Every spring and fall, the design world’s epicenter becomes High Point, North Carolina: a town that, for one whirlwind week, transforms into the heartbeat of the interiors industry. With over 2,000 exhibitors spread across approximately 11 million square feet of showroom space, High Point Market draws more than 75,000 attendees worldwide, including designers, architects, retailers, and manufacturers all searching for what’s next in luxury living.
For our team, however, the Market is far more than a design pilgrimage or a very stylish step-count challenge. It’s where we evaluate craftsmanship firsthand, strengthen relationships with trusted vendors, discover emerging makers, and refine how we source for our clients’ homes. In many ways, it’s where the future of luxury interiors quietly begins to take shape: long before trends reach magazine covers or social media feeds.
This spring, we spent several days fully immersed in Market life: visiting 38 showrooms, meeting 15 established designers, exploring 21 new vendors, reconnecting with longtime partners, attending industry panels, and, yes, sitting on an impressive number of sofas in the name of research. And while the scale of the Market is undeniably impressive, what matters most to us is how intentionally we’re able to translate those discoveries into spaces that feel deeply personal and truly livable.
Why We Invest in Market Week
At first glance, Market Week can feel like a sea of visual inspiration: layered textiles, dramatic lighting, perfectly styled vignettes, and enough boucle to make you reconsider every chair you’ve ever owned. This year, we focused on expanding our vendor network to uncover more distinctive resources for our clients, exploring new partners across furniture, lighting, textiles, antiques, and accessories.
But sourcing is never simply about selecting what’s trendy or eye-catching. Every piece must earn its place. The Market allows us to evaluate quality, craftsmanship, comfort, and longevity in person: something that simply cannot be replicated online. A beautifully photographed sofa can’t tell us everything about how it actually feels after an hour-long conversation or whether its upholstery can gracefully handle everyday life. And we believe our clients deserve pieces that do both.
The Importance of the “Sit Test”
One of the most important parts of our time in High Point is also one of the least glamorous. We call it the “sit test.” And while the phrase usually gets a laugh, it plays a meaningful role in our sourcing process. A chair can be sculptural and stunning, but if no one wants to sit in it for more than five minutes, we have concerns. Luxury is not just visual, it’s experiential.
How supportive is the cushion? Does the seat depth work comfortably for daily living? Is the upholstery substantial? Are the proportions inviting? Is the craftsmanship evident up close?
Our team spent hours testing lounge chairs, examining construction details, evaluating upholstery finishes, and studying scale and proportion across collections.
These are the details that matter long after installation day. Creating a beautiful room is one thing. Creating a home that feels effortless to live in every day is something else entirely.
Conversations Shaping Modern Luxury
Beyond the showrooms, we attended nine presentations and panel discussions focused on the evolving world of luxury design and client experience. One theme surfaced repeatedly throughout the week: today’s clients want homes that feel personal, layered, and deeply reflective of the people living within them. The most compelling interiors are no longer overly formal or perfectly pristine. Instead, they feel collected over time: rich with texture, individuality, and meaning.
We also appreciated the growing industry emphasis on client experience itself, something that has always been central to our design process. Discussions surrounding communication systems, procurement, social media marketing, and service standards reinforced something we strongly believe: exceptional design is only part of what defines a luxury firm. Thoughtful communication, organization, transparency, and trust are what transform a design project from stressful to seamless.
Another standout conversation centered around antiques and collected interiors, such as how to source and determine the age of a piece. This is an area we think will continue shaping the future of elevated residential design. As homes move away from overly minimal styling, vintage and antique pieces are becoming increasingly important to create warmth, soul, and character.
The Trends We Saw Most
While we never design solely around trends, the Market always offers insight into the broader design conversation happening across the industry. This season felt noticeably warmer, more expressive, and more personal than years past. Think less “perfect showroom” and more “beautifully lived-in sophistication.”
Use of Fringe
Fringe made a surprising return this season, appearing on upholstered seating, ottomans, accent chairs, and drapery panels. Thankfully, this wasn’t the overly fussy fringe of decades past. The applications felt tailored, sophisticated, and textural: adding softness and movement without overwhelming a room.
Statement Lighting
Statement lighting continues to dominate interior design, but this year’s silhouettes felt softer and more playful. We noticed a shift away from harsh geometry and oversized industrial fixtures in favor of organic curves, layered materials, and sculptural forms that felt almost jewelry-like within a space.
Bold Color
One of the most exciting shifts was the embrace of bolder color palettes and collected layering. Stripes, rich hues, expressive patterns, and warmer palettes appeared throughout many of the most inspiring showrooms. Spaces felt collected, optimistic, and inviting rather than overly neutral or minimal.
Scalloped Edges
Scalloped detailing appeared across furniture, mirrors, lighting, and accessories throughout the Market. The softer edge profile added a subtle sense of playfulness, making pieces more approachable while still feeling elevated and refined.
Mixed Materials
We also noticed a strong emphasis on layering leather and fabric within the same tonal palette to create dimension while still feeling cohesive. While visually beautiful, this is one trend we suspect may be more short-lived.
Bringing It All Back Home
What we bring back from High Point Market extends far beyond inspiration. Every showroom visit, industry conversation, and sourcing decision helps refine how we design homes that feel deeply personal, highly functional, and enduringly beautiful.
It allows us to discover artisans and makers our clients may never encounter otherwise. It strengthens relationships with trusted vendors, sharpens our perspective on craftsmanship, and ensures we continue bringing fresh, thoughtful ideas into every project we touch.
We can’t wait to share our newest inspirations with you! Contact us today.