A Match Made in Home Furnishings Heaven

Williams-Sonoma prides itself on the quality and design of its home furnishings. No wonder then that its paring with the venerable furniture company Hickory Chair is such a perfect match.

"We partnered with Hickory Chair because we wanted to work with the best of the best," says Sarah Bruner, buyer for Williams-Sonoma.

Hickory Chair is based in Hickory, North Carolina and for the last hundred years has produced high-quality American made furniture with extensive customization options. For example, Hickory Chair offers over seventy finishes on wood furniture with the option to add hand decoration. When it comes to custom upholstery, Hickory Chair's director of marketing services, Laura Holland, touts the company’s ability to transform basic designs into one-of-a-kind heirlooms.

"We can change a chair to a sofa to a sleeper sofa using 5 different back styles or 17 different leg styles and specify different dimensions for the height, depth and width," says Holland. "Really, we try to do most anything you specify."

Hickory Chair also believes in working with designers at the top of their game. For example, legendary 20th century designer Mark Hampton designed the Regency Bamboo Writing Desk featured at Williams-Sonoma. Atlanta-based designer Suzanne Kasler created the Asheworth Campaign Desk from a French antique in her collection. New York Designer Thomas O'Brien created the Newland Kitchen Island using his unique ability to modernize traditional design.

Holland notes that though the Newland Kitchen Island is featured on the Williams-Sonoma site in a classic painted white finish with a wood or marble top; a designer can work through Williams-Sonoma to customize the island.

"Say you want to paint it with Benjamin Moore's "Shell Pink" with a stretcher bar instead of shelves and without a top so that you can work with your local granite person—that's all ok," says Holland. "We like doing things that others can't do; it helps us look towards our next 100 years."