Yesterday, I took my old man sailor down to Lamps & Shades Ltd. in Glen Ellyn. They fitted my lamp with an unexpected shape and finial that topped off the piece.  They also cary vintage pieces, like the green napoleonesque vase shape lamp I fell in love with.

Try going to a local retailer for a lamp shade, their expertise and eye for detail helps you select the right shape for your lamp.

I turned to Green Operations Magazine, article “8 Questions to ask when purchasing bamboo flooring,” by Ann Knight of Teragren.

Important notes to consider:

• When was the bamboo harvested?  After 6 years bamboo reaches maturity and offers it’s hardest fibers.  Harvest any younger and your getting a softer less durable product.
• Is bamboo coming from a reputable manufacturer?  Quality control is more consistent with a manufacturer with tighter standards of growth, harvest and production.
• How eco-friendly is bamboo?  Was it manufactured with Low VOC adhesives and sustainably harvested?
• Harder than Red Oak, what does that mean? Janka Hardness Test, is the means in which wood species are tested for hardness.  Harder than Red Oak, is softer than Maple and almost as hard as White Oak and other like species.

My recommendation, use a reputable manufacturer.  Going for cheap doesn’t mean you will get a good product or a company that will back defects in product.  Younger bamboo can dent, scratch and gray as it may not have had time to mature and harden.

Do your research and consider this sustainable product as an investment in your home.

Note: Image sourced from Teragren.com

A few reputable firms offering bamboo flooring: Teragren and Eco Timber

Color & Design have come up with an “Alternative Substrate.”  According to their site, “This eco-friendly wallcovering is lightweight, breathable, recyclable, Greenguard certified and can be effectively used with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system.”  It looks like grasscloth and comes in a variety of colors.  Giving you the look and feel without breaking down… hello foyer!

Admittedly, I knew little about the maker, but with a push from a friend I went for it.

After taking off the skirts on the chairs, I quickly realized these chairs were of great quality and made with attention to detail.  The layers of upholstery material, spring system and stitching detail add to a valued piece.

According to the Honquest website, “Richard Honquest founded Honquest Furniture for Living in a former general store in Addison, Illinois in 1960. In 1976, we opened the first showroom in the renovated Ice House Mall in Barrington.”

I think my chairs were from the earlier days.  As the wool fabric is very retro 70’s.

Haeger Pottery has been around since 1871, with an emphasis on clean lines and timeless designs.  Royal Haeger ceramic artware is their line of well crafted timless pieces.  They also offer ceramics in the Frank Lloyd Wright collection.

It’s worth a trip to get a glimpse of family history, innovation and local industry still at work.

If you are learning about pottery or interested in a specific style or era check out: Art Pottery Blog

Mary and Russel Wright’s, “Guide to Easier Living,” was written at a time when residential architecture was moving in a more modern style.  A clean – no fuss – philosophy on the mid-century style.  A must read if you’ve ever wondered why the simplistic style emerged in the 50’s and 60’s.

Fully customizable casegoods such as media center, storage, wine bar and entry way units that are fully customizable and meet a more modern style.  Clean lines and up-to-date finishes make this suite of furniture to appealing to an emerging audience of good quality furniture buyers.

Just as good as ever, Howard Miller, has introduced the ol’clock with modern appeal.  Made in Zeeland, MI and manufactured in the USA, these items are keepsakes and functional artwork.

Dorchester Wall Clock, I source Howard Miller thru FCA Design Center, Naperville.

I was asked by author Kathy Kidwell, to contribute my take on what makes flooring interesting and insight into flooring trends.

I was quoted by Kidwell stating, “A well-designed floor should work cohesively with the room, incorporating the floor finish as another plane to work with,” says Elizabeth Marusin, designer with the Naperville-based Asparagus Interiors Inc. “Color, texture and pattern all play into how the floor grounds a space. A well-designed room strikes a balance between the vertical plane and the floor, making the room work as a whole.”

The article posted below can also be found in hard copy at local design stores throughout Chicago in February.

• Chicago Home Improvement Feb-2010 / The Fab Floor / Cover Page
• Chicago Home Improvement Feb-2010 / The Fab Floor / Page 9
• Chicago Home Improvement Feb-2010 / The Fab Floor / Page 11
• Chicago Home Improvement Feb-2010 / The Fab Floor / Page 12
• Chicago Home Improvement Feb-2010 / The Fab Floor / Page 13

Her style, strong and bold represents what can be possible by taking chances and living in the moment.  Why not, what do you have to loose?

It may be over the top for some, but adding a little Draper style will give your space the individuality you’ve been looking for.