So Many Showrooms, So Little Time

One week from today, Liz and I are off to the High Point Furniture Market once again. The world’s biggest furniture show. I thought I’d revise our post from last spring, giving you a glimpse of the possibilities that lay before us.

Thanks to Blogger Habitually Chic for this Shot of the Hickory Chair Showroom

The High Point Market is so big that you could not possibly visit all the showrooms in a whole week of dawn to dusk shopping. The map below shows the red line & green line bus routes that haul market goers around to various showroom buildings.

You would think that map would cover the whole market but there are numerous outlying showrooms that are anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes away from downtown. There are a total of 180 showroom buildings. It’s a 15 minute drive to the Lexington showroom shown below.

One of the coolest buildings to see is called Showplace.

We spend a lot of time at Market Square which was a huge furniture factory converted into showroom space for hundreds of companies.

But the Big Kahuna is the International Home Furnishings Center (IHFC) group of buildings. Its where the 2 bus routes intersect. It really is 6 buildings all at least 11 stories high. Here’s the outside of the Commerce wing entrance to IHFC.

Commerce Entrance

Here’s a typical floor plan for just one floor. To give you a sense of the scale the IHFC contains 7 million square feet of showroom space within it’s 12 floors. The pink area is the Commerce Wing the outside of which was shown in the picture above.

The best advice for any market attendee is wear sensible shoes.  Here’s some advice for proper market footwear. (If I could only convince Liz)

Preparing for High Point Market: 6 Tips for Comfortable Shoes from TheHome.com on Vimeo.

We plan to post pictures on our Facebook page as we explore. Like our Facebook page to glimpse the Wows we find. We’ll be in touch from Market.

Back to Basics III – Scale and Proportion

We’ve covered the Elements of Design in the last two posts, now let’s look at some of the Principles. Today we’ll look at Scale & Proportion.

Scale and Proportion

Scale is the actual size of an object, pattern,or space. Scale and proportion go hand in hand.  Proportion is the apparent size of an object in relation to other objects. A large object may appear small next to other larger objects.  Likewise a small object may appear large in a small space.

In our most recent “Rustic Contemporary” space, created by Linda, notice how the cocktail table and chairs are the perfect proportion for the sectional.  Large overstuffed chairs would have made the sectional appear small and insignificant.

Notice how the length of the cocktail table is the  perfect scale  to the width of the quilted leather sofa and the width of the cocktail table is  the perfect scale  to the width of the chair.  A square cocktail table just wouldn’t have been right!

Sometimes its fun to break the rules and use an object that is totally out of propotion to the space its in.  We are more likely to see examples of this in individual objects but let’s what we can find.

Wow – that is one big flower!!!!

The proportion of these water hyacinth chairs is exaggerated to create a comfy enclosed seating arrangement.  You don’t generally see arms this high – almost as tall as your head!  If you are little you can hide in these chairs.

Now that is one oversized light fixture!  It is so playful it really really works!

Love the big lamp in the corner but the tub in this bathroom feels out of proportion to the vanities and lamp.

 

Several years ago I was in New York and they were installing these lamp shades in a hotel lobby – now that’s ONE BIG SHADE.

We are going to take a look at balance next but in the meantime take a look around your house.  Are your furnishings to in proportion to the rooms?  Can you exaggerate the scale of something to create to create that “WOW” factor or introduce an element of surprise?  Send me your pictures

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Back to Basics II

In the first Back to Basics we covered 3 of the Elements of Design – Space, Form/Shape, and Line.  Now let’s explore the last two - Texture and Color.

Texture refers to the smoothness or roughness of a surface.  It has dimension, form, tactile sensations and a temperature.  How can texture have a temperature you may ask?  Well, depending on what it is it will introduce a warm or cool touch to a room.  Rich wood, fuzzy fabrics, stone, will bring a warm touch to a room.  Stainless, glass, marble, lacquer. smooth shinny things  bring a cool touch.  Let’s look at some examples.

This powder room is a great example of several textures.  The stone wall adds so much dimension to the space and contrasts beautifully with the smooth wood of the mirror and counter top.

Hair on hide combines visual and tactile texture.  Oh the examples here are endless!

The hair on hide rug atop the sisal, combined with leather sectional -  this room is oozing texture.

The smooth stone, imbedded with Swarovski crystals, has so much visual texture you’ll have a hard time tearing yourself away.

Our new faux leather area rug has an interesting “bumpy” texture as well as a glamorous sheen. Notice the great contrast between the rug and the cocktail table.

These unique zipper pillows combine smooth and rough textures.  Your friends will be saying “Wow, where did you find those?”  You’ll reply “At Stange’s of Waupaca” of course!

More pillows and rugs on display at Stange’s.  You can invite them in to your home for a punch of color and texture.

COLOR

Color refers to hue.  It can be the result of pigment (such as paint) or light (such as the sun).  Color can saturate a room or be the accent.  It can be subtle or bold.  No matter what it always brings life to a space and can be lots of fun to play with.

This is a great example of having fun with color.  The hot pink just brings this room to life as the color contrasts with all the white.

This stunning living room uses blue as an accent.  It would be easy to change out the color if you felt a desire for change.

Here Mother Nature provides a vivid blue sky to contrast with the orange chairs, an ever changing color scheme as the day moves in to night.

The walls in this bathroom bring it lots of personality.

The terra cotta is very subtle in this room, giving it a serene feeling.

The soft oranges/terra cottas in this bedding ensemble have such a restful quality.

P.S. Available at Stange’s

Next we will look at the Principals of Design – Scale, Proportion, Balance, Rythm, Emphasis, Variety and Unity.  Be sure and stay tuned!

Back to the Basics

The Elements and Principles of Design are the foundation or buildng blocks of Interior Design.  How many times have you seen a space that is really put together and thought  ”Wow that is really nice, how did she do that?”  Elements and Principals are second nature to designers.  When you study a space and discover the Elements & Principles iincorporated into the design you’ll soon realize that designer really knew what she was doing!

ELEMENTS OF DESIGN

Space

Space is defined by walls, funishings, ceilings and other devices such as screens and columns.  Space can be open as in a large empty room or closed as in a small closet.

In this example the railing defines and separates the dining area from the living space while still leaving it open and free flowing.

In this bedroom the ceiling seperates the seating area from the sleeping space.  The lower height also makes it a nice cozy place to enjoy the fire.

Here the change in floor height as well as the short wall, which also serves as the back to the sectional, defines the living room.  Isn’t this a great room?

Space can also be positive or negative.  Take for example a bar stool.  The positive space would be the wood and legs plus the upholstered seat and back.  The negative space is the opening or empty areas between the seat and the back of the chair.

Form/Shape

Form refers to three dimensional structures, like a cube or a pyramid, while shape is the two dimensional counterpart to form – seen as squares and triangles.  Both form and shape can be rectilinear, angular, or curved.

The circular form of the chandelier creates a real focal point in this dining room.  The table repeats the shape and the soft curves of the chair backs make them appear to form a larger circle around the table.

The lamp, a compostion of circles – very unique.

In this room more rectangular and square forms dominate the space.

This dining table from Century combines circles, half circles and rectangles all in one spectacular table.

Then check out the top of the table – a square veneer pattern.  This table has it all going on!

The circular shapes amid the square tiles creates a very interesting foyer.

The circular shape of the bar stools, island and light fixtures contrasts the more rectilinear cabinets and wndows.  Great juxtapostion of shapes.

Lines

A line is the connection of two points.  It can be straight or curved.  Straight horizontal lines create a feeling of restfulness, security, and weight while vertical lines have a feeling of strength and formality.  Diagonal lines suggest movement and energy.  Curved lines are soft, flowing, and graceful.

We looked at this room earlier for an illustration of Space but the strong horizontal Lines anchor the living room further defining the space.

This is a spectacular wet bar - strong horizontal lines and vertical/angular lines suggesting strength and movement.  A great compostion to balance the stone fireplace.

The curved line of the column contrasts with all the straight horizontal lines of this room, without it this room may seem a bit too strong.

The white horizontal lines against the wood grain wall create a focal point for this lounge area.

In the next Back To Basics we’ll look at the final two Elements of Design – Texture and Color.  Stay tuned.

Its a Natural

Our featured artist, Arlene LoPiccolo, has just finished a painting that she thought (and I agree) would fit in beautifully with this post.  Take a look and let me know what you think.

Just take a look outside at nature’s color scheme. A beautiful blue sky combined with every shade of green imaginable.  Add  the colors of the ocean on a warm sunny day and you’ve got blue/green covered.  This translates in to one of Spring 2013′s hottest color stories. You’ll find it popping up everywhere.

The ottoman fabric, almost a modified flamestitch, stands out beautifully against the white coverlet.  The wall color is one you’ll see in the Caribbean on your spring vacation.

Boy/Girl?  Works for either one.  What a fun way to brighten up a baby’s room.

  Today’s nurseries don’t have to be all teddy bears and puffy clouds.  Give your baby a sophisticated look with a hip chevron pattern.

And the color scheme moves right in to toddler-hood.  In fact you could use the dust skirt fabric from the crib to make pillows for the bed.  Re-purpose – absolutely!

Floral arrangements make a unique statement with blues and greens.

One of those florals would have fit beautifully in this room.  I have to say the drapery panels are my favorite thing in this room.  How about you?  What do you love best about this room?

Imagine yourself sipping your morning java in one of these scrumptous leather chairs.

Fingernails certainly aren’t just red anymore!  Bobbi form Sasseez has all the latest color for your nails.

 This area rug combines these squares, all different shapes and rug textures, in to a real statement for you home.

Watercolors create a serene composition while combining complimentary (colors opposite each other on the color wheel) and tertiary (primary colors mixed with a secondary) colors.  Now that’s a mouthful……or a beautiful  picture.

                       Apparel fashion plays a big role in this Spring 2013 color scheme.  Visit Panache and see what Deb has for your new spring wardrobe.

Show us how you are using blue/green this spring.  We’d love to see some of your photos.

Leather 101

Throughout the history of mankind, we have used leather to protect us from the elements. Leather provides strong yet supple covering for our furniture that will outlast fabric 3 to 1.

Most leather for furniture comes from cowhide. It’s a by-product of the meat industry. It allows us to create valuable products from something that would otherwise be wasted. Only about one third of all leather hides are of good enough quality for furniture. Furniture requires large pieces without open scars manure burns and other imperfections. The vast majority of leather furniture found at Stange’s comes from the top 15% shown in the pyramid below.

While some will use the split cowhide lower cuts shown below, the fattier tissue of splits lacks the strength & resilience of top grain leather. When you see a price that looks too good to be true, the furniture might be split cowhide.

Now through March 18th, acquire  warm supple long lasting leather seating for less during Stange’s Free Leather Upgrade Event

A Pane in Your Arches

While Arch & Quarter Circle windows are a great look from the outside of your home, they can create a problem inside when the sunlight streams in. A glare across your TV screen during a Packer game will cause Dad to mutter frequently.

In the past we’ve had some window treatments that would cover the inside of the window but then the window was permanently hidden behind the treatment.

Each half of the arch is drawn independently so you draw only the side producing glare.

Dream up any window covering. Chances are Stange’s has already put in something similar. With nearly 61 years in business, we’ve designed & installed an array of unique beautiful functional window treatments.

Do you have a problem window? Send us a picture. One of our designer’s will help find a solution.