JANUARY-A TIME OF REST AND RENEWAL

All living creatures need time to rejuvenate and contemplate and prepare for their future endeavors. January affords us all that chance. It is interesting how the calendar runs in ebbs
and flows and we gear up for one special times and then lay low and sit by the fire and prepare
for the future. January affords us that chance. Christina Rossetti , 1830-1894, poetically
depicted the months and their personalities and one can sense the times of peace and of
frivolity. The months and seasons are a great way to look at our years as they fly by and they
are a perfect time for us to hone in on aspects of our home décor and furnishings and how they
relate to the world in which we live. Here’s Rossetti’ swork.

January cold desolate; February all dripping wet; March wind ranges, April
changes; Birds sing in tune to flowers of May and sunny June brings the longest
day. In scorched July, the storm clouds fly; Lightning-torn August bears corn;
September fruit; in rough October earth must disrobe her; Stars fall and shoot in
keen November; And night is long as cold is strong in bleak December.

In January at At Home, we clean out the old and get ready for the new. We are
attending three markets this month and next and so a lot of new product will
be arriving in February and early spring. International markets allow us to see
what is new and trendy and to appreciate the good in the old. We go to classes
to learn about what is going on in the furniture and décor world and will always
plan to offer Second Saturday workshops on what we learn. We look forward to
visiting with other wholesellers and retailers too and keeping up with the home
furnishings world. So now, we are baring our walls of art and furniture so you will
see bargain prices as well as our every day lows.

If your home is feeling or looking tired and you are looking for renewal, come on
in or give us a call. We offer a terrific decorating service. We can come to your
home for $75.00 and give you an objective viewpoint and advice or suggestions
for “spiffing” up the place. Or we can come do the spiffing up and charge you for
the items and furniture that, after five days, you choose to keep. Folks love this
service and we have enjoyed success doing this. We have years of experience
doing this and promise you that you will not be disappointed!

See you soon @ At Home!

It’s Just Furniture!

This month’s blog has absolutely nothing to do with this wonderful holiday month. In the retail world, we are about a month ahead of the calendar and so we are a little tired of Santa Claus and all the beauties of the holiday. Of course, after we get our own homes decorated, we’ll get our spirit back.

However, I am writing about the “spirit” of buying and getting furniture into your home. Furniture is and should be an emotional purchase. We all need to buy only what we love and what will comfort us and “work” in our home to keep it the special place it is …with all its history, personalities and purposes. So, it is understandable that we want the furniture purchase and entire transaction to work perfectly. Normally, that is exactly what happens; however, it is not always that way. The furniture world is an imperfect one involving folks like you and me and wood and other products that have inherent weaknesses sometimes.

Specifically, I am referencing the fact that furniture comes into our store or warehouse…sometimes later than it should, sometimes with broken or imperfect parts, sometimes sporting the wrong color and sometimes not showing up at all etc. etc. etc.

When that happens, some folks say, “It’s JUST furniture!” but others have a near heart attack. It is more than bad at this time of year when the relatives are coming, the neighbors will be visiting, your mother-in-law is picky, etc.etc.etc.

Yesterday, the day before Thanksgiving, we had a couple of instances (close calls.) The answer to one was the customer using some chairs from our store because hers were stuck in traffic on a truck in Hayward and another understanding and agreeing to keep her old “stuff” until Monday. Wow…did we appreciate these folks.

We AT HOME try our hardest to be accommodating but acquiring furniture is a complex situation. Orders go through two or three or more people, some of whom do not speak the same language and usually there is a fax machine involved and we all know that the fax is not faultless. Most furniture travels a long way to Modesto and is transported sometimes by boat, train, truck (usually more than one) and is moved numerous times, sometimes in and out of up to three or four or more warehouses. Truck drivers themselves have numerous “situations” to face as they bring goods to our town. Is it any wonder that there are occasional problems?

Things happen, though, that are ridiculous! Like we had a sofa delivered this week with one arm cushion missing. Now, that is a big deal if your mother-in-law is coming and heaven only knows where the heck the cushion is. One might say that that is unacceptable but what are you supposed to do? We can hardly go screaming at the guy in LA who left it on the warehouse floor or is it on a truck somewhere or did they forget to make it? Who knows? Thankfully, the new sectional owner was super nice and not that upset. We do have exceptional customers who are usually VERY appreciative of anything we do to ameliorate situations. Actually, I think our customers understand that we do not have total control of the entire transaction.

Anyway, hope folks understand that we try to deliver quality goods in a reasonable time at a wonderful price. If we are not able to do that, we hope you understand and are able to reply…”IT’S JUST FURNITURE!!!” Happy Holidays!

NOVEMBER…A time for others

This month was the ninth month in the old calendar that started with “novem” for nine.  This is the month of short days that started with the autumnal equinox in September and November has always stood for a time of thinking and caring for others.  It starts, of course, with All Saints’Day on the first and All Souls Day on the second.  These follow Halloween which also celebrates creatures and people of other worlds who return to earth or have left earth forever.  November also celebrates Sadie Hawkins, the folk legend who went after her man and got him to marry her.  Many folks still think this is the day for women to be aggressive and find their mate.  Her day is the 9th and on the 11th we honor Veterans who have served our country.  November 30 is St. Andrews Day; he is the patron saint of Scotland so the Scots wear blue and white on this day. 

This month is the month to bring family and friends together and share a meal that is beyond compare.,  The tradition is important in this country as this was the time when peace was harbored and captured between differing factions.  Now days we celebrate with a huge meal, a football game and time spent with loved ones often including non family members also.  We want the house to seem peaceful and at rest before the December festivities.  Browns and pumpkin oranges and golds and the colors we find in the leaves and these bring warmth to our homes.  We need to use these colors in throws, pillows and fall décor.  Nothing looks neater than a big orange pumpkin sitting on the counter in a big old bowl.  One needs simply to look at nature and bring that into the house with floral arrangements or simply gathering leaves and berries and putting them on surfaces in the house.Now is the time, too, to rearrange furniture allowing for more seating or an easier flow.  Do not think that there has to be a steady traffic pattern and that you need bowling lane pathways in your home.  People should have to maneuver a bit to get around.  Otherwise, your environs will seem commercial.  Try to arrange your furniture campfire style.  Father furniture around an ottoman or a table that is accessible to all.  Aim for a circle, just like a campfire and bank tables or cabinets that do not involve people sitting and visiting on the walls around the room.  You will love this arrangement for the holidays!  Seats on upholstery or wood chairs should be arranged so that there is flow and you could actually draw smooth curved lines on the floor between the seats.  Hope that makes sense to you.  If a seat is out of the circle, the person who sits there is obviously “out of the loop.”So, here’s hoping your family comes home for the holidays and that your days are so grand that you cannot wait to be thankful.  Thought I would share this tidbit that I found somewhere.  With I knew the author so I could share that too.  This is such a sweet sentiment and it is exactly how I feel as a grandmother thinking about the kids coming home.

Come in the evening or come in the morning.
Come when you’re looked for or come without warning.
Hugs and kisses of welcome you’ll feel before you
And the more you come, the more I’ll adore you.

Have a wonderful November!

MOST OFTEN ASKED QUESTION…

Instead of the SEASONAL look at this time of year and how to express that in your home, I decided to address a question I am often asked in our furniture store.  Actually, last year’s fall blogs are on line right here so you might check those out if you’re interested in Halloween or this beautiful month of October in your home.Anyway, as to that most often question,  I was asked it just this morning and the question in, “ How do you know where to start?”  Many folks, especially at this time of year, are redoing rooms or even larger areas and sometimes, entire houses.  They feel overwhelmed and truly do not know where to begin.  Here is a thumb nail plan. After the architecture is there, one has to look at the space and decide how to use it best.  I always ask, “Where is the focal point?”  “How will this space be used most effectively and yet still be pleasing to the eye and welcoming and comfortable?”

Often times, the first step is PAINT!!! 

Paint is relatively inexpensive and I suggest that customers remember the general rule to use darker colors as you walk deeper into the space.  So, an entry way probably should not be painted a darker color than the back wall in the family room.  After that, I simply go to the nearest paint store and gather samples of colors I love.  I juxtapose them remembering that some complement others and that one should tie together everything with neutrals that are not likely to fight other colors.  So, I choose a MAIN color and then I go a little wild and do things with different walls but still try to remember to let things flow…like a river with its ever changing colors and ways but its ever present mystery and personality.

Then, one needs to remember balance and choose pieces of furniture that will function together and create a family.  Usually the television rules and gets the prime spot and if there is a fireplace, hopefully there is space near there for the TV.  Then the next most important thing is the sofa or sectional and that is a heavy piece that, with a sofa table or art behind it, will balance out the fireplace or tv.  From there, I find other upholstery first and then wood or other material pieces that will create a CIRCLE of FRIENDSHIP—like the campfire in the center of the caves of our ancestors.  One wants to create living spaces that are not only pretty to see but friendly and welcoming and most of all comfortable.  Folks need to be able to see one another and feel safe and warm.  There are tons of rules but who cares about that if you love the way the room looks and works.  Probably, though, do NOT put a sofa directly in front of a window!!!

After getting the bones in place (furniture and especially upholster) the designer needs a rug, a mirror, a clock, some art, some textiles, some plants or trees, and above all, some cool lamps that light up each section of the room.  And that’s it!  Actually, I do believe that doing this is an art.  Some people have “it” and others simply do not.  We all have our gifts!  You can pay a lot of money to have someone who has this gift help you and often times, you can enlist friends or others who can help.  If you do NOT know what to do and are stumped by your space, come on into At Home furniture and we’ll give you some ideas!  We also have a decorating service if you are interested!

SEPTEMBER SONG

SEPTEMBER SONG

by Susan Fenton

OUR SEPTEMBER CASTLE

We toil all day to build our castle,

The place where we feel our best.

And when we get there we break the bread,

Taste the wine and get some rest.

 

And now September’s singing her song,

Flying colors of gold and red,

A shorter sun and a windy chill,

Friends’ and family gatherings ahead.

 

It’s time to gather the grain, stay still-

And watch for the winter gray.

We toil all day to build our castle

But anytime, it could blow away.

 IT’S FALL, Y’ALL!!!

Time to CREATE, PROSPER and APPRECIATE  because the cold of winter is coming.  September sings because…

September’s Song

September’s Song is a beautiful one.  It is of reaping the benefits of all the planting and sowing that has happened since early spring.  This month is a time of rejoicing for a rich harvest that will get us through the gloomy, gray and grainy winter.  Folks love this month and all this season which officially starts on the 21^st.  Fall or Autumn is folks’ favorite time of year because we can rest knowing there is enough food  in the fodder for the winter and we can hunker down and enjoy the fire with our loved ones.  Sounds good, huh?  So happy fall y’all!

Getting the house ready for the season is easy.  First we need to replace or bring back the candles, pillows, throws, foliage and all other soft goods that we took out last March.  At my house, all the white and lemon colored candles are gone and now the candlestands sport a beautiful fall color that looks like suede and then there are the wonderful flameless candles that actually look like they are burning.  Those are a rich cranberry color and they are perfect on the mantle where I do not want an open flame.  I returned two fur throws and fur pillows to the sofas and they feel pretty darn good.  I removed any semblance of white daisies, spring greens or summer reds and yellows  and brought in fall colored sunflowers and berries…gotta get those berries out.

My grandmother once told me that unless one had berries on the tables in the fall, the family couldn’t guarantee they’d get through the winter.  Guess berries guarantee us nutrition and strength and so they need to be in your home by September 21.  That is the day of the Autumnal Equinox when the day and night are equal in length.  And following that on September 29 is the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, the keeper of the north gate.  It is said that on that day, he fought the devil and won and banished the devil and sent him flying to the bramble bush.  That is where Uncle Remus got the story of the Tar Baby (black as the devil) and his descent into the briar patch.  Fascinating!  Wanna hear more about that legend, just write me at susanfenton@comcast.net.   These changes you need to make are not huge and they do not prepare us for deep dark cold.  After all, September can remain very warm.   However, just these hints of the season will let your heart know that it is soon time to sing the September Song.  Next month we’ll really hit the fall leaves and other signs of the season.

TO MARKET, TO MARKET TO…

BUY, LEARN, COMMUNICATE, MAKE AND SECURE CONNECTIONS, MEET NEW PEOPLE, ENSURE “SITUATIONS” AND TO ENJOY TIME WITH FELLOW MARKET ATTENDEES.

We will be at the World Market Center in Las Vegas the first week in August and then return home to attend the San Francisco Gift Show the following week. We usually leave California for other gift shows but this year we are staying local.

Staying local is one of the things we will learn about. It is called the 3/50 Project and we are anxious to help promote the idea. The point of the 3/50 Project is to generate enthusiasm for shopping locally and spending $50.00 a month at three locally owned stores in the consumer’s area. Shopping locally keeps the money in the community. One hundred dollars spent locally allows $68.00 of that money to stay in the  community. Shopping BIG BOX stores generates only $43.00 for the community. At market, we plan to learn how to promote this project thereby aiding our community and hopefully, our own business too.

Besides attending class on the 3/50 Project, we will go to design classes, trends classes, color classes and also classes on business practices and furniture facts. When we aren’t doing that, we are walking over 50 miles of hallways lined with goods to entice us. We buy goods for the holidays and we look for new and interesting furniture and accessory pieces. We also have a list of items customers are anxious to have in their homes and hope we find at least some of them. Our market goods will start arriving about August 22 and will be in our store and on the floor by the end of the month. Halloween goes up about September l5 and Christmas will go on display November 8. We already have some Christmas ordered and promise you a wonderfully warm and interesting holiday look that is affordable.

So, we are off to market and have you all in mind as we shop and get on top of the furniture accessory world for the rest of 2011!

THREE WAYS TO MAKE YOUR HOME MORE COOL…taking your pad from bad to rad!!!

It’s July and everything is happening outside. This is the perfect month to clean out inside, get rid of excess in every room and even make things look a little sparse in your home. If you do that, you will feel cooler and calmer and besides, you will have room to make your home warm and comfortable come the end of August.

Three ways to cut clutter and make things more lean are:

LIMIT GREENS (live or otherwise and including trees) to THREE per room. That is too many for many rooms and though green soften hard lines, they can look like dusty, old, out of season remnants. So, clean the ones you keep but throw away the ones too old to ever look new again…you know which ones should go!

 CLOSET or GARAGE SALE anything on surfaces that numbers over THREE. Knickknacks on tables should never be more than three. Throws, pillows, etc should not be more than THREE on upholstery unless they are an integral part of the piece. Three things on most shelves are enough. ABOVE kitchen cupboards should be cleaned out…three different things per section look perfect. For instance, you might have a plate on an easel (counts as one), a green branch and a good looking bottle or finial. Why not leave thwem bare for two months and see if you don’t like the look? Most of what you have on surfaces should be seasonal also. This is no time for fall arrangements, anything wintry looking or even spring “stuff.” Bag it and hang it on a nail in the closet!!!

CHANGE YOUR WALL DÉCOR and keep it simple. Unless it is a wonderful thing that you love to look at all year long, take it down and put up something lighter, more soft and not quite so warm in color or in composition or overall feel. Black and White looks great in July and August and less is more. You will enjoy looking at something different for a couple of months. Try it.

Good luck making these easy adjustments for the warm months ahead. Your home now needs to be cool…just like you, right?

June is here!

A very old tradition in Europe and early America was the celebration of Midsummer Night’s Eve.  On this night, June 21, the longest night of the year, the fairies are said to come out of hiding and become visible to us.  One would have to stay up all night to see the fairies though so the tradition was to leave some tea and berry jam and small cakes out for the fairy feast and they in turn, would leave brightly wrapped fairy presents for the children.  Even if one doesn’t believe in fairies, there does seem to be a magical feel to this time of year.  It is a time of warmth with a bright and welcome summer sun and a time for gathering with others in celebration of this season.
 
So it is in our homes.  We need to create cool retreats for all those who live here.  Just as the fairies love hiding in the shade of tall leafy plants, we humans want to reside in cool comfort.  If it is time to buy new upholstery for your abode, now is the time to buy.  THERE ARE THREE RULES FOR BUYING UPHOLSTERY.  The first is to TRY IT ON!!!  It is very difficult to choose a sofa, chair, loveseat or chaise without sitting in it.  If that is impossible, be certain that you get the measurements for your new furniture and try sitting in pieces of those exact measurements.  Depth is hugely important.  You do not want to feel like a bird on a wire but your knees should be able to be near the front end of the cushion.  If you are short and your housemate is tall—you must meet the medium, as you probably have to do all the time anyway.  The second rule is to ask about warranty.  A sofa often has a “life time” guarantee.  That means the life time of the sofa which is seven years.  That usually guarantees that the frame will not break.  The cover is usually guaranteed for only a year and sometimes the foam or cushioning is guaranteed for a year or two or three.  Know what you are buying!  The third rule has to do with the fabric.  Choose a fabric that has a good “hand.”  That is, it should feel good when you run your hands over it.  It should have some personality…that is, you should be able to LOVE the way it looks.  Think carefully before buying rayon, acrylic or polyester as they may pill or break.  Remember—do NOT use a large pattern on a small piece.  When you pick your fabric, be certain that its “personality” matches yours!!!  You will be living with this upholstery for about seven years, so you want to make sure that you get along!!!  Happy June!

May Day

May 1st, is a holiday originating in England and with the Royal Wedding recently, perhaps there is still time to celebrate.  When I was a kid, some 70 years ago, we celebrated May Day by gathering flowers, making baskets for them and putting them and fresh cookies  on the front porch of neighbors and friends.  It was especially good to hang them on doorknobs.  Ice cream cones filled with flowers and tied with a ribbon make fine May baskets.  Delivery was very early in the morning.  I believed then that it was to celebrate this merry month of flowers, light, friendship and good will.  Later, I always put some sort of May basket on my kids’ doorsteps as a welcome in the morning but then let the habit slip away.  Think I will revise it this May first.  Life is a celebration, after all.  We need to create joy whenever we can.

I am doing a lot of in home decorating right now as people are a bit tired, I think, of their inside environment and are looking to dress things up a bit.  Many folks are moving too, some to bigger digs and others of course, just to ease money pressures.  At any rate, we all are looking for comfort and warmth in our homes even if the weather is changing and warmer days are ahead.  I find a very basic dilemma folks face is placement of furniture and accessories.  Furniture must create a BALANCED room.  We need to remember to BRANCH.  That is, what is on one side of the room needs to reach across to a brother or sister on the other side.  If the fireplace, a massive thing, is on one wall, the opposite wall needs to be home for another massive piece, a credenza, a tall bookcase, something that is as weighty as the fireplace.  The big pieces need to be placed first and then little guys can join in.  Often times the sofa faces the fireplace (hopefully, it is near the TV so there is only one focal point). That means the sofa faces it but behind the sofa you need a piece of furniture that can “branch out” toward the fireplace.  Most folks have a piece like that.  If not, one could use art, a tree, screen or something else that is high and appears heavy.
 
Accessories need to be placed in threes: three textures, heights and shapes.  Too many things on a surface just muck up the look.  Keep your accessories to a minimum and put away all the winter appearing accessories so they can come out again in the fall.  Now is the time to lighten up; bring our some pastels, some lightly wavy things that appear appropriate to this merry month of May.  Pastels, ribbon, flowers, greens, ferns, things to do with your mom and grandmom and also your ancestors.  After all, the last day of this pleasant month is Memorial Day, time to remember our dead.  Happy Mothers’ Day too to all of you are moms or mother someone or something!!!