Merry Christmas

Gift & Home Today is taking a few days off. Please enjoy these other holiday-themed home decor items, or use the category index (the Product Cloud,  below on the right) to search for items that interest you.

Seashore-inspired home decor

Two's Company offers shell-themed home accents and accessories. The Atlantis shell hinged box has a magnetic closure. The starfish come 16 to a bag and consist of eight finger starfish and eight knobby starfish. The decorative footed tray has a shell/silver plate trim.

New lamps, new showroom in Las Vegas

To better showcase the breadth and depth of its growing line of soft contemporary, simple modern home décor, Nova is relocating and expanding its space at the World Market Center for the Jan.24 to 28, 2011 Las Vegas Market.

The new 3,000-square–foot showroom is A-355. The company will maintain its original 1,650-square-foot location, A-333, during the Winter market. Here are some of the portable lamps the company will exhibit at the winter markets in Dallas and Las Vegas.

Sunday special: Decorating the White House Christmas tree

Check out this cool video (made from more than 6,000 photos) of the Christmas tree being installed and decorated at the White House.

Wind chimes made of steel, aluminum

Spiral Waves (left) is a new product from Woodstock Chimes. It measures 32.5 inches long and 10 inches wide. It is made of antique-copper finished steel and black-finished ash wood. The chime is sold in a gift box.
The Meditation chime (above) is 39.25 inches long. It is made of silver-anodized luminum and cherry wood. The chime, which is sold in a gift box, is tuned to C, C#, Eb, F, G, Ab, B and C.
See the company at upcoming wholesale gift shows in Atlanta, Dallas and New York.

Casa Cristina's 2011 holiday collection

 

Midwest-CBK is partnering with Emmy award-winning journalist Cristina Saralegui to develop her first designer holiday collection of inspirational ornaments, figures, nativity sets, votive candle holders, lanterns, stocking and tree skirt. The Casa Cristina Holiday Collection will feature more than 50 new designs debuting during the winter 2011 markets in Midwest-CBK showrooms across the country.

The collection  features spiritual icons such as angels, nativities, birds, stars, crosses and hearts. Textures and materials include  metal, capiz, wood and glass. The color palette includes gold, silver, cream, blue, green and plum.
Midwest-CBK is also expanding the Casa Cristina Home and Lighting collection with more than 30 new designs, including lamps, pottery with unique turquoise glaze and distressed white finish, antique wooden mirrors and nested table sets with embossed metal detailing, that reflect Cristina’s unique Mediterranean style and taste.

Humorous frames for all occasions

Prinz Ltd. has a new line of humor-themed photo frames called Be Happy. The grouping consists of 30 designs featuring popular themes and subjects for baby, tween, grandma, friendship, sports and hobbies. Each colored wood frame in the new collection includes a unique humorous expression, painted artwork and 4x6 photo opening. The 2011 series will begin shipping in mid-January.

Bird houses and feeders are a step above the ordinary

Birdbilt is the new retail brand from former wholesaler Maple Hill. In addition to bird feeders, the company sells bird houses with an architectural bent. The company warrants its products against manufacturing defects for one year (from date of purchase).

Foreside returns with furniture, lighting, garden decor

Foreside Home & Garden's new Portland cabinet is from its Midnight Garden collection. Available in persimmon, the cabinet measures 30.5 inches, 19.8 inches deep and 28.3 inches high. Foreside also offers lighting and garden decor.

In January 2011, after several years of creating private label pieces, Foreside will re-launch its wholesale offerings as a division of Transpac Imports Inc.

Edgy greeting cards for springtime occasions

NobleWorks has introduced 31 new humorous greeting cards to celebrate all of the most popular springtime occasions, including Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day and Graduation.
These new spring cards feature cartoons from RUBES, Dan Reynolds, Andy Singer, Martin Bucella, McCoy Bros. and more, as well as additions to NobleWorks' "Talk Bubbles," "I'm Just Saying" and "Text" lines. The messages make fun of everything from mothers' nagging to graduates' employment prospects.

Inside greetings (clockwise from top left): "I'm only going to say it once. Happy Mother's Day." "Have a super Mother's Day." "Happy birthday. Call a doctor if it lasts more than four hours." "Hope your Father's Day is out of this world."

Throw pillows with pig, beetle designs

Peking Handicraft's Pig Portrait Hook Pillow measures 18 inches by 18 inches. See it at wholesale gift shows in Atlanta, Dallas, Las Vegas and New York.

The Red/Green Beetle hook pillow is made of 100% wool and cotton. It measures 18 inches square.

Peking Handicraft is an international manufacturer and wholesaler specializing in home textiles, decorative accessories and giftware. The company offers a variety of looks, from contemporary to country to cottage. The company features licensed products by more than 30 of the top designers.

Gifts for men

A badger brush with stand, razor and soap from is a luxurious, indulgent gift for a man. The Diffusion range from Edwin Jagger is available to retailers from the The Mary Harper Group.

Build a holiday centerpiece

Build a holiday centerpiece with serveware from Andrea by Sadek.

2011 Events at 7W New York

Saturday special: holiday deals and offers

Free shipping from Royal Copenhagen on all orders in December.

Two's Company's Cupcakes and Cartwheels division has Bandz in stock and ready to ship.

Diane James Home offers free UPS ground shipping on online orders placed through Dec. 15, 2010.

Suzanne Rheinstein appears at Juliska's flagship store (465 Canal St., Stamford, Conn.) on Dec. 10, 2010.

World Shoppe offers 25% off its fair-trade rings from Pakistan.

Meet author Lee Lowenfish ("The Imperfect Diamond") at the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse in Manhattan on Dec. 8 and receive a free Mensch baseball with purchase of a Bergino ball.

Contempoary-style sofa from Denmark

The Giga sofa from Nils Juul Eilersen, Denmark, is made with the company's well-known down material which molds itself to one's body but springs back again as soon as it's patted a few times. The fabric is fitted loosely and roughly to give it a slightly more relaxed feeling. The removable backs are solid molded foam and are also angled so that they curve and give extra support. The combination of the low foam back and the soft, 50cm high, down pillow gives it perfect support and comfort. The company says the "mega-sized sofa-playground with cushions floats on 14cm round steel legs."

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.

Thom Filicia Unveils his new art collection

Press release

Celebrity designer Thom Filicia and Ed Marin of Soicher Marin, recently collaborated to finalize a unique new art collection, which started last year. Finally, after many e-mails and phone calls, the two came together for a whirlwind 24 hours session and put finishing touches on an inspired line for the Thom Filicia home collection. Filicia chose a minimalist approach to his designs: airplanes, industrial images, leaves, beach scenes and smatterings of Americana. Soicher Marin will unveil the new collection at the High Point Market, a furniture trade show, held in High Point, NC October 16th-21st. After which the line can be seen at www.thomfiliciaart.com

Filicia, acclaimed interior designer to the stars, has been heralded for his innovative decorating magic on Bravo TV’s “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” , The Style Network’s “Dress My Nest” and “Tacky House.” In addition, Filicia has also been designing his own furniture line for Vanguard Furniture, which is where Marin stepped in. Ed Marin is the CEO of Soicher Marin, the leading art and wall decor manufacturer, which has been in business since 1959. Thom came down to Sarasota in early July to work with Marin, but had a small window of time available. The two stayed up for an intense 24 hours to produce an impeccable line, unveiling at the High Point Furniture Market this October.
High Point Market was given prevalence due to Soicher Marin being a main stay with 100,000 plus attendees over 40 years. The company has a 5,000 sq. ft. permanent exhibition space that is perfect to showcase the new line. “His designs are accessible” Marin says. “It takes me back to being a kid; the nostalgia of America, of a time that was perhaps simpler.” On Filicia he stated, “he’s not pretentious in any way. Everything about the guy is genuine.” Soicher Marin has been creating, designing, selling and manufacturing framed art work and wall decor since 1959. We at Soicher Marin believe in putting the customer first and creating the finest quality pieces offered in the world. At Soicher Marin our integrity has kept us where we are for over 40 years; the world leader in fine wall decor. www.soicher-marin.com; www.sm2online.com; www.srqcustomframing.com

Custom-made pendants for the bathroom

Vermont Art Sinks has added pendant lights to complement its custom bathroom sink line. The company introduced the lights at the autumn furniture market in High Point. The pendants are available by custom order. Each is made of 33% recycled stoneware clay. Vermont Art Sinks also makes bathroom sinks, lotion pumps, soap dishes and wall tiles in the USA with recycled content.

Colonial-style furnishings with modern touches

The new Reede’s Landing collection of traditional 18th century Colonial-style furniture from Aspen Home includes special “ahhh-factors.” The self-closing drawers on the bedroom Chest and Dresser help keep things tidy during a mad morning dash.

In the family room, keeping the video game accessories in order is a snap with the Gamer Cocktail Table. It has storage areas for video game accessories like guitars, controllers and extra games. The Reede’s Landing entertainment consoles are tall and skinny, only 22” deep, and will hold a flat screen TV, video components and gaming gear while saving on precious floor space. Add the Chair Side Recycler Table with storage area and a magazine/newspaper-recycling bin along with a Console Table that opens up to be a writing desk perfect for laptops and other office accessories.


The new Desk Chest not only has convenient clothing storage drawers but it’s also TV adaptable and has “ahhh-some” pull-out desk compartments for working. More handy storage can be found in the two roomy full-extension footboard drawers in the collection’s Sleigh and Panel Beds.

The new Reede’s Landing Home Office workstations have the “ahhh-factors” designed for working with today’s high-tech gadgets. The work surfaces are ergonomically correct 26” high for comfortably working with laptops, keyboards and the latest iPads. They have raised back and side panels to visually manage your desktop and completely hide all of those ugly charging “bricks.” Plus, it has a StoreCharge area for storing and charging up to six electronic devices, three utility storage drawers for organizing office accessories along with locking file drawers and an all-in-one printer drawer.

Aspenhome is distributed by Furniture Values International and headquartered in Phoenix.

Sunday special: upholstery fabric color trends

Press release

As the first buds appear on the trees and gray skies give way to blue in 2011, Spring fever will flourish in colors and fabrics that suggest escape and relaxation. Look for new combinations of color, pattern and texture that are both inherently comfortable and refreshingly fashion forward.


“All of our color themes evoke places and spaces where we can get away,” says Reyna Moore, director of marketing for Norwalk Furniture. “Even if we don’t have time to take an actual vacation, we can recreate that wonderful feeling of retreat in our homes.”


Fresh colors and interesting textures are especially important, as fabrics rely less on decoration and more on intrinsic appeal.


“There’s a focus on textiles with a handspun, artisanal, slubby and nubby feel,” Moore says. “They complement the trend toward ‘up-cycled’ furniture, found pieces that have been recreated in a lovely and special way.”


Colors range from an upscale take on bolds to sophisticated muted hues in pleasing combinations that reflect current trends as well as give us a peak at what’s ahead. Norwalk introduces 110 new fabrics in four color themes for spring:

• Coconut Grove: Undoubtedly tropical, but with a sophisticated twist that would make it appropriate in almost any environment, Coconut Grove is anchored by colorful prints and bold stripes. Palm frond greens abound, as do summery yellows, medium chocolates and splashes of coral red. Upscale and relaxed, Coconut Grove works wonderfully in a beachfront home, in a lakeside cottage or in the sunroom of a more traditional home
• Brittany Cottage: Conjuring memories of simpler times, Brittany Cottage has a casual, carefree ambience. Natural weaves and grayed-down base colors are paired with sky blues, charcoals and deep reds. Old script patterns, fine-line stripes, embroidery and fabrics reminiscent of French grain sack designs add appeal to this quiet palette inspired by stone cottages in Belgium and northern France.
• Highlands Manor: As comfortable and inviting as a glass of port in front of a cozy fire at the end of the day, Highlands Manor is inspired by the warm hues of the Scottish highlands. Look for a lively mix of traditional menswear and glen plaids, timeworn leathers and rich velvets, as well as stripes, feathers, paisleys and houndstooth. Rich layers of texture and color juxtapose elegant with casual to create a certain tattered luxury that suggests world travel and quiet retreat.
• City Lights: Imagine broad city vistas from a penthouse apartment. The blue-gray clouds, or “vapor,” as Candice Olson calls it. City Lights is a soft, see-through color palette sparked with luster that provides subtle light reflection. Dove gray is warmed by shades of cognac, topaz and green-cast gold. Rich velvets, soft wools and highly textured foundation cloths in nutty tones provide plenty of tactile appeal to this sophisticated collection.


“Our color themes allow you to design a home that is uniquely yours with fabrics that are easily coordinated on sofas, chairs, ottomans and pillows,” Moore says. “If you can dream it, you can create it.”

Norwalk Furniture offers something other companies don’t that the consumer and interior designers want: great design, customizable options, high quality, competitive pricing and quick delivery. Three upholstery programs offer 850 fabrics and leathers for a licensed collection by Candice Olson; Variations which consists of five basic styles and dozens of design options; and The Best of Norwalk, longtime best selling designs. The privately-held Norwalk, Ohio company manufactures upholstered seating in its 440,000 sq. ft. facility, delivered consistently in 35 days. For more information, visit www.norwalkfurniture.com.

Saturday special: emails

Here are examples of four Thanksgiving- and holiday-themed emails from home furnishings retailers.

Williams Company Store

Kirkland's

Crescent Moon

local home + gifts

Serveware for the outdoors

Green garden metal serveware from tag ltd. is galvanized metal with a powder-coated finish. The wooden handles have a distressed finish. The collection consists of an oval travel, and oval tub and an ice bucket with an aluminum scoop.