Memorial Day is right around the corner. You know what that means—barbecues, s’mores and summertime. I love kicking off summer with a bang, and Memorial Day is the perfect patriotic excuse for a party. Here are some tips for having a fun, casual party with family and friends without any fuss or frills.

I believe all Memorial Day parties are better with a red, white and blue theme. Greet guests with the patriotic colors of the day by having flower pots at your front door. Fill the pots with red, white and blue petunias, verbena or vinca. Place miniature flags in the pots for an extra dose of patriotism!

A good host always has a table set for the guests so that they can enjoy their meal comfortably. The Wakefield dining table features [...]

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Beautiful veneers, finish on Estate blockfront chest

Long ago, women put bandanas on their heads, took their carpets out of doors, and beat the dust of the winter into the fresh spring air. That image is long gone–thank goodness! I love the scene in the film Brighton Beach Memoirs where the mother of the house is constantly polishing her mother’s dining room table. It was the 1930s and the chore is done with pride and love. But I’d bet anything she’d be just as happy enjoying a sunny afternoon on the porch enjoying the fresh ocean breezes!

Some of us, however, have the desire to make home a happier place in spring and summer embedded in our DNA. Fortunately, housekeeping in this age of vastly improved, sophisticated furniture finishes and [...]

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Tags: accent furniture, bedroom furniture, furniture care tips, furniture cleaners, furniture cleaning tips, furniture maintenance, furniture polish, furniture wax, living room furniture

As an interior designer, I turn to many sources for inspiration. In addition to furniture markets, I love to browse catalogs, magazines (my faves are Coastal Living and Southern Living) and websites (Houzz and Pinterest) for ideas. Often it’s one key piece that inspires the look of a whole room. It might be a painting that seems to fit the project perfectly, or a fabric I know the client will love. And while everyone’s talking about eating fresh and organic, I’m enjoying organically inspired interior design.

One of my favorite sources of inspiration is nature. It’s hard to go wrong with a design direction pulled from the environment. Whether it’s a color palette, pattern or material—there’s just something about organic elements that work. Whenever I’m in doubt, nature is always a sure bet.

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Tags: craft furniture, end tables and coffee tables

The new Corsica table from Hooker Furniture

The American population may have reached 300 million in 2006, but household size is actually getting… smaller! According to the U.S. Census, the average number of people living together in a home dropped from a high of 4.5 people in 1915 to just under 2.6 people today (parents, offspring and extended squatters included!) More wealth, freedom and individuality, it seems, are driving not just the size of our families, but the size of our furniture… including our dining tables.

Smaller tables have become a popular choice among today’s largest population sectors on both sides of the age scale – at one end,  Baby Boomers downsizing or living alone… at the other, Millenials (born after 1980) setting up their first household.

This makes [...]

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Tags: dining room sets, dining tables

The Zephyr reclining chair

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and you need a gift idea for Mom! Do you go the classic route and order her flowers? How about the thoughtful route and give her the gift of relaxation in the form of a spa gift card? Maybe this year you should stick with practicality and buy her a gift she can use in her home? Can’t decide? Why not give her all three?

Look no further than Sam Moore Furniture’s beautiful collection of stylish reclining chairs! The Abington low-leg recliner is not your typical “Mans” recliner!

Abington low leg recliner

The petite proportions on this chair make it ideal for a woman’s proportions, [...]

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Tags: living room furnishings

The Kenmar pedestal table will make the perfect side table in mom’s reading corner.

Whether she is your biological mother, a female mentor, your grandmother, aunt or just a friend, there is an important woman in everyone’s lives, and she deserves nothing but the best on Mother’s Day. This Mother’s Day why not think outside the box for gifts? Here are some great gift ideas and ways to celebrate mom that will keep her bragging to friends for years to come!

The Kenmar pedestal table from the Mélange collection is a great standalone piece that will make the perfect gift for mom. With its shiny faux-zinc finish, this piece can make a real [...]

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Tags: accent table, bedside table, eclectic furniture, fretwork mirror, leg desk, mélange, mirror, sofa table, wall mirror, writing desk

Menswear patterns finding their way to accent furniture

It’s no secret that furniture styles emulate the fashion world. From color trends to fabrics and silhouettes, home furnishings collections are inspired by what debuts on the runway. One exciting trend in women’s apparel is the menswear look.

In clothing, the look translates to structured shapes, pleasing patterns and a focus on fine detailing.

So what can furniture designers learn about style from dress shirts, suits and sports coats? A lot! Here’s a peek at three design directions inspired by today’s menswear looks.

Pattern Perfect

While solid finishes on wood furniture pieces are the norm, patterns are gaining momentum. Whether it’s an outfit or a room, the perfect pattern can really make the ensemble—as seen in this [...]

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Tags: coffee tables, end tables and coffee tables, living room furnishings

There’s no denying the depth of meaning and status that flowers have established within our culture. Flowers send a message of love, hope, celebration, and comfort.

The natural wonder of flowers sends just the right message when it is difficult to find the appropriate words to express the way you feel.

Flowers have found their way into so many places within our hearts and homes. Surrounding ourselves with their beauty, color and fragrance can help enhance our moods and overall well being. The use for flowers can stretch beyond just placing them in our most favored vases, gardens, and flower beds.

Decorating with floral fabrics, accessories and artwork has been a long time favorite, maintaining a constant style trend that has proven to be more than just a fad.

[...]

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Tags: end tables and coffee tables, flowers, Spring

Clients  often ask me how on earth I process all of the information and inspiration from my visits to the High Point Furniture Market.  I’ll have to admit it’s a week of information overload.  Walking, taking photos, attending events and presentations, walking, taking more photos, making notes of the new introductions, walking, catching up with design peers . . . and did I mention . . . walking?

When I finally get settled back at the desk, I download hundreds of images and several design themes appear right before my eyes.  I most definitely keep up with what’s being shared in the trend reports, but I tend to have an organic way of letting the pieces of the puzzle come together.

I’ll share some of my photos, finds, and observations as we move into the trends that will impact interiors over the next [...]

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Tags: bedroom sets, furniture market

Is your bedroom an extension of your living room? Do you belong to one of the growing number of families that gather in the master bedroom to watch a movie? Or do you guard your bedroom as a quiet place to relax away from others?

Quatrefoil fretwork pattern adorns new bed from Hooker Furniture

Then you’re going to love one of the most popular trends for home today: upholstered beds! Covered in padded fabric or leather – upholstered headboards for beds promise to turn your bedroom sets into a comfy place to hang out, not to mention, sleep… and they’re showing up everywhere. From European trade shows to home decorating magazines to furniture stores, upholstered beds are right for the times, and they [...]

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Tags: bed, bedroom furniture, tufted bed, upholstered bed