New designs for tablecloths, napkins, guest towels

Hen House Linens has new tablecloths, napkins, guest towels, and other household essentials. It suggests mixing and matching the new patterns in the Spring 2012 collection, or coordinating them with a other patterns in the line.

Spring 2012 offerings include: 

Bargello Navy. A retro take on Hen House Linen’s classic Bargello Grass print, this spring pattern features bold royal blue in a rolling geometric pattern. Equally eye-catching as a cocktail napkin or on a pillow, Bargello Navy works well with another spring selection, Fern Orange.

Spot On Lime. This lime shade offers a sophisticated approach to playful polka dots, and will definitely liven up a dining room as a tablecloth or placemat. Pair it with Spot On Raspberry, part of Hen House Linens’ original collection, to jazz up a springtime table setting.

Fern Orange. An intricate arabesque pattern, the burnt orange hue of this delicate design provides just the right amount of an exotic touch

Bold Stripe Navy. A striking combination of blues, orange and lime, this versatile pattern is the perfect backdrop as a tablecloth for rainy day dinner parties or for a sunny Saturday picnic.

Decorating ideas to warm up every room in an apartment

The following was submitted by Apartment Finder.

President of Apartment Finder, Marcia Bollinger, offers the following low-cost but high-impact solutions to warming up every room in your apartment:

In the living room

·         Get some candles or potpourri in the scents of the season. Think spicy, rustic, with a hint or cinnamon, nutmeg, or citrus. Just be careful not to have too many scents, or you’ll be overpowered with fragrance.

·         Replace lightweight, summery curtains with warmer, heavier drapes in a color that suits the season, such as burgundy, orange, green, gold, or brown.

·         Add pillows and throws to the couch and chair – think rich, warm fabrics such as chenille and cashmere.

·         Even swap out wall decorations – take down the beach print and hang a painting of a cozy cottage.

In the kitchen

·         Add candles with delicious scents – such as freshly-baked cookies - to warm up the kitchen.

·         Add textures such as a throw rug, slipcovers on your barstools, or some thick placemats and linen napkins with decorative napkin rings.

In the dining room

·         Find a warm tablecloth in a deep red, teal, gold, or green. If you can’t find a tablecloth, try using a blanket. 

·         Make a centerpiece for the table: find a rich-hued charger, place a pillar candle in the center, and surround the candle with pinecones or cranberries.

·         Add small throw pillows to your dining room chairs.

In the bedroom

·         Trade your lightweight spread for a thick down comforter. Add several extra blankets in complementary colors and load up the bed with plenty of pillows.

·         Swap lightweight curtains for thick, warm curtains in here, as well.

·         Think natural and add rattan, wicker, and wood decorations.

·         Swap out your summer wardrobe for your winter one. If you don’t have a lot of storage space, utilize the space under the bed. Plastic bins that slide under your bed are perfect for storing lightweight shoes and clothing. Or, make your own using wooden boxes – just attach a caster to each corner.

In the bathroom: Don’t forget this space!

·         Add sink-your-toes-into-them rugs, a thick, warm bathrobe, fuzzy slippers, scented lotions, candles, towels and wash cloths in rich, warm tones and maybe even a towel warmer!

·         Switch to a fabric shower curtain.

·         If you are allowed to paint, this little space is the perfect place to add some warm color to the walls.

Now curl up with a fuzzy blanket and a mug of hot cocoa to enjoy your warm, cozy retreat! For even more information, inspiration and discussion on apartment living, décor and hunting, visit Apartment Finder’s blog, The APT.

Transitional furniture for living room, dining room

Habersham showed newest additions to its American Treasures collection at the October 2011 High Point Market. The pieces are said to feature clean, simple design lines and transitional styling at moderate price points.

The Tribeca dining table  (top photo) includes a 24-inch self-storing leaf that can extend the table’s length from 90 inches  to 114 inches.

The Nine-Drawer chest  (above) blends classical lines with understated elegance.

The North Sea chest has an adjustable shelf  behind the front doors.

The Home Theatre is available with or without doors.

The Fairmont chest has 14 drawers, providing plentiful storage space for linens, tableware and other items. Search "Habersham" on this blog to find more furniture.

Contemporary furnishings for the dining room

Ve buffet from Roberta Schilling's Moderna collection

The Ve buffet, open

At the High Point furniture market in October, Roberta Schilling showed the Leque dining table and the Ve buffet, two pieces from her Moderna Collection. The collection is marked by smooth metal, exotic woods, fine leather and delicate fibers which are cut into clean lines and striking shapes.

Leque dining table

Lightweight, 100% porcelain dinnerware

Tammy Polatsek is a veteran of the event planning and catering industry. She applied her expertise in hospitality to fashion a fine line of dishware for Carmona New York. All of the dishes are made from 100% porcelain, giving them a smooth texture and clean look. They are also 65% lighter than a common ceramic dish. Carmona offers over 250 designs. Each piece is manufactured in the same shade of clean bone. Since each piece is fully customizable, the company says it can create anything to cater to one's specific needs.

Contemporary dining room buffet

The Mole buffet, from Roberta Schilling's Moderna collection, is made of smooth metal, exotic woods, fine leather and delicate fibers. These materials are cut into clean lines and striking shapes. Find furniture and decorative accessories for the home in the Roberta Schilling showroom in Building 1, Floor 9, Showroom #9-C-7, 9 of Americasmart, Atlanta.

Stylish, classic furniture designs for the first home

“We designed Square 1 specifically for first-time, serious furniture buyers who are ready to invest in quality pieces they plan to keep for a long time,” says Jeff Scheffer, president and CEO of Universal Furniture International Inc. “Square 1 is fresh and current, and as distinctly relevant today as it will be 30 years from now.”

Mahogany veneers in a Java finish are slightly distressed to create a natural feel and texture. Crisp ebonized walnut inlay, geometric square motifs and metal accents that blend seamlessly with the brown Java finish add modern appeal. Simple bronze knob hardware, also finished to blend with the mahogany, features just a hint of copper rub-through.

The company showed its new designs in High Point in April.

Value-priced furniture designed for Gen Y's budget

Tamarind dining table set

Tamarind

The Gen Y generation is drawn to the stylish, less expensive furniture collections named Lincoln Park (below) and Tamarind (above), says aspenhome, which revealed these new lines at the April furniture market in High Point. The company says the "scaled-down sophistication [fits] into their starter homes but with the extra features to meet their 'high-tech' lifestyles."

The company also designs furniture for the tastes of Baby Boomers. To further help retailers tell the story to their Baby Boomer and Gen Y customers, aspenhome has a complete POP package along with floor plans.

Lincoln Park dining set

Lincoln Park bed with drawers in the footboard

Casual dining furniture in classic styles

John Thomas Furniture, a division of Whitewood Industries, specializes in casual dining furniture. Its "not-so-new" Dining Essentials collection, according to Bryan Sprinkles, sales and marketing manager, has consistently gained momentum among retailers over the past three years. At the High Point Furniture Market this month, the company added several new tables.
The 75-plus piece collection, made up of solid wood tables, chairs, stools and workcenters, in a variety of finishes, ranges from a 30-inch by 30-inch table top to a 36-inch by 54-inch table.
Retailers can choose sizes and finishes (Rich Mocha, Linen, Black, Black and Cherry, or Cinnamon and Espresso). A table top POP demonstrating the variety of options available will support the collection’s extensive offerings.

Contemporary buffet, cocktail tables

The Palito buffet

The Moderna collection from Roberta Schilling uses smooth metal, exotic woods and delicate fibers cut into clean lines and striking shapes.

Biondina cocktail table

Bioanda cocktail table

Moderately priced, transitional-style furniture

Habersham unveiled the newest additions to its American Treasures collection of copyrighted designs at this month's High Point Market. Offering a distinctly different look from the high-end company’s well-established, richly detailed furniture offerings, pieces in this new collection feature clean, simple design lines and transitional styling at moderate price points.

"With American Treasures, our design team has paid tribute to the American-made styles and influences that helped shape our company by reinterpreting them to create wonderful transitional designs,” says Habersham president Matt Eddy.

He said the simpler styles and finishes in the American Treasures collection, combined with recent factory innovations and improvements, have allowed the company "to offer the new hand-styled pieces at moderate price points -- without sacrificing the quality and handwork that are the company’s hallmarks."

Dining trays for indoor and outdoor use

Lappers are ergonomically designed dining trays with indentations fitted with an anti-slip silicone mat to keep plates and glasses in their place. The trays have large, comfortable handles for easy carrying. The trays nest into each other for convenient storage. Made of melamine, they are dishwasher-safe. The mats can be custom-printed (see insert photo for examples).

Dining room collection made of acacia

Orient Express introduced its Hudson dining collection at the fall furniture market in High Point. The solid raw acacia timber Hudson dining table has two 16” end cap leaves that extend the length from 78” to 110.” The Hudson collection includes arm and side chairs, and a sideboard. Occasional and bedroom groups are scheduled to be released in 2011.

Furniture in classic Swedish style

Concave Gustavian Console

Modern History introduced dozens of furnishings for the living room, dining room, bedroom and home office at the October 2010 High Point Furniture Market. The company added to its selection of weathered and driftwood inspired furnishings. An ornately carved Tuscan-style bed debuts in this popular finish, which was first introduced a year ago. The driftwood look is achieved by bleaching and sandblasting each piece before applying a wash that highlights the heavily textured finish.
Following on the introduction last market of its Drapers table, the company came out with a smaller version of the console (below). The table, which is modeled after a French farmhouse antique, is crafted from weathered solids. A new breakfront, inspired by an Italian antique, and a curvy drawerless commode copied from a 19th century Italian piece, have similar finishes and appeal.

Drapers table

Chest of drawers

Gustavian Pedestal

Trumeau mirror

Transitional style furniture for bedroom, home office

Universal Furniture carries several furniture groupings in the Better Homes and Gardens American Routes collection. Shown here is Hilltop Terrace. It was introduced at the autumn furniture market in High Point, N.C., in October. The company describes the collection as "characterized by clean, architectural lines, warm wood tones, sophisticated inlay and a neutral color palette."