Wanna' Feel 'Waspy' ?

I do.
When people come over to your place...do you want to look well traveled?

Like a woman or man who has been on a safari?
Would you at least like to pretend ?

Remember OUT OF AFRICA ?
The following rooms are not like the home in OUT OF AFRICA, but if you want a taste...
I have found a source for you.

Additionally, I have selected what I feel is the best of their line.
The company is called Bauer International.

There are some incredible finds. Some of my favorites are below.

I adore this safari chair. Fold it up and on to your next location.

These are chic... for sure.


It may just be me, but I need these! How great would they be for those pesky kids and all their stuff in a mud room ? Or in a bathroom for your guest's towels, robe, and other personal items. I am thinking....brilliant!

They are just stunning, and practical. How often does that happen?? Hmmm??


This is a bed.





They have NAUTICAL too!

I love anything that is Nautically inspired, and far removed from Gilligan Island. I am NOT A TIKI HUT kinda gal. Nope. No Tiki Huts for me.

You can keep Margarita Ville decor far, far away from me. Please!


But for a coastal home or a condo on a marina these are just fun, and tasteful at the same time.


I think this an adorable bar for a small space. I get requests for bars, and when you need one you can never find it.

Their home page. The web address is right above on the bottom.
Love.
Love.
They sell hardware as well. So, if you are thinking of doing a room or bath, and already have a chest or are working with existing cabinetry just change the hardware. It is truly amazing. Great hardware is worth every penny that you spend. Trust me!!

More Love.
Here is something they carry that I am, well, completely nutty for...
Bamboo, Brighton or Pavillion style accent pieces, They are finished (it looks like in) tortoise.

Just dreamy.

This piece, to me is better than.......ok, we are PG rated... fudge cake with loads of icing.

(and let's not forget the ice cold milk)

Is this not FABOO ?
Their art work themes are hard to find. I give them 2 thumbs up on art work.

How is this for accessorizing? Just sooooooo La Di Da. I Love it !

Sign me up !!

I am a life long Wasp In Training anyway !!!

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG.....
Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Design Sources, Window Treatments, Custom Design, Paint, Color Coordination, Online Interior Design, Floor Plans, All Custom,Safari Look, Nautically Inspired

Class Is Over

I finished my training class. I am sorry for not keeping up with my commenting.

My brain exploded on Friday...."TMI." No REALLY. Too Much Information.

I can only absorb so much. But, I did pass my 4 hour exam, in a room that was 80 degrees with 20 other people...maybe it was a stress test.

Anyway, now that I have passed a 4 hour exam to sell furniture?... isn't that the length of a brain surgeon's exam ?...HA HA ....

...and all that to work in a design department.

After 30 years in the biz, I have never had to go though this.

But, HEY, I am LUCKY TO HAVE A JOB!!!!

Lucky , lucky!!!

My 1st day is Tuesday at 1pm.

Wish me luck. I love you guys ( and you know who you are)

xxxxxrenee

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG.....
Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Design Sources, Window Treatments, Custom Design, Paint, Color Coordination, Online Interior Design, Floor Plans, All Custom

On My Way To....

A Much Needed Break From My Training Class

I saw this set up and thought to myself, oh PLEASE ...

A little nap would be just what the doctor ordered, my eyes are burning, and it is hard to keep the furniture ' reps' straight at this point.
But 2 collections from Lexington make it all worth while, Barclay, and Kingstown.
They both have zebra accents pieces, along with upholstered items. All of which, I adore.

Is the zebra pattern not one of our favorite accents? Yes, it is!

'Zebra' has been long been associated with sophistication, and exotic travel.

I know I have zebra print in my home, I know Joni from Cote de Texas has it too!
Who else of you have something 'zebra' in your home?
Do you go for zebra ?

If you want to know more about any pieces in this post let me know.

I will get back to you.

xx RF

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG.....
Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Design Sources, Window Treatments, Custom Design, Paint, Color Coordination, Online Interior Design, Floor Plans, All Custom, Zebra, Zebra Print or Pattern

What Is Your Issue With A Two Cushion Sofa?

(GOOD)

Clients often say , "What will I do when if I have several guest?", "I need each person to have their own cushion... nobody wants to sit on the crack" "So I need 3 cushions, one for each person.

I say " but you sit on a crack everyday, and it doesn't seem to be an issue!"

The client after a moment, laughs. But , it's true.

BTW

Did you know that 3 cushion sofa's were created to utilize all the scap and wasted fabrics.

The bigger the seat cushions, the larger the piece of fabric that is needed.

(BETTER)

When you have many guests (for most working people it is not all that frequent, about 3 holidays a year) they most often do not want to be the person squeezed in the middle anyway. I don't.

This sofa to me looks more elegant....you will never find a cheapo sofa with a bench seat cushion as seen in the last image in this post.

(BEST)
To me this is the most formal look.

Remember, the seat cushion fabric on the top of the cushion may not always stay tight and smooth as the day your sofa was delivered.

Just know, that's all right. Really.

It may have down in the cushion, or be very soft with very special foams...and that's good. That's what it ' says.'

I am soft, I am comfy, come and get cozy on me, read a book, fall asleep...have a dream.

This cushion if it isn't looking really smooth and tight across the top is probably an upgrade. Often a soft down insert in a sofa seat cushion is an upgrade. But not always, there are several companies that have seat cushions that are just as comfy as a down cushion. These have been developed because so many people request 'NO DOWN' because of allergies.

Which sofa seat style do you prefer?? Tell me.

3 cushion, 2 cushion, or 1 cushion (bench seat) ?

PS I am back in training today.

I will be done on Friday this week.

XX R

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG.....
Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Design Sources, Window Treatments, Custom Design, Paint, Color Coordination, Online Interior Design, Floor Plans, All Custom, Sofas

OY VEY IZ MIR ! = "Oh, woe is me"

It's Friday, and the last day of the first week of my training.

I went home feeling lousy. My head hurt and I was sick to my stomach.

(it's been hard on the princess)

I will post more tomorrow, I have much to tell you. There are adventures & beautiful new products (that are new to the furniture/design market) I will share with you.

Also, I have some shots of my actual class. And believe me, everyone from my training class will be studying this weekend. I am sure my head hurt today because it was exploding from information overload.

I want to thank all of you for the comments you left for me.

You helped me each and every day of training.

xx R

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG.....
Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Design Sources, Window Treatments, Custom Design, Paint, Color Coordination, Online Interior Design, Floor Plans, All Custom

I Want An ARM Chair

Let ME remind ME that I said this:

" I am not the 'boss of me' anymore.

Was I ever ? Even when I worked for myself....I still really worked for who ever was writing the checks for the furniture and fabrics.

I have promised myself that I will have an attitude of gratitude for this opportunity. A good attitude is the only thing that will make me a success."

I really said that, right?

How quickly I deteriorate when uncomfortable.

Well, it is day 2, and my back and neck are killing me. I am sitting in a side chair for hours. Sometimes going for 2 and 1/2 hours at a stretch without a break.
I have A.D.D.

Need I say more???
There is so much company information to retain, new people,(and you know how stressfull meeting new people is , right ?) ,and then there is homework at night too. When I finally get home after fighting the traffic at 6:30...all I want to do is shower, eat, and sleep. That's all I can handle.

I want to be alone, and VEG OUT. I am on ' information overload'. I am crashing like a computer.

I want to sleep so I can re-boot properly.
Even if I were to sit in this beautiful chair all day....I still need ARMS. My elbows are raw from leaning on the table for support. Yes, I am that sensitive...everywhere!

Okay, now I know I am sounding like a spoiled 'PRINCESS', and even though I am a princess (even if it is only my head)....stick with me here.....
I still must work my way back to REALITY. The reality is that I am grateful for the opportunity to WORK for this wonderful company, and go through their training program.

But, I can complain to you.

Right ?

Here's another reminder to myself....I don't know EVERYTHING.

I have to remain teachable. Humility is a bitch my friends. But oh so necessary if you want to be a likable sort of person. No?

Not to mention, humility is a must when working with and for others.

See...I am getting it back. I feel like I am sounding better already.

I started this post really feeling sorry for myself. I feel better now.

Do I sound better ????

Support me here. I need you.

xx Renee

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG.....
Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Design Sources, Window Treatments, Custom Design, Paint, Color Coordination, Online Interior Design, Floor Plans, All Custom, Side Chairs

"A man is never so proud as when striking an attitude of humility." C.S. Lewis

When you read this I will be in training at a new job. It's not really a 'new' job , I worked for this company briefly 4 years ago.

My town, which by most peoples standards is a very pretty town, has a problem. It's the store fronts. They are emptying out....quickly. The downtown area , on the main street is not good.

As you might imagine, clients are not chasing me down the street. Nor are they throwing money at me for this spectacularly brilliant design brain of mine. I am going to work for a big family furniture business in South Florida. They have a lovely design department too.

So..........if it's Monday, I am in training.

Training to be a better me.... Am I humble? Humility allows me to remain teachable.

I am not the 'boss of me' anymore.

Was I ever ? Even when I worked for myself....I still really worked for who ever was writing the checks for the furniture and fabrics.

I have promised myself that I will have an attitude of gratitude for this opportunity. A good attitude is the only thing that will make me a success.

I think a lot of what went wrong with this country (myself included) is a lack of gratitude for what we had. We fell into the trap of thinking what we had was not enough. There was always something bigger and better right around the corner. We all know (especially a designer)...that bigger is not always better.

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG.....
Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Design Sources, Window Treatments, Custom Design, Paint, Color Coordination, Online Interior Design, Floor Plans, All Custom,Gratitude, Humility

Talk About Doing It On A Shoe String...

(This hallway is the bomb. I love it!!)
They Live In NYC

This is Ms. Salway (26 year old interior designer) and Mr. Moskowitz (television script coordinator) and they plan on being married in this house. They will rent a huge tent and have 150 guests, after all the renovations are completed.

"Christina Salway and John Moskowitz spent weekends from October to May renovating their 700-square-foot 1920s cottage in Sparrow Bush, N.Y., their first home purchase. A converted garage on the left is now a living room that has been enclosed with salvaged windows and glass-paned doors."

Last September this couple paid $95,000.00 for this 2 bedroom cottage in the Catskills.

"The coffee table, made of wood crates, was found on the street."
With a budget of $10,000.00 they did almost everything them selves.
Everything in this house is either off the street or from craigs list.

...and just add a dash of paint!
Lots of charm.
This adorable couple installed retro appliances in the kitchen, including this Philco refrigerator.
Antique wheel - from the street

I can see the tent now , with all the guests at their wedding..

I wish these two all the happiness, and it seems to me that they can do anything together.

When you are young and in love, is there anything that you can't do?

images : NYT

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG.....
Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Design Sources, Window Treatments, Custom Design, Paint, Color Coordination, Online Interior Design, Floor Plans, All Custom ,House in The Catskills