We love learning the history behind the showrooms that we write about everyday. With so many rich stories at our disposal, we've decided to get a few history lessons from the showrooms throughout the Cohen Design Centers, starting with Bielecky Brothers at the DDB.
It was 1903 when brothers Andrew and Conrad Bielecky emigrated from Poland to New York with their family and set up a small shop weaving wicker chairs. The two started out with the goal of setting the highest standard of living based on handcrafted rattan, cane and wicker furniture—and have continued to do so for the next 100 years.
In the 1920's, Bielecky Brothers was one of the first to align with the emerging interior design profession, creating an eclectic variety of custom-made furniture for individual decorators. During the 1930's and 1940's when wicker was relegated to the back porch, the company survived by maintaining quality in production and finishing. Tough times didn't sway the company; its ability to evolve with the times proved successful.
"Our family-owned business is now in its fourth generation," said Peter Bielecky, one of three great-grandsons now running the company. "We still model our cane and rattan furniture on the very same traditional designs from our inception in the late 19th century. We're very proud of our history and we're excited about our future."
Check back tomorrow with GoDesignGo for more of the Bielecky Brothers' story.
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