The fabulous Spring Furniture Market ended yesterday. I am so ready for the weekend. But there was just one not-so-itty-bitty piece of Market business to wrap up: a personal purchase for my new dream home extérieur. Normally, I shop for clients at Market, but I could not resist this super-swanky lounge chair from Texture. I love the super-sized look, but have to confess that transporting it from the Texture showroom to my backyard was quite the LSI cross-fit challenge. Enter design heavy-weights Mary and Kathryn. As the three of us rassled the lounge chair (camera in hand), it struck us that these snaps beautifully illustrate the difference between what people THINK  it’s like to be a interior and what it’s REALLY like. Frankly, I’m living the dream and wouldn’t have it any other way.

What do shagreen, Palm Beach, precious jewels, geometry and Lillian August have in common? These are just a few of my favorite finds, themes and people at what’s shaping up to be My Favorite Market. Caveat: I am a designer and shopper by trade and I’ve attended the High Point Furniture Market many times. I speak with some authority. High Point is killing it!

Make way for glam. The prevailing organic and reclaimed trends of the last few markets are giving way to glamour and a little bit of luxe. Where thirsty driftwood once ruled, faux shagreen and lush painted finishes are making happy inroads. In lots of colors too – from minty greens and greiges to more dramatic jewel-tones. Imagine an emerald cocktail tray table set on a gold geometric base. Or bookcase nooks painted in ruby red. Or a very traditional equestrian statue shellacked in sapphire blue.

I love lattice. Coupled with the bold colors, it’s a throwback, of course, to Palm Beach circa 1960s through the early 1980s. Delightful time travel. But it all feels new for today. Lattice may be part of a larger trend tied to geometry – rugs and textiles are all about repetitive pattern and color play.

Design is personal. It was pure pleasure to work with designer John Black on the Compendium presentation at Vanguard. Another Market delight has been connecting with Lillian August. I have admired her from afar and had a chance to meet with this style leader, entrepreneur and design icon in person at her beautiful showroom. Is anyone better with color than Ms. August? 

There are still three more days until Market ends on Thursday. But the jury is not out. Spring 2013 is My Favorite Market.

I never go backwards. Maybe I just don’t have that gear. As many of you know, I began my career as a photo stylist and that was a bit of a short hop-skip-and-jump to the world of showroom design. So, when I was offered an opportunity to design the High Point Market showroom space for John Black’s new uncollected collection Compendium for Vanguard furniture, I paused. For a heartbeat. And then I said YES!

I love John Black’s aesthetic. I knew the experience would be wonderful and totally NEW. John and the Vanguard team gave us great ideas and inspiration and wonderful creative leeway. Piece by piece, fabric by fabric, the Lisa Sherry Interieurs team painstakingly specified every finish and fabric in the space. Space planning was fun. And challenging. We created visual pops and surprises throughout the space to please the eye AND make it fun and easy to shop. Every accessory was specified – and often created – with exacting care. Compendium is John Black’s brainchild, of course. He was involved every step of the way. All the way around – John’s team, my team, the Vanguard team – it was a wonderful collaboration.

Now, all that remains is for everyone to come see Compendium at Vanguard. Vanguard’s Andy Bray has graciously permitted me to offer a sneak peek of the space. It’s a Lisa Sherry Interieurs Market exclusive. My snapshots are indeed just snapshots, so please come see it in person. I’d love to know what you think…. 

The International Furniture Market in High Point, North Carolina, starts a week from today. I expect great things, especially from Texture, one of my very favorite showrooms. It’s right next to Verellen (nice neighborhood!) at 517 South Hamilton Street. Texture is the brainchild of Patrick and Mareita. Patrick is an Irishman with (I-kid-you-not) a twinkle in his eye and a lilt in his voice; you can’t help but love him. And that’s what Mareita discovered too, his wife and partner. Mareita was a successful designer and shopkeeper until she met Patrick. Together they conceived Texture and have never looked back.

I snuck in the Texture showroom late yesterday with a clandestine camera to snag some preview shots of what’s for sale, there are one-of-a-kind true jewels that my friends are discovering in Bali between markets. Look for me at Texture when the Market opens next week. I’ll be the girl with the truck…

Tell them we sent you!

Drum roll, please! My biggest delight and surprise at Market was the Bernhardt showroom. Yep. Truthfully, I’d never been in the showroom before. I just was never drawn there. This Market it was a must-see on my list because Ron Fiore became Bernhardt’s creative director this past spring. He really is a wizard (former creative director at Hickory Chair) and I couldn’t wait to see what he’d been up to.

Ron has a way of seeing. And, his vision – full of style, surprise, color, smart editing and personality – permeated the showroom. Who knew Bernhardt was so cool! Hickory Chair fans (and I am one of them) take note – Ron did NOT simply do “Hickory Chair” at Bernhardt. Apparently, Ron’s creativity is just bottomless, because the look is new, exciting and different. I snuck some snaps. Very cool ….

Already the High Point Market seems like a distant memory…

Here is a wrap up of inspring things we saw at Market and I’m excited to implement some of these pieces. The driftwood-wood trend seems to be morphing to glam and I’m so ready! I’ve always been in love with luxe pieces like fur (faux) throws and now I’m adding more gold and yes, brass and eclectic pieces. I loved blue and white patterns in the 80s and they’re back. (aging myself!?)  This gourd lamp is an object of desire. By the way it’s gigantic! Black and gold? Be still my heart, my latest crush. All of this in one room? why not?

We LOVE the Furniture Market. It’s a high-octane experience as High Point brims with new ideas and designs. We also love it when Market ends. Because this is the time we review and edit all that we’ve seen. We decide what has staying power, what’s really new and next. That’s a job for next week because  first we take the weekend to relax. Please follow suit and enjoy a wonderful fall weekend!

During Market time, the world of interior design comes to High Point. (That said, I’ll add that even during the “off season,” High Point is an amazingly creative place.) It’s a delight to run into editors, bloggers, all-around style mavins and wonderful new designs as the LSI team works the streets.

What good fortune to bump into Dara Caponigro, editor-in-chief of Veranda at the Verellen showroom on South Hamilton (just a sneak peek at Verellen for now!). Dara was part of the original editorial team at Domino magazine. (I say that wistfully, as I still miss Domino). When the irreplaceable Lisa Newsom retired from Veranda, the publication she literally invented from the ground up, Dara was tapped to follow her. Probably a super daunting assignment for a lesser talent. I love how Dara is shaping Veranda. It’s still Veranda, but it’s also evolving under Dara’s leadership.

I also had a run in with a parliament of owls at Market. In the Oly showroom, of course. I was an early admirer of Oly and my crush has only grown more intense as time goes by. They never cease to surprise and inspire. Oly designs are head-turners. A single piece can make a room. But Oly excels at stagecraft too. The magnificent owl murals are wise and wonderful!

More later. The streets of High Point beckon!

For the LSI designer S.W.A.T. team the High Point Furniture Market is organized chaos. While Market didn’t officially open until Saturday, we were on the streets early Friday morning to shop before the opening bell. We are seasoned shoppers and rule breakers. And, we know our way around the Market. Some of our favorite showrooms source one-of-a-kind finds from around the world. LSI clients want what’s new, what’s hot and what’s unique.

Our first stop? The Texture Showroom on South Hamilton Street. (It’s right next to Verellen, one of our long term crushes.) Texture is full of one-of-a-kind objets and treasures sourced from around the world by owners Patrick and Marietta. (We understand Cody, their super sweet papillon, also has a great sense of style and sniffs out some of the best finds.) Texture always surprises. We scored!

Stay tuned for more blogs and Facebook chatter on what we’re seeing and buying on the streets. All eyes are on High Point this week. We’d love to share our vision with you!

One of my favorite times of the year happens twice a year. It’s the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, North Carolina. All the world comes here to see what’s new, what’s next, what’s hot (and what’s not). Here at LSI, we have three “principes” in our Market approach. First, we have some very specific client shopping lists. We are on very focused design missions! Secondly, we shop sans agenda. We meander and roam to discover new style leaders and great products. And, thirdly, we reconnect with old friends: cocktails, dinners and great conversation. Market officially starts tomorrow, but we are on the streets today! Stay tuned for LSI updates. Follow us next week for our market play by play.