Tag Archives: Lee Industries

Designer Inspiration/Trends, Hickory Chair, High Point Furniture Market, Lee Industries

High Point Furniture Market: Trend # 4 Chairs Take Shape

2011 Spring High Point Furniture Market Chairs

 

On to trend #4 –  Every showroom we went into had the coolest chairs with new shapes and details.  Above, the bottom right photograph, shows our rep Kristin holding an original picture of a chair that was re-introduced this year as a part of Hickory Chair’s new line called 1911 collection. This collection commerates 100 years of excellence in the furniture design business. How neat!  

 

2011 Spring High Point Furniture Market Chairs 2

 

Brittany and Lauren trying out some of Lee Industries chairs for comfort.

 

2011 Spring High Point Furniture Market Chairs 3

 

I love the shape of this yellow chair below. Don’t you?

 

2011 Spring High Point Furniture Market Chairs 4

 

We are all about a good recliner – below American Leather showed three different sizes of one recliner. One for baby bear, one for mamma bear and one for pappa bear.

 

2011 Spring High Point Furniture Market Chairs 5

 

Tomorrow we will finish the High Point trends with the continuation of warm grays and also show you the mixed media compositions we found, so stay tuned!

Showroom Images: Hickory Chair, Lee Industries, Swaim, American Leather

Designer Inspiration/Trends, Hickory Chair, High Point Furniture Market, Lee Industries

High Point Furniture Market: Trend # 3 A Pop of Color

2011 Spring High Point Furniture Market Pop of Color

Everywhere we turned there were pops of color at High Point Furniture Market. Here are a few of the highlights – blues, green, coral yellow, and orange. There is more colors to come on Thursday as we showcase all the different chair shapes.

Don’t you just love the Osborne & Littleflocked silhouette wallpaper?

2011 Spring High Point Furniture Market Pop of Color 2

 

This red ottoman from Lee Industries is popular among the DLL staff – because the ottoman is actually fabricated in a one-of-a-kind rug!  

 

2011 Spring High Point Furniture Market Pop of Color 4

 

Yellow is so cheerful!

 

2011 Spring High Point Furniture Market Pop of Color 3

 

2011 Spring High Point Furniture Market Pop of Color 5

 

We were especially drawn to the peacock blue featured in the vignette at Hickory Chair.

 

Showroom images: 1. Ann Gish 2. Dransfield & Ross 3. Ryan Studio 4. Mr. Brown 5 -7.  Lee Industries 8 -10.Swaim 11-13. Hickory Chair

Designer Inspiration/Trends, Hickory Chair, High Point Furniture Market, Lee Industries, Resources

High Point Furniture Market: Trend #2 Mirrors Galore

2011 Spring High Point Furniture Market Mirrors Trends 2

Sometimes elegance can be found in a reflection, which is why we chose mirrors for our second trend this season at High Point Furniture Market. We saw so many shapes and sizes mounted on the wall or casually leaning on the floor – mirrors can totally change an entire space.

2011 Spring High Point Furniture Market Mirror Trends

So come back tomorrow as we take you through a color adventure for trend #3.

Showroom images: 1″ (left to CW) Bolier & Co. , 2:Lee Industries, 3&4:  Hickory Chair 5: Barbara Cosgrove 6: Artistica

Designer Inspiration/Trends, Hickory Chair, High Point Furniture Market

High Point Furniture Market: Trend #1 Block Printed Cotton

Twice a year the Design Lines team piles into a car with a tablet and pen in one hand and a camera in the other in search for the latest trends, furniture styles, and new industry products at High Point Furniture Market.  This Spring season we were overwhelmed with wonderful finds – including this new trend of block printed cotton and linen fabrics.

Spring 2011 High Point Furniture Market Hickory Chair

Debuting this season within the Suzanne Kesler Collection for Hickory Chair is this block pattern above, I love the pop of orange!

These lightweight fabrics seemed to be everywhere from textiles and bedding to entire sofas.

Spring 2011 High Point Furniture Market Hickory Chair 2

Pile on these fabrics for an effortless aesthetic. Don’t you just love that bed above? Nap please!

2011 Spring High Point Furniture Market Lee Industries 2

(Above & Below) More block prints from the Lee Industries Showroom. Wouldn’t any of these chairs go great in a sun-room or family den?

2011 Spring High Point Furniture Market Lee Industries

Can’t forget about the accessories – blocked printed linens and even outdoor pillows.

Spring 2011 High Point Furniture Market Inner Hall - Ryan Studio & Vintage Vagabond

Tomorrow we’ll bring you our next trend that we saw – mirrors galore so stay tuned!

Showrooms: 1,2,3,4: Hickory Chair 5,6,7,8: Lee Industries 9,10,11: Inner Hall – Ryan Studio (bottom Left a Trina Turk pattern) & Vagabond Vintage

Design Lines Special Events, Lee Industries

Lee Industries: Brittany’s Perspective of Lee Academy

 

2010 Lee Academy - Design Lines

 

Interior designers from all across the country and the extraordinary people who work at Lee Industries  pose for a picture.

Not originally from North Carolina, I still marvel at the fact that beautiful furniture is made right here within the state of North Carolina. Touring the factory was like watching an intricate machine operate, we were able to see each process happening whether that was by hand or with a human operating a machine. Let’s begin with some of the highlights!

 

Lee Academy Factory Design Lines COM Fabrics

 

First, bolts of fabric arrive at the factory and are tagged to their respective furniture frame.

 

Lee Academy Factory Design Lines Lay Out

 

Next, the fabric is rolled out and inspected, prepared for cutting and sewing.

 

Lee Academy Factory Design Lines Cuting

 

The patterns are then cut out of the fabric using a computer aided program. The strips you see on the table are being used to create a welt cord.

We closely observed the sewing department as they sew different pieces together.

Below:A top-stitch is created on leather.

 Lee Academy Factory Design Lines Sewing

 

Special details like a hidden zipper pocket and jumbo contrast top-stitching make each piece unique.

 

Lee Academy Factory Design Lines (2)

 

Lee Industries president Norman Coley (middle) observes a hardwood frame and nylon webbing.

 Lee Academy Leather Factory Design Lines Frames

 

Above:  A master upholster begins tying down the metal springs with 8 way hand tied knots, a mark of good quality.

Below:  An upholster finishes an ottoman with covered buttons.

 Lee Academy Factory Design Lines Workers

 

Have you ever heard the phrase “spitting tacks?”  This experienced upholster (above in green) holds his hammer to his mouth to show us a tried and true quick method.

 

Below:  A gorgeous Chesterfield sofa.

Lee Academy Factory Design Lines 

Above: A covered welt cord will be applied to finish the edges on this pretty sofa with exposed wood.

  Lee Academy Factory Design Lines Recycling

 After the factory tour Norman explained to us Lee Industries green practices, you can read all about their eco-friendly company culture here. We really enjoyed our experience at Lee Academy and feel great about all the knowledge we acquired while at the factory.

Hickory Chair, High Point Furniture Market, Lee Industries, Resources

Our Top 7 Trends from Furniture Market

We had a fabulous trip to High Point last week for Furniture Market, and we’re excited to share our favorite trends!  Below, our team gathers for a picture inside the Hickory Chair showroom.

Design Lines High Point Furniture Market Fall 2010 (5)

 Judy catches up with one of her close friends, Diane Gote from New Jersey, while (above) Hilaire poses for a picture with our dear friends, Nancy Gales and Nancy Bolen.

Design Lines High Point Furniture Market 2010 (2)

Our first stop on our High Point visit was Verellen, an eco-friendly company with a European flare. The light fixtures quickly grabbed our attention and the upholstery fabricated in shades of creams, charcoals, and browns.  This is where we noted our first trend for Fall 2010:

Trend #1. Organic Industrial

Design Lines High Point Furniture Market Fall 2010

Lauren and Judy enjoy the comfort of new pieces (above), while colorful cords accent the streamlined floor lamp below. What a unique idea!

Design Lines High Point Furniture Market Fall 2010 (3)

Trend # 2: Unique Furniture Shapes

As the morning continued, we headed to Modern History and Somerset Bay where we saw similar neutrals with a splash of color.  We love the cream cabinet with a jelly bean green splash on the interior! 

 Design Lines High Point Furniture Market Fall 2010 (4)

Trend # 3: Applied Details

Fashion and interior design always influence each other, and I believe that’s what we’re seeing here.  Stop in J Crew or Banana Republic, and you will find appliques and embroidered details on their outfits.  We spotted similar concepts on drapery panels and even lamp shades!

Design Lines High Point Furniture Market Fall 2010 (6)

Trend # 4: Mature Graphics

Graphic patterns have been apart of a fabric trend we’ve seen over the last few years.  But this market, they found their way on a different color palette that seemed more thoughtful and mature.

Design Lines High Point Furniture Market Fall 2010 (7)

Trend # 5: Cream Finishes

Along with the organic neutrals, we saw warm and bright cream finishes that soften the pieces they are applied to.  We loved Suzanne Kesler new collection for Hickory Chair with it’s French inspirations. 

Design Lines High Point Furniture Market Fall 2010 (8)

Every time we tour the Hickory Chair Showroom, we run into some of the industry’s renown interior designers, Suzanne Kesler (left) and Alexa Hampton, who was promoting her most recent book The Language of Interior Design (right).

Design Lines High Point Furniture Market Fall 2010 (9)

Trend # 6: Linen, Linen Everywhere 

In nearly every showroom, linen was featured on furniture and pillows.  Five to ten years ago, chenilles were much more popular as upholstery fabrics, but the clean and fresh look of linen has now taken its place.

Design Lines High Point Furniture Market Fall 2010 (10)

Design Lines High Point Furniture Market Fall 2010 (11)

Above, Brittany and Judy in the Century Furniture Showroom at the end of the day.

Trend # 7: All Shades of Grays

As far as neutrals go, the taupe tans of the 90’s have been replaced with their fresh warm gray relatives. 

Design Lines High Point Furniture Market 2010 (12)

Gray can be pared with rustic finishes and textures or with high gloss metals for either an industrial or polished look.

Design Lines High Point Furniture Market Fall 2010 (15)

Natural Curiosities always has wonderful art and accessories to complete rooms.  We were particularly struck by the moody horse pieces below.

Design Lines High Point Furniture Market Fall 2010 (13)

Regina Andrew and Barbara Cosgrove shared their unique lamp and accessories.  We love the varied of shapes in the mirrored frames above! 

Design Lines High Point Furniture Market Fall 2010 (14)

We ended our day in the Centuryshowroom.  Above, Hilaire tests a leather chair.  Judy loved the unique lines of the McCrae casegoods in the Lee Industries showroom.  Also in Lee, we loved the punches of color, including purple!

Design Lines High Point Furniture Market Fall 2010 (16)

 

Lee Industries

The Anticipation of Brittany & Lauren’s Review of the 27th Annual Lee Academy

Design Lines 2010 Lee Academy (1)

 

Lee Industries, one of North Carolina’s high-end furniture manufacturers, invited Lauren and Brittany to a two day Academy in Hickory, North Carolina.  By educating interior designers, they in turn are more knowledgeable when hand selecting furniture for their clients.

We are still going through all of our wonderful pictures from the 27th annual Lee Academy .

 Design Lines 2010 Lee Academy

 

We promise though Brittany and Lauren will give you, our readers, their personal perspectives on all the behind-the-scenes details of the factory tour and the academy, coming up next week!

One of the highlights from the Academy was watching this fabric below being woven on a jacquard loom. Watch the toile pattern appear as the weft yarns are inserted into the warp yarn.

 

Current Projects, Lee Industries

Current Projects: Sitting Area in Master Bedroom

Design Lines, LTd. Design Raleigh 2

Ashley has been working with a client for a few years now and these two shots are of the sitting area in their master bedroom.

The two contemporary wing chairs are one of their most comfortable in the Lee Industries line and they just came out with this same chair in a glider.  The glider version could be perfect for a nursery.

The floor length mirror allows an extra dimension in the room.  Not only is it great to get ready but becomes its own piece of furniture and accents on the furniture that sits in front of it.

The decorative bench at the end of the bed allows for another patterned fabric and another shade of blue.  The fabric is from Lee Industries.

 

Design Lines, Ltd. Design Raleigh

The decorative ottoman, also from Lee Industries, is a nice accent piece that brought another shade of blue into the room and allowed the client to relax and read a book with their feet put up.

Stay tuned, there is more to come in this master bedroom!

Designer Inspiration/Trends, Hickory Chair, High Point Furniture Market, Lee Industries

2010 Spring High Point Market Trends & Favorites Part 2 of 2

And the crew returns for part 2 of High Point Furniture Market Trends and Favorites. Within part 2 you will find our remaining trends and also a few pictures of some iconic people: Thomas O’Brien and Mariette Hines Gomez. Lets begin!

 

Trend #4 – Neutrals and browns will never go away.

Below are shots in the Lee Industries Showroom of

some classic pieces that scream versatility and style.  

Lee High Point 2010

 

Market wouldn’t be the same without testing the comfort-ability of recliners and sofas. Ashley is lounging in one of the relaxers from Lee Industries.

Design Lines at Lee

 

The bed has a classic and romantic feel while the sofa and coffee table display invites a family for a cup of ice tea on a Sunday afternoon.

Shots below are from the Hickory Chair  Showroom.

Design Lines at Hickory Chair 2010 Highpoint

A pillow line we saw in Inner Hall called Ankasa. Ideal for bedrooms, sun-rooms and/or family rooms.

Wall of Pillows-Ankasa

 

We also had a chance to check out some lamp companies:

Jamey Young (left) and Barabra Cosgrove (right).

Jamey Young Lamps

 

Trend # 5 Purple is still around! All the way from grape juice to wine colored tones.

Shots below are from Hickory Chair Showroom.

Design Lines Purple Trends 

Below: Judy admires the nail head detailing on an upholstered cabinet in the Hickory Chair Showroom.  Need a dining chair, take this cream one below, one of Hickory Chair’s most popular choices (right).

Design Lines at Hickory Chair 2010 Highpoint 2

Often times when the team goes to High Point, it isn’t unusual to run into  interior design icons. Hickory Chair had Thomas O’Brien on hand as he signed copies of his first book, called “American Modern.”You might have seen Thomas’s name on collections in Target, a lighting collection with Visual Comfort and  his interior design studio called Areo in SoHo which he opened in 1992. Here is an article on him in the New York Times.

 Thomas OBrien at Hickory Chair 2010 High Point

The team also stopped to take a photo with Mariette Himes Gomez. Mariette has a design studio  in New York City and also a designer collection with Soicher Marin.  Mariette and Thomas both design furniture for Hickory Chair. Along with Alexa Hampton and Suzanne Kasler who were also in the showroom showing off their collections with Hickory Chair.

It was nice to see you again, Mariette! Thanks for taking a picture with us.

Design Lines with Mariette Himes Gomez in Hickory Chair Showroom 2010

 

Trend 6# Floral sofas are a breath of fresh air.

Below: is a shot from the Lee Showroom of a banquet with a Duralee print.

Floral Sofa at Lee High Point 2010

 Design Lines Trends florals

Left Above: Lee Industries and Right Above: Hickory Chair.

 

Trend # 7  Trellis is popular.

What is a trellis ?  A lattice like pattern inspired by a lot of cultures, they can sometimes be graphic and organic. Below the bed in fabricated in a trellis fabric giving the room life.

This is taken from the Century Showroom and also seen on Apartment Therapy’s review of High Point Furniture Market. 

Market 10 - Century Showroom Pic

 Design Lines Trellis Trends

Above are shots from Hickory Chair Showroom.

 

Trend # 8 Animal Inspiration

Animal influences were in every showroom that we visited. Here are some of the things we saw.

Shots Below are from Hickory Chair Showroom.

 Design Lines Animal Inspiration

 

And last but not least, we had to share one of the coolest discoveries that Marty from Lee Industries showed us. Lee did an experiment putting one of their chairs they manufacture into a lake for two weeks. The actual chair is below on the left and you should definitely click on the YouTube video to see for yourself. We were amazed at how clean the chair looked after being in the lake. It was amazing!

Lee Chair In Lake 2010 High Point

Award Winning Interior Design | Raleigh, NC