5 furniture trends, fresh from the High Point furniture market
Plus: The news of the week — Tim Moore running for Congress — Charlotte lands amusement park HQ — Job cuts at LendingTree — Election heats up
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Every October, the furniture industry unveils the latest home furnishings fashion in High Point. Here are some of the biggest trends we saw this year.
by Cristina Bolling
One perk of having a mom who is an interior designer is that every fall, I get to be her sidekick for her annual trek to the High Point Furniture Market. That’s where tens of thousands of designers and industry insiders gather over the course of a week to get a look at what’s new in all things home furnishing.
It’s a dizzying, overstimulating cacophony of colors, textures and shapes — and it’s also exciting to know that you’re getting a sneak peek at what consumers will be choosing from in the year to come.
Every company’s showroom has its own unique flavor, but it’s always fun to see the similarities that pop up each year.
Here are five of our favorite trends that we noticed last month while traveling from showroom to showroom:
➡️ Acrylic is clearly in vogue. You typically think of translucent acrylic furniture in homes with sleek modern interiors, but this market season, acrylic made its way into the showrooms of even furniture companies that go after traditional styles. Some went as far as to offer colored pieces like hot pink or emerald green.
Acrylic furniture is lightweight, easy to maintain and a good workhorse for small spaces because clear pieces take up little visual space. (But as my mom warned as we walked by some acrylic tables: scratches in acrylic can’t easily be repaired.)
➡️ Embrace the natural aesthetic. We were surprised by how many furniture companies had pieces like sofas, tables and even mirror frames made from natural materials. Wicker, woven straw and cork signaled an earthy, grounded feeling for indoor spaces.
Some furniture companies went big on the natural goods in their showrooms, but even a piece or two in a grouping of furniture had the effect of bringing a natural feel to the room.
➡️ Keep getting cozy. Test-driving sofas is one of my favorite parts of the furniture market, and there was no shortage of tactile-friendly ones to sit on. Wooly, sherpa and shearling sofas, chairs and benches made a return from previous years, and this year we noticed some that were downright furry, like your favorite teddy bear.
➡️ Hello, warm browns, creams and caramels. In showroom after showroom, we saw furniture and accessories in caramel, terra cotta, chocolate and cream — rich tones that offered a nice break from the minimalist grays that were so popular in recent years.
To us, the warm colors were comforting and signaled the tried and true designs of years past — and made us wonder if designers are trying to give us a break from the tumult of the world by pulling us back to what is comfortable and familiar.
➡️ Lean into the whimsical. We’re always drawn to innovative or outside-the-box designs, and this market had plenty that satisfied those cravings. It’s as if the designers were asking: Why have a house that looks like everybody else’s?
Related Ledger article:
”Inside the world’s largest furniture show” (Oct. 26, 2022)
Today’s supporting sponsors are:
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This week in Charlotte: House speaker to run for Charlotte-area Congressional seat; Election heats up; Carowinds’ parent company to merge and relocate HQ here
On Saturdays, The Ledger sifts through the local news of the week and links to the top articles — even if they appeared somewhere else. We’ll help you get caught up. That’s what Saturdays are for.
Education
N.C. charter school enrollment grows: (WFAE) North Carolina’s charter and lab school enrollment increased by nearly 5% this school year, outpacing the growth and slight declines in traditional public school districts.
Politics
Moore to run for Congress: (News & Observer) Republican N.C. House Speaker Tim Moore plans to run for Congress in a newly drawn district that includes western and northern Mecklenburg County as well as parts of the Ballantyne area, according to one of Moore’s political advisers. (You can see the new Congressional maps here.)
Election on Tuesday: Polls will open Tuesday in Mecklenburg for City Council races, a school board race and a $2.5B school construction bond referendum. Find out more about the local races at The Charlotte Ledger Election Hub.
Local news
$45M to fix I-485 and I-85 interchange: (WSOC) Rep. Tim Moore announced an allocation of $45M to alleviate congestion at the heavily traveled I-485 and I-85 interchange in west Charlotte.
Business
Charlotte gains theme park company HQ: (Ledger) Cedar Fair, the parent company of Carowinds, is merging with Six Flags and relocating the headquarters to Charlotte, creating one of the largest amusement park operators in the U.S.
LendingTree cuts nearly 1/3 of workforce: (Ledger 🔒) LendingTree has reduced its workforce by 30% in the last year and reported a 35% decrease in revenue compared with the same quarter in 2022, partly due to high interest rates and persistent inflation causing its bank and insurance customers to reduce their spending.
A slower year for commercial real estate: (Ledger 🔒) Charlotte's commercial real estate industry is experiencing a slowdown in new construction for apartments, offices, retail and restaurants due to factors such as higher interest rates, tightening credit and moderating demand, with fewer new projects being initiated in 2023.
Sports
Clemson coach calls fan an ‘idiot’: (Observer) Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney is defending his response to a fan's criticism on the “Tiger Calls” radio show, calling the fan an "idiot." The fan questioned Swinney’s salary and criticized Clemson's performance. The Clemson Tigers are 4-4 this season.
From the Ledger family of newsletters
Debating the $2.5B CMS bond package: On Nov. 7, voters in Charlotte-Mecklenburg County will decide whether to approve a $2.5B school bond issue to fund 30 construction projects in the next five years, addressing substandard school conditions and increasing construction costs.
Airport raises parking rates again: Charlotte’s airport is raising its drive-up parking rates, with long-term lots increasing to $12 per day and daily decks to $20 per day, effective from Nov. 6.
Ledger readers weigh in: Duke Energy has removed the “Quadrille” artwork from its former building in Charlotte and is exploring options for its next destination, including reader suggestions like the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, uptown hotels and the ADM milling site.
You Ask, We Answer: A Ledger reader sent in a question about the bridge on Ballantyne Commons Parkway that crosses I-485 near Tom Short Road. The N.C. Department of Transportation said it plans to add a left turn lane onto Tom Short Road, with completion expected in late spring 2024.
A new leader for a museum in transition: Richard Cooper, the new president and CEO of the Levine Museum of the New South, shares his goals to make the museum a center for important community conversations on topics like race, income, LGBTQ history and gentrification.
You Ask, We Answer: A Ledger reader asked about the inclusion of Clear (private priority security screening) at Charlotte Douglas International Airport upon completion of the terminal refurbishment. The response from the airport indicates that Clear or a similar service is being considered once the Terminal Lobby Expansion is completed in 2025.
Money pours into south Charlotte council race: Incumbent Republican Tariq Bokhari in the District 6 City Council race in south Charlotte has raised $127,000 in the last two months, while his opponent, Democrat Stephanie Hand, raised $30,000 in the same period, bringing their total amounts raised to $221,000 and $131,000, respectively.
Charity spotlight: Hospitality House of Charlotte provides an affordable and supportive place for patients and their caregivers to stay while receiving treatment at medical centers in Charlotte, offering a sense of community and home during a difficult time.
🎧 Ledger Podcast: In a new episode of the Charlotte Ledger Podcast, the Ledger’s Cristina Bolling sat down with Queens University of Charlotte President Dan Lugo and Adrienne Amador Oddi, who serves as vice president of Queens’s strategic enrollment and communications, to talk about the university’s recent growth and changes.
Harriet McGuire and Sandy Jones maintained a weekly phone call every Thursday for 15 years until Harriet's passing on Oct. 6 at 80.
How Charlotte's commutes are changing: Census data reveals that since the pandemic, commuting patterns in Charlotte have shifted, with more people working from home, shorter commutes, later departure times and a decline in non-driving commutes.
Highs and lows of Charlotte FC’s 2nd season: Charlotte FC's second season has been marked by unexpected twists, including the tragic loss of key player Anton Walkes, and a series of on-field challenges. Despite a rocky start, the team rallied to make the playoffs, but fell short in the wildcard game. The future looks promising for Charlotte FC, Fútbol Friday’s Carroll Walton writes.
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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks; Business manager: Brie Chrisman, BC Creative