Made By Hickory Chair

One At A Time

Every day Hickory's 'Made To Order Made To Last' tag line is proven as designers and sales associates challenge our workroom with one of a kind pieces.  Every day drawings and sketches arrive with wishes of how existing pieces could be transformed for their clients.  Every day we try to make the majority of these wishes come true. We would like to share some recent pieces with you that are on display in our High Point Showoom!

Shown in this image is the 1271-55 Townsend Wing Chair from the rear and facing it is a special construction where we stretched it to an overall 77 inches wide and then hand-tufted the back, seat, arms and wings.  This custom settee proves our ability to create an entirely new style by modifying an existing item.

Custom 1271-55 Townsend Wing Chair as a Settee

1271-55 Townsend Wing Chair

We needed a large square glass top cocktail table for the setting below but did not have the right style or size. We selected the Hutton M2M 20-inch Cocktail Table but make it 19-inches high, added a Starfire 1/2" thick glass top, finisedh it in Dark Walnut and apply the Antique Brass collars to the posts.  This custom Hutton table looks very different from the standard construction of a wood panel top.

Custom 176-51 Hutton M2M Cocktail Table with Glass Top

176-51 Hutton M2M Cocktail Table with Wood Top

The Carved Bed from the French Collection has a wood headboard.  We made it for the showroom with an upholstered headboard with nail head trim and painted it in Artisan Birch. 

9621-70 Carved Bed with Upholstered Headboard with Nail Head Trim

9621-00 Carved Bed in Antique French finish

These are but a few of the special pieces made to order by our talented craftsmen in our Hickory, North Carolina workroom.  We are honored to be trusted to make custom pieces and challenged to learn new ideas and skills. Why settle for standard when you can have it made?

 

Happenings at 'The Chair'

This fall at the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, North Carolina, Hickory Chair introduces our new VP/Creative Director, Skip Rumley and his fresh presentation of Hickory Chair furniture.  His fresh outlook has brought an easy elegance in our 25,000 square foot showroom.  Divided into luxury apartments and suites, each area is distinctive with fresh new fabrics, special constructions and thoughtfully choreographed rooms.  Our Hickory, North Carolina workroom has the ability to make nearly 90% of our entire product offering in just a few weeks from order.  Skip has worked alongside to create special pieces never imagined before.  Adding to the excitement is that all four of our licensees, Alexa Hampton, Suzanne Kasler, Mariette Himes Gomez and Thomas O'Brien have new pieces for their respective collections this fall.  We, and they, are honored that Architectural DIgest named each of them as a Top 100 Interior Designer this year!

In addition to new furniture this season, we have dynamic new fabrics, leather and trim that reflect beautiful pattern, color and texture.  Continuing our licensing program with Hable Construction, we have added 11 new prints and wovens to our collection this season!  Shown is a grouping of pieces upholstered in new Hable Construction fabrics that are exclusive to Hickory Chair. The Muse Cabinet and a Madigan Bar Stool are shown the new print Marble in the Skinny Dip colorway, a screen in Pom Pom in the Sapphire colorway, the Edward Chair in Peony and the Inman Ottoman in the new Coal colorway of Costume.

Alexa Hampton has created the beautiful Alice Secretary along with a distinctive grouping of chairs named Rachel and Gregory and the new Tatum Side Table.

  

Mariette Himes Gomez owns a vintage sofa made by the legendary Syrie Maugham.  Working with the craftsmen in the Hickory workroom we introduce the luxurious adaptation we have named the Syrie Maugham Sofa. From feedback at market we have created the most comfortable sofa ever in the Hickory Chair line.

 
Suzanne Kasler has many new introductions this season.  Included in this grouping is the Arden Dining Table.  Crafted in ash solids and veneers, this 8-legged table is perfect as a dining or center table.  The top and base are interchangeable with many other tops and bases allowing you to create a one-of-a-kind table as well.

From Thomas O'Brien is a new sofa, love seat and sectional named Pablo, a grouping of small occasional tables, a settee, chairs and a distinctive bed named Stanford. This distinctive bed is made from mahogany solids with fine kingwood veneers.  It has a button-tufted upholstered headboard.  A series of elegant fluted posts that wrap around the footboard.

These exciting new pieces being introduced is season are available through your designer or local Hickory Chair dealer.  Visit hickorychair.com to see all pieces our Hickory Chair family of collections.

Spring Is In The Air

At Hickory Chair it always seems a bit like spring! We recently completed the furniture market in High Point where our new products - fabrics, furniture and trims were introduced.  For a 101 year old furniture maker, furniture market is like the rebirth of spring twice each year!  Some of the new introductions are shown below!

Shown above are the four new Hable Construction fabrics introduced this season!  The plaid is named Painterly, the dotted is named Costume, the stripe on the ottoman is named Ribbon and the pillow fabric is named Tye Dye.  Each of these new Hable fabrics are available in a brown colorway as well!

Ceylon is the latest in our series of Made To Measure (M2M) Tables.  Taken from a Chinese antique form, our new Ceylon is available in 4 heights (20" cocktail table, 26" end table, 30" dining/desk and 34" Console). They are available from 16" to 52" square or as long as 72".  You may select from 5 veneer species and from an endless range of stain or paint finishes, hand striping and decoration and special requests.  Why do we do this? We want to help you find that distinctive, one of a kind piece for your home.

The new Solenne Chaise is part of the Atelier Collection.  Ours is a modern interpretation of an antique found in Europe.  Its generous scale, spring-down seat cushions and goose feather back pillow create a luxuriously comfortable chaise.

The Muse Bed shown here as a King size, is taken from the great forms of French bergeres.  Like these classic chairs, the Muse Bed has exposed wood trim where upholstery is inset.  Even the footboard allows for contrasting fabrics as shown here.  Notice the Solenne Chaise to the left - a perfect compliment to the Muse Bed. Shown left is the new Sabine Dresser in optional Weathered Stone finish with a special decoration striping pattern in Solid Ivory paint.  Our family of artists literally can take your sketch along with your choice of paint colors and create a one of a kind piece for you. 

Speaking of artists, we do have an Artist Studio where almost every item we make can be personalized through decoration such as the Hudson Table shown above.  First the 42" Hudson Top and the Hudson Pedestal Base were selected and painted in our White paint.  Then this Greek Key Motif was created and painted in Light Gold paint with an Antique Rub technique. 

The new Remy series was inspired by a Japanese Tansu cabinet.  Our interpretation is made up of individual pieces that you can create your own piece from.  Included is the Remy Base, a 2-Door Cabinet and a 3-Drawer Chest that may be ordered individually or for a grouping.  Shown here are 4-bases, 2 3-drawer chests and 6 2-door cabinets each finished in optional Ebony finish and upholstered in linen fabric 598-12.  Each upholstered cabinet is trimmed in NS-08 nail head trim and Antique Bronze hardware.  Choose from linens, velvets and flannel suede along with your choice of finish and in just a few weeks we will make this for you in our workroom in Hickory, North Carolina.

Hmmm... I can have it made at Hickory Chair. Why settle for standard when you can have it personalized?

Come Experience Hickory Chair!

In the rolling foothills of North Carolina you will find the quaint city of Hickory, North Carolina.  In 1911 the Surry Chair Company moved to this growing city and Hickory Chair Company was begun.  In the years since this company that only made one style of dining chair has evolved by listening to its customer.  In the beginning it was why not sofas? Why not rocking chairs? Why not wood furniture?  By responding to customer wishes the company today makes almost 90% of its entire product line of living room, dining room and bedroom furniture in this 101 year old 600,000 square foot workroom.

While one might consider a manufacturing space of 600,000 square feet a factory, previous visitors have denied this definition.  Due to our expertise of craftsmanship and artisanship to make one-of-a-kind pieces to order in just a few weeks, the term workroom has been selected by the Hickory Chair dealers who have joined us for HCC University. 

 During these HCC University events, interior designers, retail sales associates, specifiers, store owners, trade showoom associates, customer service and other staff travel to Hickory Chair to meet the over 500 artisans and craftsmen who choose fine furniture making as their vocation.  Who choose to collaborate to take the waste out of the process so that one-of-a-kind pieces are made to order and ship in just a few weeks from order.  Who can personalize wood pieces through finish, decoration, hardware and even size to order.  Who can make upholstery personalized through not only fabric, COM, leather, COL and trims but also through distinctive finishes, nails, and much of it by the inch in size.  In addition to learning about our workroom and its capabilities, we learn from our participants the things they wish that could be done to further personalize pieces to order.  Then you can relax and enjoy our showroom at Hickory Chair where we have on display a wide range of our products personalized to showcase the capabilities of our workroom.

  Want to learn more about HCC University from previous attendees?  Click on these links for personal accounts of these graduates of HCC University.

http://www.paradigmdesigners.com/blog/2011/03/23/hickory-chair-university-day-1-casegoods/

http://www.designlinesltd.com/blog/?p=89

http://www.interiorsbystudiom.com/blog/2010/11/our-time-at-hickory-chair-university/

http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/2009/06/hickory-chair-factory-tour-day-one.html

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/a-visit-to-hickory-chair-hicko-158608

Are you interested in attending HCC University?  Just email press@hickorychair.com for more information.  Who knows you may be at Hickory Chair in the coming months experiencing this special place yourself! 

Design Blogger's Conference Award Winner Tobi Fairley!

Last week the annual Design Blogger's Conference was held at the historic Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California.  Hickory Chair attended the conference allowing us to meet and engage with fellow bloggers, talented interior designers, members of the press and other industry professionals.  In attendance were many of our Hickory Chair friends from around the country. 

One of our great supporters, Tobi Fairley, participated in a panel discussion on BlogStars: Social Networking, Content, and The Future of Blogs. The fellow panelists included Rhonda Carman (All The Best Blog) and Cassandra LaValle (Coco + Kelley Blog). 

During lunch the Design Blogger Hall of Fame Awards were announced.  During the registration period everyone was invited to vote on various categories.  The Best Overall Design Blog Hall of Fame Award was awarded to Tobi Fairley for her "Tobi's Blog!" (Pictures below courtesy of Tobi Fairley)

 
We hope you will visit Tobi's Blog.  To see some of Tobi's beautiful rooms that feature Hickory Chair pieces just keep scrolling down!

Tobi Fairley - Entry

Hallings Secretary

Tobi Fairley - 2011 Hampton's Showhouse

Simone Bed, Regency Bamboo Table Desk, Fretwork Side Chair, Artisan Curved Front Chest with Overlay, Crystal Side Table and Queen Anne Wing Chair

Dining Room by Tobi Fairley

London Arm and Side Chairs

Tobi Fairley Living Area

Klismos Table & Narrow End Table

Happy Holidays with Tobi's Family

Sophie Wing Chairs & Three Tier Lamp Table

Sutton Sofas by Tobi Fairley

2011 Hampton's Showhouse Tobi Fairley style

Anastasia Ottomans, Lancaster Side Tables, Crystal Table, Regency Bamboo Desk, Park Avenue Tall Cabinet, Simone Bed

This image is from the Hickory Chair Showroom in High Point, NC where Hickory Chair showcased Tobi's 3722-96 greek key, 3721-96 geometric and 3720-96 striped prints.  They are exclusive to Hickory Chair.

Madeleine Chairs, Hutton M2M Tables, Albert Sofa, Artisan Base with Ingold Top, Artisan Curved Front Chest with Overlay and Amsterdam Side Chair.

Hable Construction for Hickory Chair

Perhaps you remember the Elle Decor feature on Susan and Kate Hable designing an exclusive fabric collection for Hickory Chair.  The Hable Construction collection launched in October 2010 to great success!  These fabrics begin with original paintings by Susan Hable and then are used to create fabrics that are woven in North Carolina exclusively for Hickory Chair.  Susan and Kate thoughtfully researched Hickory Chair's existing fabric offerings studying the colors and textures that were most successful.  Using this insight, patterns and very importantly colors were developed that would work back to our fabric rack.  They wanted their fabrics to be an extension of what we are known for. As you can see below in this Elle Decor feature from earlier this year, the original launch featured silvery grays, browns, greens and other colors of nature.  The patterns are named Lollipop, Stripes, Pom Pom, Geranium, Facets, Endpapers and Mustaches.  Susan and Kate were eager to bring their modern fabrics to Hickory Chair as we share a passion for making things in America.  Our fabrics are woven in North Carolina and almost 90% of our furniture is hand made in North Carolina as well.  We knew this collaboration could be something special!

At the Spring 2011 Market, additional neutral colorways were added to some of the original patterns and two new patterns were introduced named Ponti and Library. At the Spring 2011 Market, Hickory Chair launched its 100th anniversary with the 1911 Collection.  Shown in the foreground below is a new color of Pom Pom from the April 2011 Market which is a very soft green.  Shown above is Pom Pom in a dark blue-brown colorway from the original October 2010 launch.

This brings us to the Fall 2011 Market where we celebrated our centennial!  Our showroom was alive with vibrant color thanks to Hable Construction and our Creative Director/VP Ron Fiore! You have to be happy with 100 years of successfully making fine custom furniture in America! So, this season we added vibrant shades of fushia, tomato, terra cotta, sapphire, lapis and other amazing shades of blue, pink and oranges in addition to snow and black. One new pattern was added named Snakes is available in a neutral Wheat color and darker brown-black color named Bark.  Shown below is a Silhouettes custom made sofa shown in Library in the new Fushia colorway.  Susan was invited to create a display of our furniture with her fabrics that illustrates her unafraid design aesthetic.  A special Susan Hable touch is the cream paper wrapped books that she hand painted to add a fresh, decorative look to the room.  So Susan!

Library pattern in fushia is complemented by the new fushia tweed pattern, the luxurious velvet and leather.  The rug was custom made for Susan and was inspired by the Ponti fabric pattern.

Susan's hand painting brought these book spines to life!

Are you a lover of vibrant colors?

Or do you love neutrals?

Either way Hickory Chair and Hable Construction have you 'covered'!

1911 Collection - The Centennial Collection by Hickory Chair

Turning 100 years old this year is very special for all the employees of Hickory Chair.  We want to say thank you to everyone who has chosen Hickory Chair pieces for their homes these past 100 years.  We enjoy receiving emails with pictures of family heirlooms and special finds at antique stores that so many of you have shared with us. 

This week we have introduced a very special new collection at the Spring International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, North Carolina.  To create the 1911 Collection, a group of us perused our earliest catalogs.  As we reminiscedabout the products in these vintage catalogs beginning in the 1930's, we realized how beautiful and timeless many of the forms were.  We selected distinctive timeless pieces that we felt could be updated for today.  The result is a grouping of pieces that are respectful of their heritage but are decidedly modern! 

Normally you have to wait up to six months after market to see new pieces in stores, catalogs or web sites.  Not with Hickory Chair!  Our craftsmen in Hickory, North Carolina have already made pieces that have been ordered at market and are shipping them to the stores that ordered them!  Therefore, we have already posted the 1911 collection to our web site.   With over 87% of our entire product line made in Hickory by our talented craftsmen can offer custom finishes, sizes and other options that will allow you to personalize pieces for your home and made for you in just a couple weeks from order!

We Did It!

 
  As a first chapter in celebrating our 100th year in 2011, Hickory Chair opened a brand new showroom in High Point, North Carolina!  This new showroom, located at 330 N. Hamilton, is open during furniture markets and by appointment the rest of the year. 

Located street level, we have easy access during market.  We have banks of floor to ceiling windows on several sides of the building which gives all of us the gift of natural light.  This has already proven to be extremely helpful during market as designers and buyers worked with our fabrics and finishes.

 
 
We debuted the second collection by Suzanne Kasler during the market.  Known as The Studio Collection, this new collection complements the original collection beautifully! Shown is the new Simone king size bed with its beautifully upholstered headboard, side rails and footboard.  It is available in twin, queen and California king as well.  To add further personalization, Simone is available without upholstery!  Below it is shown in the twin size in our new finish, Weathered Stone.

As a first for Hickory Chair, the first ever licensed fabric collection was introduced with Hable Construction! Sisters Susan (left) and Kate (right) formed the textile company eleven years ago with a vision and a mission.  They named their company for their great-grandfather's Texas road construction company.  In the years since they have created one of a kind fabrics all from Susan's hand painted designs.  Their fabrics are woven and printed in America.  Their entreprenaurial spirit complements the talented craftsmen at Hickory Chair who carefully make one of a kind pieces to order.  The collaboration of these companies have resulted in fresh, graphic fabrics to the classic pieces made by Hickory Chair.  Swatches are in production now for stores and trade showrooms around the country.  Pictured is the Geranium pattern being hand painted and then a grouping of graphite toned Hable -  Hickory Chair fabrics.   

 Don't these Louis XVI chairs look inspired in their graphite colored Hable Construction fabrics?  For more information contact press@hickorychair.com!

 

We're Under Construction!

 For those of you who come to High Point, North Carolina to the International Home Furnishings Market, we invite you to join us as we debut our new Hickory Chair showroom! 

This new showroom located on the first floor of 330 N. Hamilton, will showcase the talent and spirit of our master craftsmen and artisans at Hickory Chair.  Their ability to make one of a kind wood and upholstered pieces to order has differentiated Hickory Chair from a manufacturer of furniture to a workroom where personalized pieces are made to order.   “A thoughtful shopping experience has been created in our new showroom allowing natural light and inspirational settings that will showcase one of a kind pieces made by our talented craftsmen,” says Jay Reardon, President.  He continues “in addition, we have created a design center to allow designers and buyers to create personalized pieces and settings not only during market, but also by appointment throughout the year.” 

Hickory Chair celebrates the success of the “Suzanne Kasler Collection for Hickory Chair” that was introduced at the Spring 2008 market with the launch of her second collection.  The “Studio Collection” by Suzanne Kasler is inspired by classic elements from French, English, African and American influences. Each piece is specially tailored to fit a chic, comfortable and luxurious lifestyle.  Suzanne loves the juxtaposition of decorative forms mixed with clean lined, finely tailored and well proportioned architectural pieces.  Classic details such as dressage inspired hand-carved hoof-feet and French paw-feet add decorative charm while the tapered legs and crisp tailoring of French Moderne influences add a sophisticated element.  These special pieces will be showcased in our new showroom at 330 N. Hamilton.

To help celebrate this exciting time we are also hosting a book signing for Alexa Hampton.  Her first book, The Language of Interior Design, will be released on October 5th at bookstores and online.  This event will be held on Saturday, October 16 from 3 - 5 pm.

To make an appointment to visit our exciting new showroom contact your local Hickory Chair sales representative.  Not sure how to contact the sales representative in your area?  Simply email us at info@hickorychair.com.  We look forward to sharing our new showroom with you soon!

We open our showroom on Friday, October 15th at 8:00 am.  Our showroom will close on Wednesday, October 20th.  

Alexa Hampton - The Language of Interior Design

On October 5, 2010, Alexa Hampton will release her first book, The Language of Interior Design.  Being published by Random House, Alexa will give you a very personal insight into her aesthetic and how it has been used to satisfy her clients wishes.  The Random House press release says, "At an early age, Alexa Hampton learned the language of good design, the vocabulary to speak it, and the elements that define it. As the daughter of interior design legend Mark Hampton, she traveled the world by her father’s side, touring the great architectural landmarks and discovering beauty, training her eye."

The review contines, "Now one of America’s most influential designers herself, Alexa Hampton provides a tour of stunning residences from her own portfolio.  Eighteen classic spaces illustrate in rich detail the elements that govern cultivated design—contrast, proportion, color, and balance. Among the residences are a landmark 1912 McKim, Mead & White restoration on Fifth Avenue in New York City; an eclectic house by the sea layered in textures, patterns, and colors; a contemporary apartment distinguished by simple geometry and clean lines; and Hampton’s own apartment, filled with an exquisite collection of architectural elements."

Additionally, "Hampton also explains how she tailored each space to meet her clients’ needs while retaining a timeless aesthetic, and she provides design expertise on everything from fabric schemes to the particulars of paint. From a French neoclassical tour de force of architec-ture, artwork, and design to a Queen Anne summer cottage furnished to showcase the house’s graceful nineteenth-century dimensions, the spaces here speak the language of design—a language that, under Hampton’s tutelage, anyone can master." 

Hickory Chair will host a book signing at its NEW showroom located at 330 N. Hamilton in High Point, North Carolina on Saturday, October 16th from 3-5 p.m. during the Fall Furniture Market in High Point, North Carolina.  Her furniture collection will showcased along with Hickory Chair's other offerings including the new Suzanne Kasler Studio Collection that is being introduced at the fall market.  Alexa is scheduled for other book signings beginning on September 24th in Omaha, Nebraska.  Other cities with scheduled events include High Point (NC), New York City (NY), Denver and Lone Tree (CO).  This beautiful 256 page book is surely to become a inspirational guide to luxurious design.

In 2005, Hickory Chair introduced the Alexa Hampton Collection and has continued to introduce new groupings regularly since.  Her collection spans classic English Regency, French Moderne to Napolean III pieces each interpreted for today's customer and their busy lifestyle. The vast majority of her collection is hand made in Hickory, North Carolina by talented artisans and craftsmen.  Most wood products are available in a wide range of wood and stained finishes along with Customer's Own Hardware^TM. Her upholstered collection features classics pieces such as the Grant Chair with its distinctive crotch mahogany band around the outback and hand carved mahogany posts as well as pieces that are bench made in your choice of width from a chair to a 120-inch sofa.  Classic style and proportion are her signatures.  She has been listed as a top interior designer annually by both Architectural Digest and House Beautiful magaznies.  In addition to her licensed furniture collection by Hickory Chair, she also has licensed collections with Kravet Fabrics, Stark Carpets and Visual Comfort Lighting.  She lives in New York City, serves as the president of Mark Hampton, Inc., is a wife and mother.