Yellow and grey and black, oh my! (aka The Colors of High Point)

Another High Point market is behind us.

My 35th.
J's 28th.
JK's 2nd.
A's... was it 60?
(please keep in mind that HP market is TWICE a year).

We all returned one week ago tonight with dogs-a-barkin' and minds-a-burstin' with new ideas!

While High Point is not Milan (by the way, thanks a lot Jim & Bob for telling us how WONDERFUL Milan was... ... did you have to rub it in?), it is still a great show for relationship building and design watching.
Really... a long-time American furniture market that still offers some WOW factor.

So, what did we like?

First, we loved the color forecast.
Greys weren't cool, forbidding, and offputting. Instead they had soft undertones of brown running through them. Think 'pewter' as opposed to 'silver'. They were contrasted with pure black (lacquer or stained wood or glass).

Then, to mix up your mind and provide excitement, wonderful but warm citrus tones were mixed in to whet the appetite. Greens that were acid or apple or chartreuse and yellows that were anything but banana or butter.
Like the color of ... keylimes: tart & refreshing.

In case goods, we saw the continued application of American walnut. From the exquisite mid-century inspired collections from Copeland Furniture of Vermont, to new, unexpected treats from Saloom of Pennsylvania, we were ready to jump on the walnut bandwagon full force! LaDiff has always loved natural walnut... it is such a treat to see the true grain of the wood instead of a sea of dark brown.

Our Italian friends showed off their Milanese introductions of walnut too, mixed with soft ivory lacquer for a mix that was luxurious and sophisticated without the severity that minimal 'black & white' or even 'dark brown & white' can bring. These softer wood tones and warmer lacquer colors are inviting, soothing and restful - perfect for the bedroom or dining room.

We were delighted to see new inspiration from our AMERICAN suppliers. Yes, we do shop the world, but when you find something you love in your own backyard, why leave? Comfort, color, and quality are key with these vendors.

Our friends at Curvet in Pennsylvania continue to surprise us with the amazing and wonderful things they do with glass! Berg Furniture of New Jersey impressed us with their fantastic ideas for kids' furniture... we love those steps to the top bunk!

We were particularly pleased to discover new designs from Christian McCreary - son of one of our favorite upholstery suppliers - who has ventured out on his own with new ideas and new innovations.

We look forward to continuing to build a relationship with Christian and other American manufacturers who want to provide interesting, functional, comfortable, beautiful products, made in the states, providing a 'green' story, and offering superb service.

To wrap up:

• that's black/grey/keylime (yeah, definitely keylime) for fabrics, rugs, textiles
• natural walnut for wood (preferably with a mid-century inspiration or, if Italian inspired, mixed with soft ivories)
• invigorated designs and innovative ideas from AMERICAN suppliers.

Add to all of that the inevitable 'catching up' with the suppliers, reps, vendors, and retail colleagues we are proud to call our friends. Good wine, good food, good fun.

Now... to get those orders placed, plan out the floor space to make room, and show you this great new product in PERSON!

Stay tuned........

p.s. Almost forgot the shout out to designer extraordinaire AW from NY who joined us for a rocking night with Blood Sweat & Tears. Who says High Point isn't keeping up with Vegas? (well... they're trying).