in Awe in Atlanta!

Our friend, Suzanne Kasler, has been invited to participate in a "Be Inspired" event at the Atlanta Mart. She was invited to put together a room at the Atlanta Mart's upcoming market event. Shown is the 1543-70 Choate Dining Table in Antique Ivory with custom striping to match our Weathered Swedish Gray paint color. Then the table was lacquered over. Also shown is the 1505-24 Nanette Chair with slipcover, 1585-70 Antoinette Side Table, 1515-30 Frederica Bench, 1516-23 Alexandra Side Chair, 1552-02 Amsterdam Side Chair along with a few antiques from Suzanne's personal collection.

Suzanne Kasler's collection by Hickory Chair celebrated its first anniversary at the spring 2009 market. We were able to make a frequent wish come true at this market! The Leigh sectional was originally designed to be armless. Our HCC University alumni have wished that she would design an arm version for customers that prefer arms. Suzanne was happy to honor the request by designing this sleek track arm for not only the chair shown but all of the other pieces that are part of the Leigh sectional group. In addition, we have added many more companion pieces to the grouping so that you now have the flexibility to create just the perfect grouping for your room!

Rested, Relaxed & Ready!

All of us at Hickory Chair are back after a week's long vacation break! We, like so many other manufacturing companies in the Carolinas close for the week of the 4th of July and again at Christmas. We find it is easier for all of us to vacation at one time instead of part of the employees being away any given week.

We appreciate the influx of new orders for our employees to make for your clients. Just this week we have received countless orders for M2M pieces personalized by length, new Silhouettes upholstery orders for personalized pieces with arm, back, height, depth, cushion, back and length decisions made, as well as personalized wood pieces with finish and hardware selections chosen.

Just before the vacation I was walking through our final rub and pack area with some HCC University participants and we saw a 2244-60 Bachelor's Chest in the standard Medium Mahogany and its solid shiny brass hardware. It was ordered standard. I stood transfixed to the spot in amazement with how long it had been since I had seen a piece like this... in its standard finish and hardware! It is a beautiful piece just as it was originally designed but now is available just the way you want it!

I am so very proud of how our employees have learned to build one of a kind pieces to order so that they can make pieces just for you! Keep sending in those requests for one of a kind pieces... we love making them and love learning from you!

Hickory Chair is now an ASID Industry Partner!

Hickory Chair has just received notification that we have been accepted as an Industry Partner of ASID! Each of our sales representatives are now industry partners and will be eager to get to know the members of their local chapters in their territory.

Today I had the great fortune to speak at the Summer Education Series at the Washington, DC Design Center. They are holding monthly educational seminars that will allow designers to earn CEU credits. Our presentation was entitled "Tomorrow's Heirlooms - The Construction, Craftsmanship and Customization of High-End Furniture". We have not received our certification for CEU credits as of yet, but we are confident that the course will be approved and then the participants will earn their credit. Once the course is approved, we will be able to give it periodically for a three year period!

I would like to thank our friends at the Henredon Interior Design Showroom and the design center for their efforts to organize the event. I would like to thank the 60 designers that chose to participate as well!

Boston Bound?

If you are planning a visit to Boston, you should take time to visit the Boston Design Center to visit our friends at Ailanthus, Ltd. Hickory Chair is a proud member of the companies available through Ailanthus, Ltd. a to the trade showroom. They have recently acquired additional showroom space and chose to showcase more of the Hickory Chair assortment to their clientele. All of us here at Hickory Chair appreciate their support of the talented craftsmen who make over 87% of our product line in Hickory, North Carolina.

HCC University graduates, Toni and Marisa, will be happy to give you a tour through their beautiful new space. They held a kick-off party to their clientele. Jay Reardon and thir Hickory Chair rep, Jeff Haase, attended the well attended event. They were able to meet loyal designers who have enjoyed placing Hickory Chair pieces in their client's homes as well as designers that are new to our line. They, along with Toni and Marisa, were able to show the designers new levels of personalization that are now showcased in the display! Never before has Ailanthus had such a diversified assortment of pieces that reflect finish, fabric, hardware and other forms of personalization.

Wonder where the name Ailanthus is derived? A quick wikepedia search turned up this definition: Ailanthus - a member of the deciduous Asian trees of the genus Ailanthus - most noteably the tree-of-heaven. After a visit to this beautiful showroom you might rename it the space-of-heaven!

We have faith in Faith Sheridan!

Our friend and HCC University alumni, Faith Sheridan of Faith Sheridan Interior Design in Seattle, Washington, is a busy lady! I get updates from her blog a couple times a week and just received the Seattle Design Center newsletter where she is a contributing writer! Her feature in the "ByDesign' summer edition is focused on growing your business through social marketing. She is quoted "Unlike commercial marketing, social marketing's primary focus is on the consumer and learning what people want and need instead of trying to persuade them to buy what we happen to be selling." You can find her on LinkedIN, twitter, Facebook, Home Savvi and avaliving in addition to her blog and web site. You can also sign up for her newsletter like I have done to stay abreast of her ideas.

Recently she sent me the picture of one of the installations she completed for a very good client. We appreciate Faith pulling the Hickory Chair binder first! Her client chose:

Jasper Dresser: 7789-10
Robin Mirror: 5499-40
Sara Side Table: 5466-70
Chelsea Headboard: 2057-10
Cocktail Ottoman: 7168-00

I am sure that Thomas O'Brien, Mariette Himes Gomez and Alexa Hampton would be very pleased with how Faith chose these beautiful classic forms to create a one of a kind bedroom for her client.


Please share pictures of your interiors using Hickory Chair. We would love to feature your design work soon!


PS... Hickory Chair will be closed from Friday, July 3rd through Sunday, July 12th for observance of the 4th of July holiday and our vacation shutdown.

Kudos to Stirling Design!

Our friend and HCC University Alumni member, Julianna Stirling, owner of Stirling Design in Fairfield, Connecticut, shared with us a picture of a client's poolhouse!

Julianna chose our Camp Chair and Ottoman, introduced at the October 2008 market, know for its distinctive form and surprizing comfort.

This great Campaign style chair is made here at Hickory Chair. Our craftsmen turn the ash wood to create the faux bamboo look. Each leg, arm stump and back post are capped with a custom solid brass turning inspired by the original folding chair that inspired it. Looking for a really comfortable lounge chair that is not huge? The Camp Chair could be the perfect solution!

Please share with us pictures of how you have used Hickory Chair pieces for your clients. We would love to share them with other HCC University Alumni!

re-de-sign by Cathy Whitlock

Today a large padded envelope arrived in my mailbox! Enclosed was an autographed copy of re-de-sign by Cathy Whitlock. She has written a text book for university interior design programs. We are very honored to be included in this beautifully written new book!

Fairfield Books, the publisher, describes it as "This book is a clear and concise survey of the field of interior design, providing a look at the newly expanded role of the interior designer and offering an array of career alternatives from the tried-and-true areas of residential and contract design to specialty design. Whether branching into areas as traditional as product and furniture design to the new trends of lifestyle branding and internet merchandising, Whitlock covers the full array of challenging and diverse career choices for those considering a career in design as well as the established designer who wants to take their professional practice to new heights."

Hickory Chair and its associates is very honored to be included throughout the book. Profiles of Alexa Hampton, Mark Hampton and our own Cathy Mitchell are included as well as quotes from Jay Reardon. Hickory Chair room scene and silhouette imagery was selected to illustrate the book from cover to cover!

The book is available through Amazon now. For a sample chapter review is available from Fairchild Books. Enjoy!