High Point Market- Recap No 3

The final recap for Market and I have saved the best for last! Bill & I visited Hickory Chair early into market and got the grand tour. Hickory Chair is one of our go to lines at The Mansion but it was great to see all of the products & options in person. Just a few highlights of the company include the capabilities to apply 69 finishes on almost any of their furniture pieces. This can dramatically change the look of a piece of furniture. They also have a made to measure program which allows you to pick the size of an upholstery piece. It is so remarkable how customizable Hickory Chair is for you which is why as I designer I love the line! If I can dream it up they will help us make it!

The new introductions this market came from Alexa Hampton. As the daughter of famed designer Mark Hampton it is no surprise her collection embodies detail and perfect balance. It was an honor to meet Alexa & listen to her speak about her collection. I really respect Alexa as a designer and have followed her work for a long time and I was equally impressed in person! Alexa has a passion for timeless forms from different periods and areas of the world including Anglo-Indian, Swedish, English reproductions and modern adaptations. Each of her items have great versatility & flexibility into a design & can be completely personalized by the craftsmen of Hickory Chair.

Later into market Laura Holland of Hickory Chair & the blog Made invited me to come back to a Blog Breakfast & special tour. I was pretty excited to attend because I am so new to the blogging world. I got to meet and talk to many blogger's who I have been following for months so it was really exciting! Some of these blogger's include Tobi Fairley, Traci Zeller, Life in a Venti Cup, La Dolce Vita, & Designer Detective. Here are some more highlights of the tour:

Alexa talking passionately about her new collection. Her style as well as her energetic personality is exciting to be around. Her eye catching collection is beautiful, sophisticated, and even more importantly, comfortable. Alexa has a strong reflection of classicism. She joked that when she was pregnant with her twins that Thomas O'Brien asked her if she was going to name them Neo & Classical to which she cleverly replied "No Vintage & Modern" ( a tag line designer Thomas O'Brien is known for) Another example of Alexa's great personality was when she was talking about proportion and scale, which is very important to her designs. She was referring to what she calls a "chofa" or a sofa that is so terribly out of scale that it takes away from the beauty of a room with tall ceilings.

These chairs were one of my favorite's from Alexa's collection. They are called the Grant chair and the proportions and grace are beautiful! What is even more wonderful is with Hickory Chair we can customize the wood finish so imagine the possibilities of this chair in 69 different finishes! I'm already incorporating these into a project!

Another room scene of pieces designed by Alexa. These are both items from her new collection and one's she has had with Hickory Chair for awhile. The bed is upholstered in a fabric that she designed for Kravet which will be debuting next Spring.

Moving on in the Showroom was the collection designed by Suzanne Kasler. This debuted last fall but they updated her pieces with the use of Orange. Quite Stunning! Suzanne was so down to earth and wonderful to listen to. She released her new book earlier in the week and was having book signings throughout market. It's a beautiful book full of great ideas!

I loved this room and it really shows the custom options with Hickory Chair. On the Apron of the table is a line of Swedish gray stripe that brings in the soft palate that Suzanne is so well known for.

Suzanne in her beautifully designed room talking about her inspiration.

This is a shot of a mix of pieces from all of Hickory Chair's collections. It really shows how well they can go together. I love the white Carved Chests bunched up together.

These are pieces from Mariette Himes Gomez's collection. These pieces were all introduced last Spring. Mariette is well known for her refined style. She has a true skill in creating beautiful, serene, sanctuaries for people.

The last section of the Showroom was from the collection of Thomas O'Brien. He has had two collections with Hickory Chair and a third to come out next Spring. Thomas is a designer, merchant, collector and tastemaker. He is known for his warm sense of modernism.

Thomas was gracious enough to take photos with us after his presentation. Here I am with Thomas O'Brien.

The bookcases in the background are the Davis Cabinet he designed in his TOB collection. It is quite striking how they alternated the finishes on them.

I think this is a nice example of the way Thomas collects & layers items in his designs.

I hope you were inspired as I was throughout market! The exciting thing is now taking all these great ideas back home and incorporating bits of them into my designs!

For more information on purchasing any of the Hickory Chair pieces contact The Mansion.

High Point Market- Recap No 2

One thing that is challenging about market is your list of things to do & see is so much longer than your time allows or your feet! I feel that way about these posts as well, I have so many wonderful ideas to share with you that I have to pick & choose which is most important. I'll start by a really outstanding showing. Baker Furniture has long been a classic in the world of furniture and it was so fun to see their large showroom showcasing their broad offerings. Baker has a very diverse offering with their traditional Stately Homes collections but more recently have come out with more transitional offerings from major designers including Bill Sofield who had a new collection this fall. Baker also introduced a new lighting collection by Italian artists Stephane & Frouwkje Pagani. It is very sculptural & beautiful! You can check them out online at Baker. The picture above was Baker's entry room and showcases some of Bill Sofields new pieces. Don't you just love the green? The walls, columns, window treatments & leather chairs were all done in this color. Pretty spectacular!

The room above grouped together pieces from all of Baker's collections. Fun to see how these designers inter-mixed these classic pieces!

This sofa is really beautifully done in this wool plaid. The chenille pillows are a great accent of color! The console was a new introduction last market by designer Tony Duquette. They say he left a legacy that inspires fantasy & stirs the imagination. I think this console does just that!

Another picture of Baker's showroom. Nice combination of layering neutrals. I also loved seeing this classic Barbara Barry chair in this beautiful leather.

I have to share this picture with you so you can see this beautiful leather chair! I wanted to take it home with me!

All pieces of Bill Sofield's collection both new and old!

These light fixtures were really beautiful and I think it is really nice how they grouped them all together. It creates more of an impact. It would be neat to do this in a large great room and layer the height of them!

I really love art and I think you will soon find this out, but these pieces were ones we saw at market that I can't get out of my head. They were really spectacular and my pictures don't do them justice.

Such a great use of color from Global Views.

Global Views had so many great vignettes and their accessories are really unique!

Have a great day!

Meghan

High Point Market- Recap No 1

I had the pleasure of going to High Point Market this last week! I spent 4 days taking in all the new products & designs in the interior design world! It was my first time to market but I went with another designer from The Mansion, Bill Van Vliete who was great to learn the ins & outs from. The trip was very inspirational on all levels. Not only was it great to see all the manufacturers showrooms and their presentations but it was also nice to see the new colors, trends, & new introductions! Every direction you turn is something new & exciting! I can't wait to show you all the great things we found so let's get to the pictures!

Love, love, love this ottoman! I think it is truly beautiful how it drapes on there. I also really like the graphic nature of it! This is a beautiful living room setting in the Century showroom.
These are new pieces from the Oscar de la Renta's colleciton for Century. The silk chairs are so fun & fresh!

New pieces from Halo.

Another collection from Halo.

This is another great look from Century, they are a very diverse company offering styling from french country to modern. Also, make sure you look at the arrangement of the books in the bookcase. I think that is a great way to arrange your books!

Another nicely accessorized bookcase from Hickory White

A nice, clean look from Century's modern collection. The art adds nice dimension to the room.

Wouldn't you love to call this bedroom home! It has a great mix of warmth, glamour, & sophistication.

Lillian August's collection for Hickory White was beautiful, I would of loved to have taken one of everything!

A nice traditional look from Hickory White. The warm color tones has a great feeling to it!

Designer Profile- Barbara Barry

I have long been a fan of designer Barbara Barry. I have been following her work for a few years and am very inspired by her work. I love her soft colors and the way she layers texture. I also love the collections she has created for different manufacturers in the design world. Her collection for Baker is still a classic and we use it often at The Mansion. Her fabric & trim collections for Kravet is also a favorite & that is just a small sampling of her products! I read this on Traditional Home's website and thought it was worth sharing!

20 Ways Barbara Barry Nurtures Her Spirit Light It is everything! It illuminates a space and lifts my spirit. Color I love subtle shades of colors because they are soft on the eye and soul. Form I thrill to the shape of things…from an egg to a spoon to a teacup. My garden Nature is my biggest inspiration—mesmerizing and elegant. My garden is where I begin each day. The Beverly Hills Farmers’ Market I live for each Sunday when I jump out of bed and head to the bounty that is unique to California—strawberries, avocados, ginger, flowers galore. It is endless! Walking I do my best thinking on my walks and always come back inspired. Yoga and Breathing I start and end my day with a series of simple poses and breath work. It connects me back to my body and makes me feel alive. Great Sheets It is the most restorative thing to climb into a bed of crisply ironed sheets. I feel like a princess, and I’m grateful for all that I have. Tea I love tea. The art of preparing it, the beautiful ways to serve it, the healthful benefit of it, and the ritual of stopping to enjoy it. Solitude It’s probably the most vital thing that restores my spirit. I don’t watch television or listen to much music. I like silence…in fact, I require it. Drawing A blank piece of paper and a sharpened pencil, and I am a happy girl. Girlfriends From my sisters to my BFFs . . . listening and sharing heals all. Blank Slate I love the blank canvas. Whether it is the dining table ready to be set, the dinner to be cooked, or the design ready to be sketched. That feeling of starting is so inspiring! Space A clean desk and an empty room—pure potential. My Bulletin Boards I love to put up whatever inspires me on a bulletin board. I see a connectedness in the way all beautiful things seem to relate. Watercolors I take watercolors with me everywhere I go. It’s my way of capturing the inspired moment. New Beginnings The minute I get a new project I feel that sense of excitement and play. It’s my favorite moment in a project because it is filled with potential. Family I was raised by an artist mother. It was/is everything to me—from seeing her exclaim with passion over color and ideas to building a belief in myself that I could do the same. Home My home is my haven, and it is a testament to my work—fresh and clean and calm. Beautiful Process, Beautiful Product I believe food cooked with love tastes better, and design made with care and good energy is evident.

Have a wonderful day!

Meghan M Blum

To Market!!!

I am headed to High Point, NC later this week for the major furniture & design market of the year! Two times a year they hold this major market where designers head to High Point to find the newest trends, products, & offerings in the design field. I am excited to see all the products like the classic Stately Homes Collection from Baker in the above picture. I am also very eager to see all of Hickory Chair's offerings. They always have an incredible showing and even more importantly are always improving as a company in lead times, product availability, & offering. I'm sure they will have a stunning showroom! Both companies are brands that we use daily at The Mansion but this is a small amount of what we will be seeing! Now back to work so I can enjoy my time while I am away!

Stay tuned for all our findings at market!

Meghan

Thank You!!

I just wanted to Thank everyone who has started viewing my blog and most importantly for being patient as I get everything up and rolling. As you know this is a learning process for me as well so Thank You for your support!

Enjoy!

Meghan

Fall Fashion- Animal Influence

Fur & Animal Print have been highlighting the runways for this seasons hottest trend. It's a trend that really anyone can do easily. You can do it simply by having your gloves or small piece of clothing have the print or fur on them like the picture below by InStyle or by making the commitment and doing a jacket or sweater with it like the picture above also from InStyle. It is also nice as you can easily bring this trend into your home.
These gloves are great! I think they are a must for this winter. I really like the gray leather as well, but the fur is a wonderful way to bring in a little of this seasons trend!

Isn't this room lovely!!! I really like the orange wall but honestly the leopard sofa is so wonderful! If your ready to make an impact with this seasons hottest trend this would be the way to go!

Happy Shopping!

Meghan

Window Treatments

These window treatments help with light control but also help create a cozy feeling for the room. It also helps unify & accent the room with the color! The geometric banding is a nice detail! Photo is from Elle Decor

What should I do with this window? That is one of the biggest questions people ask when I am working with them? Many times a new home with all bare windows can be a huge hurdle for homeowners. A few questions I always ask are: Is privacy an issue? Is light control in issue? Do you like the aesthetic look of a treatment? Usually their answers to this will guide me to which solution we decide on. The following are a few great examples of window treatments done well and the great addition visually they bring to the room!

This treatment goes along with the elegant feel of the room but also helps frame the window and beautiful view! Photo is from Traditional Home.

I think this is a nice example of layering a window. The woven woods help give the room another texture but also are helping control the light. Photo from Traditional Home

The drapery panels in this dining room really help soften this room. They also really help create the mood of this room! The volume of the silk is wonderful! Photo from Traditional Home.

These panels help frame the window and create the movement in the room! Photo from Traditional Home.

These window treatments have both functionality and aesthetic positives for the room! The shape of the cornice is very neat as well! Photo from Elle Decor.
The window treatments in this room are very fitting for the formal feel of the room. They also help emphasize the ceiling height. Photo from Elle Decor.
I think this is exciting way to keep window treatments fun and youthful! They don't have to be serious! Photo from Elle Decor.
The window treatments in this living room make a beautiful statement. The color is wonderful and looks great against the yellow walls! Photo from Elle Decor.