New Materials Shine (Literally) at High Point

Looking to spruce up your countertops? Add a little pizzazz to your plain furniture? Look no farther.

photos by lauren davidson

Dream big.

How about incorporating some gypsum-crystal tables into your living room to give your space some sparkle? Or adding some Swarovski crystals into your dining room table?

The first was on display at the Bernhardt Furniture showroom at High Point Furniture Market, a five-day bi-annual event in High Point, N.C., that brings buyers up close to the latest trends.

“Anything reflective or translucent — those are both big movers right now,” says Stephanie Lowder, co-owner of Rare Bird Creative marketing and communications company.
 

The Levine cocktail table and chairside tables are part of the Bernhardt Interiors collection, and other pieces in similar shapes also are available in white onyx. But Lowder says the new pieces made entirely of gypsum are rare.

“Gypsum is usually found on a lamp or an accent,” she says. “We’ve had it on our fireplace as a prop (in our showroom). But I've never seen anyone use it for actual furniture.”
 

Lowder says Bernhardt incorporates about 75 new objects each market into its collection of about 500 objects. Their showroom is 80,000 square feet.

“They are about as hot as it gets from styling and product moving forward,” says Jeff Lenchner, president and CEO of Today’s Home.

One of the “must-stop” showrooms for Perry and Lora Sigesmund, the co-owners of PerLora, is Stone International, where designers are mixing traditional with glam.
 

The Italian manufacturer makes all of its products with natural stone. Some highlights in their showroom were a swivel stone cocktail table on casters; Allegra embossed, red leather dining room chairs with Swarovski crystals on the front as well as the back spine; and Lugano tables made with Swarovski crystals crushed into the stone.

To be continued tomorrow in Nest.