The Mad Hatter

I'm home from whirlwind trip to Hickory and very productive meeting at our factory.  To put it simply, the people at the factory are A-mazing:  Quick, intelligent, fun, and seriously "with it."  And...  the Pure Style upholstery collection is on its way!!  I am so excited. 

It's a mix of very basic, classic pieces (for example, English arm sofas) that work in a variety of settings and some new pieces that I've done.  They will be sold on my online store this coming Spring  (The online store is set to open before then...  I'll be honest and tell you that the only hold up is me taking photos of the items and loading them onto the beautiful website Emily created.)  and in the Loudon Design Center, which is to-the-trade.  It's been a crazy few months with a lot of plates spinning (isn't it always though?!! ;) and I am thrilled to have an end date in sight!!!!

I thought I'd share one of my designs...  You might remember this Victorian wing chair I found a while back.  I mentioned I had plans for it:



...Well, it was a piece that I wanted to try to rework.  It's really difficult when you have trouble drawing...  I  took the photo above and played around with it on the computer to convey what I wanted to do with it, which was arc the top a bit more, remove the wood frame around the edges, straighten the legs and front, removing the carving, and recline it a bit further. 


I love classic pieces and nice proportions but there are times when I like to inject a little something else into a room.  Something a bit playful and confident.  And it would be with a chair or 2 like this.  This chair reminds me the something you'd see at the Mad Hatter's tea party:

{Alice sitting in the Mad Hatter's Chair}

Here's one of the original illustrations and you see Alice in a beautiful tufted chair...  loooooove:



I knew right away that the chair we're creating would be the "Mad Hatter" Wing Chair.  The images & memories from my childhood are so ingrained in me that I figured, why fight it? and why not just go with it?  So, every piece in the collection is named for what strikes me when I think of it.  (And not all make sense, which is why I'll be sure to explain ;)   Here's a sideview sketch I did of the Mad Hatter:

I'll be sharing sketches and pics of the pieces as the Spring nears.  All of our pieces will be available online in a selection of standard linen and velvets (in a large variety of colors) and if you are working with a designer or if you are a designer, we offer COM.  I honestly have no idea how the line will do or what the future will bring, but I'm excited to see where this goes.  In this industry, there are so many interesting off-shoots, options and ways to expand your philosophies.  I see this as hopefully one of the many ways I'll get to explore design.  Have a great rest-of-the-weekend!!


xoxo, Lauren

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

47 comments:

Rie said...

So exciting! Can't wait to see the collection. I just love English Arm sofas. So classic and stylish. Looking forward to seeing your line!

Lisascraftiques said...

Oh how exciting for you! I have recently finished design school and am excited to see where the road takes me. Hopefully somewhere fun! I have always loved design and was born to create. I am happiest when my creative juices are flowing. I would LOVE to create my own line of furniture! Good for you:)

Dreamy Whites said...

Hi Lauren,

I can hardly wait for your online store to open!
I know your furniture line is going to be a huge hit!
I LOVE Mad Hatter Wing Chair you designed!
Hope you are having a great weekend!
Take Care,
Maria

My Little Bungalow said...

How wonderful for you! Very exciting indeed. I like the changes you made to the chair and the name, the "Mad Hatter" Wing Chair, is great! Best of luck with your new line. Can't wait to see it.
Claudia

Jane @ The Borrowed Abode said...

Lauren, congrats! I am following on your journey (as much as you share on the blog) with excitement - it's so awesome that you're producing a real actual furniture line. :) I can't wait to order one of your pieces for my home!

Anonymous said...

FUN!....smiles.

Unknown said...

What excitment in indeed- how utterly thrilling and I ADORE the mad hatter- reminds me of my favourite of all time Tom Dixon chair- fabulous my dear!!!!

Gretchen O. said...

So exciting...to see a sketch come to fruition, and for some reason I think you will be quite successful...just a sneaky suspicion

alison giese Interiors said...

My heart honestly skipped a beat when I read this - first, because it's just WAY COOL that you're designing your own line, second, because I'm helping my sister design her home, and something in a gorgeous velvet is JUST what we have in mind! Cannot wait to see the pieces!
Congratulations!

Windlost said...

Lauren, I love the chair. I have been looking for a modern wing for a long time. I love your new direction. God, I wish we had good design here. All we have is shitty stuff and Ethan Allen. How I would love to be in a place where you can actually go to a furniture factory!!! Bliss. Good luck with everything..I am so excited to see it all come together and I LOVE that chair. Every time I go chair shopping I want to redesign the furniture. One thing that bugs me is little tiny seats. I like a seat that is at least 22" wide and 23" deep so I can curl up my feet and read. So many are so tiny (maybe I need to lose weight?!).

xoox Terri

traci zeller designs said...

Yay, Lauren! You know I've been excited for you about this for months ... so I'm even more excited that it is one step closer. Woo hoo!

{oc cottage} said...

Oh how VERY cool! I'm in LOVE!!!

m ^..^

Janell @ House of Fifty said...

What a great venture, all the best with it! Janell

Brandy Lewis said...

Gorgeous chair design! It reminds me of the Ellery chair by West Elm, except that yours is far more exaggerated and far more feminine~ Can't wait to see the line unfold!

Concrete Jungle said...

How exciting for you! The chair looks like a winner!

Jessica Wrasman said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kate Riley said...

Lauren, I am SMITTEN with your 'Mad Hatter' design, it's supurb! I would love two of them please, one at each end of my dining room table! What an exciting venture for you, so so happy for this new collection you're developing!
xo
Kate

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

Great Mad Hatter! And now I want to be alice to sit in one too!

I love that you are moving full steam ahead on this project!

Kudos, Girl!

Living It At Home said...

Lauren! I am so excited to see your furniture line coming to life! I think it is a dream to be able to turn something you can only imagine into a real life creation! Also, to turn it into a business is the ultimate! I am so inspired by you and all you have accomplished! You are making it happen! That is a sign of a true risk taker!
Your designs for your chair are lovely and I think it will fly out of your store. It is classic with a twist which is what many are looking for. Good luck and I can't wait until your store opens!
xojamilyn

jvw home said...

Look forward to the collection Lauren. Love this chair!!
xoxox

DecRenew Interiors said...

I'll be one of the designers that orders from you. Can't wait to see the full collection!!!!!

Donna in Potomac said...

I hope the chair will be advertised with you sitting in it. You make a great unanimated version of Alice - you know...L.Liess in Wonderland!:)

Loretta Fontaine (EcoHappy Blog) said...

Lauren- Wow! What an drop-dead amazing chair! I already want to curl up in it for hours. We should all be as lucky as Alice!

Is this Hickory you talk of Hickory Chair? Will you be joining their designer talent of the likes of Alexa and Mark Hampton, Suzanne Kasler and Thomas O'Brien?

I am so happy for you and can't wait for your super-successful launch!

Loretta

for the love of a house said...

the chair is fabulous! how exciting. wising you the best of luck with the line!

joan

Jessica Wrasman said...

Congrats on your new lines and thanks for sharing the process. It is so exciting!

I am looking for a similar type chair for my "girl room." I'll have to check out your online store soon. Sounds amazing!

De Ruijsbroekjes said...

oh such a beautiful wing chair !! Congratulations with your new plans en outcoming of them ! I wish you good luck..and i'll keep you in mind I am very curious to your shop !

Hood Canal Gal said...

LOVE the shape of this chair. Luck to you and your new on line store. Can't wait to check it out.
Megan

Anonymous said...

Cannot wait to see all of your pieces. Congrats!
Roxanne

Mona Thompson Providence Ltd. said...

Good for you, and I'm in love with your new wing chair. Looking forward to your collection. Congratulations. Mona

La Petite Gallery said...

That's just great, looking forward to seeing this.
yvonne

Andrea said...

Lauren,

You are going to do amazingly well! There is only one way up from here :)

Cheers to great success!

Anonymous said...

Lauren,I love the new look of the chair..Can't wait to see what your selling site offers..Much success to you..

Danielle Sigwalt Interiors said...

Great name Lauren and so fitting! And ab fab design...the chair looks so inviting, comfortable and chic at the same time! xx Danielle

Unknown said...

How exciting Lauren! Also, I linked your blog on my post today. Check it out ;)
http://sherricassaradesigns.blogspot.com/2011/01/blogger-awards-other-ramblings.html

Erin said...

wow! huge congratulations on your line! that's really something. excited to see the pieces!

Emily A. Clark said...

Congrats on your progress! So looking forward to seeing the rest--the chair is great.

I'm sure all of your trips to Hickory are full-speed ahead, but if you ever have time for dinner/lunch, I'm just about 30-40 minutes down the road and would love to meet up.

tarheel said...

Congratulations! How exciting! I love Alice- how much fun to have a Mad hatter tea party in your own home every day?!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Lauren... the chair looks great...looking forward to viewing your collection...
have a great day..
maureen

LindsB said...

Such exciting things happening! I cant wait to see more of your sketches!

Francine Gardner said...

Love the design of the wing chair, especially the softness of the rounded back.
I have a great sense of appreciation on the time and work it takes to launch a collection, going through it myself...

Crisp Interiors said...

I just found a killer deal on a similar chair and cannot wait to post it on the blog AND to see what you do with yours!
Just found your site and am IN LOVE!
Thanks for the inspiration and style :)
-Emily @ Crisp Interiors
http://crispinteriors.goodsie.com/

Anonymous said...

LOVE! I'll take 2 please. :)

Lynda @ Happenstance Home said...

your design for this chair is just beautiful. Congrats to you on developing a line of furniture. What creative fun!

Stephanie Sabbe said...

so exciting. congrats!!

Aubrey {All Things Bright and Beautiful} said...

You are one *BUSY* girl! I have no idea how you have time for your blog...but I'm glad you do! The Mad Hatter Chair is just absolutely gorgeous and I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the line! Congrats and Good LUCK!

http://loveallthingsbrightandbeautiful.blogspot.com

Camille said...

I saw this chair and thought of you. If the Madhatter is the ying, this chair is the yang.

http://bdantiques.com/s/cc_images/thumb_1259293604.jpg?t=1291239655

Unknown said...

The chair is awesome, for sure you'd feel like a princess or a queen sitting on that! :D Thanks for sharing!

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