Maitland-Smith

Onyx Optimized by La Barge

Onyx is a striped, semi-precious stone that has properties similar to quartz.   Colors vary from black and brown tones, to reds and greens and rusts.  Often used in jewelry, it is also fashioned into decorative objects such as vases and bowls.  The term,  "onyx marble" is sometimes used because of the similarity to the look of marble.

As with any natural product, each slice of onyx is different with colors and designs that only nature can produce. 

At La Barge, we have taken this beautiful natural material and  used it in a variety of ways.  Shown below, the table top is a slice of green and rust colored onyx on the aged silver and iron finished occasional table.    The color is vivid and has to be seen and touched to be fully appreciated.   

 

Swirls of various shades of brown are seen on the onyx  top and shelf on this antique patina brass tripod table. 

Natural materials are a wonderful complement to home decor. No matter if you select shells, driftwood, rock crystal, semi-precious stones or any other natural material, each makes an individual statement, as no two pieces will ever be the same.

Just as no two individuals are ever the same.

La Barge... a reflection of all that you are.  www.labargeinc.com

New at Maitland-Smith and La Barge

The twice yearly home furnishings market begins today and we have been busy adding the final touches to our showroom to make our guests feel special and welcome.  It's almost like inviting our dealers and designers to a party in our own home.  The flowers are arranged, the background music is playing and the food is being prepared. 

Though we are only open to the trade, we will share with you a few sneak peeks of some of the new offerings.

Our new lifestyle this market is called "London Townhouse" with classic English and European furniture and accessories.  These introductions with their decidedly refined and pared down aesthetic were inspired by objects found in the finest of London townhouses, yet are suitable for any fine home today.  Lion's paw feet and textures of crocodile embossed leather, brass and stone as well as beautiful marquetry and walnut burl, create a look that is both handsome and very comfortable. 

This etagere captures the true essence of the London Townhouse group.   It features classic English forms with its turned posts and lion's paw carvings, accentuated in our new rubbed London mahogany finish.  This piece is at home in a library, but just as comfortable in a bedroom.  Scaled down slightly for today's urban living, this versatile piece complements any decor. 

This handsome pair of vintage silver finished brass table lamps with horse motif are the perfect complement to classic forms.  The black and gold shades are hand sewn silk. 

For those who like cleaner lines, we have added to our East/West passage lifestyle group of transitional 20th century designs.  The antique aubergine finish lends sophistication to this transitional cocktail table.  Overscaled but understated, the black waxstone top is accentuated with a petrified wood mosaic and brass inlays. 

La Barge continues its tradition of offering the finest in mirrors and accent tables with a blending of exotic veneers with stainless steel and brass accents.

The round La Barge mirror has a walnut burl faceted frame with gilded moldings and beveled mirror glass. 

 Clean lines define the occasional table with stainless steel posts supporting the walnut burl and beveled clear glass top.  The mirrored shelf below is also beveled. 

These are just a few of the many new offerings by Maitland-Smith and La Barge.  You can see why we are so excited and look forward to welcoming our guests.      

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  www.labargeinc.com

Whimsy

I read an article in Home Accents Today that quotes buyers at the recent Las Vegas market who were looking for unusual, whimsical accessories.  What caught my attention was a reference to "frogs doing a conga line." 

Well, look no further if whimsy is on the mind.  Maitland-Smith has lots of whimsy from the animal kingdom to choose from -- from frogs and monkeys to turtles and foxes. 

Do you remember the big word from high school literature class, "anthropomorphism"?  Meaning to attribute human characteristics to animals, a great example is this fox and frog pair dressed in their overcoats out for a stroll.  This cast brass couple was introduced to our line during the April furniture market.  

Sure to liven up your powder room is this chubby frog with a toilet tissue tongue.  Also of cast brass, he has a verdigis and dark bronze finish and sits on a stone base.  He comes in a smaller version for a desk as a tape dispenser.

Following are a few more examples of our whimsical frog pieces.  These royal frogs are busy holding up books while sitting on their thrones. 

  
This resting frog under a penshell blossom is perhaps waiting for a beautiful maiden's kiss to turn him into a prince.

We can't forget the monkeys. This lamp showcases several of the Maitland-Smith hand-crafted processes.  The monkey is lost-wax cast brass, the shade is inlaid penshell and the base and ball are hand-tooled leather.  This lamp has been often copied, but never duplicated.  Imitation, they say, is the sincerest form of flattery. 

These are just a few selections of the Maitland-Smith whimsy.  If  you are looking for frogs doing yoga, monkey lamps, boxing frogs, frog bookends or frog-adorned clocks, look to Maitland-Smith.  We have a table with turtle feet and dancing turtles, and for the not-so-faint-in-heart, there is a brass dog looking for a fire hydrant with his hind leg lifted.
Okay . . . here he is. I wasn't going to show him, but couldn't resist.  He is a very popular item, believe it or not. 

Besides becoming conversation pieces, whimsy in home decor is unexpected and just plain fun.  Have some fun today and add a few whimsical pieces to your home. 

www.maitland-smith.com  

Shell Collector

Growing up in Piedmont North Carolina, summer vacations were either spent in the Appalachian mountains or at the NC or SC beaches.  Living just 4 hours from the coast, it made for a favorite escape (and still does). 

Who hasn't taken aimless walks along the shore with no concept of time passing?   Shells are picked up, examined and discarded, while noting that the variety and shapes of shells seemed endless. The color, too, varied from shell to shell. 

Having shells a part of home decor brings back those memories of warm breezes and days spent relaxing at the shore. 

These La Barge mirrors are framed in shells.  The first is encircled with iridescent abalone shells, found in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean, gathered from the shore and affixed to the mirror frame one at a time. There are 683 shells on this 39" diameter mirror.   

The second rectangular mirror frame is inlaid with natural, pink barnacles, also from the Pacific. Last week was the summer solstice -- the first day of summer and the longest day of the year.  Since then, the daylight has slowly started to decrease as we head towards fall.  To keep summer alive in your home, no matter what the season, consider adding a mirror or accessory covered in shells. 

La Barge...a reflection of all that you are.  www.labargeinc.com
 

Design Inspiration

Do you ever wonder where furniture and accessories designers get their inspiration?  These creative people are always on the lookout for ideas from any source that can be utilized or adapted to a new design.

The artisans at La Barge recently received inspiration from a piece of jewelry -- a bracelet worn by one of our sales representatives.  

This beautiful bracelet had belonged to her mother and, of course, was very special.  The metal was fashioned into an intricate pattern and this pattern was recreated as embellishment on a stunning La Barge mirror.  In this photo you see the finished product with the jewelry design in polished brass encircling the center mirror.  (LM2387)  The four curved mirror panels are beveled where they meet.    

Just as jewelry expresses a woman's taste and style and adds the extra touch to a special outfit, decorative accessories add that extra pizzazz to your home decor... as a reflection of all that you are.  Visit the La Barge website to see more beautiful mirrors and accent pieces.