High Point Highlights

Three New Jersey-based designers — Nancy Mikulich, Jennifer Pacca and Alexa Ralff — share some of their top takeaways and insights from this fall’s High Point Market in North Carolina, the go-to destination for discovering what’s new and next in home fashions.

High Point Market, one of the largest trade shows in the world for furniture and interior design, is held every spring and fall in the city of High Point, North Carolina.

Nancy Mikulich at the Hooker Furniture showroom.

Nancy Mikulich, ASID, CAPS
Principal Designer & Owner
Oasis Home Designs, Asbury Park
732-775-5151
OasisHomeDesigns.com | @oasishomedesigns_official

Value of Attending Market: Prime-Time Shopping Opportunities
I attend High Point Market every year and prefer the fall market for a number of reasons: I am able to view new introductions that will be available in the first quarter of the next year, when many of my projects are ready to furnish and new ones begin. I am also able to resource and purchase accessories for the holiday season for client gifts and for my store.

Inspiring Showrooms or Notable Debuts: Intriguing Objects
BOBO Intriguing Objects at the Hooker Furniture showroom was by far my favorite new product debut. I use Hooker furnishings and the company’s other product lines quite a bit. BOBO’s one-of a-kind furniture and lighting pieces and accessories are a great complement to the other Hooker products and are also a terrific addition to my store inventory. The products are unique, artsy, playful and well-priced.

The Vendor Chair by BOBO Intriguing Objects features recycled memory foam that is formed into the shape of a chair. More than 1,000 hand-sewn silk balls are then attached to create the intriguing look. It is available in both a neutral color story (left) as well as a bright, bold multicolor look.

Trending Styles, Colors or Finishes: All About the Burl, Warmer Neutrals, Rocking the 1970s and ’80s
Thankfully, color is returning, and gray is being replaced with warmer neutrals. Earth tones began trending last year and are now featured in almost every showroom. Updated color palettes from the late 1970s to early ’80s are definitely on trend. Deep emerald green, ochre and rust were featured in many upholstery showrooms. (Think ’70s avocado, goldenrod and orange.)

Warmer tones on display at Roberta Schilling.

Also trending are beautiful, upholstered headboards with undulating details.

Highland House captured beautiful feminine curves in a twin bed (left) and king bed display.

Finally, with a lot of inspiration from the early ’80s and late ’70s in many of the colors mentioned above, I spied a lot of “wood burl” finishes. It’s a definite throwback to the ’80s for sure, either as a standalone wood finish or as an accent on a painted finish. This was unexpected, but totally in keeping with the subtle design nods to the ’80s.

CLOCKWISE | Blanche Bath Vanity from World’s Away in burl wood with antique brass features. | The Mantra Sideboard from Universal combines a curved burled-finish frame and subtle gold accents with white ridged doors. | A burl and glass cocktail table from Hooker Furniture. | A vignette from Uttermost with a more modern burl surface. | Universal’s Poise Etagere marries a sleek white frame with burl dividers, creating stylish open-aired storage.

Style Forecast: High-Performance Fabrics, Jewelry-Inspired Lighting, Wallpaper Wow
I think durable finishes are here to stay in fabrics especially. Just about every upholstered item was in a high-performance fabric. I also think simpler spaces with more spectacular lighting as jewelry will be trending. Finally, wallpaper — whether it is temporary, graphic or custom — is here to stay.

The Coral LED Pendant from Hubbardton Forge is a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted light fixture made from aluminum pieces that are meticulously welded into a free-flowing, sculptural shape.

Jennifer Pacca

Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, NJCID
Principal Designer & Owner
Jennifer Pacca Interiors in Wyckoff
201-722-8540
JenniferPaccaInteriors.com | @jenniferpaccainteriors

Value of Attending Market: Spotting the Latest and Greatest
We go to High Point at least once a year. I go to see the latest trends and visit the vendors I purchase from and see their new lines. I also go with the idea that I can find new and interesting products to bring back to my clients.

Inspiring Showrooms or Notable Debuts: Artisan-Inspired
In my opinion the most inspiring showroom is Made Goods. They carry an array of handmade items, including lighting, furniture and accessories. The pieces are so unique. I love to incorporate one of their pieces in each of my designs if I can.

Coco beads are woven tightly into three overlapping concentric rings that move languidly on the Patricia Oval Chandelier from Made Goods. With a slight ruffle along the edge and flirtatious silhouette, the effect is pure glamour.

Trending Looks: Burl Resurgence, Bunching Tables, Organic Shapes
I saw several trends at market, including burl wood. I saw burl wood tables, chairs, lamps, beds. Anything you can think of was made of burl wood.

A console/media cabinet at Vanguard Furniture.

As far as trending cocktail tables, I saw numerous tables that bunch or incorporate different sizes and heights to create an interesting array. Organic shapes are still very hot. Upholstery and case goods — including chairs and sofas — are curvy and sexy.

An array of bunching cocktail tables at Universal Furniture.

Style Forecast: Warmer Palettes and Cozy Textures Stay the Course
I predict we will be seeing more and more warm colors and lots of texture; beige, brown, rust, and hunter green will continue to be used. We will not see much gray at all.

LEFT | In the Lexington Furniture showroom, warm wood finishes and textures strike a relaxed ambience. RIGHT | Once popular gray tones give way to soothing brown-based hues that invite warmth and coziness in the Vanguard showroom.

Alexa Ralff enjoying the comfort level of warm-toned Rowe upholstery.

Alexa Ralff
Founder and Principal Interior Designer
AHR Designs in Maplewood
201-725-5862
AHRDesigns.com | @ahrdesign

Value of attending Market: Chance To See and Feel Upfront
While it’s great to see what’s new and trending, we generally go to market to see, touch and sit in the furniture that we spend the rest of the year specifying for our projects. It’s a one-stop-shop for us to do all of our due diligence!

Notable Debuts: Tailored Twist on Tradition
A Dunes and Duchess table — displayed in the Thibaut showroom — stuck with me for its playful twist on a traditional hall table or even side table. It’s customizable with any fabric or paint color — a designer’s dream.

A fully customizable table from Dunes and Duchess.

Trending Themes or Colors: Seeing Green, Global Looks, Mixed Materials & Cozy Vibes
Everything everywhere was GREEN. I love green so I was happy to see it; green lighting [at Made Goods] was also a fun surprise. The showrooms all had a collected, global feel. Mixed materials, warm tones, cozy vibes.

An abstract shape inspired by flowers, the Alondra chandeliers from Made Goods are made of six layers of rattan with densely braided edges that coax them into waves, providing a soft diffused light. Shown in dark charcoal rattan, natural rattan and the newest colorway, hunter green.

Discs of sustainable coconut shells are strung together and finished in a rich eucalyptus hue inspired by succulent plants on the Bilal Chandelier from Arteriors.

A sweet bedroom vignette at CR Laine.

Rowe combines a textured, green-patterned sofa with high-fashion blush accents.

Thibaut also pairs verdant greens with complementary pink hues.

Style Forecast: Bye, Bye Gray!
I am happy to report there wasn’t a gray room to be found. Warm tones are winning for another season. Lots of opportunities to warm up rooms with pillows, lamps and rugs, so don’t despair if you’re stuck with your gray sofa!

Warm wood tones and earthy hues strike cozy vibes at both the Vanguard (left) and Verellen showrooms.