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May Issue 2007
Silver Fox Gallery in Hendersonville, NC, Expands Retail Space
The Silver Fox Gallery, located in a century-old brick building in the Historic District of downtown Hendersonville, NC, has completed a major expansion that adds 2,000 square feet of retail space for furniture, lighting and fine art.
The expansion, which also adds 800 square feet for shipping and receiving, is the first Main Street renovation that will result in retail use of all levels of the building, including the basement.
Silver Fox Gallery tested the market in 2006 for hand-crafted, contemporary furniture by filling the "loft" living room - where owners Jim and Bonnie Rash live above the gallery - with furniture for sale. "Customers expressed interest in well-designed, well-crafted furniture," Bonnie Rash said, "whether one-of-a-kind or production work. They expressed interest in alternatives to massive, more traditional furniture."
"With the keen interest in Craftsman design in this region, and with the retirement of baby boomers whose tastes trend more toward contemporary, we decided this expansion would be a good investment."
Rash calls the gallery's design concept "mountain contemporary". "Our collection replicates the colors and shapes found in Western North Carolina's landscape. Selections are based on the principles that less is more, and quality is more important than quantity,' she said. 'We encourage people to make an investment in their quality of life by surrounding themselves with authentic, inspiring work."
The expansion enables the gallery to offer
several new furniture and lighting lines and to devote more space
to artists already represented. Furniture includes: fine wood
furniture with a Craftsman influence by designer/craftsman Gary
Keener; free-form, one-of-a-kind work by Asheville's master woodworker
Bill Whipple, who allows each piece of unusual wood he finds to
"tell him" what sort of furniture it wants to be;
contemporary designs using exotic woods with stainless steel by
Andrew Muggleton; and pleasing spiral shapes by Richard Judd.
The gallery will continue to showcase furniture lines from Charleston Forge, Stone County and Cocopa and custom-made, upholstered furniture from Kravet.
As part of the furniture expansion, the Silver Fox Gallery has become a showroom and distributor for lighting companies Arroyo Craftsman, Cherry Tree Design and Bruck Lighting Systems. The gallery has tripled its showroom offerings of Hubbardton Forge, and continues to devote significant floor space to limited edition, hand-crafted lighting by American artists.
"Dollars spent on lighting can add exceptional beauty to a home," Rash said. "Through careful use of lighting, homeowners can maximize the natural beauty of wood and stone, enhance their fine art, and create a warm, nurturing environment."
In addition to this home furnishings expansion, the gallery retains its focus on American fine art and craft. Exceptional works from local and national artists continue to dominate the entire main level and will be showcased in coordinated residential design settings on the new floor.
For further information check our NC Commercial
Gallery listings, call the gallery at 828/698-0601 or visit (www.silverfoxonline.com).
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