What happens when a town like High Point, N.C., decides to double its population of 77,000 for an eight-day party for thousands of furniture makers and buyers?

        You get the American Furniture Manufacturers Association's (AFMA) semi-annual International Home Furnishings Market, a world of creativity, style and enhancements on the cutting edge of home furnishings. The show unveils never-before-seen collections, including the latest styles and trends in wood, upholstered and accent furniture and decorative accessories.

This ŒŒunmistakably Britishıı living room by Highland House, from the Harrods Fine Furniture Collection, includes a Halkin sofa. | ZOOM |

        “High Point truly is where furniture fashion is shaped,” says Jaclyn C. Hirschhaut, AFMA vice president. According to the AFMA, this small city between Winston-Salem and Greensboro is home to more than 350 furniture manufacturers that supply 75 percent of the country's furniture shipments.

        Furniture and accessory buyers come from across the country to make their selections for the furniture you'll see in showrooms in the coming months. Jim Gooding, Globe Furniture Galleries' accessory buyer, was among Tristate buyers at the fall market, which closed Friday.

        “The "in' colors this season are a wide range of blues, one in particular they call pewter,” Mr. Gooding reported from High Point. “There's also a lot of yellow and neutrals that have a yellow cast to them.

        “The furniture makers are showing vintage upholstery with a lot of textures. South Beach by Stanley, for example, features a mixed bamboo and woven cane motif.”

Ficks Reed of Blue Ashıs Newport line includes this rattan club chair.

        Traditional looks returning to the market included American Country, also called Mission or Shaker, and an eclectic Early American style, represented by Sophie's Corner by Lexington.

        Sophie's Corner has an interesting angle. Attached to each piece of the collection is a tag that chronicles the life of Sophie Ballentine, a 20th century fictional character. According to the story line, Sophie begins collecting furniture after the death of a beloved uncle who gave Sophie her first piece of heirloom furniture. The company hopes customers will identify with Sophie's story and acquire her collection.

        Clothing designers and celebrity names continued to venture into home furnishings. Lines still bear the names of Ralph Lauren, Eddie Bauer and Alexander Julian.

        Gunne Sax designer Jessica McClintock marked her home furnishings debut with the Romance Collection, a line of bedroom, dining room and occasional furniture for American Drew. Also new at this market was Lexington's Country Living collection of the authentic and eclectic Country French and English Country styles regularly featured in the popular magazine of the same name.

        Vanguard added to model Kathy Ireland's collection with a Read With Me Cuddle Chair, an oversized chair designed for parent and child reading sessions.

        Other name-important introductions this fall included the classic Claude Monet Museum Collection from Habersham, the Pfaltzgraff Collection from Stoneville Furniture, and the Royal Doulton Collection from Avillion.

        Tristate manufacturers Ficks Reed and the Romweber Co. presented their spring collections at the market. Ficks Reed of Blue Ash, a leader in quality wicker and rattan furnishings, unveiled its Newport Historic Collections: From the Mansions — five-piece settings of rattan and wicker seating and dining ensembles. The Newport Collection captures the romantic elegance of the mansions nestled on the shores of Newport County, R.I.

        The Romweber Co. of Batesville, Ind., showcased the finest wood veneers from around the world in entertainment and wall units, home office cabinets and storage pieces for the bed and bath.

        Highland House, a division of Thomasville Furniture, teamed with Harrods, the well-known British retail store, to create Harrods Fine Furniture Collection. The initial line has English-style pieces for the living and drawing rooms.

        Another version of 19th century English furnishings came from Century Furniture's Savoy, named for the elegant London hotel.

        Updating the family room mainstay, La-Z-Boy introduced a recliner with the Airflex Massage System.It's intent is to relieve the strain on muscles, ligaments and discs through the continuous motion of two inflatable cushions in the lower- and mid-back.

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