In these
uncertain times, we are all reassessing our priorities. One thing we
see coming up again and again is that people are wanting to refocus
on the most important things in their lives - family, creativity, efficiency,
entertainment - the things they really enjoy. Even if they can't have
that bigger house, or that extra vacation right now, we know that there
is so much that can be done with their current house to make it so much
more enjoyable.
Here are a few tips from our decorating experience that can help you
make your house the home of your dreams.
Repurpose
Repurpose
underutilized spaces in your home. Do you have a dining room or living
room that no one ever uses? Do you need room for a home office, a reading
nook, or perhaps a music or art studio? These unused rooms can be beautifully
designed to not only serve an important function, but they can be truly
expressive of who you are.
We recently
transformed an unused formal dining room into a beautiful music studio
for an upright bass player. They are so proud of the new room that they
don't miss the dining room at all. We redesigned the large kitchen eating
space to work as an up-to-date dining area that fits perfectly with
their relaxed lifestyle.
Reorganize
Reorganize
your current space to be more functional. Are there places in your home
that just don't work the way they should? Does clutter obscure the beauty
of your home? A little creative thought and you'll fall in love with
your home all over again.
Organizing
your home office is a great way to reduce clutter and its associated
stress. Replacing tangles of wires and electronic components with a
handsome office unit is one of the most dramatic improvements you can
make.
A well
organized home office is a beautiful interior element and can easily
grace the public spaces in your home.
Redesign
Not going
on vacation as much? The attraction of traveling is to see fresh, new
vistas and to return home refreshed and inspired. Refreshing your view
at home can go a long way to making you inspired every day. Take that
family room and redesign it to be an oasis, a personal retreat for you
and your family. Make your living room over as an French library...There
are so many ways to refresh your home.
Reaccessorize
Try re-accessorizing.
On a tight budget? Sometimes all it takes is just the right lamp, mirror,
art or rug to make your space really sing. An experienced decorator
can position things perfectly so that the room is balanced, functional;
and beautiful.
We
Are Here to Help
Please
feel free to stop by with your decorating questions. We love to help.
No matter how big or small the project is, it is always a joy to see
how our suggestions bear fruit in a more beautiful space for you. And
we know we can surprise you with how just a little budget can go a long
way.
Be sure
to check out our interior design
gallery pages for more ideas and inspiration.
What's
New
Farm Tables Extrordinaire
Classic
farm style tables have always been one of our specialties at Stockbridge
& Berry. Now we are adding a new collection made especially for us by
one of our handcrafted Windsor chair builders.
Ed & Ashley
have been building finely handcrafted reproduction Windsor chairs for
close to ten years now. Ashley's father, Rick started the business back
in the eighties with the idea that his children would get involved with
it. He even named the business after them. But he must have been surprised
when it was his daughter who took over the business when he retired,
rather than his son.
Ashley's
husband Ed works with her as they painstakingly recreate the classic
Windsor chairs of the early nineteenth century. The degree of precision
and artistry involved in creating a true Windsor chair is amazing. They
are both highly refined in their visual, sculptural appeal, and also
finely engineered for strength and flexibility. It is a craft that takes
many years to master, and once you have mastered that skill, any other
sort of woodworking is simple by comparison.
Ed &
Ashley apply the same attention to detail to their classic dining tables.
They use solid hardwoods - cherry and tiger maple - and build tables
the old way. These tables come in several different styles - Hepplewhite
(Shaker legs), Farmhouse (turned legs) and William and Mary (stretcher
base) - all of them classics. Extension leaves are also available.
The Hepplewhite
and Farmhouse styles are great for a casual dining look, but with the
added luxury of the fine wood. The William and Mary is the classic colonial
era stretcher base table that looks perfect with their hand carved Windsor
chairs. Together they will give your room the feel of a colonial tavern.
Tables
like these generally sell for well over $2,000.00 but our everyday price
starts at just over $1,200.00. You could get a table of significantly
lesser quality for a lot more money at the big box stores. Stop by our
shop in Monroe to see a beautiful eight-foot solid tiger maple Hepplewhite
table.We know you'll fall in love with it!
Click
here to see pictures of our new Farm Table Collection
New
Stockbridge & Berry Website
If you
haven't visited our website recently, www.stockbridgeandberry.com, you're
in for a surprise. We have entirely redesigned it and greatly expanded
it as well. The website now includes many galleries showing the great
interiors we have designed & decorated over the past few years, as well
as including lots of fun and useful information.
Read about
our Green Living Collection, furniture made from reclaimed wood so that
no tree is harmed. Or check out our What's New section to get up to
date on what's going on at Stockbridge & Berry. Learn about our own
famous folk artist, Katie Berry, too.
We'll
be updating the site regularly with new information and inspiration.
Please let us know what you think of it, and if there are any areas
we can improve. And check back regularly, there is a rumor that there
will be online shopping coming soon!
As always,
remember that our business is about pleasing you, our customer, so if
there is anything we can do to make your shopping and decorating experience
better, please let us know. And do tell your friends about the new website...
it may just get them reinspired about their own house!
Enjoy,
~Erick
& Kim
