New Items in the Showroom in May

By: Andrea Schuch

Elizabeth Marshall Zebra Box
571-15-13102

I can't believe May is already over! I feel like the month just began. We received several new accessories in the showroom just this past week that are beautiful! Anytime we receive an Elizabeth Marshall shipment, it's always worth looking at as their items are wonderfully crafted and a great addition to more formal rooms.
We received this stunning box that caught all the employee's eyes before it even hit the showroom floor.



Elizabeth Marshall Mirror Top Box
571-15-12827



I immediately spotted this mirrored top box, it has some painting on the mirror that makes it really unique.



Elizabeth Marhsall Mahogany and Gold Oval Tray

571-99-12824

This oval tray is so charming, traditional in style but very unique in design. The gold flowers on the sides really make this tray.


We also received in a few new fabric books from Clarke & Clarke. This fabric line tends to lean a little towards the transitional with their fabrics and wall coverings which is why the new Nostalgic Prints collection caught my eye - it's cover has a very traditional rose print but as you leaf through the other patterns, they mix the traditional with transitional with patterns like polka dots, bright eye catching stripes and a modern take on a mini floral. My favorite in this collection is Teacups. These prints would be great for a girl's room but I can also see them being used in a kitchen and an assortment of other rooms.



Clarke & Clarke's new pattern:
Teacups in color Apple

There are also several new and fabulous fabric patterns from Vervain: Karma, Shalimar and La Boheme all worth checking out! Unfortunately, the images have not been uploaded to their website yet but you can see them all in our showroom - just look for the "New" tags on the wings in the Fabricut room.

Happy Small Business Week to All!

By: Andrea Schuch
I recently joined the SBA group on Facebook and was excited to hear that last week was Small Business Week. If you read this blog often, you have probably figured out that there a system to what kind of posts I post in which weeks. Well, this time, I'm bucking the system - in your honor of course. Most of our designers (and our blog readers) are small businesses themselves and I think it is so important to honor all of us as we continue to plug along as owners, bookkeepers, salesmen and women (usually all at once). There are so many things in small businesses that go unrecognized and I would like to take this time to recognize you for all you do. While Small Business Week was actually last week, I think we can still celebrate, right? Small Business Week has been celebrated every year since 1963 to recognize the contributions of small businesses to the well-being of this country. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, small businesses also create 60-80% of new jobs in the country - go us! And while there is actually a convention that converges in Washington DC every year, just because we aren't in attendance doesn't mean we can't celebrate - right? So give yourself a pat on the back and make sure you eat a nice big piece of cake!

Interior Design & A Great Non-Profit - A Must See

By: Andrea Schuch

Something I don't often do on this blog is promote other companies or events in the area. I try to save my "promoting" for special things or things that I really care about. I think this is one of those special times... Every year, the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago has it's designer Showhouse and Gardens in Lake Forest, IL. This year, they took over the Thorndale Manor and Coach House. This house was commissioned in 1916 by a railroad tycoon with 25 rooms including six bedrooms 19 acres of land. The 5,500 coach house, also included in the tour has five bedrooms and a courtyard overlooking gardens. This three week event (April 30 - May 22) is the largest fundraiser for the chapter and attracts roughly 10,000 visitors yearly.

The thing about this showhouse is that it bridges two areas of work: interior design (and landscape design) and charitable causes. I am a big fan of participating in local non-profits which why I suppose I am the outreach coordinator at CDT. I think this is just the perfect match for us and even just visiting the showhouse will support this great cause. The IWS provides health care to the uninsured and under insured women and children who would otherwise lack access to basic medical care.

Tickets are $35 at the door or you can purchase them online at a slight discount. Make sure you get it in your schedule soon because it is only open for one more week!

It's Time to Get Back to Basics!

By: Andrea Schuch
Once again, the first week of the month rolls around and it's time to improve our business skills. There is such a plethora of business articles but sometimes it is difficult to find one that relates to the design business. We have such a little niche that not all business theories apply to our companies. I found this article by Dana Borowka that I enjoyed, not only because I thought it was useful because it talks about how quality and customer service are of great importance but it also is very upfront about how difficult it is in today's economic market to ensure your company's vitality. Read on to hear how to change your vantage point and gain some priceless information.

By: Dana Borowka, MA
There seems to be a great amount of underlying fear and tension in many organizations right now. You can see it by watching the news or talking with people. Many individuals are asking, 'Am I doing enough to prove my worth?', 'Will we make it through these tough economic times?' and the questions go on and on. A long time friend and experienced business person once told me that when things aren't working like they used to, then something needs to change. He shared the definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Sometimes by just making a minor change or seeing things from a different perspective can make all the difference in the world. In the movie, Dead Poets Society, Robin Williams' character asked his students to stand up on their desks and look around the class room. His point was to do what it takes with your immediate resources in order to look at things differently to change your vantage point.

In today's business environment, we always need to take a fresh look at how we do things or service our market place. It doesn't take a big budget to do so. Many times just going back to basics and taking the complexity out of a situation can provide new and exciting ideas. Let's take a look at some of those areas that you can explore with your team:

* Focus - Instead of focusing on the fear, be open and brainstorm with others on how to be more efficient, to reach out to others internally or in the market place in order to do the best job we can do and then go beyond norm. That doesn't mean to work yourself into a frenzy but rather to listen - to be open minded - to gain empathy - be compassionate to those who need a helping hand - to focus on what is the primary need today and - to be flexible to see what might be needed 6 to 12 months down the road.

* Appreciation - A simple thank you can go a long way. Showing appreciation for others can help them to feel valued and encourage them to open up so that they can share valuable ideas that they have to offer. Saying thank you to the delivery person, a client, a truck driver, senior management, or a business owner is a wonderful thing to do. Everyone needs to be shown appreciation because everyone has something to offer. That's right - everyone!

* Customer Service - Always keep your customer in mind. If for one moment anyone in your organization is putting the internal process over the customer's needs you have a problem! The process always needs to first meet the customer's needs. Otherwise you may not have a customer to enter into the process in the future. Every contact needs to be friendly, warm and value driven - those three points will create a retention environment as well as positive word of mouth. A number of years ago, the airline industry did a study that showed for every dissatisfied customer, that customer tells 300 people about the incident whereas a good experience is only shared with 30 people. We need to work really hard at providing really great experiences!

* High Quality - Whether you are in the service industry or manufacturing, everything we do is of the utmost importance. It reflects pride, respect, value, honor and yes, appreciation for the recipient. It demonstrates concern and trust for those who have entrusted you to help them with providing a service or a product.

We'd love to hear from you regarding other qualities that can be added to the list of 'basics'. These ideas may seem very simple, but sometimes as the saying goes, less is more, and the simple ideas can be the most transforming ones. At your next staff meeting, test out the waters... ask some questions around these four areas and see what kind of response you get. Here are a few questions:

* How have you shown appreciation to others recently?
* What is your key focus for the next 30 - 90 days?
* What is your key focus for the next 6 months to a year?
* How is the quality of our work doing?
* How do we know if our quality is as high as we think it is?

Those are just a few questions that can be used as a spring board to explore the basics of doing business in today's environment.


Permission is needed from Lighthouse Consulting Services, LLC to reproduce any portion provided in this article. © 2011

If you would like additional information on this topic or others, please contact your Human Resources department or Lighthouse Consulting Services LLC, 3130 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 550, Santa Monica, CA 90403, (310) 453-6556, dana@lighthouseconsulting.com & our website: www.lighthouseconsulting.com


Lighthouse Consulting Services, LLC provides a variety of services, including in-depth work style assessments for new hires & staff development, team building, interpersonal & communication training, career guidance & transition, conflict management, workshops, and executive & employee coaching. To order the book, “Cracking the Personality Code” please go to www.crackingthepersonalitycode.com.

Outdoor Living with Bonnie Kovacik of BK Designs

By: Andrea Schuch
I had the opportunity to sit down with Bonnie of BK Designs and talk about the outdoors. We, as designers, often concentrate so much on the interior that we forget that the exterior of a home is just as important and an equal opportunity for a sale. The elements are the same: color, furniture, accessories - but the outcome is very different. A lush garden can completely transform the curb appeal of a home and many people love outdoor living in the warmer months, whether it's dinner on the patio or sharing stories with friends around a fire. Bonnie, who is an excellent gardener herself, shares her success stories about getting clients that had admired her own gardens and what she feels the trends are in home exteriors.



Bonnie Kovacik of BK Designs
Photo courtesy of Jen Jeffs

 AS: There was a time, not too many years ago when houses seemed to be growing and yards shrinking, I feel like they may be staying the same size now but the yards gardens seem to be growing and making houses look so beautiful lately. Do you see this trend and what do you attribute it to?
BK: In a fast paced world, we are all looking for places to find peace and quiet. This has been the trend in home decorating and is now beginning to move to our outside spaces. The garden has become the go-to place for entertaining family and friends. The shift is towards casual gatherings, from barbecuing on the grill, garden parties, bocce ball, drinks on the patio or just sitting around the fire pit gazing at the stars, enjoying good conversations. The creation of an outdoor sanctuary brings peaceful respite for the family as well as a wonderful space to share with friends.

AS: What is the easiest "curb appeal" fix to help a home that you have used?
BK: I could write a book on curb appeal. I have been known to knock on a stranger’s door to ask "what is the name of that fabulous color on your door?" In effort to be concise I will say that whether your budget is $100.00 or thousands, there are always things that can be done to spruce up the exterior of your home. Think about adding a fresh coat of paint, or a simple fix of updated door hardware and house numbers, new cushions on your outdoor furnishings, or fragrant plantings around the front door. Outdoor lighting is another great way to add instant charm, just be sure not to line up the lights along your driveway, it may be mistaken for a 747 runway at O'Hare. The benefits of hardscape cannot be overlooked. When you are looking to bring in texture and interest, it could be as simple as a few well-placed stepping stones with a bit of creeping thyme growing between them to complete the makeover of the existing area. Whether you live in an arts & craft, cottage or a mid-century split level, it’s always exciting finding that inspiration that creates curb appeal that brings pride to the home owner.

AS: I have heard you have held several garden parties in your garden, how do you translate yourinterior design to the exterior for temporary party use?

BK: For me having a garden party just means that instead of eating in the dining room, we are dining on the patio or under a beautiful canopy in the yard if the group is very large. I am an avid collector of beautiful vintage tableware and I love to share these with my guests. For me the elegance of a striking tablescape dressed with lovely linens, china and crystal, adds an element of enchantment in an era of paper and plastic. What guest wouldn't be enthralled to be called to dine in the double splendor of a garden in its peak of perfection in summer at a table dressed up in its finest?

AS: What kinds of furniture and accessories do you utilize most outside?
BK: I love attractive tableware and I love quality vintage pieces for their detail and beauty as well as the value they offer when compared to modern ware. If you can be patient, the local flea markets, antique stores and thrift stores are a trove of often reasonably priced one-of-a-kind accent pieces, and vintage patio furniture. (One year I was at the Sandwich IL flea market and found a beautiful 1940s Woodward patio table and chairs that actually came from New Orleans. The name was forged on the bottom of the chairs). I love using these pieces in unexpected places to bring surprise and interest to visitors, whether it be an interesting willow chair set in a flower bed to be taken over by an exuberant vine or a wonderful antique wrought iron gate that inspires the entrance to a beautiful garden area.

AS: What do you enjoy most about outdoor living?

BK: I enjoy everything about outdoor living, from working in the garden and talking to strangers who pass by and stop for a chat, to sitting quietly on my patio or porch with a cup of coffee and a good book. Mostly I enjoy sharing the fruits of my labors with my family and friends. We enjoy eating wonderful meals on our patio and taking in the essence of a warm summer evening.

AS: Do you get a lot of leads for design jobs based off the exterior of your home?

BK:Yes, we live on a corner lot and my garden is surrounded by a beautiful white picket fence. Our neighborhood has sidewalks so we have a lot of foot traffic. One day I arrived home to find two women on my front porch. They had many questions about my decor and many compliments. I get jobs from people who live around my neighborhood and through them, referrals to others.

AS: Do you help others with their exteriors and how do you stress how important the exterior is?
BK: I often help my clients with their exteriors. I find my extensive experience as a gardener myself is a very valuable asset in offering advice on improving my clients’ exteriors. I have first hand knowledge in choosing plants and dealing with nurseries for hardscapes and softscapes. I find that once my clients and I have dealt with their interior design, their focus often turns to the exterior where my love of gardening and decorator’s eye are a natural fit in reflecting the importance of exterior design elements and the overall inspiration of the home.

New in the Showroom in April

By: Andrea Schuch

A few years back, I went to a great furniture sale in Crystal Lake that had so many refinished items as well as antiques and things. My husband is in the navy and loved a model ship they had. Unfortunately, the bidding went too high and I told him it couldn't come home with us. But... the other day, we got these awesome ships in our showroom! I love them and just as they were making their way out onto our showroom floor, Vicki was placing them in the great display of "Americana" right in the center of our showroom. Everytime I walk past the display, it makes me smile and think of summer time - maybe a visit to a lake-side cabin? You will see several other new items in this display:

We also just recently had a visit from Matthew Bryan and Katie Harker of Robert Allen who showed us all the new spectacular fabrics from Robert Allen and Beacon Hill. They also premiered the new drapery hardware collection from Robert Allen. You can now see these boards on display in our showroom. A few collections have remained from previous but there are several great new collections! Make sure you schedule a visit to the showroom to see these great collections.

Make Sense Out of Repeats

By: Andrea Schuch
I noticed a comment on our blog a month or so ago from Patricia Wendell, who operates her own work room, regarding repeats and drop matches. I had already been thinking that I should do a post on this so the timing couldn't have been better. I asked Patricia to help us out and she did! She spells it all out for us bellow, she also tells us how to visualize these repeats better which will help us all calculate our yardage a little better. Thanks Patricia for all the help!

By: Patricia Wendell

STRAIGHT MATCH, AND DROP MATCH REPEAT


A pattern repeat is the measurement from the top of one whole pattern motif to the top of the next, or from the middle to the middle, i.e. vertical or horizontal repeats. If you don’t know how to correctly plan the repeats, you will end up with too much fabric, or worse—not enough to do the job. Figuring exact yardage calculations is a job best done by your workroom expert, but it is good for designers to get the gist of it.

A drop match repeat, aka half match, is when a pattern does not match itself at the selvages when cut straight across. The fabric repeat has been dropped by one half at the other side of the width. Every other cut will be the same. (See example drop match.)




Drop matches aren’t always indicated on the swatch, but you will see it in a virtual view. Figuring yardage for a drop match is just like figuring yardage for a straight across match, except there is an extra step. After you have multiplied the repeat size by the number of repeats needed, you always have to add or subtract ½ of a repeat. If subtracting ½ a repeat results in less inches than you need for your cut lengths you would have to add the ½ repeat instead.

A pattern repeat with a straight match is when a pattern matches itself at the selvages when cut straight across. This is way more common than a drop match. (See example straight match.)




VIRTUAL PATTERN REPEATS

Ever wish you could see a full width and long length of a patterned fabric, instead of just one repeat? Being able to do that makes it easier to determine whether the repeat will be a straight match, or a drop match.

Here is an easy way to make a virtual cut & paste mockup using an accessory program called Paint in Microsoft office suite.

1. From vendor website, find the screen showing the particular fabric’s photo of the repeat, width and horizontal and vertical repeat info. Notice how many times the repeat divides evenly into the width—that’s how many copies of the repeat you’ll need to virtually make a whole width. Notice whether the fabric is railroaded (run sideways off the bolt) or cut upright.

At the same time Press Ctrl + Prt Scr to copy the screen. It disappears to the clipboard temporarily until the next step.

2. Open the Paint program and Paste the image by pressing Ctrl + V. Save it and Print a copy for your workroom. See #1 (Specs). Don’t clear the screen yet—we will be manipulating it in the next step.

3. Click on the dotted box tool (select) which will allow you to isolate the photo of the repeat including the inch indicators. Copy the repeat (Ctrl + C). Open up a new Paint screen and Paste (Ctrl + V). Copies pop up in the upper left corner of the work area. Click and drag it to middle for now. See #2 (PR Grid).

4. Click on the dotted box tool again to isolate the fabric without the inch indicators and Copy (Ctrl + C). Click, drag, and pattern match. Keep copying and pasting until it’s a full width (usually 54”) and longer than the cut length of your project. To move the copies, click and drag them into position, making sure the pattern matches. See #3 (Entirety).

By attaching this info to quote requests, your workroom pro can more accurately figure yardages, and also provide valuable technical advice and input for your custom designs.

You can contact Patricia at Patricia A. Wendell Workroom, 630-910-9752, http://www.patriciaworkroom.com/ or email at: patwendell@aol.com.