Around Town: The Bernice Bienenstock Furniture Library - High Point

Coming up this weekend, Spring Market week will come to North Carolina, a furniture  industry design event bringing together buyers, designers, and media specialists (much like New York's Fashion Week!) to the town of High Point. And although many of the 75,000 attendees will be focused on touring the showrooms of the 180 buildings known as High Point Market, many will add a trip over to the Bernice Bienenstock Furniture Library to their plans, not only to see the library, including original, iconic pieces of furniture, but also to take in a little research time on period styles for their own projects. The library holds America’s largest collection of extremely rare books on furniture, and furniture history, along with thousands more interior design books, shelter periodicals, and antique auction catalogs, going all the way back to the last century! Although I too will be popping into the library during market week, I did bring my mom to also take in this bit of American history when she came up from Florida to visit.

The Bienenstock Furniture Library is our country’s only library dedicated to the preservation of history on the furniture industry, including furniture design, and it contains the country’s largest collection of extremely rare books on furniture plus  furniture design history. The library is free and open to the public, Monday - Friday, located at 1009 N. Main Street in the heart of High Point, just two buildings over from the Junior League of High Point, and across the street from a new fave shopping spotting for collectables here in North Carolina - Vintage Thrift and Antique Shop. My mom and I had stopped by on Saturday first, but I didn't realize the library was closed. When we went back during the week, we were graciously taken a tour and given more information about the library's history from its director, Karla Webb. Here are a few pics I took from touring Bienenstock Furniture Library...

 

 

 

 

While we stood in one of the front reference rooms, which included the library's fireplace and portrait of its founders, Sandy and Bernice Bienenstock, Karla explained that they  began collecting books about furniture and furniture design back in 1922, when this house, the Garyson House, was their family home. In 1970, The Bienenstock Furniture Library was dedicated by Sanfords, and Mr. Sanford was at that time President of Duke University.

For the library's opening in 1970, everyone in North Carolina's furniture industry turned out for it. The library has undergone a few changes to preserve its historical integrity, but one thing that has remained constant, besides the beautiful centrally located staircase is its historic exterior constructed of basalt. Today, the library is listed on the National Register of Historic Homes.

 

The library contains over 8000 books on furniture and interior design + many periodicals, including over 100 years worth of issues of Antiques Magazine. It was cool to see one publication from my birthday. My mom and I were even able to see the library’s climate controlled rare book room, which contains volumes dating back to 1640 and it is the only library in America that houses the original works of 18th century furniture masters Chippendale, Sheraton and Hepplewhite - which you can flip through, as long as you're wearing the clean white gloves given to you. 

The historic library is run by a volunteer board of directors - some of which include volunteers: Leslie Hendrix Wood (of Hadley Court), Leslie Carothers (of The Kaleidoscope Partnership), Stephanie Lowder (of Rare Bird Creative), and Jason Oliver Nixon (co-founder of Madcap Cottage). It is currently chaired by the grandson of the founders: Mr. Russell Bienenstock, who is the Editor In Chief of Furniture World magazine.

 

Students, furniture designers, interior designers, scholars, design bloggers and lovers of furniture and design from all over the world come to the library to conduct research.

And thanks to the library’s generous endowment by the founders, the library has given out scholarships to the winners of its annual furniture design and interior design student competitions. Recently, The Bernice Bienenstock Furniture Library Board of Directors announced the winner of their annual Interior Design & Furniture Design student scholarship competition whose first place winner, Erica Brooks of Virginia Tech who will receive a $5,000 scholarship to continue her studies in interior design - And Eny Lee Parker of SCAD won first place the Furniture Design competition will also receive a $5,000 scholarship to continue her studies in furniture design.

CONGRATULATIONS, Erica & Eny!

You can read more about Erica’s winning design in an article here at Furniture World - plus in my post I wrote for Hadley Court called High Point Happenings.

Just this past fall, Hadley Court design blog shared with you the opening of the Hadley Court Center For Design Collaboration Center at the Bienenstock Furniture Library (you can read about the Dedication here). The Center was designed for meetings, presentations, webinars and seminars  —   and the room contains the latest in AV equipment that library director Karla has been trained to use – to help make your visions come to life in a professional environment. For example, you can Livestream a design  presentation or record a video presentation to share on your social channels and website. If you’d like to reserve it for use, you can email Karla at info@furniturelibrary.com.

  

So yes - even with all the newness market will bring this coming Spring season, part of what makes market possible is taking in the nearby historical sites, such as the Bienenstock Furniture library. My mom and I enjoyed our time there, and I hope you will too!

By the way: Although this is a 'library', books may not be checked out - however, you can actually buy some of the books in the on-site book shop down stairs, or bargain book shop out past the garden in the carriage house. Not only are these books wonderful to add to your design library to reference, but they are great also to layer into a vignette to tell a story - of your own home or a client project. Funds collected from book purchases help the restoration of the historical books, drawings, documents and the library itself.

To help bring more awareness to this historical establishment during market week, the library will be hosting a BBQ boxed dinner - with Sweet Tea, tonite, Tuesday, April 14 from 5-7pm for market exhibitors setting up and you will get the chance to meet the High Point Junior League Showhouse designers. (Follow the hashtag throughout social media channels at: #JLHPShowhouse)

The 2015 Designer Showhouse takes its inspiration from the furniture-rich history of High Point. The designers have worked very hard to create a modern, livable space in a historic home, that had good bones but needed a little TLC. Many of the designers working on the showhouse referenced the Bienenstock Furniture Library to research their room designs. Visit the Junior League of High Point Showhouse site at jlhpshowhouse.com to learn more about the design house and learn about the designers and the cause this will be supporting. To learn more about the library visit their site at furniturelibrary.com

Junior League High Point - Designer Showhouse

200 West Farriss Ave

High Point, North Carolina

(336) 889-5479 

Bienenstock Furniture Library
1009 North Main, in the center of High Point (at the corner of N. Main & Design Place)

 Library Director Karla Webb

336-883-4011

info@furniturelibrary.com
Follow the library's current activities and events via their facebook page at: www.facebook.com/BienenstockFurnitureLibrary

Thanks for stopping by - Hope to see you at the library and #HPMKT!

Fashion & Decor - Style & Trends From NY Fashion Week

Many styles from the runways of New York Fashion Week this past February will be, if they haven't already, not only wondering into our wardrobe this coming Fall, but also merging its way into our home's decor. For starters: What had to be the most dominate color of designer collections was black - From the colorful designer Thom Browne to Donna Karan, to Alexander Wang to Calvin Klein, which in home furnishings, will appear as ebonized furniture finishes and black lamp shades. Other color palettes dominating the Fall / Winter 2015 runways were shades of grey - including matte silver and white, winter whites, hints of harvest gold,  black and gold, shades of teal and olive - sometimes paired together, and probably one of the most controversial colors this year - Pantone's Marsala, but bolder, richer, deeper shades of burgundy, merlot, along with a few red carpet moments with garnet...

 As with home decor, black and gold continues to make a strong statement on the runways. The more brushed metallic finish gives this look a more vintage feel -- and can also become beautiful inspiration for wall-coverings, especially for a statement powder room. Some terms of these applications you may hear are foil, flocked, brocade, lamé, jacquard. 

 NYFW - FW 2015 - Black On Black

Achieved through finishes and texture: Matte vs. Shine - Sheer vs. opaque - Flocking and Patchwork.

 Fashion & Decor - Design Duet I created for my weekly blog contribution at Hadley Court design blog. You can read the post + see more Fashion & Decor room pairings at:

Dazzling Decor - Kitchen + Dining Rooms Paired With NYFW.

NYFW - FW 2015 - Elegant Red Carpet Reds

Although some designers such as Tory Burch and Tommy Hilfiger, gave a rebirth to the 70s, the style was more modern bohemian than than hippie chick, the most notable nod to a style of years past  had to be the minimalism of the 90s - sharp, clean lines - more linear and almost architectural in their structure and design. Where previously we've seen more graphic patterns, now patterns are more 'tone-on-tone' for a cleaner aesthetic, leading the way to monochromatic wardrobes - and I'm sure will translate into into home furnishings, textiles, and interior design. 

 Southwest and Aztec influences styled Bohemian Chic.

 Architectural Linear With White

 Matte Silver Minimalism 

Monochromatic styling is excellent to use wen you want to create a soothing, tranquil, and sophisticated space, such as a master bedroom or master bathroom - and save the more graphic patterns for  common areas, such as a family room - unless you're wanting to make a big statement in a small space, such as an entryway or powder room.

Modern - Masculine - Monochromatic

Soft hide prints in a patchwork, such as this pencil skirt from Oscar de la Renta,  can also inspire a tile pattern like this marble one used here in this bathroom designed by Kelly Wearstler - featured at domainehome.com.
This patchwork technique from the runways, can also be applied a technique in home decor called marquetry and parquetry - which is saw strongly featured during Las Vegas Market, and I'm curios to see if it makes its way over to the east coast for HPMKT...

Heading into a more minimalism direction for interior design, expect to see fewer stripes, including the over-used chevron. En lieu of stripes, the runway featured more of a play on high gloss vs flat finishes - including fur on metallics, and even tone-on-tone fur patchwork from techniques such as shreading & shearing - which is perfect for coats skirts and handbags, or for home furnishings as rugs, pillows or ottomans - I'm sure will be featured at retailers and High Point Market, come Fall. 

 As seen on the NYFW runway - Patchwork Fur.

 The softer side of some of the more masculine runway looks were seen playful but sophisticated rose patterns, which although these are for Fall, I believe will also transition in Spring 2016.

 NYFW - FW2015 - Rose Patterns

 Fashion & Decor - Design Duet by Lynda Quintero-Davids for Hadley Court design blog.

Dress design: House of Oscar de la Renta, Creative Director, Peter Copping – Room design: Classic Black & White Celerie Kemble Interiors ~ Hand Painted wallpaper by Fromental, Rene Drouet chairs, Black Lacquered demi-Lune table attributed to Jansen, belted stripe rug, and silver coffee and tea set. Photo by Hulya Kolabas
 

 I know I'm inspired to once again get my wardrobe and home in sync! Since some styles are re-born of years gone by, one destination source sure to already carry some of these silhouettes will be consignment and thrift stores. Knowing these looks ahead of time can help when seeking refresher pieces for your wardrobe - as well as act as act as an style indicator when sourcing pieces at the upcoming High Point Market this Spring. High Point Market is Fashion Week for the home furnishings industry. Since I'll be attending HPMKT for the first time, I'll be curious to see if some of the trends from the west carry over to the east...

 

 Earthy & organic weathered woods vs. High style & High gloss 

 

Ebonized and black painted finishes...

 

Black shades, especially with gold interiors, for lighting design

 

Elegant white and gold...

Speaking of Spring, which will officially start by the end of this week, be sure to visit the Hadley Court design blog, to view my design duets from NYFW Spring 2015 Collections, which were shown this past October...


New York Fashion Week: Spring Trends Translated Into Timeless Interiors

Thanks for stopping by!

All New York Fashion Week - RTW FW2015 fashion images collected from Style.com and NowFashion.com - These images and more can be found on my Pinterest board: NYFW FW2015.

Coming Up: Design Bloggers Conference - Atlanta 2015

It's finally here! A moment many people in the interior design and design blogging industry have been looking forward to: Design Bloggers Conference! I had attended my first DBC back in 2013, the last year it was held in LA. Last year, the DBC relocated their venue back east to Atlanta, which will be this year host city as well!  Once again, the DBC continues to dazzle its audience with wonderful keynote speakers - this year including Nate Berkus, Alex Hampton, Brian Patrick Flynn, Marcus Sheridan and --- Interior Design Icon Bunny Williams!

Some of the presentations I'm looking forward to are:

 Digital Day at ADAC

(including a presentation from High Point to the World - Madcap Cottage Gents - John Loecke and Jason Oliver Nixon!)

The Ultimate Blog Platform

YouTube Marketing: Build Your Brand and Grow Your Blog with Creative Video

Social Media - Design Roots For Collaboration

presentation with Lori Dennis and Kelli Ellis of Design Camp PLUS local North Carolina Designers - Lisa Mende and Tracy Zeller! (BTW: Upcoming Design Camp Events will be at the AD HOME SHOW NY | March 18 - 19, and during HIGH POINT MARKET | April 20 & 22 !)
 

What You Should Know About Search and Analytics

What You Need to Know about Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter

And a 'special invitation' from Dwell With Dignity Founders

Lisa Robison and Kim turner -- who both presented last year in Atlanta for DBC 2014 and launched the first satellite project (outside of Dallas) for Dwell With Dignity! (You can read more about it from a previous post here).

 

 List of DBC - Design Blog Category finalists for 2015!

Congrats to all!

Along with these presentations, held over the course of three days, from February 25 thru 27, 2015 at the Grand Hyatt Buckhead in Atlanta, I'll also be getting to see online friends + connections, and learn new social media marketing strategies + new approaches to blogging. The reward after the day of presentations will be attending cocktail gatherings, making new connections, meeting DBC sponsors, and I'll even attend a dinner I was invited to, sponsored by Traditional Home Magazine + Ethan Allen Home Furnishings. I'm honored and still can't believe that my blog's nomination has lead to me becoming a Finalist this year for the Design Blog Hall of Fame - one of 4 in my category for Best Design Blog Graphics, Photography, & Presentation. Even if I don't win, I'm grateful to have been nominated and become a finalist for 2015!

Last time I saw Leslie was during LVMKT - Winter 2014!

(Click to view: my LVMKT Winter Market video)

One of my dear and special online friends I'll be able to see again will be Leslie Carothers, along with two of her clients - Designer Mitzi Beach (who well also be giving a DBC presentation!) and Founding Editor of Hadley Court,  Leslie Hendrix Wood  - whose blog, Hadley Court, did win the honor of Design Blog Hall of Fame - in the category Best New Design Blog - in 2013!

See the full list of all attendees here!

The tough part now is editing the necessities to take and to pack. Thankfully, Leslie C. pulled together this thoughtful checklist to help:

1. Foldable umbrella that color coordinates with clothes

2. Warm slippers + nice PJ's or robe for cold, early morning hotel rooms and answering the door for room service.

3. Casual attire [but presentable] for early morning runs down to the breakfast room or meeting room to grab a quick something to eat/ or to set up - if you don't want room service.

4. There's no time to change between afternoon sessions + evening time...unless you make the time.

Suggestion: take a wrap/scarf, a change of jewelry + shoes/purse in my orange roller bag vs. having to go back to my room - that way, it leaves more time for talking with friends, meeting new people, and more time to see sponsors' tables.

5. Take an EXTRA LONG extension cord with multiple plug ins. Pack as many kinds of extra batteries for all your devices as you can.

6. Some people do 2 business cards: One for their regular biz, one for their biz as a blogger. It's not too late to order overnight now from MOO. 

I also added lip gloss or Chapstick - the cold air can chap your lips - Advil to prevent distracting aches - plus clear nail polish, not only for nails, but as a quick fix for hosiery snags.

To help with the packing, I picked up a small garment rack from HomeGoods to hang my items onto take - until they are ready to be folded and packed into the luggage. Afterwards, the rack will make its way into the garage, to reuse for future travel and to create a space to hang garments to consign.

I'm just hoping the weather cooperates with everyones travel plans - whether flying or driving - to Atlanta for this year's Design Bloggers Conference!

Looking forward to sharing my experience when I get back!

You can read my first experience attending The Design Bloggers Conference - here.

Thank you for stopping by!