Made By Hickory Chair

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!

Making It Mine One At A Time

Every day at Hickory Chair we receive requests to personalize pieces from our vast assortment.  Sometimes a piece is almost perfect... if we could just make a modification or two the piece would be just right for the customer's room.  Some days we make just a few personalized pieces while other days we make close to a dozen.  It is our talented craftsmen that make this possible.  It is their willingness to say yes that makes it possible to create special pieces by request.  Pieces like this American Empire Tall Chest is a great example of the creativity of the designer from Israel's in Grand Rapids, Michigan and the ability of our artisans.  This traditional chest was ordered in a group of custom paint colors - each from Benjamin Moore.  The designer made a sketch with each finish identified.  We made strike off panels for each finish.  With approval from the designer and their client, we made this one of a kind piece to order.

Shay Geyer of IBB Design in Frisco, Texas who is known as the "Designer Detective" on the Dallas Morning News and her blog, ordered this custom sectional for her client - a tall professional athlete.  For this gentleman she ordered a M2M (Made to Measure) Silhouettes sectional that included a sofa and a corner sofa.  Both were ordered in custom lengths with wedge feet in a dark finish, extended depth and height, armless, weltless and box edged back pillows.  A combination of leather and flannel suede was used to create a modern luxurious sectional for his home. In addition, Shay asked that we cut the leather into panels, sew and topstitch them to create a sophisticated exterior.  The result is a completely personalized piece we may never make again this way!

A different designer searched to find a headboard for their client. The style that the designer proposed to the client was the right size and style but the customer wished that it was tufted.  The designer contacted their customer service representative with the special construction request.  We were happy to say yes.  The Candler Bed was made in a painted finish, upholstered and tufted in a neutral linen fabric and then was finished with nail head trim. 

We appreciate the opportunity to make one of a kind pieces like we have shared today.  It is because 87% of our enitre product line being made in Hickory,  North Carolina that allows us to personalize pieces to order.  Do you have a wish for a piece?  Give us the chance to make a special piece for you!

Why Settle When You Can Have It Made?

How many times have you searched for something and the best that you could find was not just right.  I think all of us deal with this as we shop for any product.  We either have to settle or keep searching.

When shopping for furniture this is especially true.  Stores do their best to provide a great representation of the products they carry that are appropriate for the homes in their area.  Typically the floor samples are only the tip of the iceberg of products the store represents. 

While walking through our Hickory Chair upholstery workroom recently I saw a piece that was a reminder of what imagination and creativity is all about.  On our web site and in our catalog is this picture of theLowell Chair and Ottoman.  It is upholstered in a beautiful brown leather.  It has a very traditional feel. 

 The Lowell Chair that I saw in our workroom stopped us in our tracks!  The designer had found a blue and white striped fabric and requested that we upholster it horizontally on the chair. (It is our standard to upholster stripes vertically.) As you can see, the chair now feels much more modern and fresh than in its traditional leather.  We hope that the family it was made for loves its comfort and how it looks in their home.

This is a very popular piece but we had some ask it it was available without the casters on the front legs.   We were able to make this wish come true by designing the Lowell Chair without casters with a longer turned leg.  We add an antique brass toe cap to dress the leg.  Sometimes we receive requests to leave off the antique brass toe cap. 

Need a companion Lowell Sofa?  The Lowell is available as a 80 1/2" sofa as well!  Of course, you can select the version with the casters or without.  Like the casters but wish they were silver?  We offer the casters in an optional Satin Nickel finish.  The choice is yours to make for what is right for your room.  The best part is that our craftsmen can complete your order in just a couple weeks instead of months like is typical. 

We are happy to make it just the way that is right for your home.  Like we say, why settle when you can have it made?

A Dream Home With Style - Tony Stavish, Chicago, IL

  Tony Stavish, a Chicagoland interior desginer, was chosen to bring his vision of an eco-friendly home office to the 2010 Dream Home at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, Illinois.  This is the latest honor in his 18 year career.  He is the owner of A. W. Stavish Designs.  We learned a bit about Tony from his web site, "Dubbed by House Beautiful Magazine as a rising star of Interior Design, Tony Stavish has, in the last eighteen years, created a unique voice in Chicago's design arena.

In the Fall of 2006, Andrew Martin selected Tony to be amongst the design elite in, "The Andrew Martin Interior Design Review". Additionally, Tony is now prominently featured on the Andrew Martin website.

House Beautiful featured three of his rooms in their 2004 Chicago Showhouse. www.housebeautiful.com, (keyword: 2004 Makeover Showhouse). In addition, Tony's work has appeared on the cover of numerous shelter magazines and, the book "Unmistakably French". ; Most recently, his own home graced the pages of, "Villa Décor", published by Gibbs Smith. His work has also been featured on HGTV's, "Small Spaces Big Style"."

He was chosen as the designer to create the Home Office portion of the Dream Home.  Each designer was challenged to make their room the ultimate in sophistication and comfort while being eco-friendly. Tony turned to various fabric companies whose fabrics were either linen, cotton or made from recycled plastic milk cartons. The Hickory Chair Camp Chair and Ottoman were upholstered in leather.  Their wooden frame was made from certified sustainable American hardwoods.  They were made in Hickory, North Carolina by a team of talented craftsmen and artisans.  The Hickory Chair-Pearson Interior Design Showroom at the Merchandise Mart assisted Tony with this project. Tony was selected to share his inspiration and story on the WGN TV station in Chicago.    

 The Dream Home will be open for the remainder of the year at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. 

Making The Gunnison Chair Mine

A few years ago our product development team at Hickory Chair were inspired by an antique Jean-Michele Frank chair. Jean-Michel Frank (February 28, 1895-1941) was a French interior designer known for minimalist interiors decorated with plain-lined but sumptuous furniture made of luxury materials, such as shagreen, mica, leather, metal and intricate straw marquetry. This inspiration lead them to create the Gunnison Chair.  With its distressed leather seat, back and arms are fitted to its angular metal frame. Exposed stitching and an unfinished leather exterior add to the design's rustic character, while natural variations and markings on both the leather and the frame add one-of-a-kind interest.

Recently several designers have shared photographs of how they have incorporated the Gunnison Chair into their projects. 

Suzanne Kasler was commissioned by Blackberry Farms to design the dining room at The Barn.  She also selected the Marlboro Side Chairs to complement the more casual style of the Gunnison Chairs.

The Elk River Lodge 038 was recently furnished for their members.  The antiqued leather chairs complement the rustic architecture of the room.  The stone fireplace and antler chandelier make the Gunnison Chairs feel right at home.

In reading the online issue of Country Home magazine, we found the Gunnison Chairs as a feature in their "Summertime Designs" story.  In this photograph the dark leather chair's character is in tune with the vintage occasional table in the worn ivory painted finish.

Timeless forms like the Gunnison Chair transcend time and fads.  Do you have a Gunnison Chair story to share?  Email your story and pictures to press@hickorychair.com for a future post on Made by Hickory Chair.

 

My Hickory Chair Home - Noland Interiors, Waynesville, NC

Tucked away in the western tip of North Carolina is the town of Waynesville.  Near the Tennessee border and to the Great Smoky Mountains, this Blue Ridge Mountain town is surrounded by National Parks and getaway homes.  Noland Interiors is a full service interior design firm that we have had the pleasure of getting to know over the past few years.  Kathy Greeley, ASID opened the firm in 1982.  She participated in HCC University last year giving us the opportunity to get to know her on a personal level.

Recently they shared these beautiful pictures with us of an installation they completed.  Emily shared with us that, "In the great room is a Hepburn sofa in a Colefax & Fowler COM with HC Leather Marlborough Lounge chairs.  In the background are the Madigan Bar Stools stools.  Sadly we do not have a photo that showcases my personal favorite Hickory Chair piece, the Mark desk.  It is behind the sofa and hidden from view."

 

 

She continues "In the master bedroom we have the Chelsea bed and nightstands as well as the St. Charles chair and ottoman."

 

 

 

"In the dining room we also used the Flare back Arm & Side chairs in a Schumacher COM.  We feel this project was a great success and enjoyed mixing HC stock fabrics with COM fabrics for a truly custom design."

 

Kathryn begins each room with comfort.  As said on her website, "My desire is to create a timeless and uniquely personal environment in which clients can enjoy their lives. A room should first serve its function, then be comfortable, luxurious and inviting, but never take itself too seriously. The combination of color, pattern, and texture -- the bones of good furniture and architecture, beautiful woods and distinctive art and accessories gives a room its personality and style. It should evolve and grow, as we do." 

 

Do you have a Hickory Chair story to share?  Please email us your story and pictures to press@hickorychair.com.