Bloggers and Non-bloggers: Where is your space?

Where do bloggers blog?

This question was asked over the weekend by the author of "Centsational Girl".  I have enjoyed looking at everyone's "space" and thought it might give you some ideas on making a space for yourself.  

Most of my blogs are done at home.  We actually have the shop's computer tied up with entering inventory and bills  (thanks, Pam).  Here's my space:

 Did I mention I do have help? 

Why choose Woven Wood Shades?

It seems like the 2" wood blinds are being taken over by woven wood shades. At least that's been the case for our customers. We seem to sell the 2.5" wood blinds on occasion, but the woven shades are still ahead. We did talk about them just last year in this post. Here's a good example for the use of the shades from a recent installation:

There were several reasons for using shades instead of blinds in this circumstance (besides just personal preference). One of them being that they won't make noise when opening and closing the door. They don't collect dust. The shades are lined with a blackout lining that gives a uniform appearance from the back. When they are up you can really enjoy a full view, and when they are down they lay very close to the glass and don't project into the room. We did choose to have these shades attached to the narrow end of the 1x2, so they have an even smaller projection at the header. You can see how well they match the wooden doors, and the added texture looked great in the living room.

Woven wood shades are made from bamboo, grasses, jute, bark, and wood. The colors range from very pale to ebony, with at least 90 choices to choose from. Prices vary depending on the type of materials used, along with the control mechanism you choose for raising and lowering. The are available with many options, and are fabricated as flat, hobbled, and as a panel track.


Above is an example from the Manh Truc catalog of a hobbled shade. They look great with traditional decor, but depending on the style and colors, can really be a great addition to more contemporary rooms.

This is a perfect example the simple lines they provide, and without all the horizontal lines of wood blinds. The above picture from our vendor, Lafayette Interior Fashions, shows an unlined shade. If privacy is a concern, there are several levels of opacity to choose from.

We used the higher opacity lining for the shades we have in the shop. The west sun really heated things up, but even keeping the shade down half-way makes an amazing difference in the heat.

Don't get us wrong, we still like wood blinds. The "tilt" factor is an important reason to use them. Many people still need to see outside but don't want a fully opened window, so by tilting the blinds they don't loose all their privacy, and still sneak a peak through their window. The newest blinds even come in several "glazed" finishes which are really popular in many homes today. And one other option is the addition of "tapes", which add some color and a touch of fabric to a room without adding another layer of curtains.

Come by and see all the options available, you might be surprised.

Bridal Registry at Madison Lane

This is your free gift, just for registering at Madison Lane Interiors:

Calling all brides: Sure, you need mixers, toasters, and tupperware, but wouldn't you like to have something you'll be able to treasure for years to come? In addition to your regular bridal registry, we want to add something special to your list of "wants". We'll write down each specific item you choose, whether it's a set of our Casafina dinnerware,

something to hang on your wall,
a colorful Dash and Albert rug,


or beautiful metalware by Beatriz Ball,



your friends and family will know they chose something you love.

We were recently mentioned in the 417 Bride magazine in their "Keeping it Local" article, as a favorite place to register. We hope you'll come by and find out why.

You'll also find a wonderful selection of gifts for the wedding party, which includes our new line of personalized leather goods. Just ask us to point you in the right direction, and we'll be happy to talk about our latest gift items. Of course gift wrapping is included.

We're still your personalized service home decor store, but with your everyday gifts!

Welcome to Clarke & Clarke, a new line of fabrics!

The colors are crisp, the designs are fun and easy to mix, and the quality of the fabric is great. That's how we describe Clarke & Clarke. This fabric company is from the UK but warehoused in the USA. Our Duralee fabric rep, Tony, showed us the latest and greatest from Duralee, and then introduced us to this new company. We all agreed Clarke & Clarke has a real "European" look.

Here's a photograph from their website: what do you think? Too bold for your living room? How about just a couple of new pillows in one of their fabrics? If you browse their website you'll see some great designs, but I will say they don't come across as wonderful as they do in person.

This polka-dot cut velvet would make great pillow shams to liven up your bedding, or even a couple of throw pillows for the living room. It has a great feel to it and the colors are much clearer than what you see here. Click here for the additional colors in this design.

We do love a nice weight cotton, and these embroidered cottons had such a fresh look to them. This line would make some wonderful drapery panels. The white background would really brighten up a room. Click here to see the other colors in Terenzo fabric line.

But don't forget to checkout Duralee's newest line called the "Traditional Collection". Here's a quick preview of those books:

Of course, seeing the fabrics in person is the best!

Just as in Nature: Your Home = Your Style

We have friends at the front door these days, Mr. and Mrs. Mourning Dove (or also called Turtle Doves). The nest was looking like it was a "no go" for awhile, but they showed up a couple of weeks ago with more building materials and moved in.

Here's the view through the door.

I think the Barn Swallows would surely shake their heads and be embarrassed that the birds didn't use any mud to hold their structure together. But that's just not the style the doves want for their home. If you look very closely, you'll see the silver Christmas tinsel hanging in the nest. We like to think that the builder was trying to impress Mrs. Dove. In reality she's probably the one who added the bling! That would be more typical for our customers.


You can see that one of the eggs has hatched. That happened this weekend. We can see two tiny heads looking up to their parent for food.

P.S. Thanks to those of you who made it to the Sidewalk Sale on Saturday. Hope to see you during the week sometime!