Fall 2023 Made For You Magazine National Issue

Fall 2023 - Vol. Two Issue Six

oopsie daisy

Crypton Home fabrics are smart, easy to clean & ridiculously soft. They take the oopsie out of everyday spills.

whats inside 4

A House is Her Canvas

21 What’s Modern Now 22 Evocative Interiors 25 Behind The Curtain 26 The Green Chair Project 28 The Salon 30 From Factory to Workroom 36 Looking Forward

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Image courtesy of Lisa McDennon Photography by Caren Alpert

issue six contributors The Made For You magazine is published by Hickory Chair, manufacturer of fine personalized wood and upholstered furniture.

From classic to modern, each piece is made by hand and to order. Over 90% of Hickory Chair’s products are made to order in America.

Laura Holland Editor-In-Chief The staff of Made For You, based in Hickory, North Carolina, welcomes your feedback.

Comments and queries can be referred to: Send traditional mail to: Made For You Attn: Laura Holland PO Box 2147 Hickory, NC 28602 Electronic mail should be directed to: made.for.you@hickorychair.com

Please note that submissions for future publication, including photographs and articles, should be clearly identified with contact information and full project details.

hickorychair.com Produced in USA © 2023 ON THE COVER: The Cask Swivel Chair, Serge Sofa, Block Cocktail Table and Strut Side Table from the Ray Booth® Collection.

CAREN ALPERT is an award-winning San Francisco-based photographer, specializing

in interiors, food, and portraits, with a lifestyle point of view. Shooting for clients that range from industry-recognized architecture/design magazines, to PR firms that represent the most internationally known chefs/restaurants, ad agencies and design firms doing innovative branding to cookbook publishers activating new trends in cooking,

BRIAN BIEDER is an Atlanta based photographer whose work has been published on

covers and pages of Southern Home, Flower, Southern Lady and The Scout Guide. He is known not only for his inspirational interiors and still life photography but also his love of the outdoors where he is known for capturing patterns and shape in nature.

RAY BOOTH is a renowned interior designer and principal partner at the esteemed firm

McAlpine. Based out of offices in Nashville and New York City, his innovative approach to design infuses spaces with a keen sense of place and tranquility as well as layered and bold details, speaking to each individual client and setting. His best-selling book, Evocative Interiors, was published by Rizzoli and showcases luxury residential projects on both coasts and throughout the U.S. As an AD 100 Designer, his work has graced the covers and pages of Architectural Digest, Veranda, House Beautiful, Flower, and many others. Ray’s acclaimed furniture collection for Hickory Chair incorporates a contemporary spin on classical design in its refined forms and detailing. A decorative lighting collection with Visual Comfort & Co. is imbued with a signature appreciation for historical reference in modern shapes.

JACKIE CRAIG and BETH SMOOT are the founders of The Green Chair Project to collect and reuse essential furnishings to benefit their Wake County, NC neighbors in need. Founded in 2010, The Green Chair Project reuses donated furnishings to help our neighbors in need facing the challenges of homelessness, crisis and disaster. Lives change when families and individuals are nurtured and sustained in well-equipped homes.

EMILY FOLLOWILL is an award winning, Atlanta, GA based photographer. From

her art education, Emily cultivated a style that remains concise, crisp, and classic. Her balanced and carefully curated photos tell a story, and she is recognized for her natural quality of light. Her expertise ranges from residential interiors, to gardens, to lifestyle and to products,

KELLI FONTANA is a Naples and Minneapolis based lifestyle curator, product designer,

interior designer, and real estate visionary. She is the owner of Kelli Fontana and with her husband, Rick Vogelgesang, West Bay Homes. As the Creative Director, she brings ease and elegance to living. Together they thrive in developing custom new construction homes and large-scale remodeling projects.

LISA MCDENNON founded her Laguna Beach–based interiors firm, Lisa McDennon

Design, in 2000. Inspired by the region’s beauty, history, and culture, her distinctive style reinvigorates coastal California design. Nuance, McDennon’s trend-setting home and lifestyle boutique in Laguna Beach, showcases custom furniture, lighting, and linens. The Lisa McDennon Collection for Hinkley debuted January 2017.

SPACECRAFTING is the largest architectural photography and video team in Minne-

apolis. They create dynamic imagery for builders, architects, interior designers, and real estate agents.​Established by founder Mike McCaw in 2006. Each of our photographers are held to the highest standards both in design and professionalism. We make sure our photo composition showcases the best each space has to offer.

SUZANNE KASLER is a celebrated Atlanta-based interior designer. She has been

named to the AD100, Elle Decor’s A-List, and the 1stDibs 50. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Flower, Elle Decor and Veranda. She has published four books with Rizzoli including Inspired Interiors, Timeless Style, Sophisticated Simplicity and Edited Style.

Kasler designs signature collections for Hickory Chair, Visual Comfort, Ballard Designs, Lee Jofa, La Cornue, and Mirror Home.

LAURA HOLLAND has proudly been a part of the Hickory Chair family since 1985.

Throughout her storied career, she has become known for her passion and determination.

She is responsible for company marketing initiatives, Hickory Chair University and serves on the Board of Directors of The Common Thread of The Cure® Foundation.

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greetings from the chair One of the most incredible changes over the past three years has been the rise in the importance of home. The shift in discretionary spending from travel, dining out, etc. to finance the transformation of homes to beautiful and functional sanctuaries has not only been unparalleled to any other time, but it also caught every designer, store and manufacturer off guard and struggling to keep up with demand. While we are returning to our offices, traveling and simply living again, the way we use our home has forever changed. Countless numbers of people now work from their home office and for some, entertaining and spending time with friends and family has become more important than ever.

As you peruse the pages of this new issue, you will discover talented designers and contributors from across the country. You will meet Lisa McDennon a California based designer, Ray Booth, partner of McAlpine with offices in New York and Tennessee, Suzanne Kasler an Atlanta-based designer, Kelli Fontana with offices in Minnesota and Florida and to North Carolina where we will introduce you to a charitable organization that is not only helping furnish homes for families in need, but are having a huge impact on the environment. We delighted in listening to each contributor as they revealed their intriguing story that began with the desires of the client and continued through the design process to create the inspirational imagery of the completed home.

All of us at Hickory Chair feel honored that each contributor turned to our craftspeople to create special pieces for each of the homes featured in this issue. We are blessed that our team understands that each piece we make is destined for a home and not a warehouse. My grandfather had a wonderful saying, “Make haste – slowly”. His intention was for us to get going on the task and get it done, but take our time to do it right the first time. This is our focus at Hickory Chair. We are hiring, training and working tirelessly to maximize the number of pieces we can produce each day but, they have to be as close to perfection as human hands working with natural materials can make.

We thank you for your support as we enjoy making one-of-a-kind pieces to order in our Hickory Workroom now for 112 years.

All my best,

Editor-in-Chief

MADE FOR YOU™

a house is her canvas L

isa McDennon is inspired by the beauty, history, and culture of the Southern California region. Her distinctive style reinvigorates coastal California design through her use of natural materials, elegant forms, and varied textures. Whether the client is residential or commercial, the interiors she creates are sophisticated, unexpected, and timeless. Clients refer her to their friends and architects to their clients. A referral from a talented local architect guided this family to Lisa. With the acquisition of a house at auction in San Juan Capistrano, this is where the fun began.

The client’s dream was to transform this house into a functional and beautiful residence that would graciously accommodate their growing family and beloved pets, a place to host family gatherings with their children, grandchildren, and extended family. In addition, they enjoy throwing large parties and wanted adequate entertaining spaces both inside and out of doors.

While the aesthetics drove the design, the underlying principle was function and durability. The client is an avid and passionate gardener and has an incredibly sophisticated sensibility for creating a lush and layered garden that seamlessly blends into the stunning hillside and highlights the ocean views surrounding their property. When entering the estate, one feels transported to a small European town.

"That is the atmosphere we also wanted to translate to the interiors that would create a sense of authenticity, but with a fresh spin. We were sensitive to the remodel aspects of the project and worked to maintain as many of the existing items in the home as were feasible. For example, instead of tearing out all of the fireplaces and replacing them with new ones, we refinished them with

Lisa McDennon

lisa mcdennon design Laguna Beach, CA P h o t o g ra p h y b y C a re n A l p e r t Po r t ra i t b y C a n d i c e Da r t e z

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"When I travel, I'm always on the hunt, whether for a good find or the perfect piece that provides the finishing touch to a project." glazes and patinas to add age with more authentic and pleasing color tones. For the kitchen, we kept the general layout, a majority of the cabinets, appliances, and the counters. We created a fresh look by refinishing the cabinets, installing a custom, hand-painted back splash, and selecting new brass finish plumbing and hardware.

Custom lighting fixtures were designed for over the island and nook areas. We salvaged all of the wood floors except for the water-damaged lower level, and because the house had beautiful reclaimed oak beams, we added more to the primary bedroom," says Lisa.

Purchasing the property at auction, in this case, meant the client did not have the opportunity to physically tour the house prior to bidding, so the interiors were a bit of a surprise once they took ownership. At first glance, the team thought the construction work was limited to cosmetic changes and some simple reconfiguring of a few room layouts. But as the contractor began

to open things up, they discovered a lot of errors and issues with the prior renovations that needed to be repaired and replaced including a whole new roof, rewiring almost all the electrical, new exterior windows and doors, repairing a major slab leak, and due to improper waterproofing, installing new decking and railings.

It was a great opportunity for Lisa to change the aesthetic of the interiors and overcome the prior design work which felt disjointed.

By renovating many of the surfaces in the home and designing a cohesive color palette, she created a more fluid style throughout.

The first significant shift was replacing all of the wood windows and doors with steel. They developed a custom green-gray color for them, which was truly transformative. The distinctive color and materials provided a softening that blended the interiors and exteriors with the beautiful landscape that surrounds the property.

Other decisions made included changing painted walls and ceilings to an elegant and subdued Venetian plaster, changing the

colors on the doors and trims from a “builder” white to a sophisticated warm taupe, selecting beautiful un-lacquered brass door hardware with stately backplates, curating unique cabinet hardware for each room to add personality to each space, upgrading the plumbing fixtures, and replacing the staircase with metal posts in a beautiful custom sage finish. To promote the openness the client desired, archways were built into the primary bedroom, a design element repeated throughout the house. The ability to make the changes to the structure of the home provided the proper palette to layer new lighting and furniture.

Lisa designed a mudroom and laundry on both floors to accomodate the family's needs. Downstairs, there is also a wholly organized gift wrap station. The house has two primary suites, one with a vast, empty walk-in closet. One day Lisa walked in and said, "Rather than installing cabinets that will likely remain empty, let's make a playroom!" She realized they could easily close off part of this closet from the bedroom and and open a doorway to the space from the main hall. Making it even more child-friendly, across the same hallway is a 6-bunk bedroom, an en suite bathroom with a schoolhouse sink atop a custom iron vanity, and black and white mosaic flooring.

"I started as an art major, but throug interior design as a career path. I use spaces are now

Reflects Lisa, "As I love to shop and to travel, it is no coincidence that I adore what I do for my career! And when I travel, I’m always 'on the hunt', whether it is for a good find or for the perfect piece that provides the finishing touch to a project. Sometimes, it’s just for pure inspiration. My radar is always “on,” and as anyone in design does, we look high and low for our finds traveling to unique destinations and being open to seek out new sources and adventures to build up our visual libraries. When I began the design journey for this project, I knew the primary bath would be an important space and one that would anchor the true French aesthetic my client and I were developing. In my mind, I always envisioned a pair of gold carved antique mirrors above the vanities, but they had to be the right size; they needed the ever-so-perfect green/blue patina that only a true French antique finish offers and a delicate touch of aging on the glass. Knowing the construction was nearly complete for the bath, I was still in search of these mirrors and although it was one of the first inspirations for the design, it was now turning out to be one the final pieces that I needed to complete the space. Luckily, on a recent buying trip, I connected with a French antiques dealer who had just what I was looking for and the puzzle was complete."

Lisa shares that if she were to select one part of the home that is her favorite, it would be this primary bathroom. "We knew from the start that the primary bath needed a complete renovation, and having the opportunity to redesign it from scratch was a dream. We chose the finest materials and I enjoyed reconfiguring the space to make it both functional and elegant. The custom built Borghini marble étagère steals the show!"

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gh a series of experiences, I discovered e my artistic skills everyday - interior w my canvas."

MADE FOR YOU™

Her favorite source for new furnishings is the Witford Showroom in Laguna Beach. Lisa shares "they represent our favorite furniture lines and offer us the best service. They make quoting, ordering and following up on orders easy, and we appreciate their ability to respond quickly and provide the necessary follow-through that we need and that our clients appreciate. With their support we were able to source the pieces we needed to complete each room."

This project gave Lisa an opportunity to design several custom light fixtures, including all of the outdoor lanterns, a pair of carved wood and metal pendants for the kitchen, and a glass and steel faceted globe over the nook table. "I enjoy designing custom furnishings, especially lighting. I’ve had the fortunate opportunity to create The Lisa McDennon Collection for Hinkley, which has been extremely rewarding. I am now entering my fifth season with the brand. I have refined my custom manufacturing skills and have explored new designs that expanded my creativity in ways I never imagined."

She shares, "In general, I am most proud of the overall result and knowing that my clients and their family enjoy the home the way they intended. It’s a delight to see the grandkids play in the bunk room and the entire family gathering in the living room for the holidays. It feels so special and makes everything I do have greater meaning."

"I enjoyed reconfiguring the space to make it both functional and elegant - but the Borghini marble etagere steals the show."

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what’s modern now We live in a time of individuality and people want their homes to reflect their own personality. Custom finishes such as this soft sage green with a lovely aged patina was created to bridge the client's interior spaces with their outdoor living spaces.

Image courtesy of Lisa McDennon Photography by Car en Al per t

MADE FOR YOU™

evocative interiors IT IS ALL ABOUT HOW IT MAKES YOU FEEL

A high compliment for Ray Booth is not only hearing

someone remark about one of his projects, “what a beautiful interior,” but he would tell you that what means the most to him is hearing how it made you feel. Ray shares, “We strive to create emotional, evocative architecture and interiors.

Beauty is most often a byproduct of an interior that captures your emotions.”

Creating this feeling is the result of an important journey Ray makes with his client. He shares, "the process of design seeks to find a marriage, or at least a commonality, between the two main components of each residence: the person and the place." This inspires how we approach each step of the architecture and interior design process. Another critically important goal is to gain a sense of place that comes from studying the landscape outside and thoughtfully bringing the feel and colors of the view into the rooms. This is what becomes his inspiration.

Ray Booth

MCALPINE RAY BOOTH DESIGN NASHVILLE • NEW YORK

With this clarity, Ray begins creating the interior's aesthetic and selecting pieces that will reflect the person and the place.

With precision and dedication, he carefully selects antiques and new furniture. When the hunt does not reveal the appro10

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Photography by Emily Followill

“We strive to create emotional, evocative architecture and interiors. It is always about how it makes you feel.” priate products, he also turns to talented craftspeople to fabricate the custom pieces for the client. These custom pieces often become an inspiration for his licensed collections.

Last fall, he launched a new collection with Visual Comfort® and an extensive addition to his Hickory Chair® collection. Once again, Ray has provided the design community with distinctive pieces that bridge his love of modernity with heirloom-quality construction. The collections also carry his passion for steel and rich woods such as American walnut, white oak, and ash. While his designs push the edge of design, he takes a pragmatic approach to the pieces. He shares, “it is not only from my own experience

but also seeing how designers around the country have used my pieces for their clients that has led me to see the need to design forms that are absent from the marketplace. These voids become needs, and this becomes the inspiration for new products.”

"While it is a wonderful feeling to see my designs come to life, what is much more important to me is the great joy and satisfaction I feel when I see images in which designers have been inspired to incorporate my pieces. It is my hope that the families that now live in these interiors experience a deep emotional bond with their new environment……a truly evocative interior that reflects who they are, what they love, and a place we claim as home."

relaxing with ray Ray Booth and husband, John Shea, love quiet escapes from their hectic schedules and look to their home as not only a place to embrace relaxation but also a wonderful place to spend time with family and friends.

If asked, Ray would tell you that vodka is his spirit of choice. One of his favorite libations is a refreshing vodka cocktail made with a dash of Deep Eddy's Ruby Red Grapefruit Vodka® and a bit of diet tonic. Simple and delicious, it is surprisingly refreshing.

Ray's Refreshing Vodka Cocktail 2 ounces Vodka A splash Deep Eddy Ruby Red Grapefruit Vodka® 2 ounces Tonic Water Lime wheels or grapefruit wedges optional In 1-cup liquid measure, stir together the vodkas and tonic water. Fill the glass with ice. Pour the vodka mixture into each glass and stir. Garnish with a lime wheel or grapefruit wedge. Enjoy!

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Behind the Curtain

A behind the scenes series of tips for purchasing and living with fine furniture.

“Turn! Turn! Turn!” was a wildly popular song recorded in the 1960’s

by The Byrds®. Little did they realize that to “turn, turn, turn” is one of the most important things to do to keep your seat and back cushions looking new!

Most luxury upholstery brands offer premium seat and back cushions that feature a mixture of down and small feathers as this will provide the ultimate level of comfort. When selecting new upholstery for your home, making sure that it is luxuriously comfortable and its construction will allow it to last a very long time.

Choosing a quality fabric that is suited for how you live is very important. This is why ‘performance fabrics’ that are cleanable have become so popular.

Once your beautiful new upholstery arrives, keeping it looking fresh and new and sitting comfortably is up to you. Providing the proper care and maintenance from day one will keep your upholstery looking new and sitting comfortably for years to come. Without proper maintenance, your upholstery will age quickly.

As you enjoy lounging on your new upholstery, it impacts your cushions and pillows. The foam compresses, the feathers and down pack and sometimes a feather or two will make its way out of the ticking. To keep the cushions and pillows looking fresh, first you fluff them. This allows the feathers and down to puff up and the foam to expand back to its original shape and fullness. If you do not do this regularly, the foam will eventually be unable to expand as they will have flattened permanently with the wear. To fluff your cushions and pillows, you can stand it up on its end and then use your arms and hands to gently beat them from the sides. Turn the cushion 90 degrees and then repeat. Another method is to hold the end of the cushion or pillow with your hand and then hit it gently in all areas with the other hand. This will allow the foam to expand and the feathers to fluff and migrate back to where they should be. We recommend that this be repeated once a month.

As we are creatures of habit, we tend to have a favorite spot to read or recline.

Because those cushions are being used more frequently than the rest, they tend to look worn more quickly. The best defense you have to keep your down blend cushions looking new and retaining their shape over time is to rotate and flip your cushions every couple of weeks.

Once you have fluffed and flipped the cushions and pillows, we recommend that you unzip the zipper and using your vacuum, insert the hose and crevice tool and vacuum the inside top, sides and bottom of the cushion and casing. You will be amazed how much dust and dirt can sift through the casing. Dust and dirt are abrasive and can not only damage the fabric, but also the cushions. We recommend that the exterior of your sofa and the inside of the cushions be vacuumed at least once a month. By following the care instructions of the fabric, spot clean the fabric as needed.

MADE FOR YOU™

Jackie Craig and Beth Smoot made a realization in 2010 they simply had too much stuff in their homes. They knew they were not alone.

The challenge was that when you no longer need household furnishings, what do you do with them? They believed that most people would love to give these items to people who need help and not dispose of them. In the county where Jackie and Beth live, literally thousands of families live in poverty and need assistance. As these families attempted to move out of homelessness into an affordable home, furnishing it with furniture and basic household items simply proved financially impossible. Determined to help, Jackie and Beth founded The Green Chair Project in 2010. Their mission was and continues to be to collect and reuse essential furnishings to benefit their Wake County, North Carolina neighbors in need.

In their local Wake County community there are approximately 87,000 residents that live below the federal poverty level who cannot afford essential household furnishings such as furniture,

Jackie Craig and Beth Smoot

accessories, kitchen items or even beds for their children. Since The Green Chair Project was founded, they have provided 8,204

Founders

children with beds, have distributed 148,986 furniture donations and have contributed 103,134 volunteer hours.

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OUR 2022 IMPACT 1,951

1,474 furnished

BEDS

HOUSEHOLDS

and cribs for children

98

%of

children served previously slept on the floor, sofa or with others

97

of survey respondents who received furnishings were still stably housed 1 year later

WHY WE SERVE

Our referral partners support clients experiencing: HOMELESSNESS

MENTAL HEALTH

AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE

REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

1in 30

of furniture and household items reused and diverted from landfills

97%

of recipients reported feeling less stressed and more hopeful after receiving furnishings through the Green Chair Project

95,200

People in Wake County are living below the federal poverty line and

2022 Chairity Event

We work with over 100 schools, nonprofits, and government agencies to serve our neighbors across Wake County.

The Green Chair Project | 1853 Capital Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27604 | www.thegreenchair.org

Help us fund our mission of Furnishing Homes & Changing Lives with your end of year gift. www.thegreenchair.org/give

The Green Chair Project reuses furnishings donated by their community to help their neighbors facing the challenges of homelessness, crisis and disaster. Lives change when families and individuals are nurtured and sustained in well-equipped homes. The Green Chair Project focuses on three main programs: the Furnishings Program, the Sweeter Dreams Program and the Disaster Relief Program by partnering with nonprofit agencies that provide their participants with information and assistance needed to promote self-sufficiency after experiencing homelessness. The Green Chair Program has become North Carolina’s go to for assistance for families after disasters such as Hurricane Florence.

OUR 2022 IMPACT

1,951 1,474 furnished Through their efforts, nearly 2,000 tons of furniture and household items have been HOUSEHOLDS

reused and divertedand from landfills.

While being a valuable steward to our Earth, the cribs for children Green Chair's donated furnishings saves each family the equivalent of 4 months’ rent. of survey respondents who were still of Their outreach has inspired the design industry. Not received only are furnishings home furnishings dostably housed 1 year later children served nated, but talented interior designers volunteer their time. “We believe that the design previously slept industry wants to do work and ongood the floor, sofato give back to those in need in their community,” shares Jackie. or with others

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1,502 TONS

In addition to monetary donations and donated household furnishings, a new event, of furniture and household items reused and diverted from landfills Chairity, a Green Chair collective event was launched in 2022. Some of North Carolina’s most talented interior designers, home furnishings manufacturers and industry of recipients reported feeling less stressed professionals have come together to create a showcase of furnished living spaces. and more hopeful after receiving furnishings During a three-day event, The Green Chair Project hosts the Chairity event raising through the Green Chair Project funds that will directly provide beds and cribs for children in need and help families with fully equipped and sustainable housing. This year’s event will be held September Green Chair increases sustainability by saving 20-23. The Greenfamilies Chair invites you to getofinvolved the equivalent 4 monthswith renttheir organization and the

97%

event.

SUBSTANCE USE

of basic household furnishings

Green Chair increases sustainability by saving families the equivalent of 4 months rent

98%

DISASTER

Wake County Public School students lack a bed of their own

1,502 TONS

BEDS

RE-ENTRY AFTER INCARCERATION

The Green Chair Project | 1853 Capital Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27604 | www.thegreenchair.org MADE FOR YOU™

WHY WE SERVE

Our referral partners support clients experiencing: HOMELESSNESS

MENTAL HEALTH

AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE

REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

1in 30

RE-ENTRY AFTER INCARCERATION DISASTER

Wake County Public School students lack a bed of their own

SUBSTANCE USE

95,200

People in Wake County are living below the federal poverty line and of basic household furnishings

We work with over 100 schools, nonprofits, and government agencies to serve our neighbors across Wake County.

Help us fund our mission of Furnishing Homes & Changing Lives with your end of year gift. www.thegreenchair.org/give

THE SALON

Designed by Suzanne Kasler The 2022 Flower® Magazine Show House setting was a 10,000 square foot Regency home in Atlanta's posh Buckhead neighborhood. Suzanne Kasler and Charlotte Moss co-chaired and collaborated with local architect Peter Block & Associates, Michigan-based builder Young & Meathe with English-styled gardens courtesy of Atlanta landscape architect, John Howard.

The Salon, designed by Suzanne Kasler, celebrates her masterful ability to blend fine French antiques with modern resources such as furniture by Hickory Chair, ceiling wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries, a John Soane mantle from Chesneys and a La Cornue stove along with art by Kimo Minton to create truly inspired interiors.

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Photography by Brian Bieder

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“I’m always inspired by Paris and everything French. I call this large space The Salon because with the kitchen on one end and multiple conversation groups at the other, it allows an exciting energy to happen at the same time.”

- Suzanne Kasler MADE FOR YOU™

From FACTORY to

Workroom

TURNING THEIR WORKROOM INTO MY WORKROOM

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Photography by Spacecrafting®

my design firm, Kelli Fontana, in 2003. Since then, I have been designing "I started and developing classic, bold and whimsical homes and interiors. I crave spaces with long lasting finishes that withstand the test of time. My collections are filled with thoughtful, cohesive and unique pieces that your family will bond with. My hope is to empower clients to create meaningful spaces that they will value and treasure."

In addition to a design practice, Kelli and her husband Rick Vogelgesang own West Bay Homes where she serves as the Creative Director. She has developed licensed products including wallpaper and candles and will soon launch a collection with The Tile Shop.

Recently Kelli and West Bay Homes completed a home for a family with young children. They yearned for a home that would be functional and not fussy, that had an easy elegance that was comfortable and would help make life a bit more effortless. The client wanted to incorporate some existing furnishings as these pieces hold memories. If in great condition, Kelli feels it is a waste to not re-purpose them as a sustainable effort to keep unnecessary items out of landfills… and it saves the client money.

Always starting with house plans, Kelli focuses on the functionality of each room.

Through her mind’s eye, she visualized the sight lines and thought about what the family would see and touch. In designing the structure, she thoughtfully designed most rooms with hidden storage spaces. In the foyer, a hidden door in the shiplap wall leads to a large mudroom... one of numerous in the house. In the dining room, paneled walls hide built-in cabinets that store linens, table leaves and dishes.

A built-in banquette conceals a storage area for the children’s coloring books and crayons. A bookcase at the end of a hallway is a hidden doorway that opens to reveal the children’s playroom. Features like counter tops that light up in a range of colors, game and theater rooms and a working snack bar delight the family and have created thoughtful function that simplify life and entertaining.

KELLI FONTANA VOGELGESANG KELLI FONTANA DESIGN WEST BAY HOMES

"My hope is to empower you to create meaningful spaces that you will value and treasure."

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In thinking about the right furnishings for this busy young family and the client’s love of white furnishings, Kelli chose ‘performance’ fabrics that would resist stains and be cleanable. The family wanted to fill their home with quality furnishings that would last and viewed them as investments for their future. She knew with the scale of the rooms she would need to customize some pieces. With all this in mind, Kelli turned to Vivian A. Rossi at the Hickory Chair Naples showroom. “We started the project with a few counter stools and a sofa. As we built the project together, she selected Hickory Chair pieces for room after room not only for their style, but because we could customize them to the size and function the family needed. I love to build business friendships and this trust led to 95 selections for this client,” shares Vivian. " In addition, working closely with Left Bank Art®, we created 30 pieces of custom art."

The home has an open floor plan with the foyer, living room and a bar area in one contiguous space. Here Kelli created numerous places to relax and entertain including an elegant bar with five swivel counter stools, an entry to a separate kitchen and a dining area flanks the living room.

She placed a pair of facings sofas in a performance fabric with throw pillows in contrasting beautiful fabrics. The workroom at Hickory Chair custom made the Ash Cocktail Table as a 66 by 42-inch size to perfectly scale it for the room as a special construction. It was finished in a Chalk paint and the artists at Hickory Chair hand-painted a delicate solid black striping to accentuate the carved edges. To the skirt of the lounge chairs, a contrasting skirt border in a charcoal gray fabric was added. The Atkins Vitrine was the perfect solution to showcase one of the wife’s beautiful crystals. As the client loves the good energy and beauty that natural stone and crystals provide, Kelli used them as a unifying element throughout the home.

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"The workroom at Hickory Chair made the Ash Cocktail Table as a custom 66 by 42-inch size to perfectly scale it for the room as a special construction."

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Typically, the hub of the home is the kitchen and breakfast room. For this family, Kelli created numerous spaces where the family now enjoy cooking, eating and entertaining. In addition to the bar area and formal dining room, is an eat-in kitchen with a nook features a custom finished dining table with three marble legs with a set of dining chairs and a built-in banquette with hidden storage for crayons and coloring books. This fully appointed eat-in kitchen with its counter height dining area and counter stools, a smoothie station and coffee bar is the family’s favorite gathering place.

The family room is adjacent to the eat-in kitchen.

A comfortable sectional with a nubby, textural 20

"A custom-sized hand-tufted cocktail ottoman also was made to the scale I needed for the sectional and the room."

In the dining room, paneled walls hide built-in cabinets that store linens, table leaves and dishes.

performance fabric is flanked by a pair of lounge chairs and a large custom-sized hand-tufted cocktail ottoman was made by the craftspeople at Hickory Chair. In addition, an outdoor den with two televisions, outdoor kitchen with a dining area, a bar and pool area.

This outdoor space was designed to be an extension of the indoor living spaces.

ing, a painted dresser and custom-length M2M® bench provided theperfect accompaniments. A generous bathroom ensuite with a beautiful book-matched marble bathing area incorporates the client’s love of stone. With facing cabinetry, a large cocktail ottoman and adjacent dressing rooms provide the space and luxury to prepare for and end each busy day. The closet was cleverly designed with hidden storage above the hanging racks with wheeled ladders. Additional storage is found behind a built-in mirrored door cabinet.

The home has numerous bedrooms for the family and their guests.

The clients chose to purchase new bedroom furnishings for the master and re-purpose their existing furniture for a guest bedroom. This allowed Kelli to recommend a modern four poster bed that complemented the architecture of the room. A skirted chair perfect for read

Each of their sons has their own ensuite in masculine tones that was designed to function perfectly as they grow and mature. In addition, a cleverly designed room was designed for the boys to create, play and

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study. Painted in a rich blue hue, it has built-in desks with a row of brown leather swivel chairs, a concealed print station and louvered doors that house craft and school supplies. One son excitedly exclaimed, “I get to do my homework here?!”

“I get to do my homework here?!”

The lady of the house desired an office and getaway. We created a handsome paneled room with a custom length Kent Sofa in a beautiful navy velvet with contrasting sage green throw pillows. A contemporary agate table not only strokes her love of natural stone, but is a practical spot for the remote or a beverage while relaxing. To soften the space, a rug and roman shade in a soft pink hue were selected along with a painting of butterflies.

A stairway leads to the theater and gaming areas. Kelli was able to unleash a bit of drama, whimsy and luxury. Greeted by a snack bar, the family and friends choose their favorite movie snacks. The upholstered leather doors open to reveal a theater with rows of plush, comfortable theater chairs, agate obelisks and a marble bar. In addition, a game room complete with putting green and video games also provide entertainment.

Kelli loves the freedom that collaborating with American-made furniture rewards. She appreciates Hickory Chair as she knows their craftspeople make quality pieces with beautiful form, great proportion that are made for function and to last. Their ability to customize wood and upholstery for the needs of her customer allowed her to make new family heirlooms but with an at-the-moment vibe. Her local craftspeople were able to build the custom cabinetry throughout the house with details such as gold mesh doors, moldings and clever functional internal workings. “These custom features create the easy elegance my customers want to see and feel.”

Kelli has the ability to embrace the desires of the client and create an environment that reveals and revitalizes their spirit.

“I have been embraced by young affluent clients who want real furniture. They understand that quality is an investment for their future. These clients ‘get it’. They have worked hard to get what they have and have a salt-of-the-earth sensibility.

They have a desire to create something special and real, that will allow them to make their mark and create a legacy for their grandchildren.

MADE FOR YOU™

looking ahead A ren e wed s ens e of hop e an d ren e w al h as re t u rn ed t o t h e w o rld . At

Hi ckor y C hair, we s hare thi s s en t im en t n o t o n ly w it h a s en s e o f jo y an d a nti cip ation but als o with d e t erm in at io n . Ou r Hic ko r y C h air f am ily is f oc used on the orders y ou h ave en t ru s t ed u s w it h an d w e’re diligen t ly wo r kin g to fulfill eac h one w it h in o u r p ro m is ed lead t im e. W h ile m ee ti ng o u r p romis ed dates is v er y im p o r t an t , deliverin g t h e fin es t q u ality th at human hands c an c reat e u s in g n at u ral m at erials is eq u ally im p o r t a nt. To this end, we’ ve been ab le t o att rac t an d h ire ad dit io n al c raf t spe opl e whic h have allowed u s t o in c reas e o u r p ro d u c t io n . T h is ad di ti ona l p roduc tion has help ed u s red u c e t h e b ac k lo g at a rec o rd p ac e. an d o ur l ead times are imp roving .

We h ave e xc iting p lan s to s hare. T h is Fall w e w ill b e m o vin g in t o a n e w sh o wroom in High Poin t. L o c at ed at 2 00 No r t h Ham ilt o n S t ree t , t h is ne w s howroom will b e c onven ien t ly lo c at ed in t h e Hig h Po in t Des ig n Di s tr ic t. T he p as t fe w mon t h s h ave b een s p en t ren o vat in g t h e n e w s p ac e to cr eate a fres h n e w envir o n m en t t o s h o wc as e eac h o f o u r c o llec t io n s a nd the c us tom c ap abilities o f o u r c raf t s p eo p le in Hic ko r y. We h ave an i m pr es s ive laun c h p lanned t o c eleb rat e o u r n e w s h o w ro o m . We w ill b e i ntr oduc ing beautiful n e w p iec es f ro m eac h o f o u r d es ign p ar t n ers , e x pa nding our Made For You™ c o n figu rab le p ro gram s , an d w e w ill als o enter a ne w c ategor y – outdoo r f u rn it u re – w it h t h e lau n c h o f t h e Hab le® O utdoor Collec tion . L as tly, w e h ave an e xt rao rdin ar y as s o r t m en t o f indo or an d outdoor fabric s , t rim s an d leat h er lau n c h in g t o en ric h o u r a sso r t ment.

We a p p rec iate p eop le like y o u t h at h ave en t ru s t ed Hic ko r y C h air f o r t h e pa s t 11 2 y ears for one-of-a-k in d f u rn is h in g s f o r t h eir h o m es . T h is t ru s t h a s a llowed us to overc ome c o u n t les s c h allen ges in t h es e m any d ec ades .

We a p p rec iate y ou an d loo k f o r w ard t o a lo n g an d p ro s p ero u s f u t u re to ge ther.

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