The inaugural edition of the activation combined design discussions with DJ’ing and dining.
moderated by Karen Carroll, Editorial Director, FLOWER Magazine.
By Nicholas Tamarin
Debuting amidst delightfully warm autumn temperatures and in the presence of the new host of ABC’s wildly popular Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, the inaugural edition of NKBA | KBIS’s the Tent activation dominated talk on day one of North Carolina’s High Point Market, the world’s largest home industry furnishings trade show. Billed as interactive experience of “Design, Innovation, Artistry, Happenings, Culinary, Creativity, Nexus” the Tent, open through Monday, is located in historic High Point’s Hamilton Wrenn North Neighborhood on Fred Alexander Place and is generously sponsored by Signature Kitchen Suite, Fabuwood, Bed Bath & Beyond Professional, Unform Studio, Hettich, Shaw Floors, and Anderson Tuftex.
Surrounded by packed showrooms and past an entrance where artist Manuel Santelices was busy painting a live acrylic triptych of a scene from Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Aida, New York-based DJ Slams played vintage hip-hop beats and classics from the likes of Stevie Wonder while attendees with cocktails in hand danced in between a series of celebrity designer laden discussions and culinary demonstrations.
Opening at 10 a.m. with a pop-up of Union Coffee from nearby Greensboro slinging iced latte’s and baked goods, the Tent showcased the NKBA | KBIS’s sleek new signature blue by Benjamin Moore & Co. as the space designed by New York-based Rodolfo Algrella quickly filled up. At 11:30, the first panel, “How the Kitchen is Shaping Design” got under way with NKBA Thirty Under 30 winner Jennifer Hutton of Grau Building, Sharon Sherman, CKD, owner of Thyme & Place Design, and Donille Perrone, senior brand marketing manager of sponsor Signature Kitchen Suite. Moderated by Angela Rath, NKBA | KBIS’s director of domestic accounts, the quartet took a deep dive into how the kitchen is defining design with a discussion that delved into luxury, technology, sustainability, and the proliferation of multifunctional open concept spaces post-pandemic.
Next up at 1:30 was, “Residential Meets Commercial” with Anderson Tuftex vice president John Stephens, Shaw Floors director of product design Kenny Michael of Shaw Floors, and Marriott International’s vice president of global design strategies Aliya Kahn. Moderated by Anderson Tuftex’s marketing director Bailey Walton, the assemblage of influential tastemakers talked how “hospitality and residential design have a lot to learn from each other,” according to Khan, as lines between living and working continue to blur amidst an increase in demand for durable, sustainable, ethically sourced products, particularly from the younger generation of consumers.
The dynamic day was rounded out by a final 3 p.m. conversation between Baton Rouge, LA–based interior designer Arianne Bellizaire, the new host of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and legendary Virginian designer Barry Dixon. Moderated by Karen Carroll, editorial director of FLOWER Magazine, the wide-ranging design discussion touched upon everything from favorite childhood kitchens (everyone was in agreement that it was their maternal grandmother’s) and most inspiring design destinations (Marrakech and Istanbul for Dixon; Bellizaire went with Vienna, Prague, and Budapest), to how to bill based on square footage, placing value on one’s creative vision, and knowing when to walk away from a project and when to, as Dixon memorably put it “Slay that dragon, grow, and take your sword to the next project.”
In between the panels, Austin-based professional personal chef Justin Cullimore, owner of Lone Star Chefs and winner of the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, grilled up sous vide steak with goat cheese and pork chop with beef char siu on sponsor SKS’s 36-inch induction cooktop when not taking photos with fans.
Days two and three promise to be just as compelling with highlights including chats between Interior Design editor in chief Cindy Allen and NKBA Design Council members and industry stars Caleb Anderson, Thom Filicia, Celerie Kemble, and Michael Boyd Smith. And of course more happy hour cocktails. A full list of the remaining events can be found here.
