Color in 2007

On Bridget Otto Thursday, the topic is color and pink in particular, in Pink has punch -- or does it? Is "Pink" the color of the year, 2007? Glidden thinks so when a press release says "pink is causing 'quite a stir among designers and homeowners alike'." Otto asks, Is it really?"

... although pink does seem to be popping up in clothing accents and midcentury modern furniture design, it's anyone's guess whether the color experts' prediction of pink -- "a truly worthy renaissance of a colour so long constrained" -- will catch on.

Otto quotes the Color Marketing Group and they see different colors for 2007:

* softer, more botanical greens inspired by nature.
* true blues from nature will be everywhere.
* the colors of rock and stone and soil.
* Deep, rich ethnic reds and warm, glow-y oranges
* No mention of pink.

Otto talked with interior designer Kimberly Jaynes

Not afraid of unusual and bright colors -- "In the Northwest, we need color" -- Jaynes used hot pink in a home in the Pearl about four years ago. It was a shocking pink, she says, that she tempered with chocolate brown and mixed in some blues and greens.

and Otto quoted yours truly,

Bev Landfair with Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery isn't exactly thrilled about softer pinks making their way back. They're hard to work with, she says, and remind her of the last time pink was big.

"You get that poodle feeling."

Taking her shot at predicting color, Landfair votes for white.

"I'm seeing a resurgence of white -- especially in contemporary furnishings," she said. "

In another article in today's Homes & Gardens, Bridget A. Otto visits the home of Bob and Stevie Burke.

It took more than two years to create the Burkes' home on the property they bought six years ago. The original structure, a three-story cabin, was demolished -- save for part of the entryway and some of the framework -- and removed from the hillside nearly piece by piece before the site could be excavated.

Just look at the front door. It reminds me of doors we saw in Florence, Italy.

The photo taken by Marv Bondarowicz shows the front door found in India

I noticed that Stevie credits interior designer Karol Niemi "...for infusing the house with color."

Bev & Mike

Duralee Fine Furniture acquires Owners Select

Duralee Fine Furniture, owned by high-end fabric supplier Duralee, has acquired the assets of upscale upholstery producer Owners Select.

Bruce Narolis, former president of Owners Select, has joined Duralee Fine Furniture as director of manufacturing.

Owners Select, which relocated its production this month from High Point to Duralee’s 180,000-square-foot facility in Morganton, N.C., features kiln-dried hardwood frames, eight-way hand-tied seat suspension, premium fiber back cushions and throw pillows, as well as exposed mahogany, European beech and maple.



Owners Select, now a separate division within Duralee, will continue to operate under its own name. Its product will be sold exclusively to the trade through its sales representatives.

Robin Gordon, director of marketing and advertising for Duralee, said the Owners Select brand is “poised to reach a larger, high-end clientele and is the perfect complement to Duralee and Highland Court fabrics.”

Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery is proud to carry the Duralee Furniture line along with Duralee fabrics.

Bev & Mike

It's Official. Landfair Moving!

The Pearl Design Center is the newest addition to the growing
Home Design area in the northern end of the Pearl District. With over 47,000+ sf, it's a great location for retailers, showrooms, and studios specializing in home furnishing and design.

At this time we'd like to announce the first Tenant to Pearl Design
Center: Landfair Furniture & Design Gallery. Currently located on Macadam, Landfair Furniture & Design (Gallery) showcases high end furniture and home furnishing lines, and is a favorite of local Interior Designers. Pearl Design Center is proud to be their new home.

Pearl Design Center is being completed in phases, with just over 6,000 sf currently ready for Tenant Improvements. An additional 18,500 sf is being pre-leased, with 15,000sf slated for completion in Spring 2007, and 13,500 sf, slated for completion in Summer 2007.

For more information call or email.

Tami Wood
WDC Properties
1205 NW 14th Avenue
Portland, OR 97209
(503)221-2900 phone
(503)223-2567 fax
twood@wdcproperties.com

We are very happy to be almost doubling our size and are looking forward to being near other designer destinations.

The new address is 1636 NW 15th, Portland, OR 97209

Bev & Mike

R.I.P. Ed Zieg

Our friend Charles Edward "Ed" Zieg, born in 1941, husband of interior designer Nancy Zieg, died this past week of lung cancer. Ed was a tall drink of water, a good ole boy and we loved his wry sense of humor. Mike and I are happy we got to know Ed over dinners with Nancy.

About two years ago, while out walking with Nancy, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. He had it checked and doctors discovered lung cancer on a lobe of his lung. He had it removed and underwent chemo and hoped they had the cancer licked. A subsequent checkup by the doctor last summer found that the cancer had returned. This time the doctors didn't give him much time to live. We will miss him and miss the dinners we could have had together. Our hearts go out to Nancy and their four children and their extended family.

A celebration of his life will be held at 1:00, Tuesday Jan 16th, at Adams Chapel in River View Funeral Home on SW Taylors Ferry Rd.

Bev & Mike

Updated 12:45 on 1/14/07

Artichokes At Risk!

One of my favorite sights is to be in QFC or Fred Meyer and see Artichokes 10 for $10! I get my Mike to put one on a 5:30 PM in a pan of boiling water with some special herbs and olive oil. About 7:30, I am ready for a "prickly" feast. That's what Mike calls them, as in, "Do you want me to fix you a "prickly" for dinner?"


I read today that the cold arctic air that passed through Portland is now as far south as the Artichoke fields in Castroville, California and the farmers are working hard to save the crop from the cold.

...beefed-up field crews raced Thursday to behead the prickly buds before Mother Nature leaves them rotten to the core.

The stakes are high. At Ocean Mist Farms, a grower whose name is synonymous with this 'choke-crazy town of 7,000, they're bracing for more than just a frigid weekend.

``We expect to lose as much as $1.5 million if we freeze,'' said vice president Dale Huss, who's bracing for temperatures in the low-to-mid 20s today and possibly through Sunday.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Artichokes Castroville, CA Bev & Mike

Barware: Alluring Accessories

From Home Accents Today by Tracy Bulla:

Eye-popping accents stock the bar this season with the emphasis firmly on chic. Decorative trays, wine stoppers and ice buckets boast animal prints and lavishly shimmering metallics to amp up the glam and glitz.

One of the vendors featured is this accessory from Global Views:

Picante Red trim spices up the retro hexagonal frame of Global Views' walnut trays and coasters

Global Views is a featured vendor at Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery.

Bev & Mike

Global Views BarwareAccessories Bev & Mike

Voluptuous Vines

From Casual Living:

The graceful, meandering lines of the vine come front and center in home accents this season. Equal parts rustic and sophisticated, vines are showcased in ultra-modern prints or classical translations. The real thing also gathers steam in other interpretations, feeding into the eco chic, renewable resource movement. Whatever the case, vine-themed designs are heavy on style and substance.

An example of "voluptuous vines" from Palecek:

Palecek's dimensional Vine wall art is crafted of all-natural, renewable resources for an eco-friendly alternative that packs plenty of style.

Palecek is featured at Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery.

Bev & Mike

Palecek vine-themed designs Vines Bev & Mike

New Planters and Container Designs

From Garden Decor,

New planters and container designs seem to fit into two categories these days antique, distressed interpretations and contemporary styles. There’s room for both as homeowners interpret their gardens to reflect their own styles and taste.

Beaded rim detail and a scroll leaf band accents classic pottery from Pacific Rim. Made of glazed ceramic, the collection is available in eight pieces and five colors.

Pacific Rim is carried at Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery.

Bev & Mike

Amelia Update

Nice write up in The Oregonian's A&E about our favorite Portland group, Amelia.

With a new CD and a national push planned for 2007, everything seems to be falling into place for Amelia. "You know when a band is working when you can't tell who wrote the song," (guitarist Scott) Weddle says.

See them 10 p.m. Jan. 27, Mississippi Studios, 3939 N. Mississippi Ave., 503-288-3895

Online: To listen to Amelia's songs or watch a concert video clip, go to A&E Now at www.oregonlive.com/entertainment.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Bridget Otto Thursday

In Thursday's Homes & Gardens section Bridget Otto features the collaboration of Eric and Angelika Holzapfel
and designer Joelle Nesen of Maison Inc.

Red rose hips create a natural wreath in a traditional holiday color.

I was particularly struck by the rose-hip wreaths that "whispers tradition with their rich, red seedpods." Just this morning as I walked the dog, I noticed that our rose bush in the front yard needs cutting back, but it has such a wealth of rose-hips that it gives color to the winter bleakness.

Interior designers Joelle Nesen and Alexandra Reck started Maison Inc. in 2003 and is located on Northwest 21st Street in Portland, Oregon.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Judy Sturm Redecorates A Loft

When last we wrote about Judy Sturm, she had just completed a year in a guest house while creating a little piece of Italy in a 1950s-era clapboard house in the heart of Portland Heights.

Today, Carolyn Donohoe Marieb has written about Judy Sturm, owner of Judy Sturm Design Studio, in the latest Homes & Gardens section of The Oregonian. Sturm has just moved into a chic one-bedroom loft in the heart of the Pearl District she has decorated.

When she started planning changes, she took into account what would work well for everyday living and entertaining. Judy's approach was to establish distinct areas, defined by carpets, which flow from one to the other. The result: Her L-shaped main room successfully plays the role of kitchen, dining room, living room, office and TV den.

Judy didn't stop there; she made numerous visually appealing, party-friendly alterations. For instance, in the Old World kitchen she designed -- she likens it to a kitchen in an upscale Italian apartment -- Judy removed a large, square island. In its place, she positioned a pair of Italian chests, forming a long, slim island that occupies little real estate yet serves as both an extra kitchen work surface and a dining buffet.

How to make a loft inviting

Judy Sturm offers some tips for creating a loft that works well for everyday living and entertaining:

Establish distinct areas within the open space. Because most lofts have few rooms, Sturm advocates creating areas defined by carpets or a screening element, such as floor-to-ceiling curtains (much like those installed in Pearl restaurant Bluehour). In her loft, Sturm has strategically placed area rugs and furniture groupings within the open, L-shaped space. This way, she says, "During a gathering, people can be together, yet doing different things -- like a good beach house."

Opt for fewer, larger furnishings. Resist the temptation to decorate with small furnishings. Slightly oversize furniture, and less of it, can make a smaller place appear more spacious.

Consider architectural embellishments to soften the hard edges. Sturm's goal was to moderate the industrial look of her loft. She added details you'd expect to find in a traditional house, such as tall baseboards, a concrete-and-plaster faux fireplace and a built-in bookshelf capped with substantial crown molding. Well-chosen elements, such as midnight-blue silk drapes and a romantic chandelier of rock crystal and beaded iron, complete the eclectic interior.

Make sure you have extra seating handy. Sturm has accomplished this with her whimsical grouping of suspended dining chairs, but you can simply use folding chairs that tuck away in a closet. One tip: Choose narrow chairs so you can fit more around the table. Sturm says it's perfectly fine, and sometimes adds to the fun, if guests have to crowd in, bumping elbows.

Have fun. Whether decorating for the holidays or the other days in the year, feel free to inject some humor. "You've got to take chances or it's boring," Sturm says.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Judy Sturm Interior Designer Carolyn Donohoe Marieb
Portland, Oregon Bev & Mike

Outsourcing the Ornaments

A special section in The Oregonian called Ultimate has an article by Cathy Lamb that features interior designers Susie Buchanan and Richard McQuerry who can decorate your home for Christmas. They have some tips for decorating:

You can reach Richard McQuerry at Linde Ltd. - (503) 299-6655.

Susie Buchanan can be reached at Finishing Touches - (503) 203-1273

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery


Update 1/24/07 at the request of Cathy Lamb

Have You Heard Ray LaMontagne?

The Washington Post has discovered Ray LaMontagne. Mike and I found his first album, the one with the song "Trouble" on it and it gets played in our store. Then his second album came out, Till the Sun Turns Black and "Can I Stay" just tears out my heart. WaPo says

According to LaMontagne, such soulfulness was there "even on the first demos I made. It's just the way I sing. In order to get a note out, I have to dig deep, and I mean that on an emotional level. To physically sing, I have to get somewhere deep before I can do it. I can't dial it in is what I'm trying to say. It's just impossible, and I think that's what has translated live."

LaMontagne will be in concert Monday at the "9:30 Club" in Washington D.C. and will be streamed live on NPR starting about 9 p.m. EST and archived for on-demand listening at http://www.npr.org/music.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Ray LaMontagne 9:30 Club Bev & Mike

Bridget A Otto: Chef's Touch

It's been awhile since we celebrated "Bridget Otto Thursday". In today's Homes & Gardens section of The Oregonian, Bridget covers the remodel of the kitchen in Southwest Portland of Philippe Boulot, chef at The Heathman, and his wife Susan, a graduate of The Culinary Institute in New York. They chose designers Stephanie Ness and Erin Davis of Mosaik Design after seeing their work at a neighbor's.

The story reads as a classic example of how designers work with clients to incorporate needs and desires in a kitchen renovation. The chefs had some specific needs:

The stove: Philippe liked not only the design of the Wolf range, but also its precision and rustic appearance.

The exhaust: After years of cooking with a downdraft exhaust, both Philippe and Susan wanted a stronger, more efficient hood.

The island: Because they cook and entertain a lot, the Boulots wanted the large island for folks to gather around while food is being prepped.

Slab countertops: Both Philippe and Susan wanted a smooth surface for easy cleanup.

Storage: The drawer system throughout the cabinetry is designed for easy access, with pullout shelving and deep drawers for large stockpots and appliances.

Placement: Two pullout racks, one on either side of the range, hold spices and oils. Cooking pots and roasting pans are also stored within easy reach of the range. Dishes and silverware are stored near the dishwasher. Baking utensils and ingredients are also within reach of the island.

Lighting: Improved canister lighting replaced the older models; task lighting was added under the cabinets. All lighting was put on dimmers.

The color: It was Susan's idea to bring some blue into the kitchen to complement her collection of blue and white china.

Overall: Neither Philippe nor Susan wanted a stark, sterile kitchen. They both wanted a variety of textures and surfaces and a room that was both functional and comfortable.

Check out the special section in The Oregonian for pictures of the finished project.

Are you planning a major remodel or an update?
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery can recommend an interior designer to meet your needs.

Bev & Mike

Bridget A Otto
Philippe Boulot Susan Boulot
The Heathman Mosaik Design Bev & Mike

Spice Route

Maybe all the news about Iran or Persia has inspired designers. From Home Accents Today by Tracy Bulla ,

With world or global style now a part of the design mainstream, the multicultural mélange adds up to nothing less than exquisite exoticism. Step into the souk with Persian patterning and lattice motifs or enjoy India with ornate floral designs. Streamlined accents, geometric themes and earthy hues bring out the best of this spicy hot tour.

Several companies were singled out including two that are carried at Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery:

Overlapping star motifs come to life in this large-scale, statement-making mirror from Palecek, crafted of carved wood.

J.D. Chamberlain's lattice-patterned accent table mimics the ornate style of Middle Eastern gates.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

HDTV IS Coming!

The December/January issue of Metropolitan Home just arrived in the mail and includes an interesting article, HDTV Prepare for a Big Change, TV as we know it is about to change forever.

On February 17, 2009 the analog signal will end and the digital signal will take over. By March of 2007, every TV sold will come with a digital tuner that will allow you to receive digital broadcasts.

Metropolitan Home has a shopping guide and explains that HDTV comes in a variety of flat screens including LCD (up to 60 inches) and Plasma (wide viewing angle and 40 to 80 inches), rear projection, direct view and front projectors.

Then there is the audition.

Before you leave home, measure the viewing distance from your couch (sofa) to your current TV. At the store, stand the same distance from the screen. You should see a seamless picture without visible lines (or Pixels) in the image. If you want the TV to be viewable over a wide area-say from the kitchen and the family room-walk to the far sides of the screen to see if you have a good view off-angle.

Ask to see both HD and standard programming.

Consider bringing a DVD to see how it handles content that you know.

If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Picture Quality is subject to three versions:

SDTV - your least expensive option. These sets generally measure 32-inches or less and picture quality is on a par with DVD (480 scanning lines).

EDTV - better resolution than SDTV, but will not give you full benefit of HDTV

HDTV - best of the best. While more expensive, they can fully display all types of high definition (720 by 1080 lines of resolution).

Remember: 1080p

You may need new furniture to accomodate your new TV. Look for a cabinet or wall unit with a large enough opening for your new TV. You might make a cardboard template of your cabinet when shopping for a TV or vice versa. Allow 2 inches around the cut out for ventilation.

Look for furniture that has wire management solutions built in. Holes in the rear accomodate wires and provide ventilation.

Make sure the cabinet allows the TV to sit flush with the front of the shelf so it can be seen from all angles.

Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery features Hekman, Hammary and Nichols & Stone that have styles specifically geared to flat screen TVs. Hekman has consoles that conseal the TV until you are ready to view your program.

Bev & Mike

UPDATE: Kevin Hunt has further thoughts about HDTV in What You Should Know About HDTV, From A Guru

Tips for a Good Night's Rest

With the busy holiday season approaching, it’s easy to fall off the good sleep wagon. So to help consumers get reacquainted with a good night’s rest, the Better Sleep Council (BSC) recently released a number of tips and easy steps to improve how Americans sleep on its website: http://www.bettersleep.org.

1. Maintain a regular bed and wake time schedule, including weekends.

2. Establish a regular, relaxing bed time routine such as soaking in a hot bath or hot tub and then reading a book or listening to soothing music.

3. Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool.

4. Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows.

5. Use the bedroom only for sleep and sex. It is best to take work materials, computers and televisions out of the sleep environment.

6. Finish eating at least two or three hours before your regular bedtime.

7. Exercise regularly. It is best to complete your workout at least a few hours before bedtime.

8. Avoid nicotine (e.g. cigarettes, tobacco products). Used close to bedtime, it can lead to poor sleep.

9. Avoid caffeine (e.g. coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate) close to bedtime. It can keep you awake.

10. Avoid alcohol close to bedtime. It can lead to disrupted sleep later in the night.

Mike and I have some further suggestions:
Don't have an argument with your spouse before turning in.
Keep your work out of your head when you head to bed.
No TVs in the bedroom.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Help Wanted!

First, I was in denial about needing help to run the business. Then Allson came to work for Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery, over the summer, and I said how did I do it all without her. Now she's back in school and I am in need again. So here we are:

Wanted: Self-starter - to work in fun atmosphere - update catalogs, discontinue fabrics, work with interior designers, assist owner, unpack new product, be able to lift 50lbs.

Maybe, you are in school taking preparatory classes for a career as an Interior Designer and want to work 20+ hours. Or maybe, you have started your career as an Interior Designer and are looking for clients, an office and want to supplement your income as you are build your paractice.

I need you! Send your resume or come into the shop. I will start at $8.00 an hour. Think you deserve more to start? Convince me.

Mike says I should clone me. Are you me?

Bev Landfair
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery
(503) 245-4222
bev@landfairfurniture.com

Spineless!

Many thanks to the Happy Booker for noticing a trend in decorating that has to be stopped: white pages on bookshelves, as in books turned backwards in these Pottery Barn photos:



Even Mitchell Gold got into the act in one of their ads.

If you like the spines out design, but are unsure what books to place on those shelves, here's an answer Dummy Books.

Our faux book products have graced everything from television and movie studios to the finest homes, hotels, yachts and restaurants. ...supplied in approximately one foot sections, to any length required, the book spines are manufactured in England from resin material which is handpainted, gilded and polished to simulate in authentic detail the look of time worn handcrafted leather books.Our essence is to allow the eye to feel that it is seeing real leather bound books.

I love to see real book spines on book shelves with their differing heights and colors. Of course, I just love the smell of a new book and I'm always curious about what's under the dust jacket, always hoping there will be some great secret.

There's this wonderful book Mike and I read recently, Shadow of the Wind.

Young Daniel's father runs a used bookstore in Barcelona; his mother died when he was 4, and he misses her desperately. One afternoon in 1945 the older Sempere informs his not quite 11-year-old son that he is taking him to The Cemetery of Forgotten Books. "You mustn't tell anyone what you're about to see today." They wander through narrow winding streets, then finally stop before "a large door of carved wood, blackened by time and humidity. Before us loomed what to my eyes seemed the carcass of a palace, a place of echoes and shadows." Inside "a labyrinth of passageways and crammed bookshelves rose from base to pinnacle like a beehive woven with tunnels, steps, platforms, and bridges that presaged an immense library of seemingly impossible geometry." Daniel's father tells him that "according to tradition, the first time someone visits this place, he must choose a book, whichever he wants, and adopt it, making sure that it will never disappear, that it will always stay alive." Daniel chooses -- or perhaps is chosen by -- "The Shadow of the Wind," by Julian Carax.

Don't you just want to hug your favorite book to your chest and hope you find another as good...soon?

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Yahoo Search Marketing

Where do you put your online advertising dollars?

According to a recent comScore report focusing on Internet Yellow Pages searches, 68 million U.S. Internet users performed an Internet Yellow Page (IYP) search online in July.

This represents a 46 percent increase versus year ago. When analyzing the total share of IYP searches, which by their nature have local intent, comScore's data reveals that Yahoo! Sites and Verizon SuperPages garnered the largest share, with 23.9 percent and 20.1 percent, respectively. Google Sites ranked third in IYP searches, capturing 12.5 percent, followed by Yellowpages.com with 12.0 percent.

Landfair Furniture advertises on Google and Verizon's Superpages. When I saw that Yahoo has a 23.9% share and I don't advertise there, I immediately "Yahoo"ed Furniture Portland Oregon. I had to search many pages to find us. We now have a Yahoo account for a reasonable amount of money per month and I can find Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery.

After I signed up, Yahoo designed my ad based on our web site and then Tara Ramachandran, Inside Sales Representative for Yahoo called me and walked me through all the reports. They are there 24/7 to help me make Yahoo work for us.

Why not give Tara a call at (503)615-3784 for Yahoo Search Marketing?

Bev and Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery