Fall HPMkt 2012: Part V
Posted on November 19, 2012 by mhorgan in Blogger Spotlight, Color Forecasting, Fashion and Design, Furniture Market, Trendy Tips
At Fall Market 2012, we continued to showcase what Drexel Heritage is known for: customization, high-end upholstery and finishes and the ability to take a personal and specialized spin on traditional and classic designs. Below, are some of examples of Drexel’s custom designs that our friends at Apartment Therapy recently shared on their blog. We hope these pieces featured will show you how a classic design can look completely new and will inspire you to be your own designer with Drexel Heritage!
Drexel Heritage’s Tweed Upholstered Wingback Chair
A handsome cut of menswear-inspired tweed upholstery, tailored for a wingback chair from Drexel Heritage.
Drexel Heritage’s Tie Dyed Wingback Chair
They’ve been designing and selling furniture since 1903, but that hasn’t stopped Drexel Heritage Furniture from taking playful risks, like this colorful tie dyed upholstery wingback chair.
Maxwell spots a color trend (fuschia!), and in the process snapped several of our editorial staff (Janel, Jason, and Chris) taking the tour at the Drexel Heritage showroom.
Fall #HPMkt 2012: Part IV
Posted on November 9, 2012 by mhorgan in Blogger Spotlight, Fashion and Design, Furniture Market, Trendy Tips
In part four of our Fall Market blogger coverage, we share the insights of the fabulous Fanki Durbin, designer and author of the blog Life in a Venti Cup. Below, we have shared her thoughts and reactions from her visit to the Drexel Heritage showroom. Enjoy!
High Point Market: Design by Drexel Heritage
Trending at Market: hair on hide. It was everywhere. This chair was one of the best examples I’ve seen of the trend. Love the placement of such organic elements around such a finely crafted French style chair.
Another element seen repeatedly at Market: the quatrefoil. Rarely, however, is an entire piece of furniture formed in this classic shape. I loved this versatile occasional piece. Bedside chest, end table, accent table… you name it, this piece could fill that role. A really beautiful element in any room.
A stunning sofa rests in the bqckground with fabulous cream frame and blue trellis bench seat. Of course the styling in the showroom, as seen on the cocktail table in the foreground, is so good you simply have to stop and admire the grouping.
Always the best part of any showroom visit: the resource room! Drexel realy turns it out when it comes to fabric samples. I’d love to have my own fabric swatch inventory arranged this way in my home office. Isn’t this delicious?
And of course, a French sofa with an incredible silhouette and a Gustavian Gray finish. I do have a weakness for these linen covered pieces with European stylng. A truly beautiful upholstered piece. And isn’t that rug yummy?
Zebra, anyone? This particular fabric has an ombre effect to it, with the stripes having more intensity of color in the center and fading out slightly at the edges. Note how it was placed on this classic chair finished in silver leaf. Serious pop of drama.
One of the showroom tours I was most looking forward to at Market was Drexel Heritage. I’ve had a soft spot for in my designer heart for years for this brand. I love the sheer variety of the showroom and it’s artisan appeal. But much of this stems from my appreciation of the talent of their creative director Denise Alala. She is one half of the creative team behind this luxurious furniture brand and never ceases to amaze me with her ability to evolve and surprise when it comes to new introductions for High Point Market.
Drexel Heritage doesn’t have a “look” or a style. Their collections run the gamut between classic European pieces (like bergeres and French settees) and on-trend designs that clearly derive influences from runway fashion and modern culture (as is the case with the zebra & silver leaf chair above). It’s this delicious visual melange that keeps your eyes from ever tiring during a showroom tour. Beyond every corner is a vignette in a completely different look that the one you just passed through.
The unifying quality, of course, is the “collected” look that Drexel does so well. Each piece is offered in a seemingly endless array of finishes. Have that iron bed painted chippy antique white or do it up in rich red. The choice is yours and the showroom reflects this attention to personalization. Their upholstery selection knows no bounds either. From shimmering wovens to vibrant prints, the beauty of their textiles is always a treat for the eyes.
Beyond what they offer, the mood at Drexel is always quite sexy. Lights are dimmed just so. Vignettes are styled so richly that you want to move right in. It’s such a lush space that you want to occupy not just the space but the lifestyle that the styling implies. Design books are scattered about, fresh flowers are scattered about in vases, art supplies are gathered here and there. This is what good showroom styling is all about. Drexel is selling an artisan lifestyle and I love it.
While I was there I was able to spend time with longtime online (and now real) friend Stacey Bewkes of Quintessence Blog, Ronda Rice Carman of All the Best Blog(a VERY longtime online friend whom I’ve finally had the pleasure to meet & spend time with) as well as the always lovely Meg BIram of Mimi and Meg. This was a fantastic group of girls to be on tour with and it was so nice to finaly get that offline time with “my girls” – especially in a stylish environment like the Drexel space.
Thank you, Denise for the tour and for your time. And thank you, Lisa Hanly ofFurniture Brands for inviting me to come play at Drexel!
If you have a Drexel Heritage showroom in your city, please go visit. The variety of styles and personalization choices will astonish you. Each piece truly is crafted to your specificiations. Stay tuned in the next few weeks to my twitter & facebook feeds, as I’ll be posting even more snaps from my tour. Many lovely photos to share with you.
Fall #HPMkt 2012: Part III
Posted on November 2, 2012 by mhorgan in Blogger Spotlight, Fashion and Design, Furniture Market, Trendy Tips
As we have discussed in our past couple of posts, meeting with the fabulous design bloggers is one of our favorite parts about High Point Market! We have shared market coverage from our friends at All the Best and Apartment Therapy, and this week, we wanted to share a recent post from the blog Quintessence. Enjoy!
High Point Picks | Drexel Heritage Delivers
Drexel Heritage wants you to tell your story at home your way. And to help, they focus on offering customization options at every level. As my sponsor at High Point, Drexel hosted me and several other bloggers for a morning at their showroom. We were delighted to have the very knowledgeable Denise Alala, Vice President of Upholstery lead part of our tour. She explained how this season Drexel introduced many new fabrics to their stable of over 800 selections. From graphic blues
to animal patterns, bold prints, textured smalls
and colorful leathers,
there is a wide variety to choose from. They also added more smaller scaled, apartment friendly frames to their Options program, where customers can mix and match arm style, seat and back options, skirt and trim styles as well as wood finishes. And the woods, all executed here in the states, are now available in more finishes and paint colors. I liked the new vintage alpine, for example, on this casual occasional chair
And see how different the same Indulgence Display cabinet looks in two custom colors. And because all the work is done right here in the States, even custom items take merely weeks to complete.
Denise’s talents also extend to styling, which lent a lived-in look throughout the enormous space
The Viage collection, “inspired by the idea of what you might find in a European artist’s studio,” was the new introduction at market. It features “layered moldings, intricate joinery, hand-accented veneer patterns, metal star details and simple turnings on posts, mixing elements from European antiques with modern components, like glass and metal,” such as one of my favorite pieces from the line, the Postcards Desk.
The Expedition Console and Mirror of Discovery are both updated classic and versatile pieces from the collection that could migrate from room to room.
Drexel’s case goods feature thoughtful details as can be seen in their Vintage Originals collection. I always appreciate handsome hardware and the drawer pulls on the Haberdashery Chest
and the Sazerac bar/secretary
are details that definitely make a difference. In wandering through the showroom, I thought I would share a few other picks that I think show the versatile and flexible nature of what Drexel Heritage offers. The Voussoir Pedestal Dining Table is a modern classic that could work not only as a dining table but also as an entry table in a larger home. The clean lines and metal du jour would mix with any number of complementary styles
From the Celladora collection, this case hall chest and Larkspur mirror are pieces perfectly suited for locations from the mountains to beach. And the new case goods options finishes extend to this collection so they could be reimagined in any number of collectible colors.
And lastly, several designer friends mentioned the upholstered console as a favorite and it is easy to see why. In a totally chic shape, this infinitely useful and stylish piece is available in a plethora of prints or solids to accent any decor.
With pretty piping and a fitted glass top, this console could work in literally any room of the house or apartment.
A huge thanks to Lisa Hanley, Vice President, Corporate Communications and Public Relations of parent company Furniture Brands for the generous sponsorship and welcoming hospitality. Drexel does deliver on so many levels!
Fall #HPMkt 2012: Part II
Posted on October 26, 2012 by mhorgan in Blogger Spotlight, Fashion and Design, Furniture Market, Trendy Tips
One of the reasons we love High Point Market so much is because we get to meet with all of our favorite design bloggers! Our friends at Apartment Therapy were kind enough to stop by our showroom and share some of their favorite new Drexel Heritage trends. From pops of pink to menswear inspired pieces to creative leather detailing, Apartment Therapy covered all of the new Drexel style stories on their blog, which we have shared with you below. Enjoy!
High Point Highlights: 5 Amped up Style Directions at Drexel Heritage
The Drexel showroom was one of our first stops at High Point and the whole team wanted in on the tour! In addition to our guide, Lisa, being absolutely 100% entertaining, there are plenty of good design ideas getting served up by the creative team behind this brand. Here are a few of the style stories that were apparent in their collections for this season:
Classic Menswear
Hot Pink Details
Global Patterns in Blue and White
Creative Leather Detailing
Vintage Inspired Plaids and Florals
Celladora Console Table: Why it Works
Posted on September 28, 2012 by mhorgan in Trendy Tips, Why it Works
At Drexel Heritage, we know the details define the distinctive designer. When it comes to creating the perfect piece of furniture, we strive for high-end looks, functionality and those little details that take it from simple to stunning!
Last week we talked about the Erskine Chair and all of its fabulous little details. Now, let’s take a look at another favorite – The Celladora Console Table.
Our Celladora Console Table
Here’s our breakdown of why it works:
Versatile Use: It doubles as both a sofa table and a sideboard. Use it in the living room to showcase family photos, or take advantage of its long tabletop and use it in the dining room to store and serve food during big family meals.
Finish: The Celladora Console Table’s dark finish is a classic and contrasts beautifully in a lighter colored room. We love pairing it with cream colored walls, a neutral sofa and dark accent pieces – think of a creamy vanilla milkshake mixed with pieces of delicious dark chocolate!
Lighter in Scale: With its intricate fretwork and lighter scale, this sofa table never feels overbearing. Its smaller size is the perfect balance to its dark finish and always promises to bring a touch of sophistication to any space, big or small.
Style the Celladora Console Table in a bright room for a stylish high-contrast look!
Opposites Attract
Posted on September 14, 2012 by mhorgan in Fashion and Design, Trendy Tips
With New York Fashion Week wrapping up, we can’t help but look to the runways and reflect on the newest trends. Designers like BCBG, Jason Wu and Herve Ledger debuted edgy collections featuring a mix of structured leather, feminine silhouettes and delicate lace details. A balance of the super masculine and overly feminine, these collections created a look of soft and hard, classic and edgy.
Opposites, yet completely complementary, this mixture of leather and lace, masculine and feminine is a trend that is fun and easy to incorporate into your home. Pick either masculine or feminine to be the dominant style in the room and then add in details of soft and flowy or strong and structured.
Try pairing a traditional leather armchair like the Pate Chair with flirty feminine details.
Our Pate Chair
Bright, reflective accent pieces like the Montaigne Hall Chest and Vintage Originals End Table balance the dark masculine leather and add whimsical appeal.
Our Montaigne Hall Chest
Our Vintage Originals End Table
Or, to balance a more feminine piece like the Amelia Sofa in a bold floral upholstery, pair it with a heavy end table in a dark finish.
Our Amelia Sofa
We love how this sofa looks with the Vintage Originals End Table, which features a more masculine form accented with costume-jewelry inspired hardware.
Our Vintage Originals End Table
Designing a room that balances masculine and feminine and looks cohesive, not confused, doesn’t have to be difficult! Give this trend a chance and try it out in your home. We’d love to hear how you are making it work!
Erskine Chair: Why it Works
Posted on September 7, 2012 by jbutler in Fashion and Design, Trendy Tips
We love the fashion blog Who What Wear for so many reasons it’s difficult to list them all. But, we’ll start with this week’s “Why it Works” breakdown of Emma Stone’s trench coat as just one them.
The fashion blog Who What Wear breaks down why this fashion trend works
Just like Who What Wear’s tips to a simple and chic fall outfit, designing a functional, stylish room is a mix of classic pieces and clean details. Here is our breakdown of the Erskine Chair and why it works.
Our Erskine Chair
Timeless Upholstery: The chair’s tweed-inspired chenille upholstery is a classic. Super soft and super versatile, the Erskine Chair is neither too masculine nor feminine and, with the right accessories, looks great in any style room.
Simple Details: Forest green velvet piping highlights the Erskine’s subtle wingback design and adds definition to the form. Add in some tufting and buttons in the same rich green color, and we have a winning combination of subtle sophistication.
Geometric Accessories: Chocolate brown and crisp white geometric throw pillows are the perfect accessory. Eye-catching, but not overwhelming, the pillows’ upholstery complements the Erskine’s plaid design and adds just a touch of pizzaz!
Geometric throw pillows are the perfect accessory
These are a just few tips for achieving a timeless look in your home. We hope you can take these ideas and make them your own. Happy designing!
Design 101: Back-to-School Basics
Posted on August 31, 2012 by jbutler in Trendy Tips
It’s that time of year again: the first day of school. So, what better time than now to re-share some design tips from Drexel designer Denise Alala on how to create the perfect workspace for homework? Happy studying!
The first day of school is like New Year’s Day. Just ask any parent – like Denise Alala, our chief fashion guru and mother of two. In celebration of this “new year,” we asked Denise to share some resolutions on how to make homework a little less like work (for everybody):
Idea #1: Workspaces need to be flexible and so do you.
Don’t limit your hardworking student’s creativity by confining homework to one room or one spot. Today, everyone is a multi-tasker, especially your kids. Be happy homework is happening anywhere! Denise recommends keeping things uncluttered and ready for work, just in case. It could be an oversized ottoman in the living room or rugs and pillows on the floor. Denise says, all space is workspace!
Idea #2: Take one for the team!
Be open to group workspaces, as school projects are often team-oriented (kids learn about collaboration early)! This means the kitchen or dining room table should be ready for work on a whim. Denise works hard (it looks effortless) to make her house kid-friendly and welcoming. And it’s great to be the hub, she says. You don’t have to wonder where your kids are!
Idea #3: Embrace battle scars; they’re memories.
If your dream home is perfectly appointed with every item in place, “get over it” advises Denise. We love fine furniture and beautiful interiors, but we love our kids more. “Furniture is for living,” to quote Denise directly. Accidents will happen. Follow furniture care tips and embrace the little nick or smudge of tempera paint. It’s a memory in the making.
And while learning can happen anywhere, we can’t forget the classic desk and chair combo. Denise recommends the Bailey Desk paired with a custom upholstered chair. A dynamic duo for homework for kids and parents alike.
We hope these tips will inspire you to create a home environment where learning is not only the norm – it’s fun. Class dismissed!
Mix It Up!
Posted on July 18, 2012 by jbutler in Fashion and Design, Trendy Tips
It’s time to mix it up this summer! Think stripes and floral, polka dots and plaid, houndstooth and animal print. Do we sound crazy yet? Once considered a fashion faux pas, mixing patterns is now a lively trend that is all about experimentation and creativity. The trick is to use patterns from the same color family and designs that won’t compete, like these looks from the fashion and crafting blog Say Yes to Hoboken.
Liz Stanley from Say Yes to Hoboken mixes it up!
The best part about this trend? You can mix and meld pieces you already own to create a revamped style without breaking the bank.
As you know, fashion trends are often mirrored in design, and mixing patterns is no exception! This trend creates depth in any room, and at Drexel Heritage, our designer Denise Alala is always introducing fun and unexpected twists on traditional furniture upholstery.
By mixing patterns, a single piece of furniture can add flair to any room in your house. Try the striped Holloway Sleep Sofa with elegant patterned throw pillows for an effortlessly chic design.
Our Holloway Sleep Sofa
Or, for a complete room makeover, try contrasting our Millington Chair with plaid curtains for a polished, pulled-together look.
Our Millington Chair
Mixing patterns is the perfect trend to build off what you already own. Mix and meld new and old furniture to create a look that is more collected than decorated. If you already own a neutral sofa, try adding our Runway Chair in houndstooth accented with a bright floral throw pillow to give your room an unexpected pop of style.
Our Runway Chair
So, we must ask – are you up for the challenge? How will you mix patterns in your home?
Monogram It!
Posted on July 11, 2012 by jbutler in Fashion and Design, Trendy Tips
It’s time to get personal – with monograms, that is! A little individualization can go a long way to create a signature style that is completely yours in both fashion and design. We love the Max & Chloe monogrammed earrings as the finishing touch to a preppy, classic ensemble, and the J.Crew linen shirt with an added monogram is the perfect summer cover-up or casual weekend outfit.
Monograms are also being used by our talented upholstery designers for fun, but classic home décor. The custom-embroidered Clair Chair is a timeless piece that will enhance your dining or living room with an upscale, traditional look.
Our Clair Chair
Or, if you’re looking for a modern twist, try the Elaine Chair. The clean lines and bold stitching exude confidence and sophistication, and are the perfect balance to the bright upholstery of our Console Table.
Our Elaine Chair
For accent pieces, monogram decorative accessories like throw pillows, duvet covers, blankets or candles. This is a trend that will never go out of style!
We can’t get enough of the monogram craze here at Drexel Heritage. Won’t you join us? How do you plan to personalize your home?