We're taking our show on the road!

 

We are excited to be one of the vendors at the Convention Center this coming weekend.  No, we won't have food, but we'll have a good representation from our store.   You'll find our booth loaded with our jewelry, Trapp candles, pillows, Archipelago body fragrances, Dash and Albert rugs, as well as samples of our Tea Forte tea.  We'll have some "show special" pricing, so be ready to shop before the cooking show.  Don't worry, we'll be wired and ready for credit cards!

They are expecting as many as 1900 people for the two days, so don't wait until the last minute if you think you might go.  It'll be a great chance for MLI to meet new people and for you to learn more about your local home decor/gift shop.  I'm told there will be about 50 vendors on the floor, so it should be a good time!

Thanks to those customers who have been in the store recently and worked around our practice booth set-up! 

Details of a Guest Room window treatment

Pat's guest room was already inviting.  She had a pretty brown/turquoise coverlet and shams, coordinating rugs and lamp.  "I just want some panels", she said, "but something a little different."  There was no need to have anything more than some added color and the room could benefit from the vertical line panels will give to the big rectangle window.  

After a show and tell in our shop, Pat pointed to a panel sample and a valance sample and decided she would like something like both of those----together.  She left a pillow sham to match fabrics for the room, and the search was on.  Luckily, the colors of her guest room are easy to find, and on her return visit we had several to show her.  Even luckier for us was Pat's easy going nature and the words: "I like those two, and I know it'll look great!"  And that took about 15 minutes.

We had already talked about using two rods/finial sets beforehand.  The thought of one long pole just didn't seem decorative enough.  The beautiful turquoise fabric adds the punch the room needed, and compliments the bedding and the wall color.  We call the window treatment panels with an attached valance, really difficult to come up with that one, huh?  The difference is in the treatment of the pleats and spaces, compared to other similar styles we've done.

 

Here's a little more detailed information, just so you'll know why this particular treatment looks the way it does.  

There's no such thing as "standard" here at MLI.  Every space, pleat, length and width is done with your style in mind.  And for the record:  it will probably take more than 15 minutes to decide, so don't give up!

Another virtual makover: the home office

Many of us have a room similar to the one above.  There's nothing wrong with it, but maybe you'd be afraid to paint a bold color on the walls, or add window treatments to a small room.  It really is hard to visualize just what you might be able to do with this space.

We can help you make those decorating decisions.  It might take two or three renderings to figure it all out, but that's all part of the process.  Or maybe it's perfect on the first try.  Here's an example of what your office could look like with a little paint and fabric:

Well, what do you think?  The lavender grey walls are calming, but the bright green accent keeps it from being boring.   The desk chair could be slipcovered to fit in with the new color scheme, and by eliminating the busy bulletin board the room becomes a relaxing getaway.  I'm sure you could get more work done in your redecorated office!

See your dreams of a makeover---then feel the confidence to make it real!

Shop talk---the latest on display

Ok, winter will actually come to an end, I know this because the daffodils have bloomed by the shop.  The fact is that there is not a good excuse anymore to not hop in your vehicle and come by the shop!  You are missing some great new things.

 In the back of the store you'll find our display of Tea Forte.  You'll probably find a hot pot of tea to sample from.  We even have a set tea especially for cocktails called Cocktail Infusions.  We may be trying that one out ourselves very soon, or we could be persuaded some afternoon by just the right customer!

In the front of the store you'll see our display featuring Archipelago's pomegranate.   We love all of Archipelago's products so much we will soon have two  more of their lines on order.

You've seen our jewelry before, but now it's even easier to browse with the new stands we found.  Our two large shelving units next to the bed are loaded.  Notice the beautiful painted pillows from Dorothy Fagan's collections from Back Dorr Studio.  I mentioned on Facebook that we had her order in the shop last week. 

Here's my personal favorite painting on an oblong pillow.  It looks great on the French Laundry bedding.  Did you notice the small box behind the pillow?  It has taken about six months to get in more of the wonderful drawer liners.  If you've smelled the Vanilla Pear before, you'll remember them!

We hope to see you out and about enjoying the Spring weather!  And for you out-of-towners:    we'll be happy to take your phone orders anytime!

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