Made By Hickory Chair

A New Chapter For Hickory Chair

For those of you who attend the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, NC, we invite you to attend one of our special events this market! 

Our first event will be held on Friday, April 16th from 3-5 pm.  We will hold a book signing for Thomas O'Brien's new book American Modern.  The second event will be held on Saturday, April 17th from 3-5 pm.  We have the honor of holding four book signings!  The four authors will be in our Hickory Chair Showroom most of the day to meet our dealers, designers, members of the press and then from 3-5 pm, will sign books.  Who are the authors?

Duane Hampton is the author of Mark Hampton: An American Decorator.  She is the widow of the late Mark Hampton and the mother of both Alexa Hampton Papageorgiou and Kate Hampton.  Her new book, published by Rizzoli, documents the lifework of Mark Hampton.  It is a celebration of the career of the late interior designer Mark Hampton (1940–1998), whom the New York Times called "an icon of American Style." Rich with original materials including Hampton’s watercolors, sketches, and notebooks, as well as hundreds of images of Hampton’s important commissions, and impeccably researched and intimately written by his widow, Duane Hampton, this will be a visual feast for everyone interested in interiors as well as an important addition to the history of interior design.  In addition, she is the author of The Art of Friendship, a compilation of Mark Hampton’s watercolors.  The Mark Hampton Collection has been continuously made since its launch in 1988.  

 
Mariette Himes Gomez is the author of the newly released book, Apartments.  This is the third in a series published by Harper Collins that began with Rooms, was followed by Houses and now finally Apartments.  These beautiful books reflect the beautifully appointed rooms, houses and apartments that Mariette has created for her clients.  A book case is also being made available to house the complete works.  The Mariette Himes Gomez Collection for Hickory Chair was introduced in 2002.  

 

Thomas O'Brien is the author of American Modern by Abrams.  This is the first book by Thomas O'Brien.  Abrams quotes "Important design principles such as architectural authenticity, color relationships, correctness of scale, and informed collecting are threaded through a practical narrative that reads like a master class in interior design. American Modern is an inspiring design volume that will redefine the way readers think about modern interiors."  
The first book signing for this beautiful book is being held today in New York.  We are proud to introduce his new furniture collection and host two book signings.  The Thomas O'Brien Collection by Hickory Chair was introduced in 1999.

Suzanne Kasler is the author of Inspired Interiors.  This beautiful book by Rizzoli was released in 2009 and is on its third printing.   
Hickory Chair held a book-signing during the October 2009 market and is proud to make this book available once more.  The Suzanne Kasler Collection by Hickory Chair was introduced in 2008.

Not coming to market?  These books are available through your local bookstore, online or from the publisher.

 

 

 

 

Spending A Day With Thomas O'Brien

We had the great pleasure of spending the day with Thomas O'Brien!  He traveled to Hickory Chair to debut his new collection with our sales organization.  We are celebrating the 10th year anniversary of the Thomas O'Brien Collection.  For those of you who have had the opportunity to meet Thomas, you know that he is brilliant talent who is warm and personable.  He is passionate about design, quality, form and fashion.  He has a gift for mixing traditional and modern pieces together to create timeless rooms. 

The new Library Collection is both traditional and modern.  It is mixable not only with the existing Thomas O'Brien collection pieces that have evolved over the past 10 years, but also with pieces and collections in the complete Hickory Chair assortment.

In addition to the new collection by Hickory Chair, Abrams has just released American Modern by Thomas O'Brien.  This first book by Thomas is beautifully written and illustrated with beautiful rooms, collections and favorite pieces.  Abrams states the following about the book"

"About the book

Designer and merchant, collector and tastemaker, Thomas O’Brien has made a career of translating cool notions of modernism into an easy and generous array of modern styles that anyone can attain. Now he introduces readers to a range of those styles—from casual to formal, vintage to urban—alongside stunning photography and charming design stories.

O’Brien carefully describes the design process of his chosen projects, including a downtown New York City loft, a traditional Connecticut estate, and a converted schoolhouse in eastern Long Island. Each home explores a view on the modern design spectrum he has created, as well as the individual choices that make the design unique and its mix essentially American. He explains not only what was at work to create a given style, but how readers can import those practices to their own homes and personal design sensibilities. Important design principles such as architectural authenticity, color relationships, correctness of scale, and informed collecting are threaded through a practical narrative that reads like a master class in interior design.

American Modern is an inspiring design volume that will redefine the way readers think about modern interiors."

Abrams also features this biography about Thomas: 

"About the author

Thomas O’Brien is an interior and home furnishings designer based in New York City. He is the founder and President of Aero Studios, one of America’s most respected design firms, and the proprietor of AERO, the influential home boutique which is located within that studio setting. O’Brien is widely recognized for his collection of Thomas O’Brien Vintage Modern products for Target, and for his own brand of newly classic home furnishings in partnership with great American companies such as Reed & Barton and Hickory Chair. He lives in Manhattan and Bellport, Long Island."

 

Hickory Chair will hold two book signings in April.  The first will be held from 3-5 pm on Friday, April 16 and the second on Saturday, April 17.  They will be held in the Hickory Chair Showroom (open to the trade only) during the upcoming furniture market.

 

Hickory Chair will debut this dynamic new collection and the book signings at the upcoming April 2010 International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, North Carolina.  The collection will be available in stores in mid-summer.  The new collection is complete with bedroom, dining room and living room groupings.

For more information contact press@hickorychair.com.

They Made It My Way!

The most amazing piece we saw being made this week was a Venetian Bed with a special construction request. (Shown is a queen size Venetian Bed with Upholstered head and footboard from our catalog in Sable finish.) The designer from Safaveih and their client felt like the Venetian Bed would be the right bed for their room but wished that it featured diamond hand tufting. 

They contacted their customer service representative and requested that we add diamond hand tufting to the headboard and footboard as a special construction request.  We reviewed what it would take to hand tuft the COM fabric and felt like it was very doable.  With approval from Hickory Chair for the diamond hand-tufting, the amount of COM needed and the fee for the labor, patterns and materials, the order was placed.

• The style number is 8807-71 King Size Venetian Bed
• COM purple velvet
• Silver Leaf finish
• NS-02 Pewter Small Nails
• Special Construction Diamond Hand Tufting on the headboard and footboard

Our talented craftsman enjoy the creativity that comes to us from designers and their clients.  They enjoy the challenge of determining how they may be able to accomodate the request of the client.  They enjoy visualizing the rooms these special pieces are made for.  They wish that they could see pictures of these rooms.

If our wish comes true, the designer will email us a picture of the bedroom with this custom made bed as the focal point for their room.  If they do, we can feature it in an upcoming My Hickory Chair Home! 

Are you ready to share your story?  Contact us a press@hickorychair.com.

99 Years And Counting - Part Three

  In the second edition of "99 Years And Counting - Part Two" we ended with the European styled collections such as The French Collection, San Marion Collection and Suzanne Kasler Collection.  The next milestone for Hickory Chair was to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the James River Collection!  This great achievement solidified Hickory Chair's reputation for classic furniture as the James River Collection became the longest continuously made furniture collection in the industry.  It is even harder to imagine that this collection will celebrate 70 years in 2011!  It is the great proportion and scale of the pieces with their timeless form that have allowed the collection to remain viable in an ever-changing world.  We have numerous pieces that have been continuously made since the 1930's!  The best part is that the pieces that have been made all these years were made as tomorrow's heirlooms - they are still in people's homes, on eBay, Craig's List, antique shops and can mix with the new pieces we make to order today!

Hickory Chair turned to the Winterthur Museum in April 1999 to introduce its Winterthur Country Estate Collection.  This museum houses the world's largest collection of American furniture and decorative arts.  In H.F. DuPont's lifetime he transformed his country home to a 275 room museum with rooms from every major city that contributed to American design.  There are rooms devoted to Rhode Island cabinetmakers such as the Townsend's and Goddard's from the 18th Century, to Boston cabinetmaker's such as the Seymour's, to Philadelphia cabinetmakers such as Aitken as well as Shaker, Pennsylvania Dutch, and more.  Each room is furnished as if it were new with every detail considered from the candles to furniture.  We have the license to almost all of the pieces at Winterthur. 

Watch for our next post as we launch the Thomas O'Brien Collection at the fall 1999 market.  Can you believe that the Thomas O'Brien is celebrating its 10th Anniversary!

My Hickory Chair Home - Shannon Murray Interiors

One of our HCC University Alumni, Shannon Murray, shared with us a beautiful home that she completed using mostly Hickory Chair pieces!  Her young client moved from Greenwich, CT to Boca Raton, FL.  She chose to work with Shannon instead of starting over with a new designer.  She trusted Shannon and knew that she would be able to guide her to create very personal interiors in her brand new Florida home. 

Shannon selected Hickory Chair as her primary source for this exciting new home. She knew that the Hickory Chair pieces were appropriate for this project and met budget.  She also knew that with the many options offered, she would be able to personalize the pieces for the color scheme and needs of this young family.  We appreciate that most rooms of the house are adorned with Hickory Chair pieces.

In the Living Room, Shannon chose the Elinor Sofa  and Guilded Lily Cocktail Table in Silver Leaf from the Mariette Himes Collection as well as a pair of Nanette Chairs with Slipcovers from the Suzanne Kasler Collection.  The Mark Desk by Alexa Hampton is used as a sofa table.  She chose our Antique Ivory paint with Antique Silver hardware from our Customer's Own Hardware^TM program.  The fabrics and finishes have created a warm, inviting room for this active family.

The Master Bedroom has great natural light and Shannon used soft blues and whites to make a sanctuary.  The Left Bank Bed was selected and installed without its options four tall posts.  Removeable posts allow you to change the look of your room as your needs or wishes change.  In addition, a sitting area was created using an Oval Pedestal Cocktail Table from the James River Collection in a painted white finish instead of the standard Medium Mahogany traditional finish.  A pair of Stanton Skirted Lounge Chairs flank the cocktail table.  

A retreat was created using the Porter Divan by Mariette Himes Gomez, a Hallings Secretary by Thomas O'Brien and a Hunt Chair by Suzanne Kasler.  Shannon enjoyed selecting the right pieces for each room from the entire Hickory Chair assortment.  She was not bound to pick pieces from one collection so they would match.  She could pick finish, fabric and hardware to tie these pieces together so that she created 'her own collection' for her client. 

Shannon is a professional designer who continues to invest in her training and knowledge base.  She has visited Hickory Chair's workroom in Hickory, North Carolina where over 87% of its wood and upholstered pieces are made to order.  She knows that our talented artisans and craftsmen make each piece one at a time by hand.  We appreciate how she entrusted us to make pieces for her client. 

Do you have a Hickory Chair home to share?  Contact us at press@hickorychair.com

Apartments by Mariette Himes Gomez

Our friend and licensing partner, Mariette Himes Gomez, has just released the third book of her career!  Apartments has joined sister books, Rooms and Houses as a set of inspirational guides to 21st century interior design.  As their titles suggest, each book focuses on projects that Mariette has been commissioned to create with her devoted clients.  Each book shares her design philosophy in both the written word and in beautiful photography.  Harper Collins is the publisher of the series.   

Since 2002, Hickory Chair has had the great pleasure of hand making the Mariette Himes Gomez Collection.  Each piece was thoughtfully inspired by pieces in Mariette or her client's homes and all have references in antique or vintage forms that she has collected.  As a great shopper, she has an eye for intruiging shapes and textures.  Her considers her collection as the bridge between the modern furniture by Thomas O'Brien and the more classic pieces Hickory Chair has been known for since 1911. 

Hickory Chair will sponsor a book signing in its trade showroom in High Point, North Carolina during the International Home Furnishings Market on Saturday, April 17th from 3:00 - 5:00 pm. 

 

Michelle Obama's Chair of Choice

An Associated News Syndicate story printed in the Palm Beach Post on March 1, 2010, featured Michelle Obama's determination to fight childhood obesity.  The photograph by Marvin Joseph was first featured in the Washington Post. A gentleman from Florida recognized the hand carved mahogany chair as Hickory Chair's own Spool Chair from the Mark Hampton Collection.  We appreciate him forwarding the newspaper article to us this morning. 

 

 

As we looked closely at the chair, we realized that it was one of a pair purchased for the private areas of the White House.  The First Lady and her designer selected these Spool Chairs in a graphic dark brown and white fabric to complement the rich finish.  The chairs were hand made in the workroom in Hickory, North Carolina.    We are proud to have talented craftsmen with the ability to carve mahogany and other sustainable types of wood into heirloom quality pieces in our workroom.

Does it not seem right that pieces made by Americans adorn rooms in the White House today?