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

Best Foot Forward

Posted on October 11, 2012 by mhorgan in Design Dictionary

When it comes to choosing furniture, you always want to put your best foot forward. The feet of a piece of furniture are a specific detail that can be overlooked. But, as you’ll see, with so many different styles of feet, this little detail can bring you one step closer to falling head over heels in love with your furniture!

For this week’s Design Dictionary, let’s look at a few different styles of feet – all beginning with the letter B.

Bracket Foot

This is a decorative right-angled foot shaped like a bracket and placed at each corner of the piece of furniture. Typically seen on wooden furniture (also known as case goods), bracket feet have a timeless and classic feel, as seen here on our Madison Cherry II Entertainment Center.

Our Madison Cherry II Entertainment Center

Bun Foot

Originating from the William and Mary time period, the bun foot is shaped like a slightly flattened ball and typically used on the bottom of chests of drawers, seating pieces and upholstered chairs. Here, bun feet are used on this Colusa Credenza Buffet Table from our Celladora Collection to give the piece a sophisticated touch.

Our Celladora Colusa Credenza Buffet Table

Block Foot

The block foot is a square foot at the base of a straight untapered leg. The Wilson Console Hall Chest from the Adaptations Collection is a great example of a piece with block feet. With so many intricate details, the block feet balance the elements of this piece and give it a polished finish.

Our Adaptations Wilson Console Hall Chest

Ball & Claw Foot

True to its name, this is literally a type of carving used at the foot of a chair, table or small chest that looks like a sphere grasped by a claw. This kind of foot has Oriental origin and is said to be a Chinese symbol of evil with a dragon clutching a pearl. The Wilshire Recliner from our LP Leather Collection has ball & claw carvings on the front two legs of the chair, giving the recliner a refined and almost regal feel.

Our LP Leather Wilshire Recliner

Vintage Originals Hardware

Posted on October 4, 2012 by mhorgan in Fashion and Design

We’ve featured the Vintage Originals collection in our blogs previously, but we haven’t focused on one of this collection’s most interesting details yet – the hardware! Here’s a sneak peak at Vintage Originals and its fashionable hardware, which will be available later this fall.

Inspired by vintage costume jewelry, these pieces of hardware create a custom look and always make a statement. Just like the perfect accessory can enhance any outfit, hardware can do the same for classic cabinets, dressers and drawers. Add a big, chunky statement piece of jewelry like this vintage necklace from Rogue Vintage  to make a regular blouse or shirt go from blah to wow.

Vintage pendant necklace from Rouge Vintage

The same applies to hardware! The Haberdashery Chest’s key-in-a-lock knobs give a modern twist to a classic piece and add a polished contrast to the leather-finished drawers.

Our Vintage Originals Haberdashery Chest with key-in-lock hardware

With a costume jewelry vibe, the star-shaped knobs on the Vintage Originals Secretary strike the perfect note between trendy and traditional.

Our Vintage Originals Secretary with star-inspired hardware

Be on the lookout for the Vintage Originals collection coming to Drexel Heritage stores later this fall!

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!

Design Dictionary

Posted on November 23, 2011 by jbutler in Design Dictionary

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and we can’t stop thinking about some of our favorite things that start with the letter “P”: pumpkin pie, potatoes and a little pigskin (the Packers, anyone?). Speaking of the letter “P,” we’d like to introduce the two newest additions to our Design Dictionary series: Palladio and Parrot.

Palladio

Andrea Palladio, a famous Venetian architect of the 16^th century, is widely known for his series of villas and urban palaces in Vincenza. He is also widely known for what we’ve come to describe as the Palladian arch. Though the arch was not invented by Palladio himself, he made it famous when he employed this characteristic in his design of the basilica in Vincenza.

Today, the Palladian arch is still around. Featuring a semi-circular top flanked with two flat-top openings, it’s featured in the designs of everything from architecture to furniture. The Mirror of Enlightenment, from our Philosophies collection, is a great example of this timeless element of classical design.

Parrot

While we can’t stop dreaming of a delicious turkey this Thanksgiving, we’ve got another bird on our minds for this next Design Dictionary term: the parrot (or parrot splat, to be exact). This bird-like feature is usually found on Queen Anne-style chairs (like our Queen Anne Side Chair) and is characterized by the rounded head and beak shape visible in the open space between the chair splat and backpost. Can you find the two “parrots” in this chair?

Love from #hpmkt

Posted on November 3, 2011 by jbutler in Furniture Market

Even though High Point Market is officially over for the season, there’s still so much to do, like catch up with some of our favorite design bloggers. These past couple of weeks, we’ve really enjoyed reading about some of their favorite things from Market, and yes, we’re blushing – some of those things came straight from our showroom!

Designer and Under the Chandelier blogger Elaine Williamson (also one of High Point Market’s Style Spotters) took this photo of one of our upholstered headboards and loved it so much, she pinned it (on Pinterest, of course)!

She wrote, “Drexel Heritage you rocked our world with this bed and snuggle mirror.” Thanks, Elaine!

As for blogger Heather Clawson of Habitually Chic (and another Market Style Spotter), our showroom may have inspired her to redecorate her apartment! She was especially a fan of our Hexham Sofa.

We were thrilled that Erin of House of Turquoise found a room she loved. Let’s just say it involved many shades of blues.

And of course, color is king at Michele Ginnerty’s  My Knotting Hill. It looks like our new upholstered tables were a big hit!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our showroom. We can’t wait to read more!

Arrested by Color

Posted on October 26, 2011 by jbutler in Color Forecasting, Fashion and Design

Denise loves her blues!

In New York, our creative team, Denise and Carl, were repeatedly arrested. Arrested by color, that is. The colors that caused the most commotion were the usual suspects: red, green and blue.  But seen with a designer’s eye in a vibrant NYC milieu, they’re anything but ordinary.

Intoxicating Reds: According to Denise, “red has graduated.” Literally! She further explains, “We’re seeing a broad palette of reds – from quiet pink, blush and rose to live-out-loud fuchsia, raspberry and cherry – all interacting together. The mix is the thing.”  It’s a new mind-bending approach to monochromatic!

Not-Your-Granny’s Green: Green is making a comeback. “After all,” Denise comments, “green is the ultimate perennial – the color of nature. But a new incarnation is just starting to emerge.” Denise took note of this in Fifth Avenue windows and SoHo boutiques. Green is bubbling across a broad palette – from jade and Anjou to pistachio and puce.

Wild Blue Yonder: “I can’t be impartial about blue,” Denise confesses, “It’s my personal favorite, and I love where blue is going now.” The expansive palette is once again in play. Blue-infused charcoals and smoky lavenders seduce. Indigo and turquoise demand attention. True blue is the color of water and sky, evoking a sense of harmony, fluidity and flow where ever it goes.

No one is neutral about color. What hues turn your head and trigger your imagination? Drunk on reds? Green with envy? Singing the blues? Tell us about your favorites. How are you are using the colors du jour to freshen up your wardrobe and your home décor? Stay tuned for the conclusion of this mini-series, where Denise and Carl revisit familiar patterns with a fresh eye.

Urban Country’s Rachelle Roth

Posted on October 20, 2011 by jbutler in Dealer Spotlight

We’re kicking off a new series this month similar to our Blogger Spotlight series, but with the spotlight focused on some of our dealers and their designers, who inspire our creative team. On a recent trip through Virginia and Maryland, Carl Bundy, our senior vice president of product development, was inspired by Rachelle Roth, owner of Urban Country.

Pictured from left to right: Sascha, Rachelle and Jillian Roth of Urban Country

Urban Country, a retail store in Bethesda, Maryland, was named “Bethesda’s best kept secret in Interior Design” by the Washington Post. Celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year, the retailer has everything from furniture to fabrics to custom window treatments and bedding. They offer full interior design services and have five accredited designers on staff.

We caught up with Rachelle before she left for fall High Point Market, and here’s what she had to say.

Obviously, you have a passion for home furnishings and interior design. Where did it all begin? Tell us how you got started.

Growing up in a family of European heritage, style and fashion were almost inherent. After earning a graduate degree in art history, I entered the world of fashion on 7^th Avenue in New York, where I developed a love of fine fabrics – very fine fabrics, as in Haute Couture and the likes of Geoffrey Beene, Oscar de la Renta and Ralph Lauren, and a great color sense. I forecasted the season’s hottest color trends, worked one-on-one with some of the fashion industry’s most respected buyers and attended the most coveted fashion shows every season.

Fast forward some years later to Washington, D.C. where I started a family, designed a line of children’s clothing, enrolled in design school and started my own interior design business. My husband, Jeffrey, and I both loved to travel, and we wanted to work together so we blended his corporate retail experience with my design experience and founded Urban Country, a home furnishings store for countryside and urban spaces.

Twenty years later (my husband passed away 12 years ago), two of my three daughters and I continue to provide fashion-forward design in an exciting retail atmosphere. When asked what I buy, I say I buy what I love, be it furniture, bedding, bath, accessories, jewelry, baby or haute couture-inspired pet beds and accessories.

You’re a pro. Can you share a favorite decorating tip or approach that can help take a design project from good to great?

Scale is of utmost importance. Color should speak to the client’s personality.

The room should evoke great emotion by incorporating an important piece like a family heirloom, an accessory that makes a statement, special detailing that subtly makes its presence known, like a cashmere throw or a salvaged rose window from an old church that hangs in the hallway and encourages the eye to look upwards.

What’s your favorite, must-have Drexel Heritage piece…and why?

The Lainey Chair. It’s luxurious like an Armani dress and elegantly styled in tones of brown mohair and velvet. What more could I ask for?

Thanks for sharing your story with us, Rachelle!  Happy anniversary and cheers to another 20-plus successful years!

 For more about the Maryland furniture retailer, visit urbancountrydesigns.com and Urban Country Designs on Facebook.

Cool + Warm = Hot!

Posted on October 12, 2011 by jbutler in Color Forecasting, Trendy Tips

Two distinctly different masterminds lead our creative design team. First, meet Denise. Her style is cool, hip and feminine with a European slant. We also want you to know Carl. His style and manner is warm, friendly and funny with a penchant for detail, detail, detail. It’s interesting that this “cool and warm” commingling design combo is also playing out in the world of design on the streets of NYC. Let us explain.

In a traditional design approach, harmony is achieved by bringing together colors with a similar value. For example, icy blues, dove whites and silvery sages might reside beautifully in one cool and collected palette, while those dusty taupes, teals and tawny browns are in another neighborhood.

The rules are changing. As a design team, Denise and Carl meld two style perspectives and approaches. In fashion, so-called cool and warm tones are mixing it up, and the result is anything but lukewarm – it’s hot! “It’s really refreshing,” Denise notes. Her favorite: a warm espresso dialed up and down across a diverse spectrum. “It’s already an important accent color in our line, and I think there’s room for expansion. Stay tuned.”

The new hues are not limited to fabrics and textiles. Wood furniture is traditionally brown, “but who said so?” asks Carl. Most of the Drexel lineup is available in more than 40 custom paint and finish colors ranging from Tangerine and Apple Green to a Smoke, Linen and Fog. The design team is “in the lab” now calibrating new paint color introductions inspired by travel and fashion trends.

Are you a student of color? Be sure to share your thoughts, and stay tuned as we discuss more color trends in part three of our trendspotting series.

A Bite of the Big Apple

Posted on September 28, 2011 by jbutler in Color Forecasting, Fashion and Design, Trendy Tips

We love London, Paris and Milan. Truly, we do. But NYC is a mere 90-minute flight from our North Carolina headquarters. One of Denise and Carl’s job requirements (we should all be so lucky) is frequent NYC field trips to soak up the city and go-mingle sights, sounds, colors and textures with Drexel Heritage designs on the drawing board. Let’s get started with two fashion-into-furniture emergent (and evolving) trends:

Still Mad about Geometry: While Denise admits geometry was not her favorite subject in school, she’s a devotee today. “It’s wide open,” she notes, “the geometrics are morphing with new forms – sometimes bold, other times faint, oversized and diminutive.” It’s everywhere from chunky jewelry (think Wilma Flintstone circa 2011) to highly patterned hosiery to home décor. Drexel Heritage fabrics are right on trend this season, as well as our new collection, Synchronicity (which celebrates symmetry, Carl points out), coming later this fall. (P.S. Carl aced geometry in high school.)

In the Wild:  Animal prints (Denise says faux is fine – in fact, even better) are a perennial classic abounding on the streets of NYC and in shop windows.  “What’s new and so exciting,” Denise observes, “is that the menagerie and color palette is getting really diverse. Animal prints are always present, but this season they’re breaking free, so to speak!” This means a wider cast of characters — zebras, cheetahs, pythons, leopards and the traditional black-brown coloration is giving way to metallics, magentas and a range of other strong, saturated colors. “A little goes a long way,” Denise observes, “It’s a rich potion.”

Starting to see a pattern? Join the discussion. Let us know what patterns, shapes and textures you see – new and emerging. Let’s trendspot together!