Highpoint Fall 2012: a tour of Hickory Chair

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Tamara Matthews-Stephenson is the creative talent behind Nest by Tamara, a captivating journal dedicated to interior design, history and lifestyle inspiration. With a passion for design and a keen eye for aesthetics, she shares her expertise and insights. Tamara has established herself as a prominent figure in the world of interior design and her design philosophy is rooted in the idea that a well-designed home can elevate the quality of life, combining beauty with functional everyday living. Her blog is a testament to her dedication to helping readers achieve this balance. Beyond her writing, She is also an accomplished interior designer who is known for her talent blending diverse styles which has earned her a loyal following and recognition within the interior design industry. She has worked on a wide range of projects- from luxurious urban homes to cozy beach houses. Additionally, she is the Creative Director and Owner of root cellar designs, LLC, an artisan line of textile and wallpaper sold exclusively to the design industry. She designs and manufactures her wares in the United States and sells her line through trade showrooms around the country. Connect with Tamara Matthews Stephenson through email at rootcellardesings@gmail.com and at nestnestnest.blogspot.com for weekly stories, or through her fabric and wallpaper designs at rootcellardesigns.com and embark on a journey to transform your living spaces.

Posted by Tamara Stephenson October 19, 2012

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.

nesting, new york city, nest by tamara, house and garden,

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

nesting, nest by tamara, interior design, new york city, house and garden

nesting, nest by tamara, new york city, interior design, house and garden

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.

nesting, nest by tamara, interior design, new york city,

nesting, new york city, interior design, nest by tamara

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.

nesting, nest by tamara, new york city, house and garden, interior design

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!