Specifying Hardwood: A Blueprint for HPMKT Success

If you are involved in the design world, you have most likely heard of or attended a High Point Market (HPMKT). This bi-annual North Carolina event inspires home furnishings professionals and offers exposure to cutting-edge designs and the core values behind product lines. HPMKT is one of North America’s largest home furnishings markets–the perfect meeting ground for vendors and buyers. An interior designer may be interested in attending the market for many reasons, such as expanding their network and sourcing more product options for their clients. In honor of and in preparation for the upcoming High Point Market at the end of April, this piece will aid designers in making informed decisions when specifying hardwood products. After reviewing this guide, designers will be equipped to ask more strategic questions at HPMKT and discover meaningful ways to integrate new hardwood concepts into their portfolios.

Image: Nationwide Group

For designers, buying hardwood involves much more than what meets the eye. Behind every hardwood product is a blueprint of key terms that designers should understand. These include wood species, finish, and sustainability terminology, manufacturing differences between solid, engineered, and veneered wood, and sourcing distinctions between domestic and exotic species. Designers should also consider the artisan’s background, along with practical factors such as room climate, installation requirements, durability, and style. There’s a lot to take in, but designers can start by consulting the Real American Hardwood Species Guide, an excellent resource for understanding the physical and working properties of different hardwood species.

A blueprint in design is a comprehensive design plan that serves as the foundational step in materializing a client's vision. It is a detailed layout or schematic that meticulously illustrates the product’s intended use. Such a plan empowers designers to make informed decisions about product specifications, ensuring consistency, functionality, and aesthetic aspirations are met and exceeded.

To start laying out that blueprint, designers may reference the HPMKT website, Exhibitor Directory, to reference and learn about different vendors and the products they provide. The directory allows you to filter by category, style, options, etc., and select different search options. Designers interested in finding products related to hardwood can search through the “options category” and select “Sustainable” or “Made in USA.”

Scoping Out Vendors at HPMKT 

Many interior designers attend HPMKT to discover new vendors and explore fresh product offerings. Sourcing from unfamiliar vendors can feel daunting—especially when learning the nuances of a new product’s form and function.

Interior design and woodworking share a lot of common ground—and the most interesting design possibilities often come from where they meet. For example, Carolina Live Edge features “live edge” and “sandblasted” products. Live edge is more widely understood and describes wood slabs that retain a tree's natural, unfinished edges, often with bark and irregular shapes. An important consideration is if the bark will remain intact over time. Interestingly, this depends on the time of year the tree was cut down– dried logs cut in the summertime lose their bark more easily because sap production is lower during the summer. One solution is to use a finishing method—such as epoxy resin—that holds the bark in place while preserving the wood’s natural look.

Sandblasting is a woodworking technique that results in what’s commonly referred to in design as “sandblasted wood.” Typically, sandblasting is associated with efficient surface preparation and restoration techniques. It is the process where high pressure propels fine abrasive particles against the surface. A lesser-known benefit of sandblasting is that it creates a unique texture and distressed aesthetic in design. Sandblasting can lead to a more durable and long-lasting coated finish.

The vendor, Abner Henry, uses a variety of hardwoods (Red oak, white oak, maple, hickory, walnut, and cherry) that can be customized to specific furniture items. Furthermore, designers can select between different hardwood milling cuts that lead to a different aesthetic design. For example, choosing between rift-sawn white oak and white oak. Rift-sawn white oak (See Photo 3 Couper Desk) produces an elegant and linear grain pattern, unlike quarter-sawn white oak. 

Image: Abner Henry

Some of Abner Henry’s more design-forward products include a recent collaboration with Sasha Bikoff, titled Collection 2.0, which combines Amish craftsmanship with inspiration from the shapes and geometry of the Memphis Milano movement.

Sustainability of Hardwood: Domestic, Exotic, & Rare

Wood is an eco-friendly material because it is renewable, meaning it naturally grows back and is not finite like certain oils, metals, rocks, etc. However, not all species and types of wood are inherently sustainable. A product may not always specify if it is “domestic,” “exotic,” or “rare,” but choosing any of these options can impact how eco-friendly the design turns out. Understanding the differences between exotic, domestic, and rare hardwoods can shed light on a product’s sustainability story. Domestic hardwoods are found naturally in North America, whereas exotic hardwoods are sourced worldwide, typically from tropical places. By conducting a little research into the wood species and where it comes from, designers can learn to categorize hardwoods between domestic and exotic while simultaneously educating clients. Do your clients seem to all want exotic and rare hardwoods that create a one-of-a-kind design? Do they also say they care about making eco-friendly choices? 

The more local wood is sourced to the intended application, the more transportation emissions are minimized, making it a more environmentally friendly choice. Hence, filtering through and looking for hardwood products that are “Made in the USA” will be an eco-friendly option. Furthermore, exotic hardwoods pose additional sustainability concerns because they are often sourced from tropical regions where deforestation is well-documented, causing biodiversity loss, species extinction, and ecological harm. Alternatively, all states in the U.S. hardwood-producing region can be considered Low Risk of sourcing illegal hardwoods. Rare hardwoods can be either domestic or exotic—for example, black walnut is considered a rare domestic species. A rare species may be less sustainable than an abundant and prolific species due to the higher likelihood that the population could be depleted without enough regrowth.

For example, the vendor, Aeon Furniture, features “Ebonized” furniture items. Ebonizing is the process of darkening wood, giving it an appearance similar to ebony. Ebony is a rare and exotic hardwood prized for its dark color and density. Because ebony is rare and considered threatened due to unsustainable harvesting, choosing ebonized wood is a more sustainable alternative.

Ready to Elevate Your Hardwood Design Projects? 

As you prepare for the upcoming High Point Market, use this guide to gain deeper insights into the world of hardwood materials and make informed decisions that will set your designs apart. Dive into the Exhibitor Directory, discover sustainable, high-quality hardwood options, and start sourcing from vendors who align with your aesthetic and environmental values. Get inspired, and don’t forget to ask the right questions at the market—questions that will allow you to select the best products and create meaningful, impactful designs for your clients. Join the conversation and get ready to transform your next project with expert knowledge of hardwood choices.