David Phoenix for Hickory Chair: Comfort First
David Phoenix's collection for Hickory Chair puts comfort at the center of every decision, in forms built to last. Sutter & Vale carries the full range from this 115-year-old North Carolina house, where frame milling, hand finishing, upholstery, and shipping all happen inside one building. That integration is rare in American furniture, and it shows in the result.
What Makes David Phoenix's Design Approach Different?
Phoenix listens first, then designs. His earlier collections drew pointed feedback: too dark, too brown, too coastal. He recalibrated by asking buyers directly what they were looking for, shopping constantly, and letting that research shape the forms. This collection carries a lot of him in it, and the range reflects that confidence. Forms are architectural where the frame needs to hold, and soft where the body asks for relief.
The Eldorado is the clearest example. Its arm form is unlike anything currently in wide production. The first arm alone required nine hours of hand work, rebuilt repeatedly until the craftsperson and the designer agreed it was right. That kind of iteration is only possible when frame, finishing, and upholstery share the same roof.
How Does Hickory Chair Actually Build the Furniture?
Everything happens in one workroom on 9th Street in Hickory, North Carolina. Frame stock is machine-milled, then hand-stained. Fabric is cut from a paper pattern, hand-applied over white batting, and worked into shape with a mallet. Nailhead trim is set one nail at a time. The finished piece ships from the same address where the raw lumber arrived.
Phoenix has described Hickory Chair as one of the last factories to make the frame, finish the frame, upholster the frame, and ship the frame all under one roof. The house's own production documentation confirms exactly that sequence: one order, one building, in as little as three to four weeks from the start of work.
Which Pieces Should You Consider First?
Start with the silhouette your room needs, then work outward to surface and finish.
- Anchor seating: The 9th Street Sofa is drawn from a 1960s Hickory Chair archive piece. Its form is crisp and architectural. At 88 inches wide, it holds a room without overwhelming it.
- Sectional format: The 9th Street RAF Sectional Chaise carries the same DNA into a configurable plan, useful for larger living rooms or more casual arrangements.
- Shelter seating: The Addie interprets the low-back shelter silhouette with gently flared arms and a tailored tight seat. It scales from chair width to full sofa width through Hickory Chair's Made to Measure program.
- Surface work: The Grand Trine cocktail tables bring straw marquetry over a radial veneer. Sold singly or as a set of three, they show the house's range in case goods alongside its upholstery work.
| Piece | Width | Format |
|---|---|---|
| 9th Street Sofa | 88 in. | Fixed |
| 9th Street Sectional Chaise | 28 to 46 in. (chaise unit) | Configurable |
| Addie M2M | 28 to 84 in. | Made to Measure |
How Much Can You Customize?
The Made For You and Made to Measure programs give you real control over silhouette, scale, fabric, and finish. Hickory Chair also carries Liberty Fabrics as a confirmed first-class fabric program, placing 150 years of British textile work against its American upholstery forms. The full Hickory Chair collection at Sutter & Vale covers the range, and our team works through the specification process with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the David Phoenix collection suited to everyday family use, or is it more formal?
The collection spans both registers. Phoenix has described his aim as furniture that answers how people actually live, not what photographs well in an empty room. Pieces like the 9th Street Sofa are built for daily use, with tailored forms that hold their shape over time.
How long does a Hickory Chair order take?
Hickory Chair's own production documentation cites three to four weeks from the start of work. Lead time from order placement to delivery will depend on shipping and any finishing specifications, so confirm the current timeline with Sutter & Vale before committing to an installation date.
Does the Addie scale across a full project, from a single chair to a sofa?
The Addie runs through five Made to Measure width bands, from 28 inches up to 84 inches, so the same silhouette can serve as a chair, a loveseat, or a full sofa. The depth holds at 30 inches across all widths, which makes room planning straightforward.
The Sutter & Vale Team
