Beaumont Trees

I love trees and I love the trees in Grant Park that harbor squirrels that Ralph loves to chase. Having gone to the park for over nine years, I have seen a lot of changes. Old trees have gotten sick and had to be cut down. New trees, usually deciduous, planted and now showing their red fall clothes.

I came across Ron Franscell posting at Under the News. He writes about his love for trees and how in the rigorous Wyoming climate, trees were more fragile than here and grew only about three months a year, between the last frost in May to the first frost in Mid-September.

Portions of Montana, the Dakotas and Wyoming were hit by a slow-moving snowstorm that knocked out power, closed roads and dumped up to 13 inches by Wednesday.

Franscell now lives in Beaumont, Texas and you know Beaumont took a direct hit from Hurricane Rita. He writes

When I came to Southeast Texas 18 months ago, the landscape was festooned with trees. They grew like weeds in a tropical climate, and some people removed them helter-skelter, the way some people change the furniture in their living rooms. My front yard had three majestic trees, and the back had even more. I took comfort in these eight trees' maturity and shade. They were home to birds and squirrels that made the whole place seem more like a home than a house. These were my trees and I wouldn't have dreamed of cutting them down.

But Hurricane Rita took them all. A sturdy cedar was literally ripped out by its roots. The storm sheared off the tops of three tall pines, and stripped huge branches from all the rest. The hurricane-force gusts shaved off most of the leaves, split the crotches of the trunk, shoved them perilously toward the tipping point and slashed fences across their bark. It's the same story all over this region, where grand old trees bore the greatest brunt of non-human damage. In Beaumont, the storm even claimed the old tree in the city, a historic oak that was older than America itself; it was so large that when it came down, it damaged three different homes.

All but two will be gone when I go home tonight. The tree-cutters were expected today to chop them down and haul them away. I'll plant more, and maybe for a while, I'll measure their growth, just to be sure. An old habit from a short season.

I remember the Columbus Day Storm and can imagine what Beaumont must look like.

Bev & Mike

How to walk through a museum

Found this while surfin', How to walk through a museum at Marginal Revolution. I especially liked this bit of advice:

Go with a variety of people (but not all at once). It forces you to see the art through their eyes.

There's more advice here plus loads of comments. Have fun!

Bev & Mike

Fall Maple in Dolph Park

DSCN0025(2)
Originally uploaded by gily122000.

Fall is here and we are looking forward to this tree putting on its annual show.

Frank Gehry and Brad Pitt, Team Mates!

The residents of The small English seaside town of Brighton and Hove

agreed “in principle” to a plan for "starchitect" Frank Gehry to build a £290 million landmark that should do for Brighton and Hove what the Guggenheim did for Bilbao, Spain, which is transform it from "off the grid" to tourist hot-spot.

Gehry's inspiration for the project came from this image of Edwardian ladies.

The big news is that Brad Pitt is a friend of Gehry and will have a hand in the design and development!

Frank Gehry is the architect for software billionaire Paul G. Allen's Experience Music Project

Frank Gehry Brad Pitt architecture

Bev & Mike

Bloggin Around

I have added some new links to the Blogroll and I invite you to check these blogs out:

An Exploration of Portland Food and Drink - THROWING MYSELF ON THE GRENADE OF BAD FOOD TO SAVE YOU

Beaumont-Hollywood - Just north of the corner of NE42nd and Fremont is Beaumont Village's newest coffee cafe, Ristretto Roasters. From CoffeegGeek is a definition of Ristretto

The standard I teach is a 1 oz shot of espresso, not including crema. Unless otherwise requested I believe that this should be the default volume served in all espresso based drinks. I have served this to people asking for a ristretto shot and have only had positive feedback in return. To serve a true ristretto shot (.75 oz of liquid in 25 seconds) an adjustment to the grinder is required and is not realistic or recommended (NOTE: The preparation of a ristretto shot is highly debated with no definitive answers. The above is one of only many “right” ways to prepare a ristretto shot). A lazy man’s ristretto shot is as simple as pulling the cup out from under the pour when only .75 oz of liquid has run through.

Brooklyn - A lot of questions about Condo Conversions

...what happens to funky Hawthorne when the funky people can't find a place to rent and move elsewhere?

Buckman - Community gardening and some little pink wiggly things

Clinton - Hau Hagedorn celebrates one year blogging.

Some juicy bit of rumor that I've latched onto recently is inquiries by developers into the current occupied space on Seven Corners where the Domino's and Seven Days Market reside.

ExtremeMSG - Culinary Blog and Portland Food Guide

I Will Survive - Sandee, a courageous woman blogging her way through breast cancer.

Is It Art? - So how do you really feel about Brushstrokes, the new art piece at the Portland Art Museum?

Jen's Page - Jen has some thoughts about Julie Powell

who decides to cook through every recipe in Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in one year. And, this being the 21st century and all, she writes a blog about her experiences.

Kenilworth-Abernethy - Driving 39th!

Northwest Portland - praise for Ken's Pizza

So Ken's Pizza rocks. The crust is extra crispy and the sauce is very flavorful with garlic, basil and fennel seeds. Ken is a gracious host and I'll certainly be back for more.

Old Town - complaints about lack of Community Policing

Community policing means working with the neighborhoods - a partnership - in the true sense where each is expected to contribute and there is a welcoming of resident participation by the police. A resident ride along is not community policing - it is marketing.

Pearl Blog - What's new in the Pearl

Piedmont - Piedmont Neighborhood Association Meeting, Wednesday, Sept. 28

Portland Real Estate Blog - Two articles, What Will Kartina do to Portland's Real Estate Market and Who Buys New Construction Condos?

QPDX - the gay news blog

Sellwood - while you are organizing to keep Walmart out, stop in at the new to the 'hood, Lili Patisserie Cafe which serves espressos and pastries.

Stumptown Confidential - documenting disturbing motels.

I got mildly depressed just looking at these. I can practically smell the cigarette smoke embedded into the carpet and curtains and the bleach in the bathroom hiding the faint smell of old urine.

Time Goes By - What it's really like to get older

Bev & Mike

Macy's Changes Names

From PDXHistory.com

If you said “meet me under the clock”, all Portlanders knew that meant the clock in the middle of the main floor at Meier & Frank. For nearly 150 years, Style and Tradition have been synonymous with the name Meier & Frank in Portland, which was founded in 1857 by Aaron Meier.

Now the name will be gone. The name will now be changed to Macy's!
(see also Jack Bog's Blog)

FURNITUREToday announces Federated to drop Marshall Field's name

Federated Department Stores said it will drop the Marshall Field's name from all 62 of the stores by next fall and replace it with Macy's.

Federated, which picked up Marshall Field’s as part of its acquisition of May Department Stores (which owned Meier & Frank) this year, also said it will eliminate 1,700 jobs at May headquarters in St. Louis and another 4,500 as it phases out May divisional operations in Boston, Houston, Los Angeles and Arlington, Va.

It's sad to see brands disappear. Meier & Frank not only was the place to meet friends, but at Christmas, almost all packages were wrapped in Murphy & Finegan paper, as we affectionately called Meier & Frank.

Bev & Mike

What's New in Casual Design?

Interesting article in Casual Living: Designers shaping casual industry By Cinde W. Ingram and Courtney Mueller.

As consumers' needs change for space, storage and styles change, designers lead the casual industry's evolution.

Marshall Mullins - Mosaic tabletops fit Mullins' design needs. He designs mosaic tables with wrought iron bases, a kind of old world Tuscany look.

We have had several tables with this look in our store. One made by Hammary:
Hermosa Square Cocktail Table W40.75 D40.75 H19

Carl Muller - Muller finds rewards solving design puzzles. His Wellinton chair won a
Design Excellence Award.

John Caldwell - "I've had such a lucky design life"

"The casual industry used to be for rich people," he said. "The expectation level now is so different that the average person expects to have a backyard and outdoor furniture in it

Frederic C. Doughty - Doughty designs to meet sophisticated tastes

Doughty finds his architectural training plays into his furniture designs because furniture does not set alone in nature.

Scott Coogan - Coogan follows his creative passions. Traveling mostly to Costa Rica, tropical ingredients
provided inspirations for 2006's furniture designs.

Shaun Sweeney - "I'm always up for a challenge"

He designed Woodard's new stepping stone tabletop from a path he saw while watching "Lord of the Rings." A chair was inspired from a wrought iron fence he saw while taking a walk in Cincinnati over Thanksgiving

Philip Behrens - "I'm an inside-out designer, not a stylist.

"I like all my designs to be natural, true to themselves," he said. "I don't like ornamentation for ornamentation's sake. I operate more on a level on what kind of identity are we trying to make. I'm an inside-out designer, not a stylist. I enjoy the hunt for the experience of the idea we are trying to do. That is above and beyond everything else — that is very thrilling and totally unpredictable."

Richard Frinier - Frinier brings home styles of far-off destinations"

For the last 25 years I have only worked with materials that are weather resistant," Frinier said. "While this creates a challenge in and of itself, I enjoy altering the materials with unique textures and colorations to enhance my designs.

One of his clients is Sunbrella by Glen Raven. We carry Sherrill fabrics which have licensed Sunbrella. What is so great about Sunbrella? It is a "performance fabric".

Inside your living room or in the kitchen, Sunbrella fabrics make you question all the old rules. Like twirling pasta on the love seat. And if a meatball happens to roll off your plate and across the furniture, just wipe it off. Because Sunbrella fabrics are worry free. So go ahead and sip red wine on the cream-colored sofa or let the kids eat peanut butter and banana sandwiches in the family room. And when your pets jump on the couch after playing in the rain, just sit back and relax. All the qualities that make Sunbrella stand up to the elements outdoors make it impervious to life indoors.

This a very good article and it is like high fashion. What you see on the runway soon shows up in the showroom. In some cases at Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery, it already has!

Bev & Mike

Silver Plume to Shutter Operations!

We are sorry to see them go!

Cheryl Jackson, founder and president of Silver Plume, said the Portland, Ore.-based importer and marketer of fine home furnishings will close on or before Oct. 1.

I met Jackson at market and her store has a great reputation.

"Over the 20 years we have in been in business, immense satisfaction has come from providing uniquely creative and well-made products for our customers," she said. "I greatly appreciate the years of service we have had from our vendors, suppliers, sales reps, and most of all our employees."

Bev & Mike

Katrina Slows Deliveries

We don't know what effect Katrina will have on the economy. However, FURNITURE Today has an interesting article that says

Fuel shortages in the wake of Hurricane Katrina are affecting furniture suppliers’ ability to deliver product.

With gas and oil production in the Gulf of Mexico at a standstill and pipelines from the Mississippi Delta region to the Eastern Seaboard idled, truckers sometimes are finding dry diesel pumps.

Deliveries could be slowed by a couple of weeks for furniture coming from the east coast.

Bev & Mike

Donate to the American Red Cross Through KINK FM 102

Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery has made a monetary contribution through KINK FM 102 to the American Red Cross to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina. We urge you to do the same. Here's the Kink announcement:

Here's how it works: Click here to donate to the Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. When you do, you'll get back an e-mail confirmation of your donation. Then, forward the confirmation e-mail to relief@kink.fm (or fax it to 503-517-6100), along with your name and phone number by midnight Thursday night.

All day Thursday, KINK FM 102 will play new songs from The Rolling Stones each hour from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. We will enter listeners who donate to the Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund of the American Red Cross into a drawing for Rolling Stones prize packages, each including a pair of tickets to the Rolling Stones concert November 1 at the Rose Garden Arena as well as a copy of their upcoming release A Bigger Bang, which will be released next Tuesday.

Donate to the American Red Cross through KINK FM 102. You may win two tickets to see the Rolling Stones. You can also sell the tickets and donate the proceeds. Get creative! Have an auction to raise money for hurricane relief. Let's make sure we take care of our own.

Bev & Mike

KATRINA: You Can Help

You Can Help Storm Victims

American Red Cross: 1-800-HELP-NOW | FEMA | Catholic Charities | Salvation Army | Cash Donations Sought for Katrina Victims |

Bev & Mike

Kathia Emery in Portland Monthly

Just received in the mail the September issue of Portland Monthly with an article Mayberry USA by Camela Raymond.

John Mayberry came home from work, looked at his living room and said to his wife Jennifer, "This just doesn't feel like home."

...snip...

The 3,000 square-foot home's awkward floor plan had stymied the Mayberry' attempts to buy furniture. A few austere Craftsman pieces dotted the downstairs, leaving the living room to function as a glorified repository for children's toys. And the contractor-specified gray interior paint and beige living room carpet did not exactly radiate warmth.

Compounding these problems was the fact that the Mayberrys balked at making decorating decisions. "I've always liked cheerful colors and lots of patterns," Jennifer says, "but I don't have an eye for putting them together."

...snip...

So they placed a call to interior designer Kathia Emery

The magazine has three pages of before and after pictures. The results are beautiful. Emery did a great job and in the article she discusses why she made the choices she did and how she solved the various problems.

Are the Mayberrys happy?

Jennifer recalls, "My girlfriend looked at the living room and said, Oh, it looks like something from Southern Living magazine."

Good job, Kathia!

Bev & Mike

12 Decorating Strategies

Earlier I posted about Gens X and Y. One group wanted to reduce stress and the other group wanted fun and fantasy. I came across an October, 2004 issue of Family Circle magazine while waiting in the dentist's office, with an article Rules of Arrangement, 12 Decorating Strategies. I thought it had some very good information that reminded me of some of the points being made in that article.

1. Count on color to dramatize a small area. A splash of vibrance can transform an entry from boring to beckoning.

2. Think outside the bedroom box. Instead of a bench at the foot of your bed, borrow a concept from the living room and offer a cozy little sitting area. Possibly a little shelter from the storm for a quiet moment to relax.

3. Set up your living room for conversation and comfort.

4. Hang favorite art in harmonious multiples. A series of your photos or prints changes any wall into a stunning mini-gallery.

5. Choose an anchor for a mantel and all else will fall into place. Decide on one major piece for the wall, then build out from that.

6. Show off cherished photos or your family and friends in a cohesive grouping. Pick the same frame material for most frames.

7. Create impact with big bold accessories in the same mood or color.

8. Mix and match pillows galore for easy add-in warmth.

9. Turn a bookcase into an attractive all-around hold-all. Mingling books with odds and ends produces a more casual and homey atmosphere.

3 no-fail ways to make a room bloom:

10. Keep flowers simple, identical flowers in same hue.

11. Say it with texture: assorted flowers in a single palette.

12. Have fun with one: same blossom but different sizes and shades.

The important thing is have fun. If you make a mistake with a color, it can be repainted without a lot of effort. For the big stuff like choosing a sofa or fabric come see us at Landfair Furniture. We have a whole list of top designers featured in our many interviews that can give you a hand.

Bev & Mike

Are You Appealing to Gens X and Y?

From FURNITUREToday, we learn that marketers have had to learn new ways to sell to Generation X and Generation Y.

Gen Y is the 17 to 29 age group, sometimes known as "The Twisters" because they're between adolescence and adulthood. Since they grew up during the technology bubble of the '90s, they expect great wealth, and some plan to be company CEOs by 25. Thus, they're a generation that has a hard time facing reality.

They are susceptible to celebrity-endorsed products, and because of so many reality based shows, think they could be celebrities. They are interested in products that put them in the spotlight. They are "brand" conscious and they want a fun shopping experience. They also want to be able to "see" themselves in a particular piece of furniture, for example.

Gen X, the 30- to 40-something age group, could be subtitled the "anxious" crowd. They've been through economic expansions and contractions, have the highest divorce rate ever, and are the first wave born after the women's liberation movement. "Latchkey children" is a term linked to this group.

Because of their roller-coaster ride, they wait longer to marry, and some never do — about 30% of Gen Xers are single. Kennedy said businesses need to recognize and serve the growing singles market.

Because they are anxious, education for their children, to compete, is very important. For them home offices would be important. Furniture that reduces stress is important as are items that move them from alienation to community, like game tables or wine racks.

At Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery we try to make the experience fun, with animal cookies and color and interesting pieces, and pieces that do tricks. We have added the new Italian line, Calligaris, whose tables expand easily or sofa tables that convert to dining tables. We also offer Duralee Furniture that is completely customizable. We also know that a substantial part of our clientele are Boomers who want quality at a great price and a variety of styles from traditional, transitional, and contemporary.

What is your market, Boomers, Gen X or Gen Y or all of the above? Are you appealing correctly to your target market for the best results?

Bev & Mike

Judy Sturm, A Year in the Guest House

The special advertising section Ultimate Homes & Estates arrived today with the morning Oregonian and I was surprised to see an article A year in the guest house by Connie Potter. The article is about how

Judy Sturm created a little piece of Italy when she remodeled a 1950s-era clapboard house in the heart of Portland Heights

...snip...

the house is a typical Sturm design, tailored and simple, with exquisite detail and richly appointed spaces throughout

The Sturms lived in the 786 square foot guest house for a year while construction was taking place.

I've known Judy of Judy Sturm Design Studio, since the days I was working at Designer's Resource, some 13 years ago. It's great to see you have done well and you look absolutely fabulous! Come in and catch up!

Bev & Mike

Trompe L'Oeil Seminar, In Paris

I just received this email and thought it was so unique, I thought I would share it with you.

Students will learn how to sketch and paint this beautiful Trompe L'Oeil window using many trade secrets passed down by European painters throughout the ages.

Taught by Yves Lanthier, the price to attend the conference is US$3,495.00 (airplane, hotel and food not included).

What a way to end the year and begin the next, in Paris for 3 1/2 days learning a new skill.

The Art of Trompe L'Oeil Online Seminar Registration Form

Landfair Furniture has no affiliation nor any financial interest in Yves Lanthier or the Trompe L'Oeil seminar.

Bev & Mike

Update 01/27/08 The server for the Trompe L'Oeil window has changed and registration has closed. To view current workshops visit http://www.yvesart.com/

Pause by Jory Des Jardine.

Mike and I have been doing research on the BlogHer conference that started on July 30th in Santa Clara. We were not able to attend this year, but we may make an extra-special to go next year. We have been reviewing blogs and their postings about the conference and came across Pause written by Jory Des Jardine. She wrote a four piece episode titled The Power of the X Chromosome in the Workplace and this caught our eye:

Unflinching women’s advocate Tom Peters says, “Tomorrow belongs to women.” In his book Re-Imagine, he lists the reasons why a women’s model of leadership will prevail if business is to prevail. My first instinct upon reading this chapter was, “What’s in this for him?” In the past efforts to hire women into leadership positions have been more about quota-filling than deep appreciation of what we inherently bring to the table. This list wasn’t surprising, but it was a good reminder: I’d almost forgotten these qualities, tossed them aside in favor of others that I thought would better serve my resume. According to Peters:

* Women practice improvisation better than men

* Women are more self-determined and more trust sensitive than men

* Women appreciate and depend upon their intuition more than men do

* Women focus naturally on empowerment, rather than on hierarchical “power”

* Women understand and develop relationships with greater facility than men

Des Jardins goes on to say

You can drill down my argument for women’s innate ability to teambuild to biological levels, to Deborah Tannen’s work, which shows that from a very early age women seek to relate while men seek to dominate. Better put, men relate by dominating.

Mike and I wondered what it would be like to have corporations and government led more by women than by men. I think in many ways women can learn from men and vice versa. I know Mike can have a phone conversation with his best male friend. When he hangs up I'll ask him how his wife is doing? He won't know. And yet he admires that quality in me and my friends. It seems a shame that societies can cut themselves off from half of their resources.

Bev & Mike

PowerBlog Reviews Landfair Furniture

We have been away enjoying Oregon. We visited Crater Lake and a restaurant out in the middle of the desert, The Cowboy Dining Tree. (See Mike's blog for a description of their menu and the experience.) We got back and discovered that Anita Campbell's Small Business Trends had posted the interview of Mike and I about using our blog for promotion of our business, designers and local businesses. You can read that interview, PowerBlog Review: Landfair Furniture, conducted by Lynne Meyer on the Small Business Trends site.

Thank you for the asking us for the interview!

Bev & Mike

Are Women Accumulating the Wealth?

From China Daily, Women getting rich faster than men in UK

Research published last month by Investec Private Bank showed that there are now an estimated 360,000 women in Britain who are worth half a million pounds (US$ 900,000) or more each.

Women are now living longer, inheriting valuable properties and other assets from their spouses and receiving generous divorce settlements. They own assets worth almost 300 billion pounds (US$ 540 billion) and their numbers are expected to increase rapidly. It is estimated that by 2025, women will own 60 per cent of the nation's personal wealth.

Is this trend taking place in the US? We may soon have a woman elected President. There are a number considering a run or actually running;

Hillary and Condoleeza come to mind.

Bev & Mike

The Business of Weightloss

Is it a coincidence that after writing two posts about obesity in America, that I start getting spam about MiracleBurn , the weightloss pill and an invitation to link to a website that prescribes Phentermine online, a prescription weight loss medication, used as a personal appetite suppressant?

I expect, next, I will hear from the fitness clubs, the sellers of exercise machines, and makers of cookbooks.

Bev & Mike

Landfair Furniture Adds Duralee Furniture

Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery has carried Duralee Fabrics since we opened in 2001. In 2003, Duralee added furniture, and in 2005, Duralee purchased a huge plant in North Carolina to manufacturer all its furniture, some 550 items, under one roof.

Duralee offers unique Design, fine Quality, value Pricing, and fast Delivery. The materials used, the methods of construction and the finishes are among the finest available in the industry. The ease and simplicity of their catalog presentation makes choosing from their collection an enjoyable and profitable process. If you are a designer you can feel confident when specifying Duralee Fine Furniture that your client will always be pleased with the end result.

As a consumer or a designer, you have a single source for frames and fabrics that is more than just upholstered furniture, but includes dining tables and chairs, beds, benches, storage ottomans, cocktail tables, consoles and more. From traditional to contemporary, from transitional to retro, the collection was created so that you and your designer, have at your fingertips, a wealth of furniture products unlike any other. There are hundreds of standard items and an endless ability to customize them that can meet any design requirements, and limited only by one's creativity.

Duralee stands behind their products and their customer service is unsurpassed. We invite you to review their line in our showroom and see for yourself the strength of their collection and the merits of selecting Duralee Fine Furniture for your home or next design project.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

The Other Side of Obesity-- A Follow-Up

Ruben Bailey of Your Average Horseplayer has opened a whole new world for Mike. Yesterday, in a note to my post about obesity, Why has obesity become such a problem in America? Bailey said...

You should check out this blog:
http://www.bigfatblog.com/

And also read this article from the cover of The Portland Business Journal about a local company on this subject: A man with big ideas (Portland Business Journal)
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8538586/

It's interesting for everyone to be able to step back for a moment (or two) and look at issues/ideas/topics from the "other side," then we can truly begin to develop educated, informed, rational decisions.

At Big Fat Blog, you can register, only after you read and agree to these rules:

Big Fat Blog is a site devoted to fat acceptance. BFB provides a strong, supportive environment for those interested in issues related to fat people. But it is important to note that BFB is not a weight loss site of any kind; in fact, weight loss talk here is prohibited. Promoting weight loss and weight loss surgery is prohibited!

On July 12th, BFB posted about The Fat Business saying

It's always seemed so simple to me: there are a lot of fat people in this country, and we need the same goods and services that everyone else has. Yet the perpetual Forum threads on how x is so hard to find attests to the difficulties that we still face.

Which leads me to the Portland Business Journal Article and picked up by MSNBC. After Timothy Barry ballooned to 365 pounds,

"At every turn we are bombarded with news about how people are getting bigger, but nobody is accommodating the needs of these people."

Barry started SuperSizeWorld.com. SuperSizeWorld carries an amazing amount of merchandise that Mike or I hadn't given any thought about.
Things like:

Mega sized watch bands
headgear and bicycle helmets
bicycle seats and toilet seats
Mike liked Hangerzilla™

- this big hanger is special. With its 100 pound capacity, 23" width and 5" depth it can hold heavy leather coats, fur coats, full length lined top coats, diver wet suits or pretty much anything else that you can hang up on a hanger (the average hanger is 15-16 inches).

Even the funeral industry is recognizing that Americans are getting larger and the old caskets do not accomodate our sizes, so they came out with "double-wides".

I think the main thing that Mike takes away from Ruben Bailey, Big Fat Blog, and Timothy Barry is that there is a whole other world out there many are running from, and others are embracing. BFB really rants against the promotion of thin-ness that leads to unhealthy behavior, especially by young girls, who can't see their true selves when looking in a mirror.
Bev & Mike

Top Designers of 2004:Interview with Sue Ziehler

Resuming our interviews of Top Designers for 2004, we are pleased to speak with Sue Ziehler of En Vogue Interiors

LF+DG: Sue, thank you so much for making time to answer some questions about your design practice. What is your background and what are your credentials?
Ziehler: Interior Design has always been instinctual for me. Since childhood, I have been designing all my living spaces with great effect. Five years ago my position as a corporate vice president was downsized. I took this opportunity to define interior design as a new career. I attended Heritage School of Interior Design in Beaverton and started Sue Ziehler, Inc., Interior Design. I had been blessed with several years of experience with a startup company so I understood the importance of business plans, marketing, execution and maintenance of client loyalty. My clients are impressed with my professionalism and ability to communicate their style into their living spaces. In July, I joined the design team at En Vogue Interiors in Beaverton. It is a vibrant design environment guaranteed to produce some remarkable things.

LF+DG: Who or what has been an influence in your design?
Ziehler: As a young woman, I had the privilege to work for a few old-world wealthy families. I also had the fortune to live in Europe for a time. These experiences fostered my appreciation for architectural detail, art and fine furniture. Don't get me wrong, I do not like stuffy old things. But I appreciate classicism and believe all spaces should have at least one piece of antiquity, something with a past. I am influenced by quality materials and craftsmanship. My favorite designer is Naomi Leff (member of the Interior Design Hall of Fame and responsible for the Ralph Lauren store image). She can make an apartment look like an ocean liner.

LF+DG: How do you define good design?
Ziehler: All the principles of design notwithstanding, good design works like a magnet to the homeowner, moving them to desire to be in their living spaces more than anywhere else. I am a true believer in the adage that "form follows function". Get the function down and the feeling right and you have a winner.

LF+DG: If I were to hire you to decorate my home, would people who visit say, "Ah, this is a Sue Ziehler home?"
Ziehler: Doubtful. But there are definite similarities. "Ease of care" is important to me. Therefore my designs tend to be uncluttered. This gives my clients the opportunity to easily keep their spaces the way they always want them to be, whether they are a slob or not.

LF+DG: Do you come up with a presentation board?
Ziehler: Not in the traditional sense. I use computerized tools to help sell a concept, both two dimensional and three dimensional. Accompanied by samples or photographs, I use these tools to build a project binder.

LF+DG: How do you charge for your services?
Ziehler: After considerble self-debate, I choose to charge a design fee based on square footage. Clients are often skeptial of open-ended hourly charges and clients do not understand how much time it takes to consider a design. My flat rate covers room layouts and choice of any hard surfaces. In addition, I take a standard mark-up on all purchases and I surcharge anything that is purchased at retail.

LF+DG: What other creative things do you do?
Ziehler: Creative? Not sure that describes what I like to do. I am an avid sports fan. (Thank God for TiVo.) I love to cook, garden, collect art and read.

But most of all, I love a pop opera quartet called IL DIVO.

LF+DG: Sue, where can people reach you?

Ziehler: Bev, they can reach me at En Vogue Interiors, 503-504-9175 or www.ziehler.com/sue@ziehler.com

Bev & Mike

Sue Ziehler Top Designers of 2004 Bev & Mike

Landfair Furniture Adds Calligaris

You've seen their ads in Metropolitan Home and Elle Decor! Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery is proud to announce a new line: Calligaris. Calligaris firmly believes in its mission: to offer contemporary and functional furniture with Italian design, great prices and good service.

We have posted here and here about Green Design. Calligaris works in tune with the environment.

• they select the wood through ecologically aware replanting processes;

• they monitor industrial emissions;

• they recycle processing waste;

• they minimize scrap

Here are some examples of the style of Calligaris:

Bev & Mike

Why has obesity become such a problem in America?

Michael Higgins at Chocolate and Gold Coins has an interesting take on obesity with this question:

Why has obesity become such a problem in America and other countries in the early 21st century?

The easy explanation is: we can afford to be obese.

We might think differently about our food choices if each calorie cost us 10 cents. At that rate 2000 calories is $200 per day. You sure might think twice about buying a big Mac and fries for $160, leaving you only $40 for the rest of the day!

Higgins asks a second question:

So why haven’t markets emerged to help pace people to lose weight?

In order to be sucessful at weight loss, people need to have a long-term goal broken down into many short-term goals. The long term goal is to lose the weight and maintain that weight for a long period of time. Too many of us yo-yo.

The key is to develop an easy to use inexpensive technology that measures fat content and not just weight.

Bev & Mike

What's New in Fabrics at Summer Showtime

One of the purposes of these posts is to provide you with the latest news out of High Point, NC. FURNITUREToday is a good source for that kind of information. At Summer Showtime in High Point, much of the textile industry has changed radically in the past five years.

Some fabric sources that sold entirely U.S.-made lines just five years ago, for example, now source exclusively from offshore, and familiar domestic mills are moving steadily toward a business model in which they serve more as marketing and sales agencies than producers.

Some favorites emerged with buyers; in fabric design strong black-and-white presentations accented with brights, menswear patterns like houndstooth and argyle in all sizes from mini to enormous, and performance fabrics.

In color, orange tones are still important, as are the soft spa blues with chocolate brown, interesting greens, including an emerald at LaFrance Inds. and a clear kelly as well, which was also important in prints at Duralee and Richloom.

One straw in the wind: Although prints still haven’t returned in force to upholstered furniture, there was some movement in the category.

Brian Gallagher, a partner at fabric supplier HomCraft, said, “Our Magnolia print line did better than ever before, so maybe that’s a sign prints are starting to come back. They make an inexpensive way to get color on the floor — and this market was all about color and performance.”

Bev & Mike

Upholstery prices may climb!

FURNITUREToday, has an article Upholstery prices may climb, in which it is revealed that retailers may see rising wholesale upholstery prices of $15 to $20 per sofa due to rising prices to manufacturers. Most have absorbed higher costs in the past, but are now being forced into price increases.

Passing on extra costs is, for most factory execs, like cutting off their own legs. They say increases are likely to bring static from customers and, in some cases, force vendors off retail floors where stores don't want to carry higher price points.

In the past six months, costs have increased 18% for foam, 12% for steel, 10% for chalk used in marking fabrics.

Greg Hefner, president of Friendship Upholstery, a midpriced upholstery maker in North Carolina, said the hikes are the worst he's seen in 35 years, with steel taking an especially big chunk of his margins.

Bev & Mike

Can Your Accent Tables Do Tricks?

Today’s bigger homes demand bigger living room tables to match the large rooms and large upholstery pieces. Height has stabilized at 20 to 21 inches, but the length and width are broader. A rectangular cocktail table at 50 by 72 inches or a 60-inch round table are examples of the needs in a larger home.

Hammary created this Prairie collection in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. With white oak veneers and leaded glass, this cocktail table and other pieces take their design cues from the Mission-style homes that are part of the National Trust’s historic sites.

At the same time more condo living and baby boomers' downsizing demand smaller occasional tables. A sofa in the 70 to low 80 inches demands a smaller cocktail table or ottoman.

Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery carries all sizes, but more than that, we like our tables to do "tricks". How about a coctail table with hidden drawers for those remotes or games? How about a leather ottoman that doubles as a cocktail table and an extra seat?

Remember, too, that accent tables can change the feel of the room without the cost of changing the more-expensive upholstered items.

Bev & Mike

Rowe: Change Can Be Painful!

From FURNITUREToday, Rowe chips away at backlog

Rowe Furniture, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of custom upholstered furniture in the United States. Established in 1946, Rowe Furniture offers a wide range of styling in sofas, sectionals, chairs and ottomans with over six hundred fabric selections.

The bad news: Rowe was operating with a number of proprietary and home-grown computer systems. Their deliveries to retail customers swelled to 8 to 10 weeks from order date. Backlog jumped to $23.5 Million and an inability, developed, to get internally produced frame parts to the right place at the right time for assembly.

The good news: They recently switched to SAP AG Enterprise Resource Planning software designed to make it competitive with overseas production.
They were having a problem with fabrics, but the company has made progress in bunching large batches for more efficient cutting schedules.

The upshot: with the changeover they will be able to provide delivery to retail customers within 10 days. "I feel we've come a long way," Gerald Birnbach, chairman and president of The Rowe Companies said. "We should have most things pretty much under control this quarter. As far as manufacturing the product, selling the product, and delivering the product, we're there

Change can be painful. Here at Landfair Furniture we are proud to carry Rowe. Our clients have experienced the frustration of longer than normal delivery times. We thank you for your patience and are excited to be able to offer short delivery times at the completion of the software changeover.

"More" from Decker Marketing

Mike and I like to visit sites that visit us. We are curious about what brings someone to our site and can we learn something from what the visitor is doing?

Today we were visited by Decker Marketing and we found a number of interesting marketing ideas. What really caught Mike's eye was this piece written on February 06, 2005. It reminded Mike of his stockbroker days when after a great year the managing partner visited their office and announced they were awesome! "Just wait until you reach your potential." The next year business was up 100%, he visited again and announced, "You guys are awesome! Just wait until you reach your potential."

From Decker Marketing Defining "More"

Is your mission statement "More"? There is always more you can do in work, and there's always more you can do in life. How to balance? Consider this perspective...

An American consultant was at a pier in a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow-fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

The Mexican replied only a little while.

The consultant then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish?

The fisherman said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.

The American then asked the Mexican how he spent the rest of his time.

The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, senor."

The American consultant scoffed, "I am a business consultant and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and, with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution.

"You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise."

The Mexican fisherman asked, "But senor, how long will this all take?"

To which the American consultant replied, "15-20 years."

"But what then, senor?" asked the fisherman.

The consultant laughed, and said, "That's the best part! When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public. You'll become very rich, you would make millions!"

"Millions, senor?" replied the Mexican. "Then what?"

The American said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."

It is easy to get caught up in "more". When Mike and I go to dinner we tend to talk about business and marketing and how to deal with problems. So we say enough, after awhile, and talk about family, health, the dog, plans for vacation, books we are reading, and how much we care about each other. It is too hard to relax when all you want is "more".

Bev & Mike

Carnival of the Capitalists 7-11-05

Carnival of the Capitalists is up and Landfair Furniture is proud to be included. It is hosted by Multiple Mentality.

Bev & Mike

Christopher Bates of fauxcade

Was it really April that we introduced you to the artist Darryl Ware in Interior Design Event with Darryl Ware? Yes!

Now meet Christopher Bates of Lake Oswego. Sometimes we are just amazed at art and the subjects that artists choose. While in Napa Valley early in our marriage, Mike and I came across an artist that made miniture bricks and then formed those bricks into large vases. In places the sides were broken to reveal the unique brick structure underneath. Truly exceptional work. What does this have to do with Christopher Bates?

Chris came into our shop and showed us his portfolio of sculptures. His work at fauxcade is a result of the fusion of his interests in art, architecture and the manual crafts. From one who is fascinated by architecture, these scuptures are unique. Rrom his website, fauxcade

"We are creating large-scale architectural sculptures in a way that pays homage to great architectural styles from the past, but at the same time plays with classic color and texture formats."

"It's a synthesis of the way an artist may have made an architectural model, by hand, 400 years ago, with modern concepts of art and decoration." The result is a beautiful sculptural object that is absorbing and visually dramatic in a way that is unique to our artform.

The molds for each sculpture are hand-formed using traditional methods, then cast with architectural grade plaster. Finally, each sculpture is colorized individually, so each is unique

The pieces range in size from a foot high to 7 1/2 feet tall, in the case of a full facade. Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery may be offering these sculptures in our store in the near future.

Bev & Mike

16 Master Bedroom Mistakes to Avoid!

The July-August Oregon Home is on the newstands. This highly readable magazine has an article by Ken Logan titled 16 Master Bedroom Mistakes to Avoid.

Ken was gracious enough to allow me to quote from the article. If you want to read the complete article, you can go to their website to see where it is sold.

Here are the 16 Mistakes:

1. Not springing for a mattress that's going to maximize your chances of getting a great night's rest.

2. Not considering the size of your bedroom when choosing furnishings.

3. Letting your master bedroom drift off to the bottom of your building or remodeling budget. It's too easy to focus on the public spaces and neglect the area where you may spend a third of your day.

4. Assuming that knocking out the wall between two small bedrooms is the best way to create a master bedroom during a remodel. Don't rip out the thing you are paying for.

5. Not keeping a consistent design between the master bedroom and the bath. Work for "visual coherence".

6. Not making the most of storage options. Clutter is not restful.

7. Underestimating the effect lighting has on your bedroom. The spectrum of natural light that comes from the sun is best.

8. Skimping on finishes or decor in the bedroom because "no one's going to see it." You deserve a beautiful, restful space.

9. Letting a large space tempt you into using the master bedroom for functions that are better suited to other parts of the house. Mike and I do not have a TV in the bedroom.

10. Assuming you can't add a master bedroom just because you don't have-or can't create-a big plush space.

11. Passing up the chance to have your morning cup of coffee waiting for you when you step out of bed.

12. Neglecting what's outside when planning your restful retreat.

13. Forgetting to allow for lifestyle changes in your sweet design. We are all getting older.

14. Working so hard on the look of your bedroom that you forget that quiet is also crucial.

15. Opting for flooring that's too cold and hard.

16. Minimizing how huge a factor color is in the feel you're trying to create in a master bedroom.

In each of the 16 mistakes, Ken Logan has consulted local resources to offer solutions and has those suggestions in the article.

Also, remember Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery has an onsite color expert in Carol Cornwell and can recommend a number of interior designers we work with that are knowledgeable in helping you avoid these mistakes or providing solutions.

Bev & Mike

What's "Room in a Bag"?

From FURNITUREToday, out of High Point comes news of "Room in a Bag"

The “room-in-a-bag” concept, with seating, occasional, rugs, lamps and other decorative items merchandised as a package, is gaining steam with upholstery and multi-line manufacturers, especially those offering branded collections.
The underlying premise: Such packages will increase a store’s ability to attract customers, relieve consumer anxieties about making decorating mistakes, and thus boost sales.

One company featured at High Point, was Rowe, which linked up with pottery maven and hip designer Jonathan Adler, the first venture into a collection backed by a well-known name.

One reason companies are offering "room in a bag", it is a way for higher-end companies to distinguish themselves and maintain their identities. In other words, packaged concepts are harder to duplicate (or knockoff by competitors or foreign manufacturers).
Another reason, consumers are looking for help in decorating. Some want the confidence that their purchases work well together.
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery proudly carries Rowe.

Rowe Furniture is a leading manufacturer of custom upholstered furniture in the United States. Established in 1946, Rowe Furniture offers a wide range of styling in sofas, sectionals, chairs and ottomans with over six hundred fabric selections. The Rowe Furniture collections include Rowe, Robin Bruce, Jami L and Earth & Elements. Rowe Furniture is available at major home furnishings retailers and better independent home furnishings retailers across the United States and around the world.

In addition, we offer onsite design help and can refer you to a number of interior designers that are familiar with the many offerings of furniture and accessories in the Portland area.Bev & Mike

More About "Green Design"

In May when we interviewed interior designer Marcie Harris, she talked about "Green Design", a concept Mike didn't know about.

My (Marcie's) interpretation of Green Design is that designers and architects need to be educated about the 'lifecycle" of the products they specify. This is not only the recycling capability of products, but thinking about what it took to make the product in the first place.

Today in Interiors Quarterly, there is a broader discussion of Green Design as it pertains to leaving a better planet for our kids.

The interior designer and the architect play a special role...with the power to create, the designer has responsibilities beyond others. We are obligated to practice sustainable design, in other words, to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. We must recognize that the things we do and the choices we make have long-term effects, from choosing woods that are not in danger of extinction to assuring that the materials we specify don't contribute to exacerbating a sick child's asthma.

Bev & Mike

The Phillips Collection at Highpoint

From Highpoint, last week, Lisa Casinger, Home Accents Today retail editor says The Phillips Collection kicked butt!

From their contemporary:

to Yuri Zatarain who created some magnificent pieces and the displays were powerful.

Retailers she talked to at market were "excited about fresh looks they were seeing. Some said it was like there’d been nothing exciting for a while and they came to the April market and found it."

The Phillips Collection is carried at Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery.

Bev & Mike

What are Performance Fabrics?

According to FURNITUREToday, the new buzz is about "performance fabrics". What are performance fabrics? In the Police department think Kevlar, a fabric that stops bullets. In the furniture arena think fabrics that protect from stains and spills, think durability for motion furniture, think light-fastness for outdoor furniture, think anti-microbial for damp regions of the country.

For upholstery manufacturers then, performance can fall anywhere on a continuum from a simple durability story to a highly engineered product that is touted as impervious to liquid, bacteria, mold, mildew, stains, sunlight and bleach.

We have had Scotchguard and Teflon for fabrics that can be applied at the factory or in our warehouse before delivery to our clients. It protects against dirt and stains.

And if spills are an ongoing cause of concern, then just knowing that water- and oil-based liquids will bead up on the surface while you grab a napkin can make a consumer feel better about a fabric choice.

We have a dog that lays on the sofa with us at night when we watch television. Ralph, doesn't mean to forget to wipe his feet or doesn't intentionally drool at Baconbits, but Scotchguard has added life to this piece of furniture. At Landfair Furniture, for an added charge, Sherrill, one of the best values in upholstered furniture, will teflon coat (their name for a protective sealer) pre-production. Sherrill will be offering new fabrics that are geared to the clients demands for performance fabrics.

Two points to remember about about a protective spray. First, make sure the company applying the product is a professional. We use Ray-Burt's Inc., a company that has been in business for 25 years! Second, applying a protective product may cause you to lose any warranty on the fabric, especially if applied after it left the factory.

Bev & Mike

Shopping for Furniture? Here Are Some Resources.

From American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA), several fine articles:

FURNITURE 101: A CONSUMER'S GUIDE TO SMART SHOPPING

THE INSIDE STORY: HOW UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE IS BUILT

THE INSIDE STORY: HOW WOOD FURNITURE IS BUILT

TRANSLATION PLEASE!

Bev & Mike

A to Z Buyers Guide

Furniture Magazine has an A to Z Buyers Guide. Do you want to know about a furniture manufacturer and its quality, then go to the A to Z Buyers Guide. For example, two lines Landfair Furniture carries are Sam Moore Chairs and Sherrill. Here's what the A to Z Buyers Guide has to say:

SAM MOORE CHAIRS

PO Box 339, Bedford, VA 24523

703.586.8253, Fax 703.586.8497

For over 50 years, Sam Moore has been producing affordable, comfortable upholstery for the home and office. I've never met anyone who didn't like this company. They seen to have hit a niche of tremendous styling, dependable consistent quality and all at an affordable price. Quite a combination. They offer traditional to contemporary styling, hundreds of fabric choices and plenty of optional wood finishes on exposed pieces. Choose from: wing chairs, dining chairs, 18th Century exposed wood chairs, French exposed wood chairs, a great Mission/Arts & Crafts collection, home office and executive seating, fully upholstered chairs & ottomans, sofas and loveseats, chaises, benches and settees. Choose from leather and fabric.

SHERRILL

2405 Highland Ave NE, PO Drawer 189

Hickory, NC 28603. (828) 322-2640, (828) 324-8207 fax

Sherrill is one of the best values in upholstered furniture you'll find. They are also the parent company for several other well known brands:

• Whittemore-Sherrill (Leather Upholstery)

• Precedent (Transitional Upholstery

• Hickory-White (Case Goods & upholstery)

• CTH-Sherrill Occasional (Wood & metal occasional & dining)

• Motioncraft (Recliners, motion sofas, sectionals & home theater seating)

• Theodore Alexander (Wood / metal / other case goods & accessories)

Bev & Mike

Do you sell on eBay?

So you sell on eBay. Are you aware of what is selling well, there?

FURNITUREToday has a section that gives you the most recent information: eBay & Furniture|Today: What Consumers Are Buying Online. Not only does it break it down into specific catagories, but there is a link to

Top 10 Hot Categories
Top 10 Buyer Searches
Top 10 Individual Items Sold (based on price).

Here is a breakdown of the most recent list of catagories:

Bath - May 2005
Bedding - May 2005
Dining & Bar - April 2005
Furniture - April 2005
Gardening & Plants - April 2005
Home Decor - April 2005
Lighting - April 2005
Rugs & Carpets - April 2005
Decorative Collectibles - April 2005
Pottery & Glass - April 2005

Bev & Mike

Who Be You?

Gosh, has it been that long since our last post? Our goal is to post daily. We want you to come back to see what's new. We will try harder. We receieve in the mail a weekly paper called FURNITUREToday. The online edition has a number of blogs. One blog has the name Furniture Sketchbook by David Perry and it has a post Retail shopping experience even more important than our products. In it he writes

This week I present you with a shocking proposition: The merchandise in our retail stores is not as important as the experience of shopping our stores.

He says a Starbucks store is a good illustration:

My reader said that consumers flock to Starbucks for the sense of community: “Starbucks is the new Main Street, the town square. It’s welcoming. It’s warm. The music is playing. People are encouraged to work, study or pay bills – any of a number of activities usually done at home, in the office, or even a library – places that don’t promote social interaction and a sense of belonging to a larger community. Consumers are hungry for this experience.”

At Landfair Furniture we try to offer that same experience and recently Marcie Harris, a designer in Portland said,

Bev is my favorite design source in the Portland area. I feel her place is the coffee shop at "Friends", since I always find an interesting designer to talk to there. Her complete and undivided attention to us designers really makes our lives so much easier.

We think, too many times, we worry about being competitive as far as price, when it's really about what you are. Or in the words of a mentor, "Who be you?
Bev & Mike

MarketingSherpa's 10 Best Blogs for 2005

Wow, MarketingSherpa's 10 Best Blogs for 2005 were just announced and there are some familiar names. Congratulations to:

Best blog on small business marketing

Winner: Duct Tape Marketing

Honorable Mention: Small Business Trends

Editor's Note: Wow! Duct Tape Marketing won hands-down for the second-year running, gaining more votes than any other blog in any category in the entire contest. Most bloggers can only dream of such a huge and passionate fan base.

Best Blog on Niche Marketing

Winners (tie):

Ypulse - Media for the Next Generation

WonderBranding - Marketing to Women

Honorable Mention:

Lipsticking- Smart marketing to women online

Editor's Note: All three of these blogs are not only useful for advice on their topics, but also worth watching if you plan to launch a Blog to promote yourself as a niche marketing consultant. (P.S. Whoa, get ready for neon-pink and orange when you visit Ypulse.)

Bev & Mike

Designers Need A Web Presence!

You know we have been urging you to get a website for your business. Some of you say it's too expensive, or I just don't have the time, or I am not computer savvy. We say the easiest way to get online is: Start a Blog. It's easy, it's and free! You can talk about your business. You can add your "before" and "after" pictures to your blog. You can use your blog to get new business. It's the easiest way to do marketing. In the upper right hand corner of this blog is a sign that says "Get your own Blog". Blogger, a part of Google, hosts blogs for free and provides a wide variety of templates. It's easy, simple and if you have any questions, Mike says he will provide answers.

We came across a web site Merely Human and the article Making Sense of the Blogging Phenomenon One Blogger At a Time

I have spent some time over the past two years researching blogging. And the longer I immerse myself the more convinced I become that blogs are merely a symptom of something much bigger happening on the web. No, let me restate that...happening TO the web.

Nobody's completely figured it out yet, but every day we are nearing closer to an approximate understanding of what their impact will be. The only thing we can conclude is that the question of what a blog IS isn’t so important as the question of what a blog CAN BE.

And in Breaking News: Will This Man Bring Legitimacy to the Blogosphere? Merely Human says

Today the blogosphere welcomes it's biggest marketing celebrity since Bob Bly. Jay Abraham, one of the most respected minds in marketing is officially launching his blog.

If Jay abraham who wrote the book Getting Everything You Can Out of All You've Got : 21 Ways You Can Out-Think, Out-Perform, and Out-Earn the Competition is getting a blog, so should you!

Bev & Mike

Re/Max Street of New Beginnings, Part 2

From June 11th to July 3rd, 11:00AM to 9:00PM (Show closed Mondays and Tuesdays), in Holland Park, Beaverton, Oregon, you can see affordable homes at the RE/Max Street of New Beginnings, and Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery is proud to loan furniture to another home, the Hearthstone decorated by Marcie Harris of H/S Interiors (One of the Top Designers of 2004) and built by Dave DeHarppport of Four D Construction Co. The home is priced at $367,500 for 2,110 sq.ft.

Bev & Mike

Top Designers of 2004: Interview with Marcie Harris

LF+DG: Our interview with the Top Designers for 2004 continues with Marcie Harris of H/S Interiors. Marcie is a busy woman and we managed to catch her for a few moments. So, Marcie, you were one of our top designers in 2004 in terms of business with Landfair Furniture, why don't you start by telling us about your background?
Marcie Harris: Hi Mike and Bev! I will attempt to answer your questions now... I actually have to put my thinking cap on! I sold real estate in the 80's and started accessorizing the new homes I was selling to enhance their market appeal (as interest rates were 14% and climbing!) This lead me into a business partnership with H/S Interiors staging model homes for builders.
Mike: What does H/S stand for?
Marcie Harris: H/ stands for Harris (me) and Severson (my mother) who is my business partner in the model home furniture business. She has always been the best truck driver - goes back to the days when we started and couldn't afford real movers so we did all the moving ourselves - and our backs can attest to that now.
Bev: So you are an entrepreneur?
Marcie Harris: Absolutely! While I enjoyed the 'decorating' part of putting together builder models, I knew I was lacking in formal design training and so I went back to college to earn my BFA in Interior Design from Marylhurst University in 1996. I am an allied member of the American Society of Interior Designers.

LF+DG: Who or what influences your designs?
Marcie Harris: I am influenced by just about everything that is put in front of me! One of my favorite areas of study is architectural history and so when I travel I relish visiting architectural sites. I shop like a madperson, I read copious amounts of design and shelter magazines each month and I also learn a lot from my own clients!

LF+DG: How do you define good design?
Marcie Harris: Well, of course, first and foremost good design must enhance the health, safety, and welfare of the end-user. While just about anyone interested in this field loves the access to gorgeous furniture, art, fabrics and accessories, good design is primarily about enhancing people's lives so the client can not only live in beautiful surroundings that reflect their interests and personality, but also enable them to live each day to their fullest capability. "Universal Design" and "Green Design" are areas that we now think of as 'specialties" but I believe will soon be standard requirements for all credible design proposals.

Bev: Whoa, Marcie, Mike just got lost with talk of "Universal Design" and "Green Design".
Mike: How did we switch to Green cars and Universal joints?
Marcie Harris: Ha, Ha! Certainly there is correct terminology for this concept - but my interpretation of Universal Design is creating an environment that is end-user friendly - for all age groups and for users with physical limitations. It is not just about ADA compliance. For instance, a space designed for a young family could have lower vanities in the baths for the kids - perhaps with a pullout cabinet under the sink if someone in a wheelchair needed to use it. It is about proper lighting - reducing glare, proper task lighting. It is about proper flooring - seamless changes in flooring materials so someone with limited ambulatory abilities won't trip on the edge of a surface change. It is about wider doorways and hallways and making bathrooms more accessible and safer with proper grab bars and turning radius and wheel- in showers. It is about a space that if you suddenly broke your leg - you would not be helpless in your own space. It is about aging in place.

Bev: It could be about aging "boomers"! And "green Design?
Marcie Harris: Again, we've heard a lot of this lately. My interpretation of Green Design is that designers and architects need to be educated about the 'lifecycle" of the products they specify. This is not only the recycling capability of products, but thinking about what it took to make the product in the first place. Obviously we can't evaluate everything - but if more pressure were put on manufacturers from designers and architects regarding "green design", I believe the industry would react accordingly. I have a client with a child that came down with environmental sickness after they moved into their new home. The off-gassing of VOC's from the various products (osb board, carpet glue etc.) was enough to keep her out of one whole year of high school. This was 8 years ago and things are improving - but it is still a huge concern.

LF+DG: Ok, a change of pace. If I walk into one of your client's homes, will I say, "Ah, this is a Marcie Harris designed home!"
Marcie Harris: Since a lot of my design work in the past has involved model homes - I have had the opportunity to be my own client over and over again (with, unfortunately, the budget constraints that go along with me!) So I'd say a lot of my models have a similar "look." As I moved away from "staging" to working for individual clients, I broke loose from that, however, and lately I've been incorporating some more 'modern' touches meaning a more streamlined look - more mid-century modern; traditional forms simplified- not as much embellishment; a "quieter" look. I still adore traditional interiors but find the 'modern' look to be appropriate in many environments today.
When I work with a client, I interview them thoroughly and have them do a lot of homework themselves before we get started purchasing or selecting finishes. They may start out thinking they don't have any preferences, but when we are done - they certainly know their likes and dislikes - and this is my goal, to give them an environment that speaks to them.

LF+DG: Do you use a presentation board with your clients?
Marcie Harris: I rarely do except for commercial jobs. In residential design a lot of the approach is educating the client as to what is available to them. This involves many 'field trips." Once the client and I have a contract, I immediately render furniture and cabinet plans so they can get a real sense of what I am trying to achieve with the design. I am big on hand drafting and rendering - being the dinosaur that I am.

LF+DG: How do you charge for your services?
Marcie Harris: I charge by the hour- and this is my primary compensation. My fee starts from the time I leave my office to the time I leave the client. On custom orders I charge cost plus a small mark-up. I may not make a lot reselling furniture to clients, but I find they trust me with all their decisions and there is no problem if they decide to purchase something 'retail.' I feel this industry is becoming very SERVICE oriented. Much of what I do is not just about picking out great stuff, but getting it implemented in a well organized manner is often just as important to my clients.

LF+DG: We find that designers with whom we work have all sorts of other creative outlets. What other creative things do you do?
Marcie Harris: My work is my creative outlet. Give me a pencil and ruler and I'm happy. I relieve stress by gardening and painting and entertaining family and friends. I try to travel somewhere interesting at least once a year. My daughters are dancers and their performances generally keep my social calendar full.

Mike: It fascinates me how women can do this dance. This dance of balancing wife, mother and career woman. How do you manage?
Marcie Harris: My career as an independant interior designer has enabled me to schedule my appointments around my children and still work a full week. I was setting up model homes with newborn babies; and my sister, a design student that works for me, has done the same with her three kids. My work with individual clients has grown as I have had my schedule open up once my girl's got their drivers licenses! Although sometimes I work 7 days a week - doing my books on Sunday afternoon, I never feel put out. I have a very understanding husband and that helps too. Plus he's great at loading a sofa once in awhile!

LF+DG: Anything else?
Marcie Harris: Bev is my favorite design source in the Portland area. I feel her place is the coffee shop at "Friends", since I always find an interesting designer to talk to there. Her complete and undivided attention to us designers really makes our lives so much easier - THANKS BEV!

LF+DG: We didn't prompt Marcie to say that. We love to see Marcie and are happy she feels that way about Landfair Furniture where there are always fat free animal crackers. You can reach Marcie Harris at H/S Interiors rmkm4@web-ster.com 503-341-2333.

Re/Max Street of New Beginnings, Part 1

From June 11th to July 3rd, 11:00AM to 9:00PM (Show closed Mondays and Tuesdays), in Holland Park, Beaverton, Oregon, you can see affordable homes, and Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery is proud to loan furniture to
The Covington, an Old Portland design by Timberland Homes. The home is priced at $384,950 and has 2,259 sq. ft.

Steve Brown is President of Timberland Homes and the website is www.timberlandhomes.net. We are working with Jamie Devlin of Design Interiors, Susie Buchanan of Finishing Touches, and Michelle Barnes of Timeless Interiors.

Bev & Mike

Values of Designmaster

One of our lines is Designmaster Furniture. We were working to add pictures of Designmaster side chairs and dining room tables to our web site Landfair Furniture Annex, when I came across their "Purpose, Vision, Values, Goals". I was struck by its clear purpose. More about that in a moment.

Last night we viewed the movie In Good Company staring Dennis Quaid, Scarlett Johansson, and Topher Grace. On one level it was a movie about Quaid and his family, and things that parents go through to raise and provide for their children. Quaid and his wife were examples of good parents. They walked their talk. On another level, the movie was about the challenge of running a company, the ability to maintain the corporate family, while trying to dominate a part of the corporate world. Can that be done? Mike is just finishing Confessions of An Economic Hitman by John Perkins, so he's sensitive to the damage corporations can do in the name of progress. In the book "hitmen" would deliberately get a country deep in debt, then like the mafioso, demand favors. So we were surprised by the Designmaster site, a furniture company located in North Carolina.

Purpose, Vision, Values, Goals

Purpose

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him a third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep."
--John 21:17

The purpose of Designmaster Furniture is to feed God’s sheep.

Our purpose can be viewed from several perspectives:

* We feed the employees and sales representatives of Designmaster physically – with work, so that they can provide for their families.

* We feed the stakeholders of Designmaster spiritually – by praying with them and for them and by sharing with them how God is at work in our lives.

* We tithe from the profits of Designmaster, using product and cash to help fund Christian charities and ministries.

* Why does God have us building dining furniture? We believe that the family is under attack in our culture today. Eating together as a family used to be the rule, now it is the exception. Perhaps God will use our chairs in a small way to encourage a family here and a family there to eat together and share His love over dinner.

Vision

Our vision is to be the best at what we do.

Values

Out of our personal relationships with Jesus Christ, we choose to value:

* obedience through prayer

* Godly relationships

* truth

* quality work

* freedom with accountability

Goals

Our goals are

1. To provide our customers with the highest quality and most technologically advanced services and products at competitive prices

2. To provide our employees with steady continuous employment

It's real clear what Designmaster believes, why its important to them, and that they accept responsibility. Here are some of our favorites:

Bev & Mike

Get a Blog!

So you set up a blog to support your business. How do you know if your blog is having an impact on sales. Lip-Sticking has an interview with Elisa Camahort from Worker Bees

See, they wanted to be able to quantify their return on that blog, but they didn't want to offer any promotion to blog readers. So, no matter how many times I pointed out that the impact the blog was having on sales would remain opaque if they provided no trackable offer, they continued to want quantifiable sales results, without implementing anything that would allow it to be so.

Truth be told: I think blogs are excellent marketing tools, but not necessarily great sales tools. How is that different you ask? Well, blogs are conversations. And if I may be so crunchy-granola, blogs are about organically developing a relationship with your potential and existing clients. They're great for creating awareness, for giving people something to talk about, for building a positive image in the minds of your audience. It's about inching your way into someone's brain space, until you occupy a little slot there. GM blogging doesn't make me run out tomorrow and buy a car, but when I shop for a car, GM and Saturn are going to occupy a little space in my brain where they weren't before, because I appreciate their blog.

IMHO, if blogs are about conversations, women are better at it than men, if Mike is any guide. He talks with his male friends and gets surface information. You know how it goes.

"How's Bill?" I ask.
"Fine."
"What has he been doing?
"Nothing much."

With that said, get yourself a blog and take a half hour each day to write about yourself, your business, your day, your kids, your husband and your life. Include some pictures of your pets, your designs or favorite places. In truth, we like doing business with people we know and like, and have invested some time in getting to know, even if it is through a blog.

Finally, mention this blog when you visit our store and there will be a token of our appreciation in it for you.

Bev

Top 10 Home Decor Trends for 2005

1. and 2. Nesting and Entertaining at Home - Kitchens have long been considered the "heart" of the home and today's accessories reflect this sentiment. Serveware and barware are hot. In addition, the wine theme, which complements Tuscan-inspired motifs, continues to be strong.

3. Retro - Retro is now more mainstream ranging from soda fountain mixers to furniture collections inspired by Hollywood of the 30's and 40's.

4. Organic Materials - This theme is two-fold, with decorative accessories either accented with natural materials or completely made from them. Leather is the hottest material in furniture, but it is also selling great on lamps, pillows, picture frames and a variety of other decorative accents. From leather to linen and wood and shells, natural, organic style is in.

5. Pets - Americans love their pets! 62% of all households have at least one pet driven by a few key segments - young couples, empty nesters and singles.

6. and 7. Beach and Tropics - Becoming more refined, it combines a lot of natural woods and fabrics as well as earthy brown and dusty blue accents. This theme can also be fun with picture frames featuring flip flops, sunglasses, bikinis, margaritas and cocktails.

8. and 9. Modern and Clean Lines - Lots of basic geometric forms - squares, round shapes and polka dots are hot. Abstract patterns are starting to appear as well, with swirls and mosaic patterns most often seen. A retro of 70's mod look is often blended in.

10. Opposites Attract - Contrsting materials as well as themes are used to create an eclectric yet well coordinated look. Concepts combine elements of each of two opposite themes, for example modern with retro or cottage with contemporary.

Buzz Words - Casual Lifestyles - Clean Design - Pattern Mixing - Texture - Color - Vintage - Retro - Theme Mixing - Outdoor Living - Nature - Fresh - Home - Entertaining - Fun - Family and Friends - Humor - Whimsy - Connections - Laughter

Gillian Drummond, Comfort and Convenience

Here's a great article by Gillian Drummond, Interior Insights Creating a room of comfort and convenience

In choosing comfortable seating, use mostly upholstered furniture. Vary the size, style, and purpose. Use a mix of chairs and sofas to form conversation groups. In a small room, arrange the furniture to accommodate one large group of at least six people. In a larger room, consider having two or more groupings, which could be for as few as two people and, depending on the size of your room, as many as six or more. Also, use pull-up chairs with wood or painted frames to make a grouping more interesting.

Beyond choosing furniture that is comfortable, how else can you bring comfort to your seating arrangements? With tables and lamps. Place tables adjacent to the chairs and sofas. On each table put a lamp that casts a soft light — bright enough to lighten the room and for reading, but not too bright or poorly placed so that it shines in anyone’s eyes.

Tables are an important element in a room devoted to comfort and convenience. Keep tabletops clear for wonderful lamps and objects of beauty, which express your personality and interests. Use tables in a variety of sizes and shapes. Select from a wonderful array of woods and other finishes: mahogany, walnut, oak. Adding tables that are painted, lacquered or made of metal are other good options. Also, trunks and boxes can add variety and convenience as surfaces and storage. In addition to tables with legs, add ones with pedestal bases. When considering tables and chairs, be careful not to use furniture with too many legs in one room. Variety is the spice of life.

Drummond advocates using decorative screens for visual excitement and height in a room. She suggests adding furniture with mass to balance a room like trunks and armoires. She writes like she has been visiting our showroom.

10 steps to creating a successful business blog.

Estate Legacy Vaults has taken a look at the way Landfair has integrated its website, on line store and blogs, and has posted 10 steps to creating a successful business blog. We like #4 best:

4. You interview each of your top designers, making them your friends and bringing them publicity and referrals which makes them even happier.

We have learned a lot from our interviews, such as how creative you all are and how a successful career helping others with design problems is not your only creative outlet. We could have a show at our store featuring the art of Top 20 Designers. It might make a great charitable event for your favorite cause. Let us know if you have suggestions.

Bev & Mike

BTW Estate Legacy Vaults has another post, Blogs are the demand side supplying itself. Here's a great thought about your need to have a blog:

Blogging is about rolling snowballs downhill, not pushing rocks uphill

Bev & Mike