Why Wait When You Can Have It Now?

As we prepare for our big trade show, the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, North Carolina, it always lights a fire of enthusiasm for what our collaboration can achieve. The show is the largest home furnishings show in the world and attracts designers, furniture stores, department stores, boutique stores and to the trade showroom professionals to see the latest fabrics, finishes, leather and furniture pieces. These buyers must be overwhelmed with the thousands of new things being introduced during the show.

While the show is open only to the industry and not to the public, it is the result of a successful market experience that will be seen in the coming weeks and months after market. These professional buyers select carefully the pieces from their favorite manufacturers that are appropriate for their area. Most manufactuers require 4-5 months to produce the pieces and ship them out to the stores. Our employees knew this was frustrating for buyers who wished they could immediately enjoy these fresh fabrics, leather and furniture pieces. They wanted to update their displays now.

Our employees examined the process and have created a process where we can ship new upholstered pieces in just 2 weeks from market. We can ship new wood introductions in just 4 weeks from market. By Thanksgiving, most of the new pieces from market have been received by these buyers allowing them to update their displays for the holiday season and not have to wait until Spring!

Plan to visit your local Hickory Chair dealer later this fall and see the amazing new pieces by Alexa Hampton hand made by the craftsmen in Hickory, North Carolina. Let us make a one-of-a-kind piece for you!

Dining Chairs Trimmed With Tape

Recently I have noticed dining chairs coming through our workroom with decorative tape trims. In each of the cases featured today, the designer contacted Hickory Chair with a drawing of how they would like these uphostered dining chairs made custom for their clients. Each of these chairs are distinctive and are hand made for the designer and their client. Our skilled employees enjoy the creativity of how pieces have been ordered and look foward to making one of a kind pieces like these! Don't be afraid to ask for something special. It is what we do best at Hickory Chair!


Suzanne Kasler's Amsterdam Side Chair is shown in Antique Ivory with natural linen with a pink groisgrain ribbon with NP-08 petite nail trim spaced every third nail in lieu of welt trim.






Albert Sack's Cabriole Side Chair is shown in Cappiccino finish with COM fabric and trim spaced approximately 12 inches apart across the seat, inside and outside back.




The Marlboro Side Chair from the Winterthur Country Estate Collection is shown in English Antique finish with red COM fabric and trim centered down the seat, inback and outback and then nailed in NS-05 natural nails.


What can we make for you today?

Mariette Himes Gomez

Mariette Himes Gomez is one of the industry's most respected designers. We at Hickory Chair have had the great honor of working with her since the launch of her colleciton in 2002. The Mariette Himes Gomez Collection is a wonderful assemblage of pieces inspired by her travels and antique shopping all over the world. A large introduction was launched at the Spring 2009 market and the pieces are in stores now.

She will be the speaker at the International Home Furnishings Center on Sunday, October 18th at noon. She will be speaking on Design Today outlining the foundation of her great design - the influence of architectural character of a space along with scale and proportion. The presentation will be held at the IHFC, 11th Floor, Green Wing in Ballroom B. For more information contact Holly Allred hallred@ihfc.com.

To see her collection in person, visit the Hickory Chair Showroom at IHFC, Space CG800.

Book Signing! Re-De-Sign by Cathy Whitlock

October is here and for those of us in the home furnishings industry that can only mean one thiing... the International Home Furnishings Market is coming quickly! We have many exciting events planned. For example, we have posted just within the past week three events. First a CEU Credit course being taught at the Hickory Chair Showroom on Saturday, October 17th at 8:30 am. On Sunday, October 18th from 3-6 pm we will hold a book signing by Suzanne Kasler for her first book, Inspired Interiors.

On Tuesday, October 20th from 3-6 pm we will be holding a book signing for Cathy Whitlock (pictured above) and her new book re-de-sign - New Directions for your Interior Design Career. Cathy's new book chronicles the many directions an interior designer can take in their career from a residential designer to a commercial designer; from an educator to a furniture designer; to store display designer to a designer with a TV show; and more! In her book Alexa Hampton is interviewed about her journey into interior design. Jay Reardon, president of Hickory Chair is interviewed as well as Cathy Mitchell Parker, Vice President of Product Merchandising and her journey from graduating with an interior design degree to where she is today.

For more information about these events, contact press@hickorychair.com!

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!