Maitland-Smith

Love Is In The Air

Today is Valentines Day - a special day set aside to express love to those dear to us. 

Red is the color of love, perhaps because it is a deep, passionate color.  Red gets our attention, whether in roses, rubies, or red velvet cake and strawberries!

A red convertible gets all the notice from the girls, and a red front door sets your home apart.

Tradition calls for gifts for our valentines.  Home furnishings can be a great gift for this day because a carefully chosen piece will be in your home for many years to come.   Long after the chocolates have been eaten and the flowers have faded, your home furnishings will continue to add function and style to your home. 

 

Each table in this set of four has a top in one of the shapes of the four card suits.  Inlaid in red leather with brass playing card accents, they are perfect for the game room.  Small and lightweight, they can easily be moved where needed when friends gather. 

 
Shanghai red lacquer is the finish for this handsome writing desk with bamboo motif and inlaid leather on the top and shelves. Custom made antique brass finished pagoda-shaped pulls finish the piece. 

Painted Shanghai red with hand-painted blossoms, the trunk has generous hardware created in our foundry by the centuries old lost-wax brass casting process.  A gorgeous accent piece, it also is functional with storage. 

For your valentine, consider a gift of home furnishings to show your love.  Who knows, you may be rewarded with even more red - red lipstick kisses, that is. 

Elegant and distinctive pieces for your home today, with quality and style to last a lifetime.... Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure?  www.maitland-smith.com

Shelf Confidence

The holidays are over and it's too early to think about gardening, and besides that, it's cold outside.  While we are spending time indoors,  it's a good opportunity to begin to get things organized.

One great way is to add to your home some gorgeous bookcase shelving, which can be welcome additions to most rooms of the house.  Besides holding books, bookcases can be used to showcase prized possessions, photos, decorative objects or whatever you love and want to see every day. 

Let's start with considering a large, grand bookcase that is loaded with detail as seen in the moldings and carvings.  It even has a rolling ladder to help reach the top shelves.  The center shelves are wood surrounding glass so that the lighting from above can shine through from top to bottom.  This bookcase has plenty of shelves for a variety of displayed items as well as several lower cabinets with doors for stashing items out of sight, yet within reach when needed.  

At the other extreme is this smaller display cabinet with glass shelves for your treasures. 

This one will fit in anywhere as it's width is only 16".  The mahogany is hand-carved and the doors are glazed.  Two drawers and a cabinet below add additional storage space.

Bookcases and display cabinets can be found in all styles, from contemporary, clean lines, to 18th century carvings and pediments, or no embellishment at all.   Finishes can range from beautiful mahogany's and other wood finishes to lacquers and colorful painted finishes.  They can be built-ins or free standing.  The sky is the limit.

Once you have the bookcase, creating a pleasing arrangement is an art.  For helpful suggestions, you might be interested in this article I found from May-June  St. Louis at Home, where Celerie Kemble, of Kemble Interiors, is being interviewed on this subject.   

 We are very excited that Celerie will be debuting a new home furnishings collection with our sister company, Henredon, in April, and at the same time, Maitland-Smith will introduce some of her amazing lighting and accessories.  We will share more on the new collection as we get closer to the April market, but believe me, you won't want to miss them. 

The next open bookcase/etagere has clean lines with a blend of Mocha Zebrano and black lacquer finishes with  polished stainless steel accents.   

This striking bookcase is hand carved with Aged Regency and Black Vendome finishes with gilded accents.  Smaller in scale, it can be placed on a small wall, or a pair or even three of these bookcases can be placed side by side to fill up a larger space. 

We've looked at only a small sampling of the variety of styles of bookcase shelving and display cabinets available.  They come in every price point, taste and style so you are sure to find just what suits you best.   

Stay warm this winter and while you are indoors, perhaps you will decide to organize your home with the addition of new bookshelves and display cabinets. 

Elegant and distinctive pieces for your home today, with quality and style to last a lifetime....Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure?   www.maitland-smith.com

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It's January - Time for Downton Abbey's Third Season to Begin

January 6 is the day we have been waiting for to get back to our weekly Sunday night fix of Downton Abbey on PBS.  Once again we can immerse ourselves in the lives of the artistocrats who live upstairs and the people downstairs who keep everything running smoothly. 

Yesterday I found some great information from the Traditional Home Magazine newsletter.  Written by Cathy Whitlock, it is loaded with interesting facts about the Highclere Castle, the estate used in Downton Abbey, and the furnishings.   The beautiful estate contains exquisite antiques and art from the 17th century onward, so a feast for the eyes and the imagination awaits.   If you're like me, you dream and wonder what it would be like to have a ladies maid to do your hair and help you dress for dinner each evening.  Ahhh......

If you would like to create a little Downton Abbey aura in your home, Maitland-Smith has just the thing, particularly for the dining room.

 

 

 Even though you might still have to prepare the meal and serve it yourself, it is nice to do so in beautiful surroundings.  The table is crotch mahogany veneer with cross banding, and the chairs are mahogany with hand-carved heart-shaped shield backs with silk upholstery.  With your fine china and crystal, it is sure to be special. 

Happy New Year, everyone from Maitland-Smith and La Barge. 

Elegant and distinctive pieces for your home today with quality and style to last a lifetime....   Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure?  www.maitland-smith.com

 

Russian Rooms A La Anna Karenina

For my fellow Anglophiles who can't seem to get enough of period movies and actors such as Keira Knightley, Jude Law and Matthew Macfadyen (Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice), we have only a few days to wait for the new Anna Karenina movie opening in theaters November 16.  The director, Joe Wright, and the producers worked together on Pride and Prejudice and Atonement, so we can expect another winner. 

Although this movie is set in Russia, rather than England, it will still more than satisfy our interest in the fashion, elegance, life and drama of the 19th Century.    Anna Karenina, the novel, is an epic, tragic love story written by Leo Tolstoy in installments from 1873 to 1877.  It is considered by many critics as one of the greatest novels ever written. 

At the recent fall furniture market, Maitland-Smith unveiled our own new lifestyle of lavish Russian-inspired furnishings with all the gilt, carvings and inlays that one expects of the period. 

 Here we have a handsome chest of drawers with hand carving, gilding and loads of brass pulls and escutcheons made in our own foundry.  The finish is a combination of black lacquer with polished mahogany and the top is black waxstone with a brass inlay.  You must agree that this is very regal indeed. 

Next we have a writing desk which also evokes the Russian Empire look with black lacquer and gilding, black leather inlay and brass accents.  I can almost picture Count Vronsky working here. 

Lastly we feature a tripod occasional table with gorgeous wood grain on the top and beautiful marquetry inlay.  Pierced interlocking circles of brass encircle the top and the black lacquered legs are gilded. 

While we hopeless romantics wait for the next season of Downton Abbey to begin, we can look forward to sitting in the dark very soon with a big bag of popcorn ready to transport ourselves to 19th Century Russia and experience Anna Karenina. 

These new Maitland-Smith pieces will be available at your local fine home furnishings store next summer should you wish to create your own Russian-inspired rooms. 

Elegant and distinctive pieces for your home today, with quality and style to last a lifetime... Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure?  www.maitland-smith.com

Exciting News - Collaboration with Celerie Kemble Announced

Maitland-Smith is pleased to announce that Celerie Kemble, noted interior designer and author, is designing a group of lighting and accessories for Maitland-Smith to complement the new group of casegoods and upholstery she is designing for our sister company, Henredon. The pieces are being finalized now, and the exciting new collections will debut at the April 2013 market. 

Celerie, in case you didn't know, is a principal of Kemble Interiors based in Palm Beach, Florida, and New York City.  Interior Design is in her genes as her mother, Mimi Maddock McMakin, began Kemble Interiors in Palm Beach in 1982, so Celerie grew up surrounded by beautiful furnishings, fabrics and color. She is a partner with her mother in the New York office of Kemble Interiors. 

For 15 years Celerie has compiled a much publicized portfolio of residential and commercial interiors that are as diverse as her clientel.  She has been featured in countless publications and even appeared on the Martha Stewart Black and White show in March, discussing decorating with black and white, the subject of her latest book, Black and White (and a bit in between), published by Clarkson Potter. 

   Hand Painted Wallpaper by Fromental, Rene Drouet Chairs,  Black Lacquered Demi-Lune Table Attributed to Jansen, Belted Stripe Rug, and Silver Coffee and Tea Set.  Photo by Hulya Kolabas.

This image is from the Martha Stewart Black and White show.  

As an interior designer, Celerie endeavors "to fuse the elegance of subtle luxury with comfort, current fashion, and an understanding of what will be enduring design."  See deems it "a privilege to team with Henredon and Maitland-Smith and to work with some of the most capable craftspeople in the furniture manufacturing industry." 

We also deem it a privilege to be collaborating with such a talented designer and author.   (Photo of Celerie Kemble by Douglas Friedman)

Elegant and distinctive pieces for your home today, with quality and style to last a lifetime.... Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure?   http://www.maitland-smith.com/



 



Take A Seat

When someone drops by unexpectedly, the first thing we usually say after the greeting and hug is "come in" and then "take a seat." 

Sitting is more conducive to visiting than standing.  At cocktail parties we stand and mingle, but at home we sit and relax while catching up and talking.  We want our guests to be comfortable. 

A small-scale chair that is big on style has a dark, aubergine finish with leopard-print hairhide and black leather upholstery with nail trim.

At the end of a long day, we want nothing more than to sit, generally with the beverage of choice and something to read.  Where we sit is important -- our chair needs to be functional and comfortable as well as beautiful and stylish and complementary to other elements in the room. 

For the man of the house, a generous tufted leather wing chair is just the thing for unwinding after a long day at the office.  It has loads of nailhead trim and a four piece stretcher.

Great seating choices are unlimited in size, style, color and texture of the coverings.   Coverings may include leathers, hairhides, chenilles, jacquards, velvets, silks, prints, or perhaps  a combination of materials.   Trims can include nail head accents or welts or decorative trim, or simple baseball stitching and no trim.   The sky is the limit, as they say. 

This handsome and cozy wing chair is upholstered in a combination of materials:  a wool blend plaid fabric and a soft leather seat, with inlaid leather on sides and back. 

 If you are like me, when you are ready to take a seat, you look for one that feels like an old friend - it is where you want to be at the end of the day to relax, to read the paper and then perhaps match your wits with the contestants on Jeopardy. So take a seat ...a Maitland-Smith seat. 

Elegant and distinctive pieces for your home today, with quality and style to last a lifetime....Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure?   www.maitland-smith.com

Dealer Showcase - Mister Robert, Norman, OK

One of our favorite dealers is Mister Robert Fine Furniture & Design, Norman, OK, whose relationship with Maitland-Smith/La Barge began in 1989.    

Occupying over a half city block, Mister Robert Fine Furniture and Design started over 50 years ago on East Main Street.   It's a family affair as Steve Calonkey and his siblings continue the business started by their parents in 1958.  Their slogan is "beautifying the world, one room at a time."  They do this by providing high-end, designer oriented furniture selections and complimentary design services by the best designers in the area. 

Here are a couple of shots from their store.  The Maitland-Smith oval partners' desk is the focal point in this room.  As you can see, Mister Robert offers a large selection of accessories for that spur of the moment purchase of just the right thing to add to or complete a room.   

Shown here are examples of Maitland-Smith's signature hair hide inlays on the chest of drawers and mirror. 

If you are in the Norman, OK area, be sure to stop in to see the Calonkey's at Mister Robert Fine Furniture & Design to experience 50 plus years of tradition in providing quality furnishings to the people in Oklahoma and beyond.   

Elegant and distinctive pieces for your home today, with quality and style to last a lifetime....Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure?     www.maitland-smith.com

Designer Showhouse of New Jersey

The preview party held April 28 for the opening of the Designer Showhouse of New Jersey was full of excitement, interesting people, and of course, fabulous designs in the stately home at 27 Denison Drive in Saddle River. 

Photo:  Bob Skinner Photography

 The great room is a family oasis as envisioned by Angela Kumble, of AMG Interior Designs of New York, Palm Beach and Newport, RI. 

Pairing Maitland-Smith case pieces with Pearson upholstery, the room is simply stunning. 

The transitional cocktail table has Antique Aubergine and Parisian Walnut finishes with an inset beveled glass top. 

 Adding a nice pop of color are the beautiful pink orchids.

A good book, candlelight and flowers - what could be better?

 I supposed adding a glass of fine wine would be the finishing touch. 

 Maitland-Smith barstools have been pulled up to the bar and fabulous Pearson upholstered pillows add some pizzazz.

Seen below is one of a pair of iron geometric tables that flank the sofa. A leather occasional chair pulled up next to the table creates an intimate seating area. 

The table top is black waxstone and inlaid penshell, and the base is created from circles of iron.

Hand carving sets the chair apart as well as the button-tufting of the leather, and brass finished nail trim.  Additionally, casters enable the chair to easily move from place to place.  

This is a small sampling of all that awaits you at the Designer Showhouse of New Jersey.  The  Showhouse will be open daily except for Mondays through June 10. 

If you are in the Saddlebrook, NJ area, be sure to visit this grand home that benefits a good cause, and see more amazing spaces created by some of America's best-known and most talented designers. 

Traditional Home is the national media sponsor of the showhouse and will feature more photos in an upcoming issue.  All proceeds benefit the Heart & Vascular Hospital and the Emergency Trauma Department at Hackensack University Medical Center. Other Furniture Brands companies participating besides Maitland-Smith, La Barge, and Pearson are Henredon, Hickory, and Lane Venture.  Each is known for fine quality, style and craftsmanship. Photos are from Traditional Home.

Elegant and distinctive pieces for your home today, with quality and style to last a lifetime... Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure?    www.maitland-smith.com

Designer Showhouse of New Jersey

Maitland-Smith and La Barge are pleased to be participating with Traditional Home Magazine in the Designer Showhouse of New Jersey, April 29-June 10 in Saddle River.   

Photo:  Bob Skinner Photography

Proceeds benefit the Heart and Vascular Hospital and the Emergency Trauma Department at Hackensack University Medical Center.  Truly this is a worthy cause and will benefit many families as a result of the generosity of all the people involved in this event. 

Some of America's finest designers have added their personal touches to create fabulous interiors for an extraordinary home. 

With 11,000 square feet and located on 9.8 acres, it boasts a formal living and dining room, paneled library with adjoining sitting room, spacious family room, sunny conservatory, and a fully outfitted kitchen that's flanked by a breakfast and a morning room, and seven bedrooms and baths.  Outside amenities include a 600 foot winding drive, slate roof with copper enhancements, a four-car garage, pool house, guest house and putting green. 

The designer who is featuring Maitland-Smith and La Barge products is Angela Kumble of AMG Interior Design, New York, Palm Beach and Newport, RI. Noted for her architectural design and impeccable taste in home furnishings, Angela designs highly creative interiors for a wide range of individual tastes and styles. 

Our pieces join and complement those of our sister company, Pearson, in the family room.  Other Furniture Brands companies participating are Henredon, Hickory, and Lane Venture, giving you a taste of the variety, quality and craftsmanship found in these Furniture Brands lines. 

Here is a sneak peek of a couple of the Maitland-Smith items selected. 

Hopefully this sampling will make you eager to see more and visit the showhome if you live in the NJ area. 

The opening preview gala is April 28, and we will have more photos to share from that event. 

Elegant and distinctive pieces for your home today, with quality and style to last a lifetime...Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure? 

 

The Seasons Of Our Lives

I moved last weekend.  Downsized.  It was time. 

As a young bride, I remember the first apartment and the excitement to buy the first furnishings to make it home - to make the personal statement.  Lots of time was spent looking at magazines and going to flea markets and of course, some hand-me-downs were always passed on from various relatives. 

Next the thoughts turn to the first home and saving begins as a young couple considers starting a family.

The first home purchase is a Big Deal.   Now we have a yard and grass and flowers and bird feeders and more furniture is purchased for the additional space. 

Growing up in the Furniture Capital of the World, everyone was familiar with names such as Henredon, Drexel Heritage and Hickory Chair.  We knew these names stood for quality as so many of the townspeople worked in the furniture industry and took pride in their brands.  Naturally, when it came time to shop, these are the brands we turned to. 

So the babies come and the family is well underway, and we have purchased a base of home furnishings.  Next our thoughts move on to the Dream Home.  This one is big.  It has more square feet with teenagers and a pool table and acreage.  Life is good.  We shop for more accent pieces.  We have reached the top of the mountain, and the view is pretty good from up here. 

And then.. before we know it...the teenagers go off to school and grow up and the nest is empty.  Do we still need such a big house, we ask ourselves? 

For a few years we continue on.  We have the yard and lots of stuff and the house to maintain. 

And then... we start to consider that the view is nice from this mountain top, but it wasn't so bad halfway up.  Perhaps we could have more time for ourselves if we didn't have that big yard to mow. So now we start to consider a smaller home.  In fact, the one we like has the same amount of square footage as the first home we bought when the boys were young.

Going into a smaller home, of course, requires reducing the amount of furnishings we have.  What do we keep and what do we pass on?

In the last few weeks as I had to consider this question, I realized that I just can't part with my Henredon dining group, 18th Century Portfolio, which I have had for 35 years.  I can't part with my Drexel Heritage Chippendale bedroom group which I have had for 30 years, or my Hickory Chair small secretary.  My Drexel Heritage sectional has been reupholstered, but it is still with me, as is my Hickory Chair wing chair.  It too, has been reupholstered a time or two. 

It is true that as we purchase quality home furnishings that are classic and timeless, they do become heirlooms that are passed down from one generation to the next.  Maitland-Smith was not a name I knew growing up as the company is only 30 years old.  Working for Maitland-Smith for 10 years now, I have acquired a few pieces.  Each of these made the move with me as I cannot part with any Maitland-Smith piece that I have.   The quality and craftsmanship are exceptional. 

We all go through seasons, and wherever we find ourselves in this process - whether starting out or downsizing - fine home furnishings are part of making a house a home and creating memories. 

Elegant and Distinctive pieces for your home today, with quality and style to last a lifetime.... Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure?  www.maitland-smith.com