The Furniture Connector – Charlotte, NC (UHM Feb/March 2013)

Posted on February 27, 2013 by admin

It’s all about expansion for North Carolina native Rodney Hines. In addition to their original store, The Furniture Connector, Rodney and his business partner have added two more stores in Charlotte.

High Cotton Home Co. and Southend Trading Company showcase different design styles and merchandise, providing a complete selection of home goods and interior design services covering all customer tastes.

Looking for the opinion of an interior designer on how to complete the look of your bedroom? Need one special piece of furniture as a focal point in the room? Does the family room need a complete overhaul? Visit one of the three stores to complete the specific look that suits your home and consult an onsite designer for advice. Check out the unique offerings at all three stores:

The Furniture Connector – Still incredibly popular, The Furniture Connector is the first store Rodney and his business partner opened and carries an array of eclectic pieces in a fun and flirty environment. You can discover how to mix styles – a rustic chair combined with a crystal chandelier, for example – and the power of decorating with “opposite” materials to complete a room’s design. 2905 Griffith Street, Charlotte.

High Cotton Home Co. – This store showcases tailored, high style furniture collections with a refined, modern look. The 8,000-squarefoot warehouse is classically decorated thanks to overhead crystal chandeliers hanging from metal piping and rafters. Modern furniture completes the high-end aesthetic. TFC’s excellence in customer service spills over into this store – designers are on site to help you choose the right furnishings for the look you want and will even come to your house to offer advice. Customers say they love the quality furnishings and the hospitality. 2137 South Boulevard, Charlotte.

Southend Trading Company – The fun continues at the newest addition to this family of stores with Southend Trading Company. “This store is a diamond in the rough,” says Hines. “You can find one-of-a-kind pieces, repurposed furniture, antiques with new upholsteryand gifts for others.” Hines says it resembles a Paris flea market with yesterday’s antiques mingle with handmade items, dressed up for modern use. Wondering how to incorporate Pantone’s 2013 Color of the Year, emerald, into your décor? An in-store interior designer can lead you to the answer. 2935 Griffith Street, Charlotte.

Visit all three stores often to see the wide range of merchandise, which is sold off the floor as one-of-a-kind finds. The room vignettes change weekly as pieces are sold and new shipments arrive at the warehouse door. If you’re in the market for new furnishings and accessories, sign up for the stores’ catchy e-newsletter, which lists upcoming sales and provides sneak peek photos of new arrivals each week.

Text “ilovefurniture” to 22828 to join the email list for all three stores and receive early sales and event information, along with photo previews. Visit all three stores in the Southend Furniture District to find the furniture, artwork, rugs and accessories that are right for you. Call 704-523-3163 to reach the stores.

From Europe to Charlotte- Hans Krug (Best of Guide- Charlotte, NC)

Posted on February 25, 2013 by admin

Charlotte homeowners who appreciate the luxury of streamlined European cabinetry will be excited to learn about our city’s newest showroom. Hans Krug, an international manufacturer of European designed and engineered cabinets, recently opened its flagship showroom in Charlotte’s renaissance Westside.

Hans Krug owner Tony Battah says the brand offers the same features and quality of high-end European cabinets such as SieMatic, Poggenpohl, Snaidero and Scavolini, at a fraction of the price.

“Our cabinets use Blum premium hardware, the TANDEMBOX plus system and optional motorized Servodrive,” says Tony. Blum hardware is known throughout the industry for its integrated drawer slide system, which closes drawers and doors silently and effortlessly.

“Our friendly prices and short turnaround times will setHans Krug apart in the market,” says Tony, who explains that the cabinets are all made to order in less than ten weeks. “That’s less time than it takes most American based cabinet companies, at a cost that is less than a kitchen at a big box store.”

German kitchen designer Michael Schlütter is the product and design manager for the Hans Krug line. Michael developed his passion for kitchen design at the age of 16, working as an apprentice in his father’s kitchen design studio in Germany. He studied business management in Boca Raton, Florida before returning to Germany to work for SieMatic Kitchens. He was also a kitchen designer and project manager for 3er Kitchens in Munich, Germany.

Now Michael is enjoying the challenge of setting the standards of excellence for Hans Krug showrooms, which will soon open across the world. Showroom openings planned for 2014 include Singapore, Manila, Taiwan, Munich, Miami, New York, Dallas, Chicago and Los Angeles.

T he Hans Krug showroom in Charlotte is also a Miele premiere store, the largest in North Carolina, with more than 50 Miele products on display. Hans Krug partnered with Cosentino for its Silestone countertops and with Harkey Tile & Stone for the beautiful countertop fabrication. The result is a showroom that Tony calls ‘a cook’s dream.’

With more than 28 different finishes on the cabinets and over 370 sizes, Hans Krug promises to have something for everyone’s taste. “We have a wide range, from modern cabinets with electric drawers to classic and transitional,” says Tony.

Open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Hans Krug showroom is on the corner of Freedom Drive and Morehead Street. The showroom welcomes the general public, builders, architects and designers.

Visit the showroom at 1500-B West Morehead Street in Charlotte, NC, 28208. Call 704-370-0809 or visit www.hanskrug.com for more information.

To view this article click here or visit www.urbanhomemagazine.com

Why This Room Works- San Antonio/Austin, TX Summer 2012 Issue

Posted on July 26, 2012 by admin

By Mauri Elbel Photography by Tom Harrell Photography

Designer Spotlight:
Dawn Hearn of Dawn Hearn Interior Design This elegant room oozes feminine charm.

We sat down with Austin-based designer Dawn Hearn to talk about the elements she pulled together to transform an ordinary guest bedroom into a peaceful retreat perfect for her client’s visiting friends.

What were the design goals for this room? This was a new home in Spicewood,
and I was brought on to design the guest bedroom. The walls were painted and the shutters were already installed, but all that was sitting in the room was an iron bed. My client wanted a retreat for her girlfriends when they came and stayed. She likes a very tailored look so I wanted it to be rich but relaxing at the same time. The idea behind this room was to make it into a retreat. It is a little softer than the rest of the home. The
givens were the wall color – a soft taupe – so we wanted to infuse this room with some character based on this very neutral palette. The inspiration piece was the icy blue
background on the floral duvet and pillows. My client saw that fabric and fell in love with it, and we built the rest of the room around that fabric.

What are your favorite elements of this room? I like the contrasts of this room. There is the contrast of the rich chocolates and cool blues. There is the contrast of the refined mirror finishes on the chests next to the rusty iron bed.

There are vintage washed fabrics combined with more defined modern animal prints. There is a contrast of very simple, neutral walls with the dense pattern of the rug. I think all these contrasts are what make it interesting. If you did everything shiny or everything rustic, the look would be flat. So when you run the gamut of everything in between, it creates a very layered effect.

How has this room served the owner thus far? We call this room the girlfriends’ guest suite. I think it really has a restful, calming feel to it. It is a warm and welcoming room. It is not so busy that it is overwhelming; instead, it remains serene and inviting. This is exactly what she wanted. Since the client previously lived in Houston, this room really comes in handy when they have visiting guests. They utilize this room quite often, and the owner has told me that her guests love this room. Some comments she has received from her guests are that the room is spa-like, peaceful and soothing.

What are some of your favorite “finds” you integrated into the room? One really neat thing in this room is the floor lamp. That lamp was actually in the attic – it was from my client’s previous home in Houston and it was in pretty good condition so we resurrected it and added a new lamp shade. Another fun thing during this project is that we got the chance to make use of a lot of to-the-trade showrooms. We found several resources here in Austin, but the client also met me at Dallas Market to shop for art. This is where we found the grouping of travel prints.

The fossil fragments and the lamps are from a line called Aidan Gray. The mirrored nightstands, from Neiman Marcus, add a touch of glamour.

What sort of feel does this room exude? It is an elegant room but it is casual enough so everyone can feel comfortable in the space. The color palette helps create that serene feel. Oranges and reds and vibrant colors wouldn’t be nearly as restful. The layers of bedding create a soft, inviting look.

Dawn Hearn Interior Design
512.930.0250 www.Dawnhearn.com

To view more articles from San Antonio/Austin, TX please visit www.urbanhomemagazine.com or click here.

Decorating Essentials- (Charlotte Issue- June/July 2012)

Posted on June 12, 2012 by admin

1. Mutabilis Rug Lush, wool-crewelwork hibiscuses shift hues across the floor, from saturated fuchsia, brown and burgundy to spectral grey. www.anthropologie.com

2. Silver Camel Tapered Glass Brass Lamp This sleek table lamp by Arteriors looks chic with a silver and camel tapered glass base. Brown leopard print lines the lamp’s shade, bringing a spot of glamour to the neutral accent piece. www.bedsidemanor.com.

3. Belle Meade Bijou Bar Cabinet Fashion meets function in the Bijou bar cabinet, making a luxurious statement with modern glamour. Belle Meade Signature defines this simple silhouette with rich borders around its sterling-finished drawer and door fronts. The cabinet opens to a fully lit bar. High Cotton Home, 704-335-1220.

4. Klismos Chair A classic form that remains timeless and iconic, this chair is generous in proportion and as comfortable as a dining chair. It is also ample enough to work into many settings as an occasional chair. www.phoebehoward.net.

5. Prisma Speaker System Prisma is a treat for your eyes and ears, designed to compliment modern PC, monitor styles and personal notebooks. Available in 9 colors, the uniquely shaped subwoofer with a glossy finish enhances any environment. Connect to a source or simply link to your iPod, iPhone or MP3 players for flexible, instant plug and play music. www.edifier.com.

6. Cameron Vase Z Gallerie makes use of the natural attributes of spectacular abalone shells to create this vase. The small shells are artfully applied to a composite base so that the beauty of the opalescent shells is visible. www.zgallerie.com.

7. Quentin Dining Table From the fine home furnishings brand Bernhardt, this dining table has a hand hammered stainless steel top with a solid Mindi wood base. The trestle-style stretcher in a sandblasted Driftwood finish gives it an edgy, unconventional style to match contemporary décor. www.thefurnitureconnector.com.

To view more articles in Urban Home Magazine visit www.urbanhomemagazine.com or click here.

Kitchen and Bath Essentials- (Charlotte June/July 2012 Issue)

Posted on June 6, 2012 by admin

1. Fiesta Tumblers, Cake Plate & Server Bring vibrant color and attention to the dinner table! Bold solid colors and chip-resistant durability make this collection of cake plates, servers and tumblers fun for any occasion. From Fiesta’s collection of serveware and serving dishes. www.tervis.com.

2. Espressione Café Retro Espresso Machine 1950s design meets modern convenience in the ultra-sleek Café Retro Espresso Machine from Espressione. This vibrant essential pairs a shimmering steel body with glossy red detail, highlighting commercial-quality steaming and frothing capabilities, powerful 18-bar pump pressure and an innovative cup warmer. www.jossandmain.com.

3. Pebble Dinnerware Glistening glass in antique turquoise beautifully merges with an organically dented surface and ridged edges to capture the natural and surreal qualities of river rocks. With this shimmering collection you can bring a unique luster to your tabletop. www.zgallerie.com.

4. Graphic Lidded Baskets Craftswomen in Thies, Senegal used traditional hand weaving techniques to create these baskets from cattails and recycled plastic, making each one subtly unique. Use them for laundry, towels, toys or entryway catchalls. www.westelm.com.

5. Gilded Meadows Sink Inspired by the free-form beauty of landscape watercolors, the Gilded Meadow vessel sink makes a sophisticated design statement in any bath or powder room. Its dramatic conical shape combines with a carved floral pattern and precious-metal accents for a textured, harmonious look. Available at Hughes Supply in Charlotte. www.kohler.com.

6. Marais Bath Towels Five-Star luxury for your home, these 100% linen bath towels come in natural hues you can coordinate with any bath accessories to create an invigorating bathroom retreat. www.jaysonhome.com.

To view more articles visit www.urbanhomemagazine.com or click here.