Design Defined: Highlights from Total Home & Gift Market

Total Home & Gift Market delivered a standout lineup of events for designers, blending trend insights, expert advice, and fresh product discovery. From curated tours to inspiring panels, attendees found valuable takeaways to elevate their work and fuel their creativity. 

Wednesday June 18 

• The Rug Life: Protect, Preserve, Prevent 
  Lunch & Learn with rug expert Amy Mints covering care, maintenance, and smart rug decisions that protect your clients' investments. 

The IDS Designer Lounge hosted a valuable Lunch & Learn session focused on rug care, maintenance, and smart selection strategies. Industry experts Amy Mints of Interior Textile Solutions and Kendra Wagner of Unique Loom shared best practices for preserving the beauty and longevity of rugs in both residential and commercial settings. Attendees learned how to prevent common issues and make thoughtful design decisions that protect their clients’ investments. The session offered practical takeaways for designers seeking to elevate their knowledge of textiles and long-term rug care. 

• Lighting for Life: A Showroom Tour on Wellness-Centered Design with Ginger Curtis 
  Interior designer Ginger Curtis of award-winning Urbanology Designs led a guided showroom tour focused on human-centric lighting. Attendees explored fixtures and technologies designed to support circadian rhythms and promote wellness through thoughtful lighting design. 

Thursday June 19 

• Lunch & Learn: Drenched in Style – The Power of Monochrome Textiles in Modern Interiors
  

  Moderator:  

  • Caroline Hipple, Home Furnishing Industry Executive

  Panelists:  

  • Susan Semmelmann, Semmelmann Interiors 
  • Shay Geyer, IBB Design Fine Furnishings 
  • Jen Potter, Fete Home 
    
    
  The “Drenched in Style” Lunch & Learn drew a packed crowd, with every seat filled and attendees standing, as panelists offered an inspiring look into the power of monochromatic interiors. Moderator and home furnishings executive Caroline Hipple, along with panelists Susan Semmelmann, Shay Geyer, and Jen Potter, shared how color drenching can be used to create bold, cohesive spaces through layered textiles and monochromatic palettes. Attendees explored examples from top brands like Graber, Kravet, and Dallas Rugs, and learned how this technique influences client perception and emotional response. The session provided practical takeaways and fresh design inspiration for applying this high-impact trend in real-world projects to the crowded room.
  

• Power Players: The High Value of Lighting in Design, with Rowan Blacker, Founder of UK brand Pooky,  and Savoy House, Presented by Coco & Dash 

Teddie and Courtney Garrigan of Coco & Dash hosted an insightful conversation on the evolving role of lighting in interior design. Industry leaders Troy Lee, President of Savoy House, and Rowan Blacker, Founder of the UK’s Pooky, shared how niche and legacy lighting brands are shaping design through innovation, collaboration, and storytelling. The discussion emphasized that lighting is not just functional, but a foundational element that shapes how we experience and define space. Attendees gained valuable insights into using lighting to enhance mood, style, and spatial impact in their projects. 

• Designer’s Insider Access: Market Hall Temps Shopping Experience 

Designers sipped champagne, scored complimentary gifts, and shopped immediate goods at unbeatable prices during this lively Market Hall experience. With guidance from seasoned pros, Robin Burrill and Kristi Hopper, it was the ultimate mix of style, savings, and connection. 

• Lighting Discoveries with IDS

This designer-led tour through standout Lightovation showrooms provided attendees with firsthand insight into the latest lighting innovations and applications. It was an informative experience for any designer looking to stay ahead of lighting trends. Tour guides Christine Gee of G. Interiors and Ginger Hartford of Dallas Market Center made the entire experience both enjoyable and genuinely informative. “Events like this create the perfect setting to bridge the gap between form, function, and collaboration,” noted Joseph Jennings afterward. 

 
Fri June 20 

• The Creative Power of Small Maker Luxury Textiles in Interior Design with Jill Seale Founder of Jill Seale Designs and Jen Potter Founder of Fete Home Presented by Coco & Dash 

This discussion, hosted by Courtney Garrigan, President and Founder of Coco & Dash, brought together the design community for a meaningful conversation on luxury textiles. Featured speakers Jill Seale of Jill Seale Designs and Jen Potter of Fete Home shared their expertise on attention to detail, cultural relevance, and the creative processes behind small-batch production. Together, they highlighted how heritage, storytelling, and intentional design elevate textiles into true works of art. Designers left with valuable insights and fresh inspiration to incorporate purpose-driven materials into their designs. 

Your next chance to see expert-led panels and fresh finds with renowned designers is at Dallas Design Week, Sept 16-18, which runs concurrently with Total Home & Gift Market and ArchLIGHT Summit. Learn more about: