Coffee Tables From Calligaris

Searching the internet as much as I do, I come across a lot of interesting sites. For example, here's one I found today, Freshome. It had pictures of a coffee table from one of our favorite contemporary vendors, Calligaris



Freshome writes

The Retro contemporary coffee table by Calligaris is both stylish and practical having a central open compartment under the top and two side drawers that open by a rotating pivot pin. The Calligaris retro table features a wenge finish that will easily match any home decor. The clean lines and smooth elegant curves make this a collection of pure design classics. This is Italian furniture design at its most architectural. New ideas in materials, techniques and shape combine to make a clarity and purity of form that is fresh and truly modern.

We like furniture pieces that can serve several functions.



Calligaris also offers Kobe, a contemporary coffee table in wenge, or rovere, with translucent glass



Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Musical Furnishings

Are you like me? You sit in your car waiting for the light to turn green and “1973” by James Blunt starts on the radio and you start finger tapping the steering wheel, keeping time to the beat. Sure you are.

You sit at home playing Bridge with friends. Before the cards are dealt, that song is played on the stereo, the one Michael Jackson danced to on his “Thriller” album. Your feet start moving and you imagine yourself playing the drums on the table edge. Isn’t is limiting to have only one note on that table?

Well, NW Artist Tor Clausen in his studio in Olympia WA., has a solution. His company Musical Furnishings is very excited to introduce the Musical Rumba Series. You now can have “your own personal drum table with durable, interchangeable and rearrangeable percussion inserts.”



What will they think up next?

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Pictures Of Uttermost Accent Furniture

On Tuesday, March 11, 2008, we posted Uttermost To Debut Accent Furniture! We now have some pictures of the new designs:

The 50-piece furniture introduction includes everything from stacking tables to tall chests to upholstered chairs. All furniture is either in stock or will be by late April

.


Click on the picture for large, beautiful images. We will be ordering samples!

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Landfair Adds Duralee Memo Sales

Yesterday morning Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery hosted Scott McKay, Duralee Sales Representative, in a meeting for Oregon interior designers. We announced that Landfair Furniture would be the Oregon "To The Trade" showroom for Duralee fabrics and will offer memo samples. Already we have expanded the scale of fabric samples and Scott told us that another eight boxes of samples are on the way.

Scheduled for completion by June of 2008, our showroom will feature an extensive display area for Duralee fabrics, Highland Court luxury fabrics, a library area with Highland Court and Duralee sample books, and a brand new memo room. Landfair Furniture will feature a display vignette of Duralee Fine Furniture enabling more customers to experience the custom fine furniture brand.

In addition, McKay announced that Philip Gorrivan has partnered with Duralee and announced a new line of Luxury Fabrics!

Philip Gorrivan Design is based in New York City specializing in high-end residential interiors and commercial projects including hotels and offices. The firm is known for its unique and clever use of color and a polished and refined eye for objects, art and furnishings.

A SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE FABRICS FROM PHILIP’S FABRIC COLLECTION FOR DURALEE/ HIGHLAND COURT. THE FABRICS ARE AVAILABLE IN EARLY 2008.

Gorrivan has created a 5-book set of woven color books featuring the Philip Gorrivan signature style of fresh, modern designs with a touch of the past and punches of color.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Check Out Kim Seybert!

Here's a NY fashion designer that has moved from the runway to the tabletop, Kim Seybert.

Handmade placemat of smooth oval hand dyed wooden beads with a cotton backing.

As a successful designer working on Seventh Avenue, Kim's specialty was beaded and embroidered dresses and evening- wear. In 1998, Kim redecorated her apartment, reinvigorating her creative energy and enthusiasm for design. She decided to take this expertise and her lifelong passion for fashion and translate them into a collection of similarly embellished coasters, placemats and pillows.

Hat tip to Lizzie Garrett at DESIGNwatcher

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Turn Signal Jacket

Click photo for more information.

Clothing is becoming more functional, growing beyond the original intention of covering your nakedness before the eyes of the Creator and now providing for your safety.

Two-wheelers are nimbler and faster but they'll always be less noticeable and that's a bad thing on our increasingly congested roads. This jacket provides another mechanism for catching the eyes of sleepy-eyed commuters. Controls are on the wrist.

(hat Tip to productdose.com)

I need a jacket to wear for summer bicycle rides to the furniture store!

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Best Places to Find Color Inspiration

One thing caught my eye in the latest HGTV decorating news. David Bromstad shares tips for the Best Places to Find Color Inspiration.

Who is Bromstad? David Bromstad is the season one winner of HGTV Design Star.

Here are his tips:

Get Outside -

Nature is the most amazing place for color inspiration, since each season offers different and amazing color combinations. The warmth of the summer and fall, the cool colors of winter and the fresh hues of spring are the perfect examples of Mother Nature's work. Color doesn't just exist in the growth of nature, but in every aspect. A stormy sky against fall leaves is unbelievable, while a yellow rain jacket on a gray, rainy day is the perfect color combination for spring.

There is one color of green I just love and it comes this time of year and that is the new, fresh, rain-washed green of budding leaves.

Go Shopping -

Take a look at the fresh produce aisles at your grocery store. Nature went crazy with the most amazing and vibrant colors of fruits and vegetables. Grab a few of your favorite shades and see how you can make them work together in your home.

I'm reading "On Mexican Time" by Tony Cohan. In it he and his wife are shopping in San Miguel de Allende. Can you picture these colors: "...when a willowy Indian girl in a green sweater showed up at the door with buckets of bright orange-yellow calabaza flowers



and blue corn tortillas." or "Beneath a canvas awning we pick ripe yellow mangoes



and magenta cactus berries called garambullos for Susana's mousse."



Read the Fine Print -

My greatest color inspiration comes from fashion and magazines. First, it's the best way to stay on top of color trends and styles, since fashion is always the forefront of what then comes into interiors.

Take a Stroll -

All the colors you see in everyday life can be a part of your home. Carry a camera to take snapshots whenever you find the perfect combination.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Ruth Mullen Features Jennifer Leonard

Today is Ruth Mullen Day. In a nice piece about interior designer Jennifer Leonard, entitled Twin Set, Mullen shows how a "striking white Colonial Revival and "a matching playhouse" were restored.

With Jennifer's design touch and green thumb, and her attorney husband's affinity for manual labor, the couple have tackled some daunting tasks, such as taming their half-acre landscape, ripping up old carpet, scraping wallpaper, and painting inside and out. With 3,500 square feet, four full baths and five bedrooms, they have their work cut out for them.

[...]

It's also an intimate showcase for Nifelle Design, the interior design business that Jennifer runs from home. Rich custom fabrics and high-end designer furniture mingle with antiques, refinished castoffs and treasured heirlooms, such as the andirons that belonged to her grandmother.

Here's how you reach Jennifer Leonard

Nifelle Design
www.nifelledesign.com
503-730-7117 * jennifer@nifelledesign.com

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Uttermost To Debut Accent Furniture!

From Home Accents Today:

Uttermost will make its accent furniture debut in High Point this April, after nearly a year in development.

The 50-piece furniture introduction includes everything from stacking tables to tall chests to upholstered chairs. All furniture is either in stock or will be by late April.

We can't wait to show you pictures. Stay tuned!

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There's still time to register! On Saturday March 15th from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Kimberlee Jaynes will share "Designer Secrets" - "Insider tips on transforming difficult design challenges into stylish solutions!" See Kimberlee Jaynes' we site: www.kimberleejaynes.com. Seating is limited so register soon at Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery or call 503-245-4222

---

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Hot Products In Home Accessories

Home Accents Today's weekly email of hot products in home accessories singles out several vendors carried at Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery:

Textural trophy



Topped with an oatmeal colored loomed linen shade, the Carob Medallion lamp from THE NATURAL LIGHT Prince of Wales Collection features a hand-formed clay base with a splashed glaze.

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We are excited to have next month, on Saturday March 15th from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Kimberlee Jaynes sharing "Designer Secrets" - "Insider tips on transforming difficult design challenges into stylish solutions!" See Kimberlee Jaynes' we site: www.kimberleejaynes.com. Seating is limited so register soon at Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery or call 503-245-4222

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Shell style



Beads from natural polished coconut shells embellish the pillows from Palecek with woven natural abaca cases.

Embossed Glass Lanterns from CBK



Antique Copper Finish, 6"Sq x 8"H, Glass, Iron

Lanterns from CBK



Stone Bronze and Luster Finish, Set of 3 (Amber, Blue, Green),6.5"D x 14.5"H, Glass, Iron

Taking shapes



Open blocks create the base on the Sunray cocktail table from Global Views.

Geometric looking glass



Pyramid designs finished in hand-rubbed mahogany red with burnished details and gold accents create the frame on the Conley mirror from Uttermost.

Enjoy!
Bev & Mike

The Precedent eCollection

If you have been to Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery recently or to our web site, you know we've added Precedent Contemporary Upholstery to our collection of upholstery vendors. Precedent is a division of Sherrill. We added the line first, because we know that high quality is what Sherrill stands for. Second, our customers were demanding a line of contemporary furniture and third, our customers were asking for a way to be "green".

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We are excited to have next month, on Saturday March 15th from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Kimberlee Jaynes sharing "Designer Secrets" - "Insider tips on transforming difficult design challenges into stylish solutions!" See Kimberlee Jaynes' we site: www.kimberleejaynes.com. Seating is limited so register soon at Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery or call 503-245-4222

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Precedent Contemporary Upholstery is doing all it can to reduce waste and reuse materials and innovate products and processes that are better for people and our planet. For example:

Frames are made with low-formaldehyde engineered hardwood responsibly harvested from sustainable forests.

Glues and Finishes are water-based and VOC and formaldehyde free.

Seat Cushions are made from foam that utilizes soybean oil as a substitute for some of the petroleum normally required to produce foam.

Fabrics are woven from recycled or sustainable fibers like hemp, bamboo or organic cotton. Almost all are dyed with low-impact dyes that reduce or eliminate harsh chemical discharge into the earth.

Quality Craftsmanship minimizes the impact on the environment now and in the future.

To read more and wander through the styles see the Precedent Contemporary Upholstery website.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

"Greek Key Motif"?

House Beautiful has an article about The Greek Key Motif by Carol Prisant. What is "Greek Key Motif"?



Prisant describes it as "a rectilinear meander pattern: one very long and continuous line that folds back on itself repeatedly. " It meanders or wanders like the river, Maeander River in ancient Anatolia.

---

We are excited to have next month, on Saturday March 15th from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Kimberlee Jaynes sharing "Designer Secrets" - "Insider tips on transforming difficult design challenges into stylish solutions!" See Kimberlee Jaynes' we site: www.kimberleejaynes.com. Seating is limited so register soon at Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery or call 503-245-4222

---

Prisant says it is also called "fretwork". "Patterned ornament composed of only straight lines is termed fretwork."

You'll see Greek key on accessories, fabric, and fabric tape, furniture and as Jackie Blue Home points out, on screens or room dividers, tile and rugs.




A Greek key design from House Eclectic.

UPDATE: We just ordered a new product from Global Views that fits right in with the Greek Key Motif, this Greek Key Step Table (30"L x 19.75"W x 22.75"H)



Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

"Design Secrets"

Last month we had a great turnout for the seminar conducted by JoAnn Rouza, "The Art of Flawless Accessorizing!" We held the seminar over three different days and times. Due to popular demand we will bring JoAnn Rouza back possibly in May.

We are excited to have next month, on Saturday March 15th from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Kimberlee Jaynes sharing "Designer Secrets" - "Insider tips on transforming difficult design challenges into stylish solutions!" Seating is limited so register soon at Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery or call 503-245-4222



Kimberlee Jaynes owner of Kimberlee Jaynes Interior Designs is among Portland's most talented designers. Her work is a combination of comfortable sophistication and confident simplicity. An associate member of Northwest Society of Interior Designers, Jaynes has practiced interior design for 17 years. She has been quoted in the Homes & Gardens section of The Oregonian as well as Oregon Home Magazine. She is a featured designer in "The Fine Art of Wall Design", a book about hanging art.

Reserve your seat for Saturday, March 15th from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

Bev & Mike

Bridget A. Otto Thursday

This is like Howdy Dowdy Time.

What time is it boys and girls? IT'S BRIDGET OTTO THURSDAY, UNCLE BOB!

And today is the best day in a long time because Bridget Otto called Bev Landfair, You know her boys and girls. She's the owner of Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery.

Why would Bridget call Bev Landfair, and Amanda Klash, owner of Montgomery Klash Interior Design, and Todd Dewey Jantz, owner of JD Madison? She wants to learn from three in-the-know Portlanders what they see headed our way for 2008 in terms of color.

Bev Landfair of Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery sees the organic elements in accessories as well as upholstery. She also swoons over the staying power of antiqued brass and the patinas of bronze and copper.

"Shiny brass is past," she says with a laugh.

Jantz couldn't agree more, but it's platinum he swoons over. Not the icy, cold gray from the '80s, he says, but the pewterlike platinum finish.

Landfair sees accents of marine blues and yellows on the horizon, as well as Art Deco designs, such as chairs embellished with nailheads.

All three design professionals echoed one another on the importance of details.

Whereas Landfair might add a "cool, wacky table with a copper top" and Klash might pull out a pewter-colored, cut-velvet fabric, they all agree the delight in a room comes from the details.

Landfair simply says: "It's style."

Thanks Bridget! BTW, check out our website for a new seminar scheduled for Saturday March 15th from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

"Designer Secrets" Kimberlee Jaynes shares "Insider tips on transforming difficult design challenges into stylish solutions!"

Bev & Mike

The Step Chest

We received an email from Michael Ramsey of Greentea Design out of Toronto. The Canadian based Asian furniture retailer deals in both antiques and contemporary pieces with customers throughout North America. Their main claim to fame is that their contemporary pieces are made from reclaimed wood so as to be more environmentally friendly. We were intrigued by one of their pieces and the history behind it, The Step Chest:




History of the Step Chest

The most recognizable piece of Japanese furniture is the Kaidan Dansu or Step Chest. It first appeared in the late 1700s in stores and homes with loft spaces.

The idea was simple -- why not have a staircase that could actually act as storage space as well?

These giant pieces (usually about 7 ft. high) would be constructed by the local carpenter who would build it to the owner’s specifications.

The chests would usually consist of a combination of sliding doors and drawers and different-sized storage spaces.

Then the next clever idea was spawned. Since the government at that time taxed owners on their livable floor space, someone thought of making the step chest in pieces.

The idea was be that when the tax inspector came around, you would simply disassemble your staircase and claim that your loft was only storage and had no permanent access. This worked for a while until, predictably, that loophole was closed.

These antique step chests remain one of the most unique and collectible pieces of Japanese furniture. Because of this, prices remain very high and availability is limited.

Isn't it amazing how people work around intrusive government?

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Bridget A Otto Thursday Two

In the second Bridget A Otto article entitled From 'funky' to fine, the NW Pro is Keri Davis of Keri Davis Design.

The Problem: The master bedroom was poorly configured, the bathroom needed an update and the closet was insufficient.

The second-story bedroom had an exterior door that led to a deck with stairs down to the backyard....There was no real place for the bed and it was awkward.

The bedroom also needed better lighting.

What's the value of a good designer?

Lisa gives full credit for the success of the remodel to Davis, who quietly steered her through the choices of materials and finishes. Having a designer with Davis' experience and ability, Lisa (McBee) says, was essential.

"When you're busy and trying to work, but there are so many choices, you need someone to steer the helm," Lisa says.

Most clients haven't seen what a professional sees in years of design work. So when you ask if they want dark floors with lighter cabinetry, says Davis, they can't visualize it.

Keri L. Davis, CKD, can be reached at
(503) 475-5883
Email: keridavisdesign@aol.com

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Bridget A Otto Thursday

You know what day it is, it's Bridget A Otto Thursday and she has been busy. First an article on finding the perfect chair, entitled Take a seat. She has some nice pictures in pdfs here and here of some chair styles. There are no pictures from Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery. How did that happen?

How about this chair and ottoman from Sherrill?



Someone said recently that they tried a lot of chairs for comfort. Everytime there was item we liked, it was a Sherrill!

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

JoAnn Rouza, "The Art of Flawless Accessorizing!"

Landfair Furniture will host JoAnn Rouza of JoAnn Rouza Interiors as she speaks about the "Art of Flawless Accessorizing!"

JoAnn of JoAnn Rouza Interiors will share her tips and tricks that Interior Designers use to put the finishing touches on their clients' projects. In just one hour, you will learn how to perfectly accessorize a fireplace mantel, tabletops and bookshelves.

If you have a particularly challenging area to accessorize, bring a digital photo and JoAnn Rouza will offer suggestions as time allows. You will be able to go home and immediately apply your new knowledge for stunning results!

The program is free, but seating is limited, so call or go online to reserve your spot today!

Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery – January 26 10:00 to 11:00, January 29 10:30 to 11:30 and January 30 7:00 to 8:00

Bev & Mike

Seminars In The Pearl

Design Within Reach - Wednesday, January 16, 6:30–8:30pm

DWR Portland invites you to the first of our bi-monthly architecture and design lecture series, Designs on Portland. Topics will vary, but stay topical as we take the pulse of our thriving design community. The first lecture will focus on Portland’s growing reputation as an architectural center and how we can all play a role in the media’s perception of our progress.

Randy Gragg, former Oregonian architecture critic and editor-in-chief of Portland Spaces magazine will join us to discuss the surge in media attention and the portrayal of Portland in the press. Local journalist (Metropolis, Dwell), author and blogger Brian Libby (portlandarchitecture.com) will serve as moderator. Refreshments will be served. Call for reservations at 503.220.0200

Versailles in the Pearl – Thursday, Jan. 24, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

“An evening with” one of the region’s foremost experts in the art of Faux Painting, Lorie Wolff, One Horse Studio, demonstrating the art of adding texture and patina to interiors to complement eclectic and traditional European settings.

The latest innovations and study of the oldest techniques will be demonstrated by transforming a showroom wall. A variety of techniques will create a historical “story” of a (newly) aged and layered wall that, if viewed in a century old European building, could have taken years to develop. Champagne, Hors d’oeuvres. RSVP’s appreciated (222-2387)

Please, support businesses in the Pearl.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Margo Jacobsen Gallery To Close

Just received this email:

Dear supporters, I am writing this letter to let you know that I will be closing the gallery for good, as of January 31st. It has been a very difficult decision for me. I love the business but it is time for me to make a change in my life. If you have time please stop by before the month is up, as we would love to see you again before closing. The best of the New Year to all of you. Cordially, Margo Jacobsen

In August of 2003 Margo Jacobsen moved to Singapore with her husband and closed the gallery which she opened in 1992. After returning to Portland in 2005, she opened the new gallery/art dealership with the focus on nationally recognized artists as well as representing artists from the Northwest.

Stop by before January 31st and wish her well, as we do in whatever comes next!

Bev & Mike

Interior Designer Survey

I was shocked, only 4% of responding households used an interior designer in 2007!

Home Accents Today has published the Industry Report for 2007 about Interior Designers and the biggest reason households didn't use a designer: they wanted to decorate myself. The second biggest reason: too expensive.

The survey's meaning to me: designers and their organizations are not doing enough to educate the public on the value of their services and how using a designer can save money.

When I ask designers how they get new clients, many will say "word of mouth" and that is supported by the survey. Many respondents used a designer because the designer was on staff at the accessories or furniture store.

Once respondents used a designer, 85% would use a designer again.

At Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery, our specialty is working with designers and we are open to the public asking if they have a designer. If they do not have a designer, we find out if they are looking for help and we offer suggestions, to fit designers with the customer's needs.

Bev & Mike

Patent Leather Covers Furnishings

According to Candace Olsen, patent leather is now making a strong push into upholstery.

"Patent leather is classy," says Candice Olson, who has fine-tuned the finish on selections for Norwalk Furniture. "I love it for seating because of its rich shine and totally unexpected, modern appeal." Olson is known for the ultra sophisticated and sexy interiors she creates on "Divine Design with Candice Olson" on HGTV. Her signature look is the use of glamorous, luminescent fabrics, which extends to patent leather.

"What makes this fabric unique is that it has the look of your grandmother's patent leather but, it feels like soft velvet or a micro-suede because of modern technology," says Olson. "It doesn't have that stiff, uncomfortable feel."

I received for Christmas from Michael, two pairs of boots for the price of one and both were trimmed in patent leather. Mike is on the cutting edge with Candace Olsen.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Nailhead Trim As Furniture Jewelry

Are we seeing more nailhead trim? Nailhead trim has always been an option, but we are seeing nailhead used in some new ways that is more like furniture jewelry, according to Carol Prisant writing in the February issue of House Beautiful.

"Nailhead trim is a decorative accent that is used to embelish upholstered furniture. The nailhead detail gives furniture a sophisticated look. Nailhead trim can accentuate the style of the piece, and it is usually used on arms and rails. You'll find it commonly used with leather-upholstered furniture, particularly leather sofas, chairs and ottomans.

"Nailhead trim dates back to the period of 1560-1643 and the advent of French Country Style during the reign of Louis XIII. The best-known innovation from this period is the Os de Mouton chair.



That piece marked the introduction of nailhead trim as well as upholstered backs and seats with the popular flame stitch pattern."

Prisant uses this wing chair from Mitchel Gold as an example classic nail heads to accentuate upholstery profiles. Notice how there is “air” or space left between the nailheads and no nails around the bottom edge.



Prisant uses this contemporary cabinet from Bungalow 5 to illustrate the use of nailheads as decoration.



Shown Below are more examples of the use of nailhead on a red leather wingback chair from Legacy leather


and nailhead as decoration from Sherrill.


Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

The ARTs Award Nominations For 2007

The ARTs finalists for 2007 are out. ART stands for Accessory Resource Team and each year the Dallas Market Center and ART get together with an awards ceremony that rewards the best in the home and decorative accessories industry.

This year in the category of Decorative Accessories, two of the five companies nominated are carried at Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery; Global Views and The Phillips Collection.

In the Wall Decor category, of the five nominated Roma Moulding is carried at our store. (Click here for a complete list of nominees.)

Both Global Views and The Phillips Collection are active eco-friendly companies. The Phillips collection is a founding member of the Sustainable Furniture Council, presents accessories as works of art.

"For the price of a good dinner out, people can own a piece of Phillips sculpture to marvel at every day and converse with their friends about." And thats how the company came up with their tag line "Every Piece a Conversation."

Global Views states on their website "All our products are made of natural materials and our packaging is recyclable."

Roma Moulding introduced over 350 new products each inspired by the changing world around us."

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Learning From Designer Linda Merrill

Here’s a blog that reaches out to two audiences, Surroundings authored by Linda Merrill, interior designer and owner of Chameleon Interiors, based in Masschusetts. She caters to the retail furniture and accessory buyer and she offers good information to the interior designer who reads her blog.

The first thing I noticed is an invitation to designers to compete and get publicity:

George Little Management, LLC (GLM), producer and manager of the ICFF, and Bernhardt Design announce a call for entries – deadline January 15, 2008. ICFF Studio invites submissions from designers working on any and all the product categories exhibited at the ICFF: furniture, seating, carpet and flooring, lighting, outdoor furniture, materials, wall coverings, accessories, textiles, and kitchen and bath. Selected designers win a spot to display their prototypes at ICFF Studio, a group area with individual booths on the exhibition floor.

A ways down the page, Merrill lets us know that,

BravoTV is seeking undiscovered interior design stars for the second season of its hit competition series TOP DESIGN! They're looking for all types of artists, interior designers - up-and-comers, established professionals and those aspiring to greatness. The winner will receive a spread in ELLE DECOR, $100,000 and lots of media coverage.

Her appeal to the retail buyer is characterized by pictures of great design with a hook to something about which we have an interest. For example, she has some extrensive pictures of the mansion featured in the movie Atonement and the decorated White House.

She does one more smart thing. She has a company called To The Trade Buyer’s Service:

Ever see something in a magazine - fabric, furniture, wallpaper or accessories - that you just love, but it's listed as "To the Trade"?

If you've been frustrated by the fact that you don't want to hire a designer just to purchase a single item, then this service is for you.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

2008: Pantone Selects Blue Iris!

Pantone has selected the color of the year for 2008:



It called Blue Iris: A mix of blue and purple that suggests dependability and magic.

Pantone provides standardized palettes for a number of industries, mainly graphics, fashion textiles and interior design. Not surprisingly, Pantone’s competitors in the area of forecasting are skeptical of its choice, if not the motive behind it.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Glass Pedestal Candy Jars

Surfing through Apartment Therapy, I came across these glass pedestal candy jars. Aren't they fun?



These vintage-style jars are suspended on graceful, footed pedestals. Inset domed lids are topped with thick knobs. They range in height from 7 inches to 18 inches and price from $34.99 to $44.99 each or the set of five sells for $179.99. Available at Chefs.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Stain Removal Guide

Here are the holidays at our door and so is entertaining. We go to all the work to make the house presentable for company, but what do we do for those accidents that can happen? Here are some of the most common stains selected from the Stain Removal Guide. If you go to the home page you will see on the left sidebar a list of possible staining agents:

ALCOHOL -

Always treat these as soon as possible. Often stains are almost colourless at first, but turn brown on standing, washing and ironing. Fresh stains can be removed by sponging several times with warm water. If there is any mark left, pour glycerine on the dampened stain, rub lightly between the hands and leave for half an hour. Rinse in warm water.

More stubborn stains may be sponged on dry fabric with equal quantities of methylated spirits (wood alcohol) and ammonia (test on colours first) or laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover). Rinse well in warm water. If any stain is left on white material, a laundry bleach may be used. Choose and use your bleach according to instructions given earlier.

CANDLE WAX -

Candle wax and chewing gum can be effectively removed by placing the object that has been stained into a freezer until the staining agent is quite hard, and brittle, then the material can be literally shattered off the object that has been stained.

...then treat any residue as follows: place the stain between clean, white blotters and press with a warm iron, changing the blotter as it becomes soiled. Then sponge with dry cleaning fluid or a laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover).

In the case of coloured wax there may still be a colour stain. Sponge with a liquid made by adding ½ c of methylated spirits (wood alcohol) to ½ c water.

COFFEE & TEA

Remove fresh stains from cotton and linen materials by first rinsing in warm water then pouring boiling water from a height of 2 - 3 feet onto the stain. Follow by washing in soapy water. If a trace remains, bleach in the sun, or with a diaper wash/sanitiser container sodium percarbonate. Tea stains on cottons and linens can also be removed by soaking in borax and water (1 Tbsp. borax in 1 c of warm water).

Stains on wool and silk or any fabric may be sponged with lukewarm water, then apply glycerine, rubbing lightly between the hands. Let stand for half an hour. Rinse with warm water. If a grease spot remains from cream, sponge with dry cleaning fluid.

Now, if you have a special friend that you like to pull little gags on, Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery may still have left, some of our tipped wine glasses of red wine. It looks like the real thing and can bring about the best high pitched screams All you have to do is place the party gag on a light sofa or light carpet. Once your host sees that it's not real you'll be rewarded with nervous laughter and a sharp kick in the pants for scaring her. Then she will ask, "Where did you get that? I want one!"

Landfair Furniture, of course.

Bev & Mike

Be A Green Barbecuer

From Casual Living, the Barbecue industry has felt the heat from governments over pollution:

Concerns about improving the environment and controlling air pollution are not new for the barbecue industry. More than 25 years ago, the government air quality watchdogs in California came after backyard barbecuing as a major contributor to the state’s smog and air pollution problems.

[...]

The barbecue pollution in question boiled down to the use of lighter fluid and the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that were being released in one minute of waiting time from when the lighter fluid was squirted on the charcoal briquettes until they were lit.

Now lighter fluid has been reformulated. No longer do you need to wait for absorption into the briquettes.

There are some new gree gadgets in stores:

A chimney, like this Grill Pro Chimney Style Charcoal Starter, shaves about 15 minutes off the time it takes to have charcoal ready for grilling without the use of a fluid chemical lighter.

The fuel-efficient Big Green Egg is fueled with natural lump charcoal which produces minimal ash. Unused charcoal can be saved for the next cookout by closing the top and bottom vents. And the ceramic EGG is a lifetime purchase, reducing the number of grills going into the waste stream.

Natural lump charcoal? Natural lump charcoal is made by burning wood in the near-absence of air to create lump charcoal. It is a natural product with no additives. It lights easily, burns hotter than briquettes for a great sear and produces less ash that requires disposal.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

What Is Eco Rowe?

The furniture buzz since High Point has been "green", sustainable and eco-friendly. I keep monitoring furniture sites to see if they have added anything new on the subject to their web sites. Here's one that has, Rowe Furniture has introduced Eco Rowe:

Sofas and chairs from upholstery manufacturer Rowe are more than just beautiful – they’re now kinder to the environment.

In a move toward more sustainable manufacturing practices, Rowe has introduced eco-friendly upholstery components, including two new cushions and 21 new fabrics made from 100 percent natural-fiber fabrics.

The “Eco-300CC” is a foam cushion in which a large portion of the traditional petroleum-based materials have been replaced with renewable, plant-based materials.

For rich, luxurious comfort there’s the “Eco-Down” cushion that combines recycled fibers with a feather and down blend. Products with these eco-friendly elements are identified with the new “Eco-Rowe” designation.

Members of The Sustainable Furniture Council and American Home Furnishings Alliance are both active in finding ways to help their members deliver environmentally friendly furniture to their customers.

Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery is proud to offer Rowe to interior designers and their customers.

Bev & Mike

Master Furniture Makers LLC

On the news stand right now is a feature article on Kai Fuhrmann owner of Master Furniture Makers, one of Portland's leading custom furniture companies. His company is featured in this weeks Portland Business Journal "Portland Executive Home & Life".



Pick up a copy if you have a chance and read about Master Furniture Makers.

Recently, we had a retail customer looking for a specific dining table with an odd height and size. We were not able to help, so we referred them to Kai Fuhrmann. He met their needs by completely designing and building a table to their specifications.

We heard back that they were very pleased with Kai's work. For the referral, Kai sent us a gift certificate to our neighbor's restaurant, Castagna Cafe and Restaurant

Castagna has been a culinary destination for more than seven years offering sophisticated dishes prepared simply with seasonal ingredients and influences from France and Italy.

Kai has great taste in food, also!

Mike & Bev
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Master Furniture Makers
Kai Fuhrmann
Castagna

Interested In A Better Sex Life?

I've heard it said, The secret to a great sex life lies between your ears."

Now there's news from the Better Sleep Council (BSC) that the real secret for a better sex life is under the sheets! According to new findings from a national survey by BSC, consumers revealed that investing in a new mattress can lead to a 26% improvement in your sex life. It also tells us that new mattress buyers experienced an improvement in sleep quality (52%), intimacy (40%), and personal health (27%). Now if I had put "sleep quality" first would you still be reading this far?

The BSC has a few questions to help you evaluate your current mattress and EASE you into a new mattress if needed:

Do you wake up with aches and pains?
Are you getting a better night’s rest somewhere other than your own bed?

Then Arm yourself with information to make the best decision.

Shop to find the right mattress to suit your individual needs, and be sure to “test drive” your new mattress when shopping in the store.

Ensure that you get the most out of your mattress with quality care. Make sure your new mattress and foundation are properly installed in your home, and be sure to use a good quality, washable mattress pad to protect your bedding system.

Bev & Mike (Recent buyers of a bowling ball, pillow top mattress)
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

A Double Helping of Bridget A. Otto (2)

In the second helping of Bridget A Otto, we meet Kim Foren who owns Geranium Lake Flowers.

BOLD AND BRASSY / This twig wreath wrapped in a shawl of fine copper mesh and accessorized with a garland of beads is the creation of Kim Foren of Geranium Lake Flowers. She loosely tucked ornaments and the garland into the twigs, then added the foot-wide mesh in a blowsy effect. Foren used floral wire to anchor it as needed. In Foren's mantel display, varied textures and heights keep the interest level buzzing. Dusty-copper pillars line up with radiant votives to throw a warm glow amid wired ribbons of copper, chocolate and tawny bronze.

In Dazzled By Copper, I was reminded of the Color Pulse 2009 event that predicts colors for more than a year out. Color Director Doty Horn of Benjamin Moore told us colors will tend to intense greens with a yellow base, mixed with cork, enlivened with copper and finishes will look wet or slick.

Here and here and here in pictures by Marv Bondarowicz is exactly what Horn was talking about.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

A Double Helping of Bridget A. Otto (1)

A friend of ours, member of NWSID, and interior designer, Deb Seeley, is featured by Bridget Otto in this feature about the Rowzee's need for space in a cramped NE Portland bungalow.

The single-story house with finished basement had been recently renovated, but the Southern transplants felt squeezed in the home's 840 square feet of main-floor living space.

The basement was the only place for their large-screen TV, cozy chairs and dining table -- an annoying situation at best.

Somehow, the couple found Deb Seeley of Deb Seeley Designs. She started with a questionnaire that outlined the couples goals and lifestyle. From that starting point, Seeley came up with a plan for a master bed room, a bigger shower, storage space, a dining room on the main floor and colors for the rooms.

It takes a special kind of talent to elicit these kind of comments from Robert and Elaine Rowzee

Elaine was blown away by the built-ins. "It was just phenomenal... It was way beyond what I ever expected."

Robert says their new retreat is exactly what he wanted but couldn't quite verbalize -- or visualize.

"For me, I really didn't have a vision of what I wanted. There was a feeling and it was hard to express that. This is it. . . . I wanted somewhere that would feel like a retreat. Somewhere sort of cozy and warm in the winter and cool in the summer. . . . I come down here and feel like, ahhh . .

Click here and here for pdfs of the pictures Marv Bondarowicz took.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Jamie Oliver: COOK with Jamie

Color me perplexed! I'm browzing through the latest House Beautiful, and there on page 56 in the December issue, is Jamie Oliver, once known as the naked chef. He has a new book out, COOK with Jamie, and on the cover of the book (and this is what caught my eye in the magazine) is a picture of Jamie with a butcher knife stuck, point first, in the butcher block counter!

One day I was cooking in the kitchen and Mike asked if he could help. I said sure and gave him a knife and he started to chop carrots. When he was done, as a goof, he stuck the point in the butcher block island he was cutting on. He pulled it out and then re-stuck it.

I said that was no way to treat a good knife and pulled it out, only I did not pull it straight out, but off to the side and broke the tip off; about a 1/16 of an inch.

I immediately saw red and blamed Michael. He admitted he shouldn't have stuck it, but said it was my fault. I didn't pull it out correctly. He said he would buy me a new knife for Christmas.

But now, we have Jamie showing off in the magazine and on the cover of his new book. Is it just the little boy that comes out when men get around knives?

I'm reading great reviews of the book. I have to have it. Penelope Green in House Beautiful says It is a happy, happy thing, a cookbook to be savored and read, generous in tone and spirit, like cookbooks published by two other terrific English sensualists, Nigella Lawson and Nigel Slater. Oliver promises it is "my guide to making you a better cook."

What's Michael to think when he sees the cover? Maybe, I can find one of those covers we used for books in college. Or maybe, I should show the cover to Michael, and have a good laugh!

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Nika Stewart Advice For The Holidays

Nika Stewart, the designer success coach, asks a good question in an email today!

How can you enjoy the holidays when you have so much to get done for other people? And how can you possibly be expected to also promote your business during this busy time?

Most of us don't. When we are busy with a lot of design projects, we don't have the time to do our regular business promotions. Some designers think: "I would like to do some promotions, but I simply can't find the time now."

Stewart says you must find the time and suggests some ways to see to your marketing efforts:

Set it and forget it - if you advertise in newspapers or magazines, use long term contracts, so your advertising doesn't lapse. She contends that ads build a foundation. If you stop because you are busy and then restart, you have to build the foundation from scratch.

Email newsletters - If you send out newsletters, don't neglect this month. To save time, you can recycle an old article (like I just did!). You don't need to write anything new. The most important thing is to get the newsletter out!

Just make a phone call - a wish for happy holidays to your best customers is quick and promotes good feelings. And what a great time of year to do that (bonuses are received now, and homeowners are fantasizing about what to spend theirs on)!

Bev & Mike wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

"Related Feature.

We Had Fun At Stanley 101!

Bev was very pleased to have so many interior designers and their clients attend Wednesday night's Stanley 101.

We added Stanley Furniture to our growing list of furniture vendors since the move to the Pearl and larger quarters. Bev thought it might be fun to get together over wine, pizza and Oreo cookies to learn about one of America;s finest furniture manufacturers whose website says

Stanley Furniture Company is known for creating timeless furniture that is practical, beautiful and stays relevant even as your taste and lifestyle changes.

Some things we learned that night:

• Stanley is an American company and the furniture is made in the U.S.
• Stanley ships fast - if the piece chosen is in stock, it will ship in 7 to 10 days. That's very important to many clients who don't want to wait six to eight weeks for special order deliveries.
• Stanley has a remarkable online presence with links to:

How furniture is Made
Construction Features
Color Coordination
How to Do a Floor Plan
Signs of Quality
Finishes

• Stanley has a drill down catalog on line. Find the room you are interested in, then the particlar furniture items. Do you want a dining room table? What shape? What size? Do you want to see it's dimensions? Large pictures of the piece? Do want to see it with other furniture? Basically, you have Stanley's catalog on line and the MSRP Prices.
• Finally, Stanley has introduced the Young America line - Young America easily adapts to these changes, and grows right along with your children. Imagine you can go from the changing station to toddler to teenager:

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

H2Okinetic Technology

The world from our perspective is going "green". The buzz words are eco-friendly and sustainable. We wonder, are at this point because the newspapers have emphasized the concept of global warming or the concept of "peak oil" or because of the droughts in various parts of the country. Whatever the reason, manufacturers are developing new technologies that give us greater comfort and a reduction in the use of resources.

Take for example, this innovation from Delta, H2Okinetic Technology™

By controlling the water’s shape, velocity and thermal dynamics, Delta Faucet Company has reinvented the showering experience — creating a warmer, more luxurious spray that blankets the body, giving the feeling of a high-flow shower with less water.

We don't want to take a shower under a low-flow shower head to save water and we certainly don't want to take a cooler shower to save energy.

It seems clear to us that we will be seeing more innovations in our cars, our homes, and our clothing to help us do more with less.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Bridget A Otto Thursday Two

The second article by Bridget Otto concerns the use and application of metallic paints. In the recent Color Pulse 2009 presentation at the Lawrence Gallery, we were told that galvanized metals and warm gold metal, copper and silver were the colors we would be seeing in 2009.

In this article Susan Lura Macdonald of Habitat Studio explains how these metallic paints are to be supplied. You can see an example of her work in this pdf, photos taken by Marv Bondarowicz.

It is real tough, I think, to paint a wall with these paints. Mike and I tried having it done in our bathroom several years ago and Mike has never been pleased with it. I don't think our painter was used to the paint and tried traditional applications. Not a good idea.

I had contact with another artist not long ago, and was struck by her work. Her name is Lucinda Henry of Shakti Space Designs Ms Henry can be reached at 503.998.2411

The old fireplace in this lovely Portland bungalow home was very ugly stone most likely installed in the 60s. The contractor built up the fireplace, covered with wallboard and skimmed it out. Then came time for our magic... a pounded copper faux finish leaving the client with a custom, unique treatment that blends in with their decor.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Bridget A Otto Thursday

We always look forward to Thursday, because, you guessed it, it's Bridget A Otto Thursday. Because she writes about real interior designers faced with real problems, and the designers are local, we get a kick out of giving everyone a little extra publicity. Our blog has steadily acquired more visitors each year who read what we write and these visitors come from all over the world.
This week Bridget has out done herself with two articles in Homes & Gardens of the Northwest (HGNW)and the first article, The Power of Color has three parts.

We found a woman who finally did away with her bland white walls, another who made her dark living room pop and a man who fearlessly captured the spirit of the Mediterranean in his Northeast bungalow.

Cathy Elkins had a home with bland white walls. She tried opaint samples on her own, but it wasn't just right so,

She turned to Patrick McGill, paint consultant at Pearl Hardware. He toured Elkins' home, took note of her furnishings, art and light, and came up with a palette for nearly every room, not just the kitchen.

Read what she says about her prints after the transformation.

In Muntaquim Chowdhury's home, the Bangladesh-born Intel engineer's love of color and adventure is painted on the walls and ceilings of every room.

When I bought the house, it was drab gray. And given the gray Oregon winters, it's just not a cheerful place to be. I love colors and wanted to make this place a place where I can come in and be surrounded by the color tones of the Mediterranean."

Read what the reaction is to his home, when visitors just know him as an engineer.

Collette Gray "liked the wood tones in her house but didn't know how to complement those hues with paint." If she used color the rooms were too dark. Collette found Patrick McGill at the Pearl Hardware. Read what he did with an oatlike shade called 'Fennel Seed.'

Like perfectly chosen makeup, the 'Fennel Seed' paint boosted Collette Gray's living room from attractive to stunning. The previously white walls had done nothing to accentuate the room's woodwork. Photo by Marv Bondarowicz

Patrick McGill can be reached at 503.267.8219 (mobile) - 503.697.3553 (land) or by
email: patrick@talkingcolor.com.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Today Is Bridget A Otto Thursday

On Bridget Otto Thursday in Homes & Gardens of the Northwest, in the Oregonian, our friend and interior designer Diane Keaton is featured in a redo of a kitchen in a home on Cooper Mountain.

Keaton's Philosophy

“I always tell people: ‘My goal is that it is your house. You have to live here when I’m gone, and I want you to love it.’ I’m always trying to dig out of them how they use the room or the feel they want or the colors they like. I’ll take what they want and massage it to be wonderful.”

Otto writes,

The Andersons had used designers in the past, but only for color. This was the first time they'd sought expert advice to this extent -- floor plans, materials, lighting -- and they're glad they did.

This story illustrates why we focus on interior designers at Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery. We read and hear all the time about how an interior designer has made this whole process of remodel, redesign and redecorating so much easier and less stressful. If you want recommendations that fit your style or personality, ask and we can refer you to a minimum of three designers that may fit.

Diane Keaton can be reached at Diane Keaton Interiors, 503-848-8045

Bev & Mike