Windows: here's some answers to your questions

Art and Surf is a beautiful modern residence designed by Steven Harris Architects and located in Montauk, New York.

 

If you build a house like this one, you aren't worried about privacy or any of the other obstacles even a small 24" X 36" window can have.  However, now that I have your attention----let's talk about window questions from the everyday homeowner.  


Question #1. I want to enjoy my view during the day, but we need privacy at night.     If you want "total" privacy or room darkening abilities, you will need something that is raised or opened during the day to see outside.  Room darkening usually requires a special fabric lining, wood blinds or shutters (but there may be some cracks of light), or cell shades with the foil lining inside the shade (not visible on the outside).  Also check out the answer below about Nantuckets and Silhouettes.  They are available with a room darkening vane.  Woven woods add a texture and natural look to your home, but do require a lining for privacy.

Bamboo shades with blackout lining.  Provide total privacy and sun control.

  

Question #2: I need some privacy during the day, but still see if someone pulls up to my home.   Your decorating style will have a lot to say about this answer.  Many things can fall into this category, and some depends on the "level" of privacy desired at night.  If it is total privacy, we are back to the answer in question #1.  There's also the option of having a two layer approach, with the first layer being a sun-filtering option, and the second layer having the blackout ability.  If you don't mind your neighbors seeing a light on in your home, there are some semi-opaque shades in many different styles that would work for you.  Also, for a more traditional look, there are many fabrics that allow sunlight (sheers) but when pleated and hung at the window, provide a level of semi-privacy.  You need to see these fabrics in person to appreciate them.  It's difficult to photograph!  Hunter Douglas has their Nantucket and Silhouette shades that will also provide filtered light and privacy all in one shade.  They look great alone, but can be used with other decorative treatments.

From the Hunter Douglas website.

Question #3:  I don't want to hide my transom/arch, but we can't see the television, and I'm afraid the sunlight will fade my sofa.  What can I do?  We've said it so many times, it sounds too simple, but the easiest fix is tinting your windows.  No, it doesn't look odd, and you won't even know it's there unless you get the super-duper/heavy-duty (not official names) tinting level.  In Joplin, we send out customers straight to Tint-n-More.  It is a great "first line of defense", meaning that it adds an extra layer of protection to anything else we add.  Some windows, and those facing the west are the biggest offenders, just need more than one layer of protection.  If you get a lot of sun during a small portion of the day, this might be a fix for you, too.  Not every window needs a treatment, but you could use the UV protection.  If you aren't in our area, checkout Vista Window Films for your problem windows.  

Case Study: Interior Designer: Jamie Drake, ASID, from the Vista website.

 

 

 
 Question #4:   Wow, why are window treatments so expensive?  Yes, they are, and your oversized windows are going to be more than you expected.  It all adds up, and quite quickly!  Unfortunately, the builders get to you first, and decisions are made, budgets are exceeded, and there you are:  beautiful windows that need a treatment.  Cheap hardware and wimpy curtains are going to take away from that wonderful home you now have.  We advise our clients to go a step at a time.  Don't ever try to plan it all in a day!  Work on the most important room, first, which may be the bathroom because of privacy!  When you see the quality that custom work provides, you'll be ready to move forward as your budget allows.  Please, if you have a budget, let us know at the beginnning.  We can tell you what is/isn't possible, and we'll only look at our choices within your budget.  The options are less, but that's not a bad thing---it helps keep us all focused and makes the decision making a little easier in a lot of cases!  Sometimes special hardware doesn't call for expensive fabric, but something simple, and vice versa.   And, if we do quote a price that is outside your budget let's sit down and decide if there is another fabric or brand of hardware that could be substituted.

Unknown original website.

 

The room in the above photo could have been accomplished in several steps.  The woven shades would have been the first layer, along with the furniture.  The addition of the area rug, lamps may have come into play before drapery panels.  Wall art and throw pillows are one of the last additions to bring the look together.  Obviously, this homeowner was partial to their well worn leather chairs (or maybe re-upholstering is their final step!). 

 

 

Color Report from High Point

Global Views in High Point

It was pretty obvious that "Tangerine Tango" was Pantone's Color of the year.  Most of you may not care about the current colors showing up at Market but we truly enjoy seeing the new color trends.  It was refreshing to see the gray showrooms punched up with the bright colors this year.  Previous markets have been displaying gray-on-gray with no added colors.   While this look may be considered restful and calming, we found it to be boring and dull----but we live in SW Missouri!  Possibly an ocean view could encourage an entirely different interior decorating scheme.  What is your opinion on decorating to your geographic location?

Back to High Point and our report on color.  Take a walk with us through market:

Highland House Furniture

Wildcat Territory bedding

Duralee

Duralee

Duralee

Duralee

Sherrill Furniture

Duralee

Haeger Pottery

The photos speak for themselves.  You might notice we have a lot of pictures from the Duralee showroom.  If you've ever been in the shop and looked through some of our fabric books, chances are the Duralee fabrics caught your eye---they just have great colors.  The trendy colors of fushia and the bright oranges are perfect for pillows and throws, or tabletop decor.  Small doses of such saturated colors make them less of an investment, and easy to live with.   It'll keep your home looking fresh and new, and not stuck in a time warp.  If you're building a new house and want to incorporate the new colors, go for it---paint is one of the less expensive ways to make a statement.  

Come by the shop and find a bright color to add to your home.  It'll make you smile! 

High Point, here we come!

Pam and I have wanted to attend the market at High Point for about 5 years, now.  That's how long we've been in business.  We are finally going, and we will be there for four full days.  That sounds like a long time, but take a look at this map:

When we go to Dallas market, we easily spend 2 full days in one building!  I honestly don't know how we'll do it.  We don't want to miss anything, but I don't think we'll last long in a dead run, either!!!   Cute shoes are losing out to comfortable shoes, for sure.  

Watch our facebook page for updates during the week----that is if we aren't running too fast to post something.   We do have some of your phone numbers in case we feel the need to send you a photo of something you might not be able to live without!  You can still text us your want list, too.  

The shop is closed next week, April 23-27.  

Check in the following week to hear about our adventure in High Point!!!

Birds: real and otherwise

 If you've followed our blog for the last couple of years, you know our dove family.  They originally built their home above the front door---but moved to our unused planter outside the upstairs door.  It seems they've given up on the decorating and building, and have simply just used what was there!  It happens to the best of us!

 A new collection of birds can be found in in our display from "Wishnest".  The tiny artwork is a hand sculpted pewter cast of birds and nests.  The artist, Alise Sheehan, has created these as a" reminder to be thankful and conscious of our blessings, dreams, and wishes and also of the importance of our connection to nature."  A Wishnest set would be a thoughtful housewarming or graduation gift.

  

 These elegant white porcelain ceramic birds would be a nice addition to stained shelving.  They look great with all decor, and really brighten up those dark areas that other objects tend to get lost in.

 There are several styles of pillows available in the shop featuring birds.  You can choose a dressier embroidered pillow or a casual block-print. 

 We just received the beautiful solid glass birds.  They could serve as paperweights or just a pretty addition of color to your cocktail table.

 Peacock feathers are hot right now.  Their bright colors are found in almost every type of decor and in the newest fabrics.  These screenprinted pillows are rectangle in shape---harder to find than you might expect!

 This metal wall hanging has a real "nature" feel to it!  

In addition to the single white bird statues, we have these pretty white planters that are designed to look like a nest with two birds sitting on the side.  

If you need to add a touch of nature to your home, look through our selection of bird decor, you're bound to find just the right addition.

Advertising for a home decor shop

OK, feedback is appreciated.  Here's the latest photo we are using for advertising.  The Joplin Globe will run this on Easter Sunday, and we are crossing our fingers people will notice.  What are your first thoughts when you see this photo?  Does it entice you to drop by the shop, and if not, what is it that drives you to go shopping?  Inquiring minds want to know!

 Not shown are the more personal items we keep for frequent shoppers and gift-givers:  bath and body fragrances, candles, jewelry and scarves, and purses.  Yep, we've even go those in here.

Drop by and take a look, we have been getting additional items each week.  If you need/want something unique your first stop should be MLI!

Don't forget to keep up with us on Facebook, you'll find the most up-to-date info on there!

More bedding from Lili Alessandra

If you thought gray was meant for cloudy skies, then you need to look at our newest Lili Alessandra bedding.  The Silk and Sensibility line of bedding is a great start for this silver/gray and blue bedding.

Here's a picture from their website showing the reverse:

We mixed in some pillows from the Jackie Jacquard blue silver bedding:

And added a little bling with the crystal-laden pillow!

Here's the website's photo of the Jackie duvet and some other pillows from Lili Alessandra.  We do have the textured one on the right, in stock.  You can ask for it by it's nickname "fluffy".

Oh, did I mention all this bedding is from the "Easy Care Washable" product line??!!  It's beautiful and useful---the best of both worlds.

Large windows and Kirtz shutters---a great solution!

If you thought your ranch style home wasn't a candidate for shutters, think again!

 This same window style is found in so many homes, not just ranch style homes.  It does make you scratch your head as to how to provide privacy, place furniture, and also manage the sunlight.  It is next to impossible to cover such a large expanse with drapery panels---the weight of the yards and yards of fabric would be very difficult to open and close.  Not to mention making furniture placement even more difficult.


The previous owners had 3 sets of 2" white blinds---what a mess of slats and cords that was.

Our client needed something to provide privacy, but easy to manage, and also something to act as a good insulator from the sun and the cold.  There really wasn't a better choice than these 4" louvered shutters.    The trim you see around the window wasn't there until the shutters were installed.  Also, the stain color was perfectly matched to the window sil, already in place.   It was all part of the custom made shutters from Kirtz Shutters.

Plantation shutters from Kirtz can be stained or painted.  They do a wonderful job of color matching, so no more just finding something "close" to your trim color.  Visit their website for more information and photos, then come by MLI and let's talk about your window possibilities.

Color Trends from the Dallas Market

One of the best things to do in this business is just to stroll through the market halls and admire the showroom windows.  In Dallas, the large showrooms do some of the best displays.  Global Views always does a great job showing us the upcoming color trends.  I thought I'd share them:

Bright turquoise with a dose of green.  With a rug like this one, white furniture is the ticket.  Now to keep it clean . . . .

More of the same colors in accessories.  They added a touch of yellow in the mix.

Orange was big in several showrooms.  Global paired it with gray and a grasscloth wallpaper.  Notice the drapery fabric is really traditional but the furniture is much more contemporary.  The new color in the fabric keeps it modern.

The same yellows mixed with the bright green for punch. 

A classy mix of grey and glass.  You could really change the look with just a couple of pieces in another color.  This would be a great starting point, or it's a great look by itself.

One last color trend we kept seeing was cobalt blue.  This bedding ensemble was in the Codarus showroom.  It's the newest from Lili Alessandra.

We are always happy to discuss your color choices.  Make an appointment with MLI before you choose your paint color!