Charlotte Parker

It was a gray Friday afternoon, but Studio—a café and restaurant tucked inside the recently opened Freehand New York—felt alive. I was sitting across from the person who helped to create that vibe through a surprising vehicle—plants. They filled the corners, shelves, and the area between the tables, bringing each space very much to life. And, it turns out, the man responsible for their being is also behind the plants at a host of New York City’s hottest restaurants.

Last weekend marked the start of High Point Market, the largest home furnishing industry trade show in the world. If that sounds overwhelming, that’s because it was. Booth after booth, floor after floor, I took in thousands of furniture and decor styles as they were introduced to the American market for the coming year. I’d liken it to a trip to IKEA, on a Sunday, during prime move-in season, but with a wider range of styles, price points and materials.