DESIGN DISPATCH: FALL HIGH POINT MARKET 2025: WHERE ART MEETS SOUL

There’s something about Fall Market that always hits different. Maybe it’s the crisp energy in the air, maybe it’s the leaves changing color (something we don’t get much of in San Diego), maybe it’s the converted brick buildings or maybe it’s that perfect cocktail of creativity and connection that happens only in High Point.

This season felt like an explosion of artistry, materiality, and community. From launching my sold-out Wexel Art x Rachel Moriarty Collection to presenting the Social Responsibility Award at the Design Advocacy Alliance (DAA) Awards, it was a week that reminded me exactly why I love what I do — design as storytelling, design as impact, design as joy.

Fair warning: this is a photo-heavy post because my camera roll is bursting with beautiful moments, and I can’t wait to share them all with you!

THE POWER OF ART

My "art-and-soul" highlight was debuting my collaboration with Wexel Art, a brand I’ve admired for years for their clean acrylic framing and modern art presentation.

When we decided to create this collection together, I wanted it to be a love letter to everything I hold dear: Color, Pattern, Nostalgia, and the Art of Layering. Each piece combined vintage Vera Neumann scarves (which I have collected since the age of 12), feathers, and brooches, sealed inside Wexel’s signature floating acrylic frames.

Seeing my work on the gallery walls — and then watching the entire collection sell out — was totally surreal. But even more meaningful were the conversations it sparked. Collectors, designers, and friends shared stories of their own heirlooms — their mothers’ scarves, placemats, and first fashion loves. It was a great reminder that both art and design is deeply personal, and that we’re all craving pieces that have soul.

A special shout-out to my dear friend David Santiago for purchasing the very first piece from my collection. Your support means the world and set the tone for an unforgettable Market. Thank you for seeing me and my art.

THE REIGN OF RICH COLOR & CRAFT

This Market confirmed it: moody color and texture are having a major moment. Think olive and mossy greens, oxblood, saffron velvet, tobacco leather, and every shade of espresso and amber imaginable.

There was a palpable shift toward comforting opulence — velvet sectionals, curvaceous chairs, and bronze lighting that glowed like candlelight. Patterns weren’t whispering this year; they were singing — bold botanical murals, large-scale geometrics, and painterly abstracts.

Everywhere I turned, materials told stories: carved wood, hand-troweled plaster, glazed clay, woven fiber, and polished resin. Even the lighting felt more like jewelry than fixture — sculptural, moody, and utterly unapologetic.

As a designer who thrives on livable artistry, I couldn’t get enough!

THE RETURN OF ARTISAN

Beyond trends, what struck me most was the renewed reverence for craftsmanship. Maybe it's the world we're in (with AI and technology everywhere) but I'm craving handcrafted, artisan work more than ever. Creativity and craftsmanship have always had a magnetic pull for me, and seeing that honored at Market felt deeply inspiring.

Cohab Space checked every box for me. Housed in a stunning brick building washed in natural light, it spilled effortlessly into an outdoor courtyard alive with makers and a DJ spinning Northern Soul. The energy was magnetic from rope-woven wall sculptures to hand-hewn stone tables, authentic artistry took center stage. Everywhere you looked, the “perfectly imperfect” reigned and that’s what made it so beautiful.

You could feel the maker’s hand in every detail. It’s the same philosophy I live by in my studio: design that’s soulful, layered, and alive.

WHIMSY & WONDER

And then came the playfulness, that touch of irreverence (my favorite!) the joy factor that keeps design endlessly fun.

Murano-inspired glass mushrooms, bubble lamps, resin tables in candy colors, and cheeky embroidered pillows (“Trophy Wife,” anyone?). It was like walking through a dopamine dream.

I'm always looking for pieces that simply make me smile. A reminder that home is a place for personality, not perfection. People want spaces that feel alive again — color that sparks joy, materials that beg to be touched, and stories that make guests lean in and ask, “What’s that?”

DESIGN THAT GIVES BACK

One of my most heartfelt moments of Market was presenting the Social Responsibility Award at the DAA Awards to my dear friends, The Design Besties — a collective of powerhouse creatives using design to uplift communities.

Their work transforming teachers’ lounges across the country — from Texas to North Carolina — shows how design can literally change lives. Standing on that stage and celebrating them felt like a full-circle moment.

I also officially rolled off my DAA committee term this year, leaving with so much pride for the initiatives we’ve built and the conversations we’ve sparked.

KEY TRENDS I'LL BE INCORPORATING

   •   Sculptural furniture and lighting that double as art

   •   Warm, saturated palettes — rusty burnt orange, olive, ochre, and plum

   •   Playful glass, resin, and color-blocked décor

   •   Maximalist wallcoverings and hand-painted murals

   •   Global craft and tactility — raw woods, rope, clay, and plaster

   •   Hubbardton Forge’s Snaps Collection — a versatile lighting system in custom colors with Brutalist influence

OTHER FUN HIGHLIGHTS

It wouldn’t be Market without a few pinch-me moments!

   •   Interviewed for a documentary on High Point Market at the Jessica Simpson Furniture launch

   •   Celebrated Jennifer Farrell’s new furniture and accessories collection with Global Views

   •   Toasted to Tym DeSanto’s upcoming Spring 2026 collaboration during his gathering at Edge 34

   •   Supported friends and colleagues at their panels and talks

   •   Partied at the Veranda x Sherrill celebration marking 80 years in business

   •   Danced through Maximalist Moments at Design Legacy and soaked up the creative buzz at Cohab Space — a maker’s dream filled with natural light, live DJ sets spinning Northern Soul, and artisan workshops galore

   •   Loved seeing my friend George Gezzani’s upcycled fashion line made from upholstery remnants and leathers — a perfect example of artistry meeting sustainability

My creative cup? Overflowing.

MY TAKEAWAY

This Fall High Point Market reminded me that design is so much more than selecting furniture — it’s about creating meaning.

Whether it’s a hand-thrown ceramic bowl, a velvet sofa that hugs you at the end of a long day, or an art piece layered with memory and history, every object we choose has a vibration. When we curate with intention, our spaces become extensions of who we are.

I left Market feeling inspired, grateful, and re-anchored in my mission to make interiors that celebrate both art and humanity — because that’s where the magic lives.

In the end, Fall Market wasn’t just about what’s new — it was about what’s true: design that tells a story, art that moves us, and community that reminds us why we create.

Can’t wait to come back in the Spring.