Photo Courtesy of Alexa Hampton
Alexa Hampton runs
Mark Hampton LLC, the legendary interior design firm founded by her father. Mr. Hampton served as a design mentor and inspiration for his daughter, and Alexa found her design calling at a young age. At 16, she was touring Versailles and classic English gardens en famille, helping to form her aesthetic. Travels to Europe gave her the art history and historical background. Both Alexa and her father were talented painters from a young age, and they could express themselves artistically. Alexa picked up his elements of style through osmosis, and British architectural elements, Roman antiquities and soft colors are hallmarks of her rooms. She took up the reigns, taking over the firm in 1998, and kept existing clients while gaining new ones, proving she could run the show. I went to visit her in her office this spring. The place is buzzing, and she works on so many different things at once it is most impressive. She is taking the product world by storm, and has designed a furniture, fabric, lighting and rug collection. Could a book be far behind? I think not. Her wit, vim, vigor and great eye make her a force. As a mother of three young children, she is a hard act to follow. She is one savvy business woman and terrific fun.
Photos Courtesy of AH
The entrance area
Archways lead to Alexa's office
Her library is spread out around the walls of her office, and bookshelf space is not wasted on nick nacks. Her library is full of old greats and is well used. Treasured historical references and newer tomes fill every last nook. Alexa's collection spans the ages and she uses every last book as a resource
Her view, perched high above Central Park, is inspiring and light filled
A great chair covered in her fabric
Two desks are better than one. A round work table is where the creative stuff, fabric scheming and sketching is done. Reading, computer work and stacks live on her real desk. Client meetings usually occur at the work table, since she can show past projects and spread out portfolios
The New York apartment building she grew up in, as documented in her youth
An early painting by Alexa, done when she was 20
A watercolor by her late father. He painted this in his teens
Endless inspiration points exist in her office. Antique furniture and accessories inspire her own designs. A wonderful swag table holds a dilapidated model of an English country pile and treasured family photos
Their very organized fabric library
HICKORY CHAIR
Alexa Hampton for
Hickory Chair could have been simply inherited by Alexa from her father, since he had an existing collection there. But no. Alexa, ever the innovator, wanted to have a her own line, reflecting her design aesthetic and how people live today, and she worked hard to get it. Less formal room layouts and casual entertaining means furniture serves different needs now. Having a little fun, Alexa named her pieces after friends. Impeccable room vignettes with Alexa's collection are shown below. This is how buyers, decorators and stores see Hickory's newest collections when making their biannual pilgrimages to Furniture Market.
The fun part is, designers that do a collection get scheme everything. By selecting fabrics, finishes and layout, they know what will be most alluring to the buyers that come through
Styling a room with finishing touches, signature accessories and personal elements brings Alexa's design philosophy to life
The Hubert Side Chair
The back has great details
The Blix Side Chair
The Regan Chair
The Roberts Sofa
The Christiensen Dining and Drop Leaf Table
The Pavlos Bookcase
The Olson
The Mark Desk
The Simon Bench
The Hoffman Side Table
The Andrew Side Table
Photos Courtesy of Hickory Chair
The Susanna Side Table
VISUAL COMFORT LIGHTING
When you can't find what you need, you get it made. Or, you find gaps in the market and create product to fill that need. Alexa brought her numerous ideas to lighting manufacturer
Visual Comfort and made them fly. Her incorporation of classical design motifs with lattice, Greek key and urn elements are fresh and easy to work into a room. The finish options can make a piece appear contemporary or traditional. Visual Comfort makes lighting of superior quality, design and proportion, so this collection is a natural fit.
The Kate Table Lamp in polished nickel finish
The Lauren Table lamp in faux bamboo porcelain
The Vivien Table lamp in natural brass
The Burt Table Lamp in alabaster
The Burt in black marble
The Estelle Display Lamp in polished nickel is great for a vintage book or small framed piece of art
The Charles Alabaster Pendant
The Gene Swing Arm Sconce
The Dean Single Arm Sconce
The Bob Table Lamp in wrapped leather
The Frank Flush pendant in natural brass
The Sophia in polished nickel
Photos Courtesy of Visual Comfort
The Basil in natural brass
