A series of talks ranging from the serious to the celebrity captivated the crowd.
By Nicholas Tamarin
From Clodagh to Thom Filicia, the stars of design turned out at NKBA | KBIS’s The Tent for a series of engaging discussions on the state of the industry during day two of North Carolina’s High Point Market, the world’s largest home industry furnishings trade show. Billed as an interactive experience of “Design, Innovation, Artistry, Happenings, Culinary, Creativity, Nexus,” the Tent is located in historic High Point’s Hamilton Wrenn North neighborhood on Fred Alexander Place.
Interspersed with pop hits courtesy of New York–based DJ SK, passed prosecco, and live portraiture of participants by artist Manuel Santelices, were design discussions that began with “Beyond Style: Designing for the Senses, Psychology, Color Perception, and Biophilia” with Amber Dunford, the Bed Bath & Beyond and Overstock.com’s style director who has appeared in The New York Times, Architectural Digest, and Real Simple as an expert in design psychology.
Dunford is one of only a handful of design psychologists with expertise in the connection between space design and mental health. She coupled a degree in interior design with a master’s in clinical psychology and developed a course to teach architects and designers how to infuse psychology principles into their work. “I’m of the belief that the spaces that surround us have a massive and underrated impact on our mental health and well being,” Dunford said. “I approach my work with this philosophy in mind: design doesn’t just contribute to our built environments, it contributes to our emotional states–often subconsciously.”
Following Dunford’s chat, longtime sponsor Fabuwood’s fabulous marketing manager Moses Brach introduced Bill Darcy, Global President & CEO, NKBA | KBIS, to toast The Tent’s other generous sponsors: Signature Kitchen Suite, Bed Bath & Beyond Professional, Unform Studio, Hettich, Shaw Floors, and Anderson Tuftex, along with Cosentino, FreePower, and FLOWER Magazine. “Cheers to the future of residential design,” Darcy said. “And I hope to see you all at KBIS in February!”
Next up came legendary Irish fashion designer turned single-name interiors star Clodagh. After Sponsor Anderson Tuftex’s vice president John Stephens introduced her interviewer, Interior Design editor in chief Cindy Allen, the duo sat down to discuss the trajectory of Clodagh’s many decades in the industry, from designing for Robert Redford to her whopping 20 product licenses. “Licenses are like sending your kids off to school–but you get the check,” Clodagh concluded to laughter.
After the High Point Market Influencer Tour led by NKBA | KBIS’s very own director of marketing, Crystal Watts, where brand partners each spent three minutes sharing their story, the first two of the activation’s four chats began between Allen and the starry members of the inaugural NKBA Design Council: Thom Filicia, Caleb Anderson, Celerie Kemble, and Michael Boyd Smith.
First up was Filicia, who regaled the audience with hilarious tales of his time at Queer Eye for the Straight Guy before delving into a career arc that began with a degree in interior design from Syracuse University. Next was work with storied designers Albert Hadley, David Kleinberg, and Robert Metzger before Filicia founded his own firm in 1998 to express “aesthetics rooted in traditional concepts but in a fresh, lifestyle driven way,” he said. Now, Filicia says, “I feel the business aspect of design is almost as important as the creative side. And kitchens and baths have become so much a part of it. Dining now takes place in the kitchen and bathrooms are the places we go to relax and recharge.”
Allen’s conversations continued with Caleb Anderson, who design heavyweight Jamie Drake handpicked to become his partner when Anderson was barely out of college due to the latter’s tasteful embrace of sustainability. “It was a brilliant move,” Allen said. “I was not feeling well so I started focusing on wellness,” Anderson added. “Now my own wellness journey is a point of departure for sustainability, which is not typical in a high-end luxury residential firm like ours.”
Following happy hour cocktails, a bus shuttled attendees from The Tent to the KBIS 60th Anniversary Dinner hosted by Darcy and SKS at the beautifully restored HQ & The Gallery High Point. Amongst a pebbled courtyard illuminated by countless fire pits and tiki torches, the cocktail reception featured a jazz trio playing the standard while appetizers were passed. Guests then headed inside to the historic industrial interiors to enjoy a warmly lit family-style dinner while Darcy gave a final toast. “We are excited to deepen our connection with the broader residential design world,” Darcy says. “We’ve experienced an incredibly warm welcome here at our first Market event. Tonight, we raise our glasses to the power of design, how it brings us together, and shapes our world. While we just celebrated 60 years of NKBA | KBIS, what excites me most isn’t just history—it’s where we’re headed. We’ve seen residential design evolve in exciting ways, with technology, sustainability, and innovation leading that. NKBA | KBIS is committed and well positioned to support growth across the entire home.”
