The countdown to High Point Market is on and the design community will make its way down to the Furniture Capital of the World next month, April 20-25. Editor at Large has assembled a list of events and happenings—both social and educational—that punctuate this spring’s ‘Inspiration’ Market.

Lauder

Aerin Lauder has launched home and lifestyle brand AERIN, and will be the keynote speaker at the Press Breakfast. She will discuss what inspires her, how she moves from inspiration to design, the ideas behind her signature look, and the creative process that led to her new collections of furniture with EJ Victor, lighting with Visual Comfort, and fabric and rugs with Lee Jofa. The talk will take place on Monday, April 22 at 9:00 a.m. This is a private event for press only. She will be debuting her home line at EJ Victor on Sunday, April 21 at a private event.

The annual High Point Market opening day press breakfast will take place on Saturday, April 20 at the High Point Theatre. Doug Bassett, president of Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Company; Andy Brady, president of Vangaurd Furniture; Nathan Cressman, president of Magnussen Home Furnishings; and Alex Shuford III, president of Century Furniture will dicuss and share their outlook on the current market and what it's going to take to build a business this year and in the future. Breakfast is served at 7:30 a.m. and the talk beings at 8:00 a.m. RSVP for this event. This is a private event for press only.

Filicia

On Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20, join Thom Filicia in the Vanguard Furniture showroom for cocktails and signing of his latest book American Beauty, from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Deen

Television star, cookbook author, magazine publisher and restaurant owner, Paula Deen will host and officiate over Paula Deen’s Great Party Challenge! on Sunday, April 21, at 3pm at the High Point Theatre.

The High Point Market Authority, in association with the American Society of Interior Designers, has set the schedule for the Design Viewpoints Series, which will take place April 21-23, starting each day at noon at the High Point Theatre. Topics and speakers for the April Design Viewpoints Series include:

Ferguson

Sunday, April 21—What Price Is Right? How do you bill for your goods and services as an interior designer without overcharging, or worse, undercharging? Designers struggle with that question as they work to balance their hard costs with payment for their intellectual property, creativity, and most importantly, experience. A panel of principal designers from various companies throughout the U.S. and Canada will discuss what they have found to be the best options for their businesses, including new ideas that can aid you in getting optimal dollars for the goods and services you provide. The panel, led by Decor Mentor founder Lisa Ferguson, includes designers Jennifer Brouwer, Kati Curtis, Lisa Kahn and Elaine Williamson. (.1 CEU Credit)

Carman and Nisbet

Monday, April 22—The Devil in the Details—Book Signing to Follow. No one wants a cookie-cutter house, but rather a home full of personality and style. All the Best founder and editor Ronda Carman leads a panel of designers in a discussion of how they bring their design aesthetics into their own homes, and how designers can add details and touches that will give clients’ homes individuality and flair. Panelists include Barry Dixon, Celerie Kimble, and Amanda Nisbet. Book signings will follow for Carman’s new book Designers at Home: Personal Reflections on Stylish Living and for Nisbet’s book Dazzling Design. (.1 CEU Credit)

Rummerfield and Woodson

Tuesday, April 23—From Inspiration to Compensation. Famed Hollywood interior designers Jaime Rummerfield and Ron Woodson, of Woodson & Rummerfield's House of Design, are known not only for their design viewpoint, but also for stepping out of the design box. Besides designing for celebrity clients, the dynamic duo has branched out into their own online shop, a furniture line, their book High Style, showroom design for Stanley Furniture, and more. They will discuss how they did it, and how you can turn your inspiration into ideas that bring you compensation. (.1 CEU Credit)

On Saturday, April 20, Market will kick off with Carolina Stars, featuring a tasting menu from North Carolina wineries paired with famed Southern cuisine, and accompanied by music from jazz fusion band Tizer. On Sunday, April 21, super-group The Temptations will perform. Doors open for all events at 7:00 p.m. at Center Stage.

The High Point Market Authority and the Decor Mentor team have partnered to present events developed to help ‘elevate’ business for interior designers and retailers. Co-sponsored by 220 Elm, the seminars are free and open to attendees of the Market, but they each require pre-registration. Each event will be followed by roundtable clusters for peer connecting, elevating, and collaborating [grouped by years in business] as well as the opportunity to connect for 15 minute, one-on-one power mentoring sessions with one of the speakers.

Saturday, April 20, 3:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.—Perfect Pitches & Presentations, Eilersen showroom, #312 at 220 Elm. Decor Mentors Ferguson, Kati Curtis and Jennifer Brouwer will openly share their own successful sales and presentation strategies and tools to attract, wow, and land your ideal interior design clients. Pre-registration required at olb@eilersen.eu.

Sunday, April 21, 3:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.—Perfect Paperwork, Leif Petersen showroom, #328 at 220 Elm. Ferguson and Kahn will openly share contracts, product worksheets, budget spreadsheets, and paperless apps to help you eliminate challenges and improve your efficiency and bottom line. Pre-registration required at jay@leifpetersenfurniture.com.

Monday April 22, 3:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.—Our Industry is Changing! Are You?, Design 9 showroom, #311 at 220 Elm. Ferguson, Beth Dotolo, Carolina Gentry, and Elaine Williamson will openly share insight into our new challenges as designers and will offer innovative strategies not only to navigate the new waters but to thrive in them. Pre-registration required at tricia@design9inc.com.

All visitors are invited to stop by the Surya showroom (Showplace 4100) throughout Market—open daily from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Surya will host a number of events throughout market including:

Solving Your Design Challenges: A Conversation with Candice Olson on Saturday, April 20 at 1:30 p.m.

Olson

Interior designer and HGTV host of "Divine Design" and "Candice Tells All" Candice Olson answers market visitors' questions about the design & merchandising challenges they face. High Point attendees are invited to RSVP for the event and submit their questions. The top 10 questions will be selected prior to the event. Everyone who submitted a chosen question will be invited to speak with Candice at an earlier event and will receive a copy of her latest book, Favorite Design Challenges.

Apartment Therapy: 5 Inspirations for Small Spaces on Sunday, April 21 at 4:00 p.m.

Author and Apartment Therapy founder Maxwell Ryan shares tips for creating impactful rooms where space is a key concern. The first 25 guests will receive autographed copies of his best-selling book, Big Book of Cool, Small Spaces.

Retailer Tactics for Maximizing Accessory Sales on Monday, April 22 at 2:00 p.m.

A panel of leading retailers from across the country discuss their views on the home accessory category and share strategies for building a profitable accessory program. Key areas of emphasis will include merchandising, promotion and cross-sell tactics using the Surya toolkit of support materials. Panelists include:
 Ron Werner, President of HW Home, NHFA 2013 Retailer of the Year. 
Matt Huber, VP, merchandising for Belfort Furniture, NHFA 2012 Retailer of the Year.
 Elisa Watson, Accessory Buyer for Hill Country Holdings (Ashley Furniture).

Kirar

Mark Moussa, founder of Arteriors, hosts a preview of the latest collection and new introductions from designer Laura Kirar at High Point Market. Moussa and Kirar will be available for tours on Sunday, April 21 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (RSVP for this event).

Currey & Company will be introducing more than 200 new products including new additions to the Marjorie Skouras Collection. Skouras herself will be in the Currey showroom on Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21 from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Also in the showroom on Sunday from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., meet Eileen Sycus, who's featured in Interior Design magazine's new book: Best of Residential Architecture and Design, grab a book and get it signed.

Then on Monday, April 22 from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. stop by to celebrate Designers at Home: Personal Reflections on Stylish Living by Ronda Rice Carman.

Kemble

Henredon and Maitland-Smith will debut new collections designed by interior designer and author Celerie Kemble at Market. Celerie Kemble for Henredon will feature a complete line of case goods and upholstery. Celerie Kemble for Maitland-Smith will feature complementary decorative accessories and lighting. Further details on the launch to come.

Join Noir for happy hour on Saturday, April 20 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. and celebrate opening day with drinks and hor d'oeuvres with owner and designer of Noir Furniture, George Baehler. Guests will have a chance to meet with him and view the 2013 introductions.

Also on Saturday, April 20, CR Laine invites guests to dinner and drinks at the showroom from 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. Southern Boots will be catering and the Soul Central Band providing entertainment. (310 N Hamilton Street - 2nd Floor)

Then on Sunday, April 21, Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loecke of Madcap Cottage will be on hand in the showroom from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. showing their new collection of pillows. Guests are invited for cocktails, canapes and special "pupcakes."

Stanley Furniture will be celebrating the company's heritage and unveiling a complete showroom redesign by Woodson Rummerfield House of Design. The event will take place Sunday, April 21 at 6:00 p.m. and is by invitation only.

Ellis and Dennis

The Antique & Design Center at Market Square will be hosting a plethora of events as well including informative seminars and designer talks with V&M. The topics include: “Simple Rules for Authenticating Antiques” with David Lindquist; “2013 Trends in the Antique and Home Furnishing” with Bill Indursky; “Taste of Design Camp” with Kelli Ellis and Lori Dennis; “Slow it Down Social” with Leslie Carothers; and many more. For complete details, visit the website.

Get to know designer, author and makeover television personality, Libby Langdon, at the Braxton Culler Showroom on Sunday, April 21 at 4:00 p.m. Bloggers and design writers are invited to "sip, snack & sass" while they relax in the showroom, network and become the first to get the inside scoop on Langdon's new TV series, Daykeover with Libby Langdon.

Also on Sunday, at 5:00 p.m. Misendemeure and Yves Delorme will host guests for "Champange & Line Review." RSVP for this event.

John Robshaw for Cisco Brothers

Long-time friends Cisco Pinedo and John Robshaw invite guests to meet, mingle and enjoy wine and hor d'oeuvres on Sunday, April 21 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Robshaw will be launching his collection for Cisco Brothers at this event. (1014 Mill Ave, RSVP to 336-887-4022).

On Sunday evening from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Baker will host special guests for a cocktail party to celebrate the new designs from Michael S. Smith, Barbara Barry, Thomas Pheasant, Lexicon and Baker Upholstery. This is a private event, by invitation only.

Guests are invited to join HGTV host Joe Ruggerio, also on Sunday, at 4:00 p.m. at the Miles Talbott Furniture Showroom for wine and cheese. View his latest fabric introductions for Sunbrella and furniture introductions for his newest group, JOE Studio for Miles Talbott. (1690 English Road, RSVP)

ASID is hosting "Society Social" on Monday, April 22 at 6:00 p.m. The event, taking place in Surya’s showroom at Showplace 4100, features cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, designer giveaways, a raffle drawing for a free 2014 ASID membership and a keynote speech by ASID EVP/CEO, Randy Fiser.

Running concurrently with market is the debut of the historic showhouse presented by Traditional Home and the Junior League of Greensboro (JLG). Miles Redd, Suzanne Kasler and Eric Cohler are among the designers participating in the showhouse at the historic Adamsleigh estate in Greensboro, NC. The opening gala takes place Friday, April 19, on the eve of the opening of market. The house will be open to the public for two weeks, April 20 - May 5.

The Interior Design Society is holding its national conference April 23 - 25 in Greensboro, in conjunction with the High Point Market dates. With the theme Stay Calm, Keep Designing, the conference will take place at the Greensboro Marriott. The keynote speaker is Tobi Fairley, and the event also features designer Joni Vanderslice, Debbie Green of Minutes Matter, and trend expert Michelle Lamb as speakers.

Home Fashion Report, the premier television show covering market, is partnering with Swarovski Elements and 220 Elm to bring market-goers Hidden Gems, a new social media game created to showcase unusual new products and some of the best-kept secrets in High Point. For detailed rules, click here. Home Fashion Report can be seen during the market Saturday, April 20, through Tuesday, April 23, each morning at 6am on ABC affiliate WXLV-45.

For more information on the High Point Market visit their website, and visit High Point Market’s online calendar for more information on the events listed.