Nichols & Stone, the only sizable furniture manufacturer still operating in the "chair city" of Gardner, is poised to quit making products from scratch.

Nichols & Stone is a premier manufacturer of furniture and the only sizable furniture manufacturer still operating in the "chair city" of Gardner, Massachusetts.

"Theatrical color can distract from flaws. Confederate Red draws the eye from the unassuming laminate cabinets in this rental kitchen."

Posted by Kerstin

I can't afford much in The World of Interiors May issue.

That doesn't stop me from drooling over the thick glossy pages of images that range from a custom Louis XV Dishwasher-and-sink unit or a sleek Jean-Louis Deniot club chair ( U.S. price: 7,400, without fabric).

But, I don't close it feeling depressed. Why? I found some inspiring ideas and affordable finds.

This palace room, painted with clouds and gold leaf lightning flashes, is not in my future. But, the look has inspired me to make some bolder color choices.

I plan to scour flea markets and kitchen-supply stores to find copper pots to make a shelf or narrow wall like this one at a palace in Portugal.

Instead of paper napkins or the usual washcloths, I am ordering these vintage towels that look like they were given to me by a French aunt.

Honestly, I've never been a fan of cactus plants. But, I've changed my mind after seeing them in these charming, slightly chipped mugs. Now, I can have a green spot while recycling those cups that are unfit for guests.

 

http://treehouse28.etsy.com

Chic cushion
Woven of natural abaca, the Aqua Bead Circle pillow from Palecek showcases an embroidered bead design ($138).

GOBLET-SHAPED VASE
with Brushed Silver Trumpet-Style Base and Turquoise, Beige and Chocolate Finish, 5.5"D x 11.25"H, For Decorative Purposes Only, Glass, Brass, BB, Cs pk/4, ©2008, CBK Exclusive SUG. RETAIL $60.00.

WAVE-SHAPED TRAYS
with Light Blue and Light Green Reactive Glaze Finish, Set of 2, Lg: 20.75"L x 4.75"W x 4"H, Sm: 12"L x 3"W x 3"H, Ceramic, BB, Cs pk/4 sets, ©2008, CBK Exclusive SUG. RETAIL $34.50/ea. tray.

Have a voyeuristic itch to scratch? We do — peeking into homes far more luxe than ours is both a pleasure and tease. Happily, we found a new source on line for some mighty swanky kitchens. Over at epicurious.com, they’ve posted a few video tours of some famous kitchens of people we’d love to have dinner with (especially if they were cooking). Our favorite is Isaac Mizhari, who gushes about all of his kitchen accessories, including bowls from Target, a chic (Alessi?) bread box and his espresso machine. Click here to hang with Isaac and see more.

Posted by Katie

Soon the warm, breezy days of spring will give way to the hot, humid days of summer. Unless you are opting for a Mia Farrow cut, you will need something to keep your locks from going limp.

One solution? a ponytail or bun with some glamour.  I give my elastic hair bands an upgrade with a simple and inexpensive accent: buttons. The ones below were found at Lou Lou Buttons in New York City, but there are other sources such as Tender Buttons, M&J Trimming, or Great Buttons.

They're a cinch to make with the right materials. You will need elastic hair bands, available at any drugstore, jump rings in brass, silver or gold, and a pair of needle-nose pliers. Your fingers or tweezers will do in a pinch.

Simply bend open the jump ring with pliers and attach hair elastic and button (remember the jump ring will need to be big enough to fit around both).

Then, close it up and you're ready. Since there were no hair models around the office, fellow blogger Kerstin and myself opted to show you a few of my favorite creations.

Posted by Lisa & Rena

We are so excited this week at Rare Device because we just got a fresh shipment of tote bags from Transylvanian Images. They are a green company that imports hemp bags and other items made by Transylvanian villagers.

The totes are made from vintage grain-sack material that was hand processed, hand spun, and hand woven from organic hemp. The fabric content varies from a makeup of 100 percent hemp to a blend of 80 percent hemp and 20 percent cotton. Best of all, they are machine-washable.

The color options are wonderful. It is a tradition in Transylvania that each village woman weave her fabric with a different stripe color so that she will be able to find her sack at the mill.

Great for beach, farmer’s market, and general toting around, you can find our Transylvanian Images totes in our online shop.

True Green: Lessons from 1960s?-70s? Counterculture Architecture by Alasdair Gordon at Architectural Record takes a look back at the roots of green architecture (and lifestyle) by revisiting Drop City, Paolo Soleri’s Arcosanti, Bucky Fuller’s geodesic domes and more. A good read.

It seems that when you are a celebrity you know everything, or at least media shows that you know everything and you can do anything easily. For example recently actor Brad Pitt has signed on as the designer of a luxury eco-friendly hotel with Zabeel Properties, that will be built Dubai. The project, which aims to be an “environmentally sustainable” 800-room luxury property, will include Pitt as a designer working with GRAFT. “Whilst acting is my career, architecture is my passion” said Brad in a statement. Now I know that an architect has to study hard for about 6 or 7 years in college, to be able to create something, and  I really hope Brad isn’t the lead architect on this thing. It’ll probably collapse whilst they’re working on it. Finally I think that the company that started this project got Brad Pitt involved in this project for a big boost of publicity and not really for his designer services. What do you think ? Via Telegraph and People.

Post from: Interior Design, Home & House Design, Furniture

From Janet:

The Italians and their kitchens. The Fires Line cooktop by Italian kitchen system designer Binova is especially appealing. Featuring a single row of burners, the cooktop is perfect for a narrow countertop. It can be centered on an island (out of reach of children’s hands) for easy access from either side.  Just approved for the US market in the last six months, it costs approximately $3,500. View the entire Binova line here. Contact USA dealer Haute Living at (312) 329-9000 for pricing and ordering information.

I used to love shopping for stationery… But I swear the cash registers at Target and Trader Joe’s are the only places I check out in person anymore, mostly due to my 3-foot shopping companion, whose idea of fun is removing absolutely every product from the shelves. Trust me, this type of behavior is not conducive to picking out a belated birthday card. Then a few months ago, my favorite stationery designer Cheree Berry told me about Redstamp.com, an online boutique that truly mimics the go-to neighborhood stationery shop?where the owners source all the best current designers (Cheree, of course, plus Thomas Paul, Snow & Graham, Egg Press, Russell + Hazel, Night Owl Paper Goods and dozens more), and will actually talk to you in person if you have pressing questions (no 1-800 number here).

As busy moms and business women, the owners Erin and Renee understand that service is as important as style, and that’s where Redstamp soars in my book. You just can’t top their “send for you” service, where an anonymous someone with impeccable penmanship will hand-write, hand-address, and mail your cards for you. Definitely worth an extra $5 if that belated birthday card is at risk of hitting way-beyond-belated status. ? Megan K.

I really went gaga over legendary magazine editor Mary Jane Pool's apartment that was featured in the March Domino. I thought it was such a beautiful mix of graceful antiques, 20th century pieces, and gorgeous fabrics and wallpaper. So, while I was reading Tiffany Taste(aka Table Settings of the Rich and Famous) the other day, I came across a chapter on Ms. Pool and her style of entertaining.

According to the book, Ms. Pool has a fondness for all things Venetian (this is confirmed by the Domino article, which notes that Pool has a decent sized collection of 18th and 19th c. painted Venetian antiques). For a summer lunch, Ms. Pool would likely start with a salad of shredded celery, mushrooms, Gruyère, white truffles, and a vinaigrette of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The main course might be a pasta gratinée of green tagliarini, béchamel, prosciutto, and tomato. For dessert? Chocolate twigs or truffles, grapes, or strawberries accompanied by mandarin orange tea. Oh, and no wine- "nothing dangerous"- with lunch, only San Pellegrino. After all, when you're an editor of a magazine, you have to stay on your toes!

What I enjoyed most were the photos of Pool's Sutton Place apartment circa 1986. Author John Loring wrote that Pool "knows as much as anyone about the domestic pleasures that make life sweet." I wholeheartedly agree.


What a sumptuous mix of yellow satin curtains, yellow walls, and red satin(?) chairs. In fact, those chairs appear to be the same ones that were featured in Pool's Olympic Tower apartment, although at that time they were covered in orange cotton pique. The mirror is 18th c. Venetian. And notice the pedestal table, which Pool still owns today (see image of Pool at top). According to Tiffany Taste, the base is in the shape of a neoclassic Italian urn.


Another Venetian piece- this time an 18th c. painted commode. The tea service is Royal Berlin, and the silver Tiffany basket is filled with chocolate twigs.


Tiffany's classic "Chrysanthemum" flatware and "Nymphalidae" dessert plates adorn the table. Strawberries are nestled in a Tiffany sterling basket.

(Image at top of Pool- photographer Annie Schlechter)

today i’m running around like a crazy person trying to meet some print deadlines, finish a few website projects and get everything ready for our trip to savannah this weekend. what i could really use right now is a 20 minute break in one of these chairs with a big cup of tea. sadly, there will be no tea for me this morning. but if you have time to take a break, i highly suggest checking out these gorgeous cameo campaign chairs from anthropologie. they look like a lovely place to take a quick time out.

Cole has launched his new website!

http://www.colescegodesign.com