Meeting Thomas O’Brien – renowned interior designer and founder of Aero Studios – at Hickory Chair in High Point was one of the absolute highlights of my trip!  In fact, the piece of furniture that I’ve been lusting over the longest – oh, going on eight years now – is his Darlington desk, based on an O’Brien family heirloom.  Isn't it awesome?  

Photo of Darlington Oval Desk from Hickory Chair

So, when I learned that Thomas was going to take us through his latest pieces for Hickory Chair, I was ecstatic at the opportunity to meet him and learn not only about his collection, but also about what inspires him. 

To state the obvious, Thomas O’Brien has truly become a household name.  Anyone who shops at Target – and who doesn’t? – has seen the Vintage Modern collection designed by Thomas for Target.  It encompasses bedding, towels, lamps, furniture, dinnerware and décor … in other words, everything you could want for the home.  But Thomas also brings his same refined style to textiles for Groundworks, lighting for Visual Comfort, rugs for Safavieh and – of course – his renowned furniture collection for Hickory Chair.  Indeed, it’s his skillfulness with “the mix” – here, the interweaving of both high and low price points, but also his ability to mix the masculine and the feminine, the vintage and the modern, and other qualities generally thought of as contradictory – that makes Thomas so interesting. 

For instance, check out this amazing bed.  The furniture is part of Thomas’ line for Hickory Chair, but the bedding is Vintage Modern from Target.  Isn’t it so chic, all put together like that?  If possible, I always recommend that you invest in quality furniture that you’ll have forever … but hey, if you have pets or children crawling all over your bed (licking, drooling, puking – all that fun stuff that comes with small creatures), you can use this fabulously inexpensive bedding from Target and still have a great look.  As Thomas pointed out, it’s also a bed that is appealing to both men and women.  In his words, "she drives the Boxster, too.  Style doesn't have to be turned into something that is overly feminized.  Mostly for a lot of women I think it's very important to have a new kind of feminine idea."   As a woman, I think this look is so sharp, and you don’t have to worry about your partner shrieking over florals or pastels.  According to Thomas, this particular bedding is one of the newest introductions at Target, so head there now if you are interested!        

And check out this amazing shelving wall. The shelves themselves are so very attractive - I love how they used alternate woods for each row - and extremely functional.  You can't beat that combo!  Perhaps the most interesting part of the wall, however, is that the shelving wall consists of individual Studio Bookcases that can also be used to surround a Studio Sofa (thus serving as both end tables and a console table, all in one).  Thomas shared that the Studio Sofa and Bookcases were originally designed for Giorgio Armani … unfortunately just as Mr. Armani (as Thomas referred to him) was inking the deal for Armani Casa.  So the Studio Sofa and Bookcases were not used in Mr. Armani’s apartment but instead became part of Thomas’ first introductions for Hickory Chair.  Fascinating!     

There are so many more amazing things that Thomas has done, and I couldn't possibly cover them all.  The New York Times has - as you might expect - written extensively about Thomas, so to read more from the Times, just click here.  And be sure to explore his collections ... everywhere you may find them!  

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