Our Family
In 1971, Bill Hicks left his corporate career to open a small furniture store in the coastal plains of Texas, with the help of his three daughters. A few years later, his daughter Carol fell in love with his sales consultant, Tim Bolton. United by a passion for adventure and beauty, Carol and Tim began a legacy of curating one-of-a-kind antiques and unique pieces from around the world.
Over the decades, Carol made a name for herself as a furniture designer, partnering with top name brands. Following in her father’s footsteps, Carol opened her own store in Fredericksburg, Texas. With Tim’s support, she designed and sold her original pieces, establishing the Neighbour Moderne brand.
Today, Carol leads the Neighbour family, offering her cherished furniture line to a new generation. Taking inspiration from European design and her extensive experience in fine furnishings, Carol personally designs each Neighbour piece. Her visions are brought to life by master craftsmen who share our commitment to beauty, individuality, and quality. Neighbour furniture is handcrafted in small batches to ensure excellence—meaning that any piece you purchase is exquisite, unique, and created to last.
Founder & CEO
Carol Hicks Bolton
Long before working with industry giants, Carol’s journey into the world of furniture design began in her father’s unpainted furniture store in Texas. As a young sociology major, Carol loved to learn where things came from, carrying her curiosity for history, place, and origin to a store her father tasked her with running in Beaumont. Her father sent Tim Bolton to train her. On paper, this was a strategic failure: the two fell in love and closed the furniture store.
Tim was a respected furniture sales consultant, and Carol was a natural designer. Together, their passion for European antiques led them to open their first antique furniture store in Fredericksburg, Texas. Their collection grew along with their influence– by the 90’s, they’d caught the attention of home decor magazines. Before long, they would plant six stores in Fredericksburg, cementing themselves as tastemakers and Fredericksburg's place on the map for antique lovers.
Carol’s love for stories has only deepened over time. Her approach to furniture design is guided by intention—each piece is designed with a person or family in mind. Committed to creating spaces that are curated, deliberate, and rich with history, she believes that we should bring beauty to the places we’re in and the things we see every day.
Favorite Piece of Furniture: Wood vent panels she found in a factory in Rajasthan.
Co-Founder
Ezra Proch
Ezra’s love for craftsmanship and storytelling took root in his childhood in Fredericksburg. Every Wednesday at 7 a.m., his father taught him woodworking, instilling a deep appreciation for the artistry behind each piece. The early formation shaped an enduring vision for creating timeless, heirloom-quality furniture.
Ezra’s creativity led him to successful careers in acting and music, while his talent for numbers secured him a sought-after role in private equity. But the draw of his family’s furniture business was strong. In 2022, he initially took over finances but quickly discovered a passion for curating and creating furniture. Now, he supports his aunt in curating Neighbour’s inventory.
For Ezra, the future of the pieces he curates is just as significant as the past they hold. At the helm of finances and operations, he remains committed to preserving the integrity, quality, and intention behind every piece. And he’s just as in love with woodworking as ever, living in a century-old wine barn he built with his father.
Favorite Piece of Furniture: 1880’s Italian chairs found in downtown Florence.
Director of Brand + Marketing
Natalie Proch
Natalie first came to Neighbour through one of their Fredericksburg store fronts and quickly fell in love with the company’s ethos, artistry, and history. Now, she leads Neighbour’s marketing and branding strategy with the same philosophy that first drew her in—imagination, beauty, and storytelling.
Dedicated to creating a joyful customer experience, Natalie sees each interaction as an opportunity to inspire a vision for the future. Her commitment to authenticity and human connection is at the heart of the Neighbour family.
Favorite Piece of Furniture: The French Stools.
Operations Manager
Asa Proch
Some of Asa’s earliest memories are of unwrapping French antiques and unloading shipping containers at just eight years old. After an initial career in finance, his return to the family business was inevitable. Following in his aunt Carol’s footsteps in more ways than one, Asa married Natalie soon after rejoining Neighbour, and working alongside her remains the best part of his job.
As Operations Manager, Asa oversees the point-of-sale system, shipping, e-commerce, and logistics, ensuring seamless integration across all systems. No two days at Neighbour are the same, and Asa is grateful to face each challenge alongside a team he loves.
With a deep passion for the Neighbour legacy, Asa is dedicated to providing families with heirloom-quality pieces that honor their past and enrich their future.
Favorite Piece of Furniture: Peasant’s sideboard
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