Holly Hunt Seating
The success of Holly Hunt — both the designer and her eponymous empire of textile and furnishings showrooms — is based on instinct.
The Chicago-based Hunt trusts her own tastes, reflected in her signature lines of elegant, low-key furniture, lighting and fabrics. She also trusts her judgment about the wants of the buying public, and this savvy sensibility has allowed her to cultivate and market the work of a range of contemporary talents, from minimalists like Christian Liaigre to eccentrics like Christian Astuguevieille.
Hunt is a design world impresario — a prominent arbiter for stylish modern interiors and known foremost for fabrics, seating designs and light fixtures. Modern sophistication, attention to detail, and a desire to cultivate talented contemporary designers are at the crux of the company’s success.
Born in central Texas to schoolteacher parents, Hunt was a creative girl who made her own clothes and bickered with her mother about decor. After graduating from Texas Tech, Hunt worked as department-store buyer and costume jewelry designer before marrying and helping her husband build a multimillion dollar transport company. Her hobby was decorating their homes. After the two divorced, Hunt purchased a showroom in the Chicago Merchandise Mart in 1983. Within 10 years, she was winning applause for her understated designs, her lavish showroom parties and her eye for rising design stars. Liaigre was her first discovery. Correctly surmising that his pared-down furniture in dark wood would play well in the United States in the aftermath of the go-go ’80s, Hunt began marketing the French designer’s work in 1994.
Over the subsequent years Hunt has added a half-dozen showrooms and, following her own style barometer, has taken on other fresh talents, including glassmaker Alison Berger, French designer Christophe Pillet and couturier Ralph Rucci, making a foray into home design.
One constant over that time have been the aesthetics of Hunt’s own designs. Her fabrics — the first choice of many dealers when re-upholstering vintage seating — are understated, mixing muted colors and updates of classic patterns. Her furniture is simple and refined. As you will see on 1stDibs, the name Holly Hunt represents a sense of timelessness and sophistication.
1990s American Post-Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Upholstery
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Iron
20th Century French Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Cane, Oak
2010s Unknown Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Steel
Early 2000s American Holly Hunt Seating
Fabric, Textile, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Textile
21st Century and Contemporary French Minimalist Holly Hunt Seating
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Textile
2010s French Minimalist Holly Hunt Seating
Textile, Mohair, Velvet, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Upholstery
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Leather, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary French Minimalist Holly Hunt Seating
Textile, Silk, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary American Holly Hunt Seating
Bronze
Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Velvet
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Holly Hunt Seating
Fabric, Wood, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Onyx
21st Century and Contemporary Holly Hunt Seating
Bronze
Late 20th Century American Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Mohair, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Holly Hunt Seating
Lacquer
21st Century and Contemporary Holly Hunt Seating
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Holly Hunt Seating
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Fabric, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Bouclé
20th Century Belgian Country Holly Hunt Seating
Wicker, Oak
1920s Dutch Vintage Holly Hunt Seating
Leather, Oak
Late 20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Leather
1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Holly Hunt Seating
Leather
Late 20th Century American Hollywood Regency Holly Hunt Seating
Upholstery
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Bouclé, Upholstery, Wood, Hardwood
1950s American Vintage Holly Hunt Seating
Fabric, Walnut
1980s American Modern Vintage Holly Hunt Seating
Fabric
Late 20th Century Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Upholstery, Hardwood
1990s American Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Stainless Steel
Late 20th Century Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Fabric, Oak
Late 20th Century American Hollywood Regency Holly Hunt Seating
Chenille, Oak, Down
2010s Holly Hunt Seating
Wood
Late 20th Century French Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Leather, Mahogany
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Chrome
21st Century and Contemporary American Holly Hunt Seating
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Wool
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Oak
2010s American Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Leather, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Mohair, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Upholstery, Walnut
Late 20th Century American Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Upholstery, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Holly Hunt Seating
Canvas