Window Coverings And the Holidays

I wrote this post for interior designer Suzanne Simon and it was lost on her site so I'm reprinting it here: 

I love to help my clients with their window coverings.  There are so many designs in fabric and blinds and color combinations that to the inexperienced, choosing what’s best for your home can seem overwhelming.  I can help you. 

Now’s the time, before the holidays and cold weather to make some changes.  Window coverings can make your home cozy, improve lighting, and save energy.

Now, before the holidays when the little ones come to visit, is also a good time to make sure your window coverings are safe.  Just as we hear every year about babies falling through second-floor screened windows, so do we hear of children and pets getting tangled in window cords and choking. 

The Window Covering Safety Council has some tips to make sure your children and grand kids are safe:

• Never place a crib, playpen, bed or any type of low-standing furniture near a window. In exploring their surroundings, young children can accidentally fall through an open window or window screen, or become tragically entangled in a nearby window cord.
• If you have looped pull cords, retrofit the cords for safety.

·        Rapidly gaining favor in today's window fashions, are cordless designs. They are the best choice for use in children's bedrooms and any area of the home where children spend time playing.  In fact, cordless designs are favored by consumers and decorators. They love the "clean" look and streamlined design.

Most traditionally corded window fashions, either vertical or horizontal, are available in "cordless" styles through the use of spring-loaded mechanisms, battery- or motor-operated lift controls, or simple wand pulls.  I will be happy to talk with you about your windows, and budget.

Hire An Interior Designer

The following article originally appeared on interior designer Suzanne Simon's blog, but was lost recently. I am republishing it here:

A recent article at MoneyExpert.com says that Brits spend near 60,000 pounds or about $90,000 in a lifetime improving their homes.  Here in the U.S. a recently released report from the 2010 Census, informs us that almost half of Americans (47%) have not updated their home décor in the last five years and 9% have not done anything in the last ten years.

That tells me two things: for most people $90,000 is a lot of money and there’s a lot of pent up demand for home décor in the U.S.  Doesn’t it make sense to hire an expert to avoid mistakes and to be sure the money is spent wisely?

Hiring an interior designer is not more expensive.  I ask a lot of questions about your likes and dislikes and what moves you.  When we are done, we will be on budget and will have avoided expensive mistakes.  In addition, when the project is complete, the rooms will reflect your style, and your home will be a haven where you can shut out the craziness of the world. 

~Mike Landfair

Nanotechnology In Fabrics

The world is changing rapidly in textiles and clothing with nanotechnology and you are likely seeing these innovations with performance fabrics for upholstery.

Nanotechnology (sometimes shortened to "nanotech") is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with developing materials, devices, or other structures possessing at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometres.

Three firms in Iran have made clothes by using nanotechnology that require less washing. Moreover, characteristics such as anti-microbe, anti-virus, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungi can be created in the clothes by using nanotechnology. The resistance against depreciation increases in such products due to nanotechnology.

Nanotechnology has also enabled scientists to make material for raincoats, for example, that will not get wet.

"Eddie Bauer... is currently using embedded nanoparticles to create stain-repellent khakis. This seemingly simple innovation will impact not only khaki-wearers, but dry cleaners, who will find their business declining; detergent makers, who will find less of their product moving off the shelf; and stain-removal makers, who will experience a sharp decrease in customers."

A new nanotechnology-enhanced fabric tag by Odegon Technologies...could help us ditch chemically iffy deodorants without leaving innocent bystanders gasping for oxygen.

The hooks of nanowhiskers (1 x 10-9m) are bonded to fibers, rather than finishes that are topically applied and can be worn down, cleaned off or otherwise chemically compromised.

In upholstery, the influx of nanotechnology ...can mean lower cleaning costs for end users and new products for upholsterers to offer their customers.

An Adobe Styled Farmhouse Built With Rammed Earth

Back in July of 2009, I posted about "rammed earth" construction. I just came across an adobe farmhouse in Texas home built in the rammed earth technique using pulverized granite and cement. It was then decorated with touches of Mexico and the Southwest. I love the design and you can have the 3,762-square-foot house centered on a courtyard with stone, potted native plants and brick fireplace for $1.275 million.

Sam Moore Division Creates New Website

The Sam Moore division of Hooker Furniture has launched a new website reflecting the company's direction toward fashion-forward, transitional styling and its custom-hand-crafted-in-America story.

The Sammoore.com site, which has a similar look and feel to the Hooker Furniture website and features robust links to the company's other branded websites and social media venues, is part of Hooker Furniture's strategic plan to better integrate its wood furniture and upholstery divisions. Along with custom seating specialist Sam Moore, the upholstery division also includes upscale leather specialist Bradington-Young.

The websites' Options section allows users to view and zoom in on a sample of the company's over 500 fabric choices as well as all of its custom finish and nail head options. The sites' Crafted in America section tells the Bedford, Va.-based company's made-in-America since 1940 story. Other features include printable product tear sheets for every item, furniture care information, a What's New section and the ability to download high resolution images.

Call or email Bev for help with your Sam Moore selections or pricing.
503-249-7951
blandfair60@comcast.net

Sophisticated Living: THE DUKE

We've posted about Sophisticated Living before because their staging and design are eye-catching. Their designs would fit perfectly in the condos and lofts populated by people with a hankering for clean and sleek.

The German company just introduced "THE DUKE"

THE DUKE was named after Duke Kahanamoku (born on August 24, 1890 in Honolulu, Kingdom of Hawaii). He is generally regarded as the founder of modern surfing. Hawaiian missionaries at one time banned surfing as a form of reprehensible idleness. At the beginning of the 20th century, surfing had been rediscovered with Kahanamoku making it popular worldwide.

A slender metal frame and supple upholstered arm and backrests characterize THE DUKE. The seat cushions are available in varying degrees of hardness. This model is available in standard as well as custom sizes. In addition, the metal frame is available in all RAL colors.

I suspect the design of  THE DUKE would appeal most to people looking for a deep seat and low back

Chaka MarketBridge

Jacobo is one of 4,000 potters in the small Nicarguan town of San Juan de Oriente, population 5,600. Beginning at the age of eight, he was taught to be an artisan by his mother as she was taught by her's. Jose recently remodeled his house from the proceeds of his pottery and Pedro, who has been a potter since the age of 12, wants to buy a lot to build a home for his family. The pots these artists make are some of the most beautiful earthenware pots I’ve seen yet suffer in comparison to the actual pot in one’s hand.



One big problem for any artist in Nicaragua is how to escape the local market dependent on tourism and plug in to the global marketplace. Enter Chaka MarketBridge.

Chaka MarketBridge’s goal is to be that global marketplace. “To be the bridge that allows the world to discover these amazing artisans, helping them sell their beautiful art and gain a fair income …And to bring to life their hope for a better future.”



Chaka MarketBridge purchases pots from the artisans at their asking price. Many times, artisans actually offer their products too low. If so, Chaka tells them they will pay them more. Many times the artisan really doesn’t know the real value of his or her products.



The important point to note is that Chaka pays their artisans fair wages in accordance with the fair trade federation. This is an organization that is sort of a consumer stamp of approval indicating that Chaka pays fair prices to their artisans. According to the fair wage calculator by World of Good Chaka even pays 300% over fair trade prices. This calculation is based on cost of living, price of materials, etc.

The goal of Chaka MarketBridge is to lift developing communities through the local market; it is not to replace that local market. The aim is to grow each artisan’s annual income by 25%, per year.



That’s enough to allow them to live significantly better, to send their children to school, to eat more meals at home. But, it is not enough to to be wholly dependent on Chaka.

Ready Your Home For Fall

Fall is just around the corner; the 23rd of September.  How about doing some things to your home that reflect the change in seasons and give your home some punch without breaking the budget?

An article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal suggests changing "...slip covers, pillows and your throw blankets, add a duvet to your bed, change your window treatment or bathroom towels; or simply add a table runner to bring fall into your home without breaking your budget." Get rid of the white or cream colored items and add fall colors of orange and red.  Some experts are suggesting mustard will be the new color for fall.

Aguerri-Gomez, Academic Dean of The Art Institute of Michigan-Troy, a branch campus of The Art Institute of Michigan. predicts that mustard will be a key color this fall. Add a mustard table runner and change up your dinnerware and placemats to bring your table from light and airy to warm and welcoming. Don't want to part with the lemons and limes nestled inside your glass vase as table decor? Try compromising and replace the citrus with artichokes and pomegranates for a fall final touch.

Lastly, change your lighting or lamp shades to make your living space as warm and cozy as possible.

Eight decades of selling furniture coming to a close - NorthJersey.com

Eight decades of selling furniture coming to a close - NorthJersey.com

Joe Bograd, 76, Mark's father, who has been with the store since 1956, said part of the problem is that "the people who are now the buyers, the people in their 40s and 50s, grew up not seeing good furniture." Bograd's specialized in furniture - much of it signed by the craftsman who built it - made in high-end factories in the United States and countries like Italy, at a time when lower cost furniture made in China and Indonesia is becoming the norm.

"There is a new generation of people who think furniture is disposable," said Marcia, Joe's wife and Mark's mother.

"None of us ever believed people would buy furniture from a picture, but that's turned out to be the case," Lambeth said. He said that while he hates to see Bograd's close, the family probably made the right decision.

Garage Sale

We are finally done with Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery at 1636 NW 15th. Now all that's left is a Garage Sale (2558 NE 32nd Ave)

We closed our furniture store and this is what's left. Art, mirror, chairs, table, office supplies, artificial plant, furniture dolly, books and more.
Monday 9:00 to 3:00 2558 Ne 32nd Ave Portland

We'll see you Monday sitting in the hot sun sipping a cool adult beverage, wheelin' and dealin' the detritus of a 10 year old business. After that is on to What's Next!

Last Two Days

We are down to the last two days of Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery.  Bev is dealing, offering the remaining items at 70% or more off retail and below our cost.  There are many mirrors, wall decorations, a few lamps, artificial trees and upholstered chairs.  We must be out by Friday at the latest!

Square Credit Card Reader

Do you have a Merchant Card Reader? We do through Costco. What do we do if we are somewhere and need to run a card, but the bulky machine which plugs into an wall outlet is back in the store or office? Now there's Square and mine is in the mail to me as I write this.



Square is a little device that plugs into your smart phone and works just like those card reading machines. I set up mine so that it automatically credits my business banking account. The fee of 2.75% is higher than Costco's, but it's certainly more convenient.

Check out Cozy Biscuit!

You spend many hours in your kitchen.  How would you like to have summer in your kitchen through the dark, Oregon, six months.  Well Cozy Biscuit has some great examples of summer kitchens. 

The 2012 ARTS Awards Finalists Announced

Dallas Market Center and Accessories Resource Team, the decorative accessories trade association, have announced the 23rd annual ARTS Awards finalists.


The ARTS Awards is the premier awards program for the home decorative accessories industry and is held each January during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, Jan 18-24.


Finalists in the Accent Furniture category include: Baker, GuildMaster Inc., Ibolili, Phillips Collection and Stein World. 
 
Area Rugs: Jaipur Rugs Inc., Safavieh and Surya Inc. 
 
Decorative Accessories: A&B Home, Creative Co-Op, PORT 68 and Sterling Industries. 
 
Home Textiles: Home Treasures, Lacefield Designs, Pom Pom at Home and Textillery Weavers. 
 
Lighting Fixtures: Corbett Lighting, Hinkley Lighting Inc., Hubbardton Forge, Kichler Lighting and Schonbek. 
 
Outdoor Living: Antonini Outdoor North America, Emissary Trading Company, Foreside Home & Garden and Loloi Rugs. 

Permanent Floral: American Best, Artistry in Silk, Direct Export Co. Inc., NDI and The Ivy Guild Inc.
 
Portable Lamps: Barbara Cosgrove Lamps, Currey & Co., Sonneman A Way of Light, The Bradburn Co. and Worlds Away. 
 
Tabletop: Beatriz Ball Collection, Chalkboard China, TAG Ltd., The GG Collection and Vagabond House. 
 
Wall Decor: John Richard, Leftbank Art, Propac Images, Stylecraft Home Collection and Wendover Art Group. 
 
National/Key Accounts Sales Representatives: Anne Jarboe, jdouglas; Heather Steeley, Taylors on Ten; and Joshua J. McDowell, JM Group/Restoration Hardware.
 
East/Atlantic Sales Representatives: Jennifer Jackson, jdouglas; Robin Clarke, Southern Accessories Today; and Sue Kinard, Fine Art Lamps.
 
Midwest/Southwest Sales Represetatives: Cindy Rogers, CSR Associates; Derek Ricketts, CODARUS; and Richard Alan, Richard Alan & Associates.

West Sales Representatives: Angie Zabritski, Homestyle;  Michelle Korthuis, Elements in Decor; and Mickey Lang, California Marketing Associates.
 
Product Designers: J. Michael Sandel, GuildMaster Inc.; Jason Phillips, Phillips Collection; Luca Rossi, Antonini Outdoor North America; Randal Weeks, Aidan Gray Home Inc.; and Tom Caldwell, Currey & Co.
 
International Retailers: Casa Palacio, Mexico City; Design Lighting, Surrey, British Columbia; Luminaires & Cie Inc., Laval, Quebec; Spectro Lighting Group, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; and Vaughan Electrical Supply Co. Ltd., Woodbridge, Ontario.



Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery is proud to have been nominated as an ARTS Awards Finalist in 2009.
Rising Star Retailers: Colorado Villa Decor, Parker, Colo.; Melissa Jeffrey Home, Boerne, Texas; and The Mercantile, Atlanta, Ga. 
 
Furniture Stores: Laurie's Home Furnishings; Tomball, Texas; Seaside Home, Coronado, Calif.; and The Arrangement Distinctive Interiors, Dallas, Texas.
 
Home Accent Stores, East/Atlantic: G&G Interiors, Knoxville, Tenn.; The French Basket, Florence, Ala.; and The Miller House, Stephens City, Va. 
 
Home Accent Stores, Midwest/Southwest: Charley & Bella's; Marshall, Texas; MECOX, Dallas, Texas; and Rustic Hutch, Fort Wayne, Ind. 

Home Accent Stores, West: Bella Casa, Portland, Ore.; Gardenology, Encinitas, Calif.; and Jak Home LLC, San Francisco, Calif. 
 
Lighting Showrooms, East/Atlantic: Cleveland Lighting; Lyndhurst, Ohio; Elements - Distinctive Lighting & Home Furnishings, Carle Place, N.Y.; and Southern Lighting Gallery Inc., Augusta, Ga. 
 
Lighting Showrooms, Midwest/Southwest: Lighting by Fox, Glenview, Ill.; Passion Lighting, Grapevine, Texas; and Southern Lights, Burnsville, Minn. 
 
Lighting Showrooms, West: Hacienda Lighting, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Light Bulbs, Etc./Lightstyles, Costa Mesa, Calif.; and Valley Light Gallery, Scottsdale, Ariz. 

Peak From Sophisticated Living

You know for the right house, condo or loft, Peak would be ideal.



Peak is a premium brand for upholstered furniture from Sophisticated Living.  

The "PEAK" model comes with a graceful metal frame, bulky pillows and practical storage possibilities. In addition to standard sizes, it is also available in custom sizes. The metal frame is also available in all RAL colours.

Jeanne Henry Loves Doors

Jeanne Henry is a ceramic artist.  I was looking at various sites of Oregon potters and happened across her web site and look what I found:





People are always taking pictures of doors and looking through doors. I haven't run across anyone making doors out of clay!



Jeanne has her studio at

3290 SE Harrison St.
Portland, OR 97214

The Liquidation Sale Is Proceeding!

You can't believe how many items off our showroom floor have flowed out the door in the hands of shoppers looking for bargains. As we wrote last month, shopping in our going out of business sale is a great way to Revamp Your Home With Going-Out-Of-Business Deals.

So what's left? There are five sofas including a sofa made by Duralee, two by Sherrill, one by Bernhardt Interiors and one by Precedent and a number of chairs.

The last item shown is a pub set with a real hammered copper top and two pub chairs.

There's much more to see from lamps, screens, wall decor, and mirrors to case goods. So come on down and freshen your home.

If you're looking for a new sofa, and you can't make it to the going out of business sale, then why not consider online shopping? Check out some of the sofa beds for sale at Dreams by visiting www.dreams.co.uk.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
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Conservatory Blinds Can Keep Your Home Cool This Summer

The last post by Dane Cross received such positive comments that I asked Dane to send us more.  Here's his latest post:

Conservatory Blinds Can Keep Your Home Cool This Summer

When heat hits a material, the material expands, which gives the heat room to be stored. All materials expand, including woods, metals and plastics. When your conservatory windows are hit during a heat wave, the wood and glass expand, holding in the heat. This can fade the fabric of furniture, the color of the walls, paintings, carpets - and don't even think what it will do to your plants! Your conservatory was built so you could enjoy your garden, no matter what time of year. Why suffer in the heat when you can install conservatory blinds?

How Blinds Keep Your Conservatory Cool

Blocking the sun's rays keeps the heat from gathering in the room. Blocking it from affecting the glass, wood and metal of the windows in the conservatory keeps it from being absorbed. The backing of some types of blinds reflects the sun's light so it doesn't get inside your conservatory. Specially treated wooden slats in other blinds reflect the sun's light with the same effect. In fact, reflective backing can be applied to any style blinds to help keep your conservatory cool in summer and snug in winter.

                

Letting In The Light

Your conservatory is special. It's a place where you can sit and enjoy your garden outside or your plants inside in some seclusion and comfort. The light needs to get to the plants, so specially constructed conservatory blinds have small spaces that let in the light but not the heat. Some appear sheer, while others are woven. You can have the best of both worlds - light to see by without the terrible heat of summer. In winter, the conservatory will remain warm and snug, while you will still be able to see your plants.

Not Just For The Conservatory

Window treatments contain little diversity or imagination. Blinds made for the purpose of keeping your conservatory cool in a heat wave can be applied to other windows in the house as well as conservatories. This in turn allows light into rooms that were previously dimmed by draperies backed with reflective material. Your rooms will look light and airy while they remain cool in summer or warm in winter. Because the sun shines hotter on certain parts of the house, the rooms receiving the most light will be the warmest; generally, southern rooms get a great deal of light and warmth. Blinds like this would be perfect for those rooms.

Many conservatory blinds come in classic pleated designs. Roman blinds are the most popular, and they come in all colours and can be made to fit your windows in addition to the conservatory windows. Pinoleum blinds are the blind of choice; however, roller blinds will do a good job in your conservatory, as well. All come with reflective backing, and all will keep your conservatory cool in summer. Matching colours of blinds with the decor is not a problem, for blinds can be made to match your colour scheme. Have some fun choosing colours and styles, while you are staying cool and enjoying your garden.

~Dane Cross

Dane uses a word that may be unfamiliar: Pinoleum.

Pinoleum is the name given to thin wooden strips, or reeds or bamboo woven together horizontally. Traditionally the pinoleum was left in its natural finish or stained or varnished and by using different shades and thicknesses of material, in combination with different weaving patterns, the finished pinoleum could be close-knit making almost blackout blinds ranging to a light and airy open weave blind still much favoured today.

A Remodeling Proposal

My article about the new technology in tiles has been published online at Oregon Home at http://www.oregonhomemagazine.com/home-style/744-a-remodeling-proposal