High Point Premarket Gives Peak @ Furniture Trends

Contemporary is going softer and warmer, coastal is getting more versatile and gray is walking the line between cool and taupe tones.

These were some of the trends that emerged in the Hooker Furniture showroom at the recent 2-day premarket held in High Point, N.C., the furniture capital of the world.

Felton Upholstered Bed

As its name suggests, premarket is a “preview” of the international High Point Market. In the Spring, Premarket is held in March about a month before the big market opens in April. While the spring  and fall High Point markets draw some 85,000 attendees internationally to shop the showrooms of close to 2000 exhibitors, premarket typically has around 30 sponsoring exhibitors and around 250 retail buyers attending.

So what furniture style trends are emerging for 2011? Here’s a few of note:

• A softer, warmer contemporary. The upholstered bed with chrome nail head trim in our new Felton collection, shown here in the photo, epitomizes the merge of soft shapes and textures with chic chrome for a style that has it all. Felton has concave shaped cases with vertical design elements for an up to date look, but also a warm finish on beautiful walnut veneers. The “ying-yang” style juxtaposition of contemporary and classic we wrote about in January continues to unfold.

• A fresh breeze is blowing in coastal cottage style. Our Harbour Pointe collection is a distinct new interpretation of coastal cottage that is more sophisticated and versatile. What makes Harbour Pointe unique are its two grain-baring finishes, Coveside and Bungalow, which reveal authentic knotty white oak veneers. Natural materials like woven water hyacinth are used on select pieces, and linen fabrics are used on chairs for an embrace of all things organic. Antiques were also an inspiration for Harbour Point, giving it a chic vintage flavor.

• A Greek revival? Classical columns and motifs like the Greek key are used in unexpected ways on consoles and accents. Could this be an indication that we are raising our ideals and aspirations again?

• Gray walks the line. In leather and upholstery covers and wood furniture painted finishes, gray continues to be the sophisticated neutral of choice. The “new” gray is warming up, with some taupe undertones, so it is hard to decide what color it really is. Is it gray or is it taupe? Gray is beautifully walking the line between cool and warm for decorating flexibility.