The New York Times has a great article today about how to haggle when you go furniture shopping:
Read on:
"But these days, the thinking goes that it’s a buyer’s market for anyone looking to buy anything. And, as it happens, I’m currently in the market for everything, having just moved into a new apartment where the sum total of my décor is two card tables and an old leather recliner. I may not be a regular customer of the design boutiques of SoHo and TriBeCa, but if there is ever going to be a time for me to furnish my home in high style, this would seem to be it."
Read the complete article
We can't help but put in our two cents on this subject.
Now, we know the economy is tough. It's painful to watch. Too much so actually. The worst part of it is, we know it will get even worse in the next 12 months. But we hope that the consumers will see the OTHER side. As a consumer, you have the option of to spend or not to spend. As a furniture store owner though, you are much less flexible. There's rent, employees, utilities, overhead, advertising--fixed cost that come out of our pockets every month.
As we talk to our colleagues in the business, we find most of them are suffering, big time! Especially the small ones. Many have taken out home equity and/or maxed their credit cards out just to keep the business open. Most do not pay themselves a salary. Many of them are barely scraping by.
So when you do shop for furniture and decide to haggle, think about this a little. Stores have to make a profit to survive, and even though the common perception is retailers mark up like crazy, the truth is that after all the overhead, most of them are lucky if they can end up with a profit at the end of the month.
Here is another NY Times article on the home furnishing melt down.
Yes, do haggle if you can, NICELY. Keep in mind, though, stores need to make money to survive. And they are suffering just as much, if not more, than you are.
Otherwise, there won't be any place for us to shop!
Haggling as an Art Form?
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Tidal Datum Tables
2007
steel / walnut / hardware
18” h x 18”w x 72” l
The body of work titled “Tidal Datums” is the result of my senior thesis project. The collection consists of a variety of objects inspired by the formal language of data graphics, intended to be a representation of analytic information through the medium of furniture. My work process began by gathering data graphs from NOAA’s historic tide database followed by translating the empirical information into tangible materials. The forms modeled from the data not only reveal a dynamic pattern, they facilitate a new way of experiencing information by enabling a physical interaction of tidal patterns with the body.
(Click on image for a larger view)
NOAA Tidal Graphs converted to Vector and Layered - 30 Days of Information
Furniture Sketches
Process photos
Ideas for a modern house
Here I will continue my story that began three days ago. I was showing you some pictures with modern design ideas. The next batch of pictures can be viewed right here:
Sample of A Modern Design Living Room
Sample of A Modern Design Living Room
Sample of A Modern Design Bedroom
Sample of A Modern Design Bedroom
Sample of A Modern Design Livingroom
Sample of A Modern Design kitchen
In this collection I have selected the geometric decors. If you look attentive you will notice the geometry in the rooms presented. Also you can observe the Asian influence over the decorating line. Please let me know if you find them interesting. Via
- Traditional Interior Bathroom Design
- Zebra Patterns - Traditional Interior Design
- Interior Design Trends and Materials
- Lounge Chairs - Armchairs
- Amazing Beuth Residence on Blue Jay Way
- Beautiful 35 mp One Room Apartment with Kitchen
- Contemporary Design in Central Goteborg
- Bedroom Designs and Room Ideas for Modern Teens
- Ideas for a modern house
- Living Room Spaces : Pictures and Ideas for Your Home
- The Modern Kitchen with Sliding Cabinet Doors
- The weirdest hotel rooms ever
- Competition Line of Site - Dream to Create
- How to determine your own style of furniture?
- Quick refreshment around the house - Ideas for home
- The impact of colors - Color Effects - Interior Colors
- Kitchen cabinets furniture and equipment
- Cheap and practical ideas on home decoration
- How to arrange the children's room?
- The colors in interior design - Style and Passion
Mellow Yellow
I love a beautiful bathroom....and yellow makes everyone happy.
Roll into one of these spaces first thing in the morning... it may be hard to leave.
Yellow, or mimosa is the it color this year so, I'm featuring a few yellow bathrooms that offer
lots of new decorating ideas to glean from... Enjoy.....
The yellow and read check tiles add a French or Spanish old world charm.
image: House Beautiful
Yellow warms the stainless sink that dominates this space.
image: HGTV
Yellow with a retro feel
Yellow and rustic...how fun !
Contemporary Bedroom
The master bedroom cantilevers over the first floor, making it both isolated and open to the world outside. The recycled timber beams, natural light and expansiveness of the space make it a perfect retreat for the inhabitant of this residence.
The guest room uses colorful bedspreads and complementary artwork to set the tone. The chocolate brown shag rug and curtains match the floors, accessories and bed headboard. Photograph by Geoffrey Hodgdon.
The study/guest bedroom was sparsely furnished with a trundle daybed that sleeps two when extended. It's covered in custom canvas covers and bolsters.
From the custom white waffle-weave draperies that are banded with dark green corduroy to the tapestry and satin pillows resting on a woven coverlet, textural contrast can be seen throughout this bedroom. A yellow glass lamp gives the space a bit of panache to a crisp and fresh guest room designed for a turnkey vacation home.
Cocktails, anyone? Who wouldn't want to relax in this sophisticated island oasis? Natural woven shades soften afternoon sunlight and provide necessary privacy because this bedroom faces a golf course. The faux-finished accent wall, conceived and painted by the designer, complements custom sea-foam green bedding featuring durable, contract-quality fabrics.
The custom bed headboard with the side floating nightstands has pendant lights above each nightstand. A white shag rug defines the area under the bed and provides a contrast to the dark wood floors. Commanding views of the city from the balcony beyond and southwestern light pouring in make for a dramatic setting.
Clean lines and geometrics create the perfect backdrop for a fantastic city view in this master bedroom.
The combination of a sleek-lined chair and collection of glass vases with ethnic masks and puppets over the bed makes a worldly contemporary statement in this bedroom.
A custom TV armoire was designed and built to match the sleek furniture in this bedroom. Pocket doors allow unobstructed viewing of the television.
Used as a guest bedroom, this space overlooks the pool and expansive view of the San Bernardino Mountains. The floors and architect-designed furniture are made of sustainably harvested vertical grain Douglas fir. Clean lines, warm hues and natural light make this a serene and inviting space.Eclectic Bedrooms
This sophisticated master bedroom was created by infusing natural textures, such as a grass cloth wall covering, with elegant and soothing color tones in the fabrics of the custom bedding and draperies. The homeowner desired a comfortable and softly contemporary place to relax and unwind.
The view in this master bedroom looks north on the Big Sur coast. The exaggerated Berber rug adds texture and a swath of color to the stained concrete floor.
Sleeping in a blue room creates a calming feeling helping one to relax. Inexpensive white molding is added to the wall to for a sophisticated framing detail. Organic white bed linens are spiced up with splashes of color from throw and pillows.
A pair of platform beds feature tall Douglas-fir headboards that play off the angles of the room, adding warmth and texture. All furnishings designed by Steven Miller Design Studio. Photograph by Matthew Millman.
An eclectic mix of spicy colors adds an exotic flair to this charming young girl's room that also doubles as a guest bedroom. Silk fabrics, a coral bedside lamp and a hand-carved painted wood armoire exude tropical ambiance and stylish fun. Photograph by Roy Quesada.
This client loved blue, chocolate and orange and needed to fit existing furniture into a pleasant design. Blue is always a good choice for a bedroom because it is calming.
This eclectic bedroom is a mix of contemporary and traditional styles. Sumptuous fabrics and a handpainted mural of clouds on the ceiling help create an inviting environment. Photo by Miki Rakicevic.
The neutral color palette is enriched by the use of red accents throughout this space, which quickly converts into sleeping quarters for the occasional guest. The use of crisp white linens completes the calm and restful look.Design Modern Bedroom
Black and White All OverBlack and white is a popular contemporary decorating trend. This black-and-white duo is both flirty and sophisticated. Two floor-length mirrors complement the black wood-framed bed and highlight two glass chandeliers. Above the bed, three floating shelves allow for space to display photographs or other favorite accessories.
Floor-to-Ceiling SimplicityThis well-lit room with floor-to-ceiling windows is the perfect space for contemporary design. Simple bedding pops with colorful pillows in different textures. A sleek partition wall in a neutral shade keeps the bed space separate from the rest of the room.
Style CombinationThis room transitions between contemporary and traditional. To make the two work together, subtle hints of traditional style sneak onto the bed with striped and floral pillows. A contemporary headboard with an upholstery pattern is nestled into the windows behind the bed.
Pillow TalkIn this room, modern elements can all be found in the bed. Oversize pillows in contrasting colors are a dramatic touch to a neutral down comforter. A tall headboard with a ledge allows for a unique way to display artwork.
Calming RetreatContemporary doesn't have to be bold. For a pared-down modern look like this, choose furniture pieces with simple lines and neutral colors. Unique lamps on the bedside tables provide additional modern flair.
Sleek and FreshSimplicity, subtle color, and clean lines help to define contemporary style in this master bedroom. While maintaining a very neutral and simple palette, two chairs in the sitting area add some personality and a dash of color. The design and visual appearance of the glass partition wall finishes the modern look.
Bold PrintsPatterns can be intimidating, but they can also work to create a bold and inviting space. Varying scales of a similar black-and-white pattern are found on the wall and bed spread, lending a wonderful backdrop for bold colored accessories.
Confident ColorThis bedroom is exploding with warm colors, prints, and texture. Color and pattern were brought into the design with several pillows, contrasting rugs, and bold paint. A neutral couch sitting in front of the window allows for color to be spread beyond the bed and walls.
Understated EleganceThis room features a tone-on-tone color palette that relies heavily on brown, light blue, and pure white. By keeping the room basic, the brown leather headboard and decorative pillows are able to pop off the wall even more.
Class and ComfortIn this pleasantly unassuming master suite, beige tones are offset with rich wood and bold blue pillows, while a mahogany divider grounds the bed and partitions off the sitting room.
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