Past Perfect: At Home with Red Chair
Written by Robert Leleux | Photography by Marta Xochilt Perez
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Jocie Sinauer has created an otherworldly retreat in the antiques mecca of Hudson, New York.
Rugs and textiles add dashes of color to the home’s peaceful palette.
In what was once a 19th century whaling house in scenic Hudson, New York, Jocie Sinauer has created Red Chair. Since 2010, this splendid antiques emporium has been a treasure trove specializing in 17th, 18th, and 19th century furnishings and home accessories, principally from France, Belgium, and Sweden. But more than that, Sinauer has achieved the fantasy of so many of us; she’s crafted a to-die-for “home above the store” that seems a seamless extension of her shop. Seen together, the shop and flat are suitably modern, of course, but also out of this century. There’s an otherworldly quality to the place. Sinauer’s editorial eye is evident in each object, and each seems to have been chosen not merely for its beauty and provenance, but also, for its charm and patina. During her frequent buying trips to Europe, Sinauer regularly scores porcelain and silver, glassware and ironware, chandeliers, furnishings, and more, all in her signature palette of soft blues, grays, and rich creams. So consistent is her taste, in fact, that the shop and store could be mistaken for an art installation.
Red Chair represents the culmination of Sinauer’s lifelong passion for art, antiques, and found objects. She began collecting as a child who thrived on weekend antiquing jaunts, and never stopped. That passion led to the founding of Red Chair’s first iteration, in Peterborough, New Hampshire, in 1997, and finally, its move to the thriving antiques mecca of Hudson in 2010. So, it’s no exaggeration to say that when you walk into Red Chair today, you’re walking into a lifetime’s worth of care, curiosity, and curation. Sinauer has never forgotten her beginnings, as a child who loved searching for a beautiful thing, and indeed today, she makes certain to stock some sparkling items of little cost, with the hopes that young people might begin their lifetime journey of collecting in her shop.
The rooms are flooded with natural light, from windows with charming street views.
Sinauer’s décor always boasts the unexpected touch.
Collections are corralled in antique cabinetry.
Though Sinauer’s “home above the shop” is laden with antiques, it never feels overly formal or fussy.
Modern and character-filled pieces compellingly pair with centuries-old treasures.
Open shelving transforms the kitchen’s everyday objects into an artful display.
Varying hues of white come together in an enviable collection of tableware.
Mismatched Gustavian chairs surround an antique pine farmhouse table. Simple bud vases with individual flowers complement the room’s laidback, yet elegant vibe.
An antique French bistro table makes for a generously sized bedside table. Sinauer added a vintage stool to create more space for her nightly reading.
Sinauer collects antique Louis Philippe style mirrors in silver—a finish that's much harder to come by, but luckily for us, Red Chair has an excellent selection.
A colorful collection of vintage indigo throws livens up the guest room.
Check Out The Shop
Walking into Red Chair can feel like entering another, lovelier time and place.
Red Chair overflows with fine furnishings and home accessories, from the grand to the eminently affordable.
Exquisite tableware and serving pieces are among the shop’s specialties.