Major ReArrange

We all love it when the store is completely re-arranged -----a totally new look! Many of you come in and comment "It looks like a whole new store!" or "I can't believe how different everything looks!" We love to hear comments like that, since that is exactly what we had hoped to achieve. I thought maybe you would like to see what goes on behind the scenes (and sometimes in front of the scenes!) in order for that transformation to take place.

We do what we consider a MAJOR RE-ARRANGE four times a year, and we are in the process of one of those moves this week to ready the shop for our Spring Fling, which takes place this Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The first step is to totally unload every cupboard, cabinet, shelf and major surface. The girls who are working that day spend the entire afternoon doing just that. Some of the accessories are put in basket or carriers; some are just moved to an open corner of floor space. It looks something like this:







The next step is done when the shop is closed --- an evening or a Sunday --- since it causes major traffic jams and aisles that are totally impassable. We have a master plan for placement of all of the sofas, most chairs, and large case-good pieces; the smaller end tables and misc. furniture pieces get grouped in a central spot to be selected and placed by the designer doing each room. Our "helper guys" come in, and we begin the process of moving all the large pieces (an exhausting 3-5 hour process). This part of the move always seems overwhelming, since absolutely nothing starts out where it is going to end up! And every time we start to move one piece, another large piece seems to be in the way. Imagine re-arranging your entire house at the same time!!





Russ and Jim moving lots of furniture!

The next day, our display/design team begins their magical task of putting it all together. Each designer has 2-4 rooms that she works on ---- hanging all the wall accessories; adding lamps, throw pillows and throws to each grouping; accessorizing every tabletop and cabinet ---- adding all those special details that make their rooms unique. Of course, there are always lots of new items to place, which makes this part particularly fun. The entire design process takes 4-5 days.

Alicia hanging pictures in the library


Tammi accessorizing the top of a secretary


Gwen putting the finishing touches on a cupboard


Tina carrying a box of Easter goodies to be displayed


We get lots of comments during those re-arrange weeks like ---"Your event is WHEN?!?!", "Do you think you're going to make it??", or "Oh my, you still have a lot to do!" Of course, we DO always make our deadline. However, I must admit I have a recurring nightmare that it is time to open the front doors for the Christmas Open House, and we haven't started decorating the trees yet!! (It has replaced the nightmare that many of you probably have --- the one where you are in college, at the end of the semester, and you discover there is a class you totally forgot!) But I assure you, we will be ready when you come in on Saturday, and hopefully you'll say "It looks like a whole new store!" We think you'll love Spring at Interiors Etc. See you then!

H is for Honeysuckle

H is for honeysuckle, the hot new Color of the Year for 2011. Each year in the world of design, the Pantone Color Institute reveals their choice for the color of the year. This years' selection packs a punch....it's an energetic reddish-pink, quite different from the turquoise of 2010. Honeysuckle emboldens us to face life with verve and vigor. It's a stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going. How stimulating? Well, you may not want to paint an entire room in it, but splashes of it here and there will do the trick. We had our eyes open for anything and everything in this color while shopping the Atlanta Market, so watch for honeysuckle to be making its appearance in the shop soon.

Other color news of note: gray is here to stay. We saw it everywhere; entire showrooms were done in gray, from the ever-popular French linen, to feed-sack upholstery, ticking, and all things burlap. Grayed-down wood tones, driftwood lamps and accessories, and industrial inspired tables and bookshelves continue the trend. A pop of color such as honeysuckle is the perfect addition to bring new life to this neutral palette.

Cottage colors were prevalent through-out the show. In fact, the entire concept of cottage life, evoking a simpler lifestyle, was seen in everything from upholstery to rugs and lamps. We're not talking your Grandma's cottage, but rather a clean, kick-your-feet-up, nothing-too-fussy about it look. Shades of coral, turquoise, robins' egg blue, butter yellow and apple green come together in plaids and stripes and dots and florals to make this look come to life. Watch for our variation of this theme as a focal point for our Spring Fling Event on February 12!

(This article, as well as C for Cozy, artfully written for our blog by Gwen Oldfield.)

My Toby

Many of you know that I am a cat-lover, and that I actually have three cats ---- Pippin, Missy May and Toby. When I decided to take my Christmas tree down a couple of weeks ago, Toby decided he was going to help. I just had to share these pictures of "my baby" about five feet up in the Christmas tree! (Hopefully the other two won't hear that I posted a picture of their sibling online, and feel left out!!) Toby was a birthday present a year and a half ago, and has entertained me ever since!

Out with the Old; In with the New!

The merchandise we ordered in Atlanta is arriving daily, and the shop is filled with lots of new items. (i.e. charming lanterns and bird items as pictured above!) We also have some exciting furniture pieces that will debut during our Spring Fling, and in order to make room for these, we have put the following pieces on sale. Some great bargains!!

This darling Country French loveseat in blue and beige was $1700.00; now only $900.00.


A great C.R. Laine sofa in tone-on-tone red, this piece was $2650.00; now only $1400.00.


A super-quality Pearson sofa in rust/gold/red paisley was $3295.00; now only $1600.00.



And now for a peek at some of the new items arriving!


A flock of bird pictures.......


Some darling hand-painted rooster goblets,and a bright yellow rooster syrup pitcher.


A stunning metal mirror/shelf combination



A "grandmother" wall clock, suitable for the centerpiece of a grouping, or able to stand alone very nicely!



A great library stand to hold all of your favorite books, and make a real statement in your den or library, complete with some antique leather books.

These are just a few of the items that are new in the past week. Many more to come for our Spring Fling on Saturday, February 12. Plan now for a fun-filled day!

C is for cozy. Isn't that what we all long to be after the hustle and bustle of the holidays? Now that the Christmas decorations are put away and let's face it, your house is looking a little bare, it's time to add a few touches that make you want to curl up by the fire with a good book and a cup of tea.

Think of holiday decor as a glitzy sequined dress, and now think of replacing it with a camel cashmere sweater and pearls. Soft, soothing.....classy. At the top of the list of home accents that achieve this look are throws and throw pillows. A cream colored cableknit throw just invites you to kick off your shoes and cuddle up. Replace some of your bold colored throw pillows with ones in more muted colors for a sofa that beckons relaxation. You need look no further than outside your window for color inspiration ---- a soft palette of winter whites looks so tranquil blanketing the earth, why not bring it inside?

Candlelight is the easiest way to achieve that cozy feeling and we've got the most charming idea for you. Noticed on a recent shopping trip in the trendy Andersonville area north of Chicago, one of the shops had a multitude of vintage glass sugar bowls, each lit with a tiny tealight candle, simple and nostalgic. Perhaps you have some of these in your china cabinet. If not, we've amassed a collection of these little vintage charmers so you can achieve the same look on your coffee table or mantle.

Comfort food is another way to embrace the winter season. Doesn't a creamy mac and cheese casserole sound yummy? Serve it on your best white china and pop the cork on a bottle of champagne ---why not? Check out one of our new cookbooks for inspiration. Stock your pantry with some of our Stonewall Kitchen dip mixes and sauces ---add a box of crackers and you've got a tasty appetizer in case you get snowed in!

We hope you find an idea here that will make you want to cocoon in your home. New goods ordered at Market are arriving daily. When cabin fever hits, stop by Interiors Etc. and see what will inspire you to make your home winter warm and cozy!

Back from Atlanta

This is going to be my first attempt at blogging!! ---- so bear with me as I learn the ropes. I thought it would be a good place to share some design tips, let you in on some of the "behind-the-scenes" at Interiors Etc. (nothing too racy!!), bring you up to date on new events, and share a little bit of my personal life as it relates to the business. I'll try to post some pictures as they pertain to the posts, and would love to hear from any of you!

We just got back from the gigantic Gift and Home Furnishings Show in Atlanta last Tuesday. My BFF Gwen (also known as our special events coordinator and display expert) went along with me, and we both trudged our way through miles of floors, hallways, escalators, and elevators. The Atlanta Gift Show is composed of three huge buildings (one is 20 floors tall, one eighteen, and one is fourteen.) Each floor has hundreds of showrooms on it, and lots of the showrooms have close to one hundred lines within them. So all in all, there are 1000's of lines to look at, choose from , and ultimately order from. We try to do approximately 75% of our next year's Christmas at this time so that we will be sure an get it. Some years it's easier than others!! At least this year, I had my Christmas stuff down at home before we left. We found lots of great stuff --- but we are especially excited about Spring and Paris Flea Market. New items should be arriving shortly, with most of the spring things debuting for our Spring Fling on February 12. You should get your (honeysuckle pink) postcard in the mail this week about that event, as well a schedule for the rest of the year.

Gwen and I both came home sick from Atlanta (too many crowded halls and elevators with sneezing and coughing people!). So that was rather anti-climatic! But I'll be back in the shop next week over-seeing all the new merchandise arriving. Be patient with us for a week or two as we re-plenish with all new things ---- we know you'll find things you'll love! See you in the store!

Carol