Twice a year, the furniture industry descends on High Point, North Carolina to debut their collections, meet the press...and party their pants off. This year we received an in-depth peek of furniture brands across a wide spectrum of tastes and styles that have always interested us. Along the way we learned a great deal about some of our favorite brands, made new friends and identified a few trends, both new and longstanding. Check out our Fall High Point Market summary after the jump.

Color Trends: Blues, Greys & Emeralds

These three colors could not be ignored throughout the entire market. Pictured above: Natuzzi Italia, Genevieve Gorder for Capel Rugs, bed by Hickory Chair and upholstered table by Drexel Heritage.

Rustic & Industrial Décor

Industrial modern still maintains its place as a big trend, and we saw this throughout many showrooms. From top-notch antique and reproduction houses like Bobo (pictured above) to big furniture brands like Thomasville with their new Reinventions line, there was plenty of furniture made with iron bases, galvanized steel, and rustic finishes. Though this look is notorious for its heavy, masculine appeal, we did notice how many designers are now adapting this look in a more feminine way. We saw lots of crude pieces take on a softer sophistication when paired with large flower arrangements, delicate tablescapes and fabrics in graceful colors and textures.

Stackable Shelving & Storage

Though we saw a bit of everything and visited showrooms with vastly different styles and target consumers, one popular furniture piece that kept popping up throughout the market was stackable storage. From Natuzzi Italia's modular shelving to Thomasville and Drexel's build-able curio cabinets, get ready to see more stackable storage popping up in stores. Pictured above: Modern Theory cabinet by Thomasville

Painted Finishes

Across the board, many designers are finding ways to modernize traditional furniture. At Drexel Heritage and Hickory Chair, we saw a great deal of painted finishes, especially in soft, powder and shale finishes. Shown here: Danish-inspired chest for Baker, designed by John Block.

Scaling Down

As we toured the showrooms, we heard a great deal about how companies who are known for their traditions are exploring ways to make furniture more "livable," while still staying true to classic forms. In doing so, many designers are shrinking the scale of weighty furniture. Pictured above: Table from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams

Images: Mat Sanders & Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan