Showing posts with label theodore alexander. Show all posts
Showing posts with label theodore alexander. Show all posts

Monday, April 11, 2011

HIGH POINT MARKET: PART I

As promised, this week I'm going to bring you lots of posts from my trip to High Point. We were lucky enough to be toured through a few different showrooms as a group (so much fun with my fabulous blog gals!) so I'll start off with those...

First up was one of my favorites - the Hickory Chair showroom!
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Celebrating their 100 year anniversary, the focus of their new product was reinventing some of their classics into updated pieces as well as offering some popular customizations, like the length added to this large, gorgeous dining table!
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And updating the very first hickory chair they ever created into this modernized version above (to the left). They also showed off their customization options by creating two versions of the pieces shown above in completely different finishes - a great way to show how changing the tone of a piece can create a totally different vibe.
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Seeing Suzanne Kasler's rooms is always a treat for me, and she did not disappoint with this space designed to show off her new fabric line. Loved the use of the pattern throughout...
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My two favorite pieces from Suzanne's line remain the same - the campaign desk and slipper chair. Unfortunately our time at the showroom got cut short, because there was so much more to see and do... so this tour is moving on too!

Next up was Sligh - a company was unfamiliar with before getting to High Point.
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The focus of their furniture lines is on home office and entertainment - and this new line was hands-down my favorite out of all their selections. Clean lines and gorgeous hardware with two-toned wood. I liked that they showed a variety of simple modern styles as well as traditional, with a great focus on attention to detail and technology needs.
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The desks are all made to hide wires and plug-ins and their entertainment units (which I forgot to get shots of) have the option of their 'strong arm' mounting system (so you don't have to damage your walls!) as well as the 'smart eye' which allows you to use the remote to control all the technology componets hidden behind the doors.

After that we were on to Theodore Alexander where my camera basically started failing on me, but I manged to get a few fun shots...
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Like our group with the Keno Brothers whose line was simply stunning!! I'll have to share more of it with you when the images are available because we weren't allowed to photograph them yet.

And talk about an extensive line - the company creates serious reproductions of traditional English pieces while contrasting them with completely modern shapes as well... and pretty much everything in between too.
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One of my favorites of the traditional pieces was this double heart table...
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In the right setting it could be such a sweet little stand-alone piece.

What do you think so far? Anything you're absolutely loving? All have the second half of the tour later today... and tomorrow, we'll talk trends!

*all photos my own

Sunday, April 10, 2011

A Look at Althorp

When we visited the Theodore Alexander showroom in High Point, we learned that they have an entire Althorp Collection of reproduction furniture.  Althorp is a stately English home in Northamptonshire that is owned by the Spencer family.  While it has over 500 years of history, it is best known as the childhood home of Princess Diana and serves as her final resting place.  As you can imagine, it is very expensive to maintain a home of this size and historic significance which is why Charles Spencer authorized a collection of Althorp reproductions at Theodore Alexander initially to help pay for a new roof.  There was also an attic sale at Christie's last year. We were not allowed to take photos in the Theodore Alexander showroom so I thought it would be fun to look at the home that inspired the collection.  We can't all live in such a magnificent splendor but it is fun to know that we can own the same furniture. 

On a side note, actor Max Irons, son of Jeremy Irons, was recently photographed by Jason Bell for Vanity Fair at Althorp. All the photos with the handsome young man are from that shoot and the black and white photos are a vintage look at Althorp.  There is also a video online of Max Irons at Althorp that gives you an even better look at this stunning house and grounds.  Enjoy!


Max Irons in Wooton Hall






The Library




The South Drawing Room


The Billiard Room


The State Dining Room

The Great Room



The Sunderland Room

The Picture Gallery


The Painters Hallway


The Saloon



The Marlborough Room

King William Bedroom

Max Irons in the King William Bedroom

Oak Bedroom

Prince of Wales Bedroom


Max Irons in the Wine Cellar


The Stables are now home to the Princess Diana exhibition.

A photo of the Stables taken in 1921