Maitland-Smith

New to Maitland-Smith, The Mobile Web

You may be surprised to know that mobile web use hit an important milestone in 2008 when mobile access to the internet exceeded desktop computer-based access for the first time.  (Source:  International Telecommunications Union, Oct. 2009)

For those of you who depend on your iPhone or Blackberry, (and well over 80% of the US population carries a mobile phone all the time), we have good news for you.

Now, when you visit the Maitland-Smith website using your mobile device, you no longer see a tiny replica of our full site.  Instead, you see the website with all the information you need on your screen, right at your fingertips.

Shown below is the screen you will view when using your mobile devide to access our website.

As an example, click on "Products" and view this screen.

 
Select a category, and "voila," - the images appear for easy viewing.  

 
 
  Maitland-Smith's goal with the mobile site is to target audiences who are frequently 'on the road' as well as retail sales personnel who do not have access to a computer, designers who are out and about doing what they do best, and the general consumer who would not think about living without their mobile device, says Marcell Lomax, VP of IT for Furniture Brands International.

We plan to continue to invest in tools that best fit into the busy on-the-go lives of our valued dealers, partners, sales reps, employees and fans.

 At Maitland-Smith we continue to be committed to offering the finest in home furnishings as well as in keeping up-to-date with the latest technology for our dealers and customers as we go on into the 21st century. 

www.maitland-smith.com

Marvelous Marquetry

The term, marquetry, refers to a highly regarded, traditional furniture craft where curved, inlaid pieces of veneer create beautiful patterns in a background of veneer.  Unlike parquetry, which has straight lines and geometric patterns (think parquet flooring), marquetry can be flowers or vines or shapes that add a distinct beauty to a table top, the front of a chest of drawers or a small piece such as a serving tray.

To create a marquetry pattern,  the designs are first drawn, and then carefully cut from a thin slice of wood veneer.  This thin piece is lifted out to be placed, like a puzzle, into an exact space cut in another variety of wood veneer so that the design is flush and easily seen because of the difference in veneer color. 

Our artisans are masters at this art form.     As you can see in this photograph, the last piece of the leaf is about to be set in place.  Notice the dark edges where the veneer has been slightly singed to create the definition and texture.   

As you can imagine, this meticulous process takes hours to complete, but the final product is worth all the time spent.  Our artisans take great pride in finishing their tasks, as they can immediately see the beautiful results of their labors.

 Maitland-Smith has many casegood pieces with marquetry inlay.  Shown below is the completed floral marquetry pattern adorning the top of an occasional table. 

This exquisite, detailed design stands out and brings the table top to life.   

Another less traditional example of marquetry is seen on this chest with bow-front drawers and sides where the inlaid veneer creates a zebra pattern.  An added challenge to our artisans is creating marquetry for a curved surface.

Finally, take a look at our Pinnacle Award-winning writer's desk where the map of the world is made of individual pieces of veneer.    

These are just a few examples of the labor intensive pieces in the Maitland-Smith line where creativity and artisan craftsmanship are expressed.  Truly these are heirloom-quality items that can be passed down from one generation to the next.

To see more examples of our marquetry and parquetry inlay, visit our website at www.maitland-smith.com.

Maitland-Smith Dealer Showcase - J. Douglas Design

May we introduce one of our many fine dealers, J. Douglas Design, "where Dallas goes for fine furniture and interior design."

Opening in 1989 in Dallas, TX, J. Douglas Design with its staff of four, has continued providing quality home furnishings from the same location for over 20 years.  
The finest brands of home furnishings are hand-selected including, of course, Maitland-Smith and La Barge.  J. Douglas Design is also known for award-winning interior design, and satisfied customers recommend their services to their friends and keep coming back.  Word of mouth is the best advertisement.   

J. Douglas Design stands apart because of their experience and creative and efficient design process.  As an added plus, no hourly design fees are charged for those who purchase products and services through them.  We can all appreciate this bargain in today's economy.

Besides the finest in home furnishings and accessories, J. Douglas Design offers everything for decorating the home from faux finishes, draperies, pillows, window treatments, and fine rugs, to art and wall coverings.

J. Douglas Bradford, President/CEO, says, "It's all in the details." 

A lot of clients comment on how everything in the shop is cherry picked from the best of the best.  I want them to feel as though I have done all of the leg work for them in finding that perfect piece for their home.

Having J. Douglas and his staff do the leg work saves you valuable time.   These experts know the very best sources for the unusual and one-of-a-kind looks that are sure to set your rooms apart from the ordinary.

Shown here are Maitland-Smith silk button-tufted dining chairs surrounding a glass-top table. This is a great combination as the tufting detail on the chairs is easily seen through the glass.   

This photo shows a Maitland-Smith carved mirror frame with faux zebra hairhide inlay.  J. Douglas Design offers the exotic as well as the clean, modern lines and classic pieces. 

 Here is an example of the assortment of their custom made pillows. 

If you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and are looking for exquisite home furnishings as well as innovative design direction that   defines good taste, be sure to consider J. Douglas Design. 

To learn more, visit the website.  www.jdouglasdesign.com.  

J. Douglas Design represents just one of our many dedicated designers and dealers who are committed to providing the very best home furnishings for their customers.

To find your nearest authorized Maitland-Smith/La Barge dealer, visit our website, www.maitland-smith.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  

Drifting Driftwood

Imagine . . . A tree branch or piece of wood makes its way to the sea, where it is continually tumbled and battered against the shore by the waves, until it finally comes to rest waiting to be discovered. . . this is driftwood. 

Driftwood has a wild, unique natural beauty.  The shapes and colors vary from piece to piece delighting those who find and collect them. 

Skilled artisans can look at a piece of driftwood and see what it will become in their hands as it will join other pieces and be formed into creative works of art that are limited only by their imaginations. 

An example of amazing skill and creativity is seen in this driftwood bombe chest designed by Glenn Yelvington, as Director of Design for Maitland-Smith.  The individual pieces were gathered over time from the warm shores of the Pacific.  The custom driftwood-shaped pulls are made by the centuries old lost-wax cast brass process in our own factory.  Truly this chest of drawers is unique and one-of-a-kind.

 

We are pleased to announce that this year the judges of the ASFD (American Society of Furniture Designers) Annual Pinnacle Awards selected the chest as a finalist in the occasional storage category.  To read about the contest and see all the finalists, click here for the article published in Furniture World magazine. 

Another Maitland-Smith artistic piece made from driftwood is this limited edition galloping horse sculpture, which is, of course, hand-made, one at a time.  The artist was able to capture the horse in mid-gallop with his mane and tail flying in the wind. 

 
 
Relatively small in size, 32"wide and 24" tall, he is certain to be an eyecatcher. 

Maitland-Smith also has an assortment of lighting and accessories made of driftwood.  To see these and more, visit our website, and click on " Search" and type in "driftwood."

Another way to bring nature's beauty inside is to invest in home furnishings pieces fashioned from driftwood.  www.maitland-smith.com