High Point Market - A few Favorites

I thought I would send you off to a beautiful fall weekend with just a few of the photos I took {on my cell phone} at the High Point Furniture Market this past week. I always come away from market inspired and love the opportunity to share with you some of my favorite moments.

The Verellen Showroom is pure luxury!

I love the way the Belgian linen slipcovers fall so gracefully over their furniture's interesting silhouettes. I noticed a lot of pure white all over the market and especially at Verellen.

This elongated, contemporized wing chair swivels and was extremely comfortable to sit in. Notice the interesting top stitching of the shapely chair at the dining table in the background

I would like to have three small cocktail tables in my new office like the stone tables above. It is a long and narrow room and these could be moved around for different functions.

Adjacent to the Verellen showroom is an incredible collection of antique and vintage antiques from around the globe. Texture offers a highly specialized collection of artifacts for the designer and architect that represents the 'texture' of the country where it is sourced. I have always loved old things that have an interesting story to tell. 

{A designer friend, Cindy Caudle and my sister, Tracy Collins,  trying out the uber soft leather  Verellen swivel chairs in the Texture showroom that adjoins Verellen}

{My favorite global find at Texture was this weathered vintage wine barrel. I also liked the woven straw market totes that came as a set of three}

{If you watch the National Geographic channel like I do you may recognize some of the neat things we discovered at texture - like these long boats carved out of a single tree}

{I love the interesting silhouette of these Verellen linen slipcovered chairs tucked in with this rustic table}

{ I have a long love affair with seashells and baskets}

{A display of Belgian handblown glassware with thistle…so gorgeous!}

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! I hear the leaves are at their peak in the North Carolina mountains. I'll have more pics from throughout out the market for you next week.

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Milieu Magazine Launch Party with Interior Designer Pam Pierce

{Interior Designer Pam Pierce; Photograph from a recent Interview with The New York Times about the debut of her new magazine, Milieu. Read more of the interview here}

I have had a serious design crush on Interior Designer, Pam Pierce for as long as I can remember and couldn't believe it when the opportunity came to attend the launch party for her new magazine, Milieu.

The party was held this past Saturday night at the High Point Furniture Market in a huge white tent adjoining the Verellen Showroom. You may remember meeting Tom Verellen here on the blog or my tour of the Verellen Showroom here. The Verellen showroom is one of those special places that oozes elegant simplicity and is one of my most favorite places to visit during market. It is not surprising that Pam Pierce selected Verellen as the venue for her launch party.

 I couldn't believe it, as we walked in the tent, we were greeted by Pam Pierce, herself and let me tell you, she is incredibly down-to-earth and such a lovely person. I am surprised I could even utter a word since, as I mentioned before, she has been my absolute favorite designer forever. I think I have a glossy dog-eared picture of every room she has ever published. In addition, the atmosphere of the tent beyond had me speechless. So simple, so pure and incredibly chic! White linen slipcovered hay bales pulled up to long tables draped with crisp white tablecloths. Buckets filled with white roses and candles in a neat row down the center of the tables. White ship-lap paneled planters held trees that were up lighted. Guests went through a buffet with a galvanized tin tray lined with wax paper and were given a white linen napkin that was monogrammed with the MILIEU logo, in white of course.

Please forgive the poor quality of my cell phone pictures. They truly do not capture the effortlessly chic atmosphere. The photos also can't capture the smells and ambiance from the wood burning fires. 

The days in North Carolina are so beautiful this time of year and the nights are crisp with a little chill, just the way I like them. 

The serene environment of the party was welcome respite after a long day of exploring the market. Everyone is on sensory overload from all of the bright colors and patterns. 

The all white decor was so fresh and inviting!

What did I like most about the event?

It is a great example to us all that luxury does not always go hand-in-hand with money. The events simplicity is what made it so special. Everyone felt comfortable and welcome yet it felt so special.

The evening presents a great blueprint for those of us planning special events:

white + roses + linen + candles + hay bales + trees + simple, good food 

I also love the idea of taking something so readily available and familiar - the galvanized buckets - and filling them with roses, something that would ordinarily be placed in a silver or crystal vase.

The evening was catered by Southern Roots, a chic little restaurant in Jamestown. Jamestown is a small historic town just a few minutes from High Point and about twenty minutes from Winston Salem. I first discovered Southern Roots through a good friend who took me there to celebrate a friend's birthday. My favorite thing on the menu when we visited was the homemade salad dressing ~ a granny smith apple vinaigrette. The restaurant epitomizes Southern farmhouse charm!

You can visit Southern Roots website here.

{Photos by Stephen Thrift for Southern Roots}

The New York Times article about Pam Pierce's new magazine is entitled but Why?

Everyone is questioning why Pierce would take on such a task as launching a new shelter magazine at a time when we have seen some of the best magazines fold.

I am mailing in my subscription form today in support of her endeavor because, to me, it feels like Christmas when I get my favorite new magazine in the mail. Like a good book, a favorite magazine lets us explore different cultures and share in others vision of home. I know the internet can take you there but, I for one, spend entirely too much time online and welcome a quiet evening with the glossy pages of a new magazine, a cozy blanket and maybe even a glass of wine.

From Pierce's own words, here is a little of what you can expect from the first issue:

“We’ve got a house from Geneva, Switzerland, and one from Belgium. We have a really great house from California. A wonderful loft from Houston. The fabulous house on the cover is a Dallas home. We’re doing a feature called “Fashion Meets Furnishings.” Angela Scott is a shoe designer I met in Montecito who had to move to Dallas because of her husband’s business. I thought it would be so much fun to take her leather and upholster some chairs. And we did.”

Pierce's Houston home was recently featured in Veranda and illustrates her passion for warm woods, white linen and rooms filled with bright sunshine. I have coveted the glossy tear sheets from the first time her house was featured in Veranda and find it so interesting to see how she has updated her home with celebrated modern pieces like the Frank Gehry Wiggle Chair, Eames lounge chair, and the Flos Arco floor lamp.

When we talked with her at the launch party, she commented that she wanted to show the latest generation that good design is always chic and if you buy quality pieces they will stand the test of time and can be effortlessly mixed in your home throughout your lifetime.

I can not wait for the next issue, due on newsstands the first week of December...it's an all white issue!

Let's all gather around Milieu and subscribe here!

{Pierce's living room featuring a Frank Gehry Wiggle Chair}

{An Eames lounge chair in a sunny corner of Pierce's living room}

{Pierce's famous kitchen; a stainless steel table replaces the french pastry table from my old picture of her kitchen}

I'll close this post with a small collage I made of some of my favorite Pam Pierce rooms. To see more, visit my Pinterest board dedicated to my favorite interior designer here.

Best wishes for much success, Pam! We are cheering for you!

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Inspiring People: Tom Verellen

There's something about the Verellen showroom that makes you feel good.

A fire burns in the wood stove; light streams through the rustic, barnwood shutters; the showroom is restful with simple and interesting styling; but most importantly, the Verellen line beacons you to sit and stay awhile. The Belgian linen and incredibly soft leather slipcovers insist that you reach out and touch. Even the customers that seek out the Verellen aesthetic seem to be a part of the muse. They are the kind of people you might photograph on the street for their simple, chic style.

You might say the Verellen Home Collection has charisma.

At market, I had the privilege of sitting down and talking with Tom Verellen, the visionary behind the line, and learning more about the Verellen philosophy. 

I enjoy learning from creative people.

How they got their start? 

Where they find inspiration? 

What they see on the design horizon? 

I am so grateful to Tom for taking the time away from his busy schedule to share his story. 

The one word that comes to mind when I think about Tom Verellen is "authentic" and it's that authenticity that translates into furniture that has charisma. It's like you want to take everything in your home and start over and run away with Verellen. It's not just me; Others who visit the showroom feel the same way! 

 I learned that every piece of furniture in the Verellen line is essentially custom and made not only in North Carolina but just down the road at his High Point offices. Originally the line was made in Belgium and then in Conover, NC and now it is made exclusively in High Point. Tom brought the manufacturing to his home in High Point so he could personally oversee the process.

He drew a square with his finger on the showroom floor to show me just how small his first 'plant' in High Point was. Initially, only a couple of frames were built each day and the slipcovers were made through out the night. Tom enjoyed being able to be there and see each piece as it was being made.

I also learned that Tom Verellen renovated the old fire station at 212 North Wrenn when the collection debuted. It's a really neat old building that is now occupied by HALO.

Here's more, in Tom's own words...

“You want me to tell you our secrets?"

"What makes Verellen special is really a lot of things working in harmony.  

My wife and I were born in Belgium and there’s a way of living at home that’s luxurious and casual at the same time; it’s also modern, but with a great sense of history and provenance. 

Belgium is a unique point of inspiration for us. 

All Verellen styles are designed and made here in High Point, North Carolina. We pay attention to details, from the inside out. We use only the best materials, including authentic Belgian linen. 

We never had to ‘think’ about being Green. It is the right thing to do, so we respect the Earth in materials and process selection.  

About customizations…there is a Verellen ‘lineup,’ but we don’t force customers into what’s right for us; we want to do things their way. We really love to customize. We know how to do it. It doesn’t scare us! That’s why designers love Verellen.”

Tom Verellen

The styling in the Verellen showroom is perfection ~ rustic and sophisticated at the same time. I asked Tom more about the warm vibe in the showroom and the impeccable styling. 

Here is what he had to say:

“The showroom is our chance to tell the Verellen story more completely – to let designers and retailers really experience Verellen. It’s a sensory experience. My wife and partner Sabine is actually the showroom stylist. She intuitively understands the brand and expresses it beautifully in the space – it feels organic, comfortable and beautiful. ‘Verellen’ is an aesthetic we understand inside out and it’s a great pleasure to share it during Market.”

~ Tom Verellen 

I met Sabine while I was in the showroom and their young son who was just in from a tennis lesson. She was very warm, down-to-earth and quite charming. It is so refreshing to see a husband and wife team working together.

I did a little research around the blogsphere to see what other designers thought of the Verellen aesthetic and like me, they were captivated by the warm atmosphere of the showroom.

Here are a few noteworthy comments:

 "With one foot in the door I knew this would be a one-of-a-kind feast for the senses. I was greeted by a wood burning stove and the sweet smell of candles burning. What seemed quite rustic at first, quickly morphed into a chic and sophisticated environment, the likes of which I had never experienced before…seducing me with a sensory overload"

"they created a lifestyle…a place where you could imagine yourself living…an oasis of calm and beauty…" ~ Danielle Boudrot

"The best way to end a long day in High Point is to stop in the Verellen showroom. You walk in and feel an overwhelming sense of relief." ~ Circa Interiors

"We got there late in the day, just as the sun was setting, pulled into the white pea gravel lot, walked through a beautiful enfilade of small trees in planters, and into the most interesting loft showroom space.  I wanted to move right in.  The lighting was perfect, the music was hip but soothing, the concrete floors had a great patina, the windows were covered in the most interesting large, rustic shutters, and there was a great bar area surrounded by their barstools." 

"Finishing the day in the Verellen showroom was a wonderful denouement. Just like finishing a great novel, you wish it wasn't over yet." ~ Bronwyn Ford

Verellen is known for its innovative new products and couture dress maker detailing.

A chair featuring Verellen's incredibly soft leather with inside-out stitching...

Verellen is known for its gorgeous organic Belgian linen, luxurious leathers and rich suedes and hides.

From the second you walk in the door, you feel the Verellen aesthetic. It's intoxicating...

In April, Verellen introduced a new line of outdoor furniture. 

“We had an idea for a collection to express luxurious, but real and authentic living in exterior spaces – we said ‘let’s do it.’The pieces at the April Market were our first showing. The outdoor collection is fully customizable…available by the inch. It’s all made here in High Point out of SFC certified white oak."

Tom Verellen 

"We love to innovate. Maybe we get bored easily, but we don’t like to repeat ourselves. We’re interested in what’s next.”

I encourage you to see what's next for yourself. Verellen is a destination showroom...a little off the beaten path. It's a good thing. The showroom is located at 515 South Hamilton Street.

Here are a few of my favorite Pinterest images featuring great Verellen pieces:

A sophisticated sitting room designed by Patrick Lewis and Catherine Walters of Circa Interiors for the 2010 Symphony Guild of Charlotte Designer House at Met Terraces.

featuring the Julien chair by Verellen.

Here's my favorite chair again in one of my favorite rooms designed by Rachel Halvorson

Verellen fills this rustic modern home featured in Garden & Gun; Interior Design by Rachel Halvorson.

Verellen Isabella chairs surround the dining table in this chic gray and green dining room by Interior Designer Kay Douglass.

 This room was selected as one of Vernada Magazine's most memorable rooms to celebrate Veranda's 25th year,  according to Veranda ~ "the rooms that stole our hearts and still make us swoon." 

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Shopping Atlanta: South of Market

One of my favorite places to shop when I visit Atlanta or Charleston is South of Market. Coming from such a traditional environment where I live {Winston Salem}, I am just totally blown away by the graphic displays, bright colors, Belgian inspired furnishings and interesting art. I know the term 'eye candy' is grossly overused but it is the only thing I can think of that describes the SOM shopping experience.

My favorite Galbraith and Paul textiles are everywhere. Galbraith and Paul fabrics are all hand blocked. The pillows on these two Verellen chairs are in 'smokebrush' the same pattern I have selected for my living room curtains but in a grayish-blue colorway. I love the apricot color of these cushions especially with the utility canvas throws in the background and that interesting chandelier.

Vibrant colors and great graphic fabrics are combined with Belgian upholstery. Organic materials like rustic, raw woods, driftwood and linen bring warmth and texture to the setting.

You see neat old signs and typography everywhere when you visit the flea markets these days. I never really know what to do with it once you get it home. I like this large "U" used as art in this grouping.

Charts are all the rage right now in the collectors world. These framed botanical charts have great color. I like the way they float in glass with a simple, modern black frame.

South of Market is masterful with scale. This Galbraith and Paul linen covered shade was big and gorgeous. I envision it in a modern, coastal home with high ceilings.

These wingback chairs were made from braided leather. Old machine gears are painted white and framed and make a graphic art presentation.

I love the color of these gray gourd lamps...they almost came home to live with me. 

This set of eight French chairs was priced as a set. They were absolutely amazing with oversized nailhead trim and a rich gray patina. I can only imagine how spectacular they would look pulled up to a dining table in a fabulous mountain home with barn wood and beams. I love them paired with this rich new green.

Old parquet floor squares are hung in a grid above a fresh white sofa. I love the texture they bring to this clean, modern, bright vignette.

Galvanized bucket lampshades hang by thick textural rope. A pair of old French dormer windows with a lovely gray patina are made into mirrors.

I saved the best for last...my favorite thing in the store was this pair of framed Suzani quilts.

Note to self...think BIG, don't be afraid to create your own art, have fun with your home!

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