Light Up Your New Year

Interior Mall has some great new products going up everyday at http://www.interiormall.com/. Carrie and I have been scouring through catalogs and websites for only the coolest, newest products for our site. We've been really lucky to have come across a couple great companies. We'd like to go ahead and "spotlight" some of the brand new lighting we've been putting up the past few weeks. Here's some "bright ideas" for "lighting up" your home... I could go on all day.

I've been working on a great company, Kenroy Home. For over 50 years, the Kenroy brand has been synonymous with refined design, quality and value. Kenroy Home design and lighting professionals seek regional and global inspiration, as a prelude to the creation of innovative and custom product ideas. Kenroy has a wide selection of fountains, home accents, mirrors and lighting. We especially like their line of vanity and bathroom lighting seen here.

I've also been busy with another company with great design, Jubilee Lighting. Jubilee offers traditional and contemporary designs with their own unique flair. Chandeliers with flying butterflies and lamp shades that look like designer hats, to name just a few. These lamps and chandeliers are great for multiple rooms in any house, from a formal sitting room or dining room to a nursery or play room. This beautiful lighting line fits into any room and into any budget.

Carrie's been hard at work on lighting as well, spending this entire week on Laura Ashley's newest collections. Laura Ashley, one of the world's best-loved fashion and home furnishings companies is now being carried by us at http://www.interiormall.com/. Everything from floor lamps, to chandeliers, table lamps and even children's lighting. Laura Ashley is classic design for today's home. (and don't forget about all our Laura Ashley Bedding and Laura Ashley Fabrics as well!)

We've also been putting up quite a few new lampshades. Lampshades are a great, inexpensive way to jazz up the look of an old lamp. Our lampshades come in a variety of sizes, shades, colors and styles. Whether you are looking for a beaded chandelier shade or a ruffled table shade we've got you covered.

And don't forget about our classics like Dale Tiffany, Meyda Tiffany and our Collegiate Lighting section as well. Thousands of lamps, chandeliers, nightlights, children's lighting and shades to choose from at http://www.interiormall.com/.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Since we prefer not to be here at work at midnight tonight, we'd like to wish all our wonderful fans, customers and manufacturers a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

See ya next year!!

Merry Christmas!

According to NORAD, Santa has just dropped off to Kolkata, India and is on his way to Dhaka, Bangladesh. All of us here in Arkansas are hoping he'll bring us a white Christmas and possibly those cute new boots I saw the other day. While we all wait with anticipation for Santa to climb down our chimney (or front door or air vent, wherever he comes in at your house), we'd like to take a moment to thank you.

Thank you to all of our wonderful customers this year. Because of you we are still here, doing well and serving your design needs. Thank you to everyone who reads our blogs and to anyone who has ever been nice enough to take time to respond.

Thank you to all our great manufacturers who continually provide exceptional service to us. Our manufacturers know us by name and are always there to help in anyway they can whether it be to ship out a package in a ridiculously short amount of time or to locate that fabric that no one else can find. Everyday, our manufacturers perform miracles for us.

We hope each and every one of you takes time this Holiday season to thank those close to you. We hope that everyone has a very Merry Christmas.

From Shelly, David, Pam, Stephanie, Crystal, Melissa, Miguel, Tracey, Bruce, Tammy, Mikel, Renee, Jodi, Shanna, Carrie and myself, Rachel, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful, prosperous New Year!

Robert Allen Color Stories

Robert Allen has put together some FABULOUS color stories in their new Design Studio!

Check these out!

Robert Allen Color Stories

Here is a sneak peek!

Selecting the right upholstery fabric

Kravet Fabrics is one of the oldest textile houses around. They have classic lines, as well as contemporary - and everything in between!

They have a WONDERFUL blog with some great information!

This post on selecting the right upholstery fabric is a FABULOUS post! Check it out!!

http://kravet.typepad.com/inspiredtalk/2009/12/selecting-fabric-for-upholstery.html

Meet the Staff: Tracy

It has been a while for Meet the Staff. Since we last posted on an employee we have had a couple of staffers come and go. For the next few weeks I will be introducing everyone to our 3 newest employees.
This week - Tracy. She has been working at the Interior Mall showroom since September and while we hated to see Cady go, we are so pleased and thankful to have Tracy with us taking over things. The showroom looks fantastic and if you are ever in the area stop in and check it out and say "Hello" to Tracy.
Carrie: What do you enjoy most about your job?

Tracy: Creative juices can flow!!!

Carrie: How would you describe your personal interior design taste?
Tracy: Transitional with LOTS of whimsy!

Carrie: What's been your most fulfulling job experience since working for Interior Mall?
Tracy: Drapery Design

Carrie: How do you spend your time outside of work?
Tracy: Thinking about drapery design (I wake up in the night with ideas)...I spend lots of time sewing. I see and gather inspiration everywhere I go...when shopping or driving...its like my mind is in constant design mode...can't turn it off!! But, I do love spending time with my family....that's what I enjoy most outside my job.

Carrie: What item from the InteriorMall.com website would you like to add to your wish list?
Tracy: Anything from Jene's Unique Design, Inc.!!!! Probably the green glass candle holders we sell in the showroom are my favorite!

Pantone's 2010 Color of the Year!

Pantone is pleased to announce PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise, an inviting, luminous hue, as the Color of the Year for 2010. Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise inspires thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a comforting escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing.

“In many cultures, Turquoise occupies a very special position in the world of color,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and ajj color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that Turquoise represents an escape to many – taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy.”

Whether envisioned as a tranquil ocean surrounding a tropical island or a protective stone warding off evil spirits, Turquoise is a color that most people respond to positively. It is universally flattering, has appeal for men and women, and translates easily to fashion and interiors. With both warm and cool undertones, Turquoise pairs nicely with any other color in the spectrum. Turquoise adds a splash of excitement to neutrals and browns, complements reds and pinks, creates a classic maritime look with deep blues, livens up all other greens, and is especially trend-setting with yellow-greens.

And be sure to check out all the great turquoise home decor items available at www.InteriorMall.com

New Kitchen Accessories!

Whether your looking for fun bottle stoppers, coaster sets, cutting boards or kitchen rugs, we've got everything and the kitchen sink! (We really do have the kitchen sink. Make sure to check out our new copper kitchen sinks). We've also just put up some adorable children's plate sets and kitchen aprons.

These kid's dish sets are great for last minute gifts. Each set comes with its own gift box or carrying bag. These sets are made out of durable melamine and great for eating, sipping, or throwing (not recommended). Adorable sayings and oh so cute graphics make these a must have. So quit monkeying around and finish your holiday shopping!

Take a minute to check out our new kitchen aprons as well. These aprons will most definitely add some spice to your cooking with sassy sayings like "I Kiss Better Than I Cook", "Put On Your Big Girl Panties and Deal", "When I Said I Do, I Didn't Mean The Cooking", "I'll Have a Caffe Mocha Vodka Valium Latte To Go Please!", and one so sassy I can't even mention it here! Check out all our great kitchen and gift items at www.InteriorMall.com.

Monogram Mania!!

Although it's not even winter yet, our manufacturers are busy putting together the hottest items for their Spring 2010 lines. One in particular, has really caught our eye here at the office. We already carry quite a few of Mainstreet Collection's products down at our store and on our website http://www.interiormall.com/. But what they have coming for Spring has us all waiting with anticipation!

Mainstreet Collection is the leader in cute, contemporary monogram items. They carry everything including mousepads and office items, notebooks, wallets and purses, key chains, kitchen and bathroom towels, dishes and tableware, picture frames, stamps and much much more. If it's cute and it and can have a letter on it, it's in this collection!

While you wait for the Spring order to begin shipping (here in the next few weeks), take a look at what we already have in stock. We've got mousepads available in Black, Lime, and Pink on a background of polka dots or sassy zebra stripes and personalized with your choice of letter (I have a pink polka dot R in my office and I love it!). We also have personalized notebooks and wallets in pink, black or lime.

We'll be working on getting new products on our website very soon so keep an eye out for them at http://www.interiormall.com/. If you have any questions about what we will be carrying or what we have in stock that hasn't been mentioned here feel free to call 800-590-5844. One of lovely customer service reps can tell you all about Mainstreet Collection.

A New Twist on an Old Tradition

September 5th officially kicks off the 2009 College Football season. The polls are in and the top 5 teams have been predicted. Here are the predictions: #1 Florida, #2 Texas, #3 Oklahoma, #4 USC, and #5 Alabama. Now, if you ask the Interior Mall office Arkansas will underdog their way into the top 5, sweeping all the other teams and prove all the polls wrong. And while our office continues to dream let me help get the football season kicked off right with hip, new alternatives to your traditional tailgate and football party.

Here at http://www.interiormall.com/ we offer a ton of collegiate items from College Bedding and Bathroom Items, to Collegiate Lamps, Furniture, Wall Art, Rugs, Picture Frames, Baby Bedding and soooo much more! If you want to have floor to ceiling college decor, we can do it (please make sure to ask the wife first, Interior Mall will not be held responsible for fights and/or divorces). We also have all the great dishes and serving platters to help you throw the kind of football party all the neighbors worry about living up to.

For this years' parties try reinventing some of your old classics. Try substituting mini burgers for your traditional hamburger. Sick of the same old chips and dips? Try fondue and bread. Fried Raviolis and Potato Skin Boats are also high on our list. Even traditional football decor can be spruced up. Instead of using solid colored table cloths try our Collegiate Tablecloth fabric or you can even make your own. White felt strips and numbers can be glued on to green fabric to create a one-of-a-kind football field table runner. And Uncle Joe Bob won't even think about setting his sweaty drink down on your table without one of these great College Stoneware Coasters.

Let's also stay away from the infamous paper plate serving tray. We've got great Divided Serving Trays and Platters in all your favorite college teams. We even have Collegiate Mugs for the coffee you will need the next morning. And speaking of the next morning, help yourself out at your football party by having plenty of easy to locate trash bins. By having your trash bins close, your guests will be more inclined to throw their trash away themselves. Stick empty dishes directly into the dishwasher or sink once they become empty and brush away crumbs and loose foods as you prepare your own plate. This will look inconspicuous to guests but will help you in your cleaning duties later.

So here's to high hopes and dreams as our favorite college teams get prepared to start this season September 5th. As always, check out http://www.interiormall.com/ for anything and everything College Football.