Planning for Christmas

Every year I always hear the Groans when I mention only 100 shopping days until Christmas, okay it was August and I was in my shorts, not a pretty sight.

Anyway in the Furniture business you have to plan months ahead , otherwise by Christmas you are have nothing new , and not a lot left.

This year we have been filling our warehouses on a weekly basis, and introduced extensions to our White, Cream and Noir Range, and launched our two most recent and exciting releases, French Fabrics and Luxury Furniture.

We have had to call in a few favours from our suppliers to meet with the demand for these ranges. Even the buyers were taken aback, but I guess we got the prices just right and the quality perfect.

With Commodes from less than £1000 and sumptuous sofas in Gold Leaf and Jacquard Fabric we have a wide choice to suit all classical tastes

The Strapline is “Designer furniture at realistic Prices”

For this Christmas, we have released on Sale, well err … Furniture that fits in with The Christmas experience.

Ok here we go.

Christmas Eve, Build your French Bed .
(Best before you start drinking, trust me the side rails hurt when you drop them on your foot, and the rails only fit one way)





Christmas Lunch enjoyed on your table, whether a table to seat, four, six, or even Ten

Of course with a matching Sideboard etc

Where better to watch the Queens Speech than in front of your Television sitting on your comfy sofa chair with foot rest. These chairs are extra large, so doesn’t really matter how much Turkey you eat, and of course there’s the New Year for all those Resolutions

Or Something More Regal from our Design Classics Range?

Of course if you wish to see your French furniture in situ, along with prototype furniture and finishing touches, please arrange for a viewing at our 3,000 sq ft showroom in Watford

Ralph

ps My New years Resolution is to work on my Legs ready for my Summer Pep Talk !

Would you like a Mattress with that Sir?

It’s been a few months since the website has been re written from the top down
There are many subtle features which have been activated, and more for the next few months.


The website is built purely on feedback, and as a company we always welcome any feedback. “Feedback” is the new word for “Constructive Criticism” Not sure what is the positive of “Constructive Criticism” therefore the word “feedback” Was invented.


Well feedback was invented by Jimi Hendrix, but there I go again rambling and showing my age.


Anyway on all beds the options have been activated for Size of bed, mattress, White Glove Service (Unpack your bed, Assemble, and remove the packaging for Recycling)


We have sourced a bulk supplier of Silent Night mattresses to go with our french beds and these are the mattresses we supply to hotels at realistic prices.


Please use the Feedback option on the “contact us” for any … um feedback.

Cheers,

Big RT

Ps

How Comfortable are these mattresses , Well we caught Ralph a sleep in the showroom, in the Antique White Corner (chateau furniture) and we left him there , called over the Guys from the warehouse, who were going to tie him up in gaffer tape, but we compromised at a feather under the nose , and yes we have the Photos !

Secret Spaces and Hidden Places

Recycling

Recycling Furniture and fabrics has been around a lot longer than most of us think.

In this day and age we have finally woken up to the reality of finite resources and I would like to blog a little about Shabby Chic.

Please click here for more information on recycling

Background of Shabby Chic Furniture

As per Wikipedia”The style started in Great Britain and evokes the type of decoration found in large country houses where there are worn and faded old chintz sofas and curtains, old paintwork and unassuming 'good' taste. The end result of shabby chic is to achieve an elegant overall effect, as opposed to the sentimentally cute Pop-Victorian. Neither is it an expression of caring for the environment through recycling, even though recycling old furniture and fabrics is an important aspect of it.
The early forms of shabby chic were rather grand but the style has evolved taking inspiration from many forms of decoration. These range from 18th century Swedish painted decoration, the French Chateau as well as the American Shakers where simplicity and plainness was essential.
Shabby chic is mainly popular in interior design where furniture and furnishings are either chosen for their age and signs of wear and tear or new items are distressed to achieve the appearance of an antique.
Shabby chic items are often heavily painted with many layers showing through obviously worn areas. The style is imitated in Faux Painting using glaze or by painting then rubbing and sanding away the top coat to show the wood or base coats. Fabrics tend to be cottons and linens, with linen being particularly popular, inspired by old French linens. Whites and worn or bleached out pastels are favorite colours. Fabric is often stained with tea to give it the look of old fabric. Bleached and faded are terms often applied to the style
Another form of Recycling is Utilizing space, and leads on nicely to utilizing secret spaces , I know I should have been a TV Anchor.

Secret Spaces and Hidden Places

When visiting one of our Noir Black French Furniture suppliers, I saw some wasted space.
Namely the base of the wardrobe.




The old version of this did not utilise this space, so as per usual we requested a modification to design, and the next day voila a secret drawer.

Here are some other items we stock with Secret Drawers:

FW6000-02 Provençal French style Wardrobes Armoire Mirror Fronted With Secret Drawer

LPF1011-Dressing Table and Mirror


We have been able to negotiate with the suppliers and these wardrobes will cost no more than the current ones and do give an extra dimension to the product.

The Head of Marketing often comes out with some inspiring sentences, like “It’s hidden in the detail”, “The antiques of tomorrow”, but when vigorously demonstrating the secret drawer to the staff caused a groan when he said

“Noir you see it Noir you don’t”.

Anyone like to head hunt our Head of marketing… Please….
Ralph.