Considering the abundance of product launches, panels, workshops and parties that pack the Market calendar biannually, one of the most significant features of the industry’s biggest sourcing event can go unnoticed: namely that a number of showrooms are exclusive to High Point, not to be found at any other design fair. But for several brands—ranging from spunky upstarts to absolute stalwarts of the sector—the nearly weeklong North Carolina extravaganza, happening from October 25 to 29 this fall, is the only place to be. And it’s one reason why Washington, D.C.–area designer Jewel Marlowe hasn’t missed a Market in years.
“We drive down early in our old cars—the big ones that you can fit a lot of furniture in,” says Marlowe, who is returning to High Point next month as a designated Style Spotter. In that role, she’ll personally curate Market’s 11.5 million square feet of showroom space in search of special products that ineffably resonate with her individual aesthetic. Her expert strategy to sourcing, honed over nine prior fairs’ worth of practice, begins at beloved, semisecret venues that are a bit off the beaten path.
“I love to go to the antiques dealers and little-known one-offs before anyone else discovers them, to get first dibs on everything,” she shares. That includes scouring High Point’s Antique and Design Center at Market Square as well as Chelsea on Green, which represents more than 40 antiques dealers. The tactic aligns neatly with Marlowe’s design philosophy, in which collectibles add sui generis character to a scheme. “My motto is ‘Color. Glamour. Soul.’ And by soul, I mean items that have patina, a story to tell,” she says. That might manifest as a 19th century cast-iron sink basin or architectural salvage from a Haussmann-era building in France. One year, she recalls, she bought a barrel of about 50 vintage shoe-stretchers to use in an art installation. “Whether you’re trying to please a client or get your project published, these are the elements that make a design stand out,” she explains. If a midcentury Danish chair, for example, strikes her fancy, she will buy it on the spot. “Because by the next day, it will be gone.”
After scooping the competition in the collectibles category, Marlowe turns her attention to anchor brands. “The second half of the week is when I go to big-name showrooms,” she says. From the rug to the couch to the curtain fabric, lighting and accessories, High Point checks every box: “All the brands I work with are there.” The debut next month of the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s design hub on the first floor of the Broad Hall building, presenting 15 different member brands—Blanco, BlueStar, Ferguson Home, FreePower, JennAir, Lutron and Miele among them—in custom-designed vignettes, will expand the shopping options even more. “It heightens High Point’s status as the whole-home destination,” she says. Now more than ever, designers will be able to source every room in the house.
For first-time attendees, the designer suggests one of two approaches to tackle the immense event. “You can either spend all your time sourcing, or dive right into the abundance of classes and panels,” she says. Describing herself as “mission-focused,” Marlowe initially prioritized showroom visits, but now that she’s a veritable Market veteran, she recognizes the importance of networking, which has led her to a partnership with Fabricut. “Panels, workshops and socializing are big value-adds,” she notes. “If you don’t have many projects pending, you can spend the whole week educating yourself and making connections.”
Whether it’s finding products or forming relationships, High Point has the solution. “I leave Market with all my questions answered, all my problems solved, because everything I need, start to finish, is there, all in one place,” says Marlowe. “It’s the obvious choice.” Below, the designer shines a spotlight on eight of her favorite showrooms—all exclusive to High Point Market.
ASIAN LOFT USA
Windsor Plaza, 625 W. Ward Ave., Suite 100
This purveyor of furnishings, antiquities and accents with an Eastern flair will debut 6,000 fresh products in its new, freestanding, 30,000-square-foot showroom in the iconic Windsor Plaza building. Conveniently, its warehouse is just adjacent, meaning designers and retailers can shop both. Items on offer might include chinoiserie screens and consoles, floral porcelain vases and glazed ceramic planters—even decorative calligraphy brushes to be displayed as art. Marlowe appreciates the brand for its signature style, which unites the wide array of items it carries. “Asian Loft has a distinctive identity, which is helpful when refining the look of a project,” she says.
COLLECTED BY SCHWUNG
313.Space, 313 S. Centennial St., 1st Floor
The home decor love child of Rudi Nijssen and Dominique Sente (partners in business and life), Collected by Schwung combines a curatorial expertise for collecting with the creativity of handcraftsmanship. The pieces in its endlessly evolving portfolio are useful, beautiful, whimsical and intended to last—what the brand calls “enlightened objects.” Located within 313.Space, the showroom elegantly displays the creative studio’s European-made, brass-and-glass original lighting designs, as well as its handpicked selection of European antiques and North African artisanal pieces. “What I like about Schwung is it’s A to Z,” says Marlowe.
SHERRILL
315 Fred Alexander Place, 1st Floor
A paragon of American craftsmanship, the Sherrill family of brands comprises such go-to sources as Hickory White (including its collaboration with color master Lillian August) and the comfortable classics of Mr. & Mrs. Howard, as well as, of course, the eponymous anchor brand, Sherrill Furniture. Marlowe raves about witnessing an heirloom-quality chair being made by hand during a Design Influencers Tour of the brand’s local manufacturing facilities. “It was such an immersive experience, and such a privilege to observe established craftspeople who have been doing this for decades,” she says. The combination of local handmade workmanship with modern manufacturing techniques results in furniture that’s both original and enduring. “Sherrill has something for every style, room and budget,” the designer says.
SOUTH + ENGLISH
210 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Unmistakable (and unmissable, due to its purple-hued triple storefront on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive), South + English intertwines its two namesake sensibilities to great success. “One gentleman, Palmer Linwood Smith, is Southern, and the other, David Ebbetts, is English,” says Marlowe of the founding partners. “Their combined styles pair irrepressible American panache with buttoned-up British classicism.” The creative tension between the two opposites gives birth to bespoke pieces that balance capriciousness with reserve. “There’s whimsy in some of the designs, while others are tailored and masculine,” she adds. “Their furniture is timeless with just a bit of a fun twist.”
STICKLEY
200 N. Hamilton St., Suite 135A
This hallowed American label has set the standard for the finest in hardwood furniture for over 125 years, but it’s not merely a legacy brand yoked to the past. “Although Stickley is renowned for its Arts and Crafts heritage and Mission pieces—I picture angular lines, simple forms—the company has completely reinvented itself, and now offers many other modern styles,” says Marlowe. Attention to detail and commitment to uncompromising craftsmanship distinguish all Stickley designs. “Its furniture is setting trends, and it’s going to last forever,” she says.
THAYER COGGIN INC.
230 South Road
“Iconic,” says Marlowe of the brand founded in 1953 and made famous in part by its midcentury modern collaborations with Milo Baughman. “Clean forms, curvy couches: truly ahead of their time.” Tailor-made in its North Carolina studios, with hundreds of upholstery fabrics and a variety of wood and metal finishes to choose from, Thayer Coggin’s furniture is among the most recognizable in the world. “These designs have been replicated and knocked off ad infinitum, but you just can’t beat the real thing,” she notes.
TOV FURNITURE
Showplace, Suite 1850
Proudly touting its maxim, “Don’t be boring,” this family-owned brand offers fashionable furnishings that are versatile, fresh and fun—and won’t break the bank. “They’re great for the designer in search of something a little more affordable and very much on trend,” says Marlowe. It’s a smart source to counterbalance splurges on statement pieces for the “grown-up” rooms in the home. “TOV offers a playful contrast to the more traditional furniture makers at High Point,” she continues. “And it’s a great option if you’re going for a youthful, flirty vibe.”
UNIVERSAL FURNITURE
101 S. Hamilton St.
“Universal is a workhorse,” says Marlowe. “They have something for everyone: a variety of lines, a variety of styles, all at upper-middle and above price points and with quality customization options.” A foolproof go-to when outfitting the whole home, the brand sells case goods, upholstery, decorative accents and furnishings that emphasize function and comfort. Furthermore, trade members who buy in bulk—perhaps to fulfill multiple projects—can qualify for discounts. “Universal is a very useful vendor to work with,” adds the designer. And at High Point this fall, it will be the host of a ton of events and panels.
This story is a paid promotion and was created in partnership with High Point Market Authority. Register for Fall Market by October 10, 2025, to receive your pass in advance by mail, free of any on-site fees.
Homepage image: A vendor exclusive to High Point, South + English weds the exuberance of the American South with the traditional tailoring of Great Britain | Courtesy of South + English
