We Love WallPOPS!

Interior Mall has been carrying WallPOPS for a little over a year now with great success! We just got in the brand new designs for this year and we just HAD to blog about them. This year they have everything from Retro, Funky Floral, Sophisticated Black and White, Pastels, and Timeless Paisley. All the WallPOPS come in a variety of brilliant and bold colors, sure to make any room "pop".

The best thing about WallPOPS is that they can be cut to any size and shape, they're easily cleaned and they are 100% removable and repositionable. They'll never leave sticky residue or harm walls. (I know I have one from the Heart of Hearts collection on my office wall that I've moved frequently!)

Forget messy wallpaper applications and paint projects that take weeks! WallPOPS can be mixed and matched to create a unique, one of a kind decor that can be changed as often as you like and for a fraction of the cost of wallpaper and paint. Buy your WallPOPS sets today at http://www.interiormall.com/.

We Want Your Pictures!

We here at Interior Mall have been thinking (we stopped quickly after because it started hurting, but we did get one pretty good idea out of the mix), we take your calls day after day and get to hear about what great plans you have for our products but we never get to see the completed project!

InteriorMall.com has been providing you with the best in fabrics, furniture, bedding, blinds and accessories for over a decade and we want to see what amazing things you have created. If you have ever purchased from Interior Mall and made something great out of one of our products we want you to be a part of our Customer Creations Blog.

We've already started getting our pictures together. (Far Right): Toteable Tote made of some of our in stock Premier Prints fabric by Shanna. (Middle): Shelly's new addition, Emma, has a posh new Nursery from Glenna Jean baby bedding. (Bottom Right): Carrie's got a new shirt from Michael Miller fabrics made by Shanna.

Send all your great Interior Mall product pictures to Design@InteriorMall.com with the title "Customer Creations". We can't wait to see what all our customers have been up to.

NEW DIAPER CAKES

I just wanted to take some time to send out a new product update. One of our fabulous baby bedding companies has just launched a line of diaper cakes.

Each cake contains: Jersey Bodysuit (1), Jersey Bib (1), Twill Mini Floral Washcloth (1), Twill Large Floral Burp (1), Washcloth Toppers (2), 40 Diapers (size 1).
If you love these make sure to check out our large selection of baby bedding.

Summer Craft Projects

Spring brings renewal and fresh ideas and summer holds warm weekends at the lake or by the pool sharing good company with friends and family. To save money, many people are looking for alternative things to do instead of going to a movie or taking a weekend trip. While these small craft projects may not last an entire weekend, they are a good start and a great way to get your creative, crafty juices flowing.

A great afternoon project that is not only fun but an excellent way to change up your dinner table or picnic table for the summer time is Fabric Napkin Rings.

Choose your favorite light weight fabric, such as a bandana or anything 100% cotton and your favorite buttons. Cut your fabric into 6 x 9 inch strips. Fold each strip into thirds lengthwise and then into thirds widthwise. Sew a button onto one end about an inch from the edge. Make sure to cut a corresponding button hole on the opposite end and voila! You have a cute inexpensive table dressing.

If you are looking for a fun way to renew that old lamp shade, cover it with your favorite fabric. Begin your project by laying a large piece of butcher paper, brown wrapping paper or wax paper onto a table. Lay your lamp shade onto the paper with the seam alligning with the end of the paper. Roll the lamp shade on the paper until the paper covers the shade completely. You should end up right back where you started along the seam. Be sure to leave about an inch extra on the top, bottom and along the seam of the shade.

Next lay your piece of paper on top of your fabric being sure to pin the paper to the fabric. Cut the fabric using the paper as your guide.

Test to make sure your fabric is a good fit on the shade. Once tested, using either a spray adhesive or fabric glue, begin by brushing it on the back side of your fabric, then place your shade with the seam at the edge of the fabric as before and roll the shade along the fabric carefully checking that the fabric is not creasing or bubbling. To make sure your fabric fits over the top and bottom of the shade, clip your fabric every half inch. (If needed, close pin in certain places while the adhesive dries.)

Lastly, for all those beach goers this summer, a custom bag might just be the ticket. Check out this bright and colorful bag that one of our customer service representatives made.

Best of all, these great fabrics can be found at InteriorMall.com.

A FANtastic Idea!

With summer creeping in on most parts of the country, Interior Mall has been working on one of our newest websites http://www.hunterceilingfanstore.com/. Here, we have everything from ceiling fans, bathroom fans and vanity lighting, portable fans and all kinds of fan accessories. You can trust that you'll get only the best from Hunter Fans, in business since 1886.

Even http://www.interiormall.com/ is preparing for a sweltering summer. We have added hundreds of new fans to our website and we have fans for every hot summer need you may have. Here's a sneak peak at just a few of our favorites.

Interior Mall has an assortment of great fans. Some of our cutest fans are specifically for children. We have everything from animal fans to airplanes and almost everything in between. Most child fans, like the one seen here, have Whisper wind motors to ensure ultra quiet comfort for your child. Most fans also come with lifetime warranties so you can let Little Timmy play as rough as he wants around his new fan.

We also have outdoor ceiling fans and outdoor table and floor fans available. They have the sleek designs of a regular indoor fan but are UL Wet Listed to endure the outdoors. Outdoor fans have a no rust construction and make a wonderful addition to any backyard party. Once the party's over, you can feel free to leave your fans outdoors. (Fans should not be left outside in severe weather.)

If traditional isn't your thing, Interior Mall also has some interesting and Unique Fans. These fans range in size and shape, and make for an interesting conversation piece. These fans, like the one shown, are handcrafted metal and can be purchased from http://www.interiormall.com/ for under $100.

Finally, for the rough and tumble working man, we have heavy duty Jobsite Fans. These fans have 3 speeds and 150W halogen lights to brighten your work area. These fans can carry up to 200lbs of gear to your jobsite and come with a rugged wheel construction. Jobsite fans come with a 5 year warranty.

No matter what your style, or what your need, Interior Mall has a fan to keep you cool this summer.

Mother's Day Countdown

Officially, there are only 9 days left until Mother's Day. And in case anyone has ever wondered here's a bit of history on where Mother's Day actually came from.

Mother's Day goes back all the way to ancient Greece where Rhea, the Mother of the God's was praised. Later, early Christians used this day to honor the mother of Christ, Mary. This holiday would later include all mothers and would be celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Cakes were brought as gifts to mothers but lack of time once the Americas had been settled led to a declining participation.

After the Civil Way the celebration was re-introduced and later, on December 12, 1912 the Mother's Day International Association was born. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared the second Sunday of May to be observed as Mother's Day in honor of all mother's.

Like many others, we've all been scrambling around the office for great, one-of-a-kind gifts to honor some of the greatest women we know. We thought our beloved readers would love to know what we've come up with.

We found these great sweet smelling DIY sachets on the Martha Stewart website. All you need are four 4-in squares and a little sewing knowledge. Cut the squares out of your favorite printed or solid fabrics, we suggest some of our new Michael Miller cotton prints. Place fabrics right sides facing and sew sides together making sure to leave a 1-in opening. Turn fabric right side out and fill with lavender, cedar or any of mom's favorite scents.

While we were there, we also came across some beautiful and easy homemade earrings. Grab some unique tassels and earring backs that can be obtained from any craft store. Use pliers to open the loops in the earring backs and insert the tassels. Bend the loop back and you've got a unique set of earring any mom would love.

For those not inclined to crafty things, http://www.interiormall.com/ has some great gifts for mom for under $25. Also consider, a custom initial bottle stopper or a beautiful Olivia Riegel photo frame. Whatever the route you choose, crafty or otherwise, make sure to stop in for all the latest and greatest products from Interior Mall.

Love You Mom!

We Make Life Easy!

Carrie and I have been working like crazy putting up some great new products. After she put up Alexander Henry fabrics, she started working on beautiful children's bedding sets from Olive Kids. Bedding sets range from pirates to cowboys, flowers to cupcakes and all the dinos and trucks in between. Bedding sets are around $169 for comforter and sheet sets and the accessories start at only $9.00!

Meanwhile, I have been consumed by drapery rods and hardware. And by consumed, I mean I had a dream I was being pulled by a traverse rod last night! Besides my drapery nightmares, we have some amazing new products going up on our website http://www.interiormall.com/.

One of my favorites now, is the EasyPull Traverse Rod System. These traverse systems come in over 25 colors in single rods and double rods. They are one of the only decorative traverse rods that is still heavy duty, holding 8 lbs. per foot. These systems come with the track (from 4-12 ft.), decorative wood fascia, brackets for mounting, and snap in rings and glides. These systems come standard with a 72in cord drop which uses a unique pump action spring mechanism that allows a pull and release action that operates draperies with ease. The great news is that you never have to restring these! A right or left draw is already built in.

These are just some of the great new products Carrie and I are putting up daily. Check back at http://www.interiormall.com/ for more awesome new products!

Alexander Henry Fabrics Are Here!

Have we got some new fabric for you! Straight out of California comes Alexander Henry Fabric. These are some of the hottest fabrics on the market right now and we are pleased to announce that they are now available from InteriorMall.com. These super stylish and uber chic fabrics are inspired by art history, haute couture and the culture as a whole.

Each fabric starts out as a hand painted design from one of Alexander Henry's talented artists. The art then gets screen printed on high quality 100% cotton fabrics. Alexander Henry fabric can be found in many capacities: on garmets, uniforms, and even home furnishings.

Fabric designs include African fabrics, black and whites, character prints, Mexican themes, vintage prints, tattoo fabrics and much, much more! Whether you're into sports, pin ups, animals or skulls there is something for everyone in this collection. All of these fabrics are fun and colorful and rest assured they can only be found in our Alexander Henry collection.

Spring Cleaning

With Spring finally here there are lots of things around the home that probably need to be done. The first one that comes to mind is the ever dreaded but much needed Spring Cleaning. After a house has been used and abused all winter long it's now time to give it a little TLC. This usually includes pulling furniture out to clean behind it, apparently I have a dog... who knew, power washing windows, shutters and siding, and maybe even repainting or redecorating. Whatever your routine, Interior Mall has what it takes to make your home sparkle.

When it's 30° outside, or less depending on your climate, no one wants to open up a window to let some air in. Now that it is beginning to warm up though, how about replacing stuffy draperies and mini blinds? Start with a great wood blind or faux wood blind. Both offer a more sophisticated look and are great for kids, pets and clumsy spouses because they are easy to clean and won't bend or crack like regular mini blinds. Got a difficult sized window? No problem, both wood and faux wood blinds can be custom made to the exact size you need.

Once you've opened a window or two to show off your new blinds, why not really wow the neighbors with new draperies and some great new drapery rods from http://www.interiormall.com/. Choose from resin, wood, crystal clear, wire, or even metal. Each type of different material gives a different feel to your room. We even have swing arm rods, traverse rods, flexible rods and extra long curtain rods that extend up to 16 feet in length.

By now, you're good an tired but oh don't those new window treatments look fabulous! Now you need a great new chair or sofa and while your at http://www.interiormall.com/ pick out a great coffee table or ottoman to kick your feet up on, after all... you've done a lot of work.

Spring is Here... Almost!

Tomorrow is the first official day of Spring, but if you're weather looks anything like ours, Spring just cannot come soon enough. Interior Mall is here to give you the gift of Spring 24 hours early with the great new Spring line from Blissliving Home.

Not only do these designs look great, they are crafted from only the finest materials from around the world. Cotton from the Orient, silk from India and China and cotton jacquard from Italy all make this bedding oh so irresistible. And on top of great bedding, Blissliving provides all the essential bedroom accessories like accent pillows, throw blankets, small stools, candles, wall art and more!

Fall into bed and wake each morning to beautiful graphic designs and sheets that can have been best described around here as "butter." All available at http://www.interiormall.com/. While you're there, check out our other great bedding lines including Sferra, Melrose Home and, for the sports fan in your home, Sports Coverage and College Covers.

Go Away Winter Blues

If you are like us, you are done with sweaters, snow, and cold. Although we've been lucky this winter, we are ready for Spring. Now, we pride ourselves on great products and excellent customer service but we can't change the weather. So we've decided to bring Springtime to us and our customers early.

Carrie and I have been working furiously on getting all our new Spring products online. We have felt a breeze of Springtime air as we have been putting up these great new standing planters from Barreveled International. Planters range in sizes from small, medium, large and grande and can be found in almost any color to match your garden decor.

As if the planters hadn't already gotten us in the mood for Spring, these great new Jellybean rugs had us all wanting to grab our beach towels and our yellow polka dot bikinis and head off to the beach. These rugs are great for indoors and out and can be machine washed. They are mildew resistant and fade resistant and with over 300 choices available at InteriorMall.com you can find one for every room and outdoor space in your home.

While your at InteriorMall.com, check out our outdoor fabric lines too. Stripes, florals, and solids great for outdoor upholstery, pillows and more.

We've got everything you need for spring because we are just as ready for it as you!

Finally.......

I'm a slacker this I know but look at these fabulous new lamps and ceiling lights! I know I know, others have posted WAY before me but in my defense I have had tons of new products to put up, have been working on new print ads for our local magazine and newspaper as well as welcoming home my hubby from Iraq. I'm here now and I'm going to personally start making more of an effort to post much more frequently.
First I want to congratulate Shelly and welcome baby Emma into the world. She was born Sunday January 25, 2009. 8 lbs 1 oz. and precious as can be!

Now I want to introduce everyone to this great contemporary lighting company called Stonegate Designs. They sell every kind of light from table lamps to chandeliers to wall sconces.
This is one of my personal favorites from the chandeliers. This piece would look terrific in any entryway, kitchen or dining room. Height: 26", Approximate Width: 12" x 30"; Canopy Size: 28.5" x 6.5" x 3.5" Oval.

This floor lamp is another personal favorite. It's great because it allows you to customize your finish and shade to your specifications. You get an option of 5 fabrics, 2 wood finishes and 2 metal finishes to choose from.
Be sure to check out www.InteriorMall.com for all your decorating needs.

A New Year, A New Blogger, and A New Baby!

I would like to start off by introducing the new blogger, me. I'm Rachel and I've been watching the other bloggers slack off for months now, which we all do appologize for, so now they are letting me try my hand at this. I have been with Interior Mall for 9 months now and I LOVE my job! So here goes nothing right?

As some of you regular Interior Mall followers may or may not know, our very own Office Manager Shelly is days, maybe even hours away from welcoming baby Emma into the world. We will keep you posted on Emma's arrival, but in the mean time we would like to give you the opportunity to see Interior Mall products in use and at their finest.

A few months ago we brought a new company to you called Trend Lab. They offer a wide selection of baby bedding and accessories at a great price. After scouring countless magazines and baby books, Shelly finally chose Paisley Park, an adorable paisley bedding line from Trend Lab. With 8 years of home interior experience behind her, she went to work making Emma's new home something from out of a magazine.

We have a lot going on around Interior Mall these days. New products, new companies, new bloggers, and hopefully very soon, a new baby. We promise in this new year to keep you up to speed with the latest in home fashions, decor and everything else that is Interior Mall.

Merry Christmas!!

Yes, we are trying to update here more frequently - but WOW - have we been busy adding new products!

First off, we've been Elf'd and wanted to share them with you, our loyal readers. Check us out here and here!

Check out some of our newest collections at www.InteriorMall.com - you'll love what you find there!

Wanna go green this Christmas?

Furoshiki - the hottest gift-wrapping craze going!

What better way to make a beautiful package than making it eco-friendly as well? In our newsletter this month, we discuss Furoshiki, a Japanese traditional wrapping cloth.


Watch this video to see various ways to make them!

There are *SO* many fabric options available for these. Lighter-weight fabrics will work better than heavy (think tapestry-weight) fabrics for this project. We have been Furoshiki wrapping fools around the office lately and thought we would share what we have learned.

Baby Stuff!! Baby Stuff!!

Oh my gosh! Have we got the CUTEST new baby lines EVER!!!

Introducing Trend Lab! We have started carrying their lines of baby bedding and accessories and let me tell you - where were these guys when MY babies were babies?!

Check out their lines here.

INCREDIBLE new dinnerware!!

Okay, so after being punished properly, I am now working on blogging much more frequently. Perhaps some of the "behind the scenes" processes will allow it.

Our product development team has been on the hunt for new dinnerware due to the discontinuation of several lines we were carrying and - wow - did they find a GREAT collection!

We have a new partner, Mustard Seed and Moonshine stoneware. This is a South African company with a tradition of beautiful botanical earthenware. It is absolutely to DIE for!!

Here is a little about them, taken from their corporate website:

Mustardseed & Moonshine was founded by Kate Carlyle in Cape Town, South Africa in 1992 to celebrate her love of the botanical form. The idea was to make beautiful ceramic flowers that were both usable and lasting, flowers that were meticulously crafted, and yet simultaneously robust and functional.

Although Mustardseed & Moonshine has grown over the years, it remains a studio of dedicated artists and the pride that goes into each piece is tangible. The artists who hand-make all of these delicate flowers from Ramekins to Salad Bowls in high-fired earthenware, work with love and dedication to bring a truly original piece to you. All our work is dishwasher, oven and microwave proof.

Visit our website at www.InteriorMall.com for more information or to purchase these items!

Are You Ready For Some Football?!?!

Yes, we are bad bloggers. Shanna and I would like to apologize for not posting an update since July. We have scolded ourselves! 

It's september, school is in full swing and the official start of the college football season began about a month ago. We've been busy here at Interior Mall but we've made time to keep up with the latest scores and highlights from week to week.....and get some new collegiate items up at the same time.

For all the tailgaters out there we added some great chip and dip servers, trays, even plates. 

If you are looking to give your husband his own special room, we have a great selection of home decor items. We added some great looking new wall and desk clocks.  As well as new coaster sets and ladies we have the ever popular pink collegiate coaster sets. These are definitely an office favorite around here!                                        

If you are headed to the big game and in need of some extra warmth, make sure to check out all the new college fleece fabric recently added. Fleece blankets also make great gift ideas!

Head to InteriorMall.com and gear up for this weekend's big game. If you are looking for a game check out Alabama at Georgia, Mississippi at Florida or, our personal favorite Arkansas at Texas. This is a deep seeded rivalry and we are all excited about the game. Woooo Pig Soooie!   

Schools (almost) in!

I know, it hasn't started yet, but I'd bet that if you're a parent of an incoming college freshman this fall, the preparations have begun, post-haste to get your darling safely, comfortably and stylishly into their home-away-from-home.

We have a new company called College Covers that we are carrying in our store. They feature (obviously) college themed merchandise, from crib sets (for those who like to start 'em out young) to twin XL for those oh-so-comfy dorm bunks.

Whether you are an SEC die-hard, a Pac-10 booster or somewhere in between, you can find all that you need to deck out your room in your favorite team's decor!

Check out the new items here!

New Product Spotlight!

Happy friday!
Welcome to another installment of New Product Spotlight!!!!

Our product development team has been incredibly busy lately, adding new products to our online store! We have numerous new fabric collections, such as the Fabricut Pistachio Color Studio Collection, found here, the new S. Harris "Wildside" collection, and Robert Allen's Modern Library collections. There are some FABULOUS new fabrics in these collections!

We have also added some new bedding, which you see in previous posts.



Lighting is another category which we have added products in. We have added a really neat new line of "a-la-carte" lighting, by Jubilee Lighting. We have new children's collections, night-light collections and shades.

The last category I wanted to point out is un-framed art. There are some really neat prints that we are now carrying here.

Long time, no post...

Wow - what a bad blogger am I?!

It has been incredibly busy around here the past several weeks and I have, sadly, neglected the blog. I'm hoping to rectify that and get a daily post going again soon, though!

Today, I wanted to talk about organization.

There are so many inexpensive ways to reorganize....have you ever thought of using an old ice cube tray as a desk or junk drawer organizer? Or what about using a wine rack as a magazine holder?

Pretty bowls and vases make excellent organizing tools for tables, dresser-tops, cabinets, etc.

Let's face it, who couldn't stand to be a bit more organized? Studies have shown that clutter can induce stress and who wants that? Not me! I have plenty without clutter adding to it! What are some things that you do around your house to reduce clutter? We would love to hear from you!

Come check out some of our new lighting collections at InteriorMall! Jubilee Shades, Jubilee Children's lighting and night lights for those afraid of what goes bump in the night!

This month's Real Simple magazine has an EXCELLENT article about clutter and organization. I urge you to check it out!

Have a great weekend.

Bedding 411

Researchers say that we spend 1/3 of our life in bed. Being the single mother of an infant and working a full time job, I question that number at 4:00 a.m. but.....whatever. Rachel and I are currently in the process of adding new bedding product to the InteriorMall.com website and revamping our whole bedding section. We are EXTREMELY excited to be a new dealer of SFERRA Fine Linens. For those of you unfamiliar with SFERRA they are one of the world's leading companies in luxury bedding. They were the first company ever to offer 1020 thread count sheets, all made from 100% Egyptian Cotton.

I know everyone always talks about thread count but maybe you don't understand what exactly they are referring to. I know until just recently the only thing I personally knew was that the higher the thread count, the better the quality and the better the feel of the fabric....and that is true to an extent. Thread count refers to the number of vertical and horizontal threads per square inch of fabric. What many companies do in order to show a higher thread count is double up the threads. So, if for instance the customer is buying 1020 thread count sheets, they are buying 1,000 thread counts but the quality is only a 500 thread count. There isn't 1,000 threads per square inch of fabric, there is 500 doubled. Just recently Linen N Things was sued over this very issue. A customer bought bed linens with the assumption they were 1,000 thread count sheets. As time wore on they noticed them depreciating faster than should happen. After testing, it was found that they were not actually 1,000 thread count sheets, they were 500 doubled and passed as 1,000. This is not to say that every set of sheets you purchase is fraudulent, however, it is something to be aware of. I can tell you this, SFERRA does not take part in these practices and stands behind there product 100%. Should you ever have problems with your linens they will test them for $100 and find out exactly what caused the problems and if it seems to be a manufacturers flaw, they will replace the sheets.

There's cotton and then there's Egyptian Cotton. Egyptian Cotton is the finest cotton in the world. Found a long the Nile River in Egypt it is used to make the finest linens in the world. What makes this the best cotton in the world? The length of the yarn and the growing process. Researchers have come to realize the longer the yarn and the longer the growing process, the better quality the cotton.

Don't forget to check out the InteriorMall.com bedding page for one of the best bedding selections around.

Retro and Vintage Fabrics

So, spending my weekend at The Paper Doll House rekindled my love for all things old (or old-looking, as the case may be). The love of vintage/retro items has grown exponentially in the design industry in the past few years. The old adage, "what once was old is new again" is showing its truth.

F. Schumacher has come out with some really neat "vintage" fabrics. These new fabrics are available through InteriorMall.com .

Another great source for vintage-inspired fabrics is Laura Ashley. Many of their patterns are reminiscent of days gone by and are great with the ever popular "Shabby Chic" look or a country-cottage scene.

Meet the Staff: Rachel

IT'S FRIDAY!!!! We're glad Shanna returned from her trip to Chicago safe and sound. This week I am introducing everyone to Rachel. She is "the new girl" around the office and we are lovin' her! She was hired on to help take up some of the slack from my job. We get so many new products everyday that need to be added to InteriorMall.com it was becoming difficult for me to keep up with that and the other jobs I do. Thanks to Rachel things are slowly getting better. She's only been here 3 weeks but she's doing a fantastic job!


Carrie: You've only been working here for a short period of time. What have enjoyed most about your job so far?
Rachel: Any job that you can wear jeans to is my kind of job. Everyone here has been so great to ask me about my family and what's going on. I love coming to work in the mornings.

Carrie: How would you describe your interior design taste?
Rachel: I really enjoy modern design. I love sleek lines and clean colors.

Carrie: How do you spend your time outside of work?
Rachel: I spend a lot of time with my baby 3 year old Rat Terrier, Princess. My husband and I got her right after we got married so she's grown with our marriage. I love my family and I look forward to the weekends so I can eat out with friends and relatives.

Carrie: One random question: What is the hardest decision you've ever made?
Rachel: Moving 5 hours south to attend LSU-S was probably the hardest decision I've had to make. I left my fiancee, all my friends, and my family. Everything worked out great though, my fiancee became my husband and we're enjoying being back home with everyone in a place we grew up and hope to raise our children one day.

Meet the Staff: Bruce

Last week we met Cady from the showroom. This week we're meeting Bruce. He works here at the office with myself and all the other girls you've met. He's our behind the scenes guy. If we have phone problems, computer problems, pretty much anything that could go wrong that we can't fix ourselves Bruce is the one who does.

Carrie: How long have you been working for Interior Mall?
Bruce: 4 years

Carrie: What do you enjoy most about your job?
Bruce: Solving lots of different problems and working with pleasant and friendly people.

Carrie: What is the most difficult task you've dealt with while working here?
Bruce: Connecting our office and store so everything worked seamlessly.

Carrie: How do you spend your time outside of work?
Bruce: I like to take photographs and do astronomy. I also like to do astrophotography.

Carrie: One random question: Who has had the most influence in your life and why?
Bruce: My father. He has taught me the value of laughter but also of responsibility. He has shown me how to be firm when needed but also loving and not stern. He has instilled in me the love of God, family, and those I meet each day on my adventure through life.

Next week "The New Girl"......Rachel!
http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/home_and_garden/interior-design

Wow!

Hello from beautiful Sycamore, Illinois!

We all arrived safely and are enjoying our vacation. The place we are staying in is "The Paper Doll House" in Sycamore. The Paper Doll House is a scrapbooking-oriented bed and breakfast set in a quaint, historically appointed victorian-style home. The Paper Doll House was built in 1893 by Charles O. Boynton as a wedding gift for his daughter, and her husband-to-be, Frederick B. Townsend.

Many of the intricate details in this home point to the fact that this was a wedding gift. There are six fireplaces in the home, and each spectacularly crafted mantelpiece has something symbolic of marriage.

In the dining room are two mantels, one being an actual fireplace, on the outside wall. The details are absolutely amazing in these! They both have a carved rose motif on them and the one on the inside wall has a dragon on each side. The picture on the left is a close-up of the detail of one of the fireplace mantels.

The fireplace shown on the right is in the front parlour of the home. It has the atypical rose motif, along with cherubs on the brass fittings around the fireplace itself. All of the woodwork in the home is original and is in pristine shape.

Later, I will post about some of the individual rooms in the home, such as the Rose Room and the Master Bedroom.

To all y'all at the office - hope you're having a fabulous Thursday!

Goin' to Chicago

Vacation time is arriving quickly! I'm leaving this afternoon for an AWESOME weekend scrapbooking (I know, I know - a whole weekend scrapping????) in the Windy City! In homage to my trip, I wanted to shine a spotlight on some of our items with a Chicago theme.

Some of the manufacturers we deal with are located there, or at least have showrooms. A few you could check out would be Beacon Hill, Duralee, Stroheim & Romann and LumiSource.

I hope to make a few posts while I'm gone, just for a change of scenery. Y'all have a great week!

The Wonderful World of Tiffany

Home decor styles and trends change like the wind. Ideas, colors, looks, everything changes from season to season but the one thing that has stayed the same and stood the tests of time are Tiffany Lamps.

The first Tiffany lamp was created in the late 1890s by Louis Comfort Tiffany. He was the son of Charles Lewis Tiffany, founder of the famous Tiffany and Company.
Louis was a painter and became interesting in glassmaking in 1875. He worked at several glasshouses in Brooklyn until 1878 and then in 1879 he joined Candace Wheeler, Samual Colman and Lockwood de Forest to establish Louis Comfort Tiffany and Associated American Artists. The company thrived but Louis still had a strong desire to work in art glass. In 1885 the firm broke up and Tiffany established Tiffany Glass Company. It became known as Tiffany Studios in 1902.

When he first began his work with art glass he designed windows for some of the most prominent interior design companies in New York as well as church and cathedrals. Many of the stained glass windows seen today all over the Northeastern part of the United States were designed and created by Louis Tiffany. The Holy City
made in 1905 for Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, Maryland is one of 11 Tiffany windows Louis designed for the church. Having 58 panels it is one of the largest ever made by Tiffany Studios.

In 1899 after a few years of working with windows Louis had the idea of creating lamps. The first Tiffany lamp was created in 1899 with a bronze base.

Every lamp is prepared by using the Copper Foil Method. First the pattern is drawn out on a heavy piece of cardboard. Next a number and glass color is written on the pattern piece. After the pattern is drawn and labeled, the glass is laid over it and traced. Once traced, the pieces are cut and grinded to the correct shape. Next the pieces are cleaned so the copper foil can be applied to the edges and the copper foil solution allows the pieces to adhere together. After the lamp has been placed and fully bonded, the edges are soldered together for a firm hold. Lastly, it is cleaned to bring out its magnificent beauty.

Louis Comfort Tiffany closed down Tiffany Studios in 1932. He is still to this day one of the most recognized artist in the world. His work with art glass has inspired the birth of some of the most well known Tiffany lamp companies still in business today such as Dale Tiffany, Meyda Tiffany and Paul Sahlin Tiffanys.

Tiffany Lamps are timeless, beautiful, and no matter what your decor they are the perfect accent in any room.

Fun fact: The record price for an original Tiffany Studios lamp at a public sale exceeds US $8,000,000.

New Product Spotlight:

There are some amazing new collections being introduced right now. I wanted to introduce you to one of my favorites, so far!

These are all new from Robert Allen! They have some FABULOUS new indoor/outdoor fabrics that you absolutely have GOT to check out! You can view the collections here, here, here and here. These collections range from fabrics to trim to drapery hardware!

Meet the Staff: Cady

All the Arkansas fans are gearing up for Razor Fest this weekend. It should be a good time in Fayetteville. For any of our local readers, if you are looking for something to do tomorrow head up to Fayetteville for all the festivities. It starts at noon and runs until 5:30. There will be a 7 on 7 football tournament featuring Razorback alums, games, food and live music with everything being capped off by the Red/White game. Activities for the game begin at 6:00. Woooooo Pig Sooie baby!

Now I'll introduce everyone to Cady. If you were to visit our local showroom she is one of the smiling faces that greets you at the door. She's fun, she's crazy, she's our Cady!

Carrie: How long have you been working for Interior Mall?
Cady: Pretty much all my life. (David, the President of the company is her dad. We'll meet him later.)

Carrie: What do you enjoy most about your job?
Cady: I enjoy working with my dad and helping people find what they are dreaming of.
Carrie: How would you describe your personal interior design taste?
Cady: Very random, colorful, eclectic.....classy.

Carrie: How do you spend your time outside of work?
Cady: I spend time with my friends and family. I love thrift store shopping and just having a good time with life.

Carrie: One random question: What is the most embarrassing moment of your life?
Cady: When I was waiting tables and slipped on a wet spot with a tray of food in hand that ended up all over me in front of about 30 people.

By the way....she's a giant goof ball!

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day!

Meet the Staff: Pam

It's been a busy week at Interior Mall. A lot has been going on. We will be featured in a large spread for the community magazine Entertainment Fort Smith. Make sure to check that out when it hits news stands. We also lost one of our office mascots Blackie. Despite the craziness around the office everything must go on as normal. Being that it's Friday it is time for a new Meet the Staff and this week it's Pam.

Pam's been working for Interior Mall as our accountant for 5 1/2 years. She's sweet, funny, hard working, and a junk food junkie. Although by looking at her you would never know that.....it makes me sick! =)

Carrie: What do you enjoy most about your job?
Pam: The challenge and the people.

Carrie: How would you describe your personal interior design taste?
Pam: Good. (I was told she has lots of beautiful antiques and LOVES roosters.)

Carrie: How do you spend your time outside of work?
Pam: Gardening, reading, and caring for my grandchildren.

Carrie: One random question: How would you describe your perfect day?
Pam: Meeting all of my deadlines with a little time to spare.

R.I.P. Blackie

Yesterday at 4:30 p.m. Blackie one of our beloved mascots had to be put to sleep due to a severe case of Feline Aids. This is a very serious feline disease that is extremely contagious to other cats. If you fear your cat might be infected please, please don't hesitate to get your cat(s) tested. To find out more.

R.I.P. Blackie
You will be missed.

Meet the Staff: Stephanie

Aaahhhhh.....it's Friday. After the crazy weather that came through Arkansas a couple of days ago it's nice to hear the birds chirping and see the sun out. You can definitely tell it's Spring. The weather is changing, flowers are blooming and people are redecorating their homes for a new season.
For those out there that might need a little help in that department I am introducing everyone to our in-house designer Stephanie. A 15 year veteran of Interior Mall, she's the fiery little red head that does all our design consultations from how to measure for bed spreads, to creating custom draperies, to picking colors and patterns that coordinate for the perfect look. She is fabulous!

Carrie: What do you enjoy most about your job?
Stephanie: All the different people I come in contact with each day, and the ability to be creative for my job. Everyday is a new adventure around here.

Carrie: How would you describe your personal interior design taste?
Stephanie: I like clean lines and a sophisticated look. I tend to be transitional- I like different aspects of Traditional and of Contemporary. I love color - whether it is a soothing color for bedrooms or a bold statement for an accent wall.

Carrie: What's been your most fulfilling job experience since working for Interior Mall?
Stephanie: That is a very difficult question to answer. I would say it was when I changed a children's treatment center from beige and drab to colorful and inviting.

Carrie: How do you spend your time outside of work?
Stephanie: With my family. I love to cook and spend at least one full day a week in the kitchen. I also volunteer on different committees within my church and cook whenever they need additional help.

Carrie: One random question: If you could have any other job in world, what would it be?
Stephanie: I would love to be a wildlife biologist and spend time in Africa. The world habitats have been changing significantly in the past decade and I fear for the existence of our animals.

Next week.......Pam