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