Highpoint Fall 2012: a tour of Hickory Chair

My Five High Point Market

Take-Aways at Hickory Chair 

1. a marvelous blending of color combinations using both subtle and bold colors

2. a plethora of layering textures with return to intricate detailing  

3. many"cigarette tables" and small pieces offering mobility

4. sectional upholstery and multi-unit upholstery, not your 80s sectional!

5. overall return to classic, traditional designs but tweaked to feel modern.

Hickory Chair  and Pearson sponsored my trip to High Point Market, and I was pleasantly surprised to find both these showrooms my two favorites this Fall.   When walking the 25,000 square foot space of Hickory Chair it is easy to become giddy.  There is just so much optimism in the air about design and history.  Marketing chief Laura Holland gave me a thorough, energetic tour while parlaying her incredible knowledge about the 100 year + company, the family history and their  philosophy while walking me through a virtual history of design dating back over 100 years ago.  When thinking about Hickory Chair the brand is synonymous with quality, hand made and rooted in American history.  

In our travels, we passed Mark Hampton's famous tufted ottoman and other classic Hickory Chair designs, some pieces even holding patents, while others derived from the historic Winterthur museum collection and more.  Walking the showroom is a walk through American decorative arts taking us up to modern day with their successful pairing with artists and designers.  Even with all the history this flourishing empire has managed to stay current.  They have a knack for scoping out the latest and greatest designers of our times from Alexa Hampton to rising fabric designers from Brooklyn.  

Exciting to see the brewing designs of Hable Textiles, a sister design duo living in Brooklyn, New York setting up shop in the Hickory Chair showroom.  This illustrates the emphasis Hickory Chair places on current designers and artisans. Digitally printed fabrics allows for color creativity.

Susan Hable's creative corner and drawings

 a think tank of creative inspiration 
front and center in the Hickory Chair showroom

Four designers Hickory Chair pairs up with 

and pieces from their new collection:

Mariette Himes Gomez 

 Mariette  continues to  impress

with her attention to detail, from hand painting the wicker for a striped effect, 

to her custom designed seating shown tufted and 

adorned with a flirty skirt.  When I see Mariette's work for Hickory Chair I think of a super sexy NYC high rise, envisioning sparkling views.  Her attention to detail, and most often set in a neutral color palette, shows off her fastidious eye.  Mariette's designs are similar to a well made cocktail dress. 

Suzanne Kasler 

Takes her inspiration from French antiques and infuses 

a California-esque vibe to the mix.  

The new collection is inspired from a recent project 

on the island of  Nantucket,

 and we can see the Yankee influences 

in Suzanne's new collection.  

Lots of nautical references and crisp lines.

Alexa Hampton

In person Alexa is a gifted public speaker infusing humor into her story telling and lighting up a room with her effervescent, charismatic personality.  Alexa is confident, whimsical and her designs are exactly the same.  This collection and her use of the color red is dramatic and Wows! 

I want to cozy up on one of these beds, 

light a fire and read my favorite book.  

Alexa continues to inspire with her new pieces.  

Thomas O'Brien's 

Eclectic furniture collection brings subtle colors 

and mission style furniture, but with a twist

 many pieces are classic Hickory Chair 

but have been updated to feel more modern - 

like this tufted bench

with a commitment to using mostly American Made products, 

an eye on tradition 

but with a forward thinking approach,

 Hickory Chair 

has my vote 

Happy Nesting XO