Monday, April 18, 2011

Vanguard Furniture at High Point Market

(Muraca Design, Inc.)

I found the Vanguard Furniture showroom at High Point Market to be room after room of anything imaginable. Above is from the Michael Weiss line, all very sleek and modern. But, I also found it to be warm and welcoming, not stiff and cold as some modern lines can be.

More Michael Weiss...

(Muraca Design, Inc.)

We were told furniture stores can't keep this upholstered bed stocked. It's Vanguard's best selling bed. We can see why.

(Muraca Design, Inc.)

I found it surprising how many vendors (furniture, accessories, art, lamps) carried the beach / coastal look.

Vanguard's Coastal Living collection.... gotta love the ottoman.

(Muraca Design, Inc.)

Vanguard has extensive custom options. This was a showroom where I wanted to create and play. It had endless choices. These custom options didn't just apply to headboards and ottomans. There were so many custom options within any designer line as well.

(Muraca Design, Inc.)

A wall of leg and skirting options, ottoman tops with tufting options, nailhead options.

The paint and finish wall. The dining table and chair options went on and on. Amazing.

(Muraca Design, Inc.)

Vanguard's Annie Selke Collection...

While in Vanguard's lobby waiting for our rep to take us through the showroom, Annie Selke came through to the lobby desk. Wow.. while I didn't get a chance to talk with her (and get a picture!) it was pretty cool seeing the designers of these lines actually there. I had just written a post on Annie Selke back in January. Our rep for Virginia was telling us designer of Vanguard's furniture lines are often at the showroom. Yet another reason to attend High Point Market.

(Muraca Design, Inc.)

More Vanguard....

(Muraca Design, Inc.)

Vanguard's showroom was 4 stories and full of everything imaginable. Click on any of the above pictures to enlarge and get a closer look at details.

Bunny Williams and Thomas Jayne at High Point Market

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

I'm back from High Point Market. I'd have to say, the highlight of my trip was meeting Bunny Williams, an icon in the design world. This picture was taken in her showroom in the Hamilton Wrenn District of High Point. Bunny greeted us as if we were coming into her home, she was warm and welcoming, talked about growing up in Charlottesville, Va (my town!) and ready to give advice about the business of interior design.

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

On Monday, my dear friend, Amy and I arrived at the lecture and lunch with Bunny, and I had my book, An Affair with a House signed. Bunny recalled meeting us at her showroom the day before. And then something just amazing happened! The tickets I had purchased back in February were not recorded and we did not have seats for the lunch event. We were told to wait while everyone was seated at their tables. Meanwhile, about 75 people were on a waiting list to get in. After a few minutes, Holly, the event coordinator, came out to get us and handed me 2 tickets and said, "Have fun with Bunny..". We were seated at Bunny's table! Holly, how can I ever thank you!!

(photo credit: Bunny Williams)

Bunny introduced us to her sales staff for her BeeLine Home furnishings line and we also met the owner, Jane Schwab and her assistant, Emily Williams of Circa Interiors and Antiques, out of Charlotte, NC.

Bunny's lecture on building a design business and adapting to change was informative, creative, humorous, and inspiring.

Photo's taken at the Beeline Home showroom....

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

Meeting Thomas Jayne!

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

On Sunday, I had the great pleasure and honor to meet Thomas Jayne, a highly regarded and well known designer and scholar. We attended his lecture on what makes a fine room. The lecture was based on his new book, The Finest Rooms in America, a study of 50 rooms from the eighteeth to the twentyfirst centry.

(photo credit: Thomas Jayne Interiors)

One of his slides I was most taken with was a photo of his home in the French Quarter in New Orleans. He had the dining room wall mural designed after a book from his childhood on the Mississppi River. An incredible example of where inspiration is found.

(photo credit: Thomas Jayne Interiors)

(photo credit: Elle Decor)

Below is a photo of Thomas Jayne's New Orleans bedroom. He shared this slide during his lecture as well. I loved the print above the bed, known as California Volture. It takes me to my love of decorating with all things birds. The bed was designed by Thomas Jayne, an intrepretation of creole design. The bed was custom crafted by Harrison Higgins, Inc.

(photo credit: Elle Decor)

Along with meeting Bunny Williams and Thomas Jayne, I visited many, many vendor showrooms. So many inspirations! Some of the showrooms I will be featuring in upcoming posts.

Designer: Annie Selke

(credit: Southern Living)

I came across this photo while searching for inspiring master bedrooms. I immediately thought of Annie Selke and Pine Cone Hill colors. Sure enough, when searching the resource list, the rug was from Dash and Albert, also an Annie Selke company. Annie Selke is a wonderful designer of home textiles and so much more.

(source: House Beautiful)

Many years ago, my husband and I were staying at a bed and breakfast where I fell in love with the quilt and bedding. The label was from Pine Cone Hill. This was my introduction to Annie Selke.

(credit: Annie Selke)

Not only does she have wonderful bedding, but also table linens at Potluck Studios. And even sleepwear at Pine Cone Hill.

Her furniture line is through Vanguard.

Annie Selke fabrics can be found at many local decorator shops including Calico Corners. If visiting the Richmond, Virginia area Williams and Sherrill carries Annie Selke products and is a wonderfully inspiring shop.

The fabrics, colors, and textures from all the Annie Selke lines bring such bright, warm, and livable decor to any room.