an early teen Brooke Shields, seductively and scandalous for the times, uttering the words, “You wanna know what comes between me and my Calvin’s?”
I don’t want to know what comes between he and his Calvin’s! Mark Wahlburg when he was known as Marky Mark.
The collection featured clean lines, eliminating unnecessary details, which is a hallmark of Klein. The stunning stools shown below are leather topped with bronze frame, and a wooden folding camp stool with saddle leather seat.
The Sectional, Cube stools, Cocktail table and Square Ottoman, below, are classic Calvin Klein with clean lines and a keen sense of proportion.
The bedroom chest below features a clean lined mahogany exterior which opens to reveal leather drawer fronts.
The trend towards brass furniture, lighting and accessories was present at Calvin Klein as well. The solid brass table below is sturdy in construction but light in appearance.
It seems as if furniture designers all have to take a turn at designing their own version of the classic Knoll Barcelona Chair. Pictured below, Klein’s chair features a stainless steel base with channel leather upholstery.
An finally: Thayer Coggin, is the man behind the real mid-century furniture in America, began manufacturing in 1953.
Mid-century furniture manufacturer Thayer Coggin with his pooch, and Designer Milo Baughman with two of the Baughman’s iconic designs.
A vintage ad featuring Baughman, second from right, with fellow designers.
Coggin hired Distinguished Design Award honoree Milo Baughman who created some of the most recognizable furniture designs in the world.
Two of Milo Baughman’s iconic designs
We bought into the line for the first time this week after having sold several pieces of Thayer Coggin furniture via special order over the last few years.
Two of our purchases included the stunning “Z” chair, above, and a Sectional.
The company remains family owned with Coggin’s daughter, Royal, at the helm. The youngish Ms. Coggin is reintroducing many of the iconic designs that are still hand made in their North Carolina factory here in High Point, NC.
Above: Classic sideboard with book matched burled wood drawers and a marble top.
Above: A stunning pair of Swivel Club Chairs in handsome russet leather.
Okay, okay…enough of the name dropping BS! let’s have some fun. We found these bar stools, pictured below, with wrought iron bases and cork seats made to look like wine bottle corks.
And, what would my market report be without giving you a taste of the “worst in show”? Do you think a chair upholstered in silver metallic vinyl with sparkling rhinestone button tufting qualifies?
All for now. Join me tomorrow for more on the High Point Market.
Good night moon.
Source: A Design Guy
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