Monday, March 30, 2009

Low Profile Swivels - Another Wish Has Come True!


At HCC University we enjoy the 'I Wish' sessions. The spring 2009 market in High Point will make more wishes come true than any other furniture market than we can ever remember! The first wish that came true is 'I wish you had modern swivel chairs' or 'I wish you had low profile swivel chairs'.
We have engineered a new mechanism that will allow us to keep our custom engineered seating featuring 8-way hand tied springs on chairs that have previously had exposed legs. These amazingly comfortable chairs are already available to order for immediate shipment! Your Hickory Chair sales representative and customer service representative can give you the simple up-charge to apply for this amazing new swivel option for these favorite Hickory Chair chairs!

Thursday, March 26, 2009

March 23-25, 2009 HCC University


We had a wonderful HCC University event this week! Our dynamic group was from many areas of the country including Illinois, South Carolina, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, North Carolina and Alabama. With the diverse backgrounds including a to the trade showroom, boutique stores, interior design firms and a designers from a large chain of stores, we enjoyed sharing ideas, feedback and wishes - some of which we heard for the first time!
We really appreciate everyone taking their time from their family, work and home to spend time with us. We hope that everyone enjoyed the experience and will find providing solutions to their clients easier than ever! We also hope that everyone will stay in touch and continue to share their wishes. This will help us more than you know to keep our line relevant and fresh!
We were able to give a sneak preview to our new April 2009 market introductions! We are making countless wishes come true this market! For example, I wish you had low profile swivels. Imagine the Soho Chair, Rawlings Chair, Peterson Chair, and others as swivel chairs! The best part is that they are available now! Your Hickory Chair sales representative or customer service representative can assist you now!
Mariette Himes Gomez has an extensive new launch of distinctive pieces this market. Mariette's ability to find unqiue forms that transcend both modern and classic interiors have led to the collection's success over the 7 years since its inception in 2002. She has always been attracted by intriguing profiles particularly circular forms. Her inspiration for the April 2009 introduction is best exemplified by her own words "In this new collection I find myself in an international and eclectic frame of mind." She wanted to add a new dimension to the mix with profiles and forms that were missing from the marketplace.
I wish we could change the height or depth. I wish you had a sleeper sofa. I wish that you had sectionals with corner sofas and corner love seats so we could make 2 piece sectionals. I wish you had more fully upholstered scaled exposed wood sofas. I wish you could change the legs. I wish you could change the arms. I wish you had a wide flat arm sofa. These and more wishes will come true with Silhouettes Upholstery. Your Hickory Chair sales representative can give you a more thorough sneak preview to the upholstery program that may transform the way you view upholstery forever!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Green Thoughts


A friend read an article over the weekend in the Charlotte Observer newspaper and thought of Hickory Chair. It wasn’t a green article, but the writer, Allen Norwood, made a green statement by saying "that the greenest thing you can buy is one that lasts forever. It never goes to the landfill or has to be recycled." The article focused upon the fact that buying quality made things saves you money because they last. That makes them 'green'.

It made me think about the amazing craftsmen and artisans at Hickory Chair work tirelessly to create heirloom quality pieces with great respect for how the products are made. They carefully select antique pieces whose form and function have transcended time. They interpret the piece as a reproduction or adaptation to make relevant pieces for modern homes. With careful execution of the design and fine craftsmanship the result is heirloom quality since the company began in 1911. Countless pieces have been passed down from one generation to the next. Every day pieces can be found in antique shops, on eBay or Craigs List.

The ease of finding vintage pieces of Hickory Chair mirrors the author's statement "that the greenest thing you can buy is one that lasts forever. It never goes to the landfill or has to be recycled." I am sure that the craftsmen that have spent their careers at Hickory Chair would be proud to know that their hands work has resulted in heirloom quality pieces treasured today and not discarded in a landfill.

A couple of great listings of vintage Hickory Chair on eBay are linked below! The great thing about vintage Hickory Chair pieces is that with their great proportion, classic form and scale, the can complement the new one of a kind pieces that the craftsmen make today at Hickory Chair.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

I Could Be A Classic!


In the April 2009 issue of Traditional Home magazine is a review of the October 2008 International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, North Carolina. The Keno brothers visited Hickory Chair during market and were taken with the Salem Side Table which was inspired by a Salem, Massachusetts antique from the archives of Albert Sack. The illustrious 73 year career of Albert Sack as an American antique dealer, scholar and author is unrivalled.

The Salem Side Table was inspired by an antique octagonal work table in Albert Sack's archives. Cabinetmakers in Salem, Boston, and Portsmouth used exotic veneers to adorn these sewing and jewelry tables in the Federal period. The fine proportion is accentuated by hand applied inlay on all four sides of each leg, apron, and top. Our modern version has one generous drawer in lieu of the original's two shallow drawers. Oxford is the standard finish. Optional finishes available as well as Customer's Own HardwareTM. As quoted in the Traditional Home article, "...the Keno brothers hunted for fresh-faced classics, the offspring of antiques but reborn with modern finishes, colors and details." The Salem Side Table illustrates their successful hunt!

To learn more about Albert Sack, visit:


To see Albert Sack's collection by Hickory Chair, visit:

To read the article, visit:






Monday, March 9, 2009

Why Settle For Standard?



The perfect piece is a personal preference. In a world of off the shelf furniture, personalized items can be hard to find without turning to a custom work room. At Hickory Chair University you'll discover the amazing craftsmen that make individual pieces to order. For example, the TOB Canopy by Thomas O'Brien is made with the canopy. Another customer thought the bed would look great without the canopy and be more appropriate for their room. The designer contacted the customer service department and within 48 hours approval, the price and availablity were provided.

Why settle when there are craftsmen in Hickory, North Carolina who can help you create a custom one of a kind piece?

Saturday, March 7, 2009

A New Personality for the Taylor Chest

Studio W Interior Design, in Akron, Ohio attended HCC University in November 2008. One of their designers was inspired to personalize the Taylor Chest by Thomas O'Brien.

To complete the special construction they sent a drawing and specified that we:

- Replace the standard Antique Ivory finish with Antique French finish.

- Then they asked that we paint black and silver vertical stripes on the front and sides.

- Lastly they provided their own COHTM pulls.

This Taylor Chest is sidemarked "Showhouse" along with an 84" Made to Measure Farm sofa without arms, a pair of farm wing chairs and a set of Connecticut arm and side chairs in Antique Worn White finish. Hopefully our friends at Studio W Interior Design will share pictures of their showhouse!

Click the link to see more of Studio W Interior Design: http://www.studiowinteriors.com/index.html

Please share your special pieces with us!

Friday, March 6, 2009

One of a Kind Wood Products by Hickory Chair

With Hickory Chair's Customer's Own HardwareTM program you can send your own antique, custom or any hardware to us. We will then make a chest, china cabinet or any wood piece for you and install your hardware to your specifications. This custom made knob was purchased from Marjorie Skouras Design. The web site to view her custom made hardware is: marjorieskourasdesign.com. The Taylor Chest by Thomas O'Brien was ordered in the standard Antique Ivory finish with a set of 6 of these knobs.



Every day designers and sales associates call Hickory Chair with special requests to provide solutions for their clients. Hardware can be changed on almost all of Hickory Chair's wood products because they are made in Hickory, North Carolina. Over 60 finish selections, over 100 in stock hardware options as well as combination finishes or hand striping allow you to personalize pieces to suit the wishes of your clients.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Suzanne Kasler - Traditional Home March 2009


Suzanne Kasler is featured in the March 2009 issue of Traditional Home in a story named "Young at Heart". The mix of antiques and new pieces from her collection at Hickory Chair results in a fresh, liveable place for an active family. The complete story can be found by clicking hte link below!


Monday, March 2, 2009

Suzanne Kasler - In The News!


Yesterday the Atlanta Journal Constitution featured a story about Suzanne's signature motif - the quatrefoil. The article "Ancient Motif: In The Now" speaks to the quatrefoil as a symmetrical Medieval symbol that explored the influence of nature in architecture. Suzanne is quoted, “I’ve always loved its symmetry; it is curved, yet has some strength to it,” the Atlanta-based designer said. “I thought it is such a classic in design and architecture and brings a lot of style and personality to a space.” The article goes on to show great examples of quatrefoils and how they can be used to accentuate great interiors. For the complete article click on the link: ttp://www.ajc.com/business/content/printedition/2009/03/01/quatrefoil0301.html?cxntlid=inform_artr
Suzanne Kasler Collection was launched by Hickory Chair at the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, North Carolina in April 2008. Known for her love of all things French, it has been written that it is a "A collection to inspire". To learn more about the collection, visit:
To learn more about Suzanne Kasler, visit: