Remembering the convivial mood of our grandparent’s evening highball, we wanted to design a chair and sofa with arms wide and flat enough to hold a libation. We’ve always been dazzled by Scandinavian mid-century modernism. Named for William Couper, our late 19th century sculptor ancestor, the Couper lends itself to bespoke dimensions.
An admired French Art Deco chair inspired our Fayette. We’ve always loved the glamour of the 1930s and that decade's strong connection between luxury and technology. Around a bit earlier, Marquis de Lafayette was the first French friend we ever learned about in school.
With their elegantly partitioned inset stone tops and dramatic waterfall shaped aluminum legs, our Ballenger Tables exude the simplicity of modernism. The spectacular cliffs of Ballenger Creek remind us of the many breathtaking waterfalls and river views in Virginia.
Drawing inspiration from the chamfered columns at the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, our Mundy Dining Table features light-catching faceted edges and an elegant reveal at the base, simulating a floating column.
Named for family friend and Virginia diplomat James Rives Childs. A Renaissance man for the ages, he was the world authority on Casanova and Chargé d'Affaires for Morocco during WWII. Our great aunt Ootie, remarkable in her own right, was close pals with Rives and his wife Georgianna. We wanted an inspired story for a very special pair of outdoor chairs.
The Tangier signature eight sided columnar base reflects our Virginia roots. This estate furniture collection recalls the octagon, a favored form of Thomas Jefferson, representative of perfect symmetry and efficiency of materials. We named our Tangier for an unchanged island in Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay, whose inhabitants still speak with traces of an English accent.
We named the Otey Collection for our dear family friend – the cosmopolitan, brilliant Elizabeth Otey Watson. Nicknamed “E,” she combined stylish elements from her time in Shanghai with her native Virginia charm, and the resulting combination was electric. Our signature Otey back design is inspired by Chinoiserie fretwork with arms that reference the Regency period.
This high style contemporary table has characteristic McKinnon and Harris clean lined understatement. Ziggurat geometry inspired the stepped base edges. The Carroll name comes from our great grandmother’s brother-in-law, John W. Carroll, reputedly the very first millionaire in our home town. He was a cabinetmaker before he became a wealthy tobacconist.
Every day growing up, we walked through a portico supported by fluted columns with tobacco leaf capitals. The proportions were perfection. We channeled this classical vibe into our Suhling. The name Suhling comes from the builder of our childhood home – Shirley Moore Suhling – who, we were always told, had flawless taste.
We named these sleek modern pieces for our forward thinking and tenacious French ancestors. We love stripes and the Perrow raised banding is our translation in enduring aluminum. The highly edited details are pure McKinnon and Harris style and high performance.
