Southern Studio Interior Design

Day 10: Designer Superstar

I saved my personal favorite highlight from High Point for last. For years I’ve spent evenings reading design magazines in bed, ripping out pages of inspiration (and yes, the ripping sound drives my husband crazy when he’s trying to sleep)! One designer that I have always admired is Suzanne Kasler. Imagine how thrilled I was to find her in the Hickory Chair showroom.

Suzanne’s new book, Inspired Interiors, is exactly what the title promises! I was thrilled to go home with a signed copy and when I opened to the first page, I realized why I’ve been admiring her work for so long. Here’s how the book begins….

I’ve never put a label on my style. Wy even try to pin it down when there are so many possibilities to explore? I can do traditional or contemporary, sophisticated or casual, high or low — sometimes all in the same room. If a client calls and says she’s found something she really likes, I’ll say “Get it.” And I will make it work. One of the pleasures of doing a home is expressing your personality.

As designers, I think it’s important to remember who is going to be living in the spaces we design. I’ve been blessed to work on many beautiful homes and I appreciate them all….but mostly because they are true reflections of the families who occupy them. And it’s why I admire Suzanne Kasler’s work and will continue to soak up her new book!

A peak inside the Hickory Chair Showroom in High Point featuring Suzanne Kasler’s furniture line….

It was an absolute pleasure to meet and chat with one of the finest designers of our time (in my opinion, anyway) and as a bonus, she was genuine and gracious…a real treat!

I’ve had a great time with the marathon Top Ten Highlights from High Point…and hope you have too!

Day 9: Form and Function

Today is a visit to the Pearson Showroom at the High Point Market. Pearson has been a producer of fine, custom ordered upholstery furniture for over fifty years. The quality of the custom designed, bench made furniture is impressive. Pearson allows you to take a classic piece and custom design it to fit any style! The possibilities become endless.

Pearson is yet another company that is manufactured locally at their plant in High Point. As a designer, I can’t tell you how helpful it is to have access to so many craftsmen so close to home. Check out some of the beautiful pieces from the spring market…the upholstery combination on these chairs is fabulous!

If you haven’t noticed, there were a lot of monograms on furniture this market! I must like them since I kept taking photos of them. These monogrammed ottomans are great…

Although Pearson is known for quality upholstery, they also have casegoods with beautiful detail…

This upholstered stool gives a powerful punch as an accent piece. I saved this photo from a previous market just because I like it.

And a great upholstered chair in the same fabric….love it!

Quality in form and function is the theme today! Pearson does it best.

Day 8: Statement Pieces

Attending “market” is exciting on so many levels; attending educational seminars, meeting great designers, and finding exciting new vendors. It’s also thrilling to visit the showrooms of trusted vendors that have a proven track record of service and quality (and of course, great design too). Lorts is one of those vendors.

The quality of craftsmanship and ability to customize the design combines to make statement pieces unique for each project. Today, enjoy a few new introductions at the Lorts showroom…

I love the clean lines of these chairs and buffet.

This large trestle table is ideal for family gatherings…casual, yet sophisticated too.

And, I had to share these beds! Now, they are statement pieces!

Day 7: Happy Homes

We have heard enough about the dismal housing market in the past few years and now we’re seeing optimism that the market is starting to recover. The recent downturn has changed how we think about our homes….more remodeling, multi-functional rooms, and efficiently using our space. In High Point last week, Gale Steves, former editor of Home Magazine, gave a thought-provoking presentation on designing homes for the way we really live (sounds simple enough).

Since I spend a tremendous amount of time working on new construction and remodeling projects, this is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. The “bigger is better” McMansions are a thing of the past and are being replaced with functional and efficient spaces. Notice I said nothing about compromising beauty or comfort; they’ll never go out of style.

I thought I’d share a few interesting facts from Gale’s presentation:

• Did you know that the average master bathroom has tripled in size over the last 15 years?
• Did you know that the average home has five televisions? For the record, my house is average.
• Did you know that the average woman has 50 pairs of shoes? I’m not saying a word about my closet.

It’s the perfect time for the release of Gale’s new book, Right-Sizing Your Home. The book actually goes on sale tomorrow, but we were fortunate to get an early release! It is filled with practical advice on how to maximize space and re-think the way we use our homes.

It was an absolute pleasure to meet Gale (I’ll save us all from the not-so-flattering photo of me with Gale). Each page I turn in her book has me thinking “outside the box” in new and creative ways.

Thank you, Gale, for being today’s inspiration from High Point! From my happy home to yours….good night.