Skip to content

Posts from the ‘News’ Category

New Season – New Fabrics

Every few months we take on the task of ordering a new crop of furniture for the store. It involves us all gathering around the long table by the fabric racks – you know, the 13′ foot table that looks like the dining table in the servants hall at Downton Abbey.

downstairstreats3e3-1

We start out putting the catalogs out to see our frame choices, we start pulling fabrics and tossing them in a pile. We want a mix of frames – different arms, traditional and modern, formal and casual. We need a selection of fabrics – solids, neutrals, and prints, in linen, cotton, velvet, blends. We toss in a leather or two. we try to get a mix of slipcovers and tight upholstery. It doesn’t end there either. we have to decide about the stain color of any exposed wood. Do we want piping or no piping? How about topstitching – what color? what size thread? We choose nailhead for a few pieces – and there are choices there too – we have to choose color and size. 

IMG_0906

IMG_0909

IMG_0907

It sounds like fun, right? …..It’s not. Let’s just say we have a lot of personalities that work here, each with their own opinion…..about everything. It can be a volatile combo. it can get ugly. If you come to the table, you come with a tough skin ready to defend your choices. It’s not unlike The Hunger Games.

uploads_88b83e53-41a1-4a45-a7d1-93cfb163095d-rs_1024x759-131118160451-1024_hunger-games_cm_111813

In the end though, we are left with a nice stack of fabrics and a full order. Then begins the self-congratulations. And finally the worst part – waiting for it to arrive.

Here’s what we finally came up with this time :

IMG_0823

Why do we torture ourselves in this way you may ask? Well, as trite as it may sound, it’s for you – when you come into our store, we want you to be able to see examples of all these choices and options. We want you to be able to try out chairs, cushion types, tight backs and down cushions. We want you to see frames with solids, stripes, ikats, etc. We want you to see a rumpled washed slipcover and a tight formal velvet. We want to educate you and help you make choices for your home, your space.

downton-abbey-servants

First Steps

A blank canvas for our new showroom. Our journey has begun. Here we go…

panorama

Click photo for larger view

holiday hours

We will be closed for the holidays beginning December 24th and reopening January 2nd.

This lovely photo is courtesy of one of our favorite blogs: this is glamorous

Thanksgiving hours

We will be closed Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24 through Sunday, November 27. We will reopen Monday, November 28 at 9 am!

If you plan on coming in on Wednesday, November 23 please call ahead as we may be closing early.

Have a great Thanksgiving!!

And here is a fun little recipe we found… (recipe and photos via tarteletteblog.com and charlestonchow.blogspot.com)

Drunken Pumpkin-Bourbon Tart (Serves 8 to 10)

Here is the tartlette variation (with the original recipe following):

I used eight 4-inch tart pans instead and baked them at the same temperature for about 15 minutes.

I topped mine with a little mascarpone cream:

4 oz mascarpone at room temperature

1/4 cup honey 1/2 cup heavy cream, whipped to soft peaks

In a medium bowl, whisk together the mascarpone and honey. Carefully fold in the whipped cream. Spread as little or as much as you wish on top of the baked tart.

Equipment Needed: One round 9″ X 1″ round tart pan with removable bottom (or eight 4″ tart pans if you are doing the tartlette version!)

For the pastry:

2 1/4 cups White Lily All Purpose Flour

1/4 cup sugar generous pinch sea salt or kosher salt

2 sticks cold, unsalted butter, cut into 1/2″ cubes approximately

1/4 cup ice cold water, or enough to just hold together the pastry
1 egg wash – yolk, pinch salt, splash water, blended together

For the filling:
2 cups of roasted pumpkin flesh

3 large eggs

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons bourbon

1 tablespoon best-quality vanilla extract

1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt

2 tablespoons molasses

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Preheat oven to 375. Prepare the pastry. In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a plastic blade, pulse together the flour, sugar and salt. Add the cold butter all at once. Pulse 40 – 50 times or until the flour is the size of tiny peas. Gradually, drizzle the ice water through the mouth of the food processor, while pulsing. Stop just when the pastry begins to hold together. Pour out onto a lightly floured surface and form into a disk using your hands. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. (Note: This can be done several days in advance and stored in the refrigerator until baking day, which, for me, will be Thanksgiving).

Meanwhile, cut the pumpkin in half horizontally, and remove the pulp and the seeds using a stainless steel spoon. Discard the pulp and the seeds. Turn the pumpkin halves cut-sides down on a roasting sheet and cook in the pre-heated oven until the flesh is soft to the touch and beginning to implode, about 45 minutes. When the pumpkin is done, remove from the oven and cool at room temperature.

Once the pastry has rested/chilled at least 30 minutes, roll it out on a lightly floured surface, to about 1/4″ thickness. Line the tart pan with the pastry, leaving enough pastry to create a slightly elevated pastry border, about 1/2″ higher than the edge of the tart pan. Line the pastry with crumpled parchment paper and fill it with pie weights or dried beans, gently pressing the beans into the bottom and edges of the paper so that they’re evenly distributed. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove the parchment and weights, brush down the bottom, sides and edges of the tart shell with the egg wash using a pastry brush. Return the tart pan to the oven and bake another 10 minutes or until golden. Remove from the oven and set aside. Reduce oven temperature to 350F.

To prepare the filling, scoop two cups of the roasted pumpkin flesh out of the pumpkin halves and place in a large bowl. (Note – any left-overs can be stored in the freezer or refrigerator and later turned into a lovely savory soup or puree!) Using a hand-held mixer, blend together the pumpkin for 2 minutes on medium and blend into a smooth consistency. Add the eggs and light brown sugar, and blend together on medium for another minute, or until fully incorporated. Add the remaining ingredients and blend to combine on medium until fluffy, aerated, and fully incorporated. Gently ladle or pour the custard into the prepared tart shell, leaving a 1/4″-deep tart border. Place on a baking sheet and bake on the center rack of the oven. After 15 minutes, reduce the heat to 325F and continue baking until the custard has just set and quivers slightly to the touch, about 45 minutes total. Cool completely before slicing, or refrigerate for several hours or overnight before serving.
Bring on the whipped cream!
Recipe from Tart Love – Sassy, Savory, Sweet and Southern by Holly  Herrick (Gibbs Smith, Fall, 2011. Photo taken and generously shared by  Helene DuJardin, www.mytartelette.com)

view the full recipe and pictures here.

YUM! Happy eating!

new fabrics from Lee Industries

Lee Industries just brought out some new fabrics for Fall. See some of our favorite pairings below and you can look at the complete new collection here.

Some pretty neutrals mixed with grey:

Botswana Grey (grade “G” and machine washable fabric)

Luna Smoke (grade “P” and machine washable fabric)

Oxford Pepper (dry clean only)

Lee chair in Luna Smoke

A bright and funky combo:

Cortez Gold (grade “U”)

Paris Summer (grade “N”)

Dylan Horizon (grade “G”)

Lee chairs in Paris Summer

Lee chair in Cortez Gold

Chartreuse and blue:

Milly Cactus (grade “Z”)

Mimi Cactus (grade “Z”)

Tote Capri (grade “Q”)

Lee barstool in Milly Cactus and Mimi Cactus

Lee loveseat in Milly Cactus

A warm feminine palette:

Rosa Spring (grade “N”)

Mimi Pink (grade “Z”)

Reed Flax (grade “H)

Lee chair in Rosa Spring

A fresh take on olive:

Tory Olive (grade “G” machine washable fabric)

Maria Charcoal (grade “S”)

Summit Ivory Leather (grade “4”)

Lee chair in Maria Charcoal

Lee chair in Tory Olive

new from Cisco Brothers

Take a look at some beautiful photos from Cisco Brothers’ Fall 2011 High Point showroom.

Images Courtesy ciscobrothers.com

a little something new

Just thought we would share a picture of the beautiful bed we set up!

This Queen Size Corsican panel bed in Antique Black is $3598

On the Bed:

Shams: Matteo Folk Euro Shams in Cloud, Bella Notte Melissa Euro Sham in Chocolate, (2) Bella Notte Dawson Queen Shams in Sable, Bella Notte Adele Standard Sham in White, (2) Bella Notte Olivia Standard Pillowcases in Pebble (over 2 Vine Jacquard Standard Pillowcases in White), Bella Notte Colette Standard Sham in Pebble, Matteo Medallion throw pillow in Sage, Bella Notte Linen Bolster pillow in Sable

Coverlet: Bella Notte Adele Queen Coverlet in White

Duvet: Bella Notte Whisper Linen Queen Duvet in Chocolate

Come by to see it in person!

heart card

Simple Things will be participating in Heart Card, benefiting Safe Haven, again this year from October 21st through October 30th. With the purchase of a Heart Card ($55) you will receive 20% off of bedding (Bella Notte Linens and Matteo Home) at Simple Things (in stock as well as special order).  We also set up a beautiful bed this week, so come by and get your fine linens fix!

See Safe Haven’s website for a complete list of participating retailers and to purchase a heart card.

a slight improvement

Some space has opened up in our warehouse so we have thrown together a temporary showroom… here are a few amateur pictures of the space and what we have for sale.

Cisco Seda Sofa ($3167 paired with an antique rug ottoman ($1699)

A vintage sign ($300) atop a pine desk ($1569)

Round industrial table ($3400) with six French-inspired side chairs (upholstered in linen with a light blue finish, $399 each)

Detail of carved side chairs.

Detail of found industrial table base

For the chemistry geek in your life (vintage lab stand $75, vintage beaker $30)

custom rugs

We are now offering a line of rugs that you can custom order in any size! We are so excited about this new line. We currently have swatches available for you to look at and check out. The rugs are hand woven, 100% wool, and $19/square foot!