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Finail? Finial? Is that your final answer?

Like a dowel screw, or an elbow bracket, a finial is one of those seldom used words that belongs to the decorating or hardware genre. You probably don't  know the meaning or sometimes even the pronunciation unless you've had the occasion to use it. Many people think of a finial as something that sits on top of a lamp (this is true) and few realize it's also a "drapery knob". When it comes to decorative window hardware, the vocabulary is rich with layman terms that can baffle the average person. So I thought I would address some of the basics to help our customers understand the terminology and to help them make good decorating decisions.                                                                                                                                                                                Fin_merlin_ameth1.jpg                               The finial is the piece that attaches to the end of the drapery rod. Ours have an inserted wood threaded screw that works with wooden rods. However you can easily remove the screw and replace it with one that is threaded for a metal pole.  When choosing the finial, there are a few things to consider. Think about the size and how it will fit the space.  Is it a large wall? Tight corner? You also want to think about the drape. Heavy materials may work best with a  large finial while light sheers may call for something smaller or more delicate. And finally think about  how the light hits the space.  Many of our finial designs have crystals or crystal cabochons that refract light and create a very pretty effect.finial_group.jpg                         Our finials range from 4-8" in projection. If you prefer something smaller, many of our 2" diameter knobs measure 1 3/4" at the base and can be converted to a finial by adding a dowel screw. Pictured clockwise from bottom left:  Sunflower finial, J finial Isabella, J tieback Birdie, and small Tiki knob                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            If you're scratching your head about the dowel screw, here's a picture that shows it with one end threaded for metal (to go into the knob)  and the other end threaded for wood (to go into the rod).

 dowel_screw.jpg                                                                           

Now let's examine how the finial fits the rod. We list the diameter of the finial at the widest part to give our customers a feeling for the size of the piece.  However the measurement at the base of the finial is smaller, and designed to extend or flare a little beyond our rods 1 3/4" and 1 3/8" diameters.                                                                                                                                       finial_bases.jpg                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

By Susan Goldstick

Replacing your Switch Plates? Do a Double Take

Oh once there was a time when switch plates were easy to understand; small openings for toggle switches, roundish openings for outlet covers and the fancy thingamagig was a round dimmer knob. But that was a while ago. Now we're all wired for contemporary lifestyles and choosing switch plates requires some thought. Fortunately the electrical industry has made it a little less complicated because all switch plate designs have to comply with industry stardards. But you still have to take a good look at what's on your wall. Especially take note of your outlet covers. There’s more than one kind of receptacle for plugs and you want to be sure you’re ordering the right configuration. I mention this only because it seems to be a common mistake that we notice with our customers.  We use the term rocker to define our wall plates with wide openings. Although typically it may be a push switch, this wide size also fits all kinds of outlets, lighting controls, telephone devices and you name it. It's definitely the most popular configuration of today.sunflower_out.jpg Our Sunflower duplex outlet has roundish openings.                                                                                                                                                       cleo_rocker_tile.jpg We call our Cleo plate with the wide opening a Rocker, also often referred to as a GF1 or Decora plate.                                                                                                                         Btw, just in case you're growing tired of your round dimmers and you don't feel like changing out the entire receptacle, you can jazz it up with a fabulous knob and backplate. We've done this as a special request for customers and it's a pretty simple way to update an old look.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                dimmer.jpg

By Susan Goldstick

Fabric Swatches and Paint samples - Building Blocks of Custom Furniture Orders

So what's all the fuss about custom? And what does it really mean when we say we specialize in custom made products? We toss this term around a lot because it so much represents the heart of who we are and what we do. This is the advantage of being the modern day atelier with a virtual workshop and a web store. Yes, we make our products from scratch as they say. This gives us the flexibility to oblige requests for a specific color scheme. But how do we assure the customer that we can deliver a furniture piece that truly matches their decor? Addressing the comfortability factor is a huge part of the process and this is where all the little snippets from the room come into play. Upholstery and drapery fabrics, wall coverings, carpet, floor tiles and a good discussion about the room itself, are all the details that are taken into account when we create a custom color scheme and map out color placement.                                                                                                                                                            fabric_swatches.jpg  The first step starts here.  The customer sent us fabric swatches and filled us in with missing details about the room, such as buttercup walls and grassy green carpet.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                This is the Barcelona dresser that we created for her.barcelona_dresser_lg.jpg Sure would love to see a pic of how it looks in it's final destination!                                                                                                                                                     The following examples show room fabrics and carpet samples that we used to develop the mosaic and rose artwork for a custom jewelry armoire.  This is typical of what we prepare for the customer to see before we set to work.                                swatches_contessa.jpg        artwork_contessa.jpg                                                                                                                         And here you have it-  from start to finish!jewelry_armoire.jpg  contessa1.jpg                                   Here's another example of artwork that we sent to an interior designer to  confirm a pair of Rumba night tables. rumba_samples.jpg2rumba2.jpg                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      --           

By Susan Goldstick

"Seconds" Helpings

Since we're creating hand made products, there's bound to be some bloopers that come out of our workshop now and then. This is when our mistakes become bargain hunter delights. There's always a better deal on irregular merchandise and there's a lot of hot picks in our seconds inventory. As you can appreciate, we exercise tight quality control when we're filling our orders and never would we let a flawed knob jump into a box. So what characterizes a flaw?  We put them in two categories; the invisible (only noticeable to us in our workplace) and the visible (a slight defect that doesn't take away form the beauty of the piece).  It's the lucky customer who nabs the irregular with the invisible flaw. This may be a knob, pull, finial or even a lamp, where the color is a shade off or the size is off by a hair. Sometimes these lovelies end up on our web specials.  But a singular piece without a match will more than likely go into our irregulars bin.

 Betcha can't see the mistake in this 2in. diameter mini knob? Although it wasn't made according to pattern, the finish, color and size all meet our quality standards.mini9_irreg.jpg  petitsq6_ltgol.jpgThe color is a little darker than the norm on this little square petit knob  -- but wow it sure is pretty!

Merchandise with a visible flaw will have a bigger mark down and offers the best value to the bargain shopper who knows how to overlook and overcome the imperfection. If you have to rotate a knob or finial to spot a fingernai l knick or a miniscule bubble in the paint, just position  it so the flaw is hidden.  Or if you need to pick up reading glasses to see an eyelash size scratch on a switch cover then you may not be bothered by the slight flaw.  Even a lamp with a scratch on the paint  finish can be placed so that the mark faces the wall.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    This 2.5 in diameter Parfum knob (left) and 2 in. diameter Tudor knob (right)  have some minor flaws that hardly detract from their beauty.        parfum_irreg.jpg         rdtudor_irreg.jpg                         Seeing our merchandise in person is a great advantage for local San Francisco bay area folks who can particpate in our biannual sales, Our discounted knobs and pulls are a magnet for the moms with a "mix em up" decorating scheme in mind. It's a creative and playful way to do children's furniture and bathrooms.mini6_mix.jpg And of course, the shopper who spots a pair of finials with matching brackets at 50% off is getting a real deal on window treatments. But even if there's no event, we always have "seconds" inventory. Granted it's not a sizable stash. But you never know - there may be just the right item waiting for the perfect project. We do occasionally get a phone call from the customer who trusts us to make the selection and  we're always happy to help them find a bargain. For those who want to know what we have in our irregulars cache, give us a call at 888-566-2799. As a reminder, if you want to keep up to date on our sales and promotions, just subscribe.

By Susan Goldstick

Furniture Facelift

Our knobs and pulls are the icing on the cake when it comes to giving old furniture a face lift.  I don't think I can say it any better than the style struggler in her blog dressing up dressers. Decorative hardware is a  key ingredient for style makeovers and it's not just about restoring a weathered desk or dresser.  Even if you're not out scouting the flea markets, just take a look  around the house. Surely you will  find a tired or old fashioned furniture piece that can benefit from  a sweet knob pick me up.  This bedroom dresser gets the glam treatment with our 2.5 in. diameter mini knobs and 5 in. orbit pulls in alabaster and gold.                                          'dresser_makeover.jpg  new_knobs.jpg  

And it doesn't have to be old either.  Maybe it's just a mundane piece that's calling out for something special.  This kitchen utility cart is wearing our 4 in. Bundle Tiki pull.                                     . utility_cart_bundle.jpg

By Susan Goldstick

Did you say Purple and Turquoise for 2010?

 

I’m loving this color forecast that’s a subject of this blog from 2 savvy designers. I’ve been watching these 2 colors slowly inch their way together since 2008 when we received an order for an 8 piece bedroom set from a customer in Arizona. I remember at the time how I was impressed with the fashion forward color palette selection. Not your typical Arizona sunset hues, but beautiful shades of mauve, periwinkle and orchid with a teal-ish turquoise… something you might expect to see at the trend setting Maison et Objet furniture show in Paris. Take a look at the media cabinet from this collection.    

media_cabinet.jpg  Although purple lovers have been discovering our line for years, the choice for green complements have always leaned more toward the celadon green family.  But we've noticed a taste for bluish greens is becoming more popular in everything from knobs to window hardware, switch plates and furniture.  Turquoise and purple color palettes are becoming the choice for trend setting decor throughout the home.                                                  rumb_peri_aqua.jpg   ivy_rock1.jpgfinia_merlin_turq.jpgnu_ivy.jpg

By Susan Goldstick

Teacups...Teddy Bears...and Textbooks- Display It!

In the 12 years that we’ve been producing custom painted furniture we’ve had some unusual requests from our customers. This is how our Contessa jewelry armoire was born and how many of our furniture pieces were developed.  But I’m surprised that up until this past year, we have never received any inquires for display cases such as a bookcase or hutch.  Maybe it’s because people associate our designs with our infamous knobs and drawerless cabinets do not come to mind.

But where there’s a will there’s a way as they say. Although open shelving doesn’t provide a spot for a cabinet knob, you can be sure I would find a way to introduce a signature piece to the design.   In both the bookcase and the hutch,  the architecture incorporates a  platform in each corner to house our grandest finials.  Standing 12 inches high, these bejeweled sculptures remind me of little sentries, proudly guarding the contents of the  shelves.                                     bookcase.jpg                                                                                                                                                                             It's 180 degree views for architectural embellishments-- Isabellla finials can be viewed from the front or the side on the Mirage bookcase.

 

But what I especially like about these 2 new furniture pieces is their versatility. Designed to sit atop our Jitterbug desk, the hutch can be adapted to rest on our Bolero dresser and you can move it from the home office to the dining room.  The bookcase can easily be customized in height and width to feel comfortable in any room. And most important, you don't have to feel compelled to fill up the shelves. This bookcase is pretty spectacular.   Let the beautiful colorful  finishes create an aura around your treasures.  Make it special!

hutch_desk.jpg                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Jitterbug Hutch with Merlin finials sits pretty on a desk or dresser.

 

 

By Susan Goldstick

Designing with Knobs and Pulls -- Get a Scheme Going!

It's easy to see that our knobs and pulls are little works of art. So naturally I like to think of the cabinet door or drawer as the canvas or frame that surrounds it. For a simple or delicate look you can opt for a small knob within a large space or you can be bold and go the dramatic route and use a large knob or pull on a small drawer.  So much depends upon the style of the room or the furniture piece.  Is it formal, casual, playful, colorful?  What kind of attitude or personality are you courting?  There's no doubt that both size and placement of your decorative hardware are key in affecting the look you're trying to achieve.  To give you an idea of some of your options, I've selected some photos of our asymmetrical Eel pulls to show the various ways they'e positioned on cabinets and furniture.  

eel_pulls_kitchen.jpg For balance and symmetry our 4 in. Eel Iris pulls are paired with a right and left curve on these kitchen cabinet doors. Drawers have matching Nu Iris knobs 1.5 in.diameter.


eel_bathroom.jpgIn this bathroom , our 4 in. Eel Lily pulls are placed in the center paneling of the drawers.  Matching Nu Lily knobs 1.5 in. diameter are positioned on the door frame.  Although the colors are subtle, int this case the hardware has a bold effect.  

 

bolero_eels_horizontal.jpg On our Bolero dresser, our 4 in. Eel Lily pulls zig zag down the bank of drawers.  Matching Nu Lily knobs 1.5 in. diameter are placed on the cabinet door moldings.  For extra drama, we selected a contrasting color scheme for the hardware. 

 

bolero_eels_vertical.jpgPlaced vertically on our Bolero dresser, the right and left curve of our 4 in. Eel pulls emphasize and flow with the direction of the artwork.  Once again, choice of contrasting hardware colors is deliberate and effective.  


 

By Susan Goldstick

Missing Vocabulary

When I think about our times at the NY gift show, I like to recall a common reaction from buyers as they approached our booth.  First there would be the curious  “Ooh what’s this?”  Then I’d watch their eyes scan for the signage where they would see our company name and location.  Then the comment  “Ohhhhh whaddya know, they’re from California”  “Of course”.  So what does this mean?  I’ve had plenty of time to think about it over the years and I’ve come up with a theory.  Obviously designs from the west coast have a recognizable style or look that these buyers identify.  It’s  untraditional, unexpected, over the top and trend setting.  But a good solid finite description seems to be lacking. This brings me to the subject of this post.

I’ve been trying to find the right words to describe our look for awhile. Even the designers, editors, and other professionals, etc , have not pinpointed some choice words to describe our style.  “Funky” tends to be used for lack of a better word  and “whimsical” seems to be the choice word for any indulgent use of color.  We need some new descriptive words in the home furnishing industry.  Yes we have art deco, or  antique, paris flea market, post modern and so forth. But I think we need  a California label, an umbrella that will encompass the uniqueness  that California designers contribute to the mix. We’re obviously not from a particular school of thought or movement.  Could it be the magnificent vistas, plentiful sunshine or proximity to the far east and Mexico that affects our creations?

By Susan Goldstick

Get Inspired

It's an unexpected place to start my blog, but I have to mention the November newsletter from Wynn resorts.  It focuses upon all the special touches that his team of designers use in creating his fabulous hotels. 
You'll note that right smack in the middle of the newsletter, there's a photo of his top designer's brainchild.  It's a house of cards sculpture, and lo and behold: our knobs and finials are the crowning glory of each playing card column that make up the castle.  There are 2 of these sculptures actually. And they both reside in the luxurious poker room (adjacent to the Ferrari showroom) of the Wynn hotel...pretty swanky digs! 
 
There's nothing too outrageous.  Creative applications of our products have always been a designer challenge and I love to point out the ingenious projects that started with a precious little cabinet  knob.  So I thought this would be the perfect way to begin my blog.  I hope that our customers will join in the fun and share some of their over the top creations and innovations. 
detail_houseofcards.jpg
House of Cards Sculpture at Wynn Resort Las Vegas

 

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