From Wall Street to the West (By way of Hayward, Wisconsin)

Hey Friends,

We had some big excitement around the store recently when we caught a glimpse of the Wall Street Journal’s recent article “Western Done Best”.

Designer Max Humphrey – whose book Modern Americana comes out next month – was asked to name a room that inspires him. He chose the grand lobby of Lake McDonald Lodge, a 1914 rustic masterpiece located in Montana’s Glacier National Park. The room is spectacular: a big open space three stories high with tree trunk columns, wood beams, hand-crafted balcony railings, and wildlife mounts.

The sturdy furniture – designed to hold up under generations of tired hikers – is a mix of Mission-style Skickley settees and chairs from Old Hickory. This is where we come in: although some lodge chairs are still in use over a century later, new ones in a variety of styles can be purchased right here at Retreat Home. As the WSJ pointed out, their clean, timeless design fits in any rustic setting but can also read modern, making them perfect choices for a variety of settings from dining table to porch.

We’ve had some fun correspondence from WSJ readers around the country. Some are searching for a particular piece that they remember from their childhood; another sent a photo of a chair inherited from a grandparent and wanted to share. It’s been fun!

If you need any help with Old Hickory Furniture, indoor or out, or want advice on how to capture the look of the iconic national park lodges in furniture, rugs, lighting, or one-of-a-kind pieces, do let us know. We’d be happy to help!

-The Retreat Home Furniture Team