High Point Market, I Need A Do Over!

I need a do over because I had so much fun visiting showrooms, attending lectures and hanging with my design + blogging friends that I didn't get all my work done.  High Point Market was  so jam packed with activities, that my challenge was getting all the work done before I started to play.  I tried.  I really did.  But I just kept getting distracted.  (Thank God for the Internet!)  One great thing is that I did manage to get lots done for my male clients.  You can check out some of those finds here.  I'm definitely planning to stay more days in October and to be a lot more focused.

So given my epic fail at Market, I'm forced to leave you with the few things that did make it back on my iPhone. (Did I mention how horrible the service was there?)  The first, being mirrors.

Mirror Image Home Showroom at High Point

It's funny, I couldn't find the chest that my client wanted or the perfect place to source things for a beach house, but I know exactly where to find a great mirror.

My first assistant ever in life said sarcastically, "You use too many mirrors."  What did she know?  How can you not love a great mirror?  Especially one that makes a powerful statement!  Framed or unframed, they have the magical ability to make even the tiniest space special.

Vignette at Emporium Home featuring the "Bethany" Mirror and "Luck Be a Lady" Lamp

Mirrors of various sizes and shapes at Mirror Image Home

I love mixing smaller mirrors in with other items to create an arrangement over an entry table or chest.

Another gem of a mirror from Emporium Home

This is one of my favorite mirrors from the show.  It screams GLAMOUR!  It rocks next to the "Luck Be a Lady" lamp, this time in jade.

Mirrors from the Bunny Williams Line for Mirror Image Home

This Blue Sapphire mirror is by Bunny Williams Home for Mirror Image Home.  I went ahead and sourced it for you because I know you are going to want to own it!  You can pick it up here.  The other mirrors featured here are in the Bunny Williams collection also.  She must love a great mirror as much as I do.

How Social Media is Changing the High Point Market Experience

I'm sure by now,you've heard all the excitement surrounding the Spring Furniture Market at High Point.  I received a tweet today from my friend, Jenner Stoner, exclaiming how excited she is about this particular market.  It's all the tweets of excitement that have me and several other designers from the African-American Top 20 rearranging our schedules so we can  make a stop in North Carolina.  

Looking at the market guide, I've noticed things have changed quite a bit since the last time I was at  market in 2009. Back then we had no way of organizing things and often found ourselves  going from building to building  trying to make appointments.  I would leave worn out.  Thankfully, social media has completely revolutionized how Market is experienced.  I for one, am looking forward to the resources and interactive guides designed to make the whole thing easier to navigate.  I'll be able to keep up with my friends and fellow designers via twitter and see in real time, what they are finding in the showrooms.   

 Every year, I fall in love with a piece only to misplace the order form or forget where I saw it altogether.  Technology and social media will change all that.  Take for example these items from Emerson Et Cie.  In the past I would see them at market and pick up a catalogue for later use.  Now, I can look up the company's website on my iPhone, store that information in Evernote, pin the items to my market pin board, and later show my client how the item can be used in their space via Olioboard.  

Sample tear sheets of  items available at High Point and represented on our Market Pintrest Board

Sample Olioboard 

Not attending market?   Don't worry.  You'll be able to see all of our great finds via Pintrest here.  Joan Goodwin, Michel Boyd and I will be pinning items there starting Saturday April, 20th.  And of course I'll be tweeting and Instagramming away so you won't miss a thing.

I plan to attend lectures, events, and take in all that North Carolina has to offer.  I've received many invitations to visit showrooms.  I'm especially excited to visit brands I've only recently been introduced.  Just check out these images from  Caraccole.  Amazing right?  I can't wait to see them all in person!

If you have any suggestions of showrooms to visit or things to do, please leave a comment below.  I'll do my best to check them out.  In the meantime, follow along on your favorite platform and I'll meet you back here after market to share my market finds and event details.

Until then!
Kimberly

My Dream Home Experience -Curacao

I just returned from a six day trip to the Island of Curacao. Located in the Caribbean, this colorful island is a true gem.  The trip was amazing!  A designer's dream. During the day, we worked with our host and interior designer, Nadin Bento talking global design and creating spaces for her "Update My Space Dream Home 2013 Experience"  Show house and TV show and during the evenings we dined  on 4 course meals, created by celebrity chefs from various food network shows. It was all just divine!

I am not one of those people who take things like this for granted. This opportunity was a true blessing.  From the beginning I was drawn to Nadin. It was very ambitious of her to attempt such an event. She and I worked on the Interior design aspect which was crazy and ever changing, I had no idea of the magnitude of the project, until I got to the Island, to learn that she was also coordinating chefs from several countries, local and internationally media and countless sponsors on the Island.  The fact that she reached out to me at all was really a blessing.

More fun with the chefs. Images here.

"Update My Space "is a local decorating show that is shown through out the Caribbean, the Dutch Antilles and Holland.  The shows host and producer Nadin Benito was the sole designer for the luxury estate at the center of our trip.  She worked on one of the penthouses at "Residence Le Blue"-at the Blue Bay Resort, room by room until it was perfect. Assuring that it represented the future of luxury design on the island. 

Image of space designed by Joy Moyler for the "Show house experience"

Getting Ready For High Point Market

I'm out of the office again today but I wanted to leave you with an update.  Check out this sneak preview from Bernhardt Furniture.  They won "Best in Show" at the October market.  Can't wait to see what they have in store for Spring.

Ideas, Innovations, and The Future of Interior Design Content

It just dawned on me that all this social media stuff is still evolving.  I mean, I guess I knew it in some fashion, but recently it just clicked.  I was sitting here thinking about the Design Bloggers Conference and conferences in general, and it dawned on me that I should always attend them not only because that's where the new information is, but because that is where ideas and trends are examined and hatched out.   For instance, I'm a better vlogger than a blogger, but I love to blog because I love photography.  

My new challenge is to move more into video and find ways to incorporate that into my blog. 

In retrospect, I've actually learned a lot since January.  In January, I set up a VYOU profile where you guys could ask me anything that you'd like.  I've  had 16,912 profile views in a little less than 60 days, but only 3 questions and 9 followers.  What that tells me is that you want the information, but maybe not the commitment to join

yet another site or to have to video your questions.  

So, I was extremely interested when Jason Harris of the Design Network started talking about his new idea.  He wants to create a You Tube for Design programming.  Having a show on the network would not only benefit my readers, but also serve as a great jumping off place for some of my future media endevors.  I was over at the site earlier and I noticed some fellow bloggers already filming shows.  I'm really interested in seeing the end result, as I figure out just what I want to do.  

On the same stage and also a good idea, was Andy Appelbaum of Project Decor.  I really like this concept also, but have questions about implementation.  Times are changing, so should I give up something that I adopted early on that hasn't ever really caught on for Project Decor?  My hesitation isn't just that I would have something else to do, but also regarding my relationship with Wayfair.com.  I've been halfway in-halfway out with Wayfair, but as I answer more and more of your design questions, I want to fully explore that relationship and give you more shopping options. I'll explore it more and the coming weeks and let you know what I decide.

We are living in a time when it seems 

 everyone wants to share everything.  The sheer number of blogs indicates that people think what they have to say is important.  Why just consume information when you can create it right?  Well... Wrong!  At the DBC there was an overall emphasis on creating good content.  Celebrity Interior Designer Charlotte Moss did an entire keynote about it.  (I have the hat to prove it).  So with everyone wanting to share, where are we when it comes to content?

Before I get to those who are getting it right, consider this.

Of the 150 or so bloggers who attended Blogfest2011 a little over 10% no longer write a blog.  Some with over 10,000 page views per month have called it quits.  

Just last year there was a series of posts from "top Blogger" about how difficult things are for them behind the scenes.   In a series entitled "10 Things I'm Afraid To Tell You" we learned that many were broke, even more were over-worked, and most were just plain tired.