Trending in Furniture -

I like the interesting shape of this Scandia Tivoli Curio.

2018 is off to a great start, and with that many new product lines on the horizon.  So what are some of the trends in furniture for this year?  A lot of the stores have furniture with either a retro or modern edge to it.  Retailers that used to have a flux of traditional or European style furniture have just kept one or two lines and replaced them with multiple options for modular, clean lined, and sleek furniture designs.  

This storage console has drawers that open from either side adding to its functionality.  It also has a mix of materials.

So where is the furniture industry headed? Well at a recent visit to Thomasville Home Furnishings, in Roseville, CA, I discovered that there is a big push towards modernization and customization of furniture.  Consumers in the past have been able to choose the fabric and trim details at higher end furniture stores like an Ethan Allen or Thomasville, but may have only had a few selections of wood stains for their cased goods. 

Here is another example of a more modern end table that has three different types of materials for shelving, glass, Shagreen, and wood all held together in a brass frame.

Now, however, they will have a lot more options to choose from.  Today as a customer you will be able to select from over 50+ painted or stained custom finishes for furniture frames, and cased goods.  After deciding on a style and shape of furniture, you can view your selections on large screen monitors, changing out materials, finish colors, shapes, hardware, and fabrics creating your own custom furniture designs.  

This is an example of a piece you could select and then customize the finish to what best suits your decor and style.

Gone are the days where everyone had to have the same type of furniture sets in their living room.  Now consumers can really create lasting pieces that will represent their taste and style.  This customization does however come at an increased cost.  You may have to pay double or triple the price for these custom pieces.  You will also have to wait about 8 to 12+ weeks for them to be crafted to your specifications.  If the added cost isn't something you can afford, you can still find lower priced pieces that are ready made, but the style options here will be limited.

So what do all these changes mean? I think it means we are seeing consumers who want quality materials with flexibility and function in the pieces they purchase.  In this day and age of computer technology is it any wonder that we will soon be able to draw up exactly what we want and have each detail produced directly at the manufacturer? It wouldn't surprise me if we will be able to design our own custom fabric for pieces in the future.  Much like the fashion industry where you can draw up a design and have it computer printed.  The lasting result will be home interior spaces that are much more individualized, custom, and reflect our taste and personalities.  As a designer, I for one love the idea of being able to have more options to choose from!

Take care,

Christina

The easy way to maintain your garden.

My post on how to create a French garden was such a hit, I decided to share my secrets for garden maintenance. Here's what I've learned over the years to help make things easier.  With Spring upon us, it is the perfect time to be thinking about what changes we might want to make to our gardens for this season.

For example, maybe you've had a few plants that didn't quite grow well through the winter months and now need replacing.  Or maybe you just aren't loving where your garden is headed at the moment.  This is the perfect time of year for a little reflection and a little maintenance.

In my opinion, the best times to work on the maintenance of your garden is after the rain.  This is the perfect time to pull out unwanted weeds that no doubt are beginning to pop up all over your yard.  Unless you have a lawn service that does this sort of thing for you, it is much easier to yank out the weeds when the ground is soft.  I typically use a hand fork, to loosen the weeds and with the ground soft they come right out with ease. I take a section of my yard at a time, working around the entire yard.  I will take one day to do each section and before you know it the whole yard is looking great.

This is also a good time to move things around in your garden.  Maybe you have a patch of bulbs that have expanded and you want to divide them, now is the time.  Perhaps you just want to create a new bordered edge of lavender or boxus to add formality and form to your garden.  It is so much easier to do this when the ground is soft.  You might also have a large shrub or root that needs to be removed.  If this is the case, you may need a spade shovel.  This shovel will help you get underneath the deep roots and lift the plant out.   

Once the weeds are gone, and I've moved things around, I'm ready to add any new plants to my collection.  I like to take time to step back and reflect on areas that seem sparse or need some added color.  I've also found a repetition of plants in odd groupings creates a rhythm and balance in the landscape.  This gives the garden a much nicer look.  With these updates all completed and in place, you can add some fresh mulch to the flower beds to help protect the plants from the coming summer heat.   Finally, you can give everything a nice dose of fertilizer.  I give mine a boost of miracle grow.  All you'll have to do now is sit back relax and enjoy all your hard work!

Take care,

Christina