Barbour Spangle Design, the High Point, NC, based full-service interior design studio with business channels in residential, mixed use, showroom and commercial design worlds, has been named as the recipient of the 2023 IFDA Luminary Award. Given annually by the Carolinas Chapter of the International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA), the award honors a home furnishings industry icon or company whose innovative work has significantly moved or promoted the home or décor industries and whose efforts enrich the lives of others, particularly in the home and design industry.
The Luminary Award will recognize principals Christi Barbour and Christi Spangle, along with the rest of the Barbour Spangle Design team, made up of 20 other design professionals.
Also honored at this event are the industry’s Rising Stars, 17 to 20 senior-level undergraduates selected by colleges or universities across North and South Carolina as their most outstanding design students. These students represent all facets of design, including furniture, industrial and interior design. Each person will showcase one or two recent projects that best exemplify their work and design philosophy. The projects will be displayed at the event prior to the formal program. Over the years, celebrating the Rising Stars has been deemed the “highlight of the night” by industry professionals and other attendees.
"This recognition is a true honor and represents the collective efforts of our incredible team and the supportive community of High Point, our home. We are elated to be recognized alongside the Rising Stars, each honoree represents the bright future for our beloved industry,” said Christi Barbour, founder and partner of Barbour Spangle Design. “Their energy and excitement for the industry coupled with the innovation from past winners leaves us inspired and humbled.”
The Night of Luminaries and Rising Stars is open to the general public and members of the design community and industry. It will be held at the new American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame, 311 S. Hamilton Street, in downtown High Point, on Wednesday, November 8, 5:30 pm -8 pm.
“Mentorship and investing in young designers has always been a shared passion of ours, so sharing the evening with the Rising Stars is particularly meaningful,” said Christi Spangle, founder and partner of Barbour Spangle Design. Currently, Barbour Spangle Design has two previous Rising Stars on their design team.
Christi Barbour and Christi Spangle envisioned a new kind of design studio that valued personal growth, imagination, the design process, as well as results. With both of their experiences and expertise, they built Barbour Spangle Design on the belief that authentic connection is the cornerstone of creativity. Their design projects range from luxury homes to educational institutions to hospitality spaces. Barbour Spangle Design goes beyond interior design though. They reach deeper by thinking of how they can help and contribute to the city of High Point and to the home furnishings and design industries.
Both Barbour and Spangle have a strong presence in their community. Barbour is the Vice Chair for High Point Market Authority, also serving on its executive committee. She is on the Interior Design Advisory Council at High Point University and is a Board Liaison for the Diversity Advocacy Alliance. Spangle serves as the Past Board President for the Bienenstock Furniture Library and remains on the Board of Directors. She served on the Visit High Point Board from 2018-2022 and sits on the advisory committee for the High Point Farmers Market. Together, Barbour and Spangle, founded High Point Discovered, a non-profit organization that helps people uncover all there is to love about High Point. Their dedication is felt in every area of their business and other endeavors, even in the efforts we don’t see.
“It’s such a pleasure celebrating Barbour Spangle Design and our Rising Stars as they both make enormous contributions to this industry,” said Joyce Poynton, Carolinas IFDA chapter president. “From the passion of our young students to Barbour Spangle’s love for their community, the home furnishings industry will be witnessing the best of the best.”
Additionally, the International Society of Furniture Designers (ISFD) will announce and award their 2023-24 Tom Conley Student Scholarship winner at the event.
Tickets to the 2023 Night of Luminaries and Rising Stars are $25 per person and are available online now through November 3. The full ticket price will be donated to the Barbour Spangle Interior Design Competition Scholarship. Additional donations are accepted and can be made through the online ticketing portal.
The evening kicks off with an exhibit of the Rising Star students’ works accompanied by heavy hors d’oeuvres and libations at 5:30 pm. The awards presentation will begin at 6:15 pm.
Luminary Award sponsors are Thayer Coggin, Davis Furniture, Libby Langdon Interiors, Gefen Productions, Century Furniture, Nancy High, IFDA Educational Foundation, and the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame.
