furbish

Uma invites you to celebrate the artwork of Mitu Banga Malhotra

Meet the artist & enjoy wine and cheese at the opening event

Friday June 10th; 6-9pm at Furbish Home

Show will remain on view to public June 10-July 10, 2011

May 19th 2011 6:00 – 9:00 pm

Fundraiser for the Millburn American Red Cross Japan Disaster Relief

Come join us for a night of stress-reducing, life-enhancing  FUN in a BEAUTIFUL venue!!

Here’s what is happening:

• Free workshop on styling a ZEN corner for your home by the staff of Furbish Home.
• Free make-up touch ups by Bobbi Brown Studio Artists.
• Personal Styling by Jia Boutique.
• Jewelry styling by Stella & Dot stylist Lisa Salerno.
• Wine tasting by Nita Bardolia Wine Consultant.
• Yoga consultations by Sudio Yoga practitioners.
• Healthy cooking advice by Randy Rabney of The Conscious Plate.
• Five-minute shoulder massage by Bodhi Tree Therapeutic Massage.
• Complimentary sushi tasting and other nibbles!

RAFFLE PRIZES from all Participating Vendors and MORE.

All raffle ticket proceeds go to the American Red Cross Millburn Japan Relief.

Need a quick Fix….

Come meet our designers for a FREE 30 minute appointment and let us help you spring into action!

All you need to bring is…

• Photos of all 4 walls of your space
• Room Dimensions

Schedule your consult today by calling 973.258.0000! If the time or date doesn’t accommodate your schedule call anyway, we will make it work!

This NEW YEAR is seeing a deepening of trends that kicked off in the new decade last year. Here is what I see leaping off the pages of the design mags and blogs more than ever. You can see image examples on my blog by clicking here.

1: Bohemian

Spaces that tap into our artistic, eclectic and bookish selves are more on the rise than ever. Rooms feel more avant garde and unconventional lately, though still very comfortable and livable.

2: Global

Related to the bohemian trend, you will notice lots of ethnic details incorporated into living spaces, particularly pieces that tell tales of travel. Theme rooms have been out, but rooms that are loosely linked to a geography are cropping up everywhere.

3: Earthy materials

Rustic furnishings have been on the rise in recent years. This year we see designers and architects taking it to the next level, the structure and materials of the house itself. Stone floors, wood paneling, beams, all with a more raw feel that is directly evocative of nature.

4: New Yellows

Who can resist the lure of the sun? Optimism is IN and it is appearing as wheat, ochre, soft golden tones, and creamy golden glows, sunshine making its way indoors. The key is to pick the right tones and use sparingly to avoid a dated look.

5: Slightly deeper wall colors

Neutrals are still very popular with current shades going darker and leaning grey or green in undertone. The feeling is aged or antiqued. A new twist will be adding dark, saturated, high gloss walls in one room of the house, a counterpoint to others.

6: Architectural

Scale and the emphasis on the “lines” of a home has always been integral to interior design, but emphasis and awareness in this area is growing. Drawing attention to structural or stylistic elements of the architecture, but in a pared down manner, is important now.

7: Greenery

Plants and leafiness as opposed to florals. Plants are the ultimate accent pieces: seamlessly complementing any color palette while adding interest through form, color and texture.

8: Spare

Our homes are going on a diet, shedding a few extra pounds. You will see less furniture, but higher impact and quality pieces, taking center stage.

9: Art as Statement Piece

There is a renewed emphasis on making and defining a room with paintings and photography. Larger scale pieces dominating the wall and high quality custom framing to really make smaller pieces stand out will take on new importance.

10: Dining spaces

These seem to be the most defining and expressive rooms of the moment. Entertaining at home is on the rise, and these once forgotten areas are seeing new life and packing the most punch.

Many of us will be traveling this winter.  And, if you are like me, you will want to bring home that special something that reminds you of your vacation spot.  Yet, it can be daunting to know if a piece will be “right” for your space. Here are 5 quick tips to ensure you bring home something that is enjoyed forever:

1. RESEARCH

Do some research before you leave on what specialties, marketplaces, or unique things each locale offers. This will allow you to start thinking about what would work in your space before you get there.

2. MEASURE

It requires minimal upfront work and the payoff is big. If there are specific areas where you need something, have dimensions and other relevant information on hand, maybe even pictures of your space with you. You may find a local proprietor eager to help you find the perfect piece.

3. BE UNIQUE

Choose items that are not available locally or are one of a kind. Unique pieces can be used to create focal points that create interest in a space.

4. AMPLIFY

Pick up colors, textures, motifs already present in your home and find pieces that magnify them. This will provide you with spots of intensity that add depth to your home.

5. FALL IN LOVE

Throw caution to the wind, buy what you love, and design a new room around your fabulous find. Call us if you need help!

If you still feel overwhelmed don’t worry, you can always come to Furbish for special pieces that look like they came from far off lands. We won’t tell!

This year we started working with customers in our new personal buying consultation program, and the results are starting to come in. Here is a room we worked on with a client in Short Hills.

She emailed us this pic to ask us what we thought of the artwork she picked for the room. We were very excited that we gave her the bones of a good room and a vision for what to do, and now she can pick up some perfect pieces on her own too!

We are still waiting for the coffee table and the next phase will include window treatments. We’ll post some new pics as the room progresses, but so far we love it!

It’s always been important to me to love my bedroom, and it’s amazing how simple it is to give your bedroom an update that will make you love yours more.

1. Choose a soothing wall color

Wall color in the bedroom is really important. Lately I’ve been using a lot of pale blues and variations on beige and linen. These relaxing colors make the room more restful and oasis-like. I prefer colors that will create a soft, dreamy feel that will allow you to immerse yourself in a space of relaxation.

Here are a few colors I truly love for the bedroom shown above from left to right: (1) Fog Mist OC-31 by Benjamin Moore; (2) Apparition 860 by Benjamin Moore; (3) Blue Springs 1592 by Benjamin Moore.

2. Get new bedside tables

Great bedside tables will actually really make your room feel so well-appointed. It’s a simple luxury.

I’ve been seeing a lot of white finishes and textured finishes on bedside tables. White or mirrored tables serve as good contrasts to a heavy wood headboard. If you already have a lot of fabric in the room or an upholstered bed frame, you cango with darker wood finishes. And symmetry is back is fashion, with two of the same table on each side. This balanced look supports a mood that is more restful.

As shown above from left to right:

(1) 3-drawer chest in blue “grasscloth” finish. The blues is a nice touch if you like white or neutral bedding. Dimensions 26 X 17.5 X 28H. $956.

(2) 1-drawer table with shelf in white with antiqued silver. This is a really great style that can be a modern touch, even in a more traditional room. Dimensions 32 X 19 X 27H. $1122.

(3) 1-drawer table with shelf in taupe lacquer finish. A simple lovely piece with just the right bit of storage. Dimensions 22 X 18 X 28H. $798.

(4) 2-drawer table. I’m enamoured with this table that can be custom finished and has very nice drawer pulls. Dimensions 22 X 18 X 27H. $1068.

Please contact us at 973.761.0311 for purchasing details.

3. Change up your bedding

With a new bedcover, sheets, blankets and pillows, you can feel so treated! Right now, I am craving bedding that is all about the quality of the fabrics. This bedroom by Jeffrey Bilhuber inspired me to cover my bed with simple, high quality blankets and sheets, and skip all the fancy bedding and fluffy duvets.  This is a great look. You  just need to invest in great sheets and find a blanket with a weight and texture that is soft, but can hold its own. Added bonus: making the bed is a cinch.

4. Indulge in a new headboard

There is a whole world of new headboards out there right now. Upholstered headboards are the way to go—a soft, beautiful alternative to the traditional heavy wooden bed. You can get a custom headboard in almost any shape and fabric, which can create  focal point to the room. But even if you aren’t going custom, many manufacturers are making them in interesting shapes that feel very unique. You can choose your favorite fabric, which is wonderfully luxurious.

As shown above from left to right:

(1) Tufted headboard with upholstered platform. A great style that feel modern and classic for today. Queen starting prices at $2772.

(2) Upholstered headboard (shown here with optional platform). A classic style that spells serenity…and good taste too. Queen headboard only starting at $1284.

(3) Upholstered headboard and platform w. nailhead detailing. Such a whimsical style that I’ve been seeing in all the magazines. Queen starting prices at $2997.

Please contact us at 973.761.0311 for purchasing details.

5. Put a bench at the foot of the bed

Putting a bench at the foot of the bed is tremendously popular with my clients. It’s a classic, and it’s an easy, inexpensive way to add visual interest, luxury and additional seating to your bedroom.

Shown above from left to right:

(1) Woodframe upholstered bench. This piece has some minimal tufting at the top. Clean, simple, and modern. Dimensions 19.5H x 51W x 17D. Starting at $884.

(2) Metal frame x-bench. Two of these will lend real style to the foot of the bed. Dimension 22.5W x 21.25H x 22.5D. $810 starting price.

(3) Woodframe upholstered bench with low back. This bench is a favorite here. It ads a rustic and sophisticated touch. Dimensions 47.5 x 20.5 x 25H. $1068 as shown.

(4) Woodframe upholstered bench. The frame is such a nice detail. Will look great against a light bedskirt. Dimensions 61 x 20.5 x 18H. $815 as shown.

Please contact us at 973.761.0311 for purchasing details.

It’s Time for Window Treatments! For many of my clients, these are dreaded words. They conjure up images of 1980s-inspired curtains with floral printed fabrics and fussy, multi-layered looks. Perhaps also because of the significance of windows in a room, the process of deciding on window treatments can feel overwhelming. Many people I talk to have no idea where to start.

The truth is, almost no window structure can stand without window treatments. Most rooms really need them. At Furbish, we’ve made the process of choosing window treatments fairly simple.

What kind of Window Treatment Is Right?

Window treatments have become simpler over the years. Typically I only do two types of treatments: A roman shade-style treatment and simple drapery panels on decorative rods and rings. Within these two styles are a wide variety of material and color options. The style and placement of the windows in a room will often require one or the other type of treatment. Otherwise, it is usually a question of preference and function.

Roman Shades

There is great variety in roman shades. You can choose a woven wood shade, sheer or opaque fabric, contrast banding, soft-  or straight-lined at the bottom, single or double treatments to control light. If the roman shade is the primary treatment, rather than a second treatment under drapery panels, I like to mount the shade above the window frame to soften the lines around the window and create a cleaner lined effect.

Panels

When it comes to drapery panels, the types of rods and pleats you choose make a huge difference. I like to work with metal or wood rods. I typically choose a u-rod or a return rod without finials to create a clean, streamlined look. I’ll occasionally use simple wood rods with finials, depending on what the room calls for and the client’s personal preference. For pleats, my personal favorite is the “bohemian pleat”. It’s a little bit different and fits perfectly with my design aesthetic. It’s a basic pleated drapery where the pleat is found at the top of the treatment instead of a few inches down, which is the more traditional “pinch-pleat.” The bohemian pleat lends a more clean-lined look to the drapery. I also like soft top draperies without pleats when you want a flowing, unstructured look. This tends to work well when you want an old-world feeling in your room.

Fabrics

Whatever treatment you choose, I am of the philosophy that you should use only natural materials in window treatments. Because they are so visually present, often with yards of fabric against the wall, you can feel the quality of the fabric more so than any other fabric in your house. Synthetics often have sheen to them and can feel inexpensive, unless you are using a very high grade of fabric.

On an everyday basis, linen, silk and woven cottons are my go-to fabrics. These are the most affordable fabric choices and offer the most color options. Patterned fabrics at lower price points however can be difficult to find. Low-cost patterns will often feel a bit generic and like they have been seen before.  If you are going higher end, there is a whole world of fabrics to explore, including wool, which is very luxurious, linens with embroidery, cottons with prints, anything you can imagine.

To Match or Not to Match

A very important step in choosing window treatments is deciding whether you want the treatments to be a prominent element in the room or to have more of a background feel. For prominence, I will select a color that is different from the wall color, or that has a pattern. This works well in fairly large rooms or rooms that would be quite monochromatic if not for the presence of color or pattern on the draperies. For a subtler presence, or a smaller space I will often match the treatments to the wall or choose a fabric that is in the same general range of colors as the wall. This works well when there is a lot of cabinetry, furniture, or art in a room. It keeps a space from looking too busy and provides a place for the eye to rest.

The Bottom Line

Window treatments are a necessity. They are at the foundation of any home design and even if you are using simple treatments it can be near to impossible to pull off a professional look on your own. At Furbish, we are experts at assessing which window treatments will work in a room. And we’ll make it easy to make the choices necessary for beautiful treatments, no matter what the challenge. If you are ready to do the windows, call us to learn about the window treatment consultation and delivery at 973-761-0311 or e-mail us at design@furbishhome.com. We’d love to work with you!

Shades of white and pale neutrals for walls are definitely interior design staples. This photo from Elle Decor perfectly exemplifies the freshness white paint can bring. There are so many shades to choose from, however, it can seem like you need a degree in white paint to pick one.

I have used many different shades of white and white-ish, depending on the fabrics and wood tones in an interior. But there are some staples I always seem to reach for even when considering unmarked paint swatches. Here they are with some basic guidelines:

WHITES

Benjamin Moore White Dove: If you love shades of grey, taupe, pale blues or pale greens, then white dove is a great choice for a white room in your home, or for your moldings.

Benjamin Moore Vanilla Milkshake: This is my favorite all-round shade of white for walls. It is similar to white dove, but it doesn’t have the same crispness, which makes it more neutral and easy to go with anything. This is the color of the Furbish showroom too, and it so easily carries off all of our design experiments.

Benjamin Moore China White: If you are going for a home with a warm golden glow, and need white paint for walls or moldings, choose China White. It feels rich and works well for design schemes where you need a feeling of warmth…and a dash of stature.

PALE NEUTRALS

Benjamin Moore Pale Oak: Linen lovers take note. Pale oak is the perfect color for a modern rustic vibe. It works amazingly well with all the various shades of natural linen, taupe, and grey. Clients who love a more modern feeling gravitate to this color and I have used it in my studio space at Furbish.

Benjamin Moore Tapestry Beige: I am in the process of painting the major rooms in my home this color, and it fascinates me. I find it very rich and complex in character. It is the warmer, more classical feeling counterpart to Pale Oak, and also works with shades of linen. If you have a larger space you can also go one shade darker with Coastal Fog, which I was surprised to learn is the color I put on an accent wall in the showroom.

Benjamin Moore Spring in Aspen: A gorgeous pale, warm greige that works when you want an earthy, sunlit glow. This color just feels so classic and sophisticated.

Benjamin Moore April Showers: I continue to be a lover of green, and this pale, greyish color has the perfect hint. It is actually a very interesting cool-toned counterpart to warmer colors, when you want to crisp things up.