Georgia Interior Design

Sofa Buying Tips

Once upon a time, my wife and I would shop for a sofa by searching furniture ads in the paper for a great looking couch at an attractive price.  Six months after the purchase we’d be complaining about how badly it had worn and why they don’t make good @$#%$ furniture anymore.  Six months after that it was in a garage sale and the process would begin again. 

Now that I know the industry, the good and the bad, have toured manufacturing plants and spoken to countless CEO’s of furniture companies, I can tell you what to look for and how to avoid some serious mistakes.  Your sofa may be one of the most important purchases you make for your home.  It’s where you spend time with family and friends, entertain clients or the boss, and it says something about your taste and style.  So buy well.  Some people spend more on a night on the town than a sofa they will own for an average of seven to ten years, longer if they buy traditional looking furniture.

Keep in mind that your options are endless.  Most good sofas are made to order, so you get to choose your style, fabric, pillows, seat cushions, back cushions, feet finish, or whether or not you want it skirted.  Or, maybe you want nails, fringe, contrast welt, or, heck, monogrammed throw pillows.  Have fun, and buy what you love.  Just remember, custom does not have to mean expensive.

Tip number one is so ridiculous that I have reservations in telling you in fear it will hurt my credibility in your eyes and make you think the rest of this post is not worth reading. But believe me when I tell you that this blunder has happened to a lot more people than you think.  Here it is.  Ready?  Measure the doors or openings through which the sofa you are buying is going to have to pass in order to get into the room you want.  If you ever visit a friend’s house and wonder why the sofa in the basement is nicer than the one in the living room, it miiiiight just be they bought it without measuring the doorway. 

Tip number two has a lot more substance so I can recover a little respect.  Make a scale drawing of your room.  Include windows, doors, openings to other rooms, and typical paths of foot traffic.  Add overall measurements and especially the measurements of spaces you are considering placing your sofa. If you have a newer home here in suburban Atlanta, that cute little 84” sofa you saw at the furniture store may be way too small for the room.  Note the height of the ceiling.  Ceilings open to the second level might make you consider a sofa with a higher back  We’ve had more than one client who bought a sectional off a random furniture store floor only to find out they needed it to be left facing rather than right.  Those go to the basement, too.  Thank God for basements.  I have one friend who was too stubborn to put his mistake in the basement, er, terrace level, so his leather sectional sits crookedly in his living room, sort of blocking an entrance and preventing access to some of the built in cabinets…but what a deal!  Buying a sofa that fits the scale of the room is important for the overall look and feel but if you are extremely tall or short, you may need to be more concerned about buying the sofa to fit your personal scale and have your designer help make it work in your home.   There are some tricks to making that work, but I’ve gotta keep moving.

Number three is a biggie around here in the ‘burbs where most every house is full of bouncing children.  One customer told me that she needed a new sofa after finding out that her kids were jumping off the second floor loft onto her couch down below when she wasn’t looking.  You do not need to wait until the kids go off to college before you have nice furniture…you need the right sofa with the right fabric or leather so you can enjoy it with your children!  Here’s where I get into quality and while some of you say you don’t care about construction, I say you should.  The ‘six month wonder’ sofas are plywood construction stapled or nailed together.  You can sometimes lift one corner of the sofa and the other three legs will still be firmly on the ground.  That should tell you something.  The store selling it doesn’t care about you and you are going to be full of wrathful righteous indignation after a short while when it fails to hold its shape.  Good sofa construction has a kiln dried hardwood frame and is corner blocked, glued and screwed.  That rhymes, so you should remember it.  The sofa will feel heavy.  Trust me, manufacturers don’t have the money to put anything extra into a cheap sofa, so with a hardwood frame, heavy=good.  A quality frame typically comes with a lifetime warranty.  

The frame of a sofa holds the support system for the cushions.  My experience is that a manufacturer that bothers to put good heavy wood into the frame is also going to give you a nice support system.  Top companies use eight way hand tied springs, which I won’t bother to describe right now, but will just say they give the best consistent support and comfort.  Below that are sinuous springs which are metal bands stretched across the frame to hold up the cushions, a system that can be acceptable if there are a sufficient number of bands and those bands are thick enough.  Below that is a webbing system.  Unless you are buying a $300 dorm room special, webbing=run away!

One note, contemporary sofas are not normally kept as long by the owner because they go out of style more quickly, therefore they can cost less and have less effort put into the frame construction and spring system, which in this case can be ok.  Some designs are so sleek that there is no room for eight way hand tied springs.

A couple other things to look for are just the quality and general straightness of the stitching.  Feel for nice padding on the arms and edges.  If you are going to center your sofa in a room, the back of the sofa should look nice and have some substance beneath the fabric.  Check it out, poke the back of a cheaper model and there won’t be anything there!  That won’t be good when junior gets backed into the sofa during an imaginary swordfight. 

Leather should be top or full grain if you plan to use the sofa with any regularity.  You could get away with splits on a show piece in a room that doesn’t have much traffic.  For more info click here.  Pet owner?  Consider a top grain ‘protected’ leather.  It won’t show claw marks, assuming cute little Muffin is not part velociraptor.

Upholstery fabric should be durable although vanity sofas in a seldom used keeping room might allow you to go with a little more style over substance.  Check to see if your fabric sample has a loose weave or has the potential to pill and if so…here kitty kitty!  Most quality upholstery fabric has a ‘double rub’ rating.  We call it double butt rubs.  The higher the number, the more scootching it can take.  20,000 double rubs is not uncommon.  We do often recommend fabric protection, but just know that it will void the manufacturers warranty on the fabric.  We don’t typically worry about that because even the top lines don’t warrant the fabric for anything other than manufacturers defect.  They understandably can’t be held responsible for extra wear from your cuddly St. Bernard or that time you hosted the Sumo wrestling team.

Number four is a little more perfunctory, but you will thank me in the long run.  Sofa’s have two functions, style and comfort.  Let’s talk about comfort.  Think about how you intend to use the sofa and how your family sits.  Now I am not saying that you have to hide behind the curtain and do a detailed analysis of sitting habits of your spouse and children, but it would help in choosing cushions and arm styles if you really took the time to see how your current sofa is being used.  Nap sofas should have lower and softer arms.  Reading sofa’s should have arms that are high enough to support your elbow when you have a book in your hand and be the right height in relation to the end table so you can comfortably place your cocktail on a coaster.  Formal entertaining sofas tend to be firmer because it just isn’t right watching the boss’s wife struggle to get out of a cushy seat.  I just got a funny picture in my mind…sorry.  TV sofas should be deep and soft.  The same sofa can sit in a variety of ways with the choice of different seat cushions.  The best cushions tend to be down wrapped cores (unless you are allergic to down!) and the cores can be high density foam or actual spring units.   Spring down cushions have a great feel, and yet because of the springs will regain their shape once you get up.  Down cushions will be the softest but will have that sloppy look and will require a little effort to punch them into shape, yet some people love them.

Okay, so that was four main tips.  I was thinking I should write five because that’s just what you do…the five best tips for buying a sofa.  But really, there was a ton of info in this post.  I know I made it seem harder than buying a car, but you will hopefully spend more time with your friends and family in your home than in your car, even in Atlanta.  Please don’t be intimidated, just be informed, and if you have any questions you can always call or shoot me an email at johnscreek@luxemail.net.

Sectional Style

“Dibs!”

I was talking with my design team about how our clients are using sectionals these days and as the conversation unfolded Veronique told me that every time her family gets together to watch a movie, someone shouts ‘dibs’ to claim the corner seat.

Sectionals are hotter than ever, but it wasn’t until I posted the news of the arrival of three new sectionals to our store on facebook that I became aware of the fact that many people didn’t know they were popular again. 

Anybody who has followed my blog knows that I like to notice how history tends to repeat itself, even in our world of furniture and interior design.  The resurgence of the sectional could be due to the cyclical nature of things, or it could be in response to the open great room floor plans in new homes these days, but just maybe it could be something more intimate such as the desire for family closeness, especially during challenging times.  There’s nothing better than the whole tribe sitting together, legs intertwined, watching a movie.

So yes, sectionals are back.  Oh boy are they back.  We are seeing them in great rooms, family rooms, and basements and they function in a variety of ways.  Watching TV is a biggie, and we’ve heard from more than one husband that if he gets a sofa chaise combination he can do without the recliner.  (Hear that, ladies?  There’s a way out of a recliner in the living room!)  Many people are using sectionals in place of theater seating in their media rooms.  Social gatherings are made easy with lots of comfortable seating which promotes great conversation much easier than sitting like birds on a fence on a formal sofa.  Others are finding they can maximize seating in a smaller room, a constant challenge, with the addition of a properly fitted sectional.

What most people don’t know is how customizable sectionals have become, and because they can be a bigger ticket item, it is very important to buy wisely.  The configurations are limitless, from the basic aforementioned sofa chaise to a full blown ‘party pit’.  The corner piece alone could be a simple corner, a curved corner, or a wedge and the decision will be influenced by the size of the room and whether the sectional is going to curve to fit the walls or float in the center of the room.  Most of my blogging does not directly promote our services, but I will say that when purchasing a sectional, I can’t stress enough how important it is to get some help from a professional.  Space planning is critical and in order to maximize the use of your room and your new sofa, you should have some help.  We’ve had to try to bail out numerous clients who came to us after buying a sectional off a random furniture store floor only to find out that the scale was off or it faced the wrong direction.  Oh the bitter aftertaste of falling in love with a price before getting to know the product.  Making a room work with a large piece of furniture that doesn’t fit right is a huge design challenge!

Price points and styles vary, so the three pieces we added to our showroom were selected to show the range from clean lined and easily affordable to the ultimate in large scale and trim options.

Movers & Shakers

The tremendous satisfaction you feel after the installation of a beautiful new roomful of furniture can be magnified by helping others through a donation of the unwanted items just replaced. We have connected many of our clients with Movers & Shakers, a local ministry that collects and delivers furniture to those in great need. In many cases these families do not have a sofa to sit on, a dining table at which to eat, or even beds for their children. The volunteers at Movers & Shakers pick up furniture twice a month using rental trucks and store it until matched with a family identified by one of their various partner charities. I had the pleasure of sitting down for lunch with Lee Williams of Movers & Shakers and was touched by the thoughtfulness of the mission. This is a small group of people who are giving their time to make a difference, and those of you wanting to help can do so in various ways. I am sure they would love to have people volunteer time or help raise operational funds (rental trucks aren’t cheap!). Given the shoestring nature of their ministry, please understand that they can only pick up on certain dates, and the needs of the families are somewhat specific, understandably. Seating, dining tables and chairs, sofas, and bedroom furniture are a top priority. They have been generously offered large entertainment cabinets and china buffets, but those items are not practical as they can’t fit in small homes or apartments and don’t address basic needs. Please visit their website at www.atlmoversnshakers.org.

Hot colors and styles at Market 2010

So, after all that gushing about Joe Ruggiero and B. Smith, I suppose you might be wondering what else is new and different in the world of furnishing and design. 

First, let’s talk about color.  Pantone proclaimed Turquoise as the color of the year, and while I certainly saw splashes of it here and there at market, its primary use was as an accent.  If you are a fan of design trends, you should know that there are people employed as experts whose sole mission in life is to predict the next hot color.  They take it pretty seriously, too, and they should.  Major dollars are at stake in producing and promoting products in the hopes that they will sell, and color has a significant impact on the buying habits of consumers.  Of course you can’t just announce a new color; you must shout it from the mountaintops in terms that are seductive and compelling.  Here’s a snippet from Pantone:

”In many cultures, Turquoise is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky…Turquoise represents an escape, taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting – even if it is only a fantasy.”

Ever hear color described like that?  Furthermore,

”Whether envisioned as a tranquil ocean surrounding a tropical island or a protective stone warding off evil spirits, Turquoise is a color that most people respond to positively. It is universally flattering, has appeal for men and women, and translates easily to fashion and interiors…Turquoise adds a splash of excitement to neutrals and browns, complements reds and pinks, creates a classic maritime look with deep blues, livens up all other greens, and is especially trend-setting with yellow-greens.”

So if the evil spirits are getting you down, toss a couple of turquoise throw pillows on your sofa. 

What I did see in most showrooms was a lot of green.  From the contemporary kiwi and pear tones (lots of yellow) to herb or split pea…I must be hungry…green is everywhere which makes sense considering the trend towards earth friendly naturals.  Pantone calls the hot green Woodbine this year, but I call it a cross between army man and day old guacamole.  It’s an updated version of your parent’s avocado, actually, and is quite popular.  Plus, it appears to have some legs so don’t let my snarky personal opinion sway you away from choosing it for your home.  My designers love it, my wife loves it…it’s just not my cup of tea. 

Navy blue made a smart and crisp appearance from the bedroom vignette in Joe Ruggiero’s collection to a deep blue leather sofa by Bradington Young. 

Shades of purple have also been appearing in homes this spring as well as at market.  Iris, orchid, eggplant, chocolate truffle, etc.  We’ve had fun with some closet purple lovers over the years as they are perhaps the most loyal of any color fan, if you can be loyal to a color.  Now they can proudly claim that they were just ahead of their time.

Also as an accent, orange was sprinkled liberally in many if not most of the showrooms.  Burnt orange to bright tangerine.  I saw a chrome chair with burnt orange leather that looked pretty sharp, and would make a bold statement in a contemporary home or office.

Gold seems to be coming back a bit, too, although with a tinge of copper.  Keep an eye on that.

In case you missed my tweet, Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore is a popular wall color.  It causes art and accessories to really pop.  Call my friends at Gregory’s Paint and tell them I sent you.  I saw the color Stampede in a showroom last year.  Unfortunately for that vendor, I was more interested in the color of their walls than the product it was used to enhance, but such is life.  We painted a couple of accent walls in the showroom this fall, and chose Revere Pewter to compliment Stampede.  So if you want to see what they look like, stop by.  Traditional Home is featuring Revere Pewter this month.  I do so love to be ahead of things…

Above all else, the big news at market was the French Laundry look.  French country crossed with American traditional.  Lots of whitewashed vintage wood with a crackled finish or sanded to expose driftwood colored edges and corners.  Tea stained fabrics.  Eggshell linens and script prints.  For accent chairs or throw pillows, fabrics are printed to resemble grain bags, seriously, with logos stenciled on center.  My French being a bit rusty, ahem, I asked Veronique to translate a few words just to make sure they weren’t insulting. 

Along the same lines, Hooker came out with a vintage collection called Sanctuary last market and it has been a big hit.  Lexington, in their seriously over the top manner of display, built a HOUSE in their showroom, complete with sod and flowers, and toured us through their version of this hit style which is called Twilight Bay.  It was spectacular and has been getting rave reviews as one of the best applications of the French laundry look.  Imagine an antiqued whitewashed heavy table base with a tabletop clad in a patinaed stainless steel top with large matching nails around the edges.  Outstanding.  Lexington forbids photography and they were vigilant in this demand as they do not want this super hot collection to be knocked off before their product hits showrooms this fall.  (Now, having said that, I have a couple of bootlegged photos that I got from, um, somewhere, and will show them to my customers if asked.  Please don’t request to have me email them to you.)

The Shabby Chic collection that was unveiled this week is just another example of how explosive this style is right now.  The difference being that French Laundry seems to be more tailored and traditional, while Shabby Chic is more antique, casual, and feminine with the reintroduction of florals, especially roses.  A funny story, my friend Mary was so excited to show her design staff her newly autographed Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic book, she dropped it and broke the foot of her store manager.  I guess that’s not that funny now that I am reading it.  Get well soon!

Clearly simplicity is the presiding theme in design and décor.  Contemporary casual to American organic, clean lines currently dominate the landscape of the home furnishing industry.  There will always be a market for the timeless traditional and luxurious look, with rich tones, heavy carved wood, voluminous fabrics, and oriental rugs, but right now the spotlight is on it’s sleek and sporty little brother.

High Point Market Notes-Spring 2010

The trip to market this year started with a crime.   Walking out of my house to jump in the car for the five hour drive to High Point I spied my son’s laptop…and took it.  I was thinking that I might have a better chance of making my notes on the computer while thoughts were fresh in my mind rather than trying to read chicken scratch on the back of cocktail napkins four days after the fact.  I left him a ransom note.

The weather couldn’t be more perfect as I plowed through the pollen towards North Carolina.  (Did you hear that the pollen count is somewhere around 6000?  A high number is 120) I always look forward to market and my mind was swimming with questions.  Is it going to be busy this year?  Will the eco rage still be the focus?  What new color would start bubbling up throughout all the showrooms, and how do they do that?  Most importantly, with the economy showing signs of life, will the manufacturers loosen up with the food and drinks?  Offering Chex mix and directions to the drinking fountain was a real mood crusher last year.

(The answers to the previous questions were; yes, sort of, navy blue, don’t know, and YESSSS!!!)

I checked into the Wyndham Garden, the word ‘garden’ being a bit of a stretch unless your definition of a garden is looking up at a freeway.  For the price I should have no complaints, especially considering the staff was unusually chipper and helpful, but for a newly remodeled hotel, especially in the center of the furniture and design universe, you would have thought they’d have remembered to put a toilet in the room.  Well, there was one, and it was remarkably short, but I am sure it was put in after they realized they forgot to do so because the sink counter actually hung over the porcelain.   My key card took so many attempts to work I began counting.  Eighteen swipes was the winner.  I asked for help twice at the desk.  Darrell, sharp guy, looked up at me and said “Room 119?”  My room was notorious.  He showed me a special trick, involving bending the card up and pushing down as I removed it from the lock while standing on one foot, which worked like a charm.

By the way, Wolfgang Puck’s Signature Estate Grown Coffee tastes just like Folgers, IMHO.

So, what does this have to do with furniture and the upcoming trends in design?  Nothing, but I assume you are reading this because you want to know what its like to go to market.  It’s one a.m., no more questions.

The next morning I met up with a couple of friends from Austin, Jared and Mary, and we drove to our first stop in style in their rented brand new Dodge Charger.  Jared has a nasty habit of sitting in the chair I am trying to photograph and flashing the “hook ‘em Horn’s” hand signal that all depraved University of Texas fans love to make, but I wouldn’t tour a showroom with anybody else.  His hind end is a highly calibrated furniture tester, with the ability to detect the slightest flaw deep within the construction.  I swear he has sonar pinging from his glutes.  Watching him ‘test drive’ a chair is like watching a sommelier thoughtfully evaluate a glass of wine.  Someday I will video his process and you will understand how funny it is to watch. 

Our first stop was at the Miles Talbott and Michael Thomas showroom, lines I was considering for my store provided they offer the look, value, and service I require, but my secret intent was to see the Joe Ruggiero collection because Joe is following ME on facebook!  Can you believe that?  For those of you not in the know, Joe Ruggiero is of “Homes Across America” fame on HGTV.  My designers nearly passed out when they saw him on our facebook page.  (http://www.joeruggiero.com/joesbio.html)

We were greeted warmly by Rhonda at the front desk and once we showed our credentials and flashed the secret handshake, we were welcomed in.  The FIRST people to greet us were the owners.  Tom Jordan is the President of Michael Thomas, and his son George is the President of Miles Talbott.  The two companies operate separately (you can use fabrics from one to the other) and compliment each other perfectly.  Both gentlemen oozed classic Southern charm and impressed me immediately as they demonstrated an understanding of the challenges of today’s retailer and a focus on personal relationships.  As George said to me, “there’s a lot of great furniture manufacturers out there, and the big difference is the service provided by the people in the office and the reps.” I couldn’t agree more.  All the styling in the world won’t make up for poor service and there have been many times I have been at war with a manufacturer on behalf of a client without their knowledge.  That’s frustrating and unnecessary in today’s economy.  Take care of me as a customer or I walk.

Tom and George effused a ‘can do’ spirit in a lighthearted manner and if one got called away for a moment the other stepped in, effectively engaging us in a friendly tug of war between the two lines.  It was really fun.  Tom told me his team could do anything I wanted to a piece of upholstery.  “I’d upholster the propeller of a moving plane if you asked…provided you paid me.”  I believe him, too. 

Miles Talbott has a traditional look yet with the cleaner lines many people are looking for today.  Options are plenty and the construction is very good, facilitated at the plant just blocks away.   They will provide my clients a great product at an attractive price point. 

Michael Thomas is the higher end product line and the showroom boasted their varied finishes, creativity, and customization capabilities.   After walking enough vendor spaces it becomes a rare thing to be impressed and Michael Thomas stopped me in my tracks with stunning vignettes on a couple of occasions. 

One effective display technique was that they took the same sofa or chair and showed it twice somewhere in the showroom with completely different fabric combinations.  So different that it was sometimes hard to recognize that I was looking at the same basic frame.  That just goes to show you the impact that can be made with a skillfully selected pattern and color palette.

The two tones of leather on this chair are actually from the same leather.  The darker tone is accomplished by using the underside of the hide.  Clever!

Check this out, a swivel settee!  And yes, orange is still a color of note…tangerines and burnt oranges were in a lot of showrooms.

Look at the level of detail on this skirt. 

Fully impressed with what we had already seen, we reverently entered the Joe Ruggiero collection, only to find that Joe himself was there, and his wife Barbara too!   Elegant was the word that came to mind to describe the two of them and yet with all their fame they are just the nicest people.  Hailing from California, Joe’s style is simple, clean lined, and tends towards the monochromatic.  I loved the custom 8’ screens, and the winning Tribeca sectional, but the most amazing thing was that ALL of his fabrics are Sunbrella.  Yes, you heard me, the outdoor fabric.  Guess what? Sunbrella isn’t just outdoor fabric anymore.  This is going to revolutionize our industry, by the way. Sunbrella has been known to be the best in outdoor fabric because it won’t fade and can be easily cleaned.  It is as close to indestructible as you can get and yet it feels just like upholstery fabric!  I had no idea I was sitting on outdoor fabric indoors.  Even Jared’s backside sensors failed to detect the difference.  What about the fabric on the screens, curtain panels, bedding, and lampshades?  Yup, Sunbrella.  Do you know what this means?  You don’t have to wait for the kids to go to college or join the army before you get nice furniture.  THEY CAN’T RUIN SUNBRELLA.  Spills are a non issue as you can clean it, even with diluted bleach.   How awesome is that?  Way to go Joe.

Just in case you were thinking about investing in Sunbrella, it’s a private company.  I asked.

So, if that wasn’t cool enough, we walked across the hallway to the B. Smith collection and guess who was there?  B. Smith!  What a sharp person she is.  Very engaging, and very focused on business.  She showed me her collection and used the word ‘Afrasian’ to describe the look.  The fabric selections are rich and warm and the furniture design will have a hint of Asian elegance here or an homage to an African mask there.  Very cool.  We talked about her restaurants, her cookbooks, her furniture…prompting me to ask what she does in her spare time.  By the way, did you know she came from Western PA and was once crowned Miss Three Rivers?  We had such a good time.  Then I met her husband and we started laughing together, mostly about the three guys in the room being bald.  He even gave me a good look over and pronounced my dome worthy of a clean shave.

After a nice lunch on the patio (notice the Sunbrella fabric sandwiched between layers of glass on the tabletop?) with George and Chrissy, the VP of Sales, we went upstairs to their new Shabby Chic collection.  Weren’t Joe and B. enough?  This isn’t your copycat Shabby Chic, mind you, and notice that I am capitalizing it?  That’s because the folks at Miles Talbott are presenting a new collection from Rachel Ashwell who basically invented Shabby Chic.  And let me tell you, Shabby Chic is BAAAACK!  Monday night they had a party with Rachel and all the relevant media were there.   The sofa chaise was so ridiculously comfortable we were calling it the stupid chair because our IQ dropped thirty points just sitting in it.  I am telling you, it was so comfortable we became unable to complete a sentence, or plan what to do next.  Completely catatonic.  Always looking for fun, the folks at Miles Talbott had a facebook competition to name the cushion.  ‘Asstastic’ and ‘Butterific’ were frontrunners, but more tasteful heads prevailed and they agreed on The Ultimate or something like that.  

The Shabby Chic collection comes with a choice of over 40 fabrics.  A few points of interest that indicate authenticity of the style are the slipcovers always touch the floor, the cushion will always leave a print of your tushie when you stand up, and the white or pastel linen/cotton fabric will always be wrinkled.   Don’t mistake that for poor craftsmanship, however, because you might suggest it would be easy to create that look, it is another thing to maintain it.  The fibers in the back cushion channels are made by Nike Dri-FIT, which will not compact like other fibers.  It will stay nice and cushy and hold its shape.  Very Shabby Chic.

After four or five hours I felt like we might have worn out our welcome, but really didn’t want to leave, and only did so when I was told that Marge the margarita machine was going to be in full churn at five.  These guys have it going on.   I love it when a company allows and promotes a fun culture.  Think of Southwest Airlines.  That is a top down formula for success and it was evidenced by the energy throughout the place.  The only slacker in the bunch was Jeff, and that’s an inside joke.

Over margaritas at five (yes, we came back) I asked where we might find some good North Carolina barbecue.   You would have thought I asked an inflammatory question about religion or politics.  The size of the group swelled as the intensity of the debate flared.  Voices were raised, aggressive postures were taken, and that wasn’t just Chrissy.  Attempting to leave before a riot broke out, we said our goodbyes and turned right on business 85 to head to an old barn that is Lexington BBQ.   What I didn’t expect was that old barn was surrounded by a sea of cars.  The line of hungry patrons snaked out the front door.  I started chatting with the guy standing behind me to determine if the place was worth the wait, only to find that he eats there twice a day.  Normally a BBQ order is not complicated, but when I asked him what he recommended, the level of detail in his standard order prompted me to say to Norma, our server, “I’ll have what Max is having.”  Excellent recommendation.

Yes, we did go visit some other showrooms, but I will save that for another blog post.  Next up will be spring market trends and something for Bubba.  I’ll post more photos on my Facebook page by the end of the week.  So long from High Point.

Quick Centerpiece Idea for an Italian Dinner

One of our good clients called the other day in a bit of despair because she had ten guests arriving the next day for a dinner party and just didn’t have the time to make the table look right.  The call came in like “designer 911, how may I help you?  Uh huh, yes, uh huh…tell me what you have….ok, I’ll be right over.” 

The theme for dinner was Italian, with the host preparing his grandfathers special “gravy” (tomato sauce) for the guests.  They wanted a rustic Tuscan feel and hoped their friends would feel comfortable and at home.
 
What they had to work with was two sets of three hurricanes and candles for the two tables, and linen tablecloths.  The dinner was going to be served on family heirloom dishes, framed with antique flatwear. 

Janice took stock of the situation and was then off to the grocery store with a quick stop at a local craft emporium, and was back in an hour.  What she came up with was fun and fresh!  Artichokes, grapes, pears, and arranged breadsticks were gathered around the hurricanes, which were partly filled with pasta shells to hold the candles.  A yard of Italian tapestry fabric wove its way through the display.  Lastly, rosemary plants were added for color and fragrance.  Janice wrapped their little plastic root containers with scrunched brown bags from the grocery store. 

The only thing missing was a view of the olive groves. 

Buon Appetito!

PS-Our client’s husband was very impressed and told Janice that we needed to make sure that people knew we can do things like that.  Janice relied, “we don’t, but I did that for you.”

Our Favorite New Client

Simon has excellent taste, in socks as well as sofa’s.

Notes from High Point Market-Fall 2009

One of my favorite sayings is that history doesn’t necessarily repeat itself but it certainly does rhyme.  I used that line a couple of years ago in an editorial, well really an editorialita, I wrote for a magazine a couple of years ago lamenting the return of the seventies in home fashion.  Even though I was only in my teens during the Carter administration, I was painfully aware of the dreadful nature of the avocado appliances, hard rock hair styles, and nasty shag carpeting.  I couldn’t wait for that era to end knowing it would never return.  Fast forward a few decades and there I was in the home furnishing/interior design industry when, like a bad shrimp, the seventies style returned.  Fortunately, we have grown smarter as a society and our flirtation with that genre quickly passed as our preferences continued to march back in time.  Retro has always been fringe cool, like James Dean and the young Elvis, and was clearly the attention grabber along with the clean lines of the transitional look this month at the fall market.  But wait!  Retro may not be retro enough as I saw pieces like this channel back sofa that reflect the glamour days of the 30’s and 40’s!  Going back in time at this rate, we will be showing the Little House on the Prairie collection next spring and medieval by fall.

By the way, some of the shag rugs out there right now are really cool, and there are countless choices in color and texture.  Adapt and improvise, they say.

The manufacturers put the same amount of effort in both the spring and fall markets, displaying new product to impress their accounts.  The difference is that the warm weather gracing a North Carolina May makes that market feel like an invitation only outdoor party while October is the time the buyers get serious about placing orders in anticipation for the following spring decorating frenzy.

I arrived in High Point with the temperature reading 57 degrees with light rain and a stiff breeze.  It was chilly.  I had to chuckle as I strolled past an outdoor furniture showroom that was set up for a warm weather soiree on the patio.  The one man band was doing his best Jimmy Buffet as a few hearty patrons sat bundled up in their comfy outdoor chairs, trying to have fun.

The decline in the housing market over the past couple of years has certainly been felt in the furnishing and décor business and it has been interesting to watch the evolution of an industry as manufacturers try to make adjustments to maintain market share.  Because of the downward price pressure from Chinese imports, the US companies either had to become more custom or more efficient in an attempt to buck the trend or keep pace, respectively.  Last market the green movement was in full force as every showroom, it seemed, touted the real or perceived earth friendliness of its product in hopes of opening wallets. 

This past week I noticed a couple of things in particular as I spoke to reps and executives.  One, there was a little teensy skip in the step of the merchants.  A ray of hope.  The bartender at the Embassy Suites told me, and you can always count on getting the real scoop from the bartender, this was the first time in a long time they had sold out their rooms for market.  Orders across the board were up slightly over last fall, but as one rep told me “that might be more indicative of how bad last fall was”.  Party killer.  What I did see was that rather than a collective movement towards a similar style and color direction, this year many manufacturers started doing their own thing again.  Some who presented color like a Barnum and Bailey circus in spring went all neutral for fall.  Others who were trying to cut corners to keep up with negatively trending prices decided to get back to doing what they did best and returned to crafting top quality products.  However, as I mentioned before, the transitional look with its clean lines was consistently a winner wherever it was presented, and classic retro was a show stopper. 

Check out these chairs.  Don’t they look like they came from the set of The Jetsons?  Fun, huh?  There was a whole room full of these chairs and a lot of them spin around! 

How about these office chairs?  These are from a classically traditional manufacturer that decided to try something for shock value. 

Swivel chairs were everywhere.    Wives don’t like recliners, but they must be ok with swivels.  This one was my favorite.

When people ask me what color trends I saw, the answer was it really depended on the showroom I was visiting.  I would say that in the mainstream upholstery lines, the word “spice” comes to mind.  Paprika’s and cinnamons accented the neutral and natural settings, but before you go change all your pillows, I saw a lot of apple green fabric and leather, too.  Classic bright yellows, tomato soup reds, and rich sky blues were prevalent.  The one color consistently shown, but due to it’s very nature didnt catch the eye right away, was gray.  Gray fabric or leather in the right application is sophisticated and elegant.  A common accent color to gray was yellow. 

Vignettes were not necessarily organized by product lines, but rather by color.  What this said to me was, “we are not going to try to predict a trend, putting all our eggs in one basket this year, nor steer you towards one.  So, what’s your favorite color?  Great!  Mine, too!”

DOTI is becoming Luxe Home Interiors!

On October 8th a new sign will be going up on the front of our store.  Luxe Home Interiors!   The ownership and great service will still be the same, and we will be showing a much greater range of product and price points than ever before.  If you live in our area, watch for our TV commercials!

So, why are we re-branding?  Great question.

The non-nutshell answer requires a little time to explain.  Over the past four years we have done a lot of exciting things in our client’s homes, but I noticed four recurring themes that we’ve had to overcome in order to do business with someone walking through the front door for the first time.  People cannot easily figure out what we do, they do not believe we have as much choice as we actually have, the assumption is that we are expensive, and many people want to sit on something before they buy it. 

The last one is a biggie.  Of course, a designer knows that when dealing with quality product, there’s almost never an issue with comfort.  Besides, a good designer will know your cush preference and body type and make selections accordingly, and it will be perfect.  It’s like me walking into the Nordstrom’s men’s department and the guy says “46 long?”  Experts are experts for a reason.  They know what they are doing.  That being said, it required too much trust from a walk-in customer which we had not yet earned, and too much explaining on our part.  The new showroom will have many more sofas and chairs that will have been selected specifically to show the difference between good, better, and best, as well as all the various cushion, arm, and leg options.  Now, just like Goldilocks, people can use their own judgment to find a sofa that’s just right.  It would take a blimp hangar to show every option we have access to, but our goal is to have enough choice on the floor for our clients to feel good about their decisions.  It will be very obvious that we have product in any style and fitting most budgets.

I have heard a bazillion compliments on our beautiful store, but when it came right down to it, people didn’t understand all we could do.  I saw people look up at the sign and then have a bewildered look on their face.  I am sure we had plenty of potential business roll down the street and into the mall.  I just couldn’t figure out why someone would want to chase around a high school kid to see the nine choices of fabric on a sofa of questionable quality when they could pay similar money and get much more selection, better quality, and expert service with us.  But, honestly, we looked like an overpriced boutique that happened to have a few pieces of furniture tucked here and there, and the name of our store was confusing. 

Some people knew we did interior design but didn’t know we’d be just as happy to sell a rug or a chair.  Others were afraid or intimidated by the thought of using a designer.  Some people love our “look” but don’t want to work with a designer.  Our new showroom will be bigger, brighter, and much less cluttered.  The store will operate in a more user friendly fashion where someone can come in and pick a fabric and get a price quickly and be done with it, or they can take advantage of our expert design service at no additional charge.

We have introduced a lower priced line of upholstery that is made in the USA and is of good quality.  The customization options are not as broad, but we are seeing a really positive reaction from our clients who want a solid sofa or chair without spending a ton.  The same company offers dining and bedroom furniture, too, at very attractive prices.

So, thanks for listening and now you know we have been listening too.  Come visit and take advantage of our grand opening sale!

Window Treatment Trends Fall 2009

My blog has been kind of quiet the past few weeks, but we’ve been busy!  We are officially in window treatment season and our 20% off promotion has been attracting a lot of attention.

Over the past four years we have been trying to educate the neighborhood that to have new custom window treatments in time for the holidays requires some advance planning.  Most workrooms see a significant increase in business during the fall and eventually overload, forcing an early cutoff date for new projects.  Telling a prospective client that they are past the holiday deadline is not a pleasant thing.  As a matter of fact, it prompts a startlingly visceral reaction in some people.  I try to warn the husbands, “remember how upset she got when you forgot about Valentines Day or your anniversary?  Well, hell hath no fury like a woman who doesn’t get her window treatments in time for holiday guests.”

Fortunately there’s still time.  Fully custom treatments typically have a Thanksgiving cutoff date in mid October, but over the years we have found a few loopholes that can accommodate the procrastinators.  Some panels and toppers can be turned around in 2-3 weeks and we even have one source that has promised a 48 hour turnaround on drapery panels, including choice of pleat, length, and lining, as long as we use one of their top five selling fabrics.  Wow!

So, what’s hot right now you ask?  If you have been reading my blog this past year you will have noticed a trend towards simplicity.  Whether it’s the economy, not wanting to be ostentatious, the green movement, or just that contemporary casual is cool, we have clearly noticed our clients less frequently asking for voluminous bejeweled kitty tempting treatments that puddle all over the floor.

Since simple is chic, the challenge is to keep the look sophisticated or elegant rather than, um, cheap.   Unlined panels are like an unlined suit jacket in that they will not hold their shape, therefore looking and feeling flimsy.  Make sure drapery width is proportional to the space.  Single width panels can look like giant pencils if used in the wrong setting, and may not achieve the goal of softening the room. 

Fabrics and colors are trending towards the naturals.  Linens, cottons, and solids are becoming more common.  Having said that, most of our clients call themselves ‘transitional’ and the traditional side of transitional calls for a little pattern in the fabric but it will be more muted and subtle.   

Drapery hardware is to a set of panels as earrings are to a beautiful outfit, my designers would say.  We are installing a lot more metal finishes (wrought iron, brushed bronze, dark pewter) these days, which in many cases nicely coordinate with nearby light fixtures.  Metal finials allow for a little more flair or whimsy than wood, and there are some cool things being done with cast resin and glass.

Wooden drapery hardware is still popular, however, and the good news is that there have been some downward pricing trends.  Finally!  The good stuff has always been so expensive!  Given the height of the average suburban Atlanta great room ceiling, consider using 3” wooden rods for your tall panels.  The standard pole size has been 2” which can get lost way up there.  Manufacturers have been slow to recognize this, and only in the last year or so has the more substantial sized wooden hardware been readily available.

Years ago I invested in some software which allows us to take a photo of your window and use the computer to design your treatment.  This accomplishes a few things that you will appreciate.  First, it’s great to have a strong visual to help decision making.  Importantly, the computer program will not allow us to defy physics in our design, which can happen with a hand rendering.  Darn gravity.  Lastly, men seem to respect and value computer drawings and are less inclined to try to veto the project.

Speaking of men, please resist the temptation to have your husband install a nice window treatment just to save a few bucks.  A professional knows all the tricks, especially when working around extensive moulding, and will properly dress the treatment.  Besides, whatever you save will most likely be spent on therapy, hospital bills, or with your attorney by the time he’s done.  Just sayin’.