I was spending some time at my favorite furniture store the other day and meeting with several manufactures reps..and viewing their new fabric offerings. Just as I predicted..the new color offerings are the rich blues and saturated tones of green..fabulous red prints..clear warm yellows and pumpkin oranges...the dusty, watered down shades with their mushroom colors and grey tones finally are taking a back seat to lovely rich colors that we all love.
And just in time for the January sales to come..
Which brings me to another point..Its time to decorate for the holidays..and although the economy is not completely back to normal...there are wonderful signs of renewed optimism all around us...the Philadelphia Eagles stadium is going green..with plans to create all its own energy with the sun..And how about that GM stock? It hit the market higher than expected. My Stock in Ford is also doing very well..
In closing.. this holiday season we will be careful with our dollars..we all learned a big lesson...but we can celebrate on a refined and rich level..like we've not done in a long time...with color and lots of it...to make our homes festive and generous in a new way...and if you can..buy an extra turkey for your local food pantry..they still need our help...
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
"bring on the Blues"
The new home design magazines all arrived the other day and I was overjoyed with the advertisements...especially fashion advertising..they were all filled with blue. Rich and Royal. The saturated hues that we have not seen for several years. It is exciting because if it is in apparel this season we will begin to see it in home furnishings next season...they fallow each other...
Blues are season less colors and work well with the foliage colors when used with the deep teal tones to rich navy/purple tones...it can really liven up a sage or bronze/gold palette...and what would a spring pallet be with out crisp blues with yellows and fresh Greens.
There is also historic significance to the return of the Blues...In times when we want to feel confident, secure with a sense of well being we tend towards these colors...could the discomfort of the financial disaster be coming to an end? Works for me...bring on the blues...
Also you will note several new "before and afters" on the web site and there are several works in progress that we will have completed and displayed by the end of the year...
Blues are season less colors and work well with the foliage colors when used with the deep teal tones to rich navy/purple tones...it can really liven up a sage or bronze/gold palette...and what would a spring pallet be with out crisp blues with yellows and fresh Greens.
There is also historic significance to the return of the Blues...In times when we want to feel confident, secure with a sense of well being we tend towards these colors...could the discomfort of the financial disaster be coming to an end? Works for me...bring on the blues...
Also you will note several new "before and afters" on the web site and there are several works in progress that we will have completed and displayed by the end of the year...
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
How A Designer can help you....what to expect...
Many people think the idea of hiring a designer is an extravagance..But in reality, a design professional can actually save you a great deal. And not just money...We often are the "go between" with couple with totally different ideas of what they envision...and a good designer will incorporate both visions into one FABULOUS look... on projects such as kitchens or other major renovations...certain choices can actually cost you money at resale time...
When your ready for design help, do your homework and check out their portfolio, ask if they can work with your budget...and of course you want to check with other clients that they have worked for.. The final consideration should be how you feel when interviewing the person..you are going to be working very closely and if something is annoying on the first visit... it will only get worse as you get into the project...Are they listening to what you say, do they have good communication skills both verbal and digital...In this day and age most good designers will have a web site and email...and they use it...the last thing you want is to be waiting for your designer to return your call...I use email for all important communications..it enables me (and the client)to keep accurate records of conversation and also include my all my Tradesmen on the same page with the same information....
And finally, you may want a designer to simply preview your plans.. and give you some assurance that what you plan will work....and we do that too..
Coming soon to my web site....new projects completed...before and after shots...
When your ready for design help, do your homework and check out their portfolio, ask if they can work with your budget...and of course you want to check with other clients that they have worked for.. The final consideration should be how you feel when interviewing the person..you are going to be working very closely and if something is annoying on the first visit... it will only get worse as you get into the project...Are they listening to what you say, do they have good communication skills both verbal and digital...In this day and age most good designers will have a web site and email...and they use it...the last thing you want is to be waiting for your designer to return your call...I use email for all important communications..it enables me (and the client)to keep accurate records of conversation and also include my all my Tradesmen on the same page with the same information....
And finally, you may want a designer to simply preview your plans.. and give you some assurance that what you plan will work....and we do that too..
Coming soon to my web site....new projects completed...before and after shots...
Monday, July 19, 2010
To Re-finish or Re-purpose
I had a conversation with dear friends yesterday that I often have with clients...They inherited Grandma's kitchen set and were at odds with each other about how to use it in their home....
ABOUT THE FURNITURE...When it was designed and built in the 1930's.. kitchens where not public areas of the home...they were strictly for food preparation and you would not entertain guests there..ever...and they were also very small...thus these pieces where not made of the finest cabinet woods and lacked any real style or embellishments..they where strictly the "work horses" of the furniture world..and these particular pieces...a tall cabinet, table and chairs are very small by today's standards..I would describe their style as "depression era cottage"
Now, my friend's home is an open concept layout and their taste is a mix of traditional and modern...and these pieces, although they function well in the space, their design and style is at odds with the rest of the home owner's furnishings...
Their question to me was: Will refinishing the pieces improve their appearance in the kitchen space? I have 2 questions that I ask in these situation...
1. Do you "LOVE" the piece? Does its provenance,(history..it was Grandma's) bring you great joy?
2. Is the piece of Superior quality?
If the answer to either question is No..then I don't recommend spending any time or money on the piece...UNLESS you are going to RE-PURPOSE them in another area of the home..In this case..give the cabinet a fresh coat of paint..in a white,pastel or bright color and it will look great and function well in a child's room as extra display and storage. Because it is not quality wood, I don't recommend refinishing...and the table and chairs..also treated to a great coat of paint, would work well in a basement/craft room as a game or work table
There you have it..in this case re-purposing wins out...Happy recycling to all..
ABOUT THE FURNITURE...When it was designed and built in the 1930's.. kitchens where not public areas of the home...they were strictly for food preparation and you would not entertain guests there..ever...and they were also very small...thus these pieces where not made of the finest cabinet woods and lacked any real style or embellishments..they where strictly the "work horses" of the furniture world..and these particular pieces...a tall cabinet, table and chairs are very small by today's standards..I would describe their style as "depression era cottage"
Now, my friend's home is an open concept layout and their taste is a mix of traditional and modern...and these pieces, although they function well in the space, their design and style is at odds with the rest of the home owner's furnishings...
Their question to me was: Will refinishing the pieces improve their appearance in the kitchen space? I have 2 questions that I ask in these situation...
1. Do you "LOVE" the piece? Does its provenance,(history..it was Grandma's) bring you great joy?
2. Is the piece of Superior quality?
If the answer to either question is No..then I don't recommend spending any time or money on the piece...UNLESS you are going to RE-PURPOSE them in another area of the home..In this case..give the cabinet a fresh coat of paint..in a white,pastel or bright color and it will look great and function well in a child's room as extra display and storage. Because it is not quality wood, I don't recommend refinishing...and the table and chairs..also treated to a great coat of paint, would work well in a basement/craft room as a game or work table
There you have it..in this case re-purposing wins out...Happy recycling to all..
Monday, July 12, 2010
a great sourse for DIY home renovationers..
One of my favorite things about being a designer is that shopping and bargain hunting is an important part of my work...and being the descendant of furniture merchants, bankers and master cabinet makers....I am genetically predisposed to be very good at it..and this week I found a fabulous source....during the recent unbearable heat...I retreated to my studio...the coolest part of my home...to practice what I preach...a bit of long overdue purging...I finished with a car load of odd blinds and hardware..all new but of no use to me...so I set out for the Habitat for Humanity resale store that I had heard about.. with hopes that they might want my "good stuff"....WHAT A SURPRISE...It was a DIY paradise..full of all things for home renovation...building supplies..hardware....cabinetry..appliances and furniture..some new some gently used.....and all at bargain prices...and they wanted my "stuff"....I really felt good know that my "good stuff" will find new life...and that my favorite charity will make some money... and that I would get a tax deduction....A Win-Win for everyone..I recommend that you check out their website for the store near you...and go forth and save!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
recent misinformation in a consumer magazine...
Hi All,
This is my first post and I hope you enjoy it...I recently was leafing through a magazine and came upon and article, the author of which, claimed to know the best time to purchase anything....and,according to the author, the best sales on furniture are in August..Well that may have been true 50 years ago...but to my knowledge...and I have been affiliated with retail furniture marketing for over 30 years...that is no longer the case...Most retailers know that they need to keep product coming in and going out at a consistent and profitable rate all year...to cover their expenses...so the sales are ongoing..Yes you may find clearance of discontinued items and perhaps some close outs...but manufacturers close out products on a monthly basis..not an annually or semi annually..So when your ready to buy...feel confident that the bargains will be out there for you...
Have a wonderful week....
This is my first post and I hope you enjoy it...I recently was leafing through a magazine and came upon and article, the author of which, claimed to know the best time to purchase anything....and,according to the author, the best sales on furniture are in August..Well that may have been true 50 years ago...but to my knowledge...and I have been affiliated with retail furniture marketing for over 30 years...that is no longer the case...Most retailers know that they need to keep product coming in and going out at a consistent and profitable rate all year...to cover their expenses...so the sales are ongoing..Yes you may find clearance of discontinued items and perhaps some close outs...but manufacturers close out products on a monthly basis..not an annually or semi annually..So when your ready to buy...feel confident that the bargains will be out there for you...
Have a wonderful week....
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