I believe that giving is the greatest gift one can receive. I recently received one of the greatest gifts of my life. I had the great privilege of being able to help the Bienenstock Furniture Library create a center for design collaboration. Leslie Carothers introduced me to the library in High Point, North Carolina last fall.
Leslie arranged a tour of the library for me by the then Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bienenstock Furniture Library, Charles Sutton. As a book, design, and furniture lover, touring the library was heaven to me. During the tour, I learned that the Bienenstock Furniture Library houses the largest collection of rare books on furniture and furniture design in the United States that is free and open to the public.
Charles shared with me his vision of creating a center at the library that would allow design collaboration with state of the art audio/visual equipment with live streaming capability. After careful thought, I decided that Hadley Court had to partner with the library to create a center where it was possible for students, designers and design enthusiasts all over the world to connect and collaborate.
This is The Hadley Court Center for Design Collaboration. Isn’t it absolutely amazing? It truly was like Christmas morning when I saw it for the first time. I must admit, I never dreamed it could look this fabulous. My hats off to the very talented Christi Spangle, a designer from High Point with Barbour Spangle Design, who took a very plain room and transformed into a true center for design.
It truly took a village to create The Hadley Court Center for Design Collaboration. I want to extend my deepest thanks to Russell Bienenstock, the President of the library’s Board of Directors, and Karla Teague Webb, the Director of the Bienenstock Library. (pictured below)
I also want to thank the entire Bienenstock Board of Directors for supporting Charles Sutton’s vision for the design center. I especially want to thank fellow board members, L to R, Leslie Carothers, Ed Tashjian, and Stephanie Lowder for all of their hard work.
And last of all, my sincerest thanks to interior designer Mary Douglas Drysdale for taking time out of her demanding schedule to be the 1st speaker in the library’s new Distinguished Speaker series for the opening dedication ceremony of The Hadley Court Center for Design Collaboration.
What a dream come true to have the opportunity to hear so much wisdom imparted by one of the world’s design greats.
By giving to the Bienenstock Library, I have already received so much. I have met so many fabulous people in the industry and I have had the true pleasure of perusing the rare books in the library. The best gift of all is that Hadley Court will play a small part in sharing the Bienenstock family’s legacy with all the world.
Leslie Hendrix Wood
Hadley Court
Decorator
Chancellor Interiors
Midland, Texas
Gracious Living. Timeless Design. Family Traditions.
