Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem’s Curated Lifestyle & Design Magazine
A PLACE TO GATHER
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A PLACE TO GATHER
Go inside a stunning Irving Park home designed by Greensboro’s Bradshaw Orrell. Bradshaw gives us all the details of the look and shares what inspired the home’s design scheme.
MAKING A MARK
For two decades, Winston-Salem nonprofit Bookmarks has worked to not only promote literacy, but to also cultivate the love of reading. Executive director Jamie Rogers Southern explains how the organization’s book festival, bookstore and community outreach help them nonprofit achieve that goal.
SEEDS OF CHANGE
Through the CROPS initiative, North Carolina A&T State University is working to bring innovative farming techniques to rural farms across the state. A&T professor Dr. Gregory Goins explains how the program aims to improve both the production of crops and the lives of the farmers growing them.
LIVING VIVID
The team at Vivid Interiors share pieces to up your style this fall.
FINDING THE TRUTH
In her debut novel, Tell It to Me Singing, Greensboro author Tita Ramirez explores how family secrets can change relationships in unexpected ways. And she gives us insight into how she draws from real-life experiences to craft her fiction.
56 A HIGH POINT SALUTE
The American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame honors some of the most iconic names in furniture. Its new High Point headquarters has become a hub for the furnishings industry and the community, as well.
from the
EDITOR
Greetings, #marvelouslyMOD readers, and welcome to the issue! If you’re like me, these cooler temperatures we’re enjoying bring me a fresh perspective and enthusiasm for all that’s ahead for the remainder of this year.
Speaking of fresh perspectives, that’s exactly what interior designer Bradshaw Orrell brought to a project in Greensboro’s Irving Park. Bradshaw takes us behind the scenes of the transformation and gives us insight into his creative process.
A reverence for creativity and the power of the written word fuels the team at Bookmarks in WinstonSalem. Founded two decades ago as a book festival, Bookmarks has grown to encompass not only its annual festival, but also a downtown bookstore and myriad programs designed to create community through the act of reading. We chatted with executive director Jamie Rogers Southern to learn more about the organization’s work in the Triad.
Though based in the Triad, North Carolina A&T State University professor Dr. Gregory Goins’ work takes him to farms and fields across the state, leading the new Climate-Responsive Opportunities for Plant Science (CROPS) initiative. Working in conjunction with other universities in North Carolina, Gregory and his team aim to change the way farmers approach agriculture. Gregory and his team use innovative tools to help increase production and improve the livelihoods of people in rural areas.
In High Point, it’s hard to miss the gorgeous new American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame building, and if you’ve wondered what’s inside, we have a guided tour with the organization’s executive director, Karen McNeill. Karen shares how the foundation and its new facility go far beyond simply honoring furniture luminaries and have created a place where the furnishings industry and High Point community can gather.
And we catch up with Greensboro author Tita Ramirez, whose debut novel Tell it to Me Singing was published by Simon & Schuster this year. Tita explains how growing up the daughter of a Cuban exile helped influence this story of a Cuban family and the secrets they hold.
The team at Vivid Interiors share a few favorites to give your home and your wardrobe a boost this season. And in Society Sightings, we have your front-row seat to the latest looks hitting the runway at High Point Fashion’s Night Out fundraiser for the Junior League of High Point.
As the days grow shorter and we turn to cozier indoor pursuits, we hope curling up with this issue helps you usher in the new season and prepare for all that’s still to come. Until next time!
Jennifer Bringle, editor-in-chief
A PLACE to Gather
“It’s what a house should be – nice but not pretentious, and full of people and love.”
– Bradshaw Orrell
SSome homes simply exude a sense of comfort and a welcoming ambiance that instantly makes guests feel at ease. That certainly holds true for the abode known as the “Prickett House” in Greensboro’s Irving Park neighborhood.
The stately home, which once belonged to Proctor & Gamble executive Karl Prickett and his wife Lynn, was built in 1924, shortly after landscape architect John Nolen—who studied under Frederick Law Olmstead, designer of Central Park in New York City—helped establish the Irving Park neighborhood. And when the current owners moved in some years back, they turned to interior designer Bradshaw Orrell of Bradshaw Orrell Interiors to give the home a timeless look that captures their love of family and entertaining.
“The home has a rich history, and the family respects that and honors it,” Bradshaw says. “It’s what a house should be—nice but not pretentious, and full of people and love.”
The design features a mix of antiques and new pieces, as well as furnishings that have been reupholstered or updated with custom finishes. In the foyer, for example, Bradshaw paired a reupholstered chair with an antique table, completing the look with new matching mirrors.
“It’s hard to find a pair of antique mirrors that are the right size,” he says. “So we found these from Carver’s Guild, mounting them on the walls that feature a faux-painted stucco texture that was original to the house.”
In the den, woodwork in the form of built-in bookshelves and cabinetry surrounding a substantial fireplace and mantle, as well as beams crossing the ceiling, gave the space a darker feel. Bradshaw offset that by upholstering the furniture in white Loro Piana fabric and updating two tables with custom finishes.
“I hand-painted the two white tables,” he says. “They were dark, stained wood, and I just needed to lighten them up.”
Across from the fireplace seating area, two card tables play host to games of mahjong, a favorite pastime of the homeowner and her friends.
“She’s a champion mahjong player,” Bradshaw says. “People come over to play, and she gives them lessons.”
Bradshaw also designs accessories for furnishings maker Chelsea House, so he pulled pieces from that collection—gold-and-white orchids on the coffee table and white birds on the mantle—to add a personal touch to the room. And he completed the look with a custom rug from Turkey that took more than two years to craft.
The homeowners love entertaining and welcoming several generations of family for holiday gatherings and other celebrations. So dining spaces must be able to accommodate groups, and do so comfortably, as well.
The expansive dining table seats 24, and in the breakfast room, Bradshaw replaced the cane seats and backs on the chairs with upholstery to provide a comfier sit. The breakfast room opens to additional dining space on the covered patio, complete with the same Kravet fabricupholstered seats.
“They have a big family, and she is the matriarch,” Bradshaw says. “They celebrate all the Jewish holidays, and she cooks for every single one of them.”
The mix of new and old carries into the breakfast room, as well, where Bradshaw topped an antique Louis XV cabinet with a vase he designed for Chelsea House. And a painting created by the homeowner hangs above.
“She’s an artist, and I really love her paintings,” Bradshaw says.
The spacious dining and gathering spaces not only fit the needs of the home’s current owners, but also harken to a different era of entertaining, when dinner parties and other celebrations in the home were de rigueur.
“These houses were meant to party in because they didn’t have restaurants and bars everywhere the way we do today,” Bradshaw says. “So they can accommodate a ton of people.”
Upstairs, Bradshaw created a haven in the primary bedroom. The generously proportioned space accommodates a considerable antique bed with a ceiling-height headboard, as well as a sitting area outfitted with a white upholstered sofa and Louis XIIII chairs. And Bradshaw added an ottoman upholstered in his own private-label textile line, BOI Upholstery. Philip Jeffries grasscloth in a soothing sea green covers the walls, punctuated by paintings by late Greensboro artist Douglas Freeman.
“The gardens are magnificent, and she really likes color,” Bradshaw says.
That attention to the flow between indoor and outdoor living plays beautifully in the sunroom and adjacent porch. Bradshaw outfitted the interior sunroom in neutrals that don’t compete with the vibrant color outside the glass doors. Two ornate 19th century Italian stools add a touch of Old World glamor, while a contemporary palm tree lamp from Bradshaw’s Chelsea House collection plays on the room’s connection to nature. Additional works by Douglas Freeman adorn the walls, and the hand-painted ceiling adds visual interest from above.
“These houses were meant to party in because they didn’t have restaurants and bars everywhere the way we do today. So, they can accommodate a ton of people.”
– Bradshaw Orrell
“The Douglas Freeman Foundation sends kids to Italy for the summer for art school,” Bradshaw says. “Every year, (the homeowner) buys a few pieces from the foundation to help support the cost of that program.”
In the hallway outside the bedroom, hundreds of framed family photos hang in a grid along the walls. Bradshaw carefully arranged the photos down the hallway, then affixed them to the concrete wall.
“That’s the first generation of her kids and grandkids,” Bradshaw says. “And now the grandkids are having kids, but they haven’t made it to the wall yet.”
A nearby guest bedroom has a feminine, Parisian feel thanks to a bed and chairs acquired in France and wallpaper in a soft pink with a floral lemon pattern. The colors and patterns in the room reflect the lush exterior outside the space.
Outside, white wicker seating with plush upholstered cushions provides the perfect vantage point for enjoying the home’s verdant gardens. The home includes multiple porches and patios, valuing outdoor space and garden views just as much as the elegantly appointed interiors.
“The gardens are constantly changing, and just about every room leads out to a sunroom or porch,” Bradshaw says. “And there’s a swimming pool out back. Indoor-outdoor living is very important to them.”
That attention to the al fresco lifestyle plays perfectly into the homeowners’ dedication to family. Family and friends often stop by, for planned gatherings as well as impromptu visits. And though their grandchildren have gone off to college, careers and families of their own, the homeowners have enjoyed years of fond memories with them in the home.
“Two of her three children live in the neighborhood—one on the same street, and the other about a block away,” Bradshaw says. “One day
“It’s not a cottage, but it just feels homey. It feels full of love and kindness.”
– Bradshaw Orrell
she walked outside and found a kayak in the swimming pool—one of the kids was practicing their paddling. She thought that was hilarious.”
Over the years, Bradshaw and the home’s owners have become great friends, extending their relationship well beyond the typical creative partnership between designer and client. Bradshaw says that welcoming, loving spirit permeates the relationships the homeowners have with not only family and friends, but everyone who enters the home, as well.
As he created the design of this home, Bradshaw says that sense of warmth and acceptance helped guide his work. And he believes that feeling gives the home a coziness and comfort that belies its size and stature.
“It’s not a cottage, but it just feels homey,” Bradshaw says. “It feels full of love and kindness.”
– Jennifer Bringle,
editor-in-chief
DESIGNER: Bradshaw Orrell Interiors
Pages 18-19
Page 22-23
Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem Vol. 6 No. 5
Kathryn Field
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Jennifer Bringle Editor@yourMODsociety.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Whitney Brockman Marisa Faircloth, PA-C
COPY EDITOR
Jennifer Weaver-Spencer
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Micciche Photography
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Sara Brennan Bret Vanderbeen Brand and Bloom Photography
LAYOUT AND DESIGN
Crystal Staley
ADVERTISING Advertising@yourMODsociety.com MOD Society Magazine
SEEDS CHANGE of
As weather shifts such as drought, intense summer heat and warmer winters create changes in the overall climate, farmers must adjust their growing methods to ensure continued production of everything from food crops to material fibers like cotton. But for many rural farmers, the ability to make such changes can be difficult both from a resource and a cost standpoint.
A new project led by Dr. Gregory Goins, associate dean for agricultural research at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University in Greensboro, aims to help farmers in North Carolina improve production and better adjust to changing weather patterns. The initiative, ClimateResponsive Opportunities in Plant Science (CROPS), will engage rural farmers across the state through workshops, listening tours and other forms of outreach, bringing cutting-edge technology and techniques to farms.
“In North Carolina, because of our soils and the diversity of our agriculture, we know we need a climate-resilient agricultural future with these changes in the climate,” Gregory says. “And so we’re looking to lead a new generation of empowered and more prosperous small and mid-sized farmers.”
Funded by a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines program, CROPS brings together partners from multiple North Carolina universities, including North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and East Carolina University, under the leadership of Gregory and his team at N.C. A&T.
Partnering with local agricultural extension offices in Wilson, Nash, Edgecombe, Johnston, Forsyth, Bertie and Martin counties, the goal of CROPS is to eventually build a 42-county agricultural tech corridor from the foothills to the coast.
Through CROPS, farmers in this ag tech corridor will gain access to information and assistance to implement climate-smart agricultural practices on their farms, which will help crops become more resistant to threats such as weather and insects.
“Some of the futuristic things in development in the laboratory include crops that have genetic components that are more resistant to salt,” Goins says. “Particularly in the eastern part of the state near the ocean, you may have water rise that can bring more salt into the soil.”
The eastern part of North Carolina is of particular significance to Goins and his team for another reason, as well. Communities in that area between the
Piedmont and the coast tend to be more economically disadvantaged, and the CROPS team believes this initiative is a means of growing local economies through improved agricultural practices.
“The coastal plain has many more counties that are under economic distress,” he says. “We’re trying to catalyze an economic transformation in the poverty-persistent counties by increasing farming income and reducing climate-related losses that may happen in the future.”
For smaller farmers or those in already economically distressed areas, climate-related losses such as crops dying from drought or a late frost can be catastrophic. Goins says educating these farmers on techniques to avoid such losses can benefit them financially, and through CROPS, they can implement these climatesmart practices with less risk than if they attempted the conversion on their own.
“Due to some changes in the weather, you might get more years where the losses outweigh your gains in traditional agriculture,” he says. “And so you’re always going to have that risk. But this is something that we’re developing and taking on the investment so that it essentially de-risks climate-smart practices. By having a platform like this that allows the universities to come in with the technologies and investment capital, we share the risk.”
Another component of CROPS’ outreach focuses on introducing farmers to alternative crops that will grow well in their area that they may not have considered. In a state once largely dependent on tobacco farming, the idea of exploring new alternatives to traditional crops has historical precedence, but some farmers may still have trouble thinking outside the box when it comes to what they plant.
“We have mushrooms, truffles, different types of chilies, Asian gourds and bitter melon, which are in demand for specialty markets,” Goins says. “With CROPS, we have to champion these alternative crops with our communication and outreach, because a lot of people don’t know about them.”
Ultimately, Goins sees the work of CROPS as a way to invest not only in the continued viability of agriculture in North Carolina, but also in the lives of the farmers and workers maintaining those farms. And by creating a more positive experience for farmers and the communities where they live, CROPS will help ensure the next generation of growers will continue our state’s rich agricultural legacy.
“You can grow anything anywhere with enough fertilizer, time and sweat, but that’s not beneficial to the environment, and it’s not beneficial to your time for your family,” he says. “We want our farmers to have a balanced lifestyle that will help people stay in family farms and keep young people engaged. We have to look out for the next generation while protecting our planet’s resources.”
– Jennifer Bringle, editor-in-chief
MAKING MARK A
Each fall, thousands of book lovers crowd downtown Winston-Salem to see big-name authors such as John Grisham, Gillian Flynn, James Patterson and Terry McMillan—along with lesser-known and local writers—at the annual Bookmarks Festival of Books.
But the event—which ranks as the largest book festival in North Carolina—is just one part of the greater Bookmarks organization. The nonprofit also operates a bookstore in downtown Winston-Salem and runs outreach programs throughout the year aimed at cultivating a love of reading.
“We want to be a resource for people in the community,” says Jamie Rogers Southern, executive director of Bookmarks. “We want to help strengthen the access and opportunity to engage with and around books for people of all ages.”
Bookmarks launched two decades ago as a literacy initiative of the Junior League of Winston-Salem, with its first festival in 2004. In 2006, the festival spun off into its own nonprofit separate from the Junior League. With a small staff of mostly volunteers and part-time employees, the festival continued to grow each year, drawing literary heavyweights while also creating a venue for up-and-coming writers to find their audience.
Fast-forward to 2015, when Jamie and then-executive director Ginger Hendricks began revamping Bookmarks’ strategic plan, exploring whether the nonprofit could open a bookstore.
“People really wanted a bookstore downtown,” Jamie says. “We opened the store in 2017, and it is one of only a few nonprofit, independent bookstores in the country.”
The bookstore allowed Bookmarks to expand its programming with author visits and other events throughout the year. While store sales benefit the organization, Jamie says they only account for a portion of the nonprofit’s annual budget. But that additional revenue has allowed Bookmarks to expand its community outreach through a number of programs.
“An independent bookstore is really crucial to community building,” Jamie says. “It’s a place where people can discover, engage in conversations that might challenge them and also be entertained. The four pillars of our programming are: educate, inspire, challenge and entertain. We believe books can do all those things and more.”
Bookmarks does that in a number of ways. Outside of the festival and author events, the nonprofit also works closely with schools in Forsyth County through their Authors in Schools program and by donating books to individual schools.
“We’re a literacy organization, but it extends beyond just learning how to read—we want to instill the love of reading in kids,” Jamie says. “We can’t always expect people to come to us, so school engagement has become a big piece of what we do.”
In 2020, as the pandemic hit and social justice issues came to the forefront of the American consciousness, Bookmarks saw another opportunity to not only promote literacy, but also understanding and connection among members of the community. They launched the Book With Purpose initiative, a summer reading program that invites members of the community to read a specific book that focuses on a topic such as mental health, antiracism, immigration or voting rights.
“The idea is to bring all ages and people from all different walks of life together in a safe space where people won’t be judged for terminology that they may or may not know how to use,” Jamie says. “It gives us a chance to talk about the history of where we’ve been as a community and country, and hear firsthand accounts of people who maybe have a different background from you. That’s something that we feel is really crucial to what books provide—stories not only help you see yourself in books, but also help you see other people and connect with them.”
Whether through the Book With Purpose community read, at the Bookmarks Festival of Books, in a school or at one of the many events at the store—from children’s story times to author visits— Jamie says the main goal of Bookmarks remains the same. And she invites everyone, no matter their background, to join them in pursuit of that objective.
“Our vision is to have a community where books bring forth connection and belonging,” she says. “We try to be as open-minded as possible and assume that people are coming to learn, while having grace and understanding that everyone doesn’t have the same path with books. But just know that whatever your entry path to Bookmarks, there’s a lot more under the surface that we invite everyone to be a part of.”
To learn more about Bookmarks, visit their website at bookmarksnc.org.
– Jennifer Bringle, editor-in-chief
Vivid Interiors is a design shop and retail space in downtown Greensboro.
This feature is inspired by a calming neutral palette punctuated by texture and bold and moody black artwork by Linwood at South + English.
Level up your home by adding a touch of artistic flair with this funky, chunky and quirky wood block carved side table by Noir Furniture.
LIVING
Hey there, Delilah. Don’t you just love this vintage mod head sculpture on a wood block base? She’s the perfect conversation piece for any space.
Old World rustic charm meets modern luxe with this edgy and ridgy tall cabinet from Mr. Brown London. Or should we call it a cupboard in our most refined British accent? Either way, it’s a beauty and a beast!
It’s fall, and that means boots! We’re stepping up our style game with these black-and-cream organic modern boots from Alohas. Elevate your look when paired with your favorite jeans, or dress them up for a night out.
V I V I D
We always love getting our new Thibaut wallcovering books, and this modern, organic, black-and-white geometic wallpaper is a stunner. This would make a wow statement in an entry, put the “pow” in powder room, or make the most sophisticated laundry room.
These black-and-white striped compote vases are cool enough on their own, but when paired together, they are a dynamic duo of modern sophistication. They’re perfect for displaying your favorite florals, but can stand alone on their own!
Is it a painting? Is it a sculpture? Or is it a rug? This piece by Momeni is all that and more! Especially when the design was influenced by sculptor and painter Constantin Brancusi.
One of our favorites by Glasshouse Fragrances, Kyoto in Bloom will transport you to a garden of luxury with its sweet, ethereal and diaphanous scent—it’s like a lotus and a cherry blossom caught in a spring breeze.
Unlock Confidence & Beauty:
TUNE IN TO THE EMPOWERED BY BEAUTY PODCAST
BY MARISA FAIRCLOTH OF RESTORATION MEDSPA
Marisa Faircloth, renowned author, public speaker and founder of Restoration MedSpa in Winston-Salem and Greensboro, has spent more than 40 years in medical aesthetics, plastic surgery and weight loss. In 2022, she published Empowered by Beauty: A Testament for Unleashing Self-Confidence, in which she shares her belief that beauty transcends physical appearance and stems from compassion and connection. The Empowered by Beauty Podcast extends these themes while exploring the treatments and services available at Restoration MedSpa.
Hosted by Lora Songster, a well-known radio personality and Restoration MedSpa patient, the podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in learning more about Marisa’s specialized treatments and her team’s unparalleled care.
EXPLORING AESTHETIC EXCELLENCE
Each episode delves into various treatments, from injectables to innovative therapies like lasers, addressing aesthetics, weight loss, sexual health and more. Marisa provides expert insights into these procedures, offering listeners detailed explanations of what’s available to help them feel and look their best.
“The goal of this podcast is to educate people and demystify aesthetic treatments, addressing common questions and concerns while highlighting the benefits and outcomes people can expect when they visit us,” Marisa said.
EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIVE CONTENT
Listeners can expect episodes that cover topics like Botox, microneedling, body contouring, and personalized skincare. Each episode provides a comprehensive look at the procedures, explaining the science behind them and the results patients can anticipate.
EXCEPTIONAL CARE AT RESTORATION MEDSPA
A key focus of the podcast is highlighting the personalized care each patient receives at Restoration MedSpa. From the first consultation to post-treatment follow-ups, Marisa and Lora discuss how each patient’s experience is tailored to ensure safety, comfort and satisfaction.
Whether you’re a longtime client or simply curious, tune in to the Empowered by Beauty Podcast for valuable insights and inspiration on your aesthetic and wellness journey.
Hear all of the latest episodes by visiting MarisaFaircloth.com, and you can learn more about Marisa’s practice by visiting RestorationMedSpa.com.
FINDING TRUTH the
Sometimes, a character’s story just needs to be told. Even if a writer isn’t sure how or why, certain characters beg to be heard, to have their lives play out on the page.
Greensboro author Tita Ramirez experienced that with the protagonist of her debut novel, Tell It to Me Singing, which was published earlier this year. That lead character, Mónica Campo, first came into Tita’s consciousness 15 years ago in a short story she wrote.
“I could not stop thinking about Mónica, and I also couldn’t stop thinking about her mom, Mirta, who had made just a quick cameo in the story,” Tita says.
“I knew she was part of Monica’s life in a significant way. So I just started piddling again with the file, and kept writing, and eventually came up with the idea for her mom to have a really severe heart issue.”
In Tell It to Me Singing, that health crisis leads to a stunning sickbed confession from mother to daughter—the man she has always known as her father is not her biological dad. The revelation sends Mónica, who is pregnant and engaged, on a quest to discover the truth about her lineage and the life her Cuban refugee mother led before Mónica’s birth.
Tita says she pulled the idea for a family secret from her own life. During her 20s, she discovered her mother had been married to another man before her father.
While she says that’s not as distressing as finding out your father is a different man, she says the revelation of her mother’s past still felt disorienting.
“It didn’t blow me out of the water, but it’s strange to hear that the history that you thought was one thing was actually something else,” she says.
“And because our parents’ history is our history, I thought, ‘What if Monica’s mom has a secret that’s way more complicated and way more devastating?’ And everything got rolling from there.”
After learning the truth about her father’s identity, Mónica reaches out to her ex-boyfriend Manny, who shows up at the hospital where her mother is recovering. Seeing Manny again spurs Mónica to question her relationship with her fiance and child’s father, Robert, and provides unexpected insight into her mother’s predicament.
Mónica gains further insight into her mother’s decisions as she learns about Mirta’s life as a counterrevolutionary against Fidel Castro before escaping to the United States.
Tita beautifully weaves the two women’s stories, which both follow a desire to achieve freedom in their lives.
“Mónica realizes that her mother didn’t have a choice when it came to being with her biological father,” Tita says. “And as she recognizes that her mom had so few choices, Mónica realizes that she herself does have choices. And she can decide between Manny or Robert, and staying close to family or breaking free and developing her own voice.”
Though the novel covers serious topics, Tita infuses the narrative with moments of humor via snippets of a telenovela (a Latin American soap opera) that Mónica and Mirta enjoy watching together.
“I thought it would be hilarious and layered and structurally interesting if I could create a telenovela within a story that plays with telenovela tropes,” she says. “And then bounce those things off of each other and comment on the idea that we all want to think our lives are so together, and we would never do anything crazy.
But the truth is, when you start talking to people and peeling back the layers, we’ve all got stories.”
And Tita says those moments of telenovela-esque messiness in both Mónica’s and Mirta’s lives ultimately help them become the women they’re supposed to be.
“I think sometimes readers want things from book characters that they wouldn’t be able to pull off themselves,” she says. “We had to see Mónica being human in all of these relationships, and she needed to be a messy human for a while to become a better human in the end.”
Tita says she hopes readers will take that lesson to heart— that it’s OK to make mistakes and not always be perfect, because that’s what makes us all human.
“I want readers to take away the idea that it’s okay for people to be complicated and to sometimes do things that are not the most morally sound thing,” she says. “And that sometimes we need to find our way toward the right move or the right decision, and it might be yucky in the meantime.”
– Jennifer Bringle, editor-in-chief
SALUTE HIGH POINT A
Perhaps more than anywhere else in the world, the significance of furniture is deeply felt in High Point. Home of the venerable twice-a-year High Point Market, not to mention scads of furniture makers, designers and upholstery companies, the city has cemented its place in the history and future of the home furnishings industry.
And nowhere is that more apparent than the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame’s new state-of-theart headquarters on South Hamilton Street. Erected in the shadow of the looming International Home Furnishings Center and amid numerous other showrooms, the Hall of Fame serves as a place to honor, learn and gather for not only furniture people, but for the greater community, as well.
“The industry said, ‘We need to have a place where we don’t have to get into our car or take a shuttle,’ so we knew it had to be in the middle of market,” says American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame chairman, Karen McNeill. “It’s the place for an opening cocktail party, it’s a place where people can go to learn, it’s a place where you can hold a meeting or other event.”
While the Hall of Fame was founded in 1988, its headquarters opened in 2023 in a new 25,000-squarefoot building. The space serves as both the home base for the Hall of Fame, and as a museum to the storied history of furniture. Multiple galleries throughout the building house exhibits that include a tribute to the more than 130 Hall of Fame inductees, furniture design retrospectives, an evolving design trends gallery and more.
“We offer personal tours where there’s a lot of interaction and exploring,” Karen says. “People have so many questions, and those questions lead to even more interaction. It’s impossible to get through the building in less than an hour because people want to slow down and learn more about the things they’re seeing.”
Though the Hall of Fame doesn’t operate with daily museum hours, it offers group tours and events for the public to learn and enjoy the facility.
“We take a lot of school groups through, church groups and other tour groups,” Karen says. “We have a full-time historian on staff who’s very engaging and leads many of the tours.”
The Hall of Fame offers hands-on exhibits for children in its Children’s Discovery Center. Kiddos can learn about the history of furniture, how it’s designed and how cutting-edge technology such as robotics play a role in the industry.
“Children can design their own chair or create their own mood board with fabric and wood samples,” Karen says. “And kids get really excited about the robotics and say, ‘I could see myself doing that.’”
Technology plays a key role in how the Hall of Fame interacts with visitors. In Celebration Hall—the expansive two-story space just inside the front entrance—a 25-by-17-foot screen made up of hundreds
of LG panels impresses for seminars and special events. And a 32-seat theater allows visitors to enjoy videos such as a behind-the-scenes tour of High Point Market and a peek inside Markor’s factory in China.
“The industry and the community have discovered that this place is very different from others because of the technology,” Karen says. “We have more than $5 million in technology here.”
Traveling exhibitions such as “Textiles Reimagined: Brave New World of Digital Printing,” further illustrate how innovative technology is changing the way furnishings are designed and produced.
“The exhibit shows how you can digitally print on around 100 different fabrics and substrates,”
Karen says. “You can see all the creative things that previously could not be done and how this technology brings a lot of value and personal expression to the furnishings industry.”
Karen says the Hall of Fame is currently working on the next phase of its exhibits, preparing more space for traveling shows that will bring different perspectives on the furniture and design industries to High Point. Eventually the museum may have public hours, but until then, Karen says the community is welcome to visit by appointment or consider the Hall of Fame for their next event, no matter the size.
Karen says that the addition of a venue that can meet the needs of both furniture industry business and the local community plays a major role in the revitalization of downtown High Point. And in that role, she sees the Hall of Fame as a gateway not only for visitors to learn about the furniture industry, but for them to learn about High Point, as well.
“When I ran my marketing agency in High Point, one of our key clients drilled into me that for High Point to attract the businesses and business meetings, it needed a venue that offers more than just the typical hotel ballroom or conference center,” Karen says. “When those people are planning events, they want to know where they can have a cocktail party, where people can go to learn about the culture of the city they’re in. When we designed the Hall of Fame, we had those things in mind.”
– Jennifer Bringle, editor-in-chief
APPROACH THE fresh
Perhaps more than any other business, florists play a major role in some of life’s most significant events, from weddings to funerals. Brides tightly grasp their bouquets as they stroll down the aisle, and families take comfort in the vibrant blooms that adorn the funerary of their loved ones. Jennifer Mann, owner of The Lamp Post Florist in Lexington, knows this well.
“We say our industry is high-emotion,” she says. “We’re working with people planning a wedding and all the emotions around that—the excitement and nervousness—and then we also work with people who are dealing with death and all the emotions that come with that. We want to make sure we’re giving them what they want and doing it in the best way possible.”
And The Lamp Post has been in the business of assisting with those major life moments for more than 50 years. The florist first opened in 1972 under owners Nancy and Jerry Hedrick. Jennifer bought the business in 2017 after working in the wedding and events industry at bridal shops, as a cake designer and a wedding planner.
“I’ve always had an eye for design,” she says. “My mom’s an artist and my dad’s a commercial contractor, so you put those two together and apparently you get a florist.”
Jennifer says taking over a business so entrenched in the local community meant filling some big shoes.
“The Hedricks were very well-known and well-loved in our community,” she says. “We have people coming in saying things like, ‘I remember when they did my wedding in 1982.’ They ran the business through the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, then it passed through two more sets of hands before we got it.”
The Lamp Post is a full-service florist, catering to a wide range of events even beyond weddings and funerals, such as birthdays, anniversaries and births. Outside special events, the florist also sells everyday plants and flowers
that Jennifer says can play a big role in improving a person’s mood and wellbeing.
“Studies have shown that beyond their air-purifying benefits, plants can really lift your mood, as well,” she says. “Even after being in this business as long as I have been, I still take flowers home and put them on my kitchen counter, and they make me feel so happy.”
Jennifer says she also sees flowers as a great way to let someone know how you’re feeling even when you might not have the words to convey that sentiment.
“Flowers really have the ability to lift somebody’s day,” she says. “It’s like sending an emotion to someone—you can convey happiness, empathy, sorrow, ‘I’m sorry,’ or just, ‘Hey, I’m celebrating with you.’”
The Lamp Post Florist will make that floral gifting process even easier with a new subscription program that will allow clients to purchase recurring flower deliveries for themselves or people in their lives.
“It will be a really good option for situations like, ‘What do I buy for grandma? She has everything,’” Jennifer says. “But you can send her flowers once a week or once a month to bring a smile to her face.”
While it would be easy to simply rest on their laurels of being a stalwart in the community, Jennifer says she and her team work hard to keep The Lamp Post on the forefront of the floral industry. She says services such as subscriptions and a creative approach to design help keep the business as relevant and fresh as the flowers it sells.
“We really try to keep up with what’s current and modern and unique,” she says. “We don’t want our flowers to look like the same thing that’s been sitting on the grocery store shelf for the past couple of years. We look for unique blooms, unique color combinations—we try to think outside the box of your typical florist.”
– Jennifer Bringle, editor-in-chief
SOCIETY SIGHTINGS
photography by elements studio
High Point Fashion’s Night Out
The Junior League of High Point hosted High Point Fashion’s Night Out at The Lofts at Congdon Yards. The event was a feast for the eyes, with a diverse range of fashions from Monkee’s of High Point, Fallen in Love Bridal and Formal, Wynnie’s Boutique, Simon Jewelers, and Collier Optical Fine Sunglasses gracing the runway. Carolina Core Football Club and High Point Rockers even showcased their new line of fan apparel, adding a sporty touch to the evening.
Thanks to the generous support of many local businesses and individual donors, including The Douglas S. Witcher
Family Foundation, Simon Jewelers, Allen & James Home and The William A. Stern Family Foundation, JLHP was able to raise thousands of dollars to support the High Point community.
The proceeds from HPFNO24 have benefitted Family Service of the Piedmont’s High Point Center for Child Wellness and supported the mission of the Junior League of High Point: Advancing women’s leadership through volunteer action, community collaboration, and training.
Judy Sweger, president of JLHP
Courtney Penley. Kathryn Harrell & Stephanie Goldman, founder of HPFNO
HPFNO 2024 co-chairs, Katherine Pollack & Sydney Spring
Frosty Culp
Bailey Stamos, Allison Aldridge, Jonathan Weant & Casey Zanowic
Lauren Stern & William A. Stern
Kathryn Land, Vil Caliz, Sarah Yowell, Abbigail Felton & Alison Kelly
Bailey Stamos, Allison Aldridge, Jonathan Weant & Casey Zanowic
Crystal Staley & Judy Sweger
Pam Baldwin & Catherine Holbert
Dorothy Agnew Johns
Lindsay Klemme, Phillip Stallman & Katlyn Hamm
Marylou Rice, Kaaren Haworth, Kathryn Gerace, Dawn Hudgins, & Lauren Mincey
Katy Brame Erikson, Monkee’s of High Point
Jonathan Weant ABC 45 Meteorologist
BEHIND THE SCENES
WITH
ABBA Design
We caught up with Tonya Morris of ABBA Design to find out what makes the business different and how ABBA can help make holiday decorating easy and stress-free.
What services does ABBA Design offer?
We are a full-service event planning and design production company. While we’re known for our in-house floral design services we also provide floral subscriptions, planters, small-scape landscape installations, holiday decorating for residential and commercial spaces, and party planning for private and corporate clients.
How would you describe your design style?
More is more, and that isn’t a bad thing! When creating a wedding or social event design, we lean into the client’s interests. We want to make sure the design reflects who they are and the message they want to convey. Luxurious florals, multiple textures and patterns and movement within the space all play a part in each design.
Can you elaborate on your floral subscriptions and planter services?
These services were developed as a result of the struggles of the 2020. The pandemic provided an opportunity to implement services we had always wanted to offer. We now have a subscription service that delivers fresh flowers to your door. The designs are created for your space and delivered on the second and last Tuesday of the month, and they make excellent gifts. Our planters and small-scape offerings have started taking root all over Greensboro. Clients are asking for ABBA’s touch at home and at the office with seasonal plantings that start at your mailbox, move to your front porch and then to your outdoor entertaining spaces. We also offer maintenance—ensuring bountiful growth.
Does ABBA decorate for the holidays?
This one is near and dear to me. Fall is my favorite season, and decorating for Christmas and other holidays brings us so much joy! For many clients, we decorate their entire home, adding new items to refresh year after year. Check out our holiday designs at local businesses including Greensboro Country Club, 1618 West and Midtown, and The Undercurrent. New additions this season are the Starmount Forest Country Club and Havana Phil’s.
What sets ABBA Design apart?
Our team’s heart and mission is family and service. Our attention to detail ensures accuracy and precision when planning, alleviating worry and stress. We design floral arrangements with a modern garden flair that boast a variety of high-quality blooms. We also specialize in art and logistics, which aren’t often paired and executed within the same company.
Please follow us on Instagram: @abbadesigngso
BETTER TIME THAN RIGHT NOW!
Why do people hesitate to start a new workout routine?
We hear lots of reasons, but they’re often just lies we tell ourselves when we are fearful of trying something new. If you are thinking, “I need to get in shape first,” or “I don’t have time to fit workouts into my schedule,” or “Barre seems so intimidating—I will never fit in,” keep reading.
There will never be a better time than right now to try, so just start. One foot in front of the other. At NEIGHBORHOOD barre, you will never be excluded or judged. You deserve to be here, so just come as you are!
What advice do you have for someone whose workouts are taking a backseat to everything else?
Maintain the following practices:
• Block time on your schedule for workouts, just as you would any other important appointment.
• Choose workouts that are quick and effective. (Hello, barre!)
YOU BELONG HERE. YOU DESERVE THIS. THERE WILL NEVER BE A
• Remember, bodies in motion stay in motion.
• Movement heals—you always feel better after a workout!
• If you have kiddos, they are watching. Be the example you want them to live by.
• Prioritizing time for yourself to get strong will help you show up stronger for everyone who relies on you.
What’s
the best way to get started at NEIGHBORHOOD barre?
Your first class is free, and we have great options to get started with a regular routine after that. The best advice is to just start. Don’t overthink it. Our barre50 format is our classic barre class, designed to meet everyone where they are. Look for a day and time that works best for you, and book it! That’s the hardest part of getting started. After your first class, we are here to support you every step of the way!
Whitney Brockman, Studio Owner and Certified Instructor, NEIGHBORHOOD barre Greensboro
