If you saw last week’s post, you’ll know that my design mind is bursting at the seams with inspiration following the Design Bloggers Tour of High Point Market I took part in a couple of weeks ago. Apart from logging almost 10Km of walking each day, we had the opportunity to see the best of the best in home furnishings, and today I’m going to share two more categories that stood out to me.

But first, a reminder of that quote from Carolina Herrera:

Keep that in mind as you drink in the latest and greatest, always looking for what speaks to you and tells your story. Good design is never about keeping up with anyone. Your home is the canvas upon which you paint your life’s memories, so good design should feel like a custom palette and set of brushes, lovingly made to express your unique story and lifestyle.

The debate over warm and cool metals has been raging in the design world in memoriam, just as it has in the jewelry world. While I believe we are embracing more than ever a bespoke mix of metals that is more timeless and less about trends, brass is indeed still boss right now. We’re seeing that expressed in more subtle ways, however, with brass details like inlays on furnishings, frames on chairs or accents on household accessories bringing that golden warmth to light. Check out just a few of my favourite “brass spottings” from the Fall 2017 High Point Market Design Bloggers Tour.

ONE/  As you learned from last week’s post, anything that puts an unexpected twist on classic geometry tends to grab my attention. The style and substance of Century’s Modrian brass cube table lamp, playfully tipped on its axis, is totally my jam. Bold yet restrained with its antique finish, it’s modern classic luxury at it’s finest.

TWO/  Another fav Century find is this incredibly stylish and ridiculously comfortable armless chair. The delicate brass frame sets the perfect stage for the mix of wool, fur and leather elements that embody livable luxury and casual sophistication. I love the thoughtful details like the leather head bolsters that are attached with equestrian-inspired straps. These are the kinds of details that can tell a story, and let me tell you, these chairs sit like a DREAM. Totally on the wish list for our next house, they’re the ultimate elevation of beanbag comfort for classy kids and grown ups alike.

THREE/  I totally fell in love with the bootstrap-to-business-success story of the ladies behind Wexel Art. Not only did they allow passion and innovation to lead them down the path towards a blossoming business, but they did so in true mom-warrior style, starting out at dining room tables and expanding as the demand outstripped the space available in their own homes. I love the bullet-style brass supports on this tabletop frame (I was lucky enough to bring one of these beauties home!), and am also a huge fan of their wall-mounting systems, brilliant for families looking for a way to display their kids art on a rotating basis while taming the visual clutter.

FOUR/  Another great example of a subtle but sophisticated way to invite the warmth of brass into your home, the Wells Accent Chair from Universal Furniture meets the needs of city dwellers living in small spaces at a surprisingly affordable price point. Its tidy dimensions make it a “go anywhere” kind of chair, and I love it in this pistachio green leather. The best part? Despite its petite scale, the Wells sits very comfortably, perfect for long conversations with friends over a glass of wine (or two).

FIVE/  Perhaps my favourite use of brass spotted this Market, the inlay on this stunning Dhow Block Square Coffee Table from EJ Victor is sheer artistry. A marriage of classic woodworking and ancient Muscat inlay techniques, the Italian-dyed birds eye maple veneer paired with the Oman brass details make for a timeless piece of art in furniture form. The wave-like shapes in this brass inlay were inspired by the traditional Dhow sailing boats of Oman, and I find there’s something quite soothing about their undulation. This is the kind of furniture that gets passed on for generations.

As I toured through some of the best showrooms to be found at High Point Market with my fellow Design Bloggers Tour mates, I found myself drawn to what I’m calling a bold, organic minimalism. When it comes to making a statement, finding that one artistic piece that calls to something inside of you is essential. For me, gestural brushtrokes, tribal inferences and organic shapes are a brilliant way to do just that, and these are some of my favourite pieces that fall into that category.

ONE/  As I mentioned in my last post, Michael Berman‘s collection for Theodore Alexander is out-of-this-world gorgeous. I sense his love of nature and his playful creativity met with artistic refinement in every piece. I believe that details are a love language, and I see that in the careful attention to finishes and textures to be found in this collection. I really could have shared ALL THE PIECES with you, but in the interest of restraint, I’ve just included three today. First is this lovely duo of Tide Cocktail Tables. The simple elegance of this duet really speaks for itself.

TWO/  When embracing bold, organic minimalism, scale is EVERYTHING. Large scale statement pieces allow you to embrace the “less is more” philosophy with courageous expression. The four foot wide by seven foot high dimensions of Kelly Wearstler’s Pacific Floor Mirror for EJ Victor are both expansive and oddly restrained in the confident real estate they occupy in a space, reflecting light while framed by a tribal-influenced wire-brushed black oak frame. This is a timeless, edgy piece with a rock-and-roll sensibility that will never date.

THREE/  Also Kelly’s, this Phoebe Stacked Table Lamp by Visual Comfort feels somehow whimsical to me. It’s generous rolls and 30″ high stacked statement offer a fresh and simple texture in patina’d white ceramic.

FOUR/  The ultimate in gestural brushstrokes, Michael Berman’s Washi Console for Theodore Alexander was newly released in this smaller scale this Market, and confession time, it makes me a bit weak in the knees. The craftsmanship involved in creating this brass inlay – which feels as though it was effortlessly brushed onto the wood – is truly phenomenal. This is the kind of statement piece that MAKES a room.

FIVE/  Also from Michael (can you sense the design crush here?), these Tide Mirrors by Theodore Alexander feel classic and utterly fresh all at once. Classic thanks to the mix of black cerused oak and brass inlay details. Fresh thanks to the totally organic and unexpected shape for an otherwise often ubiquitous accessory. This is the kind of wall decor that can transform a space with it’s bold and simple statement.

I hope Part II of my Design Bloggers Tour Roundup from High Point Market has your head dancing with design inspo! I know it does mine, and I’ve only shared half of it with you! Check in next week when I’ll do my best to share two more roundups with you. So much design goodness! Now to find the perfect projects for all these gorgeous pieces…

Until then, happy weekend, friends!