Tradeshow | BMor Creative

Top 3 Takeways from the Spring High Point Market

Becky Morgan — Thu, 02 May 2019 13:30:00 +0000

One of my favorite parts of being a designer is seeking out unique vendors and products. I am always on the hunt for something a little different for my clients. As a first time attendee of High Point Market, I really had no idea what to expect. This is where interior designers go to find new product and preview upcoming releases from home furnishing manufacturers. Some brands have showrooms year round, and many more set up for “Market” for one week each Spring and Fall. Equated to the “fashion show for home furnishings”, this is a Trade Only locale. It’s strictly for design and furniture professionals and not open to the general public, so I’m excited to share with you some of the gems I found at the Spring show this past April. With more than 2,000 exhibitors and 12 Million square feet of showroom space, I feel like I barely scratched the surface during the two days I was there, but I saw enough to pick up a few common threads: Fur, Folds and Fun!

Yes, real fur and hides. Fur pillows, fur throws and even fur lamps…some of which were dyed crazy colors. Now this is the only thing I will not be “real” with you about…fur. Beyond the many ethical reasons I could spout, I simply think that it’s gross. But, fur is…interesting? Back around 2007-2009, I remember a short stint when cowhide was all the rage. People went crazy with it. Cowhide bowls, cowhide balls (Did I say balls?!) and anything decorative you could imagine. Thankfully, demand diminished quickly, and the trend fizzled out quickly. I’m hoping this neo-furrycolor-revival thing does, too.

Pleats and channels are coming back in for upholstered goods. It’s a natural progression away from all of the tufted offerings that we’ve been seeing lately. These stitch techniques give a piece more of a “hand made quality” which, in my opinion, gives it an upscale boost. Add pleats to a soft velvet pieces and it will look delicate and dainty. Add channels to a vinyl piece and you’ll get a vintage hot rod vibe. The beauty of custom furnishings is that the sky’s the limit!

Gone are the days of yester-grey…well, kind of. While I still noticed quite a bit of muted neutrals, color is starting to get back in the mix. Jewel tones mixed with their pastel counterparts created stunning visuals throughout the show. Colorful interiors have historically been the result of optimism returning to society after hard times. The grey/greige trend picked up in about 2010 when the recession was still full force and things were a little depressing all around. In hard times, people naturally cling to familiarity of simple things, and neutrals tend to offer stability. Given the rise of maximalism and bright colors, I’m hopeful that people are feeling more confident, adventurous and FUN with their design choices again.

Bonus: Old Buildings are cool! (But, I’m sure you already knew that.) One of the most exciting parts of the show, for me, was the way the city itself is preserving and actually repurposing their historic buildings. Several of the showrooms I visited were in historic storefronts and restored buildings. To learn more about the City of High Point Preservation Society and their efforts, you can check out their FaceBook page.

NeoCon 2018 – Chi Town

Becky Morgan — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 14:30:00 +0000

In June, the BMor Creative team took on Chicago to see all of the latest releases at NeoCon. Attendees and manufacturers came from all over the world to connect, learn and do business. We saw hundreds of innovative furniture, fabrics, and interior finish materials, displayed in some of the most creative installations.

One of the most common threads was a strong influence of nature, with an emphasis on living walls and decorative mosses. Green walls have been around, but this year were offered in every color of the rainbow!

Textile and flooring companies are exploring every shape feasible to give designers endless combinations and options. There were plenty of strong geometric patterns with both bold and soft muted combos.

Jewel tones are in, big time! Paired with classic mid century pieces, these fabulous lounge spaces had us feeling like Joan Holloway dreaming of a vodka gimlet.

Overall, we were impressed with the show. Our inspiration banks have been filled thanks to all of the amazing product ideas, along with all of the fine food and ambience Chicago has to offer. Over the next several months, we will be highlighting some of the takeaways in our blog. Until then, here are a few highlights from the show!

Coverings 2018

Becky Morgan — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 13:30:00 +0000

Last month, our annual trip to Coverings took us to Atlanta, GA to check out the latest looks in tile and stone. Amongst the same old wood-looks and subway tile, we discovered some incredible new gems. Seriously, gem slabs were all over the show and they are stunning!
The show was packed with every color imaginable, from black and white, pastels, to new shades of metallics. and fun geode patterns. Although we love traditional motifs, we were also pleased to see an expanded offering of fun cement-look patterns, as well.

These new looks were refreshing, with a cool vintage vibe. There were a lot of new and interesting mosaics, and we can’t wait for them to hit the market. These tiny tiles assembled to create classic textile patterns, like plaid and houndstooth, would be an awesome accent to any kitchen or bath.

Remember that bronze mirror look from the 70s? Well, be prepared to see a lot more of it coming in tile, and home accessories. We love the warm amber glow of it and are thrilled to have sources other than Salvation Army thrifting!