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My husband and I just moved into a new apartment in LA which meant it was time to redecorate.  In addition to adding some of our Carolina George pieces I knew I wanted a new coffee table.  We had a great old wood one with a metal base from John Derian, which I loved but was growing tired of.  You know the one, Restoration Hardware and just about everyone else now makes a version.  I quickly discovered that I was going to have a very hard time making up my mind as to what I wanted.  My budget wasn't very big, I wanted to find something I loved, I was undecided on style and I was impatient and wanted something fast. Clearly it wasn't going to be easy.

 I looked high and low and then last spring I decided to stop in and preview an auction.  I wasn't really even looking for a table, I was more interested in the Tony Duquette jewelry I heard they had.  I was on my way out when two lucite tables caught my eye.  I liked them, but neither was in great shape and I didn't think I wanted nickel or chrome details.  They were also a bit bulkier than I liked.  While I was looking at them a man came up and asked if I like the tables I told him i did, but it wasn't exactly what I was looking for. He introduced himself as Charles Hollis Jones and said he had made the tables. I started asking him a million questions about what he could make for me how much would it cost etc.  I got the impression I was maybe supposed to know who he was, he didn't seem all that interested in dealing with me, but I convinced him to give me his email.  I immediately went home and looked him up.  Well, it turns out he was one of the first people to work with lucite and has done commissions for everyone from Tennessee Williams to Frank Sinatra.

 I knew I had found the answer to my coffee table.  It was a little more than I wanted to spend, but its an investment right? The Tennessee Williams bit sold my husband, he was not initially as enthusiastic about switching out the old manly wood table for something lucite. I emailed Charles to set up a meeting to discuss the table, he agreed to meet me the following Friday at a coffee shop in West Hollywood.  I arrived with my ideas and a few sketches to find the coffee shop closed due to Good Friday.  Instead he suggested we sit on the hood of his Jag while he drew pictures and I looked at metal samples until we decided on something, amused at the whole thing I handed over my deposit and went home.  

A few days before the table was to be delivered I called Charles to set up the delivery and he told me his van with my table and his dog no less had been stolen, I wasn't going to get my table before I left for NYC for six weeks.  I chose to believe and laugh at this absurd story and went to NY.  I finally returned last Thursday and had it delivered the day I got back.  It was absolutely worth the wait and I just LOVE IT! It lightens up my whole living and gives me more space for books because its two tiered. I can't wait to work with Charles again and am already discussing some side tables for a client. Here are a few pictures of my table!

Table with our Carolina George Slipper Chairs

Here is Charles (on the left) installing the table