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September 2008
It’s official: Room & Board is making its Atlanta debut
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Finally, after months of whispers on the design scene, we have confirmation: Room & Board is coming to Howell Mill in Spring 2009.
The Minneapolis-based furniture retailer, which specializes in modern (I’d say transitional) offerings, will open a 34,000 square foot space at 1170 Howell Mill Road. Need a job? According to the R&B press release, the store will employ 20 design associates and 15 folks at its distribution center.
Things I heart about R&B: it re-creates design classics slightly more suited for my wallet. Just check out this take on Le Corbusier’s chaise lounge. The Room & Board version, “Pierre”, is sexy yet rustic in this natural cowhide ($1,349).
R&B also carries original pieces, such as this Eames coffee table by Herman Miller ($649).
Don’t look to this store for traditional or period-inspired pieces. R&B continues in the trend of contemporary stores popping up in Atlanta’s ever-evolving design scene.
Do you think ATL is undergoing a design renaissance? Would you like to see more contemporary and modern stores, or between Design Within Reach, Beverly Hall and Armour & Co, is the mix of styles just about right?
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The Theme Room
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Glamour Magazine featured this image of singer Mariah Carey in her Hello Kitty room.
Wha-huh?
Miss Mariah, who is pushing 40, describes herself as the ultimate little kid as if that’s justification for devoting an entire room in her home to Hello Kitty.
I’m no Hello Kitty hater (I might even have a few items of my own), but an entire room? I figured Mariah just had so many rooms to spare, that it didn’t matter. Then I began to notice a trend among the non-celebrity population:
A guy (also about 40) who devoted an entire room to fraternity paraphernalia
A guy (30ish) with a room devoted to his fave college football team
A woman (40ish) with a room full of Barbie dolls, Barbie cars, Barbie houses, Barbie friends & family, etc.
Apparently Mariah isn’t the only one indulging her collection with a room of its own.
Are themed rooms acceptable in grown-up homes or best left to those less than a quarter century old?
What’s the craziest themed room you’ve ever seen?
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Storage Solutions?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The trouble with moving on up to a more spacious abode is you convince yourself that you have more space to store things.
In reality, of course, storage space is the one thing that always seems to be in short supply.
I agonize over where to put everything from cleaning supplies to spices to winter clothes.
Currently, I have cleaning supplies tossed under the kitchen sink and the vacuum cleaner, broom and mop shoved in the hall closet and (this is really bad) the HVAC room.
I should find a way to organize the cabinet cluttered with spices to make the task of cooking less time consuming.
My winter clothes are stashed in bins in the back of my closet, as well as in the closet of the second bedroom, which also serves as a linen closet.
Clearly, I need to come up with a better system.
What has been your biggest storage challenge?
Which products or storage systems have helped you sort your stuff and keep it organized?
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The hidden dangers of furniture?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Short of it falling apart, this may be one of the worst betrayals to those who love furniture — rashes, allergic reactions and pain.
The Associated Press reported this weekend that people in France who bought certain Chinese-made recliners believe an anti-fungal chemical used in the furniture is responsible for unsavory skin infections.
Apparently the chairs were sold with a disclaimer that allergic reactions occurred in rare instances, due to the chemical, dimethyl fumarate, used to prevent mold.
I’ve been lucky to avoid furniture that causes me to itch, scratch or otherwise, but now I’m wondering about the hidden chemicals lurking in my home, like the flame-retardant chemicals in my mattress or possibly volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from my lacquered console table. (VOCS are reported to cause skin and eye irritation or cause breathing problems. Yikes!)
How concerned are you about what materials/chemicals are used in your home? Have you ever had a reaction to a piece of furniture? And do you think the sometimes extra cost of eco-friendly “healthier” home products is worth it?
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Ready for a Renovation?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In a completely informal and unscientific survey that amounts to speaking to friends, it seems that everyone is renovating their kitchen.
Even on AJC.com’s Fine Redesign, kitchen re-dos have topped the list of projects.
I actually like my kitchen. It’s the bathroom that drives me nuts.
The most annoying thing is that I saw homes with the kind of bathroom I wanted, so that was probably my biggest sacrifice in buying my current home.
The master bath is narrow, windowless and has little space to work with in terms of adding character.
My dream bath would have a European shower, freestanding soaking tub and a window, all of which could happen if I had the money for a renovation (except for the window part unless someone could rig up one of those tubular skylights).
Since we (I), am experiencing an economic crunch, all of this will have to wait. I admire those who’ve gone the DIY route to cut costs, but for me, that would be a complete disaster.
If money were no object, which room in your home would you love to renovate? How would you redesign it?
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Downsizing - in your future?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Through my job I’ve come across a number of people who, especially after their children left home, have sold their houses in favor of condos.
Their reasons vary, but often I’m told they grew weary of cutting the yard, didn’t need two or three guest rooms, or were paying to heat a house they didn’t fully use. They wanted to downsize to a smaller place and purge their furnishings, keeping only what they really needed.
It seems many of us ride the wave of house size. I’m on my way up, having recently moved from a one-bedroom condo to a two-bedroom house. And as I hope to eventually have children, I’ll outgrow my current home and need something larger…until they leave.
How many of you have or plan to eventually leave your current home in favor of something smaller? Are you already living in that petite abode and it suits you just fine?
Lastly, do many of you have rooms you rarely enter? Was it always that way, or has it changed through the years?
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Do you do windows?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There I was minding my own business this weekend when I realized that my balcony doors are filthy, which then forced me to look at my windows that (surprise) could also use a good cleaning.
But here’s the thing…
It’s not that I don’t do windows, it’s that I don’t know how to do windows. And apparently my condo association hasn’t hired anyone to do it for me. So….
I’ve figured out how to give the inside a good scrub, but how do you clean the outside of a third-floor, 8-foot window without taking a plunge?
Do I call someone? Do I find a squeegee substantial enough to extend all the way up and still allow for a little application of elbow grease? Do I not bother and hope the rain washes everything away?
How do you wash your unreachable-from-the-outside windows?
Share your strategies.
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Room envy
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As the home and garden writer here at the AJC I see a lot of beautiful rooms, and I do mean a Lot. I love touring people’s homes and seeing how they live, and feel constantly filled with inspiration that I bring home to my own abode.
For example, I was mesmerized by how designer Randall Cobb created drama in his master bedroom with wall-to-wall drapery and smart lighting.
I liked the sense of cozy coolness seen here in design maven Beth Webb’s showhouse in Lake Keowee, S.C.
Finally, how can someone see a wine cellar like photographer Denis Reggie’s and not wish they had their own glamorous vino room (and the cash to fill it with more than Boone’s Farm)?
Luckily, I love my house. It’s not huge by any means (about 1,900 square feet), but with its two bedrooms, dining and living areas, has all I need.
That said…I still imagine what room I would add if I could. I’ve already told you my plans to eventually convert the second bedroom into a guest/home office, but what would this other magical room be? Selfishly, a dressing room. And a family room would be a close second. (I want that TV out of my living area.)
If you could snap your fingers and add a niche room, what would it be? A wine cellar? Indoor pool? Outdoor kitchen?
If you’re ready for a redesign, check out these other amazing rooms:
Did you create a special space in your home? Show it off! Submit your photos.
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The Invisible Interior Designer
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I recently read an article in Vanity Fair about Nicky Haslam. He was a party guy back in the day who reinvented himself as an interior designer. But that was in 1972, a time when it wasn’t exactly fashionable to have a decorator, which probably didn’t help his business much. He rarely got paid.
Today of course, interior design is a thriving industry. Still, not everyone who has had help will offer up that detail right from the start.
We all want to believe in our innate sense of style and the ability to translate that into our homes. And we certainly live in an era of do -it-yourself.
At the same time, many interior designers rely on referrals and reputation to build a strong client base.
A friend said she recently visited a home that was beautifully decorated and during the grand tour, the lady of the house went on and on about her design strategy in choosing this piece or that color while her visitors ohh-d and ahh-d at her brilliant taste. A few weeks later when my friend was relaying the details of the home to an acquaintance, that woman said, “Oh yes, so and so did that house.”
My friend was surprised that the homeowner has glossed over or better yet, completely failed to mention the fact that she had worked with an interior designer.
Is it fair not to give any credit where credit is due? Or is it a homeowner’s prerogative to reveal what he or she wants about who had a hand in decorating his or her home?
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Atlantans spend more time in the bathroom than the rest?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta - what are you doing in that bathroom of yours? (Other than the obvious, of course.)
Forgive the intrusion; I ask because according to American Standard, (yes, the toilet and bath fixture manufacturer) Atlantans spend more time in their restrooms than anywhere else in the country. (Meanwhile, Forbes named Atlanta the No. 1 city for singles. Our investigative team is researching a possible connection.)
In a telephone poll of 1,001 U.S. homeowners, 62 percent of Atlantans said they spend more than 30 minutes in the bathroom daily, while 28 percent take more than an hour. The national average is 30 minutes daily, with 55 percent of woman polled taking more than 10 minutes in the shower, and 58 percent of parents taking longer showers than those without kids.
Atlantans said they’re most likely listening to the radio as they go about their, ahem, business, while the majority of Bostonians polled said they read magazines or their mail, while 22 percent of Miami residents surveyed said they talk on their phone.
Other highlights:
Nearly 90 percent of those polled nationally use at least one electronic device in the bathroom. Not surprising.
About 40 percent of people get dressed there.
Twenty percent sing (that’s me!), while 19 percent listen to their music via radio or iPod.
Three percent watch TV.
What else makes Atlanta special in the water closet wars? We’re second only to Seattle in how often we plunge.
Between showering and primping, I think I average about 25 minutes in my “little girls’ room.” (Though now I feel compelled to time myself.)
How much time do you spend in the bathroom daily? And what types of items do you keep on hand for entertainment? Lastly, in the midst of this historic drought, how many of you are concerned about switching to low-flow toilets and showerheads?
(Need some ideas? See this story I wrote last spring on high-efficiency toilets.
If possible, let’s, well, keep our answers clean.
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Home color - change with the seasons, trends or mood?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We see it in all the fashion mags — color trends. Purples, blues and greens (and most jewel tones) are in, and washed out subdued tones are long gone.
It’s easy to change with the fashion tides because for most of us, clothing is far cheaper than furniture and home accessories. Buying that new fuschia bag seems less of an investment (depending on the bag, of course) than switching out a comforter.
Still, I get the color switch itch when temperatures change. That’s why I try to buy large furniture in basic colors (white, cream or chocolate) and get my color fix with pillows and throws. I know some people who change their drapery seasonally, from linen in the spring to velvet in the fall. (Still, who wants to buy new velvet drapery each October when we learn our old cream velvets are out and navy is in?)
How do you keep up with color fashion in your home decor? Do you gravitate toward change when you see the latest “House Beautiful,” or keep your colors for years at a time?
And out of curiosity, how many of you fell prey to the French-inspired robin’s egg blue craze of the past few years? (OK, me too.)
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How to win a free sofa
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I am currently trying to sell my sofa.
It’s not going well.
Apparently no one wants to buy a sofa when the economy is tight. At least not my massive sofa that according to my fellow blogger has been “blocking me from moving forward, blocking my chi, and blocking pretty much every aspect of my life.
Nice.
For those of you in the market for a sofa and not interested in paying for one, Bassett Furniture is giving away one custom sofa a day for 106 days through Dec. 18 in celebration of the company’s 106th anniversary. Each day is a new chance to win.
An interactive custom upholstery tool on bassettfurniture.com allows the winner to build a sofa from scratch including the size, the style - choose from 10 options for arms, five for the back and six choices for the legs. The fabrics (750 to choose from) and the features such as welting and wood leg finishes can also be customized. The sofa pictured is a Bassett design.
If you don’t win and you are willing to spend a little cash, let me know.
I’ve got a great sofa for sale.
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Nice couch, is this dog hair?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As a little girl, I never understood my mother’s incessant shooing of our two kitties off her upholstery. “So what if it sheds?” my adolescent mind thought. “It’s just a couch!”
Nor was I bothered when Squeak, my childhood feline friend, dug her nails into my mother’s Oriental rugs, or slept in my bed or even stretched upside my mother’s chairs. (OK, OK, I understand why she shouldn’t sharpen her claws there.)
But now as an adult buying my own furniture, things have changed. I shudder when my roommate’s cat digs his little paws into my new Persian, I detest finding cat hair atop my dining table (why was he there?), and I absolutely do not let the cat sleep on or in my bed. (The hair, the dander, the bugs!)
Some people would call me shallow for keeping little fluffy on the floor, but I’m simply trying to strike a balance between two of my loves: furniture and felines.
I was reminded of why I keep animals off my upholstery when visiting a friend the other week. He lets his two giant dogs romp around his sectional, a fact I quickly realized when I sat down and was instantly covered in hair.
Anyone have good tips for keeping pets off your favorite furniture? And if not, what cleaning advice can you share?
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