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