July 1999
I hope this month's newsletter finds
you enjoying your summer, and hopefully you have had, or are going to take
a vacation soon. Many of you know, we just returned from ours
in the Smokey Mountains, it's our favorite place to relax and enjoy what
God has created. We had a wonderful cabin in Maggie Valley, NC with
a spectacular view, cool fresh air and birds galore. I loved the
hummingbirds, they are fascinating to watch!
If any of you get to Maggie Valley, we found a great furniture, design
showroom on the main strip called "High Country," located at
3401 Dellwood Road West, Waynesville, N.C., 28786, phone 828-926-1722
(talk to Anne); most of their showroom reflected rustic, cabin style
furnishings etc. However they had wonderful accessories and
beautiful displays. They are planning to go online this year, so
check them out.
I'm sorry to report that due to finishing the new website and vacation, we
haven't gotten the painting project in our home done yet, that I talked
about in May. I'm sure most of you can identify with that!
Where does the time go? Keeping up with our website, business stuff,
computer problems, orders and articles is keeping me pretty busy!
One of these months, I'll be able to tell you it's done and beautiful!
Hopefully very soon!
While we were in North Jamieina it led me to think about furniture, as
most of the furniture manufacturers are located in N.C., as well as the
furniture brokers. So I thought I would share some information about
furniture and purchasing through a broker this month.
As most of you know, furniture is manufactured primarily in the south,
concentrating in North Jamieina. Highpoint, N.C., is where the huge
furniture market is held twice a year, in the spring and fall for buyers
and professionals. It is not open to the public as a general rule.
Although, there are showrooms open year round in areas nearby, usually
associated with some furniture brokers or manufacturers.
When you see furniture in the retail stores in your area, the price tag is
usually reflecting a l00% markup or greater. As an example: A chest
of drawers may cost the store $250.00and the retail is a minimum of
$500.00. Obviously, when a store runs sales, closeouts etc. this
percentage may be different. Take into consideration, shipping cost,
store overhead, salesperson commission, customer service, and advertising
etc. It is certainly understandable, why the markup is so great.
After all, they are in business to make money. Most retail stores do
not negotiate their prices, but do offer seasonal sales and promotions.
Now that you understand the basics of furniture marketing, you may want to
consider an optional way to make your furniture purchases. Furniture
brokers, located in N.C. are businesses that have accounts with many
different furniture manufacturers. They are willing to sell to you,
at a small markup over cost, usually 15-20%. You will need to
provide them with style numbers, fabric choices etc. Once
payment plans have been settled they will ship the goods to you upon
availability from the manufacturer, which you will pay for. They do
not have fancy stores and salespeople, thus the overhead is lower and
their ability to sell at a reduced cost is greater.
Sometimes it is difficult to get the style numbers and information needed,
in your local stores, as they will try to protect they're source
information for this very reason. Loosing customers and sales to
furniture brokers, after the salesperson, decorator etc. has spent time
and done all the work is frustrating. Please try to be honest with
them, and do not abuse their time for this purpose.
Be prepared to pay shipping cost, which can be estimated for you by the
broker and have available help for unloading when the furniture arrives.
Discuss this and potential service needs with the broker before making a
final decision to purchase this way. It does save you money, but you
also assume greater responsibility and liability. For example: if
you incorrectly provided the wrong style or fabric number, it will be your
responsibility and expense to correct. It's entirely possible to
find the perfect furniture on sale, and the savings may not warrant the
additional responsibility you incur purchasing direct from N.C. This
method of buying furniture is not for everyone, but many of you either
already have purchased this way, or will find it a wonderful way to save
money on future purchases.
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TIP OF THE MONTH |
BUYING FURNITURE
| 1. | Know what your budget is |
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2. |
Know what your family needs are |
| 3. | Know the family lifestyle (casual vs. formal) |
| 4. | Know what style of furnishings you prefer |
| 5. | Have a color scheme in mind |
| 6. | Prepare by doing a scaled floorplan of intended pieces, or be prepared to do a scaled floorplan of furniture you would like to buy. (1/4 inch = 1 foot is industry standard) |
| 7. | Consider a furniture piece for a focal point |
| 8. | Consider a solid or tone on tone fabric for large upholstered pieces |
| 9. | Consider pattern, stripe, plaid for smaller upholstered pieces |
| 10. | Consider ordering extra upholstery fabric for a stool, bench, pillows etc. (it will help create a custom look) |
| 11. | Do not be afraid to mix woods and accent with metals |
| 12. | Consider buying classic styles, that are not trendy (your investment will never look dated) |
| 13. | Buy from reputable stores or brokers with good service policies |
I hope this helps you with some furniture decisions, and makes buying large ticket items as economical as possible. Please remember that any room or home will never look complete or well decorated without the remaining seven steps. Wall treatments/moldings, flooring, window treatments/bedding/pillows, lighting, artwork, accessories and greenery. Each element is essential for a beautiful home or room.
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FURNITURE AND DECORATING STYLES |
I'd like to provide you with some brief info on the basic furniture styles we see in today's market. This may help you define what you already have or a direction for future decorating. Most styles are either true to their original or are a descendant from it. These are very condensed descriptions, although a more thorough portrayal is provided in the workbook, "Secrets to a Beautiful Home."
Eighteenth-Century English- Formal, refined style with furniture pieces reproduced from the designs crafted in the Eighteenth century. Queen Anne and Chippendales styles are of this era. Woods were dark and often had inlaid designs etc. Colors were varied but had rich and sometimes grayed tones. This style is still very popular today and works very well in many homes.
English Country- Overstuffed comfortable furniture, relaxed and cozy ambience best describe this style. Floral chintzes, oriental accessories and a mix of patterns and colors were very appropriate. Greens, rose, blues, burgundy were all used along with lots of fresh flowers and herbs.
American Country- Originates from the Colonial period. Furniture was often rustic, and had a primitive aura, sometimes painted. Minimal furnishings, with functional pieces. Warm cozy colors, with lots of plaids and checks. This style seems to reinvent itself every 7-10 years. It is always popular and a great choice for family living.
Country French- Very similar to English Country, but the furnishings had a definite French influence. A little more curves and ornate carvings might be found on the furniture. Small prints, lace, ruffles etc. all help to evoke this style. Natural accessories, figurines, plates etc. all work well. This is a very popular style and wonderful for family living.
Eclectic- This is for the family that has a little of everything, or likes a lot of different styles. Just about anything goes! The most important thing to remember is to keep the colors consistent and unifying, so that the style and theme are held together. Most of us will fit into some aspect of this style. Not many rules here, have fun!!
Southwestern- Originates from the American Indian and Mexican motifs. Simple, sparse furnishings, and colors taken from nature best describe this style. Overstuffed sofas, large chairs, big coffee tables, heavy texture and weaves are all important. Iron, native objects and plants all work well. This style is more popular in the west for obvious reasons, although I have done several S.W. design projects for customers in Florida.
Victorian- A period of time from 1837-1901, which covered the reign of Queen Victoria. Furnishings were very opulent and eclectic. Marble was used lavishly on tabletops. The colors were rich and deep with lots of pattern and embellishments. Collectors enjoy this style as if provides a wonderful setting for all their treasures.
Contemporary- Clean lines, simple furnishings, bold color and great accent pieces are essential to a good contemporary room or home. Abstract and geometric patterns are often used, although, pattern is very minimal and accessories are dramatic important pieces. "Less is more" is appropriate for this look.
Traditional Country Cottage- An eclectic mix of American, English and French country styles. Pastels are most often used. A cheerful and comfortable ambience is a trademark of this style. This style is very popular today, with many furnishings in the stores appropriate for this look.
Traditional/Classic Elegance- This style is elegant and derives from the Traditional and Eighteenth Century motifs, although it is not as serious and formal and they were originally. Most any color scheme works very well, and a mix of fabric patterns is always great.
Transitional Style- This style is a blend of contemporary and traditional, creating a style all its own. It originates from the Eclectic style. Most anything goes! It's great for the lifestyles of today's families, with function and practicality being a priority.
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WEBSITE UPDATE |
This month we will be adding a section on Frequently Asked Questions for Decorating. Our current FAQ (Products) will remain to assist you in making decisions regarding our products, but the new FAQ will cover common and complex problems you may face while attempting to decorate your home.
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THE WINNER IS.... |
This month, the winner of our free
gift is Shauna from Spanaway, Washington. She was selected in the drawing
for a fee gift, and will receive one Color Scheme Guide ($19.95) of her
choice. Shauna chose "J" - Hunter Green, Burgundy, Blue (jewel
tones) from the 18 listed on our Website at: http://www.decoratorsecrets.com/
We sell these Guides for this incredibly low price, but they are really
valued at more than $500., which would be a typical starting fee for this
service.
I hope everyone has a great summer and 4th of July weekend.
HAPPY DECORATING!
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