At the Toms-Price Wheaton store we’re about to begin renovating an older section just in time for our hundredth anniversary. Like a new kitchen or bath remodel, it will cause people to adjust their routines and tolerate the noise and obstacles that will come with it; but no one doubts that in the end it [ read more… ]
In a strict sense, foyers have very little functional value. You don’t sleep, eat or relax in them. Their original formal function — a place to be greeted and announced by a servant — has devolved into a pass-through, a place to drop keys or a backpack on the way to the kitchen, where real [ read more… ]
The world outside our front doors is full of abrupt transitions. Conversations cut off by a ringing cell phone, client meetings running up against soccer practice, steel and glass structures side by side with historic buildings; maybe we crave a little downtime.
We need a little breathing space, a neutral zone where we don’t have to pursue an activity but can simply adjust. Maybe we should linger a little longer in our foyers, look around, set down our loads and say “It’s good to be home”. The two photos have furniture from Baker.
Have you noticed all the color in your life lately? Orange and blue ipods, hot pink razor phones; washers and dryers in candy apple red, black or blue; even lawnmowers and garden tools are dressed out in sunny yellow and shiny green. Why all the intensity? Why all the brights? Attention, of course. What better [ read more… ]
Don’t be afraid of bright color — just use it judiciously. A few pops of persimmon in a sand-hued room, for example, can turn nondescript into sophisticated without a lot of undue expense. Contrasting a bright color against a subdued one will enhance the appeal of both. You can vary the tones and textures of [ read more… ]
A sure harbinger of fall is the first high school football game of the season. Sitting in the stands on Friday nights, watching the sun set through the broken clouds and feeling the first hints of crispness in the air, I find myself projecting into future fall rituals — pumpkins, mums and cider, outdoor fires [ read more… ]
This is the Chino chair from Stickley. Very relaxing. Sometimes looking forward to fall is better than living it. After all, it also means leaf raking and putting lawn furniture into storage. Before the mums can go in, the annuals have to come out. Still, I hope I never lose the little thrill of looking [ read more… ]
It’s that time again. No more halter tops and sparkly sandals — now it’s all about layers and tweeds. No more sprawling on the deck and sleeping in –– now we have schedules and snapping to attention. Cider and ginger cookies will show up on store shelves and in furniture, the popular item is LEATHER.
There’s something about leather that’s very autumn feeling. Maybe it’s the aura of the clubhouse after a good day’s hunt; maybe it’s the warm natural colors. Whatever your reasons, buying leather represents an investment beyond fabric upholstery and it’s worth understanding what you’re buying.
