Antique Compacts

 1933 Chicago World Fair compacts

Girlfriends, 

One of our girlfriends, Nancy, requested I do a close up of my 1920 - 30s compacts.  Over a period of time, my compact collection grew to 54.  By process of elimination, these are the ones I selected.

My collection began when I would visit my elderly mother in Pekin, Illinois.  As she took her afternoon naps, I would visit the antique shops in the downtown area.  My limit was buying nothing over $25.  I increased my limit when I was in the UK and I "had to have"......so I paid more.  

In selecting for my wall, I choose a little bit of everything from the past.  

For those who come to my house for parties and they guess my favorite, they get a "Compact Prize."

This is a very handsome compact with the original protective cover.  I call it the "Tree of Thank You."  A high school alumni was asking around if anyone had a hand held Garmin GPS he could buy.  I had one, never used.  We already had one in our car. I  sent him mine.  In return, he knew about my compact collection and went shopping-!!  Very thoughtful and a very welcomed gift.  This compact being  special, I leave it on a small easel in the powder room  when entertaining.

This is  Gwen's favorite-!!

This is the only compact I have ever seen with a watch and it works.  My daughter thought it was a Birth Control case-!!

Talk again,

Denise & Gwen

discountdesignerfabricsonline.com

Marilyn Monroe 1995 Stamp Poster

Hi Girlfriends,  Not all of us live in a McMansion.  I live in a white Cape Cod house with a white picket fence. Curb appeal abounds.  So how does a Marilyn Monroe 1995 stamp poster fit in?  Now for the inside..........

Last year, we put on the smallest addition Winnetka Zoning Board has seen in the last 20 years. Pretty embarrassing to be in the same room at our Zoning Board meeting, with a very beautiful, but, very pregnant woman, looking flabbergasted for such a request. We were asking for  100 sq. feet and she was insisting on a 4 -car garage with additions on top of it-!!  

The compromise with my husband: He would get his "always wanted a wet bar" in the old coat closet, and Denise would have total say for the powder room.  LOL.

Please take a long look into my "Jewel Box". Barbara Berry mirror, Kohler Escale products, my final selection of 1920s compacts attached to black satin fabric as backing (Gwen's suggestion) in 5" x 5" silver brushed shadow boxes (- glass), the antique nickel plated sconces with the original carnival glass shades -- bought from a San Francisco movie theater before demolition, the 8" dia. crystal chandelier.........

Lastly, the one item that was never in this decorator's plans, became the focal point of the whole room. A Marilyn Monroe 1995 Stamp poster.

Back in 1995, I was mailing some packages at my Winnetka Postal Office. It was the year for the 32 cent Marilyn Monroe stamp.  While waiting in line, there she was, featured in a glass case, 20 x 24 poster.  By the time I reached the counter for service, I asked if her poster was available to buy.....anywhere.  I was given the Postmaster, who in a spiral notebook, started a page with my name being first and inform me, I would receive a call when they took down MM.  About 6 months later--  I had long forgotten my inquiry-- the phone rang.  My Postmaster didn't forget.......and if I didn't want it, they had a list of over 200 names who did want it.  I never moved so fast that day, as I made a bee line to my post office.  The Postmaster signed and stamped with an official postal stamp the date I picked it up too.

When we entertained, I would put MM in a hall bathroom tub with the curtain drawn.  It never failed.....someone would use the bathroom, peek behind the curtain and make a comment.  I would ring a bell and give them a fun wrapped gift.  For their 'sin' for peeking, the person would have to open the present before us all.

I thought for sure my husband would yip about this post office poster in the new powder room, but, like every man, he loves her.  For sure, the United States Postal Service could never have dreamed their slogan for the MM stamp would end up in a Powder room for all MANkind.

What I did hear, over and over, in the beginning was: "I banged my head on the chandelier again."  My response: "Then duck-!!" 

I love this room and I wouldn't change a thing...........

Please leave us a Comment

 at the end of this post

 for a decorating idea 

you  solved

Talk again,

Denise & Gwen

Questions & Answer

Girlfriends, 

Buying fine antique furniture to add luxury and character to your home can become an 'art' for the right spot.  One does not have to go to Paris, London, and Rome to search for treasures to adorn a home. Combing in one's own area, large antiques shops and small, out-of-the-way market stalls, can be equally satisfactory, when you find exactly the right piece.  Here are some tips we have learned along the way.........

QUESTIONS WE HEAR OFTEN: 

• How can I describe what I'm seeking?  

Denise:  Learn the terms before going.   An example: a bergere is a French-style armchair with exposed wood.  A deux-coprs armoire has two pieces. Gaffrage velvet is embossed.

• How do I determine the scale of chairs for a room?  

Gwen: If it's not a comfortable seat height and depth for the average person, look for a quality reproduction, sized for today, instead.

• Should I choose style and condition over surface?

Denise: If the piece wobbles, find a good furniture craftsman in your area who can bring it back to a structurally sound condition.

Gwen:  Yes, and if there's a little paint flaking off, don't worry: it adds character to the room.

Denise:  True, but.....leave the original finish: touch up only the most obvious flaws.

• Why re-cover upholstered furniture in quality fabric and use only material that has a good "hand" (meaning how the fabric feels to the touch)?

Denise: Choose sturdy but luxurious hand-printed linens, needlepoint-tapestry weaves, sumptuous velvets, wool or antique leather.

Gwen: You can always add designer details such as pleats, nailhead trim, double welting, braids and covered buttons.

Lastly, Girlfriends,  buy a few quality gems (investments) rather than several mediocre pieces. Fine antiques with classic styling hold their value forever--as long as you take care of them.

Talk again,

Denise & Gwen

If you are anxious to upholster grandma's chair and you know the 

vendor

 pattern

  color

 please click on our website for low, low pricing

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Sunday Funnies Page

Girlfriends, It's Sunday and that means it's time for our Sunday Funnies Page.......This one made us LOL til the tears rolled down our cheeks.........

In the "let's talk" box the client left this request without previously fillilng out: Vendor, Pattern or Color in "get a quote". When we sent back an email asking her for more information, she was "clueless"......... but concluded we could do the research for her-!! We have no FREE time to go to the show rooms w/o a $$$$$$ committment.......who does?

let's talk: " I will need 10 yards of a fabric I saw in a decorator's magazine (I forget which one) that has a landscape with three trees way in the distance and some cows and horses. Can you locate this designer fabric for me?"

Denise: If anyone knows of this fabric, you deserve the Indagatrix Award.

Have a great Sunday enjoying the outdoors today,

Denise & Gwen

discountdesignerfabricsonline.com

margins.swf (application/x-shockwave-flash Object)

Girlfriends, This is å test.............not sure if this will work on your end, for we are still learning. We noticed a lot of great blog sites were signed up with de.licio.us so we did too. How does this relate to decorating tips.............we-ll it doesn't, but, creativity and a little side trip off the usual norm can't be all that dull on a week end. Right?

It's pretty ingenious to see how the states move from side to side on how the Primary voting actually took shape. This was taken from the NYTimes and it was done well.......how simple is CNN or the others had done this instead of those maps with colors for so and so.

Talk again,
Denise & Gwen
discountdesignerfabricsonline.com

margins.swf (application/x-shockwave-flash Object)

Palladian Window With Side Casements

Girlfriends, Mastervisions is the ultimate overlay product which "offers multiple solutions to the everyday challenges facing the window treatment professional."  says Sally Tucker, President.  So if any girlfriend has a difficult window, please let us know and we are sure this program will have your answer..........in case we don't-!!

Talk again,

Denise & Gwen

discountdesignerfabricsonline.com

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A Must Read Blog

Girlfriends, We learned something new today.  Gwen and I became aware that interior decorating isn't always found in one's home, but in one's heart too. In combing the best blogs in cyberspace today, we came across one that is worth passing on.......actually, many are worthy, but, for this one,  you will need a box of Kleenex.

A Must Read Blog: 

 http://confessionsofacfhusband.com 

Confessions of a CF (Cystic Fibrosis) Husband

A wonderful true day-to-day love story of a husband and what he is going through, with his young 27 year old wife, who has CF (Cystic Fibrosis) and the need for two new lungs......only she is put on hold, when they learn she is pregnant, and she wants to keep her baby.  The photos will melt your hearts and I know, like us, you will continue to return for updates.

Confessions of a CF Husband is also up for being The Best Blog in 2008.  At the moment, the vote count is way ahead of any others..............

Talk again,

Denise & Gwen

Leave a Comment 

Yes, We Do Floor Plans

Girlfriends, In one of our Comment areas,   Girlfriend Joann,   asked if we did Floor Plans.  Yes, Joann, we do.  Here's how to get started............

Measure the length and width of your room. Locate the position of the windows and doors on the perimeter walls as they correspond to the room you are working on.  Also, locate the positions of other architectural elements, such as fireplaces, cased openings, and columns.  Be sure to include existing telephone jacks, electrical wall and floor outlets, and heat registers, as these items will affect furniture placement.

Denise and Gwen:  "We ask you to go to our "get a quote"  at our website, discountdesignerfabricsonline.com

and  in the "let's talk" box

tell us about your project, leave your name, address, and phone number.

Denise: "We will contact you and let you know where to send your photos and measurements."

"We take $50.00 per room 

(That's a "Give-away" price too-!!)"

Gwen:  "Yes, and personal checks only for Floor Planning"

Please leave a Comment if this was a helpful posting......ThankYouThankYouThankYouThankYou

Talk again,

Denise & Gwen

EMAIL ADDRESS WARNING

Girlfriends,  Too many of our website clients are entering their email address wrong.  This results in one thing:  It deprives us from helping you with a quote and continuing any further communication with you.  We don't want to appear negligent to you, but a wrong email address gives us no option. To avoid this problem, please re-read your email and our service to you will be returned very quickly.

Talk again,

Denise and Gwen

discountdesignerfabricsonline.com

Patsy's Next Queston

Girlfriends, It's back to my cousin's next question she wanted to ask yesterday:

Patsy: "Ok, then why should I pay more for designer fabrics if I can find fabrics cheaper at a discount store?"

Gwen:  I get this question a lot...........because it is a common misconception that the more costly the fabric and who the show room is, the better the service it will give.  This is only partially true.  However, middle-range fabrics can vary in quality according to such factors as the fiber's quality.

Denise:  "You see, Patsy and Girlfriends, other factors are taken into account too...........the yarn's sturdiness, the weave's density, tightness, stability, and the textile's finishes all come into play."

Gwen: "High-end (expensive) fabrics often are durable because of the quality of the fiber, the weave, and so on, but they may be fragile if they are specialty fabrics (for example, fine silk)."

Patsy:  "So how does your website work over discount sites?"

Denise: " We have very little over-head.  No store front.  No inventory. No house calls to make.  No trips to show rooms either.  All our Girlfriends do their own work, THEN, contact us through "get a quote" page.  Let's say, you saw a fabric on a window treatment in Traditional Home and you just knew it was right for your hubby's study.  Towards the back of all magazines is a Reader's Resource that will give you all the information you need: VENDOR, PATTERN and COLOR.  Fill out our easy form and hit "SEND".  We send you our low, low, low pricing."

Gwen:  "Also, we can send you a cutting while your fabric is on Reserve for 10 days"

Patsy:  "That's simple.   

Gwen: "Yes, We only work through the show rooms.  Never will we buy discounted fabrics through mills because they are inferior bolts."

Denise:  "Correct.  Discount stores who buy directly from the mills already know they have been rejected by show rooms."

Patsy: "But these discount stores mark them as "First Quality"

Denise:  "Duh?  That's because they look better than their "Second Quality".  It's all an advertising gimmick to fool the consumer.    

Patsy:  In other words, show room designer fabrics could be called, "Prime Quality."

Denise and Gwen:  "Right on-!!"  

Talk again.......and Thank you Patsy for your questions,

Denise and Gwen

discountdesignerfabricsonline.com

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Question & Answer Time

Hi Girlfriends,

Denise: I was chatting with my favorite cousin today, Patsy.  She overloaded me with questions about this blog.  Mainly, it's about "Service, Patsy." 

First, let me tell you something about Patsy.  She retired this past January after 30 years with United Way (Illinois). Literally, from soup to nuts, Patsy made it into a huge success here in Illinois.  Retirement to this 100% Irish woman is making the Dean's List at Northwestern Law School this past semester at age 78-!!  With Patsy's 50 some years of business experiences, you bet the students were taking notes  from her experiences than the law professors all semester. Who else in the class has met more Presidents and Senators, and famous/infamous wealthy business men than Patsy?  

One story she shared was how in '98, Springfield, Ill., for the Governor's Breakfast,  one keynote speaker became unavailable. A young "wet-behind-the-ears"  senator stepped up to the plate in this absentee's spot. Patsy was sweating buckets, for she had never heard of him.  But, when he spoke, she was blown away by his easy mannerism and eloquence in speaking.  She never forgot him......nor have we today. Sen. Barack Obama.

Patsy: "Why do "To-the-trade" designer fabrics cost more than if I went to Calico Corners?"

Denise: "We-ll Patsy, no comparison.  Fiber, yarn, fabric construction, coloring, and finishing."

Gwen:  "The purpose of lovely fabrics is to stimulate awareness and deepen the appreciation of visual beauty.  No price can be put on joy, the satisfaction, and even the thrill of living with or seeing stunning fabrics."

Denise:  "However, if every fabric in an interior is "fabulous" the effect may well be overwhelming or perhaps pretentious."

Gwen:  "That is why, I tell my clients a background fabric often are needed, to provide a handsome contrast for an exquisite fabric piece."

Denise:  "I agree, and I always keep window treatments in mind to create successful combinations that use the fabric budget wisely and to the best advantage to create a beautiful interior."

Girlfriends, as you want high end for beauty and long lasting, you can't beat discountdesignerfabricsonline.com low, low, low pricing from show rooms and not inferior bolts for discount stores.

Patsy:  "Ok, then why should.............."

Denise: " Patsy, We are out of time and will answer your question for another day."  '-'

Talk again,

Denise & Gwen

SUNDAY FUNNIES

Girlfriends, From time to time we get on our website, discountdesignerfabricsonline.com in "get a quote" tag, inquiries that help relieve our daily stress of obtaining for you low, low, low quote prices, emailing Invoices and filling orders to you as quicker as possible.  Gwen and I did recognize the words "@mail.com" ........... we had a good laugh that someone took the time to be so accurate in all the other areas.  So, here is our our first "Sunday Funnies":  

name: ndhfotmxb ulithr

email: otpyqdu@mail.com

vendor: ndhfotmxb ulithr

pattern: ndhfotmxb ulithr

color: ndhfotmxb ulithr

yardage: ndhfotmxb ulithr

talk: hjnifl cprbumyj tvgmradj ghlmkbexo yhulks pjuhqildz admtvpfb

**********************************************************************************

Happy Father's Day 

to all the men 

in

 your lives

Talk again,

Denise & Gwen

MAKING AN ENTRANCE

Girlfriends, From time to time we will be posting what's new and interesting from the world of interiors. Today, being Friday the 13th, here is one of those times ......These antique door handles once adorned the interior of a Rajasthani palace in the the 1900s. The opulent designs use handmade glass, solid brass and have a pewter finish.

Gwen: Gorgeous. I have one client in mind already. So, Denise, don't hold back, do tell all our girlfriends where to buy these stunning handles........and if affordable.

Denise: Gwen, I am laughing, because I already can guess who your client is and they will make a grand statement at her door too. I found these on my last trip to the UK at Guinevere Antiques. They have a colorful collection of these salvaged handles on sale, starting around today's USA dollars about $200.00 ea. The good news is girlfriends you can visit their website, guinevere.co.uk

We will talk again.

If you have any questions, please leave them in the Comment area and we will gladly respond.

Denise & Gwen

website for low, low pricing "To-the-trade" designer fabrics:

discountdesignerfabricsonline.com

LOOKING OUT THE LIBRARY WINDOW

Girlfriends, How simple is this sheer treatment?-!!

Denise:  "This elegant design was hung with 9- 4.25D" tiebacks and with glass beaded trimming running down the side. (Robert Allen fabrics.com) extending from the wall above the 2-story arch."

Gwen:  "G.F.s One important hint is always use an "odd" number of tiebacks when doing this treatment.  Better on the eye movement."

Denise: " Oooooo but please understand g.f.s, this treatments for arched windows are more costly to construct or fabricate than those for straight-top windows."

Gwen:  "Excellent reminder.....have your measurer measure from the center of the top of the arch.  It's all about yardage."

Denise:  Yes, measure twice cut once.  

Denise is going to 'jaywalk' here and say............remember to watch "Swingtown" 9P Chicago time tonight......the bases for this summer steamer was real-!!

Talk again

Denise & Gwen

discountdesignerfabricsonline.com

Stunning Palladian Window Treatment

Hi Girlfriends,

Isn't this a fabulous soft treatment to your Palladian window? The good news is , not much more fabric and trim is needed. Adding a rod, brackets and finials just complete the entire look.

Denise: "Once this treatment is measured and sewn to correct specifications, the result is successful."
Gwen: "Yes, but, make sure the measurer calculates the stackback."
Denise: " Uh, Gwen, explain "stackback" to our girlfriends."
Gwen: "Stackback is the area needed by opened draperies to stack off the glass."
Denise: " This would give maximum daylight exposure and better proportion of the window because the glass is fully exposed too."
Gwen: "What really adds to the room is the richer, fuller look and a quieter interior due to increased fabric yardage surrounding the glass. Also, I have done this treatment many times in Dupioni silk and I can't tell you how fabulous the look is. So rich looking.........simply stunning.

One 'secret' we have is, we have resources for you to contact in your area for measuring and installation. If you choose to use Dupioni silks, we can get this to happen at a much lower pricing then if you went through someone on your end. By leaving a "Comment" or going to our website, discountdesignerfabricsonline.com, we can begin to help you.

Talk later,

Denise & Gwen

2 GIRLFRIENDS FIRST....

VOILA!

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Denise & Gwen

Denise:  Credit to these 2  "ladies" were scanned from a very old promotional ad by Tiffany & Co.  Thanks to "IWEB" magazine June 2008 issue, I found a blog site that interested me.  Today I went into it and found artist the artist, Sujean Rim. This artist appears a lot on blog, dailycandy,  too.  I am thrilled to begin the process of following Sujean Rim's career.

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Tiebacks Are In

Girlfriends, The right execution in your window treatments is DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS.  

Gwen: Tiebacks soften a room with curved lines and provide a pleasant diversion from the stiff angular lines of most window architecture.

Denise:  I find the exact placement of the tie on the panel is a matter of individual sensitivity and discretion, but should fall somewhere between 1/2 and 1/3 of the way from the top or the bottom of the treatment.

Gwen: True, but girlfriends, any tied back should not drop closed at night; they are "trained" to fall in a progressive diagonal arrangement.

Denise:  Exactly, and they will not hang straight if dropped.

Gwen:  If this is done.....heaven forbid......the effort necessary to hand dress the folds back into place is time-consuming too-!!

Denise: Girlfriends, when your treatments are up, remember, your work is done.

Kravet Fabrics.com is a fabulous source for tiebacks and then go to our website and order at low, low pricing.  

Denise & Gwen 

discountdesignerfabricsonline.com