High Point Market.... my recap.

It's been a little over a week since we've come home from High Point Market. My mind is still spinning from all the excitement of it all. I had the absolute best time. Of course my companion was my husband, Dan, who is also my business partner, and we tend to have a great time no matter where we go, so i'm sure that helped with the experience. You might be wondering, what is High Point Market.

For me, a designer, High Point is Disney Land. You get to see all the things related to the interior design industry, including some interior design celebrities. Its practically an entire town covered in showrooms and filled with all the latest lighting, rugs, furniture, decor, artwork... anything related to this industry. There are even sometimes opportunities to meet and great some of the people you admire most, and even get pictures taken with them. There are lots of social opportunites to network and so many educational seminars you can attend. For me, it was the funnest place on earth. For Dan, it was interesting but overwhelming and he was done after a day or two. I was soaking it up. And i'm already counting down the days to go back.

Day 1 for us was on Friday, which is also day 1 of High Point Market. The event itself is probably the most organized and well executed event i've ever seen. While there are lots of people around to help, we chose to just walk around and explore. We walked around with our map and tried to make sense of everything and ended up just going into one of the big expo type buildings that had a crazy amount of vendors. We wondered around, found some free lunch and got lost.... even I felt overwhelmed at this point. However, I was looking forward to Jessica Simpson's furniture line debut at Steve Silver, so we had to reach out for help and find our way to Steve Silver. We got there early and got to see her walking around, we were offered Champagne and were one of the first people to get to meet her, it was surreal. And also, She is so nice! After that, we made our way to the Tommy and Dee Hilfiger book signing at another furniture store. We were again first in line, bought their beautiful book, got it autographed, got to meet them, they are so very nice too! Then we went up to the roof top deck for appetizers and drinks, what a great way to finish off the day.

Day 2 was more even more enjoyable, over all, just because the overwhelm was behind us, and we had a better grasp on the map and the area. I had more events I wanted to attend. The first one was a panel of extremely talented well known designers at Loloi Rugs and was followed with a meet and great. So again I was beside myself with excitment, and nervous like a school girl. The panel included Amber Lewis and Jean Stouffer, Julia Marcum, Anna Bond, Leanne Ford and was lead by non other than Jo Saltz! I can't believe i got to sit an listen to them talk and discuss the industry, it was so sureal ..... then I got to meet Amber Lewis and Jean Stouffer, that was truly amazing.

The mid part of the day was looking a showrooms. I was feeling very inspired looking at all the well designed and gorgeously laid out spaces. Getting to see a lot of furnishings in person after only ever getting to see them online or in a catalog. I got to meet all my local reps for a lot of the venders as well. I was just soaking it all up.

Late afternoon we had another educational event. The speaker was Wendy Glaister, another professional hero. I got the chance to not only talk with her but also meet her publicist and they were both so kind and so gracious enough to spend the next few hours of High Point with Dan and I.

What a Day 2... it was probably the very best day.

Day 3. Our Final Day

Starts with breakfast and another educational event, this time at American Leather. What a gorgeous showroom, a beautiful spread for breakfast and a fabulous coffee bar, and a really inspiring lecture/discussion.

After that is was time to see the last few things we wanted to see but didn't get to see. I got to go back to Loloi Rugs and by some one of a kind cash and carry pillows, and Dan finally has the chance to see the only vender he has been wanting to see the entrie Market. This vender was on the other side of the Market, all the way at the outskirts of the Market.

We were so glad we got down to that part of town though, what a neat building. The first floor was filled with unique finds of old reclaimed furnisings and architectual decor. The second floor, had the vender dan wanted to see, Ross Allan, a very talented man who makes furniture from reclaimed wood... sound familuar? They geeked out on wood and craftsmanship for nearly an hour... it was funny to watch, Dan totally met his reflection that day!

We grabbed some wood fired pizza being sold in a parking lot from a pizza oven trailer, and headed to Virginia.

Yes, we had a client meeting in Loudoun County Va, so we stayed in Chartlesville to break up the trip. Which was a gorgeous hotel and a beautiful town, but another story for another day.