Made By Hickory Chair

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!

Making "It" For You

Finding "it" - the right thing for your room can be a daunting task.  Sometimes the piece you find is perfect except it is the wrong finish.  Maybe the hardware is not your style.  Maybe if it was a few inches shorter, taller or longer it would have been perfect.  

We listen at Hickory Chair.  It is the passion of our nearly 500 telented artisans and craftsmen to help you personalize our pieces so that they are just right for your home.  It is our 100 year old workroom in Hickory, North Carolina where we make one of a kind pieces to order.  It is the generations skill passed from the master craftsman to apprentice for these 100 years married to lean thinking and environmental stewardship that has allowed us to remain a relevant, valued partner to the designer and collector of quality American made pieces.  It is this passion that has allowed us to trim waste from the process while focusing on fine details of tailoring and finish.  It has allowed us to make one piece at a time from beginning to end in just a few weeks from order the way you want it. 

Shown in our ad featured in the July issue of Architectural Digest, Traditional Home and House Beautiful along with the July/August issue of Veranda, is the new Elliott Wing Chair and Artisan Curved Front Chest with Overlay from our 1911 Collection in the foreground along with the Sophia Mirror by Thomas O'Brien where another version of the chair and chest are reflected.  Because almost 90% of our pieces are made by hand to order that we can offer this kind of personalization.  These pieces tease you with our ability to transform almost every piece we offer for you for your room.  A classic piece can become transitional with the change of finish and hardware or the look of a cherished antique with an aged finish and antiqued hardware.  Want to create your own version of the Artisan Curved Front Chest? Want to upholster your own version of the Elliott Wing Chair?  By clicking on their names you can become the upholsterer or finisher of these pieces.  You can try different hardware on the chest along with finish choices, a combination of two finishes and then hand striping to create your own creation.  

If you enjoyed this, we invite you to enter our first ever Centennial Design Challenge that begins this Wednesday.  Have you have designed that you wish could be made for your home or client?  Are you a student wishing that someone could make your piece?  Beginning this Wednesday you can become the furniture designer and enter our contest.  Join us as a Hickory Chair Furniture facebook friend.  Check back on Wednesday to www.hickorychair.com or www.facebook.com/hickorychairfurniture for all the details.  Maybe you'll win the grand prize!

Remembering Albert Sack

It was a real honor to befriend Albert Sack. Like many of the magnificent pieces of furniture he found, appraised, bought and sold over the last seven decades, the late Albert Sack himself is an icon of the American antiques business. Known for his integrity, sagely advice, friendly demeanor and expert eye, he was actively involved in the American decorative arts community - and was still routinely consulted by anyone needing the advice or assistance of a top authority in American antiques until his passing in May 2011. His book, Fine Points of Furniture, is in its 24th printing and continues to be the trusted source for understanding the nuances between good, better and best American antiques.Sack's collaboration with Hickory Chair to design and produce a collection of versatile, Federal-style introductions that translate our nation's proud heritage of perfectly proportioned and passionately crafted furniture for modern interiors was our shared mission.  It is our honor to make these timeless pieces in memory of our friend and mentor.

We have many fond memories of his visits to our Hickory workroom.  He enjoyed speaking with our craftsmen and sales representatives.  He shared great enthusiasm for the fine lines, perfect proportion and scale of each piece.  He taught us to see how delicate refinements to carvings and the tapering of legs enhanced the fine lines of form.  We learned to see 'fat ankles' and 'fat knees' of Queen Anne and Ball and Claw legs.  His knowledge and sagely advice will be missed by his Hickory Chair family as well as the antiques world. 

We plan to honor his legacy by introducing pieces to his collection this fall as we celebrate our 100th year making fine furniture.  We enjoyed meeting with Albert in his home and selecting from his 10,000 piece archive classic Federal-style pieces to add to his collection.  Today we will share some of these very special Albert Sack pieces with you.

 

4601-84 Baltimore Sofa by Albert Sack shown with the 2580-10 Bristol Cocktail Table and 6482-70 Lancaster Side Tables.

 
4652-10 Boston Arm Chair by Albert Sack shown with the 5493-70 Mark Desk and the 4087-71 Carved Chest.

 
4653-02 Cabriole Side Chair by Albert Sack shown with the 2442/2443-70 Graham Dining Table, 316-23 Avon Side Chairs, the 6407-82 Brandywine Sofa and the 2138/2139-10 Evan Cabinet.

Thank you Albert.  We know that as long as you are remembered you will continue to be with us.