ENTER TO WIN THESE BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED WATERFORD LISMORE TOASTING FLUTES. A $150 VALUE.
Not sure if you’ve heard but WE QUALIFIED for the next phase of Chase Bank’s grant selection process by getting 256 votes from supporters like you! Fingers crossed, we’ve got that grant IN THE BAG. But to express our sincere appreciation for help in earning those votes, we’re giving away a lovely pair of Waterford Crystal by random drawing on 10/31/14. See further details on our website and good luck!
Just recently, we applied for the Chase Small Business Grant which includes $150,000 and coaching at Google Headquarters. Learn more about our business and what we plan to do with the funding:
There are a host of furniture stores to choose from in the DC area but only a few stand out among the competition.
1. Evolution Home – located on Route 1 in Alexandria, Va, this vast warehouse offers booth rental to makers, artisans and decor suppliers around the area, You will find modern and vintage pieces at this resale warehouse. They also accept consignments.
2. Trohv – nestled in the neighborhood of Takoma Park, MD, it appeals the the urban industrial eye, rivaling Restoration Hardware. On a recent visit, we observed large storage units and tables that would make great office wares. They also offer space rental to a select few artisans and makers.
3. Miss Pixies – Washington, DC. In the heart of a vibrant boutique district known as the U Street Corridor, this shop has become a go-to for many young professionals with a flair for urban chic. You’ve probably seen their pink cargo van floating around town! They just recently underwent renovation so be sure to check out the improvements.
This represents a very short list of shops we love. Let us know what your favorite DC furniture source!
A question we hear ever so often relates to an item’s value. What we’ve learned in our fairly short time in this business is that value is subjective. In most cases, an item’s value is reliant on a number of factors including, rarity, number of parties interested, age, condition, provenance, purpose, market trends, intended purpose, selling venue, so on and so forth.
A few strategies we use to determine value is to first find as much information as possible about that item. That typically means internet including eBay, Craigslist, and other specialty sites (determined by the item itself). Then, regardless of it’s condition, also find out as much information as possible about the same item in perfect, uncirculated or mint condition. In some cases, a better condition will render higher value estimates but it’s not uncommon to see an overused item garner hefty appraisals also.
An item’s auction price is known to be unpredictable based upon seasons of popularity, therefore, an item that brings $400 today, may bring $4,000 seven months later. The key to remember here is at least two interested parties must be present in order to get competitive pricing on any item.
Selling venue is an important consideration because certain expectations of value exist at a flea market versus a high-end furniture and decor store.
If after doing your own due diligence and preliminary research, you find that an item is worth more than $3,000, our best advice would be to enlist an appraiser, typically costing between ($75-$300) who can certify authenticity and provide a professional opinion of value so that the prized possession can be added to your vault for safekeeping.
For years, Craigslist has been the ultimate source for listing and buying goods online in most cities across this country. But have you yet heard of a new company called Offer Up? With the tagline, buy.sell.simple, they boast a safer buying experience by verifying accounts online through TruYou. Buyers and Sellers are able to leave ratings through Facebook.
Offer Up’s sign-up process is pretty quick but you’ll need to download their app via Google play or the App Store in order to start selling. Listing an item takes almost no time if you have photos already stored on your phone. You can add up to 4 photos per listing and have plenty of space to describe items. I’ve heard many sellers boast about swift responses and smooth transactions with buyers. It’s free to join and free to list. Check it out at http://www.offerup.com to determine if the new site works for you!
We’ve learned a lot of what we know about furniture repair and refinishing from workshops and mini sessions that take place all over the Washington Metropolitan Region. Check out our list of the top 10 spots for learning:
1. Community Forklift (www.communityforklift.org) – It’s a huge warehouse nestled in Hyattsville, MD where you’ll find everything from lighting and appliances to doors and claw foot tubs and granite. They accept donations of surplus and demo building materials and offer them at insanely low prices. Each month, they do a sale on a specific type of item and they even have a little section up from for FREE stuff. Each month, they publish a calendar of upcoming classes via newsletter. Check out this month’s upcoming class schedule.
2. Maryland Science Center – (www.mdsci.org) – Most of what you’ll want is held in The Shed. Learn everything from toolbox basics, woodworking, soldering and a host of science related topics. Pricing starts around $15 per class.
3. Home Depot & Hardware Stores – Most Saturdays you’ll be able to take short DIY courses at your local hardware store. They’re typically free and last no more than 30-45 minutes. Topics include flooring, decor and gardening. Groups range in size depending on the topic. You will probably find a huge calendar displaying the class schedule at each store’s entrance. If not, ask the customer service desk to provide guidance.
4. DIYbaltimore.com – Learn everything from building lamps and chairs to birdhouses. Use the contact information on their site to find scheduling and pricing.
5. G Street Fabrics – (www.gstreetfabrics.com) – They’re a local favorite for all things creative from sewing and upholstery to floral design and painting. Classes typically run for an entire season with 7-12 sessions although they do sometimes offer extended weekend lessons. Courses range between $55 to $200+.
6. Try your local Community Center for everything from a line dance lesson to painting.
7. Hobby Lobby – (www.hobbylobby.com) – starting at around $15 you’ll find everything from calligraphy, paint and card making. Check the site for a coupon worth 40% any single purchase and go crazy through their vast inventory!
8. Hancock Fabrics – (www.hancockfabrics.com) – Sewing basics starting at for $30
9. Youtube – FREE and open 24/7 from the convenience of your own home. A couple of our favorite channels are Kim’s Upholstery and Alchemy Fine Living.
10. Your local city paper – (www.YOURCITYNAMEcitypaper.com) – this typically works for most big cities. If you go to the weekly section and check events, you may just be lucky enough to find a class for this upcoming weekend. Classes range in price but are pretty reasonable.
It’s not at all new but the idea of ‘IKEA hacking’ is the perfect solution for accent pieces and even some storage units. For those of you who may not know, it’s the process of enhancing IKEA furniture with overlays, fabrics, paint or other creative techniques. In some cases, it means using an item for something different than initially intended. Hacking is an economical way to make those standard items more rich and unique! In most cases, they truly look like a completely different furniture item.
In the cases above, you have pieces from IKEA furniture collections that have been overlaid with custom accents and finished off with non-standard hardware. In the picture below, you see a small garden created from a lid organizer which was designed to hang inside kitchen cabinets.
And then, of course, the most essential is amazing on wheels! What started as a side table, has been revived as a multi-level glass bar with vast visual appeal.
Our own twist would be the use of solid wood pieces as opposed to those used on most of Ikea’s collections. I guess we should call it a #hautehack. Solid wood is more durable and you can find great low cost pieces at thrift stores, fleas markets or yard sales. The overlays can be cut to accommodate any item you buy and can be found at http://www.myoverlays.com. Why not #hautehack your own project this weekend?!
-photos from stylemepretty.com
It’s actually known as the American Brilliant Period. . . .when glass was cut and engraved to impeccable perfection. From the late 1870’s to roughly 10 years before the Great Depression, this technique of ‘cutting glass’ was quite an industry. If you’re lucky enough to find a piece that’s been engraved with a name like Hawkes or Libbey, you truly have a commodity. What makes it so Brilliant? Well, first would be timing. It was made during a period where complex machinery wasn’t utilized. It’s also seamless. Craftsmen has to be quite skilled in order to produce the detail, patterns and symmetry found in this leaded glass.
It’s also extremely heavy. It’s typically much thicker than some of the crystal you’d see today. Some works measures a quarter of an inch or more thick. Last would be uses. Have you ever seen a Knife Rest…
Nappy. . .
or Ambrosia Bowl made of today’s crystal? Probably not. What you probably have seen is a lovely vase housing freshly cut flowers, candy dish or exquisite punch bowl or pitcher used to serve guests at a Bridal or Baby Shower, Engagement Party or other festive event. Check out a few of the other pieces we’ve come across.
We installed a new App this weekend called “Wall Decorating Ideas” from the Google Play Store and after browsing through all of the galleries we’ve settled upon our Top 5 Picks:
Vintage Suitcase Shelving – This decorator took real suitcases in various colors then made cuts and adjustments so that each suitcase hangs and extends roughly 6 inches off the wall. It appears that all of them can be used for display. You can achieve the same look by visiting local thrift stores for hard suitcases. Craigslist is where we were able to find a few for our own collection. Rural area specialty shops are a favorite for these finds as well.
Black & White Optical Illusion – You’d bump into this wall thinking there were stairs to climb! The intricate detail here took hours create but it’s such a fun space. The leather bench adds a pop of color that finishes this look off right.
Tear Drop – This Mini Bar makes perfectly uses the space and doubles as a work of art. It’s certainly a Modern Chic Element to add to the wishlist.
Lavender Lovely – Check out the drapery and wallpaper pairing in this cozy boudoir. The tufted bed frame with minimalist side tables add class and style.
Colorfully Simple – Why not give the White Room some color with multiple frames, pillows and throw? These color pairings send the message that Spring’s always in the Air at this home!
You’ll never go wrong when your decorating style is true to you. Don’t be afraid to try multiple patterns, colors and textures!! And of course we recommend pairing old with new to give your room character while stretching the almighty dollar!
Until next time. . . .
Yours Truly,
Queen of Chic
At a very recent estate liquidation consultation, we came across four very interesting pieces of artwork which with an 80’s flair. Each depicts a fresh-faced black haired, bright white vixen with full lips in a sultry pose. She looks strong, sexy, self aware, brazen and unapologetic. Their new owner couldn’t tell us much about them. But because we had a ‘feeling’, we set them aside for further investigation. After a bit of research, I’ve come to learn that these are Serigraphs by American artist Patrick Nagel who became well known for his illustrations on board, paper and canvas. Some limited editions, thus, more valuable.
It’s always interesting to uncover the history behind one’s work and motivations for that end product. For Nagel, he’s worked with many enterprises including Playboy, IBM, Rolling Stone, Duran Duran and Architectural Digest to create album covers, campaigns and portraits. With a name affiliated with Playboy, you can certainly guess that his work gets pretty raunchy.
So back to the four we’ve found:
1. Mask – Limited Edition Serigraph – Mirage Editions 1980. This was our first find, the one that looked so much like a female Superhero and grabbed our initial interest. It’s a signed limited edition graphic #3 of 20, perfectly framed and measures roughly 49″ x 29″. There were 10 signed artist proofs. The accompanying retail price list for a Santa Monica art gallery in 1988 lists it at $6,000. From readings, it seems to be the most valuable of the set.
2. Nagel Commemorative #1 – Limited Edition Poster. That same bright faced female now has long gold geometric shaped earrings that make her messy short cut sassy. It’s framed so that the artist’s name ‘Nagel’ is centered squarely at the bottom in purple block letters. This one appears to have sold for about $1,300 in 1988 at the same art gallery mentioned above.
3. Untitled Playboy Illustration – Mirage Editions 1988. In the original, she’s holding her left breast with nipple exposed. This was originally done as acrylic on board and appeared in Playboy Magazine. Ours is a later commemorative poster, more suited for all ages. Sales price unknown.
4. Untitled Duran Duran Record Sleeve (Japan) – Poster – D. Genaro Gallery, Santa Monica, Marina Del Rey. This was an alternate to the RIO album cover; 2001 limited edition remaster. It’s value is also unknown.
It’s pretty clear that of this set, Mask and the Nagel Commemorative are quite impressive. While they all show quite well, especially with the extra care in professional framing, a Nagel enthusiast would be most excited about those first two. These prints would look great in a room designated for fun and full of color.
If you know anyone who may be interested in these fabulous finds, drop us a line and we’ll follow-up swiftly!
Haute Revival 
