Sorella Home = FABULOUS!

I am more than excited to announce that InteriorMall.com has become an official retailer of Sorella Home products; A fairly new company but quickly making waves and a name for themselves in the home decor world. They have been featured several times in Home Fashion magazine as well as HGTV, HFN and BridalGuide.com.
Sorella Home brings the warmth of old world craftsmanship and mixes it with modern, contemporary styles;  yesterday's quality with today's look. They are proud of their products and their roots and it shows in their work.
The Botanica Collection is hand crafted by today's generation of Italian artisans. Botanica has the distinctive beauty of Italian glazed ceramics with a modern natural pattern.
Inspired by botanical elements this chic but simple tableware collection reflects a slightly worn and organic appearance in earthy tones. The beautiful floral motif combined with a linen like texture mirrors the simple elegance found in nature.

Natura - collection of dinnerware and decorative accessories in a warm white with a uniquely hand designed shape and border creating a sophisticated look! Each piece in the collection differs from one another by no more than a hint or suggestion and they all blend together magnificently!
The new mood in home decor requires a
shift away from the classic shapes! Natura represents a collection on which to build a comfortable contemporary decorating scheme, layering shades, tone on tone, or using them to create contrasts and accents!

An absolutely stunning collection, Vento is artfully hand crafted in Italy. Each piece of this glass dinnerware and home décor collection is created with a carefully engineered sandblasting process and then hand painted with ivory enamel and 24K gold creating a luminescent and elegant table setting. The artisan's extraordinary technique gives Vento a stunning appearance.

My absolute favorite collections come from the Ernest Hemingway collection. The great thing about each of these sets is that they are wonderful individually or paired with another line within the collection.

The base of the Hemingway collection is Finca.
A handsome oven-to-table stoneware group, is artisan crafted in Portugal and is at the heart of the Ernest Hemingway line. A wonderful color palette of ivory, goldenrod and moss green with a subtle hand textured finish create a uniquely designed tableware collection with elements of nature translated beautifully for home décor.

As mentioned, Finca is the heart and soul of the Hemingway Collection. When I decide to change up my kitchen and dinnerware I would love to make the change to the Finca and mix it with Moveable Feast. These 2 collections mixed together make a gorgeous statement that is sure to please anyone.


The Moveable Feast is a collection of entertainment pieces that merge sleek contemporary style with an organic textures and materials.
Black slate-like chargers, trays and appetizer plates are perfect for parties and made of oven-to-table stoneware. An incredibly stunning wooden charger completes the Moveable Feast collection and is quite simply the perfect accent piece to any home décor. Art for living and artisan crafted in Germany, only African woods are used to create this uniquely designed charger/platter which works as well on the wall as it does on the table.

The third line in the Ernest Hemingway collection is Safari. While small (only containing a small salad or dessert plate and coffee mug), Safari is far from lacking in character and uniqueness. The Safari Collection, inspired by the majestic animals of Africa, proudly
reflects the beauty and grace of African wildlife. A collection of four small
plates and mugs, the group celebrates the beauty of African wildlife with a
lion, zebra, elephant and giraffe motif. It's also a great accent collection to Finca.


Sorella Home has really hit a home-run with the dinnerware collections. Fantastic quality and gorgeous too, there is something for everyone to fall in love with and cherish for years to come.

iHandy - It's Handy Dandy!

iHandy Level is just what it sounds like. It turns the iPhone into a level. There are many level apps available, but this one comes recommended by friends. Great for hanging art! And the best part is it's Free!

In researching this particular app I learned that iHandy is more than just the level app. They also have an iHandy Ruler App, iHandy Protractor App, iHandy Tip Calculator and a whole lot more. I was really impressed with the easy directions for use. They even tell you how to calibrate your iPhone to ensure absolute reliability.

And my favorite iHandy App has to be the iHandy Coin Flip. You pick the coin and with a double tap or a flip or your wrist you test your luck.

For more information, download instructions, or how to use visit: http://www.ihandysoft.com/level/

Pet-Friendly Homes from Better Homes and Gardens

* Use dog beds that are filled with cedar chips and washable covers. Keep poochie OUT of your bed.
*Create a nook or pet hideaway for a safe place for your pets that won't interfere with your decor like a big crate would.
* Keep animal toys in a basket and everything else up and away from curious pets.
* Move all breakables away from places your pets tail or head could knock them off of.
* Use vinegar-and-water rinses instead of bleach and harsh chemicals that can be absorbed in your pets paws. Also say no to toilet bowl cleaners which your pets may ingest.
* Pay the money for an airtight pet door to save you and your pet time and energy.
* Say no to carpet. Carpets and rugs collect hair, critters and bacteria all of which are bad for you and your pet's health.
* Keep food out of sniffing dog and cat paths and in airtight containers away from bugs and critters.
* Pick satin paint which wipes up easier than a matte or flat one.
* For rugs, get one with a backing or apply a grip to the underside. And choose colors that match your pet so his or her hair will blend in between cleanings.
* Be careful of certain houseplants like aloe, ivies, amaryllis and poinsettias which are toxic to dogs and cats.
* Avoid drapes and blinds with long cords. Just like for children, dogs and cats can easily get wrapped up what looks like a fun hanging thing.
* Make sure trash and people food is up and away from pets. Certain foods like garlic, chocolate, bones and sugar-free gum are extremely dangerous to dogs and cats.

For helpful information about your pet check out http://www.humanesociety.org/

And for all your home decor needs (for you or Fido or Fifi) check out http://www.interiormall.com/

Decor Pad

So I was randomly searching for a piece of fabric and found a link to our store on DecorPad.com !  It's a great site - you should check them out for sure!

Here is a link to their post featuring one of our products.

Meet the Staff: Cymantha

This meet the staff is long over due. Cymantha has been here since March and I have tried for the last several months to get her Meet the Staff accomplished and it finally happened! I think threatening to take her picture at a random moment and just using it really helped get the ball rolling.

Meet Cymantha:
Carrie: What do you enjoy most about your job?
Cymantha: The atmosphere. It's great seeing how happy you make the customers when they get what they are looking for to change their home.

Carrie: How would you describe your personal interior design taste?
Cymantha: Rustic

Carrie: What's been your most fulfilling job experience since working for Interior Mall?
Cymantha: What a customer called in wanting a fabric that was discontinued. I called the vendor and I got them to re-print more for her.

Carrie: How do you spend your time outside of work?
Cymantha: Outside in the yard, going to the lake or the in-laws pool.

Carrie: What item from the InteriorMall.com website would you like to add to your wish list?
Cymantha: Mica Mission Floor Lamp #99589

Kitchen Must Haves - Stuff mom doesn't send with you to college and you don't know to register for!

There are certain kitchen tools or kitchen gadgets that you'll reach for again and again. Whether they're a classic design or an innovative invention, these tools are ones that will make your work easier, your cleanup faster, your results better and more professional. Here are 10 kitchen gadgets that your kitchen shouldn't be without.

1. Microplane Grater
This now-ubiquitous kitchen tool was originally adapted from a woodworking rasp. But now, savvy cooks know that it's the best way for grating hard cheeses, chocolate, ginger and nutmeg.
*Bonus tip: Use it to grate cloves of garlic for any recipe that calls for minced or finely chopped garlic.

2. Color-Coded Flexible Cutting Mats
Practice good sanitation in the kitchen by using a different color mat for different cutting tasks: blue for fish, yellow for poultry, green for vegetables. Best of all, it's easy to transport cut-up food to a bowl or pan; just hold the mat by the edges and tilt to funnel the food into the pan or bowl. A set from Progressive International comes with four different colored mats, plus 2 white mini mats for small chopping jobs like garlic.
*Bonus tip: Use the reverse side of the green (vegetable) mat as a pastry mat for patting out biscuit dough.

3. KitchenArt Adjust-a-Cup Measuring Cup
For baking and other tasks that require numerous carefully measured ingredients, this clever adjustable measuring cup will replace your entire stack of dry and liquid measuring cups. A twist of the base adjusts the cup to the proper measurement line, and you can push the base up to remove sticky ingredients. The cup has measurement markings in cups, ounces and milliliters. The company makes 1-cup and 2-cup sizes and even a mini size that measures tablespoons and teaspoons.
*Bonus tip: Measure dry ingredients first, then liquid ingredients, and you won't have to wash the cup between measurements.

4. 4-inch Utility Knife
This small knife does everything a paring knife can do, and then some. Use it to mince shallots and garlic, hull cherries, slice mushrooms and avocados and peel fruit like apples. Henckels' Twin Four Star II knifes are forged from high-carbon stainless steel and have a sturdy polypropylene handle.
*Bonus tip: Buy a plastic shield for this knife, or keep the cardboard sleeve it comes with, and tote it along on a picnic for slicing cheese or pate.

5. Silicone Spoon Spatula
This utensil may very well replace all your other spoons and spatulas; it's the only one you'll need for stirring, sautéing, scooping, scraping and more. Made by silicone kitchenware specialist iSi, the tools are heat resistant up to 600˚F, and have a springy steel core extending through the handle, which makes them strong yet flexible.
*Bonus tip: While most silicone tools come in different colors, consider buying a red one—it won't show stains from using with strongly pigmented ingredients like tomato sauce.

6. Kitchen Shears
Keep a pair of shears in a kitchen drawer exclusively for cooking use. From snipping twine to cutting open packages to trimming vegetables and meats, a sharp pair of shears are indispensable. Chicago Cutlery's Insignia2 Kitchen Scissors have a few bonus features—the ends of the handle have a bottle opener on one side, a screw driver/box opener on the other, and a row of teeth between the handles can grip bones or crack lobster or crab legs.
*Bonus tip: Instead of chopping herbs with a knife, use a clean pair of kitchen shears to easily snip them straight into the pot.

7. Granny Fork
A granny fork is an old-fashioned tool (with an equally nostalgic name) that deserves a Renaissance. With a no-slip wooden handle and tines that are sharper than a dinner fork, you can use it for beating eggs, whisking liquid or dry ingredients, or spearing a piece of meat. Cutlery company Lamson & Goodnow makes versions with two and three tines, and in different sizes.
*Bonus tip: A granny fork makes a cute, rustic serving utensil for a platter of cheeses or cold cuts.

8. Small custard cups
Professional chefs keep their cool by using a practice called mise en place (translation: set in place). It means that before they start cooking, they prep and measure all of their ingredients so everything is ready and within reach when they fire up the stove. A set of glass custard cups, like these Pyrex6-ounce versions, can organize measured quantities of minced garlic, chopped herbs, olive oil, vinegar and other small amounts of ingredients. You can also use them for serving crème brulee or puddings, or for holding condiments at the dinner table like dipping sauces, flaky sea salt, or grated Parmesan cheese.
*Bonus tip: Inverted, a custard cup is just the right size to punch out rounds of biscuit or cookie dough.

9. Dual Kitchen Timer
With a reliable kitchen timer, you'll never again burn a tray of cookies. And even though most microwaves and ovens now have timers that can be used independently, a separate timer can be carried into other parts of the house, or can be used even when the microwave is being used for other tasks. West Bend's Dual Timer allows you to time two different dishes at once, and also has a memory feature to recall previous times—good for baking batches of cookies.
*Bonus tip: Use your portable timer outside when you're grilling to ensure you don't burn that steak.

10. A Good Pepper Mill
Freshly ground pepper tastes much better than the preground kind you can buy at your supermarket. The Chef'n pepper ball allows you to grind pepper one-handed, a boon if your other hand is wet or if you're using it to stir a pot of sauce. It's easy to refill, and the coarseness of the grind can be adjusted with a dial at the base of the mill.
*Bonus tip: Buy two pepper mills and keep one filled with black pepper, one with white pepper. White pepper can be used in mashed potatoes, cream sauces and other light-colored recipes.

Article Provided By:
http://cookingequipment.about.com/od/reviewsrecommendations/tp/MustHaveGadgets.htm

What The Font?!?!?!

Identify the fonts in a photo or web graphic!
Ever seen a great font in a magazine ad, poster, or on the web and wondered what font it is? Whip out your iPhone and snap a photo, and WhatTheFont for iPhone will identify that font in seconds!

Instant gratification
WhatTheFont for iPhone connects directly to MyFonts’ acclaimed font identification service, which has been helping customers pinpoint mystery fonts for 10 years. It works via Wi-Fi or the mobile phone network, so you can get your font fix right there on the spot.

Equal opportunity
iPod touch users — you may not have a camera, but you can still get in on the action! WhatTheFont for iPhone will identify fonts in images saved from apps such as Safari and Mail.

Features
•Snap a photo right within the app
•Choose saved photos from the Photo Library
•In-phone image processing optimizes upload for speed and accuracy
•View font details in Safari or e-mail a link to yourself

To learn more about this app for iPhone check out http://new.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont/iPhone/

Stair Runner Inspiration

Painted Stair Runners

Grain Sack Stair Runner

Back in Black!

Pantone Stairs

Stair Runner Made from Carpet Scraps

Stair Runner Alternatives

How To Set a Proper Table

A- Serviette (Napkin)
B - Service Plate
C - Soup Bowl on Plate
D - Bread and Butter Plate with Butter Knife
E - Water Glass
F - White Wine
G - Red Wine
H - Fish Fork
I - Dinner Fork
J - Salad Fork
K - Service Knife
L - Fish Knife
M - Soup Spoon
N - Dessert Spoon and Cake Fork

Note: It is often recommended that the salad fork (J) is placed to the left of the dinner fork (I). However, in this formal setting the dinner fork is placed before the salad fork because it is suggested that the guest waits for the main meal before helping him/herself to the salad.

a. Water: full body glass with short stem. Hold the glass by the stem to preserve its chill.
b. Brandy: brandy snifter. Roll the snifter between both hands and then cup it in one hand – warming the glass brings out the bouquet in brandy.
c. White wine: slightly smaller glass with wider bowl to capture the bouquet. Hold the glass by the stem to preserve its chill.
d. Burgundy Reds and Pinot Noirs: a wide bowl to bring out their complexity. The glass is slightly taller than the white wine glass.
e. Champagne: a narrow fluted glass, which reduces the wine’s surface area and keep the bubbles from dissipating.
f. Red wine: the bigger of the wine glasses. Hold the glass at the bottom of the bowl where it meets the stem.

As I was diging, I also came across an easy way for your own personal butler to set your table online. This is the coolest thing I've ever found for helping me know what goes where on my table without having to memorize a bunch of rules and diagrams. You can check it out and use it yourself at http://www.wholesale-table-linens.com/setup-tableware.html.

How To: Fit the Space

Buying large furniture, like a sofa or a bed, is a mix of art and science. The ‘art’ part is usually the fun and easier part: Do you simply love it and does it coordinate with existing pieces? But the ‘science’ part is more calculating: Does it functionally meet your needs? Is the price right? Will it fit in the space—and through all the entryways?

1. For all doors and hallways the item will have to travel thru, measure the heights and widths (A,B) and the entry clearance (C). Don’t forget any other obstacles, such as ceilings, unremovable lighting fixtures, stairwell banisters and tight turns.

2. Make sure that the width of the furniture piece is less than the entry dimensions A or C and the diagonal depth is less than B. Hint: CB2 specs dimensions in this order: width x depth x height. For example, the movie sofa shown above is 88” wide x 40” in depth x 26” high.

3. To determine diagonal depth, place a straight edge from the highest point of the back frame to the front of the piece. Then measure from the bottom rear corner up to the point that bisects the straight edge. Example: The sofa shown below has a diagonal depth of 25.5”.
Think about the idiosyncracies of the space and “live” with a new item before buying. Make sure the opening and closing of doors will clear sofas and that you don’t lose access to windows over bedroom furniture.

To help you decide if the footprint of a piece fits the floor space, try one of these three options:
—sketch the room onto graph paper and include existing pieces that will also be in the room.
—use blue painter’s tape and mark the floor space using provided dimensions.
—tape newspaper together to create a full-size footprint of the piece, position it in the room, on the floor. Lastly, “build” it in 3-D by placing objects to fill in the height such as plastic storage boxes, etc.

These suggestions are to be used as a guide to measurement and do not guarantee your furniture purchase will fit. For the smoothest move, consider every scenario and size constraint that may occur from the delivery truck to the item’s final room placement.

This great article provided by CB2 In the Loop
http://blog.cb2.com/