Alexa Hampton Tutorial at High Point Furniture Market October 2013: A Fresh Take On Traditional Floral Chintzes

Alexa Hampton's showroom at Hickory Chair in October 2013 was a style lesson in how to create fresh young rooms for today's new home owners. Color is rich, finishes are varied and graphic patterns are sophisticated combining to create a completely comfortable individual design statement. With a myriad of custom options Alexa explains how she approaches a project and explains how to mix multiple patterns and colors for a collected layered room with both variety and flow.

Fabric and Wallpaper Links

Cowtan and Tout

Muriel Brandolini

Clarence House

Galbraith and Paul

Quadrille 

If you would like to buy Hickory Chair  Furniture

or fabric from any of these vendors

please contact Dovecote Decor!

visit our online store

liz@dovecotedecor.com

336-705-1316

More Later!! 

The Shellatier - Karen Robertson Collection - High Point Furniture Market

At High Point, we are always looking for truly artisanal designs, and Karen Roberson the force behind The Shellatier Collection is the real deal.  Karen creates the majority of designs and her cottage industry artists execute them in their homes.  Clients are seeking authenticity in their products, and organic forms are morphing into wall decor, lighting and seating in interesting materials such as petrified wood, crystals and shells.  Her new fabric collection manufactured at Altizer and Company is fresh and exciting. Karen's enthusiasm is contagious, and you will love her attention to minute detail in the finshes she applies to her year round floral and plant arrangements.  You can find Karen here:

Karen Robertson Collection

• Building Suites At Market Square
• Showroom G-2044
• Bustop #14 (Red/Green Line)

If you would like to purchase any of the Shellatier products contact us at Dovecote Decor's online store! If you are looking for that special piece to add to your home, e-mail us at liz@dovecotedecor.com and we will send you images and pricing.

More Later!! 

High Point Market at Hickory Chair with Alexa Hampton

We have been saving the highlights from last April market to get everyone geared up for October! Watch our video of the always inspirational Hickory Chair space and listen to Alexa Hampton's take on the importance of scale in furniture selection.  We are touring with Pat Bassett who has taught me every thing I've ever needed to know about shopping High Point. 

With furniture market beginning on October 18th 

let us know if you would like us 

to design a personal market 

portfolio for your latest project. 

336-705-1316

liz@dovecotedecor.com

Click HERE to visit our online store

Eclectic Style Using Fresh and Traditional Elements

I met a kindred soul at the gas station on the way to the High Point April Market. Each of us had sister-in-laws as passengers who wanted to see designer driven showrooms, learn from the maestros and find inspiration, not to mention a few very special items. We were introduced on the fly and ran into each other all over HP town. It  turns out Mrs. S. and I are cut from the same piece of cloth. There is the slow food movement and there is the slow design movement. Because we shop all the time, we rarely buy anything for ourselves unless we cannot live without it.

A cheerful entry hall greets us with a subtle Scalamandre print wall covering and an antique bench that was the find of the century, as it exactly fills the space.

A stunning and perfectly narrow reproduction chest is layered with an antique mirror from Caroline Faison of Greensboro, N.C.

The house flows with a consistent eclectic mix of European, Asian, modern and English pieces. It looks like there is a subtle vine pattern on the wall, but its my camera doing funny things. See below to get the actual color.

I have always loved the Scalamandre Shanghai fabric that Mrs. S. uses for her window treatments. The abstract painting keeps the room young and fresh.

I cannot resist adding it makes a terrific wall covering as illustrated below in Meg Braff's dining room.

via Chinoiserie Chic

The paint color is Farrow and Ball Blazer

The best shade of red--ever!

An Italian cupboard, also from Caroline Faison Antiques of Greensboro is guarded by a pair of Chinese military horses. If you scroll back up to the first image you can see that the larger scale of the horses keeps the room from floating away and becoming too feminine--rooms need Yin and Yang. 

Covered in a luminous gray velvet this O.Henry House sofa anchors the space with subtle neutral tones repeated in the rug. The extremely talented Patrick Lewis of Circa in Charlotte, N.C. helped with the big picture, and Mrs. S. did the shopping.

 Layering without cluttering is a fine art. Flowing throughout the house are box pleated shades that are harmonious in style, and vary in color.

Mrs. S. finds lots of her accessories by repeatedly popping into to some very dirty window antique stores. I was impressed.

Juxtaposing contemporary and traditional elements, maintains a consistent fresh theme throughout the house. Mrs. S. replaced the glass top on the coffee table with stone to keep the room grounded and warm. Walking you through the door to the family room...

This room had a dark red cherry finish, which naturally her husband wanted to keep. What is it with men and their dark wood and gigantic televisions, speaking of which I did not spot a television in this house. A gaping fireplace is obscured by an antique hobby horse with great patina.

Pickling the wood made the room visible. Dark rooms with large windows are a terrific blinking strain on the eyes. The window treatments are the same simple style throughout the house. Note the large antique copper pot beneath the sofa side table. If your room is getting leggy, find a wonderful basket or accessory to live beneath it. I collect these monstrous remnants from great house kitchens. I imagine the chef at his massive wood burning stove and all the hustle--it makes me happy. Stepping into the sunroom, we are greeted with streaming light on three sides. 

I like the large scale of the lamps that Mrs. S. found for her sunny room. Dinky lamps look, well...dinky. Grounding the room with a chic animal stark carpet keeps the yin and yang in balance, as do the matchstick blinds. Since we are next to the kitchen, Mrs. S. scotchguarded the daylights out of the upholstery. 

Mrs. S. sincerely regrets being talked out of marble counter tops, as her designer convinced her that they would stain and look terrible over time. A quick web search brought up this article in Apartment Therapy which admits that marble can stain from heat, wine, citrus etc.. However, you can seal marble which will protect it. I am guilty of placing hot pans on my granite counter tops, though so I may not be a candidate. 

We can help you source the antique copper pots in this post

or 

any O.Henry House upholstery

at our online store

or call us for information

High Point Top Showrooms and Trends April 2012

Our favorite thing at High Point is to see how the top designers are putting their showrooms together. As usual, the design driven manufacturers are knocking it out of the park. We are simply blown away by HFI Brands, as I mentioned in the last post, Steve McKee and creative director Britt Albright stole the show. Here are some more great shots from the Lily Pulitzer Home and Barclay Butera collections.

 Exploded graphics and bold stripes anchor the lightness of the shiny lacquers and painted finishes. If you love color you can go off your meds, as the space is pure Florida sunshine.

This is the best new desk at market, with rolling file drawers beneath. You can take over the world with this elegant and sophisticated piece.

Poor Steve and Britt were treated to a chorus of S**T the blogger girls say: 

 You can mix bold patterns!

"Shut-up!"

The Navy lacquer cabinets behind that outrageous love seat are:

"Ridiculous!"

The new genius invention of market: The Shoe Pouf. Who Knew? My hands were shaking, so my picture is blurry, but the gold shoe cabinet is the Carrie Bradshaw wanna be new must-have accessory. Barclay Butera is now our go-to for a more traditional with a modern twist client. 

HFI has perfect proportions, clean rich finishes and we love the variety of style. It all really works together, and you could mix the Lilly Pulitzer beautifully with the Barclay Butera.

This wall storage piece is like the black and gold Lillian Vernon cabinet I showed you in the sneak preview post. Literally, you can use it in any design setting. HFI Brands specializes in sourcing, and it wins the focal point prize for value, quality and style. It is a tremendous value, and the best part of it is you can take it with you when you move.

This is the perfect man-bed, but zhush it up with the right linens and this space could go so Doris Day in a Que Sera minute.

 Console of the market! 

 Look carefully to see the stitching on the side. It also comes as a side and cocktail table. It is so Hermes cool! 

Our clients are constantly hunting for good looking etageres. This clean piece has the perfect dimensions that our clients request over and over. 

Hanging pictures and mirrors is often a challenge, so the showrooms are a great way to see how the pros do it. Here Barclay Butera centers the mirror and hangs artwork of different sizes to fill the space beyond the sofa. Clients ask me all the time if frames in groupings have to match, and this image clearly demonstrates that they do not. They should be related and of similar quality. This grouping looks more organic than "decorated." The sconces over the side tables are brilliant. The lighting is by Bradburn Lighting and the accessories are from Zodax Home. 

You might also like

Navigating High Point 2012 Update

Navigating High Point 2012 Update II

High Point April 2012 Sneak Preview

Cool Mood Boards at High Point April 2012

More Showrooms Later!

Liz Morten

Christine Storch

Cool Mood Boards at High Point April 2012

I'm processing a million images of fabulous product from the furniture market, but I want to  send you some of the inspirational designer mood boards from the showrooms. I always lead with Hickory Chair, so why change things? The Hable Construction textile line for H.C., is their fresh addition. Sisters Susan and Katherine Hable keep the oxygen flowing.

The mood boards are the gestational phase of creation. Disparate elements can ebb and flow, until the designer's vision starts to coalesce. Of course this is why we are all crazy for Pinterest.

Kate's original painting when applied to traditional upholstery loosens up the buttoned down vibe. It is impossible to match seams lending an artistic, hand touched element. 

Suzanne Kasler's board convey's images of the type of person who would inhabit this room--Holly Golightly meets Scarlet Johanssen. Playful sophistication is the message, and there was a "Wow" echoing through the space, not to mention a little elbowing around the good camera angles.  

The ultra talented Britt Albright, creative director for HFI Brands, had large mood boards scattered around the Lilly Pulitzer Home space. We literally made a scene--twice. HFI Brands founder Steve McKee, has the hottest new line in High Point, with the Lilly Pulitzer and Barclay Butera brands. Once you see the price points and the quality, few other companies can stand up to the heat. Steve laughingly told us: "This is a happy place." 

Heck Yeah! 

I had the best time with blogger Stacy Bewkes of Quintessence who shared my enthusiasm for our antiques vendor, The Wind Rose, posting wonderful images of Ned and Cary's European and British treasures and bespoke line of furniture.  

Lynn Byrn is always sparkly company, so I thank Hooker Furniture for bringing her down. Her informative blog: Decor Arts Now has long been a favorite. Lynn has a beach house on her mind, and her round-up on Coastal looks, picked up on a few things I entirely missed. Some of the Stanley Furniture Coastal Living group's pieces are perfect to mix up in an eclectic scheme. 

More Later!

By

Liz Morten 

and

Christine Storch

Navigating High Point 2012 Update II

If you missed our last post: Navigating High Point Update click HERE. It is step one and will take you through some highlights of the IHFC and the Annex. I'm reposting the map, because it helps to understand the scope of the city and charts a path for you.

When you finish shopping the annex, orient yourself to Commerce and go left towards the C and D building. The C and D has some of my favorite vendors. Sarreid, with their Van Thiel and Encore Collections has well priced and executed reproductions and antiques. I ran into Eddie Ross at Van Thiel, so enough said.

When the girls were younger, I used to keep a homework/project room in the house. This companion desk  would have been a stylish addition. It can also be used as a serving piece, which makes the dining or breakfast rooms more versatile.  Also in the C and D building of note is Visual Comfort with collections by style stars, Alexa Hampton, Thomas O'brien and Suzanne Kasler.

When you finish the C and D building, turn left and walk across the street to market square.  Market square has a new juried equivalent of InterHall, called Salon. It is slowly improving.

Start on the ground floor and power walk the suites. I have trained myself to pass the junk quickly, and not sift for nuggets in every stall.  Don't forget to see the Wind Rose when you've reached the second floor. Here is their location: Space 246-250 Historic Market Square, Telephone: 336.327.5306. Market is disorienting, but there are guides everywhere. Ned and Cary have been scouring England, Belgium and France for years and it is a treasure trove. Nobody, hands down, has better painted furniture and accessories, so...if you don't go, don't tell me. 

When you've done the suites, which is in the front of the building, go to the rear of that area and enter market square. Don't miss the new antiques section on the ground floor. I will be at my friend's space on Saturday between 4 and 6pm, please come by and say hello! We are at Heirloom Estates: Market Square, Antique & Design Center MS-G 49.

After you tour the antiques section on the ground floor, you will want to ask the guides to direct you to the correct elevator to take you to Century Furniture. They are located near the ground floor restaurant and the courtyard. You don't want to miss this little darling in the Oscar De La Renta line. 

Don't miss HFI Brands: Lily Pulitzer and Barclay Butera on upper floors near the same elevator bank. The Information desk is right there.

When you've finished, go out the front of the Suites and catch a van to the Hamilton district. I get off the van or bus at Broad and Hamilton. This district has many excellent vendors, I will feature some of the must sees.

Pay attention to the  artisanal Wright Table company ((300 N. Hamilton 2nd floor) and  absorb the amazing array of custom work they craft in North Carolina. Don does a mixture of traditional, contemporary and European designs and is a master of teasing depth out of beautiful woods. The scale and design of his furniture is the perfect imperfection we are looking for in a custom reproduction. He made my breakfast table and it is beautifully indestructible. This industrial era inspired coffee table literally levitates to table height,  reverses with equal grace and has a lock for child proofing.  The surface and finish can be customized.  Pop in to say hello to Ian from Fauld Town and Country furniture( 330 N. Hamilton ST-S-204 tel:336-841-3918).

330 North Hamilton StreetWhile there are Asian repros, they also do exquisite English bench made work. My highly discerning English friends buy from them. 

We will move on to New River Artisans.

In the same district, New River Artisans, is an oxymoronic, crazy good taste, custom designed, hand made carpet resource from the middle of Appalachia. Their showroom is: 200 N. Hamilton ST. N. Court, suite #301. In that neighborhood, Mottahedeh has an "over run" cash and carry show room I hit each market.

Over the years, I have accumulated wonderful vases, far below wholesale. In the Hamilton/Wrenn district, you'll  also find Y.H. Antiques, together with Somerset Bay and Modern History, at 420 N. Wrenn Street that runs parallel to Hamilton. 

Don't even think about missing Hickory Chair (330 North Hamilton Street) where you can can chat up design icons Alexa Hampton, Thomas O'Brien, and Suzanne Kasler.

We are heading over to High Point today!

Sneak Preview Later!