Made By Hickory Chair

Making It For You

Recently a designer shared some pictures of a home that she had recently completed using Hickory Chair pieces.  Mary Beth, a designer at Robb & Stucky in Naples, Florida, wanted to share how she had solved the need and wishes of her client using our pieces.  It was our flexibility to allow her to use painted finishes that allowed her to use these traditional mahogany pieces in a more transitional manner.

Living in Florida, they wanted to make the interior feel open and airy.  The dining chairs were ordered in our White finish with no distressing as a special construction request and upholstered in a soft blue linen fabric. 

In an alcove in the dining room a Soleil Mirror was hung above a 3-Tiered Stand that was finished in Swedish Grey paint on the body and White paint on the "X"s with no distressing. 

In a seperate alcove in the dining room, a server by Mariette Himes Gomez was selected.  It was also finished iwith a Swedish Grey exterior and a White interior with no distressing.

Every day designers like Mary Beth can request our artisans and craftsmen to create one of a kind pieces for their client's homes. Simple requests like eliminating distressing from an antiqued finish are exectued every day.  More elaborate requests like eliminating the circular metal grills from the server are simple but not requested as frequently.  Contact your customer service representative if you need something made special.  If it is one of the pieces we make in Hickory, North Carolina (87% of our line), then chances are that we can make a special construction that will make the piece just the way you want it.    At Hickory Chair furniture is made not manufactured!

Traditional Modern by Thomas O'Brien

Is the new Veneto Hall Chair by Thomas O'Brien traditional or modern?  One might argue that it is both. This striking design combines an unlikely pair of modern and ancient inspirations. The narrow, exaggerated high-back seat is based on the form of 1960s-era hall chairs that O’Brien has long wanted to add to his Hickory Chair collection. The legs were drawn from a much-admired image of a bronze Roman tripod table with classical paw feet. The feet are carved in intricate detail, adding to the opulent proportion and exotic historical drama of the chair.

 

The fabric, 3414-88,  was introduced at the spring market.  It is a beautiful velvet stripe in chocolate tones.  The pile is chocolate and the base cloth is a golden tone with a herringbone design.  The finish over the hand carved mahogany is Dark Walnut.  The nail head trim is NS-08 Old Antique.  The mix of finish, fabric, nail over this newly created timeless form has created a modern classic!

Durning the market Thomas spoke to us at Hickory Chair about how he plans a room or a piece that he is designing for one of his licensees.  He likes contrasts and suggested that "I likes mixing tall pieces (like the Veneto Chair) with short pieces, formal and casual, masculine and feminine, light and dark, modern and traditional - these contrasts create balance.  These contrasts make it feel fresh and new.  These contrasts keep it modern over time as trendy things go in and out of style."  

I think the room scene below illustrates this idea perfectly!  Want to learn more from Thomas?  His new book American Modern is a beautiful book filled with Thomas' thoughts on design, collecting and creating modern traditional spaces that are beautiful, personal, livable and timeless.

 
   

No Doubting Thomas Here!

Today Hickory Chair officially launched the 10th anniversary of the Thomas O'Brien Collection with an dynamic introduction of classic modern forms.  The collection is complete with bedroom, dining room and living room pieces that are inspired by his passion for collecting timeless forms from different eras and then mixing them in unexpected ways creating modern interiors. 

These distinctive pieces feature fine details such as hand applied nail head trim, fine book-matched walnut and mahogany veneers, custom hardware and fine hand carving.  In this room scene, the Warner Lounge Chair is shown that is a reproduction of a 1755 George II sleeping chair, the Atheneum Sofa with its upholstered leg that rests upon an antique brass ferrule, the stately Sheffield Sideboard with the Keaton Mirror with its scored clear mirror, the Sebastian Side Chair with its very tall back, the graceful Inama Tray Table in its soft beige painted finish, and the Classico Cocktail Table with its faux shagreen top, bookmatched walnut veneered base that rests upon antique brass ferrules.  The unique forms complement each other creating comfort and luxury.

We are very proud that almost every piece from the new collection was made by the talented craftsmen in our Hickory, North Carolina workroom.  It is because of these dedicated craftsmen that Thomas entrusts his creations to Hickory Chair.  He does not doubt the passion and ability to execute these finely made pieces.  Their quality of construction will allow them to become tomorrow's antiques. 

We wish you could be here with us to see this beautiful and distinctive new collection!

A Sneak Preview...

 

For those of you who attend the upcoming International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, North Carolina next week, we think we have an amazing treat for you!  Our showroom is being installed over the next week.  In addition to the pieces we show from each of our collections, we are premiering the introduction of The Library Collection by Thomas O'Brien in celebration of the 10th anniversary of this landmark collection by Hickory Chair. 

This new collection grew out of O’Brien’s personal collecting and designing for a new studio-library that he is building in the garden of his Long Island house. The furniture that he has been gathering for this space led to ideas for a type of ‘curated’ group for Hickory Chair – the kind of things one might bring home from wonderful travels, or uncover in favorite small antique shops. The setting of a personal library becomes symbolic, for in this type of space, furniture can be at its best: comfortable and deeply loungeful, formal enough to receive special guests, generous with places to display treasures, relaxed yet elegant and worldly. And, such furniture pieces are often equal to the surrounding artifacts – they are collected objects themselves.

 

 

 

 

Thomas O'Brien Featured In The NY Times

   
As I was searching the web this morning I ran across this feature about Thomas O'Brien that had been featured in the New York Times.  In this biography it shares how he began Aero Studios, his licensing programs with Hickory Chair, Visual Comfort, Safavieh Rugs, Reed & Barton, Target and others.  There are links to each of his licensed collections listed.  My favorite part is the very personal statement at the very end where he is quoted "...Mr. O’Brien described his role as akin to that of an art advisor. “Whether it’s antiques or art,” he said, “I’m helping somebody build a collection – and a life.”

Last night the first book signing was held at Aero Studios for American Modern by Thomas O'Brien.  This beautiful new book published by Abrams is filled with not only pictures of Thomas O'Brien's favorite rooms from his homes and clients, but also with the thought process and stories behind the pieces and why they are special. Visit your local bookstore, Aero Studios, Abrams or search online to acquire your own copy of American Modern by Thomas O'Brien. 

Hickory Chair is introducing a very large new collection by Thomas O'Brien at the Spring International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, North Carolina next month.  These amazing new pieces have a heritage of being reproduced or inspired by timeless, classic pieces that have withstood the test of time.  Thomas has perfected each piece to every detail from the crispness of carving, the proportion and scale to the jewerly-like custom hardware.  Next week we will work together to install these beautiful new pieces in our showroom in High Point.  In the weeks to come we will share photography of the pieces.  This summer you will be able to visit key furniture stores, boutique stores and trade showrooms to see the pieces in person. 

Interested in learning more? I found a wonderful blog today about Thomas O'Brien named Everything LEB entitled Changes Over Time.  I think you will enjoy it too!