Made By Hickory Chair

Blue - Today's Hot New Color?

How many words can you think of that describe blue? navy, Carolina blue, Duke blue, powder blue, aqumarine, sapphire, azure, beryl, cerulean, cobalt, denim, indigo, royal, sky blue, baby blue, robin's egg blue, cyan, cornflower blue, midnight blue, slate, steel blue, Prussian blue and the list goes on and on.

There are emotions evolked by blue as well.  Blue is a calming color that can be either warm or cool depending on its hue and how it is used. Blue can evoke strength, loyalty and steadfastness.  Blue is a natural color, from the blue of the sky or water and is a a universal color.  Most people like some color of blue.  Experts tell us that the color blue can help you sleep or pass time more quickly.  In some cultures the color blue brings peace while in other cultures is blue is believed to keep evil spirits away.  Obviously, we do know that if we feel blue it is a feeling of sadness.  Maybe this is why many designers mix yellow, green, white or red with blue to keep it 'happy'!

In the past couple of weeks blue has been everywhere!  Our HCC University participants have asked for more blue fabrics.  Blogging friends have sung the praises of blue as well.  Our friend Tobi Fairley is featured on the front color of the new March 2010 issue of House Beautiful.  Her client selected many Hickory Chair pieces for their beautiful home!  We really appreciate Tobi for sharing our hand made pieces with her client!

- Kimball Dining Table by Thomas O'Brien in the Breakfast room
- 12 Hunt Dining Chairs by Suzanne Kasler in the Dining Room
- 3 Hickory Chair Swivel lounge chairs surrounding the Inman Ottoman by Suzanne Kasler in the hearth room
- Suzanne’s mirrored Belvedere Bedside Tables in the master bedroom.

In reading other blogs recently, blue was a central theme with some of our favorite blogs such as A Peak Of Chic with My Favorite Blue Room, La Dolce Vita's Fabulous Room Friday 02.05.2010 and Cote De Texas with her post on Blue and White Rugs.  Each of these unique posts were tied together with the color blue.

Sounds to us that these writers share a passion for blue and all the positive forces and emotions that surround it.  What do we say about blue? We love Suzanne Kasler's Alexandra Chair in this luxurious blue silk.  Alexa Hampton's Macdonald Chair is crisply upholstered in this blue and white striped fabric and the Somerset Bed with low footrail shows off its hand tufted upholstery in this blue and white print. We love blue and its calming effect on these pieces.  Enjoy!

 

My Hickory Chair Home - Gabberts, Minneapolis, MN

In this third edition of My Hickory Chair Home, we are pleased to feature a room shared by Randy Nelson, ASID.  We enjoyed getting to know Randy during HCC University this week. He shared this beautiful room that he and his design partner for this project, Lori Berg created.  Randy and Lori are part of the talented design team at Gabberts in Minneapolis, MN.  The room was selected for the front cover of the August/September issue of Midwest Living Magazine .  The issue was devoted to luxury homes. 

Randy and his associate Lori Berg took the challenge presented from the new Medina, Minnesota home.  The article, Serene Design, features the new home, its builder and the contributing businesses.  Randy and Lori worked together on the design aesthetic. They selected several Hickory Chair pieces in their quest to furnish this home.   Image courtesy of Midwest Home - August/September 2009

In the living room, Randy and Lori selected a pair of M2M Knole sofas.   Because Hickory Chair can make custom length upholstery, they determined that 90 inches would be a better scale than the standard longer length.  They chose a Hickory Chair fabric for the body of the sofas and then provided a COM fabric for the pillows and seat cushion along with COM tassel ties.  They requested that we replace the standard smooth finials for a more ornately carved style that was standard on another sofa and finish them in American Antique finish.  Image courtesy of Randy Nelson and Midwest Home - August/September 2009

 In the dining room, a pair of Emma Arm Chairs by Thomas O'Brien for Hickory Chair were selected as the host chairs.  The intricately carved chairs finished in a rustic painted finish provide the balance to the upholstered balloon-back side chairs and dining table finished in a dark wood stain.  Notice how the top rail of the Emma Chair is repeated in the shape of the mirror behind it.  These talented designers think about these elements.  By repeating motifs, colors, textures, fabrics, finishes the room is tied together.  By mixing styles such as the dining chairs, it adds interest to the room and enhances the head of the table.  Image courtesy of Midwest Home - August/September 2009

I am sure that many of you have great Hickory Chair product stories to share.  Please send your story and pictures to lholland@hickorychair.com.  We would love to share with everyone!

Wishes Coming True!

Since Hickory Chair began offering options finishes on their wood products, a consistent wish has been for a way to visualize how different a piece would look in an optional finish.  After several failed attempts, we now have a new wood configuration tool available on hickorychair.com!    

Did you say wood configurator or finish visualizer?  It is a configurator that allows you to visualize more options than just finish.  In these past 5 years we have expanded from just applying an optional finish to also...

• Contrasting finishes
• Optional finish techniques
• Striping
• Techniques of striping
• Customer's Own Hardware^TM
• Personal Preference Dining Program with optional tops and bases
• Optional door panels, apron friezes, etc.

All of these features are integrated into the new wood configurator!  We made a decision to roll this new tool out with the Alexa Hampton Collection.  This collection had many new introductions at the October 2009 market.  All pieces with these options now are live on hickorychair.com.

How do I access them?  There are several ways:

• On the homepage of hickorychair.com click on the Online Design Studio.  It will take you to an introduction page that will let you choose the wood or upholstery feature.
• If you go to the specific items in the Alexa Hampton Collection you will now see Personalize This Item for these pieces.  For example, the Gustav Round Dining Table with Reeded Apron.  Once you click on Personalize This Item you will see the new tool.

Once you configure the piece you have designed, it will allow you to view the result and allow you to print a tear sheet with all of the choices listed!  How does it work for the Gustav Round Dining Table?

• The first choice given is for finish. You will see Case and Top with a box checked underneath it.  If you leave the box checked it will change the finish on the entire piece at once.  If you uncheck the box it will allow you to select contrasting finishes.
• The next choice on the list is for Heirloom Technique if the finish you have selected is available with that technique.  You can then choose Yes or No. Note: if the finish you have selected is not available in the technique it is grayed out and you can not select it.
• The next choice is Top Distressing.  The choices are Weathered, Rustic/Vintage or Heirloom.  Note: if the finish you have selected is not available in the technique it is grayed out and you can not select it. Vintage technique looked so similar to Rustic we combined the label.
• The next choice is Base Distressing.  The choices are Weathered, Rustic/Vintage or Heirloom. Note: if the finish you have selected is not available in the technique it is grayed out and you can not select it.
• If the item has optional tops as part of Personal Preference Dining program, it will allow you to select from the tops that are available on that base.
• If the item has optional bases as part of Personal Preference Dining program, it will allow you to select from the tops that are available with that top.
• If the top has optional aprons (today only the Gustav Dining Tables have optional apron friezes) it will allow you to visualize them)
• The next option is for striping colors.
• Once you pick the color, the next option is technique.

After you have selected the options, at the bottom of the page is View Configuration button.  Once this is clicked a tear sheet will be created.

The features for other types of pieces will vary, for example, a chest would allow you to apply contrasting finishes to the drawer fronts.  If is part of the COH^TM program then you would be able to select from any of the stocking hardware pieces in any of their three finish options. 

What do the results look like?

 

 
 
Need something that you do not see as an option?  Don't worry, we call those Special Construction Requests.  A Hickory Chair dealer may ask for a other options.  We have not been able to yes to every request but you can not imagine the vast number of things we have been able to make so far!  Let us help you create a one of a kind piece for your home!
  

Help Us Find A Classic!

I was contacted this week by a Hickory Chair collector in Pennsylvania looking for a discontinued piece from our historic James River Collection.  The 2906-00 Evelynton Plantation Tall Chest was a reproduction from the Evelynton Plantation in Virginia. We manufactured this piece for almost 20 years.  Unfortunately we no longer make it and have no remaining stock. 

If you have one of these beautiful reproduction chests, please contact us at press@hickorychair.com.

Thank you for your help!

If You Can Describe It We Will Try To Make It!

Every day we receive requests for one of a kind pieces.  Some are made to length upholstered pieces.  Some are wood pieces in contrasting finishes and Customer's Own Hardware^TM.  Some are special construction requests.  These pieces are met with enthusiasm by our talented artisans and craftsmen.  Some pieces are fairly simple while others require us to invent new techniques. 

Recently we created a piece that tested our abilities.  The customer selected paint colors from their local paint store.  They created a rendering for us to use so that we understood where each of the paint colors were to be applied.  We created a file in our CAD system for the patterns so that we could execute the decoration of this piece for the customer. 

The designer, Kreg De Vecht, a designer from Israel's Designs For Livingin Grand Rapids, Michigan had attended HCC University.  The experience gave him the confidence to turn to Hickory Chair when his client expressed their design aesthetic.  Kreg knew that we had artists working in our workroom and he trusted us to create this one of a kind piece. 

He first selected the Empire Tall Chest for his client.  They wanted a tall piece with storage that they could sit a television on.  

The first finish that was selected was Soleil finish.  They loved the color of the finish but did not care for the heavy physical distressing and burnishing.  We said no problem and applied the Soleil finish without distressing to the top. 

The designer and client requested that the piece be made without hardware so that they could install it when they received the piece.  

From the rendering the designer provided along with finish swatches from the paint store, we were able to finish each area of the cabinet in its unique finish color.  

The rendering allowed our team to determine the amount of materials, time and labor that would be required to make this personalized Tall Empire Chest.  Once the designer and their client approved the quote and submitted the order we were able to begin crafting this one of a kind piece.  Each finish was created and sent for approval by the client. 

 Once each of these custom finish colors were approved we began making the piece. A mix of pink, lavender, metallic gold, yellow, light and medium blue, light green, black and white were selected for this personalized piece.

The artists hand painted the black and white checkerboard motifs as well as the medallions located at the top of the front pilasters. 

We have asked the designer, Kreg, for pictures of the piece installed in the client's home.  Hopefully we will be able to feature this room in My Hickory Chair Home in the future.  Have we convinced you that "if you can describe it we will try to make it"!  Send us a picture or drawing and we will do our best to create a one of a kind piece for you. 

My Hickory Chair Home - B. Moore Design, Brooklyn, NY

 This is the second issue of My Hickory Chair Home, an ongoing feature that will profile great residential installations of homes shared with us by either a designer or from a publication.  Today's feature profiles Barbara Moore, owner of B. Moore Design and B Home Design Showroom.  She was featured in today's online issue of Decorati Access - Interior Design Blog in an article named The Textured Life.  In this article, Barbara is interviewed about her background and her objectives as she works with her clients.  She loves beginning with a classic, architectural space that she can then layer with textures created with art, furniture, color and textiles to create a fresh, modern space.  We are thankful that she turns to Hickory Chair as she selects pieces for her clients.

Barbara Moore, photo courtesy of Decorati

In this issue of Decorati, several of her projects are shown.  In a Brooklyn Heights residential project, Barbara selected the Joseph Side Chairs from the Alexa Hampton Collection.  These Regency inspired chairs add architectural form and softness with their rolled back and saber legs. 

Barbara Moore Brooklyn Heights Residential Project, photo courtesy of Decorati

If you go to Barbara's portfolio on Decorati's site, you will see installations for other clients.  In key rooms of each project she has carefully selected Hickory Chair pieces. For this family in Saratoga, NY, Barbara chose the Left Bank Bed by Hickory Chair.  With its upholstered head and foot boards and warm stained finish it is inviting and comfortable.  The great thing about the Left Bank Bed is that it is actually a four poster bed that has removeable posts.  This family did not need the posts for this room but if they move it to a different room or home they have the flexibilty to use it either way!

 
Barbara Moore, Saratoga, NY Project, photo courtesy of Decorati

For a client in Brooklyn Heights, Barbara selected several items for the master bedroom.  Shown to the left of the magnificent mantle is the Stephanie Vanity and Sue Ellen Chair from the Alexa Hampton Collection.  The Stephanie Vanity is shown open with the mirror revealed in the center of the desk.  A removeable jewelry tray would allow the Stephanie Vanity to become desk as well. In the foreground at the foot of the bed is the Wyland Storage Ottoman.  We would imagine that Barbara chose the Wyland not only due to its classic form and scale but also due to its great storage capabilities. 

 
Barbara Moore Brooklyn Heights Residential Project, photo courtesy of Decorati

The bedroom shown below is from another Brooklyn Heights bedroom.  In this smaller bedroom, Barbara chose the Chelsea Bed from the Thomas O'Brien Collection.  She used a neutral textured fabric with nail head trim and a white finish to pull together this luxurious bed.  [Did you know that this bed was used in the master bedroom in the movie "Something's Gotta Give"? ]

 
Barbara Moore Brooklyn Heights Residential Project, photo courtesy of Decorati

 
Something's Gotta Give - Erica's Bedroom, image from Google Images 

How have you used Hickory Chair pieces in your home or a client's home?

I Bet I Can Make You Smile Today!

Every so often I will come across something that is so fresh or innovative that it makes me smile!  Today, the new March 2010 issue of Traditional Home magazine gave me this great pleasure!  Not only is there a great interview with Alexa Hampton about her new Kingsley Bed and other new licensed products on page 38, but also there are several more stories with Hickory Chair roots as well! 

In the feature, Top 20 Young Designers, is featured Todd Richesin and Mark Roberts.  Todd has a design firm, Todd Richesin Interiors in Knoxville, Tennessee.  He is a Hickory Chair dealer and spent a few days with us in 2007 participating in our HCC University program.  Mark Roberts has joined his father's firm, Larry Robert's Interiors who has been a Hickory Chair dealer for almost 20 years! 

As I continued to read I came to Surprise Us - A young California family expected the unexpected from designer Ruthie Sommers. In this story, Ruthie had great fun mixing vintage and new pieces for her clients with young children.  In the dining room she used an orange Fortuny fabric on the repro Chippendale Chairs (7751-01 and 7751-02 Manor House Chairs by Mariette Himes Gomezfor Hickory Chair).  Later it quotes "Mainly, she had fun. No room attests to this more than the breakfast area.  Because Lisa (the homeowner) wanted this to be a family hub, Sommers hit on a sweet conceit, designing a space that suggests an old-fashioned ice cream parlor... she centered a Saarinen table and surrounded it with a rainbow of chairs, each upholstered in a different cupcake-frosting color.  Sommers found the vintage chairs in Palm Beach, then painted them crisp cottage white."  A quick scan of a vintage Hickory Chair catalog revealed the vintage chairs mentioned in the story.  You can see why I had to smile!  Do you have a fresh new face on a vintage Hickory Chair piece to share?  We would love to share your story too! 

  

 

Help Us Help A Collector

This week we were contacted by one of our loyal dealers.  His client wanted to add to their set of Hickory Chair dining chairs.  Unfortunately the chair that the customer had is retired from our line.  The chairs, the 845-01 Queen Anne Arm Chair and 845-02 Queen Anne Side Chairs are pictured below.  If you have one or more of these chairs that you would be willing to part with, please contact us at press@hickorychair.com.  Hopefully you can help us find a home for a treasured Hickory Chair heirloom!

These chairs were made for several decades as a part of our historical James River Collection.  They feature a beautiful crotch mahogany wrapped front rail and back splat.  Their cabriole front legs terminate with Dutch pad feet. The graceful back splat meets the top rail and terminates with a scroll.  They are truly timeless!

 

A New Feature for 2010 - "My Hickory Chair Home"

This new series, My Hickory Chair Home, is dedicated to sharing with you amazing rooms that were created with Hickory Chair pieces.  The stories may be about the designer's own home or homes that they created for their clients.  These inspirational rooms inspire our talented craftsmen to build their skills so that they can offer even greater personalization. 

Our first story is dedicated to a HCC University graduate, Kirk Holt.  He is the owner of Cisar-Holt, a design firm that he and his late partner, Robert Cisar, began 23 years ago.  Published in the January 2010 issue of TulsaPeople.com online magazine, is the home that Kirk and Robert began building in 2006.  Kirk completed the home in 2009.  As a result of his visit to Hickory Chair, Kirk was inspired to select many pieces for his home.  He loved the fact that he could request not only the pieces, but select from over 60 finishes, dozens of nail head trims and hardware selections, over 1,500 stocked fabrics, leather and trims to create one of a kind pieces for his home. 

 
Photography courtesy of Tulsapeople.com.

In Kirk's living room, he selected the Made to Measure Gallery Sofa at 84-inches wide and the Vendome Cocktail Table (now retired) from the Thomas O'Brien Collection along with the San Marino Bench by Hickory Chair.  The room is fresh and modern feeling with the use of color, accessories and arrangement of pieces.  Do you not love how the room is anchored by a really ornately carved traditional mantle and then is surrounded by classic modern pieces?

 
Photography courtesy of Tulsapeople.com.

In Kirk's sitting room, a Regency Oval Writing Table by Mark Hampton was custom finished in a black finish and facing it is a Reading Chair by Mariette Himes Gomez finished in Modern French Grey finish, a Hickory Chair fabric and then was trimmed in two sizes of Black Pearl nail head trim.  These classic forms perfectly complement the black mantle with quatrefoil motifs.

To read the complete 4-page article published in TulsaPeople.com, click here.  Want to learn more about HCC University? click here or contact press@hickorychair.com.

We invite you to share your home or client's home with us.  We want to publish a new edition of "My Hickory Chair Home" every week!

Ringing In The New Year!

All of us at Hickory Chair have returned ready for an exciting year after our annual holiday closing between Christmas and New Year.  This year, 2010, is exciting for us at Hickory Chair because we are celebrating our 99th year in business!  In the beginning, we only made dining chairs with slip seats but within a few short years we were also making sofas, rocking chairs, and every type of chair imagineable!  By 1930 we had expanded into bedroom, dining room and living room pieces as well.  This great foundation of experience and craftsmanship have given us the ability to have one of the most extensive product assortments available today!

Classic Dining Room

Do you love classic forms?  Our extensive assortment of 18th Century reproductions and adaptations may be ordered in their standard finish for a classic traditional look.  The joy we have is when you take one of these classic forms and then personalize them through finish, hardware, striping, de-construction or other ways to make it fit your room.  Shown above is the Graham Dining Table, Evan Cabinet, Brandywine Sofa, Cabriole Side Chair, Avon Chair and Charles Hassock.

Continental Living Room

Do you love continental pieces?  Do you love pieces that look as if you have traveled Europe and found special antiques for your home?  We share this passion for the collected, traveled look.  Our Suzanne Kasler collection along with pieces from other collections such as Atelier, French, Winterthur and San Marino allow you to easily find the continental forms.  Shown above is the Frederica Bench, Alexandra Side Chair, Antoinette Side Table and Anastasic Bench by Suzanne Kasler.

Modern Bed Room

Do you appreciate a modern aesthetic? Ten years ago we introduced the Thomas O'Brien Collection that allowed Hickory Chair to embrace a modern aesthetic we were not known for.  Today every collection and every piece we make may be used in a modern interior.  Shown in this scene is the Chelsea Bed, Keith Desk, Madison Chair, Modern Club Chair and Studio Accessory Table all by Thomas O'Brien.  This modern room is filled with pieces that are undeniablely classic, timeless forms. 

What is your style?  You can make it with Hickory Chair!