10 Must-Haves for Every Home

We have recently compiled a "Must-Have" list for every home. These are the Top 10 "things" we believe every home or apartment should include.

1. Light and lots of it! Whether it's natural light via large windows or strategically placed table and floor lamps or recessed lighting, light is so important. It's great for hiding the things you don't like and highlighting the things you do.

2. Functional and Comfortable Furniture. It's wonderful to have a fabulous sofa and even more useful when it is also a sofa bed like the "Alex" sofa bed from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams.

3. Multifunctional Rooms. "Formal" living rooms are out. Every square foot of your home is valuable. Use it!

4. Gleaming Hardwoods or Wool carpet. If you have hardwood floors, show them off, have them refinished when they look worn. If you prefer carpet, select wool that looks like sisal. It will wear well and last as long as you do. Weisshouse has a vast selection of in-stock wool carpet starting at just $ 3.60 per square foot!

5. Wool Rugs. Just like wool carpet, wool rugs last forever. They may cost a little more initially but the are a great investment.

6. Practical, neutral fabrics. This is a given. Slip covers are great too when purchased in white. They can be washed at home and bleached over and over again.

7. Great Art! Whether it's a painting or a framed photograph, art is a must. Art should speak to you. Even if you aren't an avid collector or feel that art may be out of your budget, vintage art can be very affordable and totally unique.

8. Colorful Accessories. Using color thoughtfully is a smart way to brighten up your space without a lot of financial investment. Colorful pillows, vases and art are always a great choice.

9. Eclectic Style. Choose furniture and accessories that incorporate many styles and tastes and consult an interior designer for advice on how to make it all work together. Weisshouse has a team of very talented designers.

10. Finally, Scale. Okay...this isn't really a "thing" but attention to scale and proportion can make or break the feel of your home. Tiny furniture in a large home is lost. Large furniture in a smaller home makes the room feel even smaller and poorly thought out.

Vintage Industrial Light Fixture

"Alex" Sleeper Sofa

"Winter" In-Stock Wool Carpet

"Shannon" White Slip Covered Sofa

Antique Patchwork Over Dyed Rug

Virgil Cantini Ink on Paper

Wool: A Great Investment On Your Stairs

An article from The New York Times inspired our latest blog. The talented Weisshouse designers are often asked for tips on what should be replaced, refinished, etc. when selling a home. The NYT article titled, "Market Ready" poses this question (perhaps, from a reader),

"Q. The carpeting on our stairs is worn. Should we replace it before selling our home? And if so, with what?"

"A. At the very least, you should tear it out. “I always recommend taking the old worn carpet off,” said Jamie Marcantonio, a real estate agent at Coldwell Banker in Northport, N.Y. “Similar to how we like to get curb appeal at the front of the house, stairs are the visual entryway to the upstairs,” Ms. Marcantonio said, and can influence the way people feel about the rooms at the top, even before they see them. When carpeted stairs look worn or dirty, it immediately creates the wrong impression."

In addition, the article by Tim McKeough states that if the hardwood stairs look worn, though, you should refinish them or add a carpet runner down the center that leaves the edges of each step exposed. “It’s less expensive than full carpeting,” Ms. Marcantonio said. “And it provides a nice, crisp look that people are looking for.”

Also from the NYT article: Lynne Scalo, an interior designer in Westport, Conn., suggested adding a tasteful runner even if the wood underneath isn’t worn. Particularly in large houses with high ceilings, she said, a runner can make the space feel warmer while providing a more forgiving surface for children.

 

Ms. Scalo often uses Grand Tournai carpeting by Merida. “It’s really fresh looking, wears well and has an organic feeling to it,” she said, that resembles sea grass, but it is actually made from 60 percent wool and 40 percent sisal. It also comes in neutral hues (Ms. Scalo’s favorite is Honey) that appeal to a wide range of tastes — perfect when your intention is to sell.

 

“It’s not million-dollar carpet, but it’s also not cheap,” she said. (The retail price is $17.90 a square foot; information: 800-345-2200 or meridameridian.com.) Weisshouse sells this runner for less at $ 12.95 a square foot (see the photo below).

 

Read the NYT article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/23/garden/giving-the-staircase-its-due-market-ready.html

 

Image Courtesy of The New York Times

 

 

 

 

Identifying Quality Vintage Stiffel Lamps

An article from 2011 on www.ehow.com and our very own pair of Stiffel Lamps inspired our latest blog. Vintage Stiffel Lamps can be found on various popular vintage websites where they are sold for up to $ 3,600. We have a stunning pair in stock and well priced at less than half that price. Read more about The Stiffel Lamp Company below.

"The Stiffel Lamp Company, founded in Chicago in 1932 by Ted Stiffel, sought to use a variety of metals and creative designs in the lamps. The trademark feature of Stiffel lamps is a foil signature and a combination of metal and other materials in the composition of the lamp. However, due to reproductions and the use of labels that can fall off or be removed, it can be somewhat tricky to identify a Stiffel lamp mark."

Shades Not Included - Please follow this link for additional information: http://www.weisshouse.com/products/2309?cat=5

Creating New Spaces With Fabric?

Today, The Wall Street Journal featured a story about open living spaces titled, "Airy, Sleek...and Really Loud". Open living spaces or open floor plans are just that, open. They create a sense of volume even in a smaller space like an apartment. Designing these spaces can be tricky and pose potential problems when not well planned. However, when an open living space is designed well, the end result is stunning. One of the problems that is discussed in the article is the noise factor. Without walls dividing a space, noise travels quickly and is amplified by hard surfaces like concrete or wood floors and stone counter tops. One way to deal with the issue of noise in a rather flattering way is to separate spaces with sheer "curtains" or panels of fabric. Creating sheer "walls" of fabric adds style, texture and an element of privacy. Stop by Weisshouse to discuss how you can divide your open living space this way. We have an incredible assortment of beautiful linens, silks and other fabrics to choose from! Speak with one of our talented in-house designers.

Here's the link to the article from The Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443792604577573172170229792.html?mod=ITP_personaljournal_0

Photos below are from the article (credits can be found below the photos at the link above).

A Mix of the Past and Present

We are often featuring what's hot in the world of vintage finds here on the Weisshouse blog. Vintage pieces from the Mid Century Modern era are very, very popular right now and Weisshouse is certainly a valuable resource for finding them. It's true that everything old becomes new again. In addition to genuine vintage furniture, many manufacturers are recreating the past and reinterpreting vintage looking furniture in new ways. Mixing vintage and new "vintage" styles is now easier than ever. Bold, modern fabric prints and bright lacquer finishes on throwback chairs, sofas and tables are popping up in stores and online. Vintage credenzas from the 50s and 60s look fresh with a coat of bright paint. Vintage lamps are new when rewired and outfitted with a sophisticated lampshade in linen, silk or even burlap. Stop by the Weisshouse showroom at 324 S.Highland Avenue in Shadyside or visit our website (www.weisshouse.com) for even more design ideas and inspiration. Check out the photos below for a few of our vintage and new "vintage" favorites.



Liam Sofa (MG+BW)

Vintage Walnut Credenza, Console, Buffet

Major Chair (MG+BW)

Martin Sofa (MG+BW)

Pair of Vintage Brutalist Night Stands/Side Cabinets by Paul Evans

Dean II Chair (MG+BW)

Vintage Russell Wright Side Table with Shelf

Diane's Conversation Chair

Set of Four Vintage Designer Stackable Composite Plastic and Chrome Stainless Steel Chairs