A Heart for Furniture Design

Posted by on 16 October 2012

Abby Lane’s flaming red hair makes her easy to spot. It’s this eye-catching feature that gave her the idea for her company’s name: Redhead Furniture Design.

Abby began as a furniture designer at Otto & Moore Furniture in High Point. There, she designed for clients such as Country Living and Paula Deen. Soon, Abby began to dream. “I knew my end goal was that I wanted to run my own company someday,” she says.

But Abby would have to overcome a major obstacle first: open-heart surgery. Abby has a condition called Marfan syndrome, a disorder of the body’s connective tissues, including those in the heart. “The day before my 25th birthday, I suddenly had excruciating pain in my chest.” That night, at midnight, Abby was wheeled into the operating room at Duke University Hospital. The medical team sang happy birthday to her as they prepped her for surgery.

Five years later, at the age of 30, Abby has fulfilled her dream. In 2011, she launched Redhead Furniture Design. “Being based in North Carolina is great because I am so close to High Point, where many of my clients are based and the Furniture Market is held twice a year,” Abby says.

Based in Durham, Redhead Furniture Design tries to bring a female perspective to the furniture design industry. “There aren't a whole lot of female designers in the industry doing what I do, like mass production. Especially female owners. Manufacturers are starting to seek out female designers because the people picking out designs for the home are women,” Abby says.

“Being young, innovative, and female is a big selling point in my company. There’s a flare to the stuff I do that I see because I am female.”

Check out Abby’s designs at www.redheadfurnituredesign.com.

By Adrianne Loggins