Made By Hickory Chair

Pretty In Pink Suzanne Kasler Style

In the March 2011 issue of House Beautiful the Linwood SIde Chair by Suzanne Kasler was featured in their "Fifty Ways To Go Pink" story!  She had asked Hickory Chair to create a match panel finish that was just the right color to pick up the shade of pink in a beautiful print fabric she was using in her room.  The artisans at Hickory Chair were up to the challenge and were able to match the Benjamin Moore 2081-40 Pink Blossom paint color chip she provided.  After Suzanne approved the strike-off panel we were able to assemble, finish and upholster the Linwood Side Chair just the way she envisioned!  She chose a cream linen fabric, 2393-10, RB-51 grossgrain ribbon trim and then NP-08 petite nail head trim spaced every third nail.

House Beautiful has created a contest, a scavenger hunt, that will kick off tomorrow, February 28th and will end on March 4th.  It is an online scavenger hunt that will allow you to enter the contest each time you see "The Power of Pink" logo somewhere on the housebeautiful.com web site this week.  Hickory Chair donated this beautiful Linwood Side Chair in the Pink Blossom paint as shown above to the scavenger hunt!  Maybe you could win this chair for your home!

What have others said about this chair?  Laura Casey wrote about Suzanne's perfectly pink chair in her blog LauraCaseyInteriors.  Shay Geyer wrote about it in her blog, Designer Dectective as well!  Casa Diseno wrote about the '50 ways to go pink recently as well.  Chinosserie Chic wrote about our pink chic chair as well in their post "The Pink Chinese Chippendale Chair".  17 Dove Street included the House Beautiful story and the Linwood Chair.  Thanks everyone for sharing the House Beautiful Pink story and the Linwood Chair! 

Good luck everyone who goes on the scavenger hunt!

 

Dean Farris Interior Design - Naples, FL

In yesterday's post we mentioned one of Dean Farris's favorite places - the Pink House in Zillionsville, Georgia that featured vintage Hickory Chair dining chairs.  Some of our favorite places include Dean Farris's client's homes where he has turned to Hickory Chair for inspiration!

Dean Farris Interior Design is based out of beautiful Naples, Florida.  Dean has been a fan of Hickory Chair for many years and recently sent us some pictures of his work. In this client's sun filled room, Dean chose a white fabrics with a touch of pale blue and pink to keep the room light and airy feeling.  He needed a large wood piece for storage and function, Dean turned to Hickory Chair.  He knew that he could turn to us for a piece personalized for the room with a painted finish. He chose the Toscana Sideboard for its French styling and asked that we paint it Antique Ivory paint.  While the Toscana Sideboard is now retired from Hickory Chair, the timeless style and heirloom quality construction will allow it to become a family keepsake.

In the bedroom, the Left Bank Bed was the perfect solution.  With its upholstered headboard and footboard Dean could select just the right fabric and finish for the client.  Since the bed is made here we can make it to order. 

In the dining room Dean chose the Adam Arm and Side Chairs from the Mark Hampton Collection.  He chose a beautiful graphic print in a damask type pattern in a coral on white and then asked that we finish the chairs in Antique Ivory paint.  The brown stained dining table and other pieces are brightened by the chairs painted in the Antique Ivory finish.  It is this flexibility that make Hickory Chair's workroom in Hickory so different that a factory.  When Dean ordered these pieces for his client we built and finished the pieces for him. 

 
Follow Dean on his blog, DeanFarrisStyle for more inspiration.

A Moment In Time For "The Cross Eyed Owl" Dining Chair

The great thing about classic design is that it is timeless.  The great thing about heirloom quality is that it can withstand use so that it can become an antique or an heirloom.  When you mix classic design with heirloom quality then you really have something special! 

If you have not visited ebay and searched for Hickory Chair you would likely be surprised with how many pieces the search will find.  Granted that there is a hickory bark furniture company that shows up when you type in Hickory Chair too, but on any given day you will find numerous heirlooms that the owner no longer needs but the quality of the pieces will not allow them to throw them away.  One could call this sustainable furniture since it can be repurposed or recycled to another family.
Yesterday a set of Chippendale dining chairs from Hickory Chair were sold on ebay.  The seller, Stenella Antiques, had a set of two 840-01 Chippendale Arm Chairs and eight 840-02 Chippendale Side Chairs that they had acquired from a family.  The set of chairs were in almost mint condition.  Two different requests came into Hickory Chair asking us to verify that they were truly Hickory Chair dining chairs.  Fortunately we were able to confirm that they were indeed our chairs. 

Hickory Chair made these chairs for many decades.  They were introduced in the early 1960's and were made for approximately 30-35 years.  In these years thousands of these mahogany chairs were crafted in the Hickory, North Carolina workroom.  These classic Chippendale chairs were nicknamed "the cross eyed owl back chairs" by fans. 

Recently Dean Farris, a designer from Naples, Florida wrote in his blog, Dean Farris Style about one of his favorite places, The Shackleford House, also known as The Pink House in Zillionville which is near Albany, Georgia. The dining room reminded him of the dining room at the Gasparilla Inn by Sister Parish.  As I surveyed the pictures I realized that our 840-02 Chippendale Side Chairs were used in an ivory painted finish.

Over ten years ago I stayed at the beautiful Roslyn Claremont Hotel in Roslyn, New York.  Upon entering my room I immediately recognized an 840-02 Chippendale Side Chair at the desk.  Today I found on their web site a room scene that showed that these heirloom quality chairs were still being used in the rooms.

Almost every day someone contacts Hickory Chair eager to learn more about Hickory Chair vintage pieces that they have inherited or purchased.  We try to help each person with any history about their piece.  It makes you feel proud to know that the pieces made by talented American craftsmen are still appreciated after the decades since they were made.  One hundred years and counting for Hickory Chair.  We are proud that we have capabilities that allow us to make over 87% of our entire product line in Hickory, North Carolina. 

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

Sharing Faith Sheridan Interiors

Faith Sheridan, a HCC University graduate, is a designer from Seattle, Washington.  She has a design firm and is a blogger. Recently some inspirational pictures of their work were shared with us.  We are very honored that they turned to Hickory Chair and our workroom for pieces to fulfill this challenge!

Their client wished for a very comfortable indoor/outdoor living pavilion.  They were given design challenges to follow:

Primary Design Challenge: The clients purchased a home in 2007 that included an outdoor living pavilion. An entertainment space with numerous French doors opens to a large swimming pool and patio. My client’s vision was a year round indoor/outdoor area for entertaining guests using the pool, patio, grill, bar and living area. The furnishings needed to serve adults and children and withstand the chemicals contained on swim garments after using the pool.

Secondary Design Challenge: The original owner selected mahogany millwork for the 12’ high interior in a British Colonial style using exotic carved details on corbels. The clients wanted to unify the traditional millwork elements with the furnishings and introduce a large flat screen TV for viewing all variety of sporting events. The large focal TV wall required a counter balance to the horseshoe bar area.  A display of trophies from riding competitions was requested.

Goals:

1. Provide multiple seating areas outdoors and indoors for guests to eat and converse; maintain traditional style of furniture with textiles both exotic and practical, with an emphasis on muted colors, such as browns, beiges, and straw. Introduce faux wall finishes to meld the architectural elements and finishes.

2. Balance the bar with the focal TV wall using five photographic images from Seabiscuit to surround the large TV screen and acknowledge a horse riding hobby for mother and daughter; provide scale and Asian influence with an antique altar table and additional accessories.  The 2809-84 Wakely Sofa by Thomas O'Brien and the 48" 5581-10 Wicker Cocktail Table successfully match the style and livability the challenge required.

3. Create a plantation style indoor/outdoor living setting that reflects the allure and romance of British Colonial style and evokes the excitement of that era of exploration.  A pair of 9851-02 Gabrielle Side Chairs provide comfort and great form.

Upstairs in the game room they used a pair of Eva Arm Chairs with a chess table.  They asked us to monogram a M in a dark brown thread color to match the rich finish on the chairs.  Also in that room but not shown is the Center Hall Table.  The designers used additional pieces in the family room as well. 

Hmmm... a great challenge for Faith Sheridan Interior Design.  Don't you think she made great selections for the client?