Area rug showrooms were buzzing with High Point shoppers stopping by to listen to panels, meet designers
and influencers and shop rugs.
HIGH POINT, N.C. – Area rug showrooms continued to gain momentum as go-to destinations for social and educational events at the fall 2024 High Point Market. And as rug brands mainstream into consumers’ consciousness, designers and retailers increasingly seek out their showrooms for parties, panel discussions and designer book signings.
Busiest this market was Feizy, with customers queuing up for its AI designer showhouse with rooms fashioned by Corey Damen Jenkins, and a Thom Filicia outdoor rug collection debut party and several capacity panel discussions. Surya hosted a standing room only panel featuring Mitchell Gold, with marketgoers registering their approval of Surya’s purchase and relaunch of the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams brand.
The debut of Lavin Rugs in tandem with the launch of its first licensed rug collection with TV home makeover designer Tamara Day drew lots of buzz, while the debut of Eliko by David Ariel’s first rug collection by designer Anne-Marie Burton lured so many to the rug company’s standalone showroom, it may have been the market’s event turnout surprise.
Follow along with RugNews editors as we party hop across the High Point Market campus in this exclusive two-part series.
AMER RUGS
Raj Choudhary and Jaimeson Bullock of Amer Rugs at the company’s IHFC showroom, in front of the
new Logan rug. a striking wool and silk abstract design in a contemporary palette of grey and beige
with accents of brown, blue and gold.
CAPEL
Gentry Holdaway, Stephanie Holdaway, Ally Perry and Taylor Fernandez, all from Gatehouse Furniture
in Orem, Utah, with Tom Perraud of Capel for the debut of the rug maker’s 9,000 square-foot showroom
at 200 N. Hamilton.
COURISTAN
Georgia Couri and Len Andolino of Couristan, Annie Daniel and Elisa Russo of Interiors by Cornerstone
in West Long Branch, New Jersey, and Marlys Giordano of Couristan at the launch party for Couristan’s
new IHFC showroom.
CREATIVE TOUCH
Baki Ildiz of Creative Touch with Wendy Ryan of Wendy Ryan Interior Design and Chelsea Novakoski of
Creative Touch.
ELIKO RUGS BY DAVID ARIEL
Carrie Delray and Kate Pearson of Carrie Delaney Interiors flank Ariel Basalely of Eliko Rugs by David Ariel.
David Basalely of Eliko Rugs by David Ariel with celebrity designer Anne-Marie Barton at the High Point
launch party celebrating their new licensing partnership.
FEIZY RUGS
Celebrating the launch of Thom Filicia’s first outdoor rug collections for Feizy are Randy McDannell,
Daniel Keeley, Thom Filicia, Christopher Todd, AJ Bell, Joe Navarre and Taisa Baucum.
Designers LuAnn Nigara and Corey Damen Jenkins present the first-ever Virtual Showhouse with at
High Point Market at the Feizy Rugs showroom. From left: LuAnn Nigara, Corey Damen Jenkins, Brielle
MacNichol and Daniel Martinez from Corey Damen Jenkins & Associates, and Michael Bauer of Feizy.
HAROUNIAN RUGS INTERNATIONAL (HRI)
Del Morales, Nina Wethman and Ted Evans of Macy’s and Bloomingdales Fine Rugs flank Lee Harounian,
HRI (second from right), at the rug company’s IHFC showroom.
JAIPUR LIVING
Heather and Tyson Fujikawa, founders of House Sprucing, at a meet and greet for the launch of House
Sprucing x Jaipur Living with two collections, Amata and Tesorino, which draw inspiration from Europe
cities and European design.
At the Jaipur Living showroom, designer Michael Habchy presents his new GAMIL by Michael Habchy
collection of four rugs made from double-washed wool yarn in lushly textured organic geometric designs
in a neutral palette.
JAUNTY
Ehsan Zahedi, Kami Navid and Mike Navid of Jaunty, Sharon Leonard and Ashton Camp of Bassett
Furniture, and Larry Haines of Jaunty.
KAS RUGS
Santhi Yarlagadda and Marile Franco of Kas (on far left and right) with the IDS crew touring High Point
Market: Maddie Landers, Lauren Totten, Crystal Gagnon, Marilyn D’Amore.
Anne Pecora and Zachary Nanashko of B. Oliver Designs and The Spotted Whale coastal stores in
Lakewood, New Jersey, with Santhi Yarlagadda of Kas.
LAVIN
Designers Jennifer Farrell and Bargain Mansions star, designer Tamara Day in the Lavin showroom for
the launch of Day's first licensed rugs for Lavin, the Contemporary Luxe and Natural Luxe collections.
At the premiere of Lavin Rugs at High Point Market, executives Kevin Erasmus, Jose Lopez and Kim
Chaumont take time out for a meet and greet with designers, retailers and press following a ribbon cutting
for their new IHFC showroom.
-- Continue Reading RugNews' Rug Society: HPMKT People, Parties & Panels, Part 2