Searching For Furnishings | Sources & Update

 

OKA Website

I have been trying to finish my bedroom that I told you about this time last year. I began the redo when I gutted my master bath and closet, bumping them a foot into my room. That was finished in the summer of 2021 and I have still not finished the room. Yeah - I know.

Part of the reason is that I have searched and searched for furniture and a rug for the room. And I am still looking for some of it! Unless we are lucky at consignment or antique shops, want to pay super high prices, or have something custom made, we really don’t have great furniture shopping here anymore.

We have a great source about an hour away and if you can find what you’re looking for there, you can get a great deal. But it’s slim pickins there these days - it’s really hit or miss.

We are only a few hours away from the High Point Furniture Market, where you can find almost anything your heart desires. But it’s “to the trade…” (and it’s also there that I was spoiled. For ten years I got whatever I needed there - wholesale.)

Most of the best options are found online.

And that’s usually where I end up.

Now, granted, I’m picky as hell and typically want just the right thing for a spot, if I can find it. But since most furniture is now made offshore and especially since 2020, things are very hard to find.

I wonder if those of you who live in/near a big city have more options than the rest of us? It would seem so to me…

I’m sure it depends on your style as well - some looks are much, much easier to find than others. (I’m looking at you mid-century modern and coastal grandma!!)

My look is traditional - antiques mixed with painted pieces and as much color and pattern as I can get away with. I like whimsical and sentimental things amidst very traditional pieces. If I find exactly what I want, it’s usually very high end. 😩 I then start the search for something very similar but more reasonable. And if I have to make it “look like it needs to”, with a paintbrush or sandpaper or fabric, I will do so.

Rush House Website

Where do you find furniture - upholstered and case goods - to replace your worn out or dated pieces? Do Tell!!

Here are my best sources for furniture online, and then we’ll look at the status of the room right now.

my BEST Online Furnishings Sources…

  • Furniture/Case Goods/mirrors

  • Wayfair and its’ more refined cousin, Perigold - occasionally I can find just the thing here

  • Restoration Hardware - this is usually really pricey and the dimensions are too large for my home, but I always look

  • Pottery Barn & Teen & Kids - I have found things on the teen and kids sites, like smaller or more inexpensive versions

  • Crate & Barrel & CB2 & Kids - same as above!

  • Wisteria

  • Overstock

  • Serena & Lily - I love their look, and usually look for inspiration for the river house. More coastal and pricey. I look for sales.

  • Ballard Designs - this has always been a great resource for me

  • Mainly Baskets - great things - have not bought, always look

  • The Well Appointed House - great things - pricey but great inspiration, have not bought, always look

  • Caitlin Wilson Designs - have not bought, always look

  • Universal Furniture - have not bought, always look

  • Furnitureland South - near High Point - they get the samples from the market showrooms - I got my bed here for 1/2 the price. Not sure where they ship though.

  • Dutchcrafters - just found them - made in Amish country - have some nice wooden pieces you can order and prices are not too bad for made-to-order, wooden furniture - the beds are the nicest pieces

  • Etsy - antiques and vintage finds

  • Modern History/Somerset Bay - beautiful wooden furniture - pricey - haven’t bought, always look - to the trade, you have to find a dealer - good inspiration

  • Phillips Scott - also great wooden furniture and also to the trade

  • Society Social - fun stuff - typically feminine and colorful

  • Birch Lane - better prices and have huge selection, haven’t ordered from them in a while - mostly farmhouse and traditional styles

  • Furniture Classics - have not bought, always look - they had the most wonderful furniture showroom in High Point

  • McGee & Co - this is the company you see with a less expensive line in Target - the website has lots of more clean lined, modern things - haven’t bought, always look

  • OKA - love this company - newish to US, based in England, they have my kind of traditional look with a twist, but higher end price point

  • Frontgate - anything I have gotten from them has been nice quality

  • Home Depot/Home Decorator’s Collection - the collection used to be a huge online site, similar to Wayfair, but better look and quality - great deals - Home Depot bought them in 2006, so I look there sometimes

Society Social IG Feed

 

  • RUGS

  • Wayfair and Perigold - the Erin Gates collection by Momeni rugs on Wayfair is great

  • Overstock

  • Etsy - antiques and vintage

  • Ballard Designs

  • Kes Collections - based in nearby Charlottesville - she has gorgeous woven wool rugs and will do custom - prices aren’t bad for quality and style of rug! Got my bedroom rug from her.

  • Annie Selke - Dash & Albert - my favorite rug source - I have bought 8 rugs from them over the years

  • Rush House - wonderful resource for rugs and a new decorator favorite - they have handwoven rush rugs and matting, everything is made from natural materials from around the world- you can have a rug of any size, with their add to/take off squares system!

Dash & Albert Website

 

  • lighting

Hudson Valley Lighting Website

  • Assorted Decor

I forgot where! 🥴

 

  • RVA Sources - if you're in the area!

  • West End Antiques and their sister store, Project One - great finds - it’s hit or miss

  • Izzy’s - pretty good consignment

  • Revival - great consignment

  • Coalfield Antiques - I got my corner cupboard at Coalfield.

  • The Chains - you know who and where they are…

  • Kellogg Collection - gorgeous things, pricier - very small shop and showroom

  • Class and Trash - antiques, vintage and thrift - fun, interesting things

  • Beckon Home - designer is Taylor - gorgeous home goods and great resource for design

  • Shades of Light Outlet - nice to see the stuff in person and avoid shipping - the outlet has a great selection of shades

  • Target - try it for lamps and decor!!!

  • UFab - nice selection of fabrics, along with upholstery and drapery services - they made my library drapes and hung them - very pleased. I have bought fabric from them. And they recovered the sofa in my den - I was moderately happy with it.

  • Lakeside Upholstery - that’s my chair - 6th row down! best I’ve used since my shop closed…

Any important place I’m missing, RVA ladies??

Kellogg Collection Website

 

Master Bedroom Status…

If you’re interested in some pics to remind you of where I left off, here’s the post of my new bed that I reupholstered. The bed looked more off white online and when it came in, it was a darker gray with khaki linen fabric. It was very handsome and would’ve been great in a neutral bedroom, but that’s not what I’m going for.

It really is harder when you can’t see any of this in person!

The Rug…

I ordered a rug from Morgan at Kes Collections (see above lists!) last summer. She was wonderful to work with. The rug came in and was really pretty, but did not look like I thought it would, and I have my work cut out to make it work with the bathroom nearby. It’s a work in progress.

Picking out colors to work with my drapery fabric.

The rug when we got it. I like it with the bed, but the off white is more wheat and there’s a lot more green than I thought there would be. (Please excuse the old bedding. Haven’t gotten that yet either.)

 

I love it with the bed and with the hall trim nearby (Monroe Bisque).

Wool samples.

The drapery fabric with the rug. I may end up putting more color into the fabric. (Fabric paint!) We’ll see what it all looks like when they are hung!

The rug is really pretty and goes with certain parts of the room and not with others.

I don’t love it with the bathroom floor nearby. 🥴

SO! That situation is a work in progress. I think when I put more light in the room it will help, and more color in the bathroom, will draw the room into the bathroom. And I think that a marble or alabaster lamp, or two, will draw the bathroom into the room.

Next up are the bedside pieces I’ve finally found. I needed a chest with drawers on my side, for clothing. But Chip’s side is next to the window, so that needed to be a smaller table. They both needed some heft to stand up to the bed. Couldn’t have delicate legs. I had a terrible time finding the right height and width for both spots.

Here’s what I settled on - they are both going to get some kind of wash to blend them into the room better and work together. And the chest hardware will probably get replaced. I also have both silver and gold finishes in the room, so that makes all this even more tricky.

Here’s the chest I got. Most were either way too wide or short! The bump outs mimic the headboard and the feet are substantial enough. It’s very distressed but that’s ok.

Here’s the table on Chip’s side…the legs and base are great with the bed, and it is the perfect height for the window it sit’s underneath.

I ended up getting both pieces in town. After searching online and locally for months. I got the chest at an antiques shop and the table from a decorator who is opening up a new studio downtown.

I’ve made progress but still have lots of other things to get for the room (artwork, chair, lamps, bedding, console table, and have drapes finished.)

I hope you got some ideas from my source lists, and enjoyed the bedroom update. I am confidant I can pull it together! And I am determined to finish it up this year and move on to all those other goals I listed in my post earlier this month.

Next up is a birthday card for the blog and a survey for you!

 
Faves and Finds, Decorating | Interior ProjectsGray MaherCreative Juices20 Comments