DAY THREE-MORE IS...WELL MORE

Argh! I'm tired, but here goes!


Day three started out with the four of us dragging our tails behind us. We had collectively walked about four million square feet of merchandise, and with each booth we passed there was always someone clamoring for our attention.


We learned to avoid making eye contact--not to be rude, but so we could get through the entire building before the market ends. Sometimes I felt like we were in the Casbah (transliterated here to mean "market").

"Hi, how are you today" asked an eager Vendor.

I smiled politely, conscious not to make eye contact, "Fine, and you?", I answered.

"Having a good show?" He asked.

I simply smiled again, and kept on walking. I still can't figure out what they mean by asking, "Having a good show?"

I mean, I'm not the one having the show, they are. They are the ones making the show, don't they know if the show is good or not? I must be getting weary, because it sounds like Mean Guy is in the building.

Sometimes after we finished writing an order with a Vendor or had simply made an inquiry, they would say, "Have a good show".

"Have a good show?" How in the heck do I have a good show?"

Okay, let's move on, we have to be nice and talk about the "Christmas buy".


Ho Ho Ho...

It seems strange to be in the city, in the dog days of August, and be purchasing Christmas ornaments and holiday gifting.


I've had Thanksgiving here several times with my family, and the sounds and smells that are in the air; the visuals that are all about and holiday is in full swing. There is the ubiquitous line of tourist and locals alike, pushing forward in the stanchioned lanes in front of the store windows at Sak's 5th Avenue, all trying to get a glimpse of their annual and fantastical Christmas windows.

Stores are full of Christmas decorations, pre-wrapped gift ideas, the music wafting through the building out onto the streets, the chestnuts roasting on an open fire (actually roasting on a butane gas burner inside a wheeled cart on the corner of every block), and people in wonderful coats, hats and scarf's. It's magical to be in New York City at that time of year, and to think that what we're doing here in NYC is the kind of prep work it takes gives me a new appreciation for the Retailers of our country.

It's 100 degrees (farenheit) and muggy, people are wearing the very least (and somehow remaining legal). What has always looked so magical has somehow now been compromised in my mind by my new found knowledge of what it takes, and the mechanics, to create Christmas as we know it.

Our first appointment this day was with our California Sales Representative, Sally, one of the hardest working gals in her business. We started at the 7 West Design Building on the lower west side of Manhattan (hence my comment about the bad part of town). In our effort to separate ourselves from the competition, the four of us consulted together in order to create our vision for the Cabana Home Christmas Holiday color story for 2007.

Today we have a special guest here to share that holiday vision with you today is Leisa Snyder of the Cabana Home Mill Valley store:

Design Guy: Good morning Leisa! Welcome to the beautiful and legendary Waldorf-Astoria Hotel (a legacy left to the Hilton Family by the late Conrad Hilton, unlike that being created by his great grand daughter _ _ _ _ _.)

Leisa: Well good morning to you Design Guy! Its wonderful to be here with you in NYC.

Design Guy: Leisa, please share with our friends and customers our story (she looked at me puzzled).


Design Guy: Not that story silly, the Christmas color story.

Leisa: Of...uh...of course...uh, Design Guy. As many of you know, our unique perspective on the Christmas Season has become quite the tradition at Cabana Home. Noir Noel, as it has become known, is a combination of romantic and soft, a sophisticated honed-black, always juxtaposed with a forward color palette. This year our interpretation of a the holiday color is a green story.

Design Guy: Green, share with our readers what green it is that you're referring to.

Leisa: I was about to, but you fuc...

Leisa's Mean Girl was just about to emerge but she quickly stopped herself, and in a breath, lovely Leisa was composed and moved on.

Leisa: Oh Design Guy, I would love to share our perspective of the new green. First of all, its about tonality on one side of the equation, and texture on the other. That relationship between the two marries well with the Cabana Home concept about lifestyles of indoors and out. Freshness and the vitality in the greens we saw at this fall show, of course green reminds us of the holidays, of hearth and home. But when married with the sophistication of black, it becomes a combination that most of us wouldn't have thought of as pleasing, or as a holiday palette.

Design Guy: Well put, Leisa.

Leisa smiles, knowingly.

Leisa: We feel special being in that environment any time of year, but it is particularly special this time of year as we want to be embellish, to cherish oneself and others...

Design Guy cuts her off.

Design Guy: I see the perspective, and appreciate the description, but do tell what the colors look like.

She bristles, then a cool comes over her face. Mean Girl was about to jump into the fray, when Nice Leisa reinforced her presence.

Leisa: The palette is in hues of winter green's, from mossy to a silvery fern green with a warm pewter undertone. The colors will juxtaposed not only with a sophisticated black, but with the colors themselves through textures of velvet, satin and metallic finishes.


Design Guy: That's hot...Thank you for joining me this morning (in my suite overlooking the delivery entrance to the Waldorf Astoria).

I know our customers and fans will really enjoy your perspective on the upcoming Christmas Season at Cabana Home stores.

Leisa: My pleasure Design Guy, anytime.

You now have the inside scoop on this years Christmas Season. You'll see the colors of the season manifested at Cabana Home in velvet and double faced satin ribbons, table ware, Christmas Tree ornaments, in gifting, and in the gift wrapping. And remember, the Christmas Holidays always begin the day after Thanksgiving at Cabana Home, and not a moment before.

THE PEDI-CAB EXPERIENCE

As we exited the 7 West Design Building, we were approached by a casually dressed fellow, with clean shaven head, who announced that the 7 West building was offering free Pedi-Cab service to the Javitz Convention Center.
We were at once suspect, and hesitated to even acknowledge the guy. After quickly looking around I spotted at least two other pedi's, and saw that they had signs ,

"Complements of 7 West" taped to the side of their egg-shaped cabs.

"Great" I said, and I hopped in. Caroline was a little hesitant, but I motioned for Michael and Leisa to grab the other pedi-cab. Caroline hopped in beside me and off we went for what seemed like a new and unique experience in New York City. And, an experience it was.


These photos were taken before we pulled in front of NYC Transit Bus and into the bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Our pedi-peddler immediately pulled into the already present traffic jamb, and then to the front of the line of cars, trucks and buses. He then shared with us that the pedi-cabs were at war with the Taxi drivers. Now, having experienced outraged taxi drivers in Manhattan, his words were not particularly soothing.

Next, we pulled directly in front of a bus, with at least three inches to spare. If the bus driver had tried to see us, it would have been impossible, and I don't think the bus driver was trying to see us. When the traffic light changed, our pedi-cycler took off, going probably less than 1/5 of a mile per hour. The bus took off at a speed of at least five miles per hour. Our driver quickly gave way and jumped behind a semi parked car; the bus speed passed us, layering our skin and clothing in a fine mist of diesel fumes.

You know, I never realized how dang tall those buses really are! Michael and Leisa looked on in horror, even photographing us along the way. We too photographed them, do we look frightened? No because we took these pictures before we pulled into the traffic.

All in all, it took us about twenty minutes, and nearly cost us our life, when we could have possibly been safer in a New York taxi. Man...oh man!


WHAT'S NEW AT LAURA LEE (the lighting designer not the country singer)

We've always like the metal finishes at lighting designer Laura Lee's showroom. Hers are the most authentic looking "rusticated" finishes. She has a good eye for design and her lamp shades are the most unique in the market place. The lamps, chandeliers and sconces are the most expensive wrought iron in the market place, but I think they're worth it. New this year (actually I'm not sure when she introduced these styles since she apparently does not have Sales Reps--or at least not one that calls on our store) is a ceiling mounted fixture, which is a category in the lighting-world market place that is devoid of new and fresh styles. Pictured here is an Italian blown glass fixture with wrought iron frame--great looking, eh?

Also, the chandelier pictured at left, is a nice, clean take on wrought iron chandeliers, which tend to be mostly over done with curly ques, applied "leaves" and other things, and a dingle-berry or two.

This fixture is clean and the shades give it a sophisticated air which I think is could be equally at home in a Tuscan Villa or in an upper east side pied a terre.

The Ceiling Mount Fixture and Chandelier are available by special order from Cabana Home-Mill Valley and Cabana Home-Santa Barbara, allow 4 weeks for delivery.

A large selection of Laura Lee Chandeliers, Sconces, Table and Floor Lamps are available in stock at Cabana Home-Santa Barbara.


TODAY'S WORST OF SHOW..

Granted, topping yesterdays worst of show would be a miracle, as almost everything we passed today paled by comparison. However, by days end there was one item that stuck out in our minds. A Warholian Louis IV fauteuil chair. Fauteuil? What the he...

Okay, a little explanation before we go on with the "worst of"...

Fauteuil, French, is an arm chair (I know that this is a side chair, but if it were an arm chair...) that has open arms. Think of a typical dining arm chair.

As opposed to an closed-arm, arm chair, which in France is called a Bergere chair (see chair to the left of the Marilyn Chair). The sides of the chair, underneath the arm, are closed, or upholstered.

Okay, more than you wanted to know? Store it. You never know when your going to have to pull that little tid-bit of info out in front of your Client, or a snippy Showroom Representative.

Warhol Foundation run amuck? I think Andy would roll over in his Gucci's if he could see his iconic and much loved Marilyn image, reproduced with such ugly taste and execution. Uuuoo...Mean Guy! It's not exactly either of our idea of sitting on Marilyn.

I didn't ask, but I truly hope that this chair was not licensed by the Warhol Foundation, who have not been known of late to be discriminating when granting licenses to grantees.


ALL GOOD THINGS...

Tomorrow we blow this pop-stand and move on to the legendary D & D Building on the Upper East Side. This is where the most fabuous Vendors seem to be located. We have some incredible appointments sceduled, so I'll see you tomorrow.




Good Night Moon.

DAY TWO - NEW YORK INT'L GIFT SHOW

A BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY ON THE BANKS OF THE HUDSON RIVER WITH JUST ME AND MY GIRL...

Oh how sweet is that title! Doesn't that read like a romantic day in

Paradise? Well more accurately, this Pier is just another venue for the Int'l Gift Show, which is held in a huge and somewhat run- down ship terminal on the banks of the Hudson River.

The views are of New Jersey, and not the pretty part. We were nearly killed as we emerged from our Taxi this morning, as we exited the door literally onto the Hudson Parkway (should be re-named the Hudson River Motor Speedway). We recovered quickly and decided using the cross walk after the light changed would be a prudent choice.

It's day two, and Caroline ditched her Cole Haans for tennis shoes, though her tennies were orange and grey, in just the right shades to match her Hermes scarf. It was a look, but a comfortable one. I ditched my sport coat and sported the dorky "conventioneer's" name tag, laced around my neck with elastic strings. We were a pair!

Michael and Leisa, the Managers/Proprietors of our Cabana Home Mill Valley store were dressed comfy as well, with Michael adding a pair of Dr. Scholl's gel shoe pads to his shoes. Could the AARP be far behind for the four of us?

TIME TO FOCUS...

Anyway, today's venue was quite different from the day before and more in line with what we came here to see. Though we found some great things yesterday at the Javitz Center, the venue tended to be more for those in the gift shop business (i.e., remember the gift shop at Stuckey's on those swell family car trips?).

Today's venue was focused more for the home furnishings or art and accessories retailers and interior designers. To say the least, we were in our element for ten straight hours. We took one fifteen minute break for lunch, woofing down a delicious pre-packaged (and God only knows when they were packaged) turkey sandwich. After paying a king's ransom for our delicious entrees, we were directed to the "cafe area" that was modestly furnished with stand-up bar tables and no chairs. How thoughtful of the event management.

On the very first aisle it quickly became apparent that today would be the day to name the "Worst of Show". You knew it was coming! I have to tell you, we spotted the winner within the first five minutes at a booth that was furnished with Roberta Shilling "antiques" (not so sure just how "antique" her things are). All day long we kept a wary eye out for an item that would top that. What made this selection so interesting was how it was displayed. Now let's think about this for a minute. Someone actually displayed this item in a way that they thought would attract Buyers, right? Okay, then just who were they trying to attract? I mean, what the hell is this item? It started out as a clay-type covered pot that was less than less than skillfully painted black. Then, it was topped with a hardly recognizable Crab-like figure, made of what looked like paper mache. It was available in two sizes, oh goody! And, please take a look at the snazzy back ground. Is it supposed to be the sand for a crab boil? A hay stack for...good God!? Regardless, it worked because it sure got our attention!

ON WITH THE GOOD...

Next, we rounded the corner to find the importer of the embroidered Dowry cloth, featured in the photograph on the left. Traditionally made by the bride and the bride's mother prior to her wedding. These works, from the nation of Uzbekistan (no silly, Borat was from Kazakhstan), which is bordered to the south by the beauteous nation of Afghanistan.

It is readily apparent that these cloths are a work of love, as evidenced by the care with which these are made. However, this love stands in stark contrast to the fact that these marriages are most often arranged marriages. Incongruous, don't you think?

It is the hope of this textile purveyor that these works of art will be appreciated, and saved from their almost certain demise in this war torn region of the world. The cloth pictured is approximately 60" x 60", and would sell in stores for about $1,495, including shipping within the USA.

We thought they were impressive in smaller sizes as well, so we bought the throw pillows, which were made in non-uniform sizes, depending on how much cloth could be salvaged from a larger damaged cloth. These pillows range in size from approx 24" long x 18" tall, and will sell for $525 at Cabana Home stores. Expect to see them in early September.

AN "IT" COLOR EMERGING?

Well, we had an inkling by the end of the day yesterday that there was possibly an it color in the making. It wasn't blatant or obvious to any of us, and it wasn't one that was dolloped onto every dern thing in the marketplace. There was just a hint. However, pretty early on this day, we began seeing this color again, a combination of dark green/turquoise/blue color. Not bright, not too dull, but rich and full. More serene than a jewel tone, but not a watery silvery/blue. From today's photos, we think the color of this Asian jar best exemplifies it.

Interesting though, we also noticed this color again, just a few moments later on an "ancient" (meaning a most excellent reproduction) tapestry (shown below left). Most of the colors were made to look like they had faded from years of exposure to sunlight and other elements, but the hue of the
"greenuoiseblu" (slang for green/turquoise/blue) woven into the tapestry was the same hue as the color in the Asian jar pictured above, left.

If the intent of this tapestry's weaver was to recreate this work of art with authentic period colors, could one surmise that the new it color is just a rehash of an it color that is centuries old? Are there any new colors? Stay posted with the Design Guy and we'll find out together. I've attached a couple of pictures of throw pillows that also had the color, below center and below right.

From left: Tapestry; Ankasa pillows, center and right.

COMING SOON TO A CABANA HOME STORE NEAR YOU!

Now, for some very exciting news: Da...Ta...Ta...Ta...Da! Cabana Home is pleased to announce that we will carry in stock in the Santa Barbara store, the beautiful Jan Barboglio Collection. We are so pleased, and it is terrific for Caroline, Leisa, Michael and myself to be working with Jan. Twenty five years ago (oh, where does all of the time go...) the four of us were employed by that bastion of fashion, Neiman Marcus, in the NM headquarters in Dallas TX. Jan Barboglio debuted her first clothing collection at Neiman's, which featured her signature white cotton dresses with ruffled necklines and skirts, she became known for making casual and loose fitting clothes that go from day into evening.

A few years later, we had all moved on from Neimans, and had pursued our fortunes elsewhere. I became a real estate mogul (particularly in my own mind), Caroline a full-time professional volunteer, Leisa an executive with Gap Inc, and Michael an exec with DFS (Duty Free Shops).

We ended up neighbors, living just across the Grenway from Jan, with our children car pooling together for school. Jan moved on from clothing, and began importing Mexican glassware and iron home furnishings products, and ultimately designing her line as we know it today, a major home furnishings and furniture importer and manufacturer. Today the Jan Barboglio line features forged iron accessories, serving pieces, candlesticks and candelabra, fireplace equipment and screens, iron canopy and poster beds, bar stools, benches, tables, chandeliers and, isn't that enough!? Anyway, it's fabulous and we are so pleased to bring this line to our stores. Look for it in the Cabana Home stores in late September.

From left: Forged iron fire screen and andirons; Center table with polished steel and turned base; Tall vases of concrete, steel and glass.

ITS EARLY 3:30 A.M.!

Okay, we're getting close to the end, but I wanted to tell y0u about a couple of other discoveries:

Run Run is a line of forged iron furniture very different from the rusticated Barboglio line above. Designed and made by a Maine craftsman, the furniture is clean and sleek, devoid of unnecessary decoration or detailing, letting the lines and planes stand alone.

Of particular interest were the "X" benches, beautifully tailored and upholstered in taupe leather, and the wonderfully proportioned and versatile dining table/desk/console. The slate topped cocktail tables were a nice take on a similar set of tables by

the venerable Belgian designer, Axel Vervoort.

The collection includes a bench, a narrow demilune console, leather upholstered occasional chairs with exposed steel arms, dining chairs, and small cocktail tables in both round and square , and a smattering of lamps.

The look is fresh and sophisticated, while taking raw elements into a new dimension. In both Cabana Home stores in mid-November.

and then...

there is the pillow and linen line designed by another husband and wife duo, Sachin (him) and Babi (her) Ahluwalia. Under the label of Ankasa, launched 22 months ago, this chic couple has opened their first flagship store at 135 E. 65th Street, in New York City

We were included in a very chic cocktail party there last evening, and enjoyed talking with fellow West Coast designers Jaimie Young and Barclay Butera. It was definitely a New York party with lots of the beautiful people.

Oh yeah, the pillow collection is offered in a beautiful color palette, and is rich in embroidered designs. We selected warm grays and silvers on one grouping, and navy and white on another.

We finally succumbed to some really tasty greens and yellows! As you come to know us better, you will see that we are not big into lots of bold colors, as we are usually interested in texture and softer more natural colors, but these just couldn't be resisted!

Other colors that are more often our choices include taupes, cremes and whites, black, and pinks, lilac and pale silvery/green.

The line includes beautiful outdoor pillows in Sunbrella fabrics. These pillows are embroidered with equal style and detail, and the threads are solution-dyed acrylic which are color fast, mold and mildew resistant.

Look for the Ankasa Collection in Cabana Home Stores in Mill Valley and Santa Barbara in mid-October.

ENOUGH!

Okay, I'm absolutely exhausted, again! So, are you ready for the Worst of Show! ?

Scroll on down and I think you'll quite agree.

Okay, here goes! The photo on the left is an actual, untouched photograph of a display in a booth that had its entrance covered in a tarp. I wasn't sure if the poor people had just given up for the day, or if perhaps they had been kicked out and shuttered closed by management. Our curiosity got the best of us, so we had to stand on our tippy-toes to look over the large blue, plastic tarp. We hadn't really expected to feast our eyes on a contender for Worst of Show, but there it was, in all of its dazzling, rhinestone splendor. At first our eyes had to adjust from the searing, sparkling light that this lamp (I think it's a lamp) generated.

It looks like the base of this thing may have originally been a stag horn from a very unsuspecting deer. Eek...if Bambi's mother could see this. Every centimeter of the base was covered in rhinestones, or as every Vendor of rhinestone covered home accessories claimed, their items were covered in Swarovkski crystals (yeah, yeah). It was then topped off with an electric blue laminated lamp shade. Ohhhh, pretty.

Is there more? Oh, but yes. To the left is the other side of this same booth. The wall paper is bright magenta flocked velvet on silver wallpaper. The Rococo mirror is painted silver, and the detailed carvings are encrusted with rhinestones. The shelves that flank the mirror are completely covered in rhinestones, as are the two very happy fish.

There's a saying that sums it up best when one is stunned, OH MY GOD!

Enough said.

We'll report on tomorrow's findings. Until then...

Good Night Moon.

NEW YORK INT'L GIFT SHOW--DAY ONE

This place is huge!

Whew! What a long day. We started at 9:00 A.M., and after almost 8-1/2 hours of grueling shopping, ok serious "editing", we walked out of the Jacob K. Javitz Center in lower Manhattan at 7:20 P.M., completing 3/4's of the building.

As we exited, I glanced to my left, through the building I spotted a Taxi line the length of a football field. We immediately made our way out the opposite doors, where we were greeted, more like accosted, by a bootleg limo driver in a Black, shined up, late model Lincoln. The front man wanted $30 to drive us back to Park Lane, to our digs at the Waldorf Astoria. We passed on that deal, and flagged down one of New York's finest, a horn honking, New York cabbie. We spent only $10. including tip. What a deal, and probably the only deal we'll get while we're here!


Back to the Show--

Here's the scoop: First of all, if there was a new color trend here, we're still looking for it. No particular color emerged as a "hey look at me" color. So, it's safe to keep your old throw pillows in silvery/sage; sea/eucalyptus; chartreuse; orange; and creme/neutral, for one more season! There was a color that caught our attention, a rich garnet red, on throw pillows by New Yorker Judy Ross. Her textured pillows are hand stitched and embroidered in India, with tasteful silhouettes of Pussy Willow, Coffee Beans, Magnolias, and some trendy, retro floral designs. Judy Ross Textiles also produces coordinating embroidered linen fabrics that sell for $800-$1,200/yard. You read it right, but if I were purchasing fabric in that price range, these would have to be at the top of the list.

You say, "Darn, Design Guy, I would love to have those patterns, but they're just too dang expensive"!

Well friend, have no fear, you too will be able to enjoy Judy's designs without taking a second mortgage out on the house. We bought the Throw Pillows, with Down filling, that will retail for
$245. each. These pillows are 22" square, and will be in the Cabana Home stores the first week of November.


Oui, Oui...

Oh, the French...they're here! I must say they're on their best behavior, and we had a lot of fun with them today. Our favorite was Yiouri Augousti, who along with his wife Ria, design the R & Y Augousti Collection, which is known for executing in beautiful detail, home furnishings covered in exquisite "Shagreen" (Stingray to you and me). We first met and ordered from this charming design duo at the Maison & Ob'jet Show this past January. However, an unfortunate fire in their factory, has delayed those orders until late September.

Just as we felt last January, we had a hard time containing ourselves of the excitement at seeing this line again, here, on this side of Lady Liberty. So, we didn't...we let it rip and added more to our order! So, on today's bender (spender), we bought the most incredible pair of Art Deco benches, the wood richly stained dark brown, and the Shagreen in the color of Mink. Wow, these are gorgeous! We couldn't stop there, so we ordered a custom made, beveled edge console table, in "Parchment", Shagreen. Then, as if that wasn't enough, we ordered a four-panel Floor Screen, 72" wide x 84" tall, in "Sand", Shagreen.

Other fabulous offerings included decorative Bronze bowls with interiors lined in Shagreen, photo frames, mirrors, and lidded boxes with edges trimmed in Ivory colored bone. They also do a line of lady's handbags that Caroline was carefully eyeing-but I managed to dodge that bullet!

We're really excited about bringing the Augousti line to our Mill Valley and Santa Barbara stores, and if we don't buy another thing while we're here in New York, I will consider this show a big success for us! Expect the furniture to be delivered in the Mill Valley and Santa Barbara stores the last week in November. Look for the announcement of the arrival on http://www.cabanahome.com/.


A Star is Born...

And what a star he is (in his own mind)! The star? Mr. Douglas Little. That's right, "Mr." Douglas Little, according to the D.L. & Co website. With a quick smile, bright green eyes, and thick red hair, Douglas is a twenty something taste maker, who is behind this company of elegantly overdone fragranced candles, and now chocolates, as to pair the senses with that of scent and taste.

The Motto of this designer is Modern Alchemy, which he defines as, Alchemy was the medieval pursuit to transform unprecious metals into Gold through a combination of Magic and Science. I'd say he thinks he's one-upped it!
Hieronymus Bosch' The Seven DeadlySins and The Four Last Things.

After the sticker shock, the candles with titles like Boston Tea Party, Opium Den, and Timeless, stand in stark contrast to the newly introduced Seven Deadly Sins, beautifully packaged in a round, silk wrapped, and satin ribboned, boxed set of 7 votive's, elegantly clad in black glass and emblazoned in Gold writing, with the sins: Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride.

If you need explanation of the above, give Wikipedia a try!

The chocolate's, selected by Douglas, and made by a San Francisco based Chocolatier. Douglas treated us to a private tasting, our own little private party in full view of all the other Buyer's. Instructing us to, "Sip, taste, and sip" Douglas proceeded to pour three different vintage wines: Port, Sancere, and Sherry; each paired with a different chocolate nipple (yes that nipple)shaped morsel, in flavors of Chipolte/Chocolate, Cherry infused Chocolate, and Seared Caramel/Chocolate. And, so we did! We sipped, tasted, and sipped, though I didn't imbibe...someone needed to be the designated sheep herder to get us through the rest of this vast show!

Though the collection smacks of Goth, Douglas is quick to explain the romance of Alchemy. His is a sophisticated, and romantic take on the magic of his imagination.

He may look like "howdy doodie" in a purple suit, but this guy is no dummy!

Last but not Least--

Was an Italian company, Reviere...Style for Living. Newly launched, these elegant Italian matrons added a fresh dimension to the lacquer tray. These gals used fresh colors of Blue, Tans, Browns, and the fresh use of white lacquer. Tray handles were executed in woven Italian leather, and bamboo, the bamboo is made by the same people who manufacturer the bamboo handles for Gucci handbags. Tray bottoms and accessories were woven in subtle leather reminiscent as that of Bottega Veneta, the famed Italian leather goods house.

Lacquered tray with Woven Leather Handles.


They also did lamps in bamboo and others in metal, with woven leather that appeared at first glance to be cane.

This is a terrific line, and we plan to write our orders on it tomorrow.


Oh (yawn), I'm tired! It's 2:30 A.M. What am I doing up at this hour? It's time for beddy bye, so out with the lights and I'll be back with you tomorrow evening. Buena Noche!




Bamboo "Ring" lamp



Good Night Moon.