What Color Is Comfort By Nicolette Toussaint
We believe interior designers are their best advertisement for themselves and their business of helping the public live in a home they deserve. We consistently encourage interior designers to get a blog and tell us about your projects, share with us the before and after pictures and the problems that were solved.
Here's an example of a designer, not local however, who posts an excellent piece about color and comfort. Nicolette Toussaint owns Comfort & Joy Interior Design in San Francisco, CA and here's what she shared:
In this post, (What Color Is Comfort) I will talk about the emotional impact of color – about what colors make us comfortable in what circumstances – and also about how color influences our perception of space and place. Most of my recent design jobs here in San Francisco have been color consultations, and this post will share some of those experiences. At the end, you should have a pretty good idea of what the color of comfort might be for you.It's a long post, but filled with tons of worthwhile information.
Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
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Christopher Guy Furniture
This dining table from Christopher Guy is described on his website thusly:
"Sheer elegance and luxury define this magnificent looking mahogany and veneer dining table, complete with delicate marquetry work, a fine example of a contemporary piece with classic appeal."Ava Living has this video of a furniture fashion show in Paris this year:
Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
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Green Design Summit
Don't forget to sign up for the Green Design Summit to be held June 29–30 via Webcast. The event looks to help architects and designers meet rising demand for environmentally friendly materials and designs.
Click here to sign up today!
The two-day Green Design Summit, available nationwide and internationally, will offer a host of well-known experts in green construction, architecture, interior design and the ecological impacts and tax benefits of going green.
Speakers for the event include:
• Ed Begley Jr., actor, environmental activist and HGTV star, presenting "Living With Ed."
• Penny Bonda, FASID & LEED AP, green blogger for Interior Design Magazine, presenting "The New LEED Requirements–What You Need to Know."
• Leslie Carothers of The Kaleidoscope Partnership, a consultant to the furniture industry, interior designer and blogger for Furniture Today, presenting "Specifying Green Furniture."
• Bob Dixson, Mayor of Greensburg, a city that was 95 percent destroyed by a tornado, presenting "The Story of Greensburg and How Building Green Has Transformed the City."
• Joshua Foss, LEED AP, Season 2 HGTV Design Star Contestant and Metro Hippie Blogger, presenting "How to Build Your Practice Around Sustainable Design."
• Lisa Foster, founder of 1 Bag at a Time, presenting "What Is Your Carbon Footprint and What You Can Do to Reduce It."
• Tom Hamilton, senior product marketing manager for Philips Color Kinetics, presenting "Designing Energy Efficient Lighting & Maintaining Aesthetics."
• Libby Langdon, HGTV star of "Small Space, Big Style" and author of Design in Small Spaces, presenting "Design Ideas for Smaller Space Clients."
• Michael Port, New York Times best-selling author and business coach, presenting "The Think Big Manifesto–Think You Can’t Change Your Life (and the World)? Think Again."
• Sarah Susanka, FAIA, architect, interior designer and author of eight books selling more than 1 million copies, presenting "Not So Big Remodeling."
• Cassie Walker, author of The Green Office Handbook and founder of The Sustainable Office, presenting "How to Green Your Office and Help Your Clients Green Their Spaces."
• Robin Wilson, New York interior designer for President Clinton's Harlem office, and the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Mary Richardson LEED residence, presenting "Eco-friendly Design from the Foundation to the Furniture."
Click here to sign up today!
The two-day Green Design Summit, available nationwide and internationally, will offer a host of well-known experts in green construction, architecture, interior design and the ecological impacts and tax benefits of going green.
Speakers for the event include:
• Ed Begley Jr., actor, environmental activist and HGTV star, presenting "Living With Ed."
• Penny Bonda, FASID & LEED AP, green blogger for Interior Design Magazine, presenting "The New LEED Requirements–What You Need to Know."
• Leslie Carothers of The Kaleidoscope Partnership, a consultant to the furniture industry, interior designer and blogger for Furniture Today, presenting "Specifying Green Furniture."
• Bob Dixson, Mayor of Greensburg, a city that was 95 percent destroyed by a tornado, presenting "The Story of Greensburg and How Building Green Has Transformed the City."
• Joshua Foss, LEED AP, Season 2 HGTV Design Star Contestant and Metro Hippie Blogger, presenting "How to Build Your Practice Around Sustainable Design."
• Lisa Foster, founder of 1 Bag at a Time, presenting "What Is Your Carbon Footprint and What You Can Do to Reduce It."
• Tom Hamilton, senior product marketing manager for Philips Color Kinetics, presenting "Designing Energy Efficient Lighting & Maintaining Aesthetics."
• Libby Langdon, HGTV star of "Small Space, Big Style" and author of Design in Small Spaces, presenting "Design Ideas for Smaller Space Clients."
• Michael Port, New York Times best-selling author and business coach, presenting "The Think Big Manifesto–Think You Can’t Change Your Life (and the World)? Think Again."
• Sarah Susanka, FAIA, architect, interior designer and author of eight books selling more than 1 million copies, presenting "Not So Big Remodeling."
• Cassie Walker, author of The Green Office Handbook and founder of The Sustainable Office, presenting "How to Green Your Office and Help Your Clients Green Their Spaces."
• Robin Wilson, New York interior designer for President Clinton's Harlem office, and the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Mary Richardson LEED residence, presenting "Eco-friendly Design from the Foundation to the Furniture."
The Green Design Summit requires no traveling and is a wholly Green event delivered by telesummit/webcast. Attendees receive downloadable MP3 recordings and transcripts of each speaker interview. Tickets are $297.
Click here to sign up today!
Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
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Click here to sign up today!
Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
Follow us on Twitter
Realities OF Furniture Shopping
Jason Ball of Jason Ball Interiors has a great post about shopping for furniture from an interior designer's viewpoint:
Interior designers shop for furniture differently than most consumers by focusing on size, style, lines, color and pattern. Many designers "shop" at designer-only showrooms which don't have a large number of options on the floor, but instead have thousands of options in catalogs covering multiple manufacturers. The number of styles and semi-customization are much greater than most retail furniture stores. The real benefit comes in access to hundreds of fabric options and a higher level of customization possible. Take the "walking the floor" situation. In a designer-only showroom, you'll test out different types of cushions to see what's comfortable. You can then select pieces based on their various measurements - seat depth and height, arm height, overall height, etc. And, the piece you select will be built for you!Bev & Mike
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A Colorful Accent
Faith Sheridan has my husband's favorite colors: Malachite and I call it a cinnamon.
Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
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Jentrified
Have you been to Jen West Design's blog, Jentrified? I was struck by her post about her visit to the Design Center in San Francisco where she encountered Hwang Bishop:
Darn, we are not on her blogroll either.
Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
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Darn, we are not on her blogroll either.
Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
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Angela Todd's Blog
Hey, gang, check out Angela Todd's blog. She has a step-by-step process to get remodeling or redecorating project underway.
Another post on her blog has pictures of the Home Builders Association’s Ultimate Open House, which took place on April 18th-19th and 25th-26th. She says it was a tremendous success. The Interior Design Society of Portland worked with several of the home builders to stage and style their homes. This picture just steals my heart. I just love the drama and the striking saturated orange:
The only thing missing on her blog is a blogroll and our blog on it.
Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
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Another post on her blog has pictures of the Home Builders Association’s Ultimate Open House, which took place on April 18th-19th and 25th-26th. She says it was a tremendous success. The Interior Design Society of Portland worked with several of the home builders to stage and style their homes. This picture just steals my heart. I just love the drama and the striking saturated orange:
The only thing missing on her blog is a blogroll and our blog on it.
Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
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Knoll Kids - Children's Furniture!
The Child's Womb Chair from Knoll Kids, shown here with the Stone child's seat in poppy. The adult version of the chair was designed in 1948 by Eero Saarinen, and the seat by Maya Lin in 1998.Kids Today reports
KnollStudio, a division of Knoll, Inc., renowned for its collection of classic and enduring designs for the workplace and the home, has launched Knoll Kids, a modern children’s furniture collection.
Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
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Before & After With Interior Designer Marlene Buckner
We've encouraged interior designers in our area to show us their before and after pictures of projects they've completed. We want to give you an idea through their examples why we recommend you use an interior designer.
Our latest example is from Marlene Buckner, president elect of ASID Oregon Chapter, and a consummate professional having passed the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Exam (NCIDQ)
This 1916 residence in Dunthorpe was designed by famous Portland Architect Wade Hampton Pipes. The kitchen was so small the family ate at the farm table that doubled as a work surface. After Marlene designed an 8 foot addition on the opposite end of the room and developed the kitchen design with the homeowners, a new larger kitchen emerged that included an island and nook with built-in banquette seating (in the old kitchen location).
True to the period, painted cabinets with inset doors from Wood-Mode were installed and a satin-etched Mysore Black granite counter was chosen for its aged appearance.
Challenges included lacing in and finishing the new oak kitchen floor to blend seamlessly with the original 90-year-old oak floors found everywhere else. The oven cabinet also required careful modification to bypass the top two steps to the landing above that were hidden in a soffit.
Due to the complexity of this addition and the beauty of its integration with the original home, this project received the 2008 ORA Outstanding Remodeling Achievement Award as well as the prestigious national Chrysalis Award for Best Residential Addition in its price category.
Marlene Buckner specializes in Spatial Design, Kitchens, Baths, and Interiors and is a Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer through NKBA.
Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
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Colorful Armchair
unique-artistic outdoor furniture
unique-artistic outdoor furniture detail visit http;//javabali.info
Cool Applied Modular
Modern Interiors - Specht Harpman
Modern Interiors - Specht Harpman as seen on plastolux
Normal Room's curving deck wall via Apartment Therapy
The wood deck for your home. It's a good use of the space in the garden. It's suitable for one who don't have much time to maintain the garden so build the deck.
Blue and brown living room : Yellow accents and modern art
Love the chocolate velvet and bold splashes of yellow. Park Avenue living room designed by Pappas Miron. Photo from www.pappasmiron.com.
Pale gray living room + built-in bookshelves: Benjamin Moore 'Winter Solstice', from Elle Decor
Pale gray living room + built-in bookshelves: Benjamin Moore 'Winter Solstice', from Elle Decor, originally uploaded by xJavierx.
Pale gray living room + built-in bookshelves: Benjamin Moore 'Winter Solstice', from Elle Decor
In the office of Ali Wentworth and George Stephanopoulos’ Washington D.C. home, walls are painted Winter Solstice by Benjamin Moore. The table and chairs are flea-market finds and the mirror is from the Brimfield Antiques Fair.
Interior design by Elizabeth Martin. Photo by Simon Upton, Elle Décor, May 2009.
Facundo Poj : Concept To Prototype
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Remember the January post titled Facundo Poj Design? Argentinian Facundo who now makes his home in Miami, has just released a video on the whole process of the aztec stool & wine rack from concept to prototype in just over 3 minutes. Naturally, the design is facilitated with a nice bottle of red wine and a cigarette.
Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
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Contemporary Lighting for the Modern Style Apartment
When it comes to modern style apartments, the furniture pieces are the all-important focal points of your retreat. Therefore, it is absolutely essential to feature your modern décor in the best way, even at night.
When nighttime approaches, the lighting of your home should not only highlight the beauty of your modern furniture, but it should also encompass the overall modern theme of your room’s décor. Whether you are in the office working or in the living room relaxing, modern lighting can create the ambiance that enhances optimal enjoyment of your residence. The versatility of modern lighting lies in the unparalleled ability to work in all different kinds of settings for many different purposes.
Here are some tips on how to spruce up your décor with contemporary lighting solutions.
What can Pendant lighting do for you?
Watch your head, pendant lights are now all the rage in the modern design world (but don’t worry, you can always adjust the height to accommodate tall people). Overhanging pendant lights are becoming increasingly practical and ornate, with an ever-widening selection of various finishes and styles to choose from.
Additionally, Pendant lights work just about everywhere; whether you want to use them in the kitchen, in the living room, or even outside, they are a great way to impress your guests. In the living room, your modern couch should not be left in the dark because of weak attempts at using recess lighting or track lighting. Rather, modern pendant lights running the length of your couch will make it glow to the point where everyone in the room will gravitate towards that spot. Truly, modern lighting really brings out some of your fanciest modern pieces in a subtle, yet effectively beautiful way.
Ceiling Fixtures for your Space
Ceiling lights, from classically shaped light settings to wonderfully intricate chandeliers, are an integral part of the quintessential modern interior. These lights are best placed in areas that are smaller but used frequently. For example, kitchens and foyers are best for large ceiling fixtures that radiate light to a given space. For those intrepid modern décor fans out there with a little money to spend, investing in a chic designer chandelier will certainly add value to your home, especially if it has large ceilings and an abundance of space.
Depending on the style of the dinner table and chairs, a modern designed overhead fixture is the perfect way to bring people together. Stainless steel, chrome or brushed nickel fixtures that are clean and futuristic looking are the perfect accessories to your dining experience.
Your Child’s Space born Modern
Modern lighting is not just designated to sophisticated, adult spaces. Rather, there are various contemporary lighting options that are fun, colorful and kid-friendly. Some modern lighting décor features are purposely made to work in both children and adult rooms. Offi lamps seem to epitomize this children’s theme perfectly. With lighting styles like “Daschund Dog” and “Teddy Bear Jr,” Offi continues to be a leader in children’s décor. The fun and colorful designs of Offi lamps are sure to embody the imaginative décor of your child’s space.
All in all, your lighting should complement the furniture that you worked so hard to acquire and maintain. Putting half as much effort into lighting the décor of your room will pay off when your house fast becomes a place that brings everyone together. By adding contemporary lighting to your room, not only will your room be illuminated, but it will also be infinitely more stylish.
Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
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ARTFUL ARRANGEMENTS
Framed artworks and mirrors bring a bathroom to life, making every visit to the room an extra special experience. Tiles and bathroom furniture act as stenography. Black mosaic tiles on the walls and floor, combined with exclusively simple, white bathroom products create a slightly bare, but simultaneously warm and intimate background.
Find more on www.gustavsberg.com
Tour Of Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery
Beverly gives a tour of Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery in Portland's Pearl.
Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
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Bev & Mike
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Sofa's Durability Depends On Fabric
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Kara Pierce, Senior Design Consultant at The Sofa Company, has written an article titled How to Test My Sofa’s Upholstery Fabric Durability and Strength.
How exactly is a fabric’s durability measured? Most fabrics go by one of two test methods, known as Wyzenbeek and Martindale, to give the fabric an “abrasion” or “double rub” rating. Essentially, the fabric is pulled tight and rubbed in two directions by a standard weight fabric; if two yarn breaks occur, or if noticeable wear is observed, at that point the number of rubs is recorded as the abrasion rating. 30,000 double rubs is considered minimum durability for commercial use; hotels, conference rooms, etc. Between 30,000 and 100,000 is considered heavy duty. Although these tests are only used as tools for predicting wear, it can help when looking at fabrics, to know that the higher the abrasion rating number is, the better it performed on the durability test.
At Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery you will notice that most of the Sherrill fabrics have a "wearability" rating from Heavy and Medium to Light. The Duralee fabrics carry a durabilty rating and the samples will have a "double rub" rating.
It's important for your satisfaction with our furniture that you pair the durability of the fabric with its use. You wouldn't want to use a linen fabric, for example, in the den where the kids wrestle. You also wouldn't want to use a lower quality sofa or chair in a room that gets heavy use.
In our store we have sofas with different price points, different styles and fabrics that can be ordered to fit your needs.
Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
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Nick Olsen And First Time Design Mistakes
The Washington Post, today, carries an article about Nick Olsen, interior designer and writer for defunct Domino mag, about first-time design mistakes. He lists six:
Being afraid to paint. - "If you're not willing to paint, you're really not willing to do much in terms of decorating. Being safe will get in the way of good design."
Hanging one print or mirror in the center of a wall - I once knew a bachelor that had mustard, catsup, fuzzy ice cubes in his freezer and a small print exactly centered on his eight by forty foot wall.
Hanging rectangular mirrors on the horizontal. - "I think it brings the eye down and makes any room low and stumpy." Oh my God! I have that going on in our dining room (but the room is small and longer than its wide).
Buying area rugs that are too small. - We should all know by now that no part of a dining room table and chairs should fall outside the dimensions of the rug.
Not taking care with lighting choices. - "Chintzy lamps are a big pet peeve of mine. The big box sofa can disappear, but the big plastic-y lamp will stick out like a sore thumb."
Getting too-bright bulbs. - Nick recommends nothing over forty watts and that's great for ambience, but my husband insists that the living room and den have 100 watts for reading.
Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
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Modern wallpaper
Modern wallpaper: Blue & brown floral textured metallic print
Lasari Flock by Romo. Photo from romofabrics.com.
Modern wallpaper
Modern wallpaper: Blue & brown floral textured metallic print
Lasari Flock by Romo. Photo from romofabrics.com.
Neutral paint color living room
Walls are painted Grant Beige by Benjamin Moore. Upholstered furniture from Arhaus. Console, coffee, and end tables and upholstered cube ottomans from West Elm. Z Gallerie trellis pillows. Horchow gourd lamp and Crate & Barrel decorative bowl.
Photo from decorpad.com
Photo from decorpad.com
What To Look For In A Sofa
In this viseo shot at Landfair Furniture + Design gallery, the owner Beverly Landfair explains the "sit" in a sofa and what to look for when shopping for a sofa:
Bev & Mike
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Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
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