Maitland-Smith

Living Life Large

Does your home have large rooms and high ceilings that you feel create challenges for decorating?  If so, you are one of the fortunate ones who can accommodate the larger scaled home furnishings.  Smaller pieces get lost in the space when pieces are needed that make a statement that "bigger is definitely better."   

For the dining room, many of your friends can be accommodated with this Dark Wellington Cottage finished dining table.  The herringtone pattern of the veneer in the leaves is surrounded by inset snakeskin stone. Curved iron embellishes the two pedestals and forms the stretcher.   

   
The table comes with three 22" leaves, and when in place, the table measures 166 inches in length.  Shown below are the top and leaf detail. 

 
For a table this size, a grand chandelier is called for.  The 1951-233 chandelier is 79" wide and features a rust finish on iron,with seeded glass panels, and verdigris finish on the brass. 
 
This large table also needs complementary chairs.  In the photo above a leather bench joins the side chairs and the arm chairs. 
The Dark Wellington Cottage finished bench is upholstered in leather with embossed leather inset on the back. It is finished with nail head trim. 

The side chairs have a paisley fabric with leather on the seats and also have nail head trim.

The mix of leather and fabric, wood, stone and metal in this group creates a wonderful blend of texture.  The look is Tuscan/mediterranean and sure to make your guests feel very comfortable. 

Not everyone can accommodate the scale of this dining group, but for the few who have the space, this will definitely make a grand and bold statement. 

Even if you don't have large rooms and large spaces, you can still "live life large."  Live your life with gusto and select home furnishings that you love -- that make a statement about who you are -- in whatever space you have.  www.maitland-smith.com

Let's Rock

Rock crystal is transparent, colorless quartz, often used as a gemstone.  Vessels and spheres have been carved from rock crystal since ancient times and this practice gave the name "crystal" to fine glassware.   

Adding rock crystal to lighting or accessories adds a touch of nature's jewels, bringing the outdoors in as well as beauty to the piece.

   

So often fine crystal is cut into crisp facets that  reflect light. Maitland-Smith has many of these more formal chandeliers, accessories and table lamps.  But perhaps your taste leans more to the casual, and natural rock crystal is more to your liking. The pieces are chunky and irregular, and look like they may have just been discovered outside lying on the ground.  

We recently introduced this torchere table lamp seen above, with the globe made up of natural rock crystal pieces.  The diffused light gives a warm glow to the room. The base is onyx with brass accents.   Only 6" wide and 19" high, this can be a great addition to a spot needing an unusual accent lamp, rather than a task lamp. 

Natural elements of shells and rock crystals are combined in this gilded wall lamp, also a new introduction.    The light reflects off the iridescent shells adding visual interest as well as texture. The pleated silk shade is hand sewn and polished brass adds the finishing touch. This beautiful, stand-alone wall lamp is at home on a small wall, and two hung together make an even stronger statement.  Versatile, this can be placed in a hallway, bathroom, bedroom, dining room, sunporch or anywhere else that strikes your fancy.

A popular accessory is this bowl formed of rock crystal pieces sitting on a base of glass with brass.  Cool, crisp lines make this a sophisticated piece that can be placed anywhere in your home where you need a touch of pizzazz.   It's diameter is 16" and stands 10" high. 

Since these are new introductions, they won't be available at your Maitland-Smith dealer for a few months, but be on the lookout.   

While not as formal as cut crystal, natural rock crystal has a beauty all its own.   Consider adding rock crystal accented lighting and accessories to your home and then you, too, will  "rock."   www.maitland-smith.com

Cruisin' at Home

When you think of taking a cruise on a luxury liner, what comes to mind?  First would have to be all the food you hear about that is available 24 hours a day.

Second might be the activities and shows on board (and the ports of call, of course). 

Third would have to be shuffleboard.

If you like the idea of sailing the seas and playing shuffleboard, but get seasick easily, you may be interested in trying indoor shuffleboard where you can have all the fun, but don't have to worry about the wind and the waves.    It takes a lot of space for this whopping 166" Aged Regency finished shuffleboard table, but the fun for the family is worth all the space it takes.

The game surface is maple, and sand-like beads of silicon are sprinkled on the surface periodically to enable the pucks to slide a great distance with only a slight push.

Did you know that shuffleboard had its humble beginnings in 16th century England when people played a game of sliding a coin down a table? 

The game gradually became more sophisticated, and two centuries later, American cabinetmakers such as Duncan Phyfe created fine, inlaid cabinet work on shuffleboard tables for the wealthy in New York City.  Interest in the game spread all across the country.

Shuffleboard became very popular during World War II and grew to its greatest height in the 1950's with national shuffleboard tournaments.  The game almost died in the 1960's and 1970's because of a lack of uniform rules and organization, but by the mid-1980's, shuffleboard experienced a revival.  The National Shuffleboard Hall of Fame was established in 1995 in St. Petersburg, FL, and California has its own Shuffleboard Hall of Fame. 

Of course -- we know that playing shuffleboard indoors is nothing like taking a cruise --  but we can certainly use our imagination.

You have to admit, our shuffleboard table is outstanding.  We also have a new mahogany pool table and a foosball table, where the players are monkeys and lions.  We will feature these later.

Maitland-Smith has a wide selection of game tables, game chairs and accessories.  Visit our website today to see more.   www.maitland-smith.com

Your Design Style

Consistent Connoisseur... that's my decorating style according to the style quiz on the Furniture Brands website.  Taking the quiz takes a few minutes, but it is just plain fun and worth the time it takes!

Most of us know what we like and what we don't like and yet definition and confirmation seem to enhance our sense of who we are.  There probably won't be any surprises with the results, but then again, maybe there will be. 

Do you like clean, modern lines or are you one who loves the classics?  Do you like cozy, shabby chic, or must everyting be crisp, clean and neat?  Do you like to mix it up?  Do you shop often? Do you look for bargains? 

 This is what greets you which you go to the link:

Hey there, rockstar!

How you decorate says a lot about you.  Discover the skinny behind your unique approach to design with our interactive StyleFinder Quiz.  We should warn you, it's fast, fun, and wildly addictive!

This got my attention right away.  When you find a few minutes to spare, take the quiz at www.furniturebrands.com/Quiz/ to determine your decorating style.  You may be a "Consistent Connoisseur" like me, a "Distinctive Designer" or maybe a "Service Seeker." Whatever style describes you, your good taste always shines through.  After all -- you love Maitland-Smith, and we are all about good taste and style.

www.maitland-smith.com