Fall Furniture Trends

October 29, 2012 by ark_admin

1. Quiet Comfort: Bernhardt’s Elements collection blends casual and sophisticated, including this queen canopy bed with upholstered headboard panel, made from white oak veneer with textured nailheads for a rustic, organic feel. Hambuchen Home Furnishings, Conway, (501) 327-6523, hambuchens.com; Hank’s Fine Furniture, locations statewide, hanksfurniture.com; Dillard’s, locations statewide, dillards.com

2. Chic seat: Breathe life into a lackluster room with the daring chevron print of the Elsie slipper chair. I.O. Metro, locations statewide, iometro.com

3. Golden Glamour: The Marlene side table from Aidan Gray Home has a gold-leaf finish and antiqued mirror top that add a chic sensibility when paired with more masculine pieces. Harper Howey, Springdale, (877) 323-4758, harperhoweyinteriors.com; Lewis Lighting and Home, Benton, (501) 315-2400, lewislightingandhome.com; Marshall Clements, Little Rock, (501) 663-1828, marshallclements.com

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Elegant Antiques

October 25, 2012 by ark_admin

For Lewis Morris, seeking out and collecting rare, vintage pieces is a way of life. As a second-generation antiques dealer and co-owner of Morris Antiques in Keo, he has spent his life searching both near and far for one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture, glassware and other collectibles. However, there’s one collection that immediately caught his eye and has managed to hold his attention for more than 30 years—Wedgwood’s Jasperware.

These unglazed stoneware pieces were originally created by Josiah Wedgwood of England and were first available publicly in 1775. When Wedgwood began his work the scenes depicted were mainly from Greek mythology. However, as time passed the designs evolved to include everyone from George Washington to Princess Diana. The iconic white reliefs appear on a variety of tabletop and service pieces in a range of colors including light blue, dark blue, yellow, green, crimson, lilac (which often has more of a rosy pink appearance) and even black. While numerous options were produced, the dark blue background quickly became the most popular and is therefore the most common and easiest to find.

Like many collectors, Morris found his first piece while traveling. “My family and I would occasionally go on buying trips in England and Western Europe for our shop. In the early 1980s we were there and I saw my first piece of old, original Wedgwood. It immediately drew my eye and since then I have been picking up pieces whenever I get the opportunity,” says Morris. That first piece was a dark blue biscuit jar, or as we call them in America—cookie jars. While this piece is fairly common, it led to a passion for Jasperware and a curiosity to seek out some of the pattern’s more unusual finds.

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Textile Techniques

October 2, 2012 by ark_admin

1. Brooding Bordeaux: Rich, velvet Bordeaux paired with soothing grays from Bella Notte Linens create a tranquil retreat. Cobblestone & Vine, Little Rock, (501) 664-4249, West Little Rock, (501) 219-3676, cobblestoneandvine.com; House to Home, Hot Springs, (501) 520-4949, shophousetohome.com; Sara Kathryn’s Ltd., Fayetteville, (479) 444-9991; Vesta’s, Little Rock, (501) 375-7820,vestasboutique.com

2. Bohemian Rhapsody: Fabricut’s Dimensional Dots in gemstone and RM Coco’s tourmaline ikat pattern add haute hippie style. Interior Creations, Searcy, (501) 268-2311, searcydesigncenter.com

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In Pursuit of Purses

September 25, 2012 by ark_admin

Growing up in Murfreesboro, Anita Davis learned how to spot a diamond in the rough in no time. A collector by nature she has long been passionate about flea markets and searching for vintage hankies, accessories and jewelry. However, she seems to love the hunt for a purse more than anything.

“As a child I was always intrigued by both my mother’s and grandmother’s purses. I remember my grandmother kept her small pocketbook close to her at all times,” says Anita. Similarly, she remembers the importance of her mother’s handbag and how it was a reflection of who she was.

After leaving the state’s diamond capital, Anita spent several decades in Camden and clearly remembers seeing a white lace purse in one of the town’s store windows. This would become the first true piece of her collection. However, it was nearly 20 years later before she began to augment the group, which has now grown into a wide and varied array of more than 2,500 bags.

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Say Goodbye to Basic

August 30, 2012 by ark_admin

1. Rejuvenation Therapy: Give your skin and bathroom a makeover with MicroSilk Hydorptherphy from Jason International, the first hydrotheraphy created specially to rejuvenate the skin. Jasoninternational.com for stores statewide, including: Falk Plumbing Supply, Hot Springs, (501) 321-1231, North Little Rock, (501) 664-3911, falksupply.com; Southern Pipe & Supply, Conway (501) 327-9300, southernpipe.com

2. Shower to Spa: With fluid lines and a clean, contemporary look, Rizu™ Collection provides a deeply satisfying sensory experience while saving water. deltafaucet.com for stores statewide, including: Southern Pipe & Supply, Little Rock, (501) 663-9700, southernpipe.com; The Plumbing Warehouse, Little Rock, (501) 664-4183, eplumbingwarehouse.com

3. Bath Beauties: Bathing becomes luxurious with this glass ocean bowl and long handled bath massager. Cobblestone & Vine, Little Rock, (501) 664-4249, West Little Rock, (501) 219-3676, cobblestoneandvine.com

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Take the Cake

August 28, 2012 by ark_admin

Carla Fuller remembers clearly the piece that started her collection and obsession with cake stands. “I was 13 and my family and I were looking for a Mother’s Day present for my mom. We found a beautiful white, square milk-glass cake stand and I loved it,” she recalls. The piece turned out to be not only a perfect gift, but also a jumpstart for Carla, who now has a collection of more than 50 cake stands. This group includes the very cake stand she gave her mother as a child. “Two years ago she returned it to me,” says Carla, who was happy to have the piece that started it all among her array.

After the purchase of the first stand, Carla added a similar green milk-glass stand to the collection and has continued to pick up pieces here and there for more than 20 years. After she graduated from law school at the University of Arkansas, she immediately went to work for the Department of Human Services and covered seven counties in the state. As she drove from town to town, she would occasionally stop in flea markets and antique shops in hopes of finding a unique piece to grow her collection. However, it’s not necessary that the piece be vintage or even valuable for it to be added to the mix. “If I see a stand that has a great shape or a fun color at Target, I don’t hesitate to pick it up,” she says.

She fondly remembers finding a favorite crystal stand on a trip to London. Another one of her favorite pieces came from our home state. “A friend of mine that I used to run with every morning had been telling me about this beautiful pottery she was having made,” says Carla. “It sounded gorgeous to me and I was thrilled to get a cake stand in the same style.” The piece Carla refers to is a ceramic stand with rich earth tones. It was made by Katy Carnahan of Katy’s Pottery in Alicia, Arkansas. “It is definitely one of my favorites,” she adds.

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Family Fun

July 24, 2012 by ark_admin

1. Blooming Walls: Brighten a bedroom with the Girls Rule collection in Crazy Daisy from Warner Wallcoverings. Sherwin-Williams, locations statewide, Sherwin-williams.com

2. Sign Language: Add a happy reminder with a sign from Catering to You, Little Rock, (501) 614-9030, cateringtoyouinlittlerock.com

3. Save In Style: Drop coins in the Pinkie piggy bank from Riffraff, Fayetteville, (479) 571-4000, shopriffraff.blogspot.com

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Around the Globe

July 23, 2012 by ark_admin

Evan Lipschitz never intended to amass a collection of close to 200 snow globes. Instead, the pieces of the collection seemed to find him through his interests and ultimately his travels. “I found my first snow globe on a weekend trip to an antiques store,” says the 24-year-old collector, who was only seven or eight at the time. “I remember seeing the ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ globe and immediately wanting to have it.” Evan was visiting the antiques store with his sisters, who were in search of unique salt-and-pepper shakers, so it seemed natural that he, too, should begin a hobby. Thus, his collection was born.

Snow globes, or water domes as they are sometimes called, are believed to have originated in France in the late 1800s. The concept is said to have derived from clear glass paperweights, which were highly popular at the time. In 1889, the debut of a globe featuring the Eiffel Tower was revealed at the International Exposition or World’s Fair in Paris. This debut helped to not only increase the globes’ exposure, but also its popularity. Soon after, the small curiosities became a staple in American gift shops, and in the 1950s, the introduction of plastic allowed for mass production, making snow globes the souvenir of choice for children and adults alike.

After Evan’s initial purchase at the antiques store, a family friend heard about the new hobby and decided to help. She began to add to his collection by surprising him with a new globe each Christmas. Knowing that the family friend also admired snow globes, Evan began to return the favor by purchasing ones for her as well, beginning a gift exchange of holiday globes that would last for years to come. Evan received many of his holiday-themed and some of the travel-themed globes as a part of this gift exchange.

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Green Design

June 29, 2012 by ark_admin

1. Inspired Artisan: The Mountain Pine-based business WoodUnique masterfully mixes reclaimed woods into new settings, such as the shelving, countertops and beams in this kitchen, all made from wood reclaimed from local structures. WoodUnique, Mountain Pine, (501) 767-6216

2. Recommended Reading: Handmade Houses: A Century of Earth-Friendly Home Design from Rizzoli. rizzoliusa.com

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Lakeside Looks

May 25, 2012 by ark_admin

1. COASTAL COTTAGE: Pine Cone Hill Corsica linen duvet cover and bedskirt, Honfleur linen decorative pillow and window panels, Classic Hemstitch white sheet set, Interlaken white matelassé coverlet, Savannah linen gauze white sham. pineconehill.com for stores statewide, including: Cobblestone & Vine, Little Rock, (501) 664-4249; West Little Rock, (501) 219-3676; cobblestoneandvine.com; Lewis Lighting & Home, Benton, (501) 315-2400, lewislightingandhome.com; That French Shoppe, Jonesboro, (870) 336-1435, thatfrenchshoppe.net; The Boutique, Searcy, (501) 268-3434, searcyboutique.com; Vintage Cargo, Eureka Springs, (479) 253-5943, vintagecargo.net

2. BY THE SEA: Blue glass fish candleholders and multi-colored starfish. The House Special Interiors, Fayetteville, (479) 527-6464, thehousespecialinteriors.com

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Fall Furniture Trends

Elegant Antiques

Textile Techniques

In Pursuit of Purses

Say Goodbye to Basic

Take the Cake

Family Fun

Around the Globe

Green Design

Lakeside Looks

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