We were working on a living room for a client recently and as I have mentioned before, many designers start the process with the selection of an area rug. Our clients showed some concern because in their own shopping they discovered that most of the nice rugs they saw started around $3,000. Veronique found a nylon rug with the look they wanted for $800 which made them feel a lot better about the overall budget. This allowed the husband to have an Irish antique reproduction coffee table we showed him, but he insisted that it be delivered with a bottle of Bushmills in the drawer. Good man.
So, what’s the difference between a wool rug and a synthetic rug and why do the prices vary so much?
A nylon rug is obviously made with man made materials and put together by a computer and a machine. Zip zip, done. The advantages of nylon rugs are they are cheaper, shouldn’t shed, are good for people with certain allergies, are recyclable, provide a greater range of colors, and allow a lot of creativity in pattern and texture which is why most contemporary rugs are made this way. They can be considered disposable, as they are less expensive and don’t last as long, so your rugs can easily be changed with your taste. You can get a lot of look for the money with a synthetic rug.
If green design is your mission, the fact that synthetic rugs are recyclable is cool, but the process of making them is not. Chemicals, and toxins, and petroleum, oh my!
Traditional wool rugs can be broken down in three categories: power-loomed, hand tufted, and hand knotted. Power-loomed rugs are made by machine, just like the nylon rugs. Hand tufted rugs have the little pieces of wool yarn shot with a hand held device through a fabric template, kind of like paint by numbers…with a gun, and then have a canvas backing glued on. 
Hand knotted rugs are just like you would imagine; some guy with gnarled fingers, in a village on the other side of the world, knotting each piece of yarn one at a time. Some of those rugs take up to six months to complete and each will have its own unique characteristics. You can tell a hand knotted rug by flipping it over where you should see the individual knots. Also, the fringe will be an extension of the rug and not sewn on as an addition. These rugs hold their value, last forever because of the springiness of the natural fibers (your grandkids will be thrilled), provide a certain prestige, can be professionally repaired, and tend to feel luxurious underfoot.
A ‘very fine’ wool rug will have over 167 knots per square inch. Think about that for a second!
Why are some wool rugs much more expensive than others? Lots of reasons, but certainly the complexity of the pattern, the number of colors, and the quality of the wool will have a lot to do with price. Some dye processes are crazy. Weeks in a series of vats out in the sun, etc. New Zealand wool is generally accepted to be preferred. The wool is the purest white, which accepts dye and represents colors best, and is shaved from the chests of live sheep which is where the soft wool comes from. Wool from live sheep also has more oils which provide a natural stain resistance to your rug. The super cheap wool rugs you see sold from the back of a pickup on the street corner, well, if you consider the good rugs are made from the chest wool of live sheep, then just think the opposite.
Posted 1 year ago at 6:13 pm. Add a comment
Thursday afternoon Judy and I jumped in the car and made the five hour trek up interstate 85 to the craziness that is the High Point Market.
For those of you not familiar with High Point, it is a town in the Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina, near Greensboro and Winston Salem. Just twice a year millions of square feet of showroom space come alive with everything you could possibly imagine in home furnishings presented in creative and tempting ways for the registered buyers. Each showroom has its own personality. Some feel like traditional furniture stores complete with crusty salesmen in their ill fitting dandruff dusted navy blue suits, while others dazzle with creative displays, lights, and thumping music. 
There are showrooms that have the exclusivity of a private club worthy of the Donald Trump set which makes you feel like something of a celebrity just to be allowed in the door. Veterans of the market know which showroom pours the stiffest drinks, which ones are serving lunch or dinner, and where the parties are being held.
The drive from Atlanta is pleasant, taking you across three states in the old South. The landscape doesn’t change much other than the gradual evolution of fast food signs. Waffle House gives a little room to Mr. Waffle and Biscuitville. Chick fil A is replaced with Mrs. Winners. There’s the giant peach on the side of the road in South Carolina and a hundred billboards for Abbot Hill Farms fresh produce and fireworks, cross promotion at its finest. There’s something for everybody there at Abbot Hill Farms. Jams, jellies, strawberries, peaches…and explosives.
For some reason Judy and I had a craving for Mexican food and when traffic slowed us down on the far side of Charlotte we took advantage of a convenient exit that was bursting with major food chains. It was the exit for Lowes Motor Speedway which illustrates the hilarity of the situation. We are on our way to see some of the finest furniture made in the world and are completely surrounded by NASCAR and tobacco. Judy spotted a little place tucked behind a gas station. It had the obligatory happy hour banner and if that weren’t tempting enough, they had a sign with a painting worthy of the cover of a Harlequin romance novel; a busty Latin woman enthusiastically offering cerveza. What more could you want? I expected a cloud of smoke to pour out when I opened the door but we were relieved to smell grease and a hint of ammonia. Perfect. I love it when my expectations are low and subsequently blown away. These folks could cook. Judy had stuffed poblanos en mole, and I had the tacos carnitas, complete with a grilled jalapeno.
Where were we? Oh yes, furniture.
I had a few things on my agenda, one of which was to check the mood of the manufacturers and see if the downturn in the economy had any impact on their offerings. I was expecting to see more natural and muted colors as a continuation of last year and further progression of the clean lines and contemporary casual styling that dominated the previous market. I also anticipated a continuation on the buildup of eco friendly products.
Given the crash of the housing market and its effects on the home furnishing industry, the overall market was in a bit of a somber mood, evidenced by the long stares of some of the reps, the relative dearth of promotional giveaways, and the unusual difficulty in getting a cocktail. Drinks are normally thrust into your hand upon entering a showroom, whether you want one or not. This year you had to feign being a player and then mention your thirst after a long day of buying. Cough cough. How much is that if I order a full container? Thirsty.
I was right about the projected environmentalism. Upholstery fabrics were made with thick weaves that screamed bohemian earth lover, whether they were eco friendly or not. The craziest thing I saw was a sofa covered in a fabric made entirely from recycled tee shirts. My friend Paul wants one. Go figure.
The area rug manufacturers are having a field day with the green movement because they get to make trendy fun rugs out of recycled plastics and offer them at a lower price. This is a double win as production costs are down and the likelihood that today’s fun rug will be replaced with a new fun rug tomorrow.
I was wrong about the colors. Color was everywhere! Maybe the manufacturers were trying to pep the market up with a spectral infusion. Last years neutrals were accented by intense jewel tones. This year the ruby’s and sapphire’s were gone but replaced by colors that were less intense and, well, a lot more fun! Orange creamsicle, daffodil yellow, deep Gulf of Mexico blue, reds that were the tone of brick but with a hint of orange. Paprika, maybe?
Pressure from a tight economy extrudes innovation from the better companies. I was happy to see that some top lines were offering lower cost alternatives in addition to their traditional excellent product. The downward price pressure has been in place for a number of years due to the competition from overseas, primarily China, so efficiency has already been a focus. What I saw this year were manufacturers of quality furnishings, typically boasting lots of custom options, introducing lines that focused on simplicity and fewer options which reduces cost without sacrificing craftsmanship.
Pressure from a tight economy extrudes innovation from the better market shoppers, too. Texting was at a fevered pitch this year as my friends scattered throughout the market and reported on their findings. Hooker is serving lasagna! The bar at Uttermost is open! Oysters at Stanley! Blood Sweat and Tears is about to start playing in front of the IHFC!
Our store is in the beginning stages of a transformation and we will be unveiling some of the new product in the next couple of months. I am really excited about it. More choice, more fabric, more price points. Stay tuned!
Posted 1 year, 2 months ago at 5:20 pm. 3 comments
“There isn’t a woman on the planet who doesn’t want custom bedding.” That was a quote from Veronique, one of our designers on staff. She repeated it, and yet again, putting more emphasis on the key words. It was a good thing, too, because we were kicking around ideas for our upcoming May e-newsletter and up until somebody smart remembered Mothers Day we were planning to focus on masculine things like “man caves” and the new model ships that just arrived (which are going to be perfect for Fathers Day, by the way).
In dealing with a married couple, we like to assume that the man sleeps in the bed too (sometimes? Hopefully?), and try to create a balance between what a woman wants and keeping it handsome. Women usually love lots of decorative pillows, men do not. They are neither practical nor functional, yet essential and fulfilling, therefore making a perfect talking point when reading the Mars Venus book.
A master bedroom should envelop you as you enter it. It should be special. It’s your sanctuary.
So let’s talk about a few things to help you with your project. First, the fabrics should feel really good. Texture is important. Silk bedding is beautiful, but not practical in the typical suburban home that has kids and pets. There are faux silks that can be spot cleaned, however, if you really want that look. Repeating or marrying fabrics throughout the bedset is key for a completed image. A reversible duvet can have a dominant pattern on one side and a neutral on the other. A little fold-over in the duvet allows the neutral to peek which will give you the look of a five star hotel. Take that same neutral and use it for the skirt fabric and use the primary fabric on the Euro sham. For fun, try an animal print on the bolster!
Not sure about the difference between a bedspread, duvet, and a coverlet? Bedspreads are not made as often as they are large and potentially heavy, demanding more effort to make the bed. A duvet, which is basically a large flat pillow, can literally be tossed onto the bed, as can a coverlet. The difference between the last two is that a duvet is soft, fluffy and a little heavier than a coverlet. A coverlet has the filling stitched in and the stitching pattern is part of the overall appearance. It is thinner, lighter, and a little more tailored. The weight of a coverlet makes it a great choice for petites and seniors.
Having your duvet custom made will allow it to be perfectly matched to your mattress and bedframe. Using ‘bedding in a bag’ from a department store might present the same issues as buying a suit off the rack without tailoring. When measuring for a duvet, we like to have it hang a couple of inches below the point where the mattress meets the boxsprings.
Back to pillows. Many designers can overdo the pillows. (Why not? They look great!) On a King bed, five or six decorative pillows will give you a complete and luxurious look that even most men can appreciate. Two King shams, one Eurosham (square pillow), two smaller accents, and one bolster will give you the proper layers and depth.
The pricing for quality custom bedding usually starts around $1500. Most of our clients tend to work in the $2,500-3,500 range, but it is important for you to tell your designer what you want to spend and they will select fabrics and design to your budget.
Happy Mothers Day!
Posted 1 year, 2 months ago at 6:41 pm. Add a comment
I’ve started to write this blog post twice before and scrapped it both times because I sounded pissy (pardon my French, but I can’t think of a better word. Please let me know if you have a good alternative). So, let me try again.
The silver lining to the recent economic meltdown, assuming there’s still some change jingling in your pocket, is that you are in position to take advantage of the situation. There are tremendous deals in the marketplace should you want to buy anything from a new house/car/furniture to a new set of garden gnomes. My wife could write books on bargain hunting and you can see the excitement in her eyes these days. They’re dancing. It’s that euphoric look she gets when she throws open the doors at Talbot’s during a sale with a gift certificate tucked in her purse, knowing she’s about to triple dip by scooping up a two-for-one sale courtesy of a birthday present. Heaven.
The dark side of all this frenzied liquidation madness is that the unwary public is in danger of being hooked, gutted, and filleted faster than the half starved fish that jump on your toddlers hooks at the local trout farm. With the potential thrill of possibly saving 50% or more surging through their veins, many formerly discerning individuals unconsciously turn off that same common sense switch in their head they willingly flipped at the Florida state line on their first college spring break.
A friend of mine is close to the folks who own a highly regarded design store on the other side of town. They, sadly, have decided to shut their doors and hired a liquidation company to take care of that process. (Here’s where I start to sound pissy) This store that just a few weeks ago was so quiet the owners periodically checked for police tape around the building is now posting daily sales numbers I would be proud to take to the bank in a week! The reality is, for example, an oil painting that was listed for $800 was instantly repriced at $1199 and then marked down to $850 less an additional 10%. Sounds like a whopping 4% off sale to me, but its working. Furthermore, that liquidation company is boosting inventory by bringing in inferior product which shoppers are assuming to be of quality because of the fine reputation built over the years by the owners of that store. By the way, who do you go to when you need some customer service on an item purchased at a wacky blowout sale?
I am imagining those poor trout flopping on the grass, gills heaving.
So why does this trick work so well? It works because you, the intended “mark”, don’t know what the original price should have been in the first place. That “retail” price can be pulled out of thin air. It’s bluffing, just like in a poker game. And just as you don’t play poker with someone wearing sunglasses, you don’t buy jewelry from someone who whispers “psssst” and opens their coat, you don’t bet on golf against a kid with a deep tan and a two iron in his bag, you shouldn’t buy furniture from someone you don’t know or trust just because of the perceived discount.
When Publix has a two for one sale on pasta sauce, it’s a great deal. I trust Publix and I know how much the sauce cost the last time I bought it. I could write a whole post on pasta sauce as it relates to business…maybe I will.
What about the buying clubs? I have to be careful here because if you thought I sounded pissy before, that was nothing. Without going into too much detail, the warning sirens in your mind should be blaring like you got too close to the Mona Lisa. You are told you have to make your decision to join and pay up to five grand for the privilege to do so, on the first visit. You are not allowed to think about it for a couple of days? That’s worse than the old days of buying a car from the guy with white shoes and a gold tooth! These tactics sound like they came from the sticky pages of a Cancun time share sales manual. A rule of thumb to remember, especially when that common sense switch is getting shorted out by the grease oozing from a deal that’s too good to be true, is that your level of skepticism should equal the amount of pressure placed on you to buy.
I would happily take five grand from every person who graces my front door in exchange for not providing much service and allow them to order at “discounted” prices. Guess what, I’d let them think about it for a couple of days, too.
Posted 1 year, 3 months ago at 7:49 pm. 6 comments
When I first started writing this blog, I asked Alan Wyatt, the owner of DOTI at John’s Creek, to show me one of his favorite pieces on the showroom floor. He directed me to a gorgeous round glass topped table with a beautiful carved wood pedestal base. The base is really a work of art. The table is manufactured by Lorts Furniture, a three generation family-owned company in Arizona. You can find out more about them and their furniture by visiting here: http://www.lorts.com/ .
Alan loves the distressed casual elegance of Lorts casegoods and said that this particular table is a good example of the quality of their work. “We could place this table in several different homes and it would look completely different and be totally unique because of the incredible customization offered by this manufacturer. If you wanted a cracked paint finish, silver or gold leafing, extra distressing, or a two-toned look, this is one of the manufacturers to consider. These guys take a lot of pride in what they do and make heirloom quality pieces. One of the things I really like about them is the fact that their distressing is so well done. It doesn’t look intentional, like someone is just trying to make marks.”
Alan said that Lorts makes a storage coffee table that has both grace and functionality. “We had one in the store once that had a gorgeous two-toned jeweled finish. It was absolutely stunning.”
A Lorts table is a great choice for those who desire unique timeless furnishings. DOTI also has some other great tables I’ll talk about in future blogs. Designer Veronique mentioned another table as one of her favorite pieces on the store floor and described how she would use it in a dining room redesign. I’ll share that story with you later as well.
Until then.
Deborah
A.k.a. Design Sleuth
Posted 1 year, 4 months ago at 9:35 pm. Add a comment
A couple of weeks ago I had a chance to talk with Kass Wilson, a local faux finish artist. She works with a lot of designers in the area, including the designers at DOTI at John’s Creek. Some of you may be familiar with her artistry. If not, I encourage you to visit her website at http://www.kasswilson.com/ and browse the gallery. She views her job as one where she takes the ordinary and expected and creates the extraordinary. She does this by enhancing the existing features of a home and creating that “wow” factor.
“When people first view her work,” Kass says, “the first thing they want to do is touch it, because it seems so dimensional. And then they want to know how it was done.” Because Kass creates original works based upon every other element in the room, 99.9% of the time she works with designers. Designers think about her in advance and bring her in as part of the team. The solutions she offers for design problems or enhancements are an integral part of the design, not afterthoughts. This is why it is so critical that all of the core design elements have already been decided.
“Often the designer will email me a photo of a room, a ceiling or a cabinet to get a ballpark figure on the costs,” Kass said, “and I can offer finishes at all price points. If a client looks through my portfolio and sees a finish they’d love for their mantel or built-in bookcases but it costs more money than they want to spend, I’ll ask them to identify what element of the more expensive finish appeals to them and then I’ll work hard to offer them a modified, equally beautiful version of that finish without the huge price. Another option would be to put the more expensive finish on the mantel, for example, and then do something simpler on the bookcases.”
Kass and DOTI at John’s Creek designer Suzanne recently worked together on a kitchen redesign. Suzanne was familiar with Kass’s work, and had talked with her client in the early planning meetings about working with Kass to find a way to add excitement to the old kitchen cabinets without incurring the cost of replacing them. The cabinets were in good shape and the client was happy with the layout. Together, Suzanne and Kass came up with a design solution that worked within the client’s budget, using a teal finish on the upper cabinets and leaving the lower cabinets the original wood.
“Clients are always amazed. I open their eyes to possibilities they had never even dreamed of.” To view some of the work Kass has done in kitchens, visit her blog at http://www.kasswilson.com/blog/walls/wake-up-call-kitchen-design-details .
See you next week!
Deborah
A.k.a. Design Sleuth
Posted 1 year, 4 months ago at 8:09 pm. Add a comment
Hello everyone! I had a wonderful time last week hanging out with Alan and the designers at Designs of the Interior (DOTI) in John’s Creek. As always, it was great fun to sleuth the store, and gather some incredible material for future blogs. Some of my favorite pieces were still there! I can’t believe someone hasn’t bought that fabulous red and cream patterned Woodmark sofa. Wow, would that sofa punch up the color in a family room! And it’s comfy too, besides being very reasonably priced. I need another house so I can find a place to put it and have one of the designers design a room around it.
In the “What’s Happening at DOTI” category, Alan has added a second new designer to his staff (remember Nathan joined the team a couple of months ago). Her name is Veronique and she hails from southern California. I am constantly impressed by the breadth of experience and talent of the DOTI at John’s Creek staff–Veronique is no exception, she has over 28 years of experience designing interiors.
Veronique loves to blend colors, patterns and styles. Be careful about using the word “matching” around her, because she’ll gently correct you with the word “complement”. More about that in later blogs when I share with you some of our conversations. So, if you’re wondering how you’re going to seamlessly blend great Aunt Mary’s French provincial sofa into the design of your living room and create a beautiful, unique and expressly “you” interior, stop by and talk with Veronique.
In fact, whenever you’re in the John’s Creek area, stop by and say hello to Veronique, Nathan, and the rest of the staff. Bring them your design problems. Remember that their inventory is much larger than their store, but it’s their ability to envision incredible and beautiful solutions that really makes your visit worthwhile. I still have a painting in my mind of the British Colonial style dining room that Veronique created for me when I asked her about one of her favorite pieces in the store. I’ll tell you more about that in a later blog.
Talk with you then.
Deborah
A.k.a. Design Sleuth
Posted 1 year, 4 months ago at 8:29 pm. Add a comment
For many, downsizing a home can be an exhilarating experience. It often means lowered expenses, reduced maintenance, more discretionary income and more free time. It also means smaller living spaces. Instead of searching for large furniture to fill and decorate large rooms, you find yourself trying to figure out creative ways to maximize small areas without sacrificing style.
To use your reduced space most efficiently, designer Nathan suggests purchasing sofas and chairs that are armless. According to Nathan, “Armless furnishings create a more streamlined look in small spaces. They also weigh less than more traditional furnishings and make it easier to redecorate and change the look of your rooms when you want to try something different. Slipper chairs, for example, can easily be moved from room-to- room adding extra seating where and when you need it.”
Nathan also recommends buying furniture that can serve a dual purpose, such as ottomans that double as footrests, chairs, TV trays, or a flat surface area for a game of cards. The Hekman plasma lift mentioned in an earlier blog is another piece of furniture that serves two functions. When the television set is not in use it disappears, and the room instantly becomes more spacious and less cluttered.
“Instead of end tables,” Nathan says, “consider buying nesting tables or lamps with built-in tables. And, in order to make your furnishings most portable, use a matching color palette from room-to- room. This way everything matches no matter where it’s placed.”
Talk with you next week!
Deborah
A.k.a. Design Sleuth
Posted 1 year, 4 months ago at 8:30 am. 1 comment
Family rooms are usually one of the more popular rooms in most people’s homes. For those without separate home theatre or game rooms, it is often where you’d put the television set, the gaming equipment, and in some cases, the family computer or home office. In many families, both kids and adults entertain their friends in the family room. I know at our house, we’ve always tried to make the family room appealing to our kids (often to the detriment of its style!) because we wanted it to be a comfortable place for them to hang out with their friends—and it sure beats having them spend all of their free time in their bedrooms.
According to designer Nathan, there is no reason for families to sacrifice style in their family rooms, even when they have kids and/or pets. The key, he says, is to focus first on where the kids and the pets are going to be in the room, and then buy comfortable, dual-purpose furniture. According to Nathan, family rooms are often one of the rooms that can really benefit from de-cluttering. “Because the room serves so many different purposes for different family members, it’s easy for this room in particular to end up with too many furnishings.” For that reason, he believes that it is important to keep the family room furniture classic, durable, and simple. He suggests buying furniture with tough fabrics, such as polyester and blends, and keeping the colors neutral. Instead of using occasional tables consider using cocktail ottomans that will double as extra seating for parties, a place for snacks, or an additional work surface when needed.
Nathan recommends replacing any loveseats with two or three chairs. “In a casual setting, love seats are often only used by one person at a time, so it’s more practical to replace them with separate chairs. And when you have chairs, it also makes it much easier to re-decorate and move them around when you’re ready for a new look.” Sofa and chair pillows should also be purchased with a dual-purpose in mind. “If you know your kids will be spending a lot of time on the floor,” Nathan says, “it’s a good idea to buy sofa and chair pillows that can be tossed on the floor and sat upon or used as armrests.”
Next Tuesday I’ll be sharing some tips with you on how to furnish a smaller home. Nathan has some great ideas. Talk with you then!
Deborah
A.k.a. Design Sleuth
Posted 1 year, 5 months ago at 8:30 am. 2 comments
Adding whimsy to your home decor can be as simple and inexpensive as sticking planets and stars on the ceiling in your child’s room or buying a cool accessory, to something more expensive such as purchasing a funky piece of furniture or hiring an artist to paint wall art. If you’re in the mood for fun, DOTI at John’s Creek is a great place to go. Besides having lots of fun pillows—mentioned in a previous blog—they also have some wonderful fun furniture and neat accessories. Lucky for you, there is often at least one designer or more in the store, so if you see something you like but you’re not sure how to use it or where to put it in your own home, there’s usually someone around who would be happy to provide creative assistance and help you think outside the box.
For example when I was in the store recently, Alan, the owner, pointed out some beautiful hand-painted chairs. They were gorgeous with bright colors and strong designs. Looking at them, I was able to imagine a couple of ways to use them to liven up a home interior, but thought I would still ask Alan for his input. Immediately, he began to rattle off at least ten design possibilities, and probably would’ve listed another ten if I had given him a few minutes to think about it! So, if you see something in the store you really love but you’re not sure what you’d do with it or where to put it, don’t hesitate to ask Alan or one of the designers for suggestions. I’m sure they’ll be able to give you lots of great ideas.
Designer Nathan enjoys using animal prints and patterns to add fun and drama to a home interior. “I’m working with a client now who has modern tastes in decor and furnishings but just moved into a more traditionally styled home. Rather than replacing all of their existing furniture, we’re working together to find ways to blend the two styles together.” One way he is doing that is through the use of rugs. “One of the suggestions I have for a rug under the dining room table is a bold zebra print,” he said. “It’s fun and contemporary, but can also work well for a more traditional home.”
In later blogs we’ll talk more about adding whimsy to your home. I’m planning to interview some of the local artists that DOTI at John’s Creek works with to create fun and magical environments for its clients. This Thursday, Nathan shares some of the things you need to think about when you’re designing a family room around kids and pets. See you then!
Deborah
A.k.a. Design Sleuth
Posted 1 year, 5 months ago at 8:30 am. 1 comment
