Suzanne Kasler Featured by All The Best by Ronda Carman

What a wonderful surprise it was when I visited All The Best by Ronda Carman this morning! She published a beautiful post today about the amazing designer and now author, Suzanne Kasler!

In Ronda's blog today she reviews Suzanne's new book Inspired Interiors by Rizzoli Publishers. She states that "I adore the way Suzanne layers color and texture into rooms, while keeping neutral backgrounds. The resultis a fresh mix of continental flavor, classic style and comfortable sophistication. Suzanne has a special way of combining art, antiques, contemporary pieces and custom-designed furniture , all adding to the feel of timeless interiors."

Hickory Chair is proud to be hosting a book signing during the upcoming International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, North Carolina on Sunday, October 18th from 3-6 p.m. If you attend the show do not miss this opportunity to purchase this beautiful new book from Suzanne. Not coming to market? Contact Suzanne's office at inspiredinteriors@suzannekasler.com.

CEU Course Available At High Point Market!

Hickory Chair became an ASID Industry Partner in 2009. Across the country different members of our team have become involved in local chapter meetings and events. Recently Hickory Chair submitted a program for review for CEU credit. We are proud to announce that our new course "Tomorrow's Heirlooms: The Construction, Craftsmanship and Customization of High-End Furniture" is now available. It is approved by both ASID and IDCEC! The course is an indepth presentation that details quality furniture's process focused upon the differences between high, medium and lower quality and price points. The course carries a CEU 0.1 value.

Hickory Chair will offer this course on Saturday, October 17th at 8:30 am. It will be held in the Hickory Chair Showroom in High Point, North Carolina. The course is free of charge. NCIDQ requires a $12 registration fee. To register email lholland@hickorychair.com.

J Covington Design Published in ACCENT Magazine!

J. Covington Designs is a design firm with a boutique store located in New Hampshire. Most of the members of their team have come to HCC University to meet our talented employees. They have a great web site and blog. I just discovered that they had been published in the September issue of Accent Magazine! Their client's home is located in Lake Winnipesaukee, New York. The home was built in 1820 and the home owner reached out to J. Covington to help them take this wonderful historic property and create an enviroment for their needs and desires.

As I read their blog post about the published article in Accents Magazine, I began to discover the many pieces of Hickory Chair furniture that J. Covington's designers selected for this family. The Center Hall Table by Mariette Himes Gomez was finished in a soft painted finish and is positioned in the foyer of the home.

Then in the Living Room I noticed the Spool Chair by Mark Hampton and the Badlam Table from the Albert Sack Collection. Made by the craftsmen in the custom workroom in Hickory, North Carolina, they were able to select from one of the 68 finishes to find the right color for the room. A Hickory Chair fabric that is reproduction of a French flour sack was selected for the chair.

The Gothick Bench, a reproduction from the Winterthur Country Estate Collection, was placed in the open gallery that leads from the kitchen. With its distinctive form finished in Weathered Black paint, it is dramatic and inviting.

We congratulate our friends at J. Covington Designs. Our talented craftsmen in Hickory, North Carolina appreciate the many pieces of Hickory Chair furniture that were selected for the beautiful home.

Have you been published? We would love to share your Hickory Chair story too!

It is not a Factory... it is a Workshop!

Every day we have the honor of making one of a kind requests come true at Hickory Chair. Our craftsmen and artists embrace these requests. They are happy to make pieces standard but they love the challenge of making custom pieces. They believe that a factory worker can make standard furniture but it takes a really talented cabinetmaker to make custom furniture. This is one of the reasons so many call Hickory Chair home and have forged careers that span twenty, thirty and even forty years!

A great example of this dedication and skill involved one of our occasional tables. The customer loved the form of the Milo Table (shown left). They were excited that they could pick the height and then we could make it the width and depth that was just right for their room. They chose the veneer species for the top and then the Sable finish. The only drawback was that they really wished the Milo Table was made with a drawer.

The designer knew that they could ask for a special construction and contacted their Customer Service Representative. Within 24 hours of requesting the special construction, we had an answer of yes and a price. The designer was thrilled because they were able to find a table that met the customer's needs without wasting time searching through catalogs or the web. The customer was thrilled because they not only got exactly what they wanted, but it is a one of a kind piece personalized and hand made especially for their home. The cabinetmakers were thrilled because they had the opportunity to please someone and hone new levels of skill.

So, my question is "Why settle for standard when you can have it made special for you?"

A Touch of Elegance

Today I was reading The Peak of Chic's blog that centered around bullion fringe. She showed beautiful examples of its use and then suggested that improperly used it could be horrid. I commented that bullion fringe can really soften the lines not only of the piece but the entire room when used with great taste. For example, this Cloverleaf Ottoman (from Hickory Chair of course) has been dressed with optional bullion fringe. The bullion fringe adds softness to the curvilinear lines of the skirted form.

When this Cloverleaf Ottoman with the fringe is used in a room it takes that additional step to soften the entire room. In this room (featured in the Hickory Chair Showroom in High Point, NC), the curvilinear form balances the linear shapes of the doors, mirror, sofa and pull up chairs. The bullion fringe softens the use of the very dark finishes used on the wood pieces and exposed wood upholstery. The designer has created a very modern feel with the selection of pieces of furniture, their arrangement and the variety of finishes, fabrics, leather and trim.

In this example, also from the Hickory Chair Showroom, the room is soft and elegant with the use of the Weathered French Grey paint on the Left Bank Bed upholstered in linen and the Normandy chest finished in Rustic French Grey paint with the Oxford finished top. In this case, the Cloverleaf Ottoman is a continuation of the softness of the color palette.

The point is that it is the details that make the difference. The designer, Ron Fiore, created both rooms with very different thoughts in mind when he began the process. If you notice, he actually used the same bergere and ottoman in the two rooms. The way they were used was very different. Recently Ron spoke to a group at a recent HCC University and suggested that "When you pick pieces with 'great bones' they always work. Think about a navy blue blazer - you can dress it up or dress it down. You can do almost anything to pieces with great bones with finish, fabric, leather, trim or hardware. You can use them over and over and they always look great."

Getting Better With Time...

This week a lady contacted me through our blog. She has in her home a set of our Chippendale Side Chairs. Her set includes (2) 865-01 Arm Chairs and (4) 865-02 Side Chairs. She would love to add two more side chairs to her set.

When contacting Hickory Chair she learned that we retired this style about 10 years ago. I offered to share her story with you! If you have or know of a set of these beautiful mahogany vintage side chairs, please contact me. I have great hope that we can help her finish out her set!

Why am I so confident? If you go to Craig's List or Ebay and type in Hickory Chair you would be amazed with how many pieces are available for sale. The quality of craftsmanship allow the pieces to live several lives... I have a piece my Grandmother purchased in the late 1930's from Hickory Chair as well as a full size bed. I am proud of my heirloom Hickory Chair pieces. I am confident that the pieces I have purchased from the company will be able to furnish my grandchildren's homes someday too!

Do you have a story to share? We would love to hear it!

Mary Evelyn McKee Featured on Nest Egg Blog!

Mary Evelyn McKee is a talented designer based in Birmingham, Alabama. She opened a small boutique in 2007 simply named Mary Evelyn. We at Hickory Chair are very proud to be honored as a workroom that she trusts to make personalized pieces for her clients.

Mary Evelyn has been published in blogs and magazines such as Traditional Home, Southern Accents and Design with her beautiful interiors. In fact she was featured in the last print issue of Southern Accents (thankfully they will continue their online version!). Her web site shares her design philosophy:

"I seek to portray a sense of place reflecting harmony, balance and beauty" - Mary Evelyn McKee

Recently she was featured on Nest Egg by Rachel Halvorson with excerpts from the Southern Accents article where she was interviewed. In the article she reviewed pictures of interiors and asked her opinion of LOVE IT and LEAVE IT. Obviously the Love It interiors worked. In Leave It she expressed the opposite approach that she would not have advised. Rachel being a former employee and author of the Nest Egg blog, shares a wonderful insight into Mary Evelyn's aesthetic. For the full story, visit Nest Egg!

What is your story? email us at lholland@hickorychair.com for more information!