Made By Hickory Chair

Personalizing For Your Room

Our craftsmen at Hickory Chair want to make personalized pieces to order for you. They do not believe in making you settle for standard when some modifications would make our piece just right for your room.

Our Hickory, North Carolina workroom proudly provides a place where nearly 600 artisans, craftsmen, woodworkers, seamstresses and upholsterers collaborate to make heirloom quality furniture. Almost 100 of this group have joined our family since July 2012! Our sustained surge in orders has allowed us to grow and provide work to many.

We think you will enjoy seeing some of our recent customizations shown below. If you are a designer and are in New York this week and want to learn more we invite you to a special presentation and a CEU on furniture construction on Wednesday, March 20th beginning at 10:00 am. For details and to register, email Scott at sprentiss@hickorychairpearson.com.

Celebrating Gabberts Design Studio & Fine Furniture

Sophia Mirror, Artisan Chest with Overlay, Madigan Benches, Charleston Dining Table

One of the premier high end furniture stores in America is Gabberts Design Studio & Fine Furniture in Edina, Minnesota.  They have other locations in Souix Falls, SD, Fargo, ND and in Souix City, IA.  For decades Hickory Chair's talented artisans and craftsmen have had the honor to make fine furniture for this prestigious store.  Recently the talented team at Gabberts collaborated with Hickory Chair to create a truly inspirational display for the Edina location.

Kent M2M Sofa, Bowman Cocktail Table and Jules Chair

The display is located on the main level of the store in the Design Center area.  A beautiful display was created that illustrates the skill and personalization from our nearly 600 talented artisans and craftsmen in our HIckory, North Carolina workroom. 

Halden Sofa, Davis Drop Leaf Table, Ingold Table, Surry Side Chair

Pieces from many collections were selected to make beautiful displays to show area families how they could add special pieces to their homes.  Hickory Chair's centennial collection, the 1911 Collection, is mixed with licensed collections by four of the most famous American interior designers - Alexa Hampton, Mariette Himes Gomez, Suzanne Kasler and Thomas O'Brien.  In fact, in January 2012, Architectural Digest magazine named them in their listing of the new top 100 interior designers in America! 

Hallings Secretary, Wakeley Sofa, Alexa Ottoman, Alex Tray, Wabi Cocktail Table, Hunt Side Chair, Charles Hassock, Ian Bench

In each of the room scenes shown, a mix of interesting furniture forms were personalized through finish, hardware, fabric, leather and nail head trim from the extensive options at Hickory Chair.  As each piece is made to order, the craftsmen at Hickory Chair encourage you to select from these extensive options to create a very personal piece that suits your taste instead of settling on the standard.  It is this spirit that has allowed Hickory Chair to celebrate its 101st year of making fine furniture this year!

9th Street Sofa, Wabi Cocktail Table, Wakeley Sofa, Alex Ottoman, Alex Tray, Silhouettes Lounge Chair, David Lounge Chair

Many of the talented designers and sales associates at Gabberts are graduates of HCC University.  These individuals have traveled to Hickory, North Carolina to sharpen their skills on how high end custom furniture is made.  They have talked with woodworkers, upholsterers, cutters, finishers, sewers and all sorts of other craftsmen.  They have seen how kiln-dried lumber is transformed into the skeletal frame that is then hand-upholstered to order.  They have spent time in our showroom with an extensive assortment of furniture so that they know how each piece sits, what is behind the doors and most importantly they know it personally.

We hope you will go experience Gabberts Design Studio & Fine Furniture for yourself when you are in the Minneapolis area.  If you are not in the Minneapolis area, please visit our website to locate a dealer near you.  Our team in Hickory would love nothing more than have the honor of making a special piece for your home.

 

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.

Sweet Peas Design - Libertyville, IL

Nothing seems more exciting than receiving an email from a friend.  Recently an email came from our friends at Sweet Peas Design in Libertyville, IL.  The owner, Susan Brunstrum, attended HCC University along with one of her associates.  They shared this very special installation using many Hickory Chair pieces in this email.  We hope that you will be as inspired as we when you read her story and see the creativity in these inspirational roomscenes below!

Interior designer Susan Brunstrum drastically downsized last year from a 7,500-square-foot home to a charming 1927 bungalow located in the coveted Heritage area of Libertyville, an older section of this upscale North suburb of Chicago.

The Craftsman-like home, where she and her two college-age children live, weighs in at a mere 2,000 square feet: intimate, but not cramped. It is located near the all-American downtown and commuter train station, two attractive perks.

With respect for the area’s history, Brunstrum preserved the bones and footprint of this vintage cottage, including the hardwood floors, which she refinished, arched doorways and textured ceilings, but she gave it a contemporary makeover that’s refined  and a little glam. The neutral color palette and uncomplicated design are what she craves after long days working with color and patterns for clients.

She turned to Hickory Chair for furnishings that would help interpret the tailored, sophisticated style she calls “rough luxe.” The firm is an old friend that she often relies on to create custom looks for her clients, but this time it was her turn.

The result is a casually elegant mix of masculine and feminine elements that’s a bit like “GQ Guy Meets Cosmo Girl,” and she found more than 20 pieces from Hickory Chair to make that look work.

Here are the results:

KITCHEN:

It all started in the kitchen. The handsome grey kitchen cabinets and the quartzite countertops inspired the neutral color palette for the whole house. Susan fell for the soothing quality of this men’s suiting hue and its versatility with many other colors. On either side of the Milo Made 2 Measure dining table in the breakfast nook is a pair of Bistro Banquettes in Vacona Downy Gray. The Dara side chairs have a dark walnut finish with antique rub silver striping and elephant colored fabric.

 

DEN:

This is where Susan put some whimsy and a lot of texture to work while creating the illusion of more space. A standard sofa would have consumed most of the room, so she chose two Leigh Low Arm Chaises in espresso,  embellished with a flange welt and butterfly corners, and separated by an Andrew Side Table in Weathered Stone.   The open Sullivan Bookcase Rack lets the eye roam through the shelving to Susan’s signature burlap fabric wall treatment, hand-fringed and applied horizontally, producing long sight lines. Exotic pillows, aqua glass vases and a custom zebra rug complete the picture.

 

DINING ROOM:

Through the kitchen and just past the butler’s pantry is the formal dining room where Susan designed the area rug so the floral motif sits at the corners, skirting the silver leaf, Sutherland Table Pedestal and dark walnut Sloan Table Top. The Bridgewater Chest adds warm, walnut contrast and there’s a clear-cut feminine/masculine contrast in the glass bead Zia Privin chandelier, Barbara Barry narrow glass ront armoires and Christopher Guy chain link mirror.

 

 

LIVING ROOM:

Now that she doesn’t have to worry about peanut-butter hands, Susan dared to dress the living room in elegant ivory. She designed the square-in-square hide rug by Edelman that anchors the space and secured the pair of Curtis Sofas with espresso finish.   The antique ivory Taylor Chests provide extra storage for this cozy cottage while the mirror-backed Lorenzo Cabinet displays hand-picked treasures.  The fireplace is a clever bit of designer detail – Susan had it painted to look like the flagstone she installed on the front walk. A snakeskin parsons table by Edelman, two mohair ottomans made by Nelson Paiz and another Priven chandelier fill out the room.

 

MASTER BEDROOM

Susan tells us this is her refuge. The quaint angles of the ceiling create a quiet niche for a comfy bed made up with an Ann Gish French knot cover. Flanking the leather Christopher Guy headboard is a pair of Lancaster Side Tables in contrasting Rustic Silver and Sable. Kravet fabric covers the ottomans and the Reagan Hayes chair, and for a girlie-girl finish, there’s a McLaughlin acrylic perching chair with long-haired goat seat and Barbara Barry desk. 

 

LOWER LEVEL

This lower level is a “man cave” that women love too.  Who wouldn’t want to stretch out on this flannel, Silhouettes Seating sectional.  Susan designed the Thomas McNeil cabinetry and the pear-green leather ottoman made by Nelson Paiz. The Eliza Chair with large nail heads and flat tape trim provides an extra seat, while the glass Evan Lewis tables collect  iPads, laptops and drinks.

One last note: Even though Susan downsized by 75 percent, she didn’t sacrifice anything in quality of materials or workmanship. Smaller can still be luxurious.

Thank you to Susan for sharing this great story today!  Do you have a story to share?  Send your story and pictures to press@hickorychair.com and we will be in touch!

KOTY - House Beautiful's 2012 Kitchen of the Year

During the week of July 16th, House Beautiful sponsored the KOTY "Kitchen Of The Year" in New York City.  Hickory Chair was honored to be a sponsor for its second consecutive year.  Held on the patio of Rockefeller Center, this amazing kitchen is constructed for a week of special events from interviews by NBC's own Al Roker to cooking demonstrations by some of New York's finest chefs.  Parties and product demonstrations filled the week as well.

Image courtesy of Kravet

Mick de Guilio was this year's KOTY designer. The project included both an indoor and an outdoor kitches.  He created this very inspirational indoor kitchen with great room by combining a fresh palette including white, washed/scrubbed finishes and rich fabrics and leather in gray tones.  Hickory Chair's 5750-07 Madigan Backless Counter Stools were selected to use at the bar.  They were finished in Kohl stain, upholstered in a deep gray leather, 220 Manhattan Pewter, trimmed in NS-03 Chrome nail head trim and an Antique Nickel stretcher guard finished the look.  The Madigan Backless Counter Stool is part of a complete series of dining chairs, bar and counter stools with or without backs and arms. 

In addition to the Madigan Backless Counter Stools, our new 9591-40 17th C. Italian Console was selected in the great room area.  Made from solid Ash wood, Mick selected our Scrubbed Ash finish which opened the grain and allowed for a pumice colored wax to hang up in the grain.  While he selected the standard size, we also make it M2M (Made to Measure) from 26 to 84 inches in length to order, with or without large size nail head trim and in over 70 stain and painted finishes. 

As the KOTY is now over and the plaza has been cleared, these special Hickory Chair pieces can be found at our Hickory Chair showroom located at the New York Design Center at 200 Lexington Avenue, space 102.  Maybe they would be the perfect solution for your home!  Enjoy these additional images from the 2012 House Beautiful Kitchen Of The Year event!

 

Bruce Kading Interiors - Minneapolis, MN

Finding inspirational rooms furnished with hand made pieces from the craftsman of the 100 year old Hickory Chair company seems to be getting simpler every day!  Our friends at Bruce Kading Interior Design shared with us these beautiful rooms. 

Bruce Kading Interior Design is a full service studio specializing in high-end residential and executive office interior design. From a brown stone in Philadelphia to a camp in Montana to upscale beach front property in Florida we pride ourselves in the diversity of our style that allows us to design personalized environments in every region of the country.

Their expertise includes custom interior architectural design and space planning, lighting, cabinetry, furniture and detailing to create the perfect turnkey environment. Coupled with an infinite number of resources, the cornerstone of our business is fine quality design, dialoging with the home owner, architect and builder to create a cohesive, creative design team with impeccable details.

Recently Bruce and several of his design associates, Laura Hartman, Eric Kaufmann and Rob Edman (all shown right with Susan Thayer their Hickory Chair sales representative) participated in our HCC University program where they met our hundreds of artisans and craftsmen.  Rob Edman has opened his own studio, Edmanhill Interior Design.  For 8 years Rob worked with Bruce Kading and was involved in each of the projects displayed below.  With their new found inspiration of the one of a kind pieces that are made in America in our Hickory, North Carolina workroom, they can design for your home that our craftsmen can make we are sure they can create a very special home or office for you.

A Silhouettes leather sectional by Hickory Chair.

Thomas O'Brien King Size Lakehouse Bed by Hickory Chair.

From the James River Collection a 2121-30 Sideboard, 1801-21 Host Chairs and a Baltimore Dining Table Top and Base.

A 1271-55 Townsend Wing Chair from the James River Collection in leather.

A set of 9026-11 Louis XVI Arm Chairs add beauty and comfort to this dining room.

 

Do you have a special story to share?  Contact us at press@hickorychair.com!

House Beautiful's Kitchen Of The Year Featuring Hickory Chair

Hickory Chair is honored to be part of the 2011 House Beautiful Kitchen Of The Year project that began today.  A full kitchen was construction on Rockefeller Plaza for the great chef, Tyler Florence. All week Tyler will be demonstrating special recipes.  Hickory Chair provided a set of six Madigan Counter Stools that sit at the island where Tyler creates his delicious entrees.  This morning Lester Holt of The Today Show interviewed Tyler as he prepared a shrimp boil. 

Lori Yeomans created the kitchen which has been portrayed as an outdoor living room. Her interior design firm is USA Interior Design and is located in San Francisco, California.  The team selected the Madigan Counter Stools for their design and comfort.  They were made in Hickory, North Carolina by a team of talented artisans and craftsmen.  These Madigan Counter Stools are part of a series that includes dining chairs, bar and counter stools and a bench.  For 100 years pieces like these Madigan Counter Stools have been made by hand to order.  Focused on making one of a kind pieces in heirloom quality construction is our passion.  Hand made in America.

For this event the Madigan Counter Stools were finished in our Dark Walnut finish.  A family friendly leather was selected in a rich brown color. Lastly large NL-09 Antique Nickel nail head trim and a matching stretcher guard were applied.  Personalizing pieces to order is our artist's and craftsmen's passion.   In just a few weeks from order we can make and ship one of a kind furniture pieces.  We appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the Kitchen of The Year with House Beautiful.  If you are in New York this week you can stop by and see this beautiful creation!

Roger Bills Interior Design - Ocala, FL

Roger A. Bills is a talented interior designer in Ocala, Florida.  We at Hickory Chair have enjoyed working with him for over 15 years.  Recently he shared some photographs with us of some inspirational rooms he created for a client.

Show left is a picture of the master bedroom.  The rich colors in the rug provided the direction for the color palette.  He selected the rich orange from the rug as a punch of color to accentuate in accessories.  Over the pair of Jasper Dressers from the Mariette Himes Gomez Collection is an Upholstered Dauphine Mirror in a rich orange toned leather.  The Eton M2M Sofa at the foot of the bed is upholstered in a neutral fabric with throw pillows in two-toned silk as well as a print fabric that picks up the orange tones of the rug.  Show right is a portion of the Avon Chair that has been upholstered in an orange silk.  Its standard nail head trim adds interest to the room.  A pair of Charles M2M Hassocks sit in front of the Eton Sofa.  They were upholstered with a solid fabric on the sides and a luxurious print on the top.  The room has great color, form and pattern due to the pieces Roger recommended to his client.

In the dining area, Roger continued his thoughtful use of color.  From the Mark Hampton Collection Roger selected the Adam Arm Chairs.  Our Weathered Linen paint was selected and then a combination of  blue, brown and gold silk fabrics made each chair have its own personality.  These Adam chairs surround the Sutherland Dining Table.  Its top features Light Walnut finish over the Olive Ash Burl top.  The Olive Ash Burl veneers are applied in a sunburst pattern.  The base of the table as well as the Duchamp Sideboard were also finished in Weathered Linen paint.  The top of the sideboard also was finished in Light Walnut stain.  The resulting effect is warm, inviting, luxurious and textural. 

We appreciate the opportunity to become the workroom for talented designers like Roger Bills.  Our artisans and craftsmen in Hickory, North Carolina enjoy making each piece to order personalized for a home.  It makes us feel proud to know that families all over the world gather together with our pieces.  For 100 years we have had the honor and as we celebrate this milestone, we look forward to making pieces hopefully for another 100 years for families. 

Please share your Hickory Chair story with us.  Contact us at press@hickorychair.com . You may also visit our facebook page and learn about our Centennial Design Challenge where your design could win a $10,000 prize!

I Spy Hickory Chair...

A North Carolina design firm, Barbour Spangle Design, was contracted to renovate the Serta Showroom in High Point for the fall 2010 market.  They created a beautiful modern space.  To furnish it, they turned to Hickory Chair for our residential look made with contract construction.  This allowed them to create a warm space that is comfortable and stylish.

A beautiful ivory aniline leather was selected and was paired with our Lancaster finish for each of the pieces.  Twenty-six of the Flair Side Chairs were selected for this dining area along with numerous Made to Measure Bistro Banquettes. These pieces are from the Mariette Himes Gomez Collection.  These comfortable pieces created a haven for the customers and company representatives.

In the showroom itself, three Fifth Avenue Queen Size and two Fifth Avenue King Size Beds were selected to showcase Serta mattresses.  These beds from the Thomas O'Brien Collection were upholstered in the ivory aniline leather with Lancaster finish on the legs. 

The integrity of construction is why so many Hickory Chair pieces become antiques.  It is also why so many pieces can be used in commercial installations.  The standard construction - 5/4" hardwood frames with triple dowels, corner blocks with 4 screws and lag bolts as well as custom engineered 8-way seat construction create timeless quality.  This is why Barbour Spangle Design could trust Hickory Chair for their project. 

 

I spy Hickory Chair... did you see Hickory Chair?  Share your story for an upcoming I Spy feature in 2011!

My Hickory Chair Home - David Fuller, Alyson Jon Interiors, Austin, TX

One of our favorite things at Hickory Chair is to see our pieces in the rooms for which they were ordered.  Recently a long time friend of Hickory Chair, David Fuller, shared some pieces with us that were selected for a beautiful showhome at 302 Bisset Court.  David is part of the team at Alyson Jon Interiors in Austin, Texas.  The beautiful photography is by Merrick Ales Photography. 

We interviewed David and he shared with us that "when our company, Alyson Jon Interiors in Austin, Texas agreed to create a design plan and furnish a parade of home on Lake Travis, I knew exactly what I wanted the home to look and feel like.  Described as Hill Country Contemporary, I wanted to use transitional styles with a modern and glamorous look.  The home is very open with lots of natural light and white walls which I anchored with expresso stains on all the trim, doors and cabinets to add dimension. I defined common living areas by using charcoals, taupes and dusty yellows turning to accent colors in the bedrooms to seperate those spaces. The lighting was chosen for the scale and to sparkle and interest to the high ceilings."

 

In this beautiful library/home office room, David selected several Hickory Chair pieces that were not only the right scale for the room, but also could be personalized for the aesthetic he was creating.  One of the focal points is the Asheworth Campaign Desk from the Suzanne Kasler Collection. Its three drawers provide useful storage.  To the left of the desk is the Andrew Side Table from the Alexa Hampton Collection.  Because of the extensive finish selections offered by the craftsmen of Hickory Chair, David was able to give the room texture and color interest by selecting a black stain, Kohl, for the Andrew Side Table and the Asheworth Campaign Desk in Dark Walnut stain.

In the Living Room, a made to measure Milo Console Table was the perfect solution to the small sofa.  David was able to design the table to the size that he needed.  First he selected a 30" height, 16" depth and 72" length and the top panel to be made from mahogany.  Then he chose to have the table finished in Sable stain with the top mahogany panel painted in our Black Lacquer finish. 

In the bedroom, he found several additional pieces that we were able to make for the room.  A pair of luxurious green velvet Macdonald Lounge Chairs by Alexa Hampton were selected to sit facing the bed as an accent color. David selected the Candler Bed by Suzanne Kasler.  the clean lines of the bed were accentuated by the dark finish and the luxurious beige velvet.  Flanking the bed are a pair of Renata Stands also by Alexa Hampton that were finished in our Sable finish. In the master bath, a Trestle Bench upholstered in leather from the Thomas O'Brien Collection was used to provide the seating needed.  These are a sampling of the many pieces we were able to provide to David for this beautiful showhouse.

Why did he chose Hickory Chair for this beautiful project?  He stated "Having been a  great fan of Hickory Chair since the 1970's and a Hickory Chair dealer, I chose to showcase several pieces in the home from licensed collections for their classic style and livibility.  The finish options from Hickory Chair allow me to create the transitional, clean look I needed as well as feature luxurious fabric and leather applications."

When I mentioned 'long time friend' of Hickory Chair previously, what I meant is that we have had the joy of working with David for many years.  He recently shared with us that in 1971 he worked for a high end design oriented shop in South Bend, Indiana that carried Hickory Chair.  He remembers meeting a young sales representative from Hickory Chair in 1981 that had just graduated from the sales training program at the factory who was based in Michigan.  Now, almost 30 years later, they are both living in Texas.  David is at home at Alyson Jon Interiors and that same sales representative is now traveling Texas and Louisiana with his wife and partner.  They are there assisting him in ordering special pieces that are just right for the client.  As the author of this blog, I had the priviledge to meet David over 20 years ago when he participated in HCC University the first time (he has attended a second time).  It is truly the relationships that we make along the way that make our industry so special.  Thank you David for sharing your story with all of us!