Design Spree of New Jersey!

If you take big box stores out of the equation like Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, Raymour and Flannigan, Ethan Allen and Macy's, there are not many furniture stores for individuals to look at, sit in and feel the furniture they are considering buying. There are always small boutique shops that have one to six larger pieces of certain furniture lines but more often than not, if you like something online from Oly or Century, it is really hard to find them in person. So during one of my many excursions, I found two great options for furniture buyers in the tri-state area! Design Spree is an amazing warehouse in Maywood and Lawrenceville NJ that is huge and prices that you can't beat. The tags have the manufacturer's price, Design Spree's price and you automatically get another 20% off. You buy right off the floor and the inventory is always changing. I hope you get a chance to check this place out and I hope I am living up to my goal of providing you with great local resources!

"We work closely with premium furniture manufacturers, both domestic and abroad, to bring exceptional pieces to our showrooms. Because of our buying power with manufacturers and our low overhead structure, we are able to offer these exquisite selections at prices 40%-60% less than retail. Come experience the splendor of collections by Henredon, Century, John Richards, Maitland-Smith, Theodore Alexander, American Drew and many, many more."

New Love: Mission Ave Studio!

I haven't posted about a favorite website in a while and this has become one of them!! Mission Ave Studio is a great resource for incorporating vintage updated furnishings for your home.

"Our mission is to deliver totally revitalized classic antique furniture frames. Our workmanship, custom painting and upholstery are of the highest quality. And our creativity in choosing colors and fabrics is hip, modern and at the cutting edge of interior design. All of our products are 100% authentic, vintage restorations. Every piece is a work of art and one of a kind. Our artist and designer spare no expense to bring you some of the highest quality antique furniture products on the market today. Every piece is handcrafted and original. We give every piece of furniture a name to really bring it to life. We go to great lengths to pick out the highest quality antique and vintage pieces that qualify for our revitalization process."

If anything, this website will give you some fabulous ideas for grandma's chair you inherited that is sitting in your garage. It may inspire you to look at a piece you are already using with fresh eyes. Here are some of the goodies they have. Enjoy your day and stay indoors, New Jersey is in a deep freeze!

Favorite Building Contractor: Briant General Contracting!

You may have guessed why Briant General Contracting in Flemington, NJ is my favorite builder.....The owner/builder is my husband Adam Briant!  He is a a fabulous finish carpenter who specializes in new kitchen and baths, custom woodworking and detailed additions and renovations! I wanted to share just a glimpse of some of his amazing work! If you are interested in doing any projects on your home, he would be happy to assist! A full portfolio with a list of references is available for your review. Please contact me via email to discuss any future projects.

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Antiques On Union - Lambertville, NJ!

I haven't posted about a local treasure in Hunterdon County NJ in quite a while......Well, I have been saving one of my favorites to share with you all!

This shop Antiques on Union 

has a plethora of french, italian and mid century antiques in a price range for everyone's budget!

Look at these great pieces below and you will notice some of the great prices with the green color "close out" labels!

Spend a great afternoon antiquing and then end the day with a smooth glass of wine or a scotch at the Wine Cellar, a place not to be missed!

Fabulous Finds in Tewksbury Design!

I have been a client since the days on Main Street in Whitehouse Station NJ....Currently located in the Mountainville section of Lebanon Twsp. NJ is TEWKSBURY DESIGN! I drove past this shop for months and I finally made the stop to really look at these repainted antiques that were showing in the storefront. Not only did I buy this beautiful grey colored distressed 5 drawer chest but I also purchased these awesome french reproduction wall sconces. I get compliments from everyone that sees them in my home. Andrea, who is the shop owner/designer is so wonderful to deal with because of her kind, sweet and warm personality. There are pieces already painted and refinished that are ready for purchasing. She will also custom paint any piece that you can bring to her shop. I recently had upholstered chair frames painted, one in black and  two in cream distressing. I was so excited when I saw them and they only cost about $75-$100 per chair!! There is an array of finishes and colors for that dresser, chair or table that you would like done. She also works in clients homes refinishing kitchen cabinets which is a great alternative to buying new ones. You have to stop by and visit her and see what she has in her shop. You will love the shop and the owner Andrea!

Below are pictures of my chairs that were refinished by Andrea!

TEWKSBURY DESIGN

302 Main Street

Lebanon, New Jersey 08833

908-832-6032

PS Sorry, they don't have a website.

Design Studio of Somerville!

A girlfriend of mine needed help making her large living room with very high ceilings feel cozy. After arranging her furniture several different ways, she asked for suggestions. I recommended a few more pieces of furniture in specific areas and so began our hunt! We ventured out to the ABC Outlet in Hackensack NJ but did not find what we were looking for. On our way home I remembered this quaint little design shop that actually had a lot of choices. We walked in to find that it was a floor sample sale day!!! After reviewing all options she settled on three great finds: sofa table, coffee table and a settee. What was even better is that some of pieces were such a great deals and were currently being offered online at Wisteria and Horchow for much more money. What can be better than that! Tom, the owner and top designer of the shop happened to be in the store rearranging the floor plan that day. He was just great to chat with and get some fabulous tips in decorating your home. The shop specializes in LEE Industries custom upholstery and has a large selection of sofas and chairs to choose from. This shop gets a ***** rating as far as I am concerned. It is definitely worth a visit!

Design Studio of Somerville

67 West Main Street

Somerville, NJ 08876

908-685-1921

http://www.design-sos.com/

Wallpaper Is Back!

Let's face it, wallpaper is a commitment that many of us are afraid of! Many of us have horrible memories of floral patterns decorating our grandmothers house in every room or maybe it was our first house that we had to spend hours upon hours trying to remove it from the walls vowing we would never put up wallpaper again!! Well using wallpaper to decorate a room is back with a vengeance! Yes many designers are choosing an array of patterns, textures and colors. I recently came across a vintage shop in NYC that stocks a variety of vintage wallpapers that I couldn't get enough of! Below are some of my favorite choices. When I look at these papers I immediately think of a small space like a mudroom, home office or a vintage inspired small kitchen or bath! Could you see these samples below above flat panel wainscoting in a mudroom, on an accent wall in the office or maybe in your powder room! These patterns are so much fun and there are many more to choose from. So promise you will at least check out their website Secondhand Rose
and then visit the shop and let me know if you succumb to purchasing some for your home!!

Consignment Designing!

Maybe you have shopped for clothing in a consignment store in the past but have you ever shopped for furniture and decorative items in a consignment shop?? Interesting concept isn't it? Well one day on the hunt for a unique furniture piece,  I stumbled upon this shop while driving through Hopewell NJ on my way home! The showroom is enormous and has such a variety of interesting pieces. The turn over is pretty quick, so it make take a couple of months to find that special something for your home. So you may want to make a habit of just popping in from time to time and I am sure it will be worth your while. Remember the longer an item remains in the shop the lower the price will become! Also, it may be to your advantage to sell off some of your own pieces that you just have stored away in that garage or attic!! So check out the website and make the trip!

Decorators Consignment Gallery

52 Railroad Avenue Hopewell, NJ 08525

609-466-4400

http://www.decoratorsconsignment.com/

Hidden Jewels of Design in Princeton NJ!

Today I am going to introduce two of my favorite shops in Princeton NJ! Not only are these stores in one of the greatest towns in New Jersey but they are within walking distance of each other in the historic area of Palmer Square!

Spruce 45 Palmer Square West Princeton, NJ

     Spruce has to be one of best "one of kind" stores in the area. What I love about this store is that it combines a very interesting floral design center on one side and an interior design area in the other. I wandered in one day looking for a unique bridal shower gift and decided on this amazing piece by a local potter. It was this delicate creamy white flower embossed cake stand that almost looked like real icing was hanging off the edge of the stand. When the bride to be opened it at her shower she gasped...Need I say more!  Let me say that is was hard to decide which piece of this collection I wanted to purchase because I knew that each piece was so special it its own way. Not only does this store feature local artists collections for the home which are incredible, the furniture line has very clean modern lines with an interesting vintage appeal. Bright colored furniture pieces which intimidate me at times are jumping out at me saying "try me just once." This shop also features amazing succulent arrangements made to order in beautiful pieces of pottery which are a gift in themselves. Where else can you find such an amazing floral arrangement for your home that last for months in the price range of $70-$100? Can you see how much I love this place??

Amy Karyn 
Princeton, New Jersey 

     Just a few minutes stroll down the street from Spruce and you come to another equally amazing interior design shop...Amy Karyn. At first this shop may appear like an average interior design store with beautiful upholstered chairs and pillows tossed all over the store. Don't be fooled! Make your way to the back behind the designers desks and just reach out and touch! Yes, french inspired fabrics in patterns and designs that you won't see anywhere else! Amy Karyn personally designs all of her fabrics and produces them on this most incredible linen fabrics. What I love about the patterns is that you can select a certain one and have several background colors to choose from that will help coordinate with what you may already have in your home. The fabric prices are not cheap but just a couple of yards can recover pillows or cushions and can also be used for drapes and shades. So if rainy day comes around, spend the afternoon in Princeton and don't forget to get your latest fix of one of the best ice cream shops in the country from the The Bent Spoon! My favorite is Chocolate Raspberry and Marscapone!!!

Favorite Find at the Beach in Spring Lake NJ!

While browsing down the main avenue with my mother and grandmother on a beautiful spring day, we came across the most captivating shop that we could not just walk past!

What initially caught my eye was the chandelier but that was just the beginning......... This shop has such a wide array of interesting bath products, home accents and furniture pieces that makes any room feel soothing and carefree. Don't forget to check out back! They even have a nice selection of planters and garden accessories. The shop also offers a wedding registry for all of you brides to be. So please take a leisurely drive on a beautiful day and get lost in this amazing shop like I did! Look out for my next post that will highlight two interior decorating shops in Princeton NJ!  Whimisicality 1219 Third Street Spring Lake, NJ 07762 Phone: 732-449-9337