Furniture Shopping - Oh Joy!
Yup, still working on the addition to our space, month three already. Patience, Holly, patience! So much for the quick little project that I'd hope to wrap up by end of January! The space is 11x18 and very bright, the walls being a simple Ben Moore cameo white with a very organic style oatmeal + cream berber carpet with tiny flecks of gray and beige, a clean modern look that doesn't show vacuum marks and cleverly disguises dirt. It also wears very well and actually looks nice, for wall to wall carpet. I preferred cork flooring, or bamboo, but for now, it's berber. Since the room is still about a month from completion, I'm slowly building a design board for the space so I can pull together my ideas to keep me focused. I'm a bit of a Santino (Project Runway) when it comes to Interior Design. I sometimes need to go to a store and browse until something hits me versus devising a plan in advance. The result is that I pluck beautiful things from a gazillion stores, throwing together things that, in the end, really don't jive together. Interior Designers are not trained to design this way, I should know better, but old habits die hard. I made myself start a design board for this room for five simple reasons:
a. to save money
b. to remain focused
c. to save money
d. to design a room that is functional, meeting all of our needs first and being beautiful, second. (vs. the other way around which is what most of us end of doing.)
e. and finally, to save money!
The room needs to be a sleep space for guests, a work space for me, a place for painting, sewing, quilting, etc. and most importantly, it must be uncluttered and attractive so that guests don't feel stressed by the room. I don't want paperwork and design notebooks distracting visitors, everything needs a place, preferably hidden.
So far, I'm leaning towards kiwi/lime/soft blue with chocolate accents and hints of coral combined with teak or a birch workstation, round coffee table, a 2 seater sofa or modern sleeper (like the logo or case study from dwr), and a few chairs. What do you think? I saw these (below) from furniture by lee and liked them, but I think I really want to go with something that will sleep guests vs. an air mattress (heh heh).
Have you visited the furniture by lee website? If not, it's a good place to start for furnishings. Some more great furniture sites, in case you didn't know already:
* room + board great all around, mid to high prices.
* mitchell gold + bob williams currently having a 20% off special order event. mid to high prices but so worth it because they last for years to come.
* storehouse a personal favorite since I love their room design pages and the prices suit my budget.
* cb2 - good budget option, as is IKEA. Online or visit their stores in the Chicago area. Fingers crossed, cb2 will branch out of chicago to a city near you!
* 2modern - a range of offerings in many price ranges, excellent customer service, free shipping, and an excellent site to navigate.
* design public - excellent website with beautiful photos and great descriptions and free shipping.
* dwr - not a budget option, but worth a splurge! If you're in Boston, pop on over to their showroom in the south end at 519 Tremont.
* picque - nicest people to deal with, ever!
* hudson - upscale. wear a bib. drool fest.
* montauck sofa - upscale. beautiful showrooms, if you're local (Boston) visit the one at 52 Boylston.
* domain - antique repros, exquisite furnishings, mid to high prices. mostly high. showrooms are inspirational.
* roche bobois - modern, crisp, clean. NOT a budget option. showrooms located all over the world, but locals can slip into their dreamy showroom in Boston at 585 Commercial Street.
and of course, the usuals like crate and barrel and pottery barn (check out their new spring bedding.), and west elm (with a new store opening in Boston this summer in Kenmore Square!)
For the locals hit:
jordan's furniture - great showroom in Reading, tons of ideas and an ice cream shop, candy store, restaurant, and a trapeze school where you can soar to new heights. (Yes, really.)
boston interiors - excellent budget finds, locals know it as the Pottery Barn knock off store, which is a good thing for budget shoppers.
the chair gallery - more than chairs! modern imported furniture, clean design, beautiful showroom in tax-free New Hampshire. Inexpensive delivery to Boston (a friend was quoted $100).
in home furnishings - jaw dropping showroom in Natick, french farmhouse styles and stunning antique repros that are perfect for the vintage modern home.
For now, I'll keep shopping.
Anyone else in the midst of renovations or selecting new furniture? If you know of any great furniture stores in Boston or beyond, drop me a line of click on 'comment' below and share your knowledge with all of us.
(photos top: storehouse. middle: furniture by lee. bottom: storehouse.)
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