Southern Studio Interior Design

Day 3

Day 3 at Hickory Chair University started bright and early with a tour of the upholstery factory. I’ve been to several upholstery manufacturer’s before, but this operation is different. The employees of Hickory Chair are challenged to perfect their systems and think “outside the box.”  I firmly believe that the management style of Hickory Chair is what has allowed them to succeed in a very challenging industry.

Check out all of the color-coded pattern pieces for the upholstered furniture frames…

Skilled craftsmen are found throughout the factory constructing the Hickory Chair frames. The quality of construction is why this furniture can be reupholstered over and over again….becoming true heirloom pieces for generations.

Laura Holland explains the construction of this beautiful chair. Hickory Chair President, Jay Reardon, stayed with us for three days and facilitated much of our training. I cannot begin to tell you how impressed I was by these two talented individuals. I truly believe they could build any piece of furniture in the entire line all by themselves!

Once the frames are complete, it’s time to apply the upholstery. Each fabric is meticulously cut for proper positioning….

And carefully sewn together for a perfect fit….

We’ve all heard of eight-way-hand-tied. Well, here it is..actually tied by hand and secured tightly. No inexpensive spring alternatives in this product.

Laura and Jay explaining the many finishing options available on each piece. Hickory Chair has implemented the Silhouettes program that allows complete custom construction of chairs and sofas….you pick your seat depth, seat height, arm style, cushion style, skirt options, and other details such as nailheads. The possibilities never seem to end.

We ended our visit with a traditional North Carolina pig pickin’ which happened to double as a celebration for the entire plant for achieving unprecedented safety goals. After spending three days in this small North Carolina town, it became very clear why I’m so excited about using these beautiful furnishings in my projects!

Thank you, Laura, Jay and the entire Hickory Chair team for your gracious hospitality and quality education! It was well worth the three days away from the studio….now back to creating!

Today I was pleasantly surprised to open my e-mail and find the latest edition of the Southern Living House Plans e-newsletter. Can a month really pass that quickly? Once again, Southern Studio is honored to be featured in the “Expert Advice” column!

This month’s article, Top Ten Design Trends, was quite fun and challenging to research.  Earlier this year I was preparing to speak at the Southern Living Custom Builder Program annual conference and decided to complete a 10 for ‘10 list…the ten best design trends in housing for 2010. My personal list would be more like a Top 100, but I’ll save that for another day. It was important to me that I highlight the most functional and creative features that every homeowner should consider when building or remodeling their homes.

Feel free to comment and add to the list!

There was energy in High Point this week…lots of energy for the spring furniture market! For two weeks every year (spring and fall), this quiet town in central North Carolina is overflowing with everyone and anyone involved in the home furnishings and interior design industry. It’s hard to explain the wide variety of buildings, warehouses, and showrooms that come to life for market (and yes, sit empty for the other 50 weeks of the year). The energy is contagious, so I have to share! This market, I came home inspired by beautiful designs and talented designers.

So, for the next ten days I’m going to feature something (or someone) special that inspired me during my visit!

Day 1 Favorite: Beautiful Rugs

My favorite rugs at this market were from Feizy Rugs.  The new Kooshlame collection is a fabulous combination of soft silk and Tibetan wool. The raised texture, transitional patterns and gorgeous colors are dramatic and elegant!

Color, texture, and pattern….oh my! So many possibilities.

As the saying goes, the one constant in life is change!  Over the past several years, we’ve lost so many great magazines. It seems that they are quickly being replaced by some wonderful on-line magazines….one just launched last Monday!  This week I read Southern Flourish Magazine cover to cover and it’s a new favorite. I have to say, flipping pages with my mouse is going to take some getting used to, but it’s so exciting to see fresh, new style!

The Home and Garden features are inspiring with great photography and interesting stories.  The Food and Travel section is a must read if you’re planning a trip to Charleston (one of my favorite southern cities). Add some fun fashion and this magazine covers it all. Take some time this weekend to relax and enjoy!