Made By Hickory Chair

Happy New Year From Hickory Chair!

There is no better way to start the New Year than to say Thank You to everyone who turned to Hickory Chair for made to order wood and upholstered furniture.  You kept all of us very busy all year long making one-of-a-kind pieces.  You challenged us with custom special construction requests that helped our talented team hone their skills.  You are to thank for a brisk start to the New Year with a workroom full of requests for our nearly 600 artisans and craftsmen.  This New Year marks 105 years of making Hickory Chair heirlooms! 

We thank the designers and sales associates that traveled to Hickory, North Carolina to participate in our Hickory University training program in 2015.  We have a busy year planned with events planned for March 7-9 and also in May, June, August, September and November.  This engaging experience awards .6 CEU credits as well! If you are interested in learning more about our upcoming events send us an email at [email protected].  We love getting to know talented individuals during the event and following their achievements upon their return home.  We thought you would enjoy seeing some beautiful rooms from a home that Nina Nash and Don Easterling, Hickory University graduates from Mathews Furniture in Atlanta, Georgia, designed and shared with us in 2015. 

 

 

 

 

Featured is a pair of Avondale Chairs from the Hartwood collection.

A set of three Marit Counter Stools from the Atelier collection are showcased at the bar of this amazing kitchen.

This beautiful bedroom features a pair of Candler Twin Beds, an East Paces Side Table, Alexandra Chair and an Anastasia Bench from the Suzanne Kasler collection.

A hand-tufted Kent Made To Measure Love Seat from the centennial 1911 collection and a pair of Samuel Wing Chairs from the Winterthur Country Estate collection are featured in the living room.

A pair of Jules Lounge Chairs from the Atelier collection, a Blackstone Arm Chair from the Hartwood collection and a Small Auburn Ottoman from the Suzanne Kasler collection adorn the study. 

We appreciate Nina and Don sharing these inspirational pictures of their client's home.  We love featuring our Hickory University alumni in our blog.  We invite you to submit your pictures to us for our social media efforts.  Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Houzz.  We will follow you back!  

 

 

Thinking About Summer in January

Much of the east coast of America is digging out from a blizzard named Jonas that literally affected 1 in every 4 Americans over the past three days.  With bitter cold, strong winds and a mix of snow, ice, sleet and freezing rain, our factory and offices were closed to keep our artisans and craftsmen safe with their families. 

This wintery experience made this writer daydream about summer.  One of our Hickory University graduates, Margaret Donaldson, ASID and owner of Margaret Donaldson Interiors of Charleston, SC. shared some pictures of a clients home in Sullivan's Island, SC. Margaret was challenged to gut and renovate a dated home.  She shared with us pictures from the installation.  The artwork and accessories where not in place but I trust you will be able to appreciate the modern aesthetic our craftsmen were able to help create with the upholstery that was made to order for Margaret and her client.  

The living and dining room are open to one another. Conversation and television viewing were important to the client. The tile wall was recessed and accommodates a large television and a linear fireplace.

From the seating area one can see the dining room.  The dining table was made by a local craftsman and was matched with a set of Carrie Dining Chairs from the Mariette Himes Gomez Collection by Hickory Chair.  

Facing the seating area is a custom Silhouettes Sectional and a Serge M2M (Made to Measure) Cocktail Ottoman made by the craftsmen at Hickory Chair as well.  

In the kitchen Margaret chose a set of Newbury Swivel Bar Stools from the centennial 1911 Collection. 

In the bedroom a Carved Chest with Overlay made in American Ash and finished in Weathered Stone paint from the 1911 Collection became the focal point in this sitting area. 

A Cline Chair and Ottoman also from the 1911 Collection makes a comfortable destination in the bedroom.  

We appreciate Margaret and her talented team of designers entrusting our craftsmen in our Hickory, North Carolina workroom to make these beautiful items for her client.  We hope that her client has already made many wonder memories with family and friends in this beautifully updated home.  WIth Hickory Chair our pieces are Made to Order - Made to Last and Made for You.

Made - The Past Tense of Making

Have you ever wondered about the word MADE and why it so perfectly reflects custom furniture?   The Miriam-Webster online dictionary defines Made as:

—used to say that someone has the right qualities to be or to do something

—used to say that something has the right qualities for or to do something

: built, formed, or shaped in a specified way

: assured of success

For 104 years the artisans and craftsmen who choose to practice their vocation of furniture-making at Hickory Chair not only enjoy practicing highly skilled tasks such as applying inlay, carving, sewing, tailoring, sewing, cutting fabrics, building finishes but also practice continuous improvement efforts.  We focus on those things that add value and work diligently to remove those things that do not add value to our products.  We celebrate making one of a kind pieces to order instead of manufacturing large batches of single items. Made not manufactured is our mantra.

Remember Lucy and Ethel at the candy factory? They could not keep up with the speed of the candy.  They had to ignore the quality of the candy to just handle the amount of candy coming down the conveyor belt.  At Hickory Chair we have no conveyor belts.  Take the time that you need to make it right the first time.  We encourage our craftsmen to slow down and make those pleats perfect.  To spend a few extra minutes to perfect the finish.  To pretend that this piece was going to their Mother-In-Law... that has to be perfect after all! 

In a world of hurry up, we want take time to savor the moment whether we are making a M2M made to order sofa in a COM fabric or perhaps a chest in a custom finish with hardware sent to us from the customer.  Making a one of a kind piece to order is fulfilling to our craftsman.  It creates something very personal for the home the designer has been challenged to design for a family.  It is a rewarding experience.  We believe that why should you settle for something manufactured when you could have it made?

Introducing the Hable for Hickory Chair TM Furniture Collection

You may be familiar with Hable Construction - the brainchild of sisters Susan and Katharine Hable. Imaginative textiles, totes, bags, children's sheets and pajamas as well as decorative holiday stockings have all been based on paintings by Susan.  In 2011, Hickory Chair became the first furniture manufacturer to introduce a licensed exclusive textile collection named Hable Construction Fabric collection. This collaboration has seemed natural - an American textile company and an American furniture manufacturer creating luxurious products made to order in North Carolina. In 2013, an exclusive throw pillow collection followed. Rug collections followed in collaboration with Capel Rugs.  This spring Hickory Chair proudly introduced the Hable for Hickory Chair^TM furniture collection. Sister companies LaBarge introduced a mirror collection and Maitland-Smith introduced an accessory collection with Hable as well.

The inaugural launch of the collection was held in New York in support of the annual DIFFA Dining by Design event that was held March 19-23 in conjunction with the Architectural Digest Home Design Show. These events were held at Piers 92 and 94. Hickory Chair was proud to sponsor both events this spring.  

Heritage Home Group was proud to feature the Hickory Chair brand at the 18th annual DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) DINING BY DESIGN (DBD) event. This event, held each year, brings together dedicated sponsors and talented interior designers to create imaginative dining spaces to raise much needed funds to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The Dining By Design event was held from March 19th – 23rd at Pier 92 and was co-located with the Architectural Digest Home Design Show at Pier 94. “We at Heritage Home Group are proud to have featured the Hickory Chair brand at this year’s Dining By Design event. We are very aware of the vitally important need for funds to support HIV/AIDS research,” states Laura Holland, Marketing Director, she continues “We want to do our part to help eradicate HIV/AIDS.”

The Hickory Chair dining environment was anchored by a collaboration between Hickory Chair and Hable Construction. In fact, this special creation for the Dining By Design event marked the inaugural launch of the Hable for Hickory Chair furniture collection that was officially introduced at the April 2015 International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, North Carolina. The Dining by Design table scape featured the “Oliver” dining table surrounded by “Tate” arm chairs with hand-painted sabots and companion “Loretta” side chairs that Susan Hable designed for the collection. “We were excited to début our furniture collection at the DIFFA Dining By Design event in a most unique environment that was an airy - yet intimate – atmosphere. Our space for DIFFA transported you elsewhere. Chic, sophisticated, and calm with architectural elements like refined lines, exposed wood, and custom wallpaper compliment the pale pink upholstery, Ebony finished dining table, and contemporary light fixtures [by David Weeks]. The experience was a retreat from the bustle of contemporary life,” states Susan. "I have so much respect for DIFFA and what they do. As the first reveal of my furniture line, it seemed perfect to exhibit to an audience that is making positive and forward-thinking things happen in the world," states Susan Hable, principal at Hable Construction.

DIFFA acknowledges a contribution from the Heritage Home Group Charitable Trust. The charitable trust makes contributions based on the desired impact on the local, national, and trade communities in which Heritage Home Group employees live and work. Given how profoundly the HIV/AIDS epidemic impacted the design community over the years, Heritage Home Group desires to make a positive impact on a profession that is near and dear to the hearts of its employees – the identification and eradication of the disease. “We want to have a ositive impact on our industry as well as the communities where our employees live and work,” states Roxanne Bernstein, Chief Marketing Officer of Heritage Home Group. She continues, “It is our intention that this is the first of many positive activities we will be able to support in the years to come.”

The collection was officially introduced at the recent International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, North Carolina.  Our artisans and craftsmen are hard at work making the first production of the furniture collection.  The entire Hable  furniture, textile and throw pillow collections are featured on the Hickory Chair website. 

 

Kim Scodro - Chicago, IL

Kim Scodro is an award-winning, Chicago and Arizona-based interior designer who brings to her work a refined sense of style and appreciation for the fun and unexpected.  She is also a graduate of Hickory University.  It was during this event that we  met Kim and began collaborating with her to make special pieces for her clients.  

In reading her About Us page on her website, we learned that "As a wife and mother of two, Kim has experience in creating environments that are warm and relaxed while also exciting and unique.  Her signature interiors are timeless yet current, mixing a classic aesthetic with modern and whimsical accents.  Kim is most passionate about collaborating with her clients to create beautiful, comfortable homes that reflect their distinct styles and interests. Kim’s work has been featured in several local and national publications, including Luxe Interiors + Design, Phoenix Home and Garden, Chicago Home and Garden Magazine, Renovation Style, and CS Magazine.  Luxe Interiors + Design added Kim to their 2014 Gold List.  She was also a featured designer on WGN’s Bring It Home in May 2011 and received the 2010 ASID Excellence in Design Award for space under 3,500 square feet. Kim received her B.A. from Loyola University and is an ASID Allied Member in Illinois and Arizona." 

2015 has been a great year for Kim as well.  She was named a Best of Houzz award winner for Service and is featured in the current issue of Luxe magazine.  The article, A Mediterranean-Style Scottsdale Desert Dwelling, is beautifully written and showcases her talent to create inspirational interiors.  In this story, it is her own home that is showcased.  She shared some pictures with of this beautiful new home.

 Shown in this beautiful living room are the 113-24 Cline Chairs, 9509-24 Jules Chair, 9509-29 Jules Ottoman and 123-89 Kent Sofa by the craftsmen at Hickory Chair in Hickory, North Carolina.

In her kitchen, Kim has chosen the 7613-24 London Side Chairs from the Mariette Himes Gomez Collection.  Hand carved from mahogany, these lattice-backed chairs add architectural detail to the room. 

 

Shown above are the 5039-02 Adam Side Chairs from the Mark Hampton Collection shown with a beautiful COM fabric on the outback of the chairs.

The 1568-70 Tuxedo Chest from the Suzanne Kasler Collection is paired with the 9762-10  Left Bank Bed and 9700-30 Cluny Bench.  The combination of soft blues, grays and linens certainly make a peaceful bedroom retreat! 

To see more inspirational images from Kim's beautiful home, pick up the current issue of Luxe Magazine and enjoy this amazing 14 page spread! 

 

NYDC Be Mine Design Event - Tara Seawright Interiors

This month at the New York Design Center the Be Mine Design event is in full force. What is the Be Mine Design event? To quote from the NYDC.com website, "For the month of February, the New York Design Center’s Access to Design™ designers have curated a collection of products from their most adored New York Design Center resources. Travel the 16 floors to discover what these tastemakers have selected for Be Mine Design and find something to make yours. Pick up a handout in the lobby to navigate Be Mine Design at 200 Lex and visit the Access to Design™ office in Suite 424 for more information on how to work with a designer."

The Access To Design program matches a talented interior designer to individuals who choose to visit the NYDC.  Touring these inspirational showrooms and selecting just the right pieces for your home can be an overwhelming process.  The Access To Design program has proven to be a very successful endeavor.  Each year a group of designers are invited to set up displays working the NYDC showrooms to showcase their talents to the individuals who visit the building.  

Our showroom, Hickory Chair-Pearson-Henredon Showroom conveniently located on the first floor of the NYDC, was honored when asked by Tara Seawright to assist her with her beautiful display.  She selected many Hickory Chair pieces for her inspirational display.

 Tara Seawright

Tara chose to feature Hickory Chair's 1612-30 Anastasia Bench from the Suzanne Kasler Collection, 1552-02 Amsterdam Side Chair from the Suzanne Kasler Collection, 5351-02 LeeLee Side Chair from the Alexa Hampton Collection and from our sister brand, the Henredon Barbara Barry Reeded Chest. Click here for a special Pinterest board created to showcase favorite pieces from this year's 28 designer spaces. We hope to be able to share pictures of the beautiful display in a future post!  

Personalizing Wood Furniture Is Easy!

6415-22 Belknap Lounge Chair and 6249-70/71 Imlay Chest with optional wood top

At Hickory Chair our talented artisans and craftsmen are ready to help you create just the perfect piece for your room.  You are not limited to the standard finish.  Because we make nearly 90% of all our wood furniture in Hickory, North Carolina to order, we can personalize pieces through finish, hardware, size and veneer in just a few weeks from order.  We offer Special Construction Requests to create custom pieces from our extensive product assortment.  

Our Customer's Own VeneerTM, Customer's Own HardwareTM, Finish Match Panel, Artist's Studio, Personal Preference Dining Tables, Made To Measure and other personalization programs allow you to transform pieces unlike any other furniture manufacturer.  These features are typically only available from a custom workroom.  This is our sweet spot as a furniture brand.  We wanted to share with you some examples of how a piece is pictured on our website can be transformed.  We even created an online customization tool that will allow you to visualize how a piece would look with optional finishes, hardware, bases and more!

Shown left in optional finish and antique mirror door fronts. Shown right as special construction that was added as a standard style.

Shown standard left. Shown as special construction with bonnet top removed, in optional paint exterior with contrasting paint interior and Customer's Own Hardware.

Show as a single pedestal base in optional Antique Worn White finish with optional Personal Preference Campagne Dining Table Top. Shown right in standard Dark Walnut finish with the Newport Dining Table Top

Shown standard on left. Shown right with optional finish, Customer's Own HardwareTM and Customer's Own VeneerTM leather with nail head trim

  

Shown with optional stone top, wood top, optional finishes, Customer's Own HardwareTM and Customer's Own Veneer

Congratulations Tutto Interiors!

While traveling in the Detroit area in November, I had the pleasure of visiting Tutto Interiors.  I was fortunate that my trip coincided with their 10th Anniversary celebration!  

Tutto Interiors is owned by the talented Cheryl Nestro. Her design studio is located on the second floor of a wonderful historic building in charming Northville on North Center Street.  After a quick flight of stairs you are greeted by photography of her inspirational interiors and awards that she has earned.  

One of Cheryl's passions is the Shades of Pink Foundation.  Her 10th Anniversary event was also a fundraiser for this important foundation whose mission is to help women fighting breast cancer. Their website states "Many women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have extra financial burdens placed on them during treatment and recovery. Common issues are insurance payments, food, transportation, childcare, and other essentials of daily life. Shades of Pink Foundation offers temporary financial assistance during their time in need."  The local Birmingham, Michigan chapter's FACEBOOK page posted the event on their page on November 20th.  

Recently we received some professional photography by Carlson Productions of Cheryl's inspirational interiors that we are honored to share with you!  We were fortunate to meet the client at this Anniversary celebration.  

Shown in this beautiful living room are a pair of Hickory Chair 123-89 Kent Sofas and a custom sized 179-51 Hutton M2M Console Table with hand-painted Greek key motif from our Artist's Studio from our 1911 Collection and a pair of 5422-22 Breck Chairs from our Alexa Hampton Collection. Each of these pieces were made in our Hickory, North Carolina workroom.  We are proud that over 90% of our products are made in this American workroom.

Thank you Cheryl for sharing these beautiful images and for entrusting us to make special pieces for your clients!

Andrea Houck Refashions Sandra Bullock's Childhood Home

On the cover and featured in the pages of the new Late Fall 2014 issue of of the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia issue of Home & Design magazine is a beautiful project by Andrea Houck.  The twist is the client now lives in the childhood home of Sandra Bullock!  We thought you would enjoy Andrea's story:

"I am a Washington, DC, area interior designer Andrea Houck, President of A. Houck Designs,  and have specified Hickory Chair furniture for countless projects throughout the years. One such project is featured on the COVER and the 8 page feature, in the current issue of Home & Design, the DC area’s premiere shelter magazine. (please see images below of the project and a link to the feature article)

Hollywood actress Sandra Bullock grew up in the featured home in Arlington, Virginia. The current owners bought it from her father and tasked my firm, A. Houck Designs, with updating the interiors. We started by creating space plans to improve the general flow and address the home’s boxy rooms.

The narrow living room, for one, didn’t flow well with its existing arrangement of a sofa and two chairs. We eschewed that paradigm, moving the old sofa to the master bedroom and opting instead for a nontraditional, but more conversation-friendly arrangement of four armchairs.  Combining  beauty and comfort, the Curtis Chair from the Alexa Hampton Collection by Hickory Chair was the perfect choice  for our new plan. The living room is visible from both the foyer and the kitchen, so it has to look good from all angles, and the set of four Hickory Chair Curtis Chairs ensures that it does.  (see photos below) 

I owe much of this project’s success to Hickory Chair’s comprehensive furniture line, where I’m sure to find the perfect piece for any space", adds Houck.

Check out the full story on how A. Houck Designs transformed Sandra Bullock’s childhood home, using Hickory Chair furniture.

Celebrating American Craftsmanship

Adler Lounge Chair, Sabine Dresser & Stella Mirror

Hickory Chair was closed today to allow its nearly 650 artisans and craftsmen a day to enjoy Labor Day with friends and family.  We all look forward to Labor Day each year but have you ever thought about its roots?

 

In 1882 the secretary of the CLU (Central Labor Union) in New York city proposed that a holiday be created to honor the hard work of the members of the union.  The first state to implement Labor Day was Oregon in 1884. By 1897 thirty states had recognized the holiday. In 1897, Labor Day became a national holiday. 

In the years since, the holiday has been celebrated with parades, vacations and picnics as we all say goodbye to summer.  Today, Labor Day weekend has become a shopping holiday as well.  Spending results in restocking of shelves.  Restocking of shelves means orders to factories.  Orders to factories mean full time work for craftsmen.  Full time work for factories filled with craftsmen lead to growth to our economy.  Perhaps Labor Day has become more than a holiday for individuals but also a method to grow our country. 

Godrey Lounge Chair in exclusive Hable Construction fabric and Hackney Bar Cart

 

We are thankful for the talented individuals that call our Hickory facility home.  We are honored that generations of families have mastered their skills in our workroom.  We work very hard to ensure that we have an environment that is respectful, safe, clean, environmentally responsible and positive.  We work together to perfect the product and process of making one-of-a-kind wood and upholstered furniture pieces for families across the world. 

We at Hickory Chair are thankful to each one of you who has entrusted us to make special pieces. We hope to make something special for you in the coming year!

Happy Labor Day everyone from all of us at Hickory Chair. 

ASID Showhouse - Minneapolis, MN

Rob Edman of EdmanHill Interior Design in Minneapolis, Minnesota share with us pictures of  a room that was recently completed.  It is part of the 2014 ASID showcase home in Golden Valley  which is a suburb right outside of Minneapolis. Rob Edman of Edmanhill Interior Design, Lisa Ball of Design By Lisa,  And Laura Engen of Laura Engen Interior Design all worked together on this space for the showcase home tour.

He shared with us "The space we designed was the library of this amazing 1939 North Tyrol Hills home.   The Olson family wanted an evening lounge space for watching TV or enjoying late night cocktails with guests by the fire.  The home owners also requested a sofa large enough for her husband to occasionally take naps on. They had some sort of Chesterfield on the brain."

Instantly Rob thought back to the Chesterfield inspired Kent Sofa.  He continues "When I was at Hickory Chair University in fall of 2010,  we got a sneak peek prior to market and I instantly fell in love with this very masculine Chesterfield inspired sofa.  It was the perfect selection for this project,  not to mention the fact that it is part of the custom length program…so we were able to make it to the exact specifications for afternoon naps."

"The space has its original chestnut paneled walls and wood flooring.  We really had to bring in color and texture in other ways.  The sofa in one of Hickory Chair’s amazing velvets added a huge punch of color.  The red and acid green were accent colors.  We had a blast mixing bold and classic patterns.  We added red Maya Romanoff wallpaper to the back of the bookcases to add a pop of color.  The ceiling had an existing grass cloth wallpaper that was in great shape,  just horribly faded.  We had our decorative painter add a metallic sheen along with texture.  It reflects light and turned out perfectly." shares Rob.

We are quite honored to have been able to make this Kent M2M Chesterfield Sofa for this project.  Our Hickory workroom occupies 600,000 square feet and is filled with over 500 talented artisans and craftsmen.  In fact, we have openings for over 40 artisans and craftsmen!  We also have openings for sales representatives to help us share the amazing pieces our craftsmen can make.  Interested in a career?  Visit our corporate careers site today!

The photographer of the space was Troy Thies.