Dovecote Decor

Suzanne Kasler Discusses her October Showroom Inspirations at Hickory Chair

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 15:35:00 +0000

During the last October furniture market in High Point, Suzanne Kasler was kind enough to deconstruct her design process and convey her latest inspirations in her Hickory Chair showroom. Suzanne loves to create a feminine neutral space and is renown for her couture dress maker details. Her collaborations with clients have taken her from the preserves of Kenya to Blackberry Farm in the Great Smokey Mountains of Tennessee. Elegant comfort defines and unites these widely diverse cultural settings. Suzanne's line at Hickory Chair is an entirely custom experience. A broad range of finishes and wood species are available for all the pieces in the collection. The upholstery can be made to measure, with abundant bespoke options. In addition to her furniture line at Hickory Chair, she also has lighting at Visual Comfort, art at Soicher Marin, and fabrics at Lee Jofa. Take a moment and watch Suzanne's design secrets. Dovecote Decor can help you purchase any Hickory Chair furniture piece.

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Stanley Coastal Living Video - High Point Furniture Market

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 17:01:00 +0000

For the last year, we have been stunned by the transformation at Stanley Furniture. Stanley has been an old guard company set in its ways and therefore entirely off our radar. In fact, there wasn't a stylish bone in the collection, that is until now. Suddenly we are looking at carefully styled, finished and scaled furniture at a great price point.

Watch our video to learn more about Stanley's new look.

If you want to go to High Point Furniture Market make your reservation with us today.

2820 Thornfield Rd. Winston Salem, N.C.27106

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 17:40:00 +0000

2820 Thornfield Rd.

Winston Salem, N.C.

We have loved our house on Thornfield Road for the last 14 years. It was conceived by a Winston-Salem couple who owned a francophile boutique and traveled extensively through France--shopping for their store and home. Collaborating with the Wilmington, N.C. architect Henry Johnston the team gathered artisans, Mennonite craftsman, custom millworkers, old wood resources for floors, beams and paneling to create an authentic, charming French farmhouse aesthetic. The house was finished in 1988, so it is a modern house with old world sensibilities.

Anvil studio artist Bill Brown, created these beautiful roof supports at the front door.

French country houses are designed to flow easily to the out of doors. French doors instead of windows compel you to wander out . Breezeways and pergolas provide shelter, allowing you to watch the moon rise, thunder strike, rain pelt or just watch fireflies in June.

Our Lady Banks Rose in the courtyard is a marvel!! This was the best year ever for our favorite spectacle. It gets's knocked back a bit in a tough winter but is always a welcome portent of spring.

The front courtyard is also the perfect spot for tent parties. Our guests park up at Reynolda Presbyterian Church and Summit School and walk down. In case of rain, we offer the local teenager valet service.

Our kitchen window box has been an endless source of amusement for me....

This incarnation is my favorite, inspired by Ed Hollander's personal garden in Sag Harbor. He brilliantly planted tall Oriental Lilies in the roots of their Hydrangea bushes and they magically dangle over the flowers acting simultaneously as support. It's a stunner and this is my mini version.

A New Dawn Rose from the back of the house was transplanted to the front courtyard. A great adage to remember for all climbers is: "The first year they sleep, the second year they creep and the third year they leap. This was a mature climber so it immediately embraced the space.

One of my favorite diversions is the container garden in the Spring. I came up with this Cleome/Plumbago combo and it is my favorite. As the heat goes on, they just get more wild and woolly, which is always gratifying to the gardener. The Hydrangeas through the door came in small pots from the grocery store. I enjoy them indoors, but they thrive and grow in the garden, when they've stopped blooming.

One year, my neighbor's tulip Magnolia was ripped to shreds and laying on the ground, so in one of my very early blog posts, I entertained myself with this "Windfall." Walking into the house and changing seasons we are working on a Winter Wonderland fabulous dinner.

We like the Christmas Tree in the dining room and open our gifts over breakfast strata on Christmas morning.

The entry hall has been a great overflow dining spot. We have seated as many as 22 people in dining room and the adjacent hall.

I would say our happiest times start in the kitchen and end in all the different areas we have decked out for our feasts.

Anyone who follows me on Instagram or FaceBook knows that I am the undisputed Queen of the antipasto platter.

The wonderful courtyard off of the family room is a frequent gathering spot.

The terrace off of the living room/dining room areas draws guests out for conversations. I have occasionally set up for dining out there as well, but notice that guests love an almost desperate proximity to the kitchen. In winter, it is a great spot to gather with a blazing fire.

There are also areas in this house, where believe it or not, are not food locations.

The family room is open to kitchen area, and I admit we eat there too.

The house was designed with 3 master bedrooms, one down and two upstairs. The fourth bedroom has built in shelves and a desk area as an optional office, but we have used it as a 4th bedroom, as have the preceding owners. There is a man's paneled office downstairs as well with dressing and bath areas adjacent. There are 3 separate energy zones, which make the house energy efficient. When I am the only one home, I turn down the living, dining, halls, and upstairs bedrooms.

My bedroom, which is the main floor master opens on to the dining room/living room terrace and its own secret garden on the opposite side. It is my recharging station. I am sure you are wondering......why this very long post, which could have been broken into at least3?. I have decided to move and am selling the house. Friends have asked me to post images, so they can pass it on to their friends. Also, we have had so many beautiful occasions here, I wanted to keep a memento of all the wonderful times the girls and I have had with our relatives and great friends. If you live in the greater Winston-Salem, Greensboro or High Point area, please share this with your friends.

Price available on request.

liz@dovecotedecor.com

Stanley Furniture Redefined

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 21:54:00 +0000

With High Point Market only a couple of months away, we wanted to share the showroom surprise of April 2014. We were dubious when Stanley Furniture told us a couple of years ago that they were moving to the Hamilton District in High Point, literally the 5th Avenue for wholesale furniture shopping. Completely skeptical, I remember saying to my co-worker, Christine, "Just because they're moving to the high end neighborhood, doesn't mean the furniture is going to get any better." Well, I couldn't have been more delightedly wrong! Stanley has completely pulled off a strong transition to the top tier with accessible price points, better design, scale, finishing and construction. Some of their pieces are absolutely beautiful. Running into Tori Mellott of Traditional Home Magazine at the bus station in front of the IHFC, I asked her what she thought was the most exciting story at market and without hesitation she replied: "Stanley Furniture." We were nodding, saying: "Right?" We weren't losing our Mojo!! So.... watch the video below to see this transformation in their gorgeous new Showroom at 200 N. Hamilton.

Wedding Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 16:36:00 +0000

With three girls in their 20's we have been treated to some spectacular wedding celebrations. Here are some of the most unique ideas, spectacular florals and special moments from weddings past and present.

Make it personal! This family used their lovingly accumulated art collection for the reception tent.

Narrow tables allow guests to include more than two people in the conversation. Round tables can make for some awkward moments if both of your dinner partners are conversing with the guests adjacent to them away from you.

In large tents, create dimension by hanging votives and flowers at different heights. This wedding designer cleverly incorporated lampshades into the lighting scheme and the multiple heights from table to ceiling create intimacy.

Create other spaces outside of the crowded party area: Flowers and votives hanging from the trees at varying levels next to the party space invite intimate conversations away from the noise.

Punctuation in scale creates rhythm, glamour and interest.

If the dinner is a formal seated affair, unique displays for seating assignments add that personal signature all weddings large and small should exude.

A perfect example of dimension in a large tent.

Also, this bride who is an interior designer did not neglect the naked band space creating a focal point and distracting from the less attractive assemblage of microphones, instruments and music stands.

Insert a little humor into the mix. The groom's cake is the perfect opportunity for this. Hint: The groom is not fat!!

This clever bride created a surprise for her new husband: A cake with his favorite books.

Loyal readers have seen this image before, but it is one of my favorite touches. Many weddings these days have a special monogram incorporating the last initials of the bride and groom's last names. In this case the groomsmen wore matching slippers with bespoke embroidery following the pattern of the boxwood maze at the bride's Grandmother's farm where the wedding festivities were celebrated. Dudes, take note: Real men can wear festive foot wear.

Watch the Royals, they hire the most brilliant stylists. A bride has her back turned to an entire congregation during the wedding ceremony, so keep some interest in the rear. This bride was channeling Kate Middleton's simple and elegant flowers in her hair. Sometimes you don't want the traditional wreath.

Sense of Place: When planning your wedding, embrace your location.

Love the attention to detail here!!

But... the most important detail is....

That we all feel the love!!

Happy Wedding Day to all upcoming brides and grooms!!

Need wedding gifts?

We have wonderful lighting, mirrors and wall art and more

for new couples!

dovecotedecor.com

liz@dovecotedecor.com

336-705-1316

High Point Market Highlights April 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 19:41:00 +0000

After five straight days of hoofing it through market, I hopped a bus to Lexington, Kentucky with the High Point Garden Club and the Bienenstock Furniture Library. We visited beautiful historic houses not to mention Keeneland. More about that later... meanwhile let me send you a round-up on High Point highlights from the April 2014 market. Below we have the ever gracious and talented Mariette Himes Gomez of Hickory Chair showing her classic, clean and completely elegant line of furniture. We just cannot help leading with one of our favorite furniture companies in the world!!

Mariette's luxurious Syrie Maugham sofa recalls the elegance of the '30's and 40's with a silk satin fabric articulating the luxurious glamor of the era.

You need to wear this on the sofa!

Mariette's Porter Divan dons a creamy leather with impressive trapunto detailing on the back illustrating the virtuoso workmanship executed by the artisans of Hickory Chair.

Alexa Hampton uses her showroom as a design laboratory. Absolutely no designer at market shows such range in style, but the extra push creates great anticipation from High Point devotees. It trains our eye to visualize the elasticity of her line in a seemingly unlimited parade of genres.

We were all in awe of the fact that Alexa created all of the collages and paintings in her showrooms. This year her inspiration came from a book that she read as a young girl in her father's library: La Réussité de la Decoration Française, vols. I & II. Channeling the unmistakeably chic Gallic aesthetic, these rooms speak of old world luxury layered and collected from past generations through the present.

Suzanne Kasler revived these fabulous DeGournay panels from years ago. Known for her serene and feminine spaces, Suzanne adds exquisite dressmaker tapes, nail heads creating rooms that are livable, finished and fresh.

French inspired twin beds kick into the millennium with a slightly elongated headboard. A bold Phillip Jeffries painted graphic wall covering, hung on a single surface, energizes the space without dominating the scene. Bright tribal patterns with a casual striped area rug balance elegance with a low-key interesting collected sophisticated vibe. Suzanne's interiors are like meeting a famous person and discovering that they are highly companionable!

We love Chelsea House as their line ticks all our requirements for our online store and residential clientele. Great Prices--check...Great Workmanship--check....Great style--check.....Multi-tasking transitional pieces--check. Lisa Kahn is the guiding light of design in this atelier and we hit it for several days at market. If you don't go, its like going to New York and eating fast food--you'd be missing the boat!

There's a small new crop of 19th century reproduction casino chairs popping up in various showrooms. C.R. Laine's version has the best leather, scale and price of the few I'm grooving on lately. I start to think that I am crazy, but Shay Geyer did Style Spot it, so another set of eyes share my quirks. May I add that it is wonderfully comfortable as a dining, desk or occasional chair.

All of design and media land came out for the Mary McDonald launch at Chaddock. It was fabulous, and I hadn't been in Chaddock since they showed their fare up on Hamilton. Things have changed... I can only identify Newell Turner of Hearst and Mary McDonald in this image, but it was slammed with "The Talent." We loved seeing our old friend Jay Reardon, previously of Hickory Chair and current chairman of the executive committee at Chaddock also sitting on their board. Margaret Russel and her stable of editors was there as well as the Traditional Home girls.

I was excited to meet David Easton and view his collection. He's a charmer that one, but in my humble opinion his work is in The Great Tradition, confirmed by the fact that he knelt down and kissed my hand. I was blushing.....

More Later!!

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Visit our Online Store!!

We are starting to load new market finds!!

Scroll Down to see our videos from last market!

Getting Ready for Market -- All Eyes on Modern History

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 15:37:00 +0000

As we are getting ready for The High Point Furniture Market, we wanted to share our interview with Michael Beaver, the hands on owner of Modern History. He is a second generation furniture manufacturer with a trained eye for style, finish and scale. We follow the history of these exquisite pieces as they travel from the flea market in Paris, overseas to their artisanal factories where meticulous detail is executed. Within the vast array of product offerings at market, this line is exemplary on every level.

Visit The Modern History Showroom

430 N. Wrenn Street

Contact Karen Kepley

336-259-9198

Liz at Dovecote Decor

for an appointment

336-705-1316

Visit Our Online Store

More Later!!

Alexa Hampton Tutorial at High Point Furniture Market October 2013: A Fresh Take On Traditional Floral Chintzes

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 20:25:00 +0000

Alexa Hampton's showroom at Hickory Chair in October 2013 was a style lesson in how to create fresh young rooms for today's new home owners. Color is rich, finishes are varied and graphic patterns are sophisticated combining to create a completely comfortable individual design statement. With a myriad of custom options Alexa explains how she approaches a project and explains how to mix multiple patterns and colors for a collected layered room with both variety and flow.

Fabric and Wallpaper Links

Quadrille

If you would like to buy Hickory Chair Furniture

or fabric from any of these vendors

please contact Dovecote Decor!

visit our online store

liz@dovecotedecor.com

336-705-1316

More Later!!

Junior League of Winston-Salem Tour of Fine Spaces 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 15:21:00 +0000

On Saturday, March 22 2014 The Junior League of Winston Salem will present their Tour of Fine Spaces from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Ten houses showcasing stellar collaborations between home owners, architects, interior designers, cabinet makers, flooring/tile specialists and builders are open to inspire your next project. Our starting spot will be at Schiffman's, as ticket holders may mingle there from 9-11 a.m. enjoying mimosas and other culinary treats from local chefs, wineries and artisan coffee brewers. So we will start and finish at 137 S. Stratford Rd. across from the Midtown Cafe and Dessertery.

1.Head northeast on S Stratford Rd toward Miller St - 0.1 mi

2.Take the 1st left onto Country Club Rd/Stratford Rd N - 46 ft

3.Turn left onto Country Club Rd - 0.8 mi

4.Turn right onto Westview Dr N - 0.2 mi

5.Take the 2nd right onto Forest Dr

Destination will be on the left

- 207 ft

Arrive at Stop 1 - 2655 Forest Dr. Winston Salem North Carolina

Fashion and Decor Embrace The Divine Feminine!

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 14:26:00 +0000

After the cruelest winter to wit, we are all looking for a mood elevator to leap into Spring. Fashion and Decor decant from the same cultural elixirs. What we are seeing is the resurgence of color, florals, embroidery and I will add the "L" word--luxury. In the interior design world floral chintzes are emerging with bold graphics and Indian paisleys. Rich hand embroidered silks are expanding their real estate section in the racks of the textile showrooms.

Alexander McQueen at Saks on Worth Avenue

Sumptuous hand embroidered draperies from Designers Guild. Yes, I want to wear it!

Hello Manolo Blahnik!

Frida Giannini, as Gucci's creative director (successor to Tom Ford) shifted the emphasis from typography and initials to iconic patterns from their extensive library of pattern and design. While this new style got the thumbs down from the fashion critics, consumers snapped up these Gucci heritage inspired bags.

Oscar de la Renta

Mariette Himes Gomez at Hickory Chair treated us to a pleasant return to the classic Lee Jofa Althea print, smartly mixing in a relaxed check with a humble mattress ticking, balancing a fresh traditional aesthetic. I hail from the days when we started a room with a floral chintz and the room came together exactly like this. I'm all in for the bit of sunlight to the look I love.

Then, for October market, Alexa Hampton takes it to another level.

Alexa stirs up a delicious cocktail of a room incorporating graphic plums, warm green velvets, John Robshaw and Muriel Brandolini Indian patterns with the Cowtan and Tout floral chintz as the fulcrum for the room scheme.

Alexa Hampton gave us a finger wagging style lesson in her Hickory Chair space last October. It was a brilliant idea to work with a floral chintz to show young people, who might never have considered using this traditional stand-by. We are back to the future of florals in fashion and interior design. Bring on the Spring!!

More Later!!

Liz

Visit our online store for

more design ideas for your home!

336-705-1316

liz@dovecotedecor.com

Shopping the Dixie Highway with Jane Schott of Empress of the Eye 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 21:08:00 +0000

Jane Schott, pillow designer, textile lunatic and blogger extraordinaire and I reconnected to hit her home turf--The Dixie Highway. As we cruised the world famous art and antiques row, Jane explained how much the area has grown since our last foray, which is indeed good news. We started at Brass Scale Antiques and it was hands down my favorite. It is no mistake that Jane trades at Brass Scale. Judy, the owner is The Grande Dame of the corridor.

Many of Judy's finds end up in my neck of the woods. Her distinctive collections of English Ceramics, Dottie Thayer pottery, French and British antiques, chic chinoiserie, are expertly sourced with over 30 years of scouring and scouting. This is unquestionably your first stop.

Below: a fabulous faux book shelf door. You could build an entire industry around this concept.

Sleuth that I am, I love sneaky doors!

Behold the enticing front window vignette!!

Next we bounced down the street to Leslie Hindman Auctioneers to see the Lilly Pulitzer Estate Sale. We were not about to miss the most defining iconic moment of Palm Beach in the 60's.

God Bless you Lilly Pulitzer! If anyone invented one of the greatest uniforms of all time--it was you!! Throw the shift over your head, zip up the back, slip on a pair of Jack Rogers sandals, drink coffee. May I mention--toss the shift in the washing machine and then give it a shake when it comes out of the dryer.

In my opinion an entirely fair price

A Venetian Baroque Style Painted Occasional Table, Height 29 1/4 x width 27 x depth 21 3/4 inches.

Estimate: $500 to $700

Sold for: $2,250

Seriously under estimated but a fair price for a pretty piece with provenance

An Italian Neoclassical Painted and Parcel Gilt Side Table, Height 30 7/8 x width 35 1/4 x depth 24 inches.

Estimate: $600 to $800

Sold for: $2,750

This was a deal!

An Italian Neoclassical Painted and Parcel Gilt Center Table, Height 31 3/8 x width 89 1/4 x depth 37 1/7 inches.

Estimate: $3000 to $5000

Sold for: $5,000

Ten Times High estimate!! What's going on?

A Victorian Bamboo and Lacquer Bedroom Suite, Height of bed overall 94 x width 68 x depth 84 inches.

Estimate: $1000 to $2000

Sold for: $22,500

Next, we ran around the corner to Hive, a spectacular upscale new home, garden and gift store. Brain child of local interior designer Sara McCann, Hive is a clean curated design studio and home furnishings destination. To quote Jane: "Delicious!!"

Sara and I visiting at HIVE

How about this chic Palm Beach lacquered office? My Instagram feed went crazy over these amazing mid-century acrylic and rattan chairs with an up to date China Seas Lyford Print in Jungle Green.

Serene coastal vignettes are expertly staged for a relaxed, fresh custom room ready to go!!

More Later!!

Brass Scale Antiques

3721 South Dixie Hwy
West Palm Beach, Florida 33405

(561) 832-8410

Leslie Hindmand Sale Room

1608 S. Dixie Hwy

West Palm Beach, Florida

(561) .833.8053

Hive

424 Palm St.

West Palm Beach, Florida 33401

(561) 514-0322

If you would like to go to the High Point Market with us

April 5th - 10th

Contact Dovecote Decor

336-705-1316

liz@dovecotedecor.com

Visit our online store!!

Shopping Worth Avenue in Palm Beach During High Design Season: First Stop Mary Mahoney!!

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 00:18:00 +0000

Palm Beach was thankfully THE place to be over President's Weekend with the Palm Beach Jewelry Art and Antique Show coinciding with a huge Kofski's estate sale, not to mention the Lilly Pulitzer Estate Sale Preview. It was a shopping stormageddon with blue skies and perfect temperatures while every other state was paralyzed by snow and ice. The Dixie Highway was mightily stocked for the upcoming West Palm Beach Antiques Festival, so it was nice to get a leap on the inventory. If there is a more beautiful shopping street in the world than Worth Avenue please let me know, but I won't believe you. Addison Mizner's old world patina is groomed to perfection with bromeliads and orchids dangling from the trees. It takes my breath away.

I love to wander the labyrinth of Vias off of the main "drag" to discover more unique and curated boutiques in the inner courtyards. Lunching at Renato's off the Via Mizner is always a highlight for both the food and the people watching.

This is how men shop with their wives in Palm Beach. They read the paper in splendor while their family works their way around the perimeter. Clearly the orange shorts memo has spread. So lets begin with my hands down favorite store...

Mary Mahoney

I had to devote this entire post to Mary Mahoney as each setting is a different inspiration artfully composed mixing infinite combinations of china patterns, glassware, exotic linens and flatware. Table top doesn't get any better than this. Take it from me, I still have my 1961 FAO Schwartz tea set and have been arranging tables ever since.

Can anybody name my favorite doll of all time? She really is due for a come back!

Design Note: The one jolt of yellow in the beehive honey pot stops the eye and allows you to see all the patterns within the blue and white spectrum. Place your fingers over it and look at the table again--it makes it!

Tommy Mitchell's magnificent tole flowers are liberally scattered throughout the store. I should have been buying 2 a year for the last decade, what was I thinking? Shopping remorse is always a problem.

My complete addiction to ceramic fruits and vegetables, especially miniatures, is a standing joke in certain circles. Thank you Eva Gordon!! Where have you been all my life?

I would be very well behaved indeed with this limited edition size (100) Herend Fireworks Dragon guarding the wine bottle!! Sadly, for $3,850.00 I don't think it will come any cheaper, as it looks to be sold out on the Herend website. Maybe I could talk the neighborhood into buying shares in it.....

Might I add...that people who will not walk into high end stores because they are too expensive are MISSING THE BOAT! Sorry for the typographical shouting, but I have never seen such stunning table tops and will return to these images often for inspiration for my own soirees. Well, we haven't made much progress down Worth Avenue, but I could not leave a single vignette out.

More Later!!

Don't forget to visit our online store

with over 1,440 selections of

furniture, lighting and accessories

High Point Market is coming April 5th-10th if you would

like to schedule a day or afternoon of shopping!

liz@dovecotedecor.com

336-705-1316

Modern History: Antiques, Reproductions, Fine Art

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 20:27:00 +0000

High Point Market starts early this year (April 5-10) and it is time to start researching and planning your trip. A great way to incrementally jumpstart this process is to use High Point Market's: My Planning Tool. Modern History is a favorite destination for our coterie, and our proximity to High Point makes it a year round reconnoiter. It should be a day 1 stop on your tour. We love to snoop through the warehouse before market to see the treasure that flows from the containers and to cherry pick Modern History's extensive line of fine art by registered artists, not to mention their Paris Flea Market finds!

Antique architectural columns are great solutions for empty corners and this chic Parisian light fixture will enlarge the vocabulary of your possessions and articulate the continuity and style we want our homes to portray.

As the founder and CEO of Modern History, Michael Beaver translates these finds into meticulous reproductions. Veranda Magazine highlighted Modern History as one of the 12 most venerable furniture design companies and we completely agree as we return to the showroom off-season to learn what he has gleaned from his latest travels.

Growing up in a furniture manufacturing family, Michael has quality, proportion and infallible taste embedded within his DNA. He is a generous and thoughtful man to interview with an encyclopedic knowledge of art, antiques, vintage....you name it. The best designers have traveled, sifted and constantly explore the world of decorative arts honing their skills. The marriage made in heaven is that Michael Beaver knows how to execute his vision with uncompromising accuracy.

I cannot say how much I enjoy the breadth of this line as we wend our way from the showroom to the antique space where the foundations are revealed.

Before

And.....After

This fine hand painted Italian chest gets its make-over in Vietnam, which is where many of the high-end case goods vendors turn for fine painting, finishing, hand carving, gilding and construction. Traditional lost wax techniques are employed to recreate the authentic hardware completing a piece that shines with integrity. There are subtle nuances to finish and Michael's experience helps him strike just the right chord. Additionally, I find the prices at Modern History to be excellent and even surprising. This is a great resource to share with your design loving friends before market, so give them a tweet....a Like...a pin... to spread the word. Modern History is located on 430 N. Wrenn Street in High Point and for your day one destination it is good to combine this stop with some of the other vendors in that neighborhood who have one of a kind items for cash and carry like Halo styles.

If you would like to buy beautiful Modern History Pieces
or arrange a tour of their showroom during market

336-705-1316

Atlanta Market and Scott's Antiques January 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 16:01:00 +0000

"Nothing comes cheap though the educated eye

will always spot very nice things for the least money."

Albert Hadley

The Atlanta Market for me always begins with a trip to one of my favorite antique sources-- Scott's Antique Markets on the South side of the city near the airport. It is the perfect destination for loading up on furniture, paintings and other accessories. The best time to attend is during the Atlanta Furniture Market downtown at America'sMart in January and July, as more dealers participate to accommodate the design congregation. It is a huge and I would allow time for shopping Thursday before market. It opens to the public at 1:00p.m.

This bucket made my list. I was looking for an attractive container for firewood for my family room as I am converting my fireplace back to its original old school function. For under $100.00, it was a no brainer.

O.K. so shoot me now. I saw this map in a booth and was quite taken with it. My picture is terrible so I uploaded this image for you. It was unbelievably fascinating as it maps the largest engineering project of 17th Century Europe. The Canal Languedoc Royal which connected the Mediterranean to the Atlantic provided safe inland passage for cargo that was endangered by rampant piracy on the high seas--yes maties, the Barbary Pirates. The cross sections along the perimeter depict the numerous locks, aqueducts, tunnels and dams. The circular emblems flanking the center medallion illustrate the heraldic crests of the families contributing to this massive project. The royal landed houses of the region had compelling reasons to finance and provide labor for the endeavor. Le Midi is dry and their crops and other commodities were precarious at best. Other than navigation, irrigation was possible by managing the water assets that could be moved at will, or stored in reservoirs.

People think shopping and collecting is a flibbity-gibbet activity. The price for the map was $1,800.00 at Scott's. I am not making a purchase from Sotheby's or an established dealer. While the price is low for a potentially fabulous possession the question is: Is it worth the gamble? Do I want a fake print in a bad frame? Not one article or auction resource described the underlying material. It was not hand made paper and it looked like velum to me, but I couldn't quite confirm. So, I walked. I regret it and should have trusted my eye. One finally sprung up for sale on Monday for $10,500 so I am a tad ill. I saw that one sold recently at auction for $2.300; a fairly wide spread in price. So much for the drama of collectibles. I know a great deal more because of my agony than I knew yesterday. The highly vertical AmericasMart is on the docket for the next day. While horizontal High Point Market is my metier, I am braving AmericasMart for the third time by scheduling design events.

Annie Selke image via Pinecone Hill/Haskell Harris image via CalderClark

I could not resist the Annie Selke, textile genius founder of Pine Cone Hill and Dash and Albert, interview with Haskell Harris, contributing editor to Garden and Gun and author of the blog Magpie by Haskell Harris. Who can resist a discussion titled: "Great In Bed?" I met Annie at The Design Bloggers Conference a couple of years ago and she is hilarious and brilliant company. Annie is one of those authentic people whose taste and style goes repetitively viral. I honestly think her secret is that she lives fearlessly with enthusiasm, has personality and is always delighted by seemingly random passions. For example: visit Annie's YouTube video's documenting her new love for tractors, chainsaws and other heavy equipment. Haskell, I have known since she was an adorable toddler--legacy to a delightful, eccentric Southern family. The interview could only be symbiotic and entertaining--birds of a feather and all of that!

The Atlanta Market launch for Bunny Williams new rug collection for Annie's Dash and Albert line is a marriage made in heaven. The quality of Dash and Albert combined with Bunny's exceptional taste and livable elegance will make this line hopefully eternal. It was riveting to hear about the photo shoot at Bunny's beautiful home in the Dominican Republic and her incredible hospitality--hint: anticipate guests every need! Visit Annie's blog to see more tropical eye candy from B.W.'s gorgeous get-away.

I also attended the Steven Stolman/Scalamandre event sponsored by their Port 68 collaborators. Steve has been the president of Scalamandre since July 2011 and has written an iconic history of this eponymous fabric house. Scalamandre Haute Couture is a must-have book for your design library. I will say Port 68 is greatly enhanced by the iconic fabric patterns. I need those tiger ottoman/cocktail tables.

On Saturday, I wandered around Building 2 to view the beautiful table top options. I started on the ground floor of the gift building to taste all the food, which surprisingly gets old rather quickly. As I ascended through garden and outdoor, I found myself delightedly in the D. Gaber and Associates showroom and had the great good fortune to meet the renown equestrian artist, Julie Wear, as I admired her beautiful china. I have seen a great deal of sporting art over the years, and Julie's work defines the apotheosis of this genre in our time.

Photo by John Nation

Julie Wear's painting for Queen Elizabeth II of her beloved Stallion

The Broodmares of Woodford County

Since I seem to have gotten on to an animal riff, the Lacefield Designs dog beds are the best--ever.

They are not quite up on the website yet, but call us if you want them!!

Visit Our Online Store with 1,400+ Furniture, Lighting and Accessories pieces

selected exclusively for our clients and readers!

336-705-1316

liz@dovecotedecor.com

Dovecote Decor's Most Popular Posts of All Time

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 14:13:00 +0000

Happy New Year!! While we take time in the New Year to make resolutions and choose direction, we also reflect upon highlights of the past. So.... looking back on the blog, here is a round-up of our most popular posts of all time. Thanks to the magic of Pinterest, these are the articles that get pinged with delightful regularity.

#1:Fashion and Decor Boldly Collide - Equestrian Style endures

By Liz Morten

and Christine Storch

#2: Bobby McAlpine: A Sense of Place

#3 Nieuw Neo Georgian! Ruard Veltman's Mountain Masterpiece

House Beautiful has a fantastic spread on this beautiful mountain retreat in the April issue. We posted this article in August of 2010 and thought you would enjoy our thoughts on the subject as well.
Ruard Veltman collaborated with my friend "Mrs. G.," creating a spectacular home for her family of 6 in the English country vernacular of Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens: "Sir Edwin, father of neo-Georgian architecture, please meet Dutch born, Ruard Veltman, of nieuw-neo-Georgian architecture!"

#4: Devotion: The Country Farm Estate of Blitz and Dick Reynolds

As many of you know, I live across the street from the Historic Reynolda House Museum, Gardens and village. Our pastoral, small city is highly cultural and well preserved greatly, by the perseverance and generosity of the Reynolds family. I noted in my last post, on the Reynolda Estate, that R. J. Reynolds was a highly progressive thinker who married an educated and energetic wife, to whom he accorded a great amount of personal autonomy. The estate was purchased in her name and Kate had full control over the vision, execution and management of this self sufficient enterprise--in 1917. R.J. Reynolds died soon after the house was completed, which was a terrible loss.

#5: Old Long Island Estates: A surviving James W. O'Connor Playhouse

Long Island is famous for its Gilded Age Estates, immortalized by F. Scott Fitzgerald and chronicled, with vigilance by Zach L. in his blog Old Long Island. The American Country house movement was propelled by the tremendous fortunes earned in steel, railroads, shipping, coal and oil. Vanderbilts, Whitneys, Phipps, Morgans, Pratts, Graces and Hearsts, to mention a few, erected spectacular weekend estates in Nassau County as private country clubs. Palatial homes in every idiom sprouted with architectural stables, polo fields, and Playhouses. Architect James W. O'Connor cornered the Playhouse market. A Playhouse is a separate house, containing an indoor tennis court, occasionally a swimming pool, guest rooms, and a large gathering living room overlooking the tennis courts. This Playhouse survives today, and is one of the few private Playhouses remaining in the country.

#6: 17th and 18th Century Prints Leap from Old Volumes onto Lamps, Furniture and Fabrics

#7: Luther Lashmit's Adamsleigh: The Junior League of Greensboro and Traditional Home's Showcase House April 2013

#8: Glorious Palm Beach and Shopping the Dixie Highway

I have been following fellow blogger, Jane Schott of Empress of the Eye, since she had her Fortuny pillow giveaway. I'm still sulking, since I was not the winner, but I've gained a bird's eye view into, literally, some of the best shopping in America. Jane is The Dixie Highway Chick, no question. Like High Point, it is a great jumble of shops and junk with some serious steals, but... you need to know where you are going. Jane knows.

#9: High Point Market at Hickory Chair with Alexa Hampton--Video Tutorial

We have been saving the highlights from last April market to get everyone geared up for October! Watch our video of the always inspirational Hickory Chair space and listen to Alexa Hampton's take on the importance of scale in furniture selection. We are touring with Pat Bassett who has taught me every thing I've ever needed to know about shopping High Point.

#10: "A" List Design Destinations in L.A.: Hutton Wilkinson's Casa Contessa

The Bloggers conference was a glorious excuse to visit L.A. at the end of February. Daughter number 2 and I arrived early to see some of our favorite haunts. The highlight was visiting Hutton and Ruth Wilkinson's new masterful Hollywood Regency Palazzo, Casa Contessa. It is next door to Tony Duquette's iconic Dawn Ridge which Hutton uses as a design studio for his fabulous jewels and his HSN reproductions.

A fantastical chandelier floats down the stairwell beneath the skylight at the roof level, like a magical underwater creature. This shot is actually looking down the stairs and the skylight is reflected in the high sheen of the floors.

The Dovecote Decor blog is a supplement to our online store

Shop Here For Furniture, Lighting and Accessories

Holiday Entertaining With A Joyce Farms Black Heritage Turkey

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 14:01:00 +0000

"For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison {to the Bald Eagle} a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America... He is besides, though a little vain and silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on."

Benjamin Franklin

1784

With my three domestic divas in the kitchen conjuring mouth watering recipes over Thanksgiving, I can say with confidence that we had our best holiday meal ever, ever. We began with a Joyce Farms Heritage Black Turkey, a first for me. Recognized as one of the original American Turkey breeds, Joyce Farms raises these pheasant family cousins on small farms in North Carolina--the old fashioned way--free range, antibiotic free, vegetarian fed, small batch, under a watchful eye. As the preparation begins, I don't care what anyone says--I stuff my bird for the symbiotic effects that the moisture, herbs, and juices marry to create a succulent whole. Trust me, I've done this before.

Trussing the bird with sturdy kebab skewers and kitchen string works easily for me, especially on a big bird like this. Because I use convection and the bird browns rapidly, I drape cheese cloth drenched in butter and protect the bony tips of the wings and drum sticks with foil. Chopped onions beneath the turkey help brown the juices and add flavor to the gravy. I'm a baster, so I pour more melted butter over it approximately every 40 minutes.... And Voila!! There is a great deal of debate regarding basting but old habits die hard. I'm going to have to buck up and try to restrain myself for reasons of comparison.

Our tried and true menu is below:

Fresh Cranberry and Fig Chutney

Food and Wine Magazine

Kale and Butternut Squash Tart

(adapted from The Sprouted Kitchen Cookbook)

Brussels Sprouts with Shallots and Wild Mushrooms

(Gourmet 2006)

Tyler Florence's Roasted Chestnut and Sausage Dressing

We topped off our beautiful meal with

Ina Garten's Apple Tart

with vanilla ice cream.

The question is, would I spend the extra money for Joyce Farms Heritage foods again, and the answer is a resounding yes! While you pay a premium to cook a bird that takes twice as long to reach maturity, it is still a bargain compared to the price of visiting France or the very top restaurants that buy from this very special family farm. Saveur Magazine calls their poultry Bird's of Paradise and we wholeheartedly agree.

Thank You for joining our virtual feast.

We are thankful to our readers, online clients, interior design customers and blogger friends! We wish you blessings for the holidays!!

Be sure to visit our online store

DovecoteDecor.com

Our Wake Forest University Intern Reports From Abroad: Mallorca

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 19:23:00 +0000

By Danielle Adler

Dovecote Decor is fortunate to be a short walk from Wake Forest University and as a result we have had a wonderful group of interns who help us build and manage our online store. Danielle has been a terrific asset on our team, and while we have missed her during her junior semester abroad, we are delighted she has shared some of her travels with our readers. Danielle also has interned for Sue at The Zhush and Madeline Weinrib.

One of the first trips of my semester abroad was to Mallorca, an island off the coast of Spain. I was fortunate enough to stay at “Es Cap Blau,” a unique home tucked away in the mountains. There, my two friends and I were able to relax by a serene infinity pool and take in the island’s famously picturesque landscape.

Not only did our refuge provide incredible views, perfect weather, and a much needed sense of tranquility, but we were also treated to delicious meals. On my first day, after snoozing until 10 a.m. I enjoyed a cappuccino while gazing at the “naturaleza” and snacking on poffertjes with an added touch of Grand Marnier! For lunch, we dined on fresh pasta tossed in a parmesan-salmon sauce, and for our evening meal we devoured a savory truffle flatbread pizza. For special occasions, a stone path leads up to a secluded area on the mountain overlooking the sea, creating an idyllic atmosphere for memorable celebrations.

The setting and cuisine were enough to have me begging to stay for another month, however, the ultimate element of stylish home decor had me wishing Es Cap Blau was my permanent home! Our host combined gifts from guests, items from world travels, artwork from creative friends, and favorite books to create a comfortable eclectic ambience. Each item in the home had a memory or meaning attached to it, further enhancing the warmth and appeal.

Love this ice bucket!

Not only is Es Cap Blau a hidden gem, but when we ventured down from our oasis, hiking out to Port Vell and taking a dip in the Mediterranean, we found the island to be a magical unforgettable adventure.

“The earth is covered with bands of magnetism; wherever these magnetic lines cross we find places with an exceptional energy. Mallorca is such a place.” - Diandra Douglas

Visit our online store to view over

1,400 beautiful items for your home.

If you can't find it on our website

feel free to call.

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Hillbrook Collections Bespoke Garden Houses Delivered to Your Home

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 22:05:00 +0000

Social Media is truly a crossroads for interesting new encounters. No, I am not on Match.com, much to my friends derision, but while scrolling through Instagram I came across this image which immediately piqued my curiosity.

Is this what I think it is? As I scroll down I discover that yes, it actually is an outhouse that seems to be going out for delivery. We work with custom orders all the time, but this is a truly unique project and being the sleuth that I am I needed to know more.

So, I clicked over to Alison's website, Hillbrook Collections, and was dazzled by her stunning array of garden houses, potting sheds, pool houses, gazebos, playhouses and trelliage. I fired off an e-mail to her and within about an hour we were chatting like old friends on the phone. I mean really old friends. We know people in common, our children have attended the same school, and we like the same artists, designers, galleries etc.. However, I am truly enamored with her beautiful garden houses, so I was treated to a wonderful story.

Alison was raised on a wonderful old original Penn land grant property with a lovely outbuilding for storing firewood. Lamenting the unattractiveness of contemporary storage and potting sheds on many properties Alison's Mother, Nellie Ahl, studied numerous follies, pavilions and garden houses in Great Britain, Europe and America compiling ideas for their design and decoration then.... fire literally struck. Their barn burned down and the local Amish builders came to replace it, and she says: "Exactly like in the movie Witness." I am imagining a handsome Alexander Godunov in the mix!

Back to reality! The friendships with the Amish craftsmen created the solution of how to provide quality architectural garden buildings to a wide audience.

Alison, has recently revived her Mother's artisanal business and is busy creating more unique and beautiful garden houses. The Amish craftsman build these perfectly scaled and pitched buildings on their farms from the custom options worked out between Alison and her client. They are constructed within about a month and delivered on site for the final installation on the client's property. Here is where the magic began:

Amish culture epitomizes the practice of slow-living and informs the quality and detail of each creation at Hillbrook Collections. The hardware, finials and lanterns are all hand forged in Lancaster County. Clients can specify whether houses need to be fitted for electricity and heat. Sometimes a working team of Belgian horses will come by for a visit! Some of my happiest memories of childhood are in my playhouse. With five brothers, my childhood apotheosis was when my Mother shocked me on a day that was neither Christmas nor my Birthday and said: "I have something for you." Incredulous, I looked up at my very tall and yes, intimidating Mother, and asked: "What?" When she smiled and tucked an old fashioned key into my little hand and told me I could have the playhouse for myself, I died and went to heaven. I had my own personal space! I could kick people out, invite them in, serve tea, clean feverishly, and conduct leisurely conversations. There is power in a playhouse.

My "bit of earth" had an old fashioned pipe constructed swing set within a twenty foot privet hedge. It was a Mighty Fortress. I believe garden houses, gazebos, pool houses and follies are little destination shelters from the storm of family life--a touch of punctuation and needed privacy.

Even when you are 16 going on 17, but really. only.... in proper dinner attire! However, on a utilitarian note, non-basement/garage aesthetic space is good for the soul. Hillbrook Collections has multiple internal fittings for tools and projects.

Below, a stylish Alison poses in front of the beautifully landscaped hexagonal garden Shed that she has been telling me about all fall. The height of the finial adds a stately exclamation point and the subtle dentile molding at the base of the roofline defines the subtle bespoke finish, like a beautifully hand stitched button hole.

And here is the completed masterpiece compelling visitors to peek in as the destination for a tidy axis plan garden. Be sure to visit Hillbrook Collections website, as in addition to the portfolio, Alison has compiled a wonderful image library of inspirations from all over the world.

Visit our online store

as we are adding new

products from the October Market

every day!

Meeting Great Designers at High Point October 2013 Market

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 20:33:00 +0000

High Point has more crackle when Rizzoli brings in their stable of top talent interior designers. It's a thrill actually to run into them at multiple showrooms and chat them up during the slower moments. Interior Design celebs have a great deal in common 99% of the time. What I enjoy the most is their active mental engagement. A common first sentence is: "I've been thinking more about xyz this year and how......" Lillian August was thinking about iconic women designers. Alexa Hampton was teaching younger women how to sizzle up intergenerational possessions and my new favorite fellow is the esteemed William Yeoward designs for the Jonathan Charles collection.

I always thought of William Yeoward as a crystal designer, and since--sorry WY I'm not a big one for crystal--I sort of missed the big picture. Silly me!! Like my friend, Hutton Wilkinson, William is encyclopedic in his knowledge of interior decoration at all levels. Drawing on this vast visual storehouse of history, Yeoward created his furniture line aligned to his design mantra: "When you buy something for your home, it is essential that the piece will give you continued pleasure, not just immediate gratification followed by years of disappointment." Believe him, like the slow-food movement, slow design makes for a better outcome. The Ataross console is classic gothic architecture kicked up to the millennium with a gray finish to break up all the mahogany finishes, although it comes in a classic brown Oak finish if you've overdone the griege.

While I am in "sitting pose," aching as I take this photo, I am as T.S. Eliot would describe: "In a still point of the turning world." There is so much grace, proportion and history flying at me I feel that I am being scrubbed clean from the horrors of tract mansions of the 80's and early 90's and the flour sack, burlap onslaught. Note his signature polka dot motif smartly dressing the sides and backs of his upholstered dining chairs.

Architectural and balanced, the Alnwick Bureau sports a flirty exaggerated cornice mixing a bit of muscle with pretty tones of cream and blue. Witness strength and beauty--an olympian on the cover of the furniture consumer's fantasy cereal box. William Yeoward reminded us: "Beautiful things are always beautiful, it's perception that changes." He is so articulate and funny I recommend his book.

I know...I know...I know this is a quirky piece that requires some daring but..... I keep coming back to it as I review my market photos. All of us carry within us the image and memory of a beloved house, and Yeoward's Daphne Cupboard is reproduced from a distant relative's possession. It evokes an Auntie Mame dramatic moment. Somebody grabbed a garden folly and brought it inside. You have got to love the Brits for their hubris and aristocratic confidence.

I love the detail of the hand carved traditional English fox on Yeoward's Godwyn console. The signature gray polkadot lining will be an identifying marker for generations to come. My other new design crush was Timothy Corrigan. He was delightful to chat with and honestly his restoration of the 18th century Chateau du Grand-Luce is the epic restoration of the century. It is the only chateau in France to escape the ravages of the French Revolution due to the loyalty of the towns people for the Baroness who housed and rebuilt the village after being burned. We will have more later on the vast topic of the 45,000 square foot chateau, but I will say Timothy Corrigan is as relaxed and elegant as his decorating style. Thanks Currey and company for having TC in the showroom! We always enjoy the Currey family hospitality!

And.....

We share a love of Belgian Shoes!

Timothy gets the men's sans the bows FYI
This book is a must!!

More Later.....

If you see any furniture in our blog or online store
that you would like to purchase or discuss

please give us a call at

336-705-1316

or send us an e-mail

liz@dovecotedecor.com

If you are a local reader join us Friday November 15th from 4-6pm
and Saturday, November 16th from 9-6pm at the Benton Convention
at the Junior League of Winston Salem
Boutique
We have lots of beautiful gifts!!

High Point Furniture Market October 2013 Highlights

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 14:47:00 +0000

Roaming through The High Point Furniture Market over the last 30 years, we often find markets with no direction or articulation of vision. On the other hand, there are markets that are "tight--markets," where a distinct palette and style emerge defining an era. Color has been nudging its way back and is in full fearless force again. We are seeing wonderful plums, turquoises, oranges, pinks, emerald greens mixed with abandon. Defining nail head patterns and contrast piping accentuate silhouettes as the designers showrooms illustrate how to mix mid-century, traditional, graphic patterns with English Chintzes for a millennial take. You could almost call it Sibyl Colfax goes to Hollywood. Alexa Hampton outdid herself at Hickory Chair this market. She was the epicenter of market chatter.

Traditional English Chintz cozies up with Indian boho designs and bold graphic mid-century patterns for a look that defines the fresh traditional aesthetic. Alexa's style lesson video is coming soon, once I edit myself out of it!

Mixing up patterns the dining room chairs creates a delightful motion within this dining area. Anchored by Alexa's stunning Gustav table, the lightness of the upholstery serves to balance the composition. Across the street at Hickory White, Lillian August brilliantly interpreted her take on modern traditional, demonstrating how you can skew the look towards the more modern. In fact she named her 2013 market experience The New Era of Traditional Design. Below she mixes three different chair styles and fabric patterns, defining understated casual elegance. We are seeing so much of this in fashion right now.

We enjoy our visits with Lillian each market, as she is always gracious and generous in her discussions of how her current inspirations define each facet of the showroom. As a life-long student and master of interior decorating, this year Lillian selected The Legacy of the American Women of Design and created glamourous iconic combinations that function for today's lifestyle. She was especially kind to our two Wake Forest University interns. She recommended we all read The Great Lady Decorators: The Women Who Defined Interior Design 1870-1955 by Adam Lewis. It should be in my mailbox tomorrow!

I cannot wait!

This new market introduction "The Karl" is a capitalist's dream. Glamourous, with classic Greek Key detailing this piece can be lacquered in any Benjamin Moore color. The style lesson is like a great recipe--use fresh ingredients in a simple way. With a statement chest, over-sized ceramic urn and an iconic sunburst mirror, Lillian August achieves an enduring stylish vignette that is unforgettable. She shows it as a pair flanking a mantle piece and the look is pure fabulosity!

Nobody, but nobody does better mirrors at market than Lillian August. May I add that the price points are excellent! Another fresh traditional showroom at market is Chelsea House. They do a perfect job styling mid-century, chinoiserie hip and the prices are jaw droppingly terrific.

Chinoiserie is beautiful with all styles of design and the bold graphic trellis patterns lend themselves particularly well to add architectural integrity to a space. That is why we are seeing more of it throughout the showrooms; they are on-trend traditional. This buffet/console has the perfect yin-yang balance of strength and grace.

I can tell you exactly why blogger pal Lisa Mende "style spotted" this classic architect desk by Lisa Kahn for Chelsea House. It is a huge look for the price tag and is utterly transitional--meaning it goes with everything. Note to viewers: You are looking at two desks, one in nickel and one in gold back to back.

As I scroll and scroll through over 2,000 images of 6 days of shopping High Point, I can definitively conclude some of the binding ingredients of this market, what designers understand and why trend is moving in this direction. There is a confluence of beautiful furniture and accessories flowing from Grandparents to children to grandchildren. The savvy high end designers light the path, illustrating how to kick traditional to contemporary. This market clearly accents transitional solutions for intergenerational design schemes.

More Later!!!

Many of these items are not yet in our

online store, so if you see a scheme or a piece that you

would like to purchase call or e-mail.

liz@dovecotedecor.com

336-705-1316

The Shellatier - Karen Robertson Collection - High Point Furniture Market

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 15:19:00 +0000

At High Point, we are always looking for truly artisanal designs, and Karen Roberson the force behind The Shellatier Collection is the real deal. Karen creates the majority of designs and her cottage industry artists execute them in their homes. Clients are seeking authenticity in their products, and organic forms are morphing into wall decor, lighting and seating in interesting materials such as petrified wood, crystals and shells. Her new fabric collection manufactured at Altizer and Company is fresh and exciting. Karen's enthusiasm is contagious, and you will love her attention to minute detail in the finshes she applies to her year round floral and plant arrangements. You can find Karen here:

Karen Robertson Collection

Building Suites At Market Square
Showroom G-2044
Bustop #14 (Red/Green Line)

If you would like to purchase any of the Shellatier products contact us at Dovecote Decor's online store! If you are looking for that special piece to add to your home, e-mail us at liz@dovecotedecor.com and we will send you images and pricing.

More Later!!

High Point Market at Hickory Chair with Alexa Hampton

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 14:05:00 +0000

With furniture market beginning on October 18th

let us know if you would like us

to design a personal market

portfolio for your latest project.

336-705-1316

liz@dovecotedecor.com

Click HERE to visit our online store

BookMarks Festival of Books Author's Party 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 22:34:00 +0000

BookMarks Festival of Books celebrates literacy all year long in the North Carolina triad and culminates with our festival every year on the first Saturday after labor day. We love our authors and throw down the welcome mat. Each year I host the Authors' dinner with a small cast of talented volunteer friends. My neighbor, Margaret French, who is a talented cook and author of the popular blog, The Right Recipe, is invaluable to me with her experience and timing in the great kitchen dance.

We set up a bar outside by the front door and pre-poured the wines to avoid the beverage bottleneck. My adorable new Wake Forest intern, Julia, was a quick study behind the bar and in the kitchen!

Le Menu

Appetizers

Trader Joe's Kale and Spinach bites (a smash hit)

Trader Joe's Guacamole--delicious!

Pico de Gallo

Main Course

Chicken Enchiladas made with fresh tomatillo sauce and chicken thighs--key to moisture retention
Sides

Antipasto Platter with tomatoes, cucumber, fresh mozzarella, artichoke hearts, marinated fresh red peppers, grilled eggplant rollatini, fresh chopped basil and heirloom baby tomatoes--topped with my favorite Le Martinique Blue Cheese Vinaigrette
Black Bean Salad and Cold Mexican Rice Salad

Watermelon with fresh squeezed lemon juice and fresh mint

Simple as it is, this dish was a hit! Go heavy on the lemon juice and add lemon garnish.

We also had delectable Gigi's mini Cupcakes which are so pretty and festive and were rapidly dispatched.

Tips for Entertaining

* I am fearless and rather light hearted about entertaining. I do a better job when I partner up with sharp cooking friends who will help me time loading food in the ovens and watching that nothing gets burned or undercooked. This is especially true for this event as I am hosting strangers. Conversely, if you are a nervous party giver, partner up with a more relaxed friend who will talk you out of worrying that everything has to match. My tables go high and low for big parties-- I think it looks wonderful and makes the guests feel more at home. I bought these table cloths at World Market and I love them!

*Make the flowers and arrange the tables and furniture for the party the day before. If the season is right, buy your flowers and fresh veggies at your farmers market. You cannot beat the quality and the price.

*Cater a portion of the party and buy quality frozen appetizers. If you have a Trader Joe's they have fabulous ready made items. Whole Foods makes the enchiladas, rice salad and black bean salad for us and gives us a great rate. Thank you Whole Foods!!

Dahlias, Lisianthus, and Clover Flowers

*I start with the largest flowers to build support for the smaller stems. Remove all the leaves that go under water or take up too much space.

* Glass marbles placed in the bottom of the container help to hold the stems in place. Note to self: order some!!

*Avoid too much symmetry, let the arrangement look like flowers in nature. We don't do tortured flowers!

*Make lots of smaller arrangements rather than a few large ones. I like it better, but in the Spring with all the wild branches and blossoms there for the foraging, I might go to crazy town.

*Carefully save the buds and cut them as long as you can. They add dimension and echo the garden.

*Collect etched hurricane lanterns. A friend and I purchased 20 together and share them back and forth for big impact inside and out. Make sure they have solid bases to avoid wax spills, fire hazard and to double up as vases for those big branch arrangements. Now... does anyone want to meet our adorable literary guests? There is a reason for this party after all.

The "Dork Diaries" author Rachel Renée Russell, center, with her daughters Erin, left, and Nikki. There was no missing the endless lines of children all day long waiting to have their books signed. They worked tirelessly throughout the day signing and making little "Dork Diary" doodles for the children. How they all look and seem fresh as daisies in the evening, I do not know. Thank You, Renee and family for giving our Winston-Salem children such empathy and inspiration!

August Turak, author of "Business Secrets of the Trappist Monks: One CEO's Quest for Meaning and Authenticity" hamming it up with his actual brother. By coincidence this book was born over my dinner table with one of his friends and the publisher of Columbia Business School Publishing, Miles Thompson. Read HERE for my discussions of his book comparing Trappist Monks, The Grateful Dead, and Hickory Chair.

Gluten free guru, Elana Amsterdam author of multiple cookbooks and most recently, "Paleo Cooking: from Elana's Pantry, Gluten--Free, Grain Free, Dairy Free recipes was a delightful guest. In the background Craig Johnson, author of the Walt Longmire mysteries which currently runs as a television series on A&E, was a fun addition to the group.

Charlie Lovett, author of critically acclaimed "The Bookman's Tale: A Novel of Obsession" relaxes with his wife, Janice. Also of note, BookMarks featured Sheila Bair, former Chairman of the FDIC sponsored by Truliant Federal Credit Union. New York Times best selling author, Deborah Harkness was a popular speaker. Debbie Macomber, also a New York Times best selling author, drew crowds at her signing. With over 170 million copies of her books in print worldwide, she's a romantic fiction rockstar. There were so many more wonderful authors than we can mention here--click HERE to see our 2013 roster. Thank you 2013 authors for being a part of The BookMarks Festival of Books community!

All Photos with the exception of the guest shots

are the courtesy of Margaret French of The Right Recipe

October High Point Furniture Market is coming up!!

If you are shopping for a special item or want to shop High Point with Liz

liz@dovecotedecor.com

dovecotedecor.com

336-705-1316

Visit our online store for inspiration, we have over 1,800 selections in furniture, lighting and accessory categories, or call for antiques, one of a kind and custom upholstery.

Wedding Themes and Styles

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 15:15:00 +0000

South Carolina

With three girls in their twenties we have been treated to some beautiful weddings. The best ones radiate a contagious happiness that launch the party ship. Multiple generations mix with comfortable affection creating intimacy with a distinct family signature unlike any other celebration.

Texas

In a large tent this bride, who is clearly a talented designer, created a great deal of variety and dimension united by predominant green and white accents. She achieved a more intimate space that draws the guests to explore.

Rehearsal Dinner in the barn

A spectacular back drop dam faced in river rocks is holding up a 50 acre lake! And yes, the owners had it checked by an engineering team to be sure family and friends were not going to "buy the ranch!"

North Carolina Farm Wedding

Cousins!!

North Carolina Mountain Wedding

There is something very special when the bride wears her Mother's dress

The Surf Club Wedding Wilmington North Carolina
Photos by http://blog.brettjessica.com

Winston Salem North Carolina
We invited you to that wedding HERE

There are so many different wedding flavors on the menu but the common secret ingredient is a close-knit group of friends and killer dance music. Here are a few more touches that we have enjoyed from our wedding tour 2012-2013.

Groom's cakes just keep getting better. Can anyone guess this one? For Southerners, we can eliminate the Piggly Wiggly association.

This clever bride surprised her new husband with a cake depicting cherished volumes from his library.

At the Texas wedding I spied these elegant pairs of bespoke slippers and snoop that I am, I had to know their derivation. The narrative unfolded the tale of a Richmond bride who was married in her Grandmother's garden which possessed a famous old boxwood maze. For the uninitiated in boxwood freakdom, this subculture is eccentrically alive and well, especially in the South. Add ancient boxwood maze to the equation and you have a pavlovian cult. However, savvy children that we have today, sit down at their computers and create a design to represent a symbol of time and place that evokes a sense of continuity and timelessness--all the things of love and home that marriage means. I refuse to use the word logo because this is a symbol--two very different concepts.

On closer inspection, this symbol has an archetypal connection that invokes the sacred and elevates the message and reminds everyone that wears the shoes, carries a canvas bag among other artifacts of the event that this was an epic event that included Sacrament, friendship and I am sure--a whole lot of fun.

Might I add, organizers will tell you to sell or donate any clothes you have not worn in two years. This is complete nonsense! Oscar de la Renta drapes, flows and flatters a rehearsal dinner dress that was her Aunt's 30 years ago. Of course there is a story. The dress is as beautiful today as it was 30 years ago.

For wedding gift ideas

please give us a ring!!

We have many wonderful accessories that

are not on the website.

336-705-1316

liz@dovecotedecor.com

Hickory Chair Illustrates Value Driven Management--and It Works!!

noreply@blogger.com (Dovecote Decor) — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 12:31:00 +0000

A. Hoke Ltd. of Charlotte kindly sponsored Dovecote Decor for Hickory Chair University. Forty designers congregated in Hickory, N.C. for 2 days of education demonstrating how our clients' furniture is assembled, finished and upholstered. Steered by president Jay Reardon, we were treated to much more than nuts and bolts. Christine and I were awed by the level of leadership, sense of community and the outright pride and happiness at all levels of this organization. We witnessed highly diverse individuals sharing a mission that is focused by a constantly fine tuned process.

Hickory Chair is like very few organizations I have ever experienced. At the 100th anniversary party I told Jay: "Hickory Chair is not an institution--it is a movement!" That is true for so many reasons. Trying to articulate this phenomena, I found two books on opposite sides of the spectrum which express this dichotomy as a universal best practices for teams that attract a community of raving fans: Business Secrets of the Trappist Monks: One CEO's Quest for Meaning and Authenticity and Marketing Lessons of the Grateful Dead: What Every Business Can Learn from the Most Iconic Band in History.

The Cistercian Order is dedicated to Spiritual Growth through work, community and creating the highest quality products to support their monasteries and convents. The 48th chapter of the Rule of St. Benedict states "for then are they monks in truth, if they live by the work of their hands". For example, Trappist Westvleteran 12 is considered to be the best beer in the world.

Bear with me, but what do the Trappist Monks, the Grateful Dead and Hickory Chair have in common? Quite a bit actually! All three work with complete reverence to produce the highest quality product while creating a work environment that nurtures their communities. Counter intuitively, Hickory Chair has survived and created a broad designer driven line that can be completely customized while building 90% of their product in the U.S.A! They have accomplished this with only three price increases in the last decade. Hickory Chair management sees themselves as facilitators and communicators at every level of the organization, from the artisans who build the product to the designers who conceive the product. Everyone is encouraged to share improvements and ideas in a constant dynamic process with concrete systems in place to execute these changes.

Dedicated to the premise that this company will be different tomorrow than it is today and creating a process called EDGE (Employees Dedicated to Growth and Excellence), Hickory Chair thrives in a notoriously difficult industry. Constantly seeking errors and communicating concrete solutions forms an enabled and accountable team that works together smartly as a unit. August Turak shared in his book this interesting point: "Louis Mobely of the famed IBM Executive School discovered what great executives share are not skills or knowledge, but values and attitudes. Great leaders thrive on ambiguity." Respect, empowerment and trust at all levels cultivate a work place where the human spirit thrives. Jay was not going to be the guy that padlocked the factory doors and fired his workers. He did not know the answers to his dilemna so he assembled his artisans to devise solutions.

When a competitor exactly replicated (knocked off) one of their products, Hickory Chair investigated and made a side by side comparison. The competitor's chair (on the left) was made more cheaply with a higher retail price. Consumers get respect too!. When market opens in High Point, Hickory Chair's showrooms are universally lauded as the most exciting experience at market. Like the Grateful Dead and the Trappist Monks, Hickory Chair creates an experience that translates into community and culture. The scene is shored up with complete authenticity.

We all love bantering with Alexa Hampton, Thomas O'Brien, Suzanne Kasler and Mariette Himes Gomez--all Architectural Digest top 100 designers. There's no micromanaging their showrooms--the designers "do their thing." Like a Grateful Dead show, they never play the same song the same way.
Because the furniture is bespoke, followers and designers love to see the infinite possibilities at each market. Here are some spectacular room arrangements of Alexa's line over the years.

We love to see the mood boards throughout the showrooms. It is fascinating watch the disparate visual cues that inspire the designers from conception to final product.

Hable Construction illustrates their textile design process at the Hickory Chair showroom.

Artisan Boards in the Factory

The print is hard to read, but essentially the notes explain why even small steps in the process are of paramount importance, graphically demonstrating the difference when something goes right or wrong. Over 1,100 hand-worker ideas are implemented each year at Hickory Chair! The details are evidenced by the immaculate floors that are constantly swept, the sawdust that is vacuumed into the electrical system to generate power and save electricity. So what do Hickory Chair, the Trappist monks and the Grateful Dead have in common?

*Quality Products--Trappist Beers are the only beers that improve with age.

*Commitment to a constantly evolving process--short cuts are in efficiency--quality is never compromised

*Dedication to keeping humanity in the equation while creating a more beautiful world includes quality of life at every level

And...There is nothing like a Grateful Dead concert!!
*All disperate products united by the will to create an innovative culture and community of raving fans!!
See Jay Reardon on the Daily Show

Click Here
For an in-depth discussion of the unique approach of Hickory Chair's management and production innovations:
Click Here

Please call us if you are interested in buying

Hickory Chair Products!

We can work with you to create furniture made in America to last--reflecting your unique style.

336-705-1316
dovecotedecor.com

	Arrive at Stop 5 - 305 Rockmount Dr. Winston Salem North Carolina