Gorgeous Cerulean Blown Glass Lamps ~ HOT!

These big beautiful babies are just as perfect for the coastal house as they are for the city.  They complement the wonderful home fashion colors that are so prevelant today such as taupes, greys, soft blues and metallic finishes.  So, they were here in the studio shop before and now we have them again…for now.  Fyi ~ 30″ high x 20″ diameter and the cool violet-grey shades have an integral diffuser to throw the majority of light toward the table top.

Cover Giant Flat Screens in Formal Rooms

So, I was diligently looking for a method to completely house a 60″ television within a client’s beautiful and sophisticated living room.  The room is a combination of both transitional and traditional furnishings with neutral finishes.  I found this beautiful 84″ tall cabinet, of hardwoods in an umber finish and handsome linen-fold style decorative carving.  There’s a TV in there (or at least a cardboard mockup).  I look forward to delivering it and also the delivery of the television to it’s new home within the cabinet.  Problem solved and what’s on?

Quartz Surfaces and Their Benefits ~ Exciting, Actually!

We attended a continuing education class today provided by Cambria USA, an American quartz surfacing manufacturer, and Florida Bath in Santa Rosa Beach where we discussed using manufactured quartz slabs in the place of more traditional marble and granite.  Quartz surfacing also is said to provide better benefit than other manufactured materials such as Corian and “cultured marble.”  Seriously folks, we do not recommend the specification of cultured marble.  Quartz slabs are constructed of quartz mineral and are 94% quartz, the earth’s most prevalent mineral.  The quartz particles are mixed with a resin binder and decorative pigment in many colors and patterns.  Among other benefits, did you know that Quartz materials from companies such as Cambria and Caesarstone provide:

1.  Greater scratch resistance by inherently being 33% more dense than granite.  Only fine gems are going to scratch this surface ~ not metal or glass.

2.  Greater strength and break resistance when you consider that at least twice as much pressure than granite and marble is required to break a quartz slab.  Go ahead and dance on the table ~ no worries.

3.  Exceptional stain resistance to stains from substances such as red wine, cola, coffee and food coloring because quartz surfacing is non-porous.  You do not have to seal polished quartz like granite, marble, limestone and concrete.  This also means less illness causing germs.  Windex and wipe to your heart’s content but know that you’re probably overdoing it.

So, we’re not writing about quartz counter tops to sell a particular product line, but we’re happy to assist you in your selections.  We’re just saying it’s what we’re using next time in our own kitchens.  By the way, check out the shower walls in the bathroom photo above.  Imagine no longer having to scrub  grout with bleach (insert angelic voices here).

Tangerine Tango is Hot for 2012!

Pantone Color Lab’s have named Tangerine Tango as the 2012 Color of the Year.  Tangerine is hot in the fashion clothing and accessories industry and crossing over to home furnishings.  Trends in home furnishings and design quite often follow trends in fashion.  Look for tangerine in home stores and catalogs in everything from upholstery fabrics to home accessories.  Tangerine may appear in prints, woven stripes or solids as seen in these photographs from the Bernhardt and Drexel lines of furnishings.  Citrus colors, just as lemon yellow and lime green, add punches of color and are especially fantastic when added to rooms with otherwise neutral finishes.

Neutral, Natural, Clear and Shiny

Home furnishings markets this spring are all about furniture and accessories that are constructed of neutral colors and/or natural materials such as distressed and unstained woods.  Toned, or neutralized, color such as taupe and gray are popular.  Pops of soft blue, violet or red are common in accents.  Note that red is almost always used in moderation in a room or open space so let’s not go crazy with red which in great quantity may also make us angry or hungry. Today’s finishes are about soft, soothing and light.  

Driftwood type material or finishes would be an example of natural materials that are used in furniture and accessories.  Mirrored glass may be combined with an iron frame with a distressed cream painted finish in a cabinet piece or console.  In thinking about these two materials, the interest within the pieces are created by the contrast in distressed wood and the glossy mirrored affect of the glass. 

Along with glass and translucent items, shiny materials have resurfaced. Chrome, polished steel and shiny nickel are back in a strong way and again, mixed in sharp contrast to casual and neutral materials.  Think of a classic mid-century modern style chair with a chrome frame mixed with a more casual basic linen or cotton woven upholstery fabric.

Take a look at this table lamp which we sell in both our physical and online shoppes.  The grey wash painted finish is a soft and beautiful complement to the assembled driftwood pieces which make up the lamp.  The square proportion of the white linen shade is in interesting complement to the organic shape of the lamp base.  This lamp also happens to have a top diffuser panel in the shade to romantically cast a greater majority of light upon a table surface.  Order online or call our shoppe today to add this lamp to update your home or office interior.

http://yhst-131740249334186.stores.yahoo.net/natural-driftwood-lamp-distressed-finish.html

Home Furnishings Trends Influenced by Fashion

Have you ever wondered how new trends in home furnishings are established.  Trend in fashion, whether color, mood, shape, formality, texture, detail, etc most certainly will affect trend in home furnishings.  Trend in fashion for 2012, according to the forecasters for Winter Market at AmericasMart in Atlanta, look for:

Color: Orange Zest
Bursts of citrus across every variety of fabric and fit.
Texture: Liquid Silk
Smooth, fluid jerseys in vibrant, glossy shades and body-skimming contours.
Detail: Ruffles & Lace
Feminine trims, ruffled knits and peplum silhouettes.

In home furnishings, these trends may materialize in citrus color accessories, sleek and shapely furnishings silhouettes and/or romantic period details added to items. 

We are looking forward to attending market this coming weekend!  Why not check out the AmericasMart web site at:
www.americasmart.com

Joining your local Chamber

Today, I precariously drove through a wall of fog to our local Florida State University satellite campus in Panama City.  There was a bi-annual joint meeting of both Panama City and Panama City Beach Chambers of Commerce where many hundreds were in attendance.  It provided an opportunity for me to meet a few new local business owners.  Additionally, I learned that my business had been included in our wonderful Chamber magazine (see photo).

Your local Chamber of Commerce is a very valuable tool for the promotion of your business.  At a time when the cost of print, television and on-line marketing may be prohibitively expensive, look to your Chamber of Commerce for support and recognition.  Join and take part in their gatherings.  Some chambers offer evening workshops, monthly meet and greet luncheons or large annual meetings where the opportunity to network with other local business owners is rewarding. 

Contemporary Art in Traditional Spaces

Do you collect historical furnishings of European, American or modern styles?  Perhaps you furnish your home with traditional reproductions or a contemporary style.  Know that you do not always have to seek out art work of a tradional style or medium.  Look around your town for local artists and purchase their work.  Colorful abstracted landscapes, for example, look wonderful over traditional stained wood European or American antique cabinets in a room with neutral painted or wallpapered walls.  I have been looking around my area, coastal Florida panhandle, for notable artists and artwork.  Today, I was introduced to the work of a Teresa Cline.  She paints beautiful coastal landscapes.  Here is an example of her work from her Ocean Moods series from her web site, http://teresaclinegallery.com/.