Twice a year, the design world converges in High Point, North Carolina, and we were thrilled to be part of it this spring. As the nation’s preeminent design showcase, High Point Market hosts over 2,000 exhibitors across approximately 11 million square feet of showroom space — attracting 75,000 attendees from over 100 countries including retailers, interior designers, architects, and other professionals.
The entire Sprinkman Design team – Mary, Emili, Brooke and Isabel – attended this design epicenter for three amazing days. There’s a saying in High Point, “if you can imagine it, it’s probably here.” And they weren’t kidding. We discovered that attending High Point Market isn’t just about seeing what’s new. It’s about immersing ourselves in an environment that sparks our imagination, sharpens our design vision, strengthens vendor relationships, and elevates what we can offer our clients. We’re pleased to report that this year did not disappoint. The inspiration was high, and so were the sit tests — over 600 of them, to be exact.
We invite you to take an in-depth look at our experience, and how it can impact your design dreams.
Why Seeing (and Sitting) Matters
One of the greatest benefits of attending High Point is being able to experience furniture, lighting, and décor in person. Walking through expansive vendor showrooms filled with both soft and hard goods – from sofas to case goods, rugs, bedding, art, mirrors, and lighting – allows us to go beyond the catalog. We get to sit, touch, inspect, and really understand the construction, materiality, and comfort level of the pieces we source. It completely changes the game.
Our team collectively sat in over 600 chairs, sofas, and sectionals. Yes, 600! Because for us, comfort, durability and functional beauty aren’t optional — they’re essential. That kind of hands-on testing lets us make confident decisions on what to recommend and what to avoid. We narrowed down which vendors deliver on quality and which ones truly align with our design values, which streamlines our process from selection through delivery.
Strengthening the Relationships That Power Our Process
At Sprinkman Design, we know that great design doesn’t happen by itself — our ideas take flight with collaboration, trust, and strong industry relationships. High Point Market gives us the invaluable opportunity to connect face-to-face with vendor partners who play a critical role behind the scenes in bringing our visions to life.
Sitting down with reps to talk through lead times, customization options, and upcoming collections helps us make smarter and more efficient choices for our clients. These conversations go beyond just product specs; they deepen our understanding, streamline our sourcing process, and reinforce the partnerships that allow us to deliver exceptional results.
Trendspotting for Fresh Finds, Future Favorites
When it came to spotlighting cutting-edge current design trends, this year’s market outdid itself. We saw scalloped and undulating silhouettes, alabaster lighting, a fearless embracing of color, and unexpected details like leather-wrapped lamp posts. Marble tables and layered tabletop surfaces made a strong showing as well, highlighting a richness and sumptuous tactile quality that we can’t wait to incorporate into the right designs.
We also discovered new vendors that we’re excited to explore more deeply. Each one offers something unique, and seeing how they style their products live in a showroom setting sparked fresh ideas that we’re already bringing into our current projects. For us, this market was equal parts inspiration and execution — we didn’t just browse, we shopped directly for several clients. It’s incredibly rewarding to select pieces in real time, knowing the client’s needs and preferences, and seeing how something looks and feels in person before it ever enters their home.
Learning, Leveling Up and Team Bonding
We also carved out time for seven seminars and panels, covering topics from bedding specs to contracts, inventory management to antiquing strategies. These conversations were full of insight and gave us practical tools we’re bringing back to our workflow and clients.
Add to the networking with top-tier industry professionals some spontaneous design debates, lots of vendor laughter and late-night idea sharing, and it means we came home not only more informed but also more inspired — and even closer as a team. We can’t wait to infuse what we’ve learned into every facet of our business to best serve our wonderful clients.
High Point Market, thank you. We’re already counting the days until we see you again.
SDC is brimming with inspiration from HPMKT and ready to share it with you!
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