Angelo at the Pinnacle Awards...

My good friend Angelo Surmelis speaking at the Pinnacle Awards in High Point. When you watch this video, you will learn just how wonderful and genuine this man is...

Natuzzi

It was so great to see Natuzzi at the Market. Having previously worked for the company for almost a decade, it was so nice to go back and see old friends and colleagues. And, the Natuzzi showroom and American headquarters building is an amazing work of art. It was designed for Pasquale Natuzzi by the famous architect Mario Bellini. Take a look inside...



The furniture inside is just as amazing. Pasquale Natuzzi is solely responsible for sparking a whole industry. He simply made leather furniture "cool" and affordable. And, he did it with an unrivaled talent, determination, and vision for living beautifully. Take a look at some of the amazing pieces from this Market...








Gorgeous! The top of European style. Thanks to Sherry, Lauren, and their team for the amazing presentation, and an awesome lunch too!

snapshots from High Point...

Right now I'm working on a couple of features from the furniture market. I will hopefully be able to post them very soon. It was a fantastic show. The mood was very upbeat, and I saw people writing business. Our new pieces also sold very well. Soon I will be able to talk about where our new designs will be available. We're so excited! In the meantime, here's some random images from the show...

Angelo Surmelis and I at the Natuzzi showroom

Entrance to Halo Styles showroom

One of our new designs introduced by Metro Home Furnishings

Cool funky chairs by Aribesque

Beautiful tufted wing chair by Burton James I'm going to need one more button on this chair...

"Ok" says Richard Brown

Awesome occasional chairs and ottoman by Candice Olson

Great chandeliers always make me stop and stare!

Union Jack Ottoman by Halo Styles

The upholstered VW in the Culp Fabrics lobby.

My good friend Craig Ruse. I will need to write a post about him. He's such a wonderful person. One of the coolest, and most interesting peeps I know.

More to come...

The Fun Theory...

This initiative by Volkswagon is called "The Fun Theory". You gotta see the video below...

How awesome is this!?!

more from High Point...

I've extended my stay in High Point for one more day. Two days is not enough, and I just can't get enough!

Yesterday, I visited many more showrooms, and one that blew me away was Halo. What an amazing company! Feast your eyes on this...

The feeling in the showroom is so hip, cool, and wonderful. And just like the showroom, every piece of furniture is a work of art! We're talkin' some serious decor porn. The best way I can describe them is...Antique glam meets mod cool! Here's some more...



There are so many images I could never post them all. Visit their website. If you're into this as much as I am...you'll be there for a while! And check out this really cool video...

Much more to come. Stay tuned for coming posts about Natuzzi and Culp Fabrics...

news from High Point...

I learned two extremely important things today at the furniture market. Number one, never never never buy brand new shoes for the show. And, I've now learned this for the 50TH TIME! The second is, I'm a terrible photographer...especial when I'm on a mission to see everything I possibly can.

I did manage to take a lot of photos, and I saw some truly amazing things the first day! It's really going to take me some time to organize it all, and be able to post it all properly. So for now, here's a sneak peak...

I was shopping some fabrics for a manufacturing client of mine today, and I ran into Art Barber, the owner of Charleston Forge. Art and Susan Barber's talent is matched only by their passion and integrity. Truly wonderful people. They own a real steel forging factory in beautiful Boone, NC. We're talking real craftsmen hammering on anvils. I've seen it with my own eyes. Awesome!
Art told me I wouldn't believe his showroom, and that dude was not kidding! They have been long known and admired for their rustic hammered tables, and hand forged bakers racks. I walked in the showroom and I was blown away! This "aint" your mamma's bakers rack...

I will post better pics and much more about them soon. They're stuff is totally hip!

Later I went to the coolest showroom I've ever seen in High Point! Seriously! The company is Aribesque. It's owned by Tracy Krohn. Words and these photos cannot truly show the totally amazing showroom and collection she has created. Check...this...out...




She does upholstery, tables, barstools, art, accessories, fabrics, bedding, and more. And it's all amazing! I'll try to get better pics, and I will post more about her and her amazing company soon.

Ok, one more and I have to call it a night. I started at 5:30 this morning and it's now after midnight.

This next company blew my mind!...Haute House They're located in Los Angeles, and these totally awesome pieces are designed by a guy named Casey Fisher. You gotta see this!...

This stuff is SO on the edge! I love it! I'll definitely be posting more on this...

There's was a lot more...it was a long day. My new pieces at Metro Home Furnishings have done really well. I'm very excited about the results so far. I will let you know the details as things progress :-) By the way...the second container was spotted somewhere around Papua New Guinea, and it will arrive on Wednesday...after all the buyers are gone. Oh well, there's always tomorrow...for dreams to come true.

At the end of a long and wonderful day, I got to share dinner with two very special people. Tom Erdman, and Angelo Surmelis. We had a great dinner, and lot of fun together.

Dinner was lobster bisque, and a cheeseburger. Yes, you read that right...lobster bisque, and a cheeseburger. It was an awesome recommendation Tom! By the way, if you don't know who Tom is...check out his blog. Besides being a great person, he's also a gifted writer. And, he will write the most well written email explaining that he's not. Tom a top expert on product development, and the logistics of getting it to the market. Tom knows the furniture business!

Angelo Surmelis you all know, and if somehow you don't...welcome back to earth! Where have you been? Please tell us what you saw out there! He's so great, so cool, so genuine, and so much fun. He's also my favorite design dude in the world!

Goodnight all...can't wait to hit the ground running tomorrow...much more to come, so please stay tuned...

i'm off to High Point...

I'm off to High Point for the Southern Home Furnishings Fall 2009 Market. I have my camera in hand, and I will try to post photos of the cool things I find, as soon as I'm able.


I can't wait to get there and see all the wonderful new introductions! The coming new trends for 2010 and beyond. And, of course our new introductions ;-)

Our new designs are debuting at Metro Home Furnishings, 401 S. Hamilton St., Space 105

in a dream...

Last weekend while setting up for the flea market, I glanced across the street at the most amazing site. It turned out that our spot was right across the street from the home of Isaiah Zagar! Of course I walked across the street and started snapping photos...





It's called Philadelphia Magic Gardens, and it's the most magical place. It's the most extensive and wonderful mosaic I've ever seen. Isaiah Zagar is such an amazing artist, and an extremely interesting man. Take a look at this video trailer from an award winning documentary film called "In A Dream", directed by his son Jeremiah...




Here's some more photos that I took...






Even more amazing at night! I can't wait to go back there and explore in great detail. If you want to learn more, click on this link.

Additional photos on my Design On The Edge facebook page.