Duvall & Co.

For homeowners in the 1950s and 1960s, formal dining rooms were fixtures in their homes. People’s lifestyles revolved around defined schedules, so mealtimes were more formal and structured. Food was cooked in the kitchen and eaten in the dining room, and after finishing the meal, the family retired to the living room. In contrast, modern homeowners are accustomed to less structure and a more casual approach. Busy work schedules combined with busy school schedules contribute to the need for flexibility. Instead of having meals in a designated room, families often choose to eat in the kitchen, out on the patio, or while watching TV. As a result, the dining room is now used only for family gatherings and holiday celebrations, if it is used at all. A survey from Angie’s List notes that while 77% of respondents have a dining room, only 23% regularly eat meals there. Angie’s List founder Angie Hicks notes that families still enjoy their meals together, but they eat in a different part...

When designing a dining room, homeowners want to craft a unique space that reflects the personality of their family, while ensuring the area is practical and comfortable for hosting guests. Three elements can help people strike the ideal balance between style and functionality when designing a dining room. Identify the Purpose of the Space Before designing the dining room, it is essential to understand the function that it will serve. Will the area be used for formal dinner celebrations or casual gatherings of friends and family? How much seating is required? Should the space promote intimate conversations or lively group interaction? The homeowner must first consider the practicalities of his or her design ideas. An elegant dining room that is easily congested or has poor lighting will need to be reworked. Here are some practical tips for design elements. When selecting lighting, avoid downlights, which cast dark shadows on people’s faces. This effect is especially noticeabl...

When people think of a contemporary, elegant table design, concrete may not be the first material that comes to mind. However, concrete furniture has recently experienced a surge in popularity, and people are recognizing that this humble medium has rich design potential. Concrete’s appeal comes from its versatility. The Sp r uce notes, “Although concrete may seem like a cold, flat material, it actually has this astounding way of creating a neutral backdrop for almost any design style—farmhouse, Bohemian, industrial, minimalist, to name a few.” One way to introduce a concrete feature into an interior design is to invest in a dining table that incorporates concrete elements. “For a dining table that has an outside-the-box vibe, look to concrete. It offers a solid surface for family dinners, acts as a neutral stage for tabletop decor, and can be handmade by concrete companies, artisans, or custom-ordered online.” As a custom furniture maker, Duvall & Co. understands that the days...

Duvall & Co loves to give back. They donated their most popular table, the High Point Trestle, to be auctioned off at the Pretty in Pink Foundation Gala fundraiser for North Carolina breast cancer survivors on October 19, 2018. All of the proceeds from the online auction went to help breast cancer patients in North Carolina pay for medical treatment. Instead of painting the underside of the custom handcrafted table red, which is the Duvall trademark, they painted it pink, the color of breast cancer awareness . At an event hosted at Wine and Beer 101 in Wake Forest, breast cancer survivors were invited to leave their signature by painting their hands white and putting the handprints on the underside of the table. Pretty In Pink Foundation Pretty In Pink Foundation was founded in 2004 by Dr. Lisa Tolnitch, a leading breast cancer surgeon in Raleigh, NC. The mission is to provide financial assistance to uninsured and under-insured North Carolina breast cancer patients for medica...

Duvall & Co designs and handcrafts custom furniture , including tables, desks, doors, benches, and conference tables. The unique designs, best quality materials and craftsmanship, and customer service have gained the company’s local and national attention. Owner David Duvall explains the mission at Duvall & Co, saying, “Duvall & Co is a custom furniture design and build a studio. There is no average or normal job that comes across the table. People have forgotten what real furniture is. They have become accustomed to a big box. The truth is the big box furniture is manufactured overseas. It’s particleboard covered with veneer. It’s not real furniture. What we are doing is designing and building solid hardwood furniture that will last forever.” Duvall & Co is co-owned by husband and wife team David and Danielle “Dani” Duvall. While the Duvalls never intended to start a custom furniture business, David had always enjoyed wood-working and refinishing antiques, and Dani ...

Scale and proportion are the most important elements in achieving a great design that reflects balance and harmony. In her book, The Art of Space , interior designer and published author Mary Cook explains the seven fundamentals that create great design and spatial harmony. Objective: What are the goals of the design? What impression is to be communicated upon entering the room or viewing the piece of furniture for the first time? Function and livability: What is the purpose of the space and its contents? Great design must not only look great, but it must live great. Scale and proportion: Scale is the size of the items in the room, and proportion is their relationship to the space and to each other. Together, they add grace, balance, and harmony to a room. Light and lighting: Light evokes mood and emotion, generates interest, and creates emphasis, impact, and drama. Color: Color can add formality and sophistication or create a relaxed, casual atmosphere. It can help balan...

High Point, NC has a rich history as a leader in the furniture industry dating back to the late 1800s. The town set itself apart as a hub for the design and manufacture of fine furniture. Nicknamed “The Silicon Valley of Furniture” and “The Furniture Capital of the World,” High Point is home to the High Point Furniture Market, the largest semiannual home furnishings industry trade show in the world. Twice a year, 75,000 vendors and visitors from 100 countries come to “market,” as it is known by many. More than 2,000 exhibitors show their products at this global meeting of furniture professionals. It is only fitting that Duvall & Co., a North Carolina custom furniture maker, should name their most popular table after this great city. David Duvall, CEO of Duvall & Co., himself a gifted furniture designer and craftsman, explains the origin of the High Point Trestle Table : “Over the last year, the High Point has become our most popular table. We originally designed the table ...