"FUN AT WORK"

Sorry, Stickley, I couldn't resist! This is me at work having a bit of fun a couple of years ago. I call this the "Bow Arm Electric Chair". I love my work...it is so much fun.

FASHION FORWARD - SNEAK "PEAKS"

"Old Glory" has never looked better. Patriotism and fashion salute one another as the "Star Spangled Banner" is represented on this glorious leather sofa by Old Hickory Tannery.

I saw several flag-themed pieces of upholstery at this past market. From the Union Jack of Great Britain to the Drapeau Tricolore of France, from the Bandiera of Italy to the Stars and Stripes of the U.S.A., the forging of streamers onto items of everyday use was evident. Patriots can fly their colors inside their personal forts as well as outside on the standard flagpole.

I could see one of these in the Oval Office: You think? Perhaps President Obama should give me a call so we could set up an appointment. I could help him out, no question. I'm just sayin'...

Here is a behind the scenes look at a fashion forward design by Old Hickory Tannery Furniture. http://www.ohtfurniture.com/ This ravishing banquette can and should be used in a multitude of applications. It is shown here in this extravagant white patent leather with zebra hide toss pillows. When I saw this piece I had to take a seat. Again, we have another interpretation of the classic Chesterfield style that I have been fixated on as of late.

FORMAL ELEGANCE - "SNEAK PEAKS"

Take a look at this metal sculpture. "Yours Truly in the Hand of Design"

From casual to formal. "From Swick to Swank." Here is another interpretation of the classic Chesterfield style sofa brought to you by Hancock & Moore Furniture. http://www.hancockandmoore.com/ They truly have a passion for leather and skillfully produce some of the most glorious creations using such. This is another factory that I have had the privilege of visiting with the folks from MossCreek. http://www.mosscreek.net/ Nestled in the "Furniture Capital", Hickory, NC, at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains sits the most intriguing of furniture factories. In it are numerous master craftsman, carpenters, leather workers, upholsterers and visionaries. Out of it come some of the finest leather pieces crafted in the entire world. No matter what the style, no matter what the combination of materials, and no matter what you can imagine, they can deliver the goods.

This particular setting reminds me of the first time I ever attended a symphony. The metallic treatment of the leather is your horns section, the mohair on the seat is like that I sat upon in the auditorium, and the marble on the table top is like that on the auditorium's grand staircase. What a beautiful experience. I have never been the same since. Speaking of metallic treatments, this is a huge movement as well in the design industry. From leather, to paint finishes, to the reintroduction of reclaimed metals and the post-modern usage of steel and aluminum, metal is hot: Cool too! There is so much more to share however, for now, I must go! Stay tuned and thank you!

CASUAL ELEGANCE - SNEAK "PEAKS"

This will be a "quickie" from "Swickey". Who says you can't have elegance on a budget? This sofa by Robin Bruce, aptly named "Donovan", is a favorite new item of mine for several reasons. Now, I know what you are thinking, and it is not just because we share the same name. But that doesn't hurt it one bit. This sofa is classic, fresh, responsible and a bit of casual mixed with elegance. This style is often found in leather however it is upholstered here in a natural washed linen: Very Eco. It is attainable. It is comfortable. Most importantly, it is made right here in the "good ol' U.S. of A."

I am a big fan of reinterpretation styles. I personally wear a lot of vintage clothing on a regular basis. I particularly love the blue flame-stitch fabric ottoman as well. This blue was also a huge color for the Spring Market. Oh, by the way, this photo was taken at the Rowe/Robin Bruce showroom of the High Point Spring Market. Thank you to Sean O and all of the gang! For more information go to http://www.rowefurniture.com/ . Now, back to this discussion. Vintage is beautiful as it represents a wonderful story in design. We take something that is considered worthless by one person, given away or thrown out, and it becomes new again when discovered by the right person. Sounds like my life. It is spiritual in a way; in a good way. It is like the old record your parents stored in the attic that you may have come across, only to find that it was a doorway into another realm of your life, as you dance the night away. Such is the wonder of vintage.

This is a small glimmer of the meaning behind this blog: "ART-ECO". For more insights and behind the scenes looks, please stay tuned.

A HISTORY LESSON

"To the best of my ability." This is the long-standing translation of the Flemish statement, "Als ik kan," adopted by Gustav Stickley as the motto for his wonderful and practical furnishings company, STICKLEY, circa 1901. To this day in up-state New York lies a true craftsman shop/production facility unmatched in today's furniture world. Gustav is long gone now, but a little town called Manlius, New York hosts artisans who still construct furniture to the standards by which all others should be measured. Birthed in 1905, two immigrant brothers, Gustav and Leopold Stickley, formed L. & J.G. Stickley. The rest, as they say, is history. The honest craftsmanship and practical design of solid wood joinery changed the world of furniture even to this day. Gustav has been termed, "the Father of the Arts & Crafts movement in America." Given the resurgence of Arts & Crafts style architecture in our country and around the world, it is not by surprise that this company continues to lead the industry. This picture shows the Morris Chair, inspired by William Morris, and the Settle as displayed in STICKLEY's High Point Showroom from this past Market. Both of these pieces are icons of the "Mission Movement." What you cannot see is how meticulously they are built. I invite you to zoom in on this picture and discover the inherent beauty of true quality workmanship.

I have had the glorious privilege of touring their factory and company museum due to the kindness of the Braden family, owners of Braden's Fine Furniture & Interiors. I am a "sawdust in the veins" kind of guy and I was absolutely blown away. The pride and joy I absorbed from every skilled artisan at work while there was awe-inspiring. No glitz or glam here, just honest and natural beauty. The deeper you look at a piece of their furniture, the more you fall in love with it. Using only solid Quartersawn White Oak, Wild Black Cherry, and Mahogany choice lumber, STICKLEY allows the creative spirit of humanity and the true essence of nature to dance together in perfect step. Every piece serves a purpose and every component to construct it has value. It is integrity. Any of their pieces will long outlive us here and now. It is instant heritage.

Connecting to our roots as individuals causes us all to reflect and dream at the same time. This is but a small example of this process being fleshed out into a practical and usable object of art and design. Born of the earth and still connected to it, as we all should be, is how I can best describe this truly unique line of furniture. For more information please visit http://www.stickley.com/ and enjoy the wonders of woodworking and fine construction.

MORE SNEAK "PEAKS"

Let there be light! Seems like someone special a long time ago said this and look at what we have now. This wonderful offering of luminescence is brought to you by Four Hands as shown at their High Point showroom from this past market. Four Hands does not simply do lighting as they are a complete "lifestyle line" of case goods, upholstery/leather, art, accessories and now even rugs. For what they do I have to say that they are one of my favorites. They literally travel the world to bring us the latest and greatest products at an incredible value. Their president, Brett Hatton, started out as a photographer who scaled the globe and along the way discovered a wide array of wonderful cultural displays. He started reclaiming teak before it was "chic".

Lighting is absolutely crucial...it will make or break the total outcome of a design. The uniqueness of this cluster invites the traveler home after a long journey. As well, it welcomed me and my colleague, Craig Marcum, into their glorious showroom. This display stopped both of us in our tracks; Craig's, for whom this was his first market, and mine, who claims to "have seen it all"; but I digress. Light is the life source for all creation, for without it we all cease to exist. There are a vast amount of truly wonderful lighting designers, too many to list. However, if you think about light, it is powerful.

Consider the diamond. Without light it has no chance to shine. Without light its facets are but lifeless. Design and all art is much like a diamond. It is birthed as the result of immense pressure and heat being applied to the byproduct of life itself. From that comes the raw stone which once discovered, then is taken to a master artisan to have portions removed by the cutting away of excess. And finally, you have the diamond; priceless, right? Actually, without light it would be unable to capture and radiate the reflective qualities of said diamond, hence it would be absolutely worthless. Artists are much the same way, but at best we can only hope and strive to be a glimmering facet of the one true diamond that is art and design.We can only reflect the true source of all creation and apart from it we are not worth much either. So, in essence let this spark some interest into your spirit and "shine on you crazy diamond".

SNEAK "PEAKS"

This first "Sneak Peak" is from my favorite complete showroom in the High Point, NC International Furniture Market. For those of you who don't know, Market is in April (Spring) and October (Fall) each year. I have been attending this market for several years now and wouldn't miss it for the world. This is Vanguard Furniture...always fresh, innovative, energizing and stylish. Notice the wonderful placement of just enough of the budding color of orange. This is one of the exciting new season colors for the Spring 2009 story of design. Elegance and trends can co-inhabit as displayed wonderfully in this setting. I will be showing you authorized photos from this and many other high-end manufacturer's throughout this journey. These are hot and not yet released to the general public as a whole so count yourself as an insider! Kudos to Vanguard!

Another dynamic feature of this particular room is the black walls...this is hard to pull off but one of my favorite arrows to shoot. I am currently working with a client and we have scheduled for her dining room to be painted black. (Photos of this are to come once the install is completed). The play on texture, pattern, color, scale and lines of the varied furniture styles apart from one another may not make sense. But, this is design, remember? Proper design at that. Design enables the creative zone of the soul to harmonize different elements into an orchestra for the eyes. Aesthetics as a whole is like working with a symphony. Imagine being in an auditorium before the curtain is raised, and you are hearing the musicians tuning their instruments.The lights are low and there is this sporadic murmuring of sound. Once the curtain is raised, it all comes together and you are moved through the emotions created by the composer. This is the effect that this initial display had on me personally when I entered this showroom (Vanguard Furniture). What you cannot experience is the other senses of smell and sound that further embellished this setting. It was exquisite. ENCORE!