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Why We Build: Staying in Our Place, a blog about building a new house

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John Robshaw - We've seen his curtains at Anthropologie and at a San Francisco Design Center showroom. We're still looking through packing boxes for our own Burrows Studio Voysey 'Stag' curtains, but if we don't find them in time for the Build It Green tour of our house, this would be an alternate. Pillows, duvets, bedding, baby bedding sets, quilts and tabletop items complete their online items for sale. And, not only that, kaftans, kurtas and robes.

Sara Hotchkiss - We met Sara at one of the many American Craft Council shows we used to attend, mainly on the East coast. We have used her rugs on halls, kitchens and bedrooms ... colorful, long wearing and a delight for the eye. Finally, she has a website of her own and we celebrate that.

A reminder about RISDWorks, the shop stocked with items from the Rhode Island School of Design alumnae and faculty in Providence

Deadly Squire - A collection of cotton pima patterns applied to cushions (for human and pet), placemats, tote, Swedish birch veneered trays, oven mitts and potholder, ties, handkerchiefs, a changing pad, bib and a coin purse. At first one of the patterns had that Josef Frank look to the design but they're the work of artists Tim and Anna Harrington.

The Doorbell Factory - I was sure we could use one of these imaginative bells when I learned our soon-to-be remote door answering system came complete with bell. From an American Bald Eagle door knocker to a gardenia doorbell, I wished I could use one on every entry. Rotary doorbells, a lone star chime, a Tibetan bowl doorbell's complete with an acoustic brass bowl-gong, a bronze heart or Martini glass shaped-bell all appealed (or is that pealed?). For those with more of a nature bent, a sunflower, rose or black-eyed Susan, yellow-trumpet ringer are available. For dog lovers, Basset Hounds, Beagles, Boxers and Bishon Frise doorbells will add to the clamor right through the canine alphabet. Others seen here are birds, butterflies and geckos. If you're still not satisfied, military insignia can also be obtained as well as antique rotary doorbells, welcome mats and signs, wind chimes (including a basso profundo) and house numbers. Don't ask me what the 'doctor door knocker' represents, but there is one.

RoseAndRadish - While looking for bathroom lighting (this is never easy), I found this site. It's not only for the home, e.g. the kids section. Since we had a collapsible doll house from Creative Playthings for our children, the cardboard version here from Kidsonroof, Holland is quite nice, as is the little handfelted piggy from Hut Up, Berlin. The Wetter Indochine Cupcake bowl is unique as the Atelier Lzc Oval Mirror Houx from France. From France, too, is the Cristel line of kitchenware. And, there's the Laura Normandin Doll line. But don't overlook the gallery of previous displays/shows.

2Jane - Jane Street is located in Greenwich Village, NYC, a location not too far from where my first child, a daughter, was born. The website specialized in imported interior accessories, such as a wallpaper and wall strips feature originating in the UK. One fairly unique import is the DuffyLondon Chandelier Print Wall Lights, (which took me a while to figure out). The Butterfly and Rose Collection porcelain is perhaps more traditional but with flair. Since pink is still quite popular as a decorating color (Thank God!), the pink vinyl tablecloth might be a departure for your table. As we're thinking of etching / sandblasting an interior window in our new house, we might consider Emma Jeffs' adhesive film instead! All in all, a fun site.

FabricsAndPapers.com - Even though buying fabric online can be chancy and this site is in England, thought we'd bring you another good looking source for both fabrics and wallpapers. Their captioning for the fiber content and washability is helpful. For a grandchild, we loved Jungle Jamboree Fabric, Animal Antics and Emilie Stripe Fabric. There are both curtain and upholstery fabrics; samples can be ordered. Suppliers include: Vanessa Arbuthnott, Baer & Ingram, Bennison, Blithfield, Borderline, Cole & Son, Design Forum, Fabricant, Gainsborough Silk Weavers. Pierre Frey, Lewis & Wood, Malabar, Marvic Textiles, Nordic Style, Nursery Window, Porta Romana, Ramm Son & Crocker, Timney Fowler, Titley and Marr, Sanderson, Farrow & Ball, Neisha Crosland, Wemyss and William Morris. Designs include Toile de Jouy, Tartan, Damasks, Checks, Plaids, Prints, Chintz, Stripes, Voile, Linen, Checks, Chenille, Toile de Jouey, Crewel and Velvet.

I haven't investigated their wallpaper stock as much I hope to, but again their information is quite complete: Width 53cms x 10metres, Pattern Repeat 67cms, Care - spongeable, Block printed wallpaper. Minimum order 3 rolls

ThisNext - One of our daughters tipped us to this site and, in fact, has contributed it: "Every product on ThisNext is picked by the ThisNext community (That means you!). You can organize your picks into product playlists we call shopcasts."

"Great shopcast lists can be about activities (like climbing or cooking) or things (like fashion or food). They can even be about lifestyles (like being green). Shopcast lists and picks are tagged and searchable on ThisNext for easy discovery by other people."

I've listed this into the ShopForHome section but clearly it can extend into shopping for yourself and gifts. And do think about contributing yourself.

Nesle - A well-known New York City source for antique and reproduction light fixtures that include chandeliers, sconces and candelabra. Most are from the 19th century, though a number of alabaster fixtures are from the early 20th c. Elaborate and fun, some are made from Minton porcelain while the dominant component is crystal. There are no prices so you'll have to take a stock number and email or call for prices.

Here's a bit ofl their history: Nesle Inc. was founded in 1936 by Albert and Coila Nesle. For years its marble facade and sparkling window have attracted collectors and borrowers interested in period lighting. The hundreds of chandeliers, wall fixtures and candelabra on display illustrate the major design periods of France, England, Italy, Austria, Russia and the Scandinavian countries. Distinguishing characteristics of country and style are visible in the crystal, gold bronze, wrought iron and porcelain fixtures. Works by leading craftsmen and manufacturers of the 18th and 19th centuries such as Perry, Thomire, Hope, Baccarat, Osler and Barbedienne are often present.

A Cautionary Tale

Recently, I ordered an entire piece of material from a site, ILUVFABRIX.com, for four covering dining room chair seats. From the view I could see on the site, the size of the floral pattern looked just fine but then again, there would not be a sample I could check from. And, there were no dimensions given for the pattern nor horizontal or vertical repeat dimensions.

When the material arrived, I realized the pattern was about four times the size that I thought it would be from the site image. I was now thoroughly unhappy with the fact I was in possession of a costly fabric I couldn't use for my original purpose. Consequently, I would recommend determining the size of the pattern in relation to your project needs first or not be so overwhelmed with sales that you don't first obtain a sample bit of fabric.

Highlighted Links

OldeGoodThings - It's hard not to browse endlessly at this site. Self-styled (but with good justification) as one of the largest architectural antique dealers in the country with a warehouse of over 100,000 square feet. There are three acres outside including three stores filled with doorknobs, hardware, doors, mantels, decorative iron, stained glass and terra cotta. If you're renovating an older house and want an authentic element, this site is superb. A number of the items have sale prices.

ZarinFabrics - I was quite amazed by the selection available on this site of Sunbrella fabrics. Florals, prints, tropicals are in evidence as our the familiar stripes and solids. Many other kinds of fabrics are carried by Zarin: jacquards, damasks, plaids, retro, juvenile and toiles. There are ready-made drapes as well as upholstery supplies and marvelous vases.

CurranOnline - A site that combines products for the home and personal products for the family. The quality of the lines carried appears to be quite high and some of the items out of the ordinary. Baby capes are made of Polartec fleece and designed for use with any front baby carrier: "Baby Capes keep your precious cargo warm and snuggly." The play tents "give kids a place to host tea parties, live in the Wild West or get lost in a pile of books" and are made with 100% cotton and solid pine supports. The selection of hardwood and upholstered furniture is simply and beautifully designed including a mission-style outdoor lounger. A mail catalog is also available. Free freight is currently offered for furniture shipped within the continental US.

Tabula Tua - Tableware, drinkwear, gifts, furniture and accessories are on display at this Chicago store founded by Grace Tsao-Wu. The furnishings range from rugs to furniture to clocks and pillows. Cake servers, parmesan dishes, serving tongs (including asparagus and sandwich), a Gallic gravy boat, Vietri dinnerware, Beehive's heart spatula and teacarts form part of the serving and furniture selection. The storage pieces are quite attractive and unique.

ShowerPresents.com & Honfleur Home - A varied home, baby, lingerie and pajama products site with the likes of Marimekko, Kaffe Fassett rugs and Dwell Baby. Life On Earth Memory Game, Gallison and Jack Rabbit Creations compete for the child entertainment niche. NotNeutral and Potluck Studios contribute china and glass. The store is located in the Mall at Silver Place, Silver Spring, MD and there usually are outlet buys on eBay.

EllenKennon.com - We found this name in an WSJ article about decorators citing websites. We've been partial to Benjamin Moore ourselves but this site has an appealing way of presenting their various colors.

Today we decided to file away a very pale pink ribbon perhaps to match for choosing a lamp. But it's the kind of thing we tend to do when preparing to choose paints for our homes: A swatch of that, a photo of this, a flower petal can lead to a color you'd like matched. The article made note of this small paint maker who can reputedly match anything. It's possible to order sample paints in four ways: Sample Package of Every Color, Sample Jars of Full Spectrum Paints, Hand-painted Samples and Smaller Cuttings.

The company also carries Ellen Kennon's own furniture designs, Habersham Plantation Furniture and Peninsula Home Collections, lines of handpainted furniture; Revival Light Works. There's a blog that makes mention of special discounts.

Williams Sonoma Home - The well-known kitchen and dining firm has branched out into a furniture brand with custom upholstery through catalog order and a few stand alone stores. The collection includes antique-inspired rugs, tables, lighting and linens for the bedroom and bath.

2Modern - While looking for some Judy Ross pillows we found this Northern California site. Contemporary designs and modern approaches to furnishings. furniture from Blu Dot, Offi and Emeco. Textiles feature the aforementioned Judy Ross, Angela Adams, FOLD Bedding and Inhabit. Lighting from Pablo Lighting & Galbraith & Paul while baby & kids room furnishings are by Nurseryworks and Oeuf.

SwansIslandBlankets.com - We first and continue to see this Maine firm at American Craft shows. The blankets are beautiful and made to last a lifetime, if not several. They are pricey, but the traditional, natural weave is a classic approach, one to match almost any decor. They also offer blanket repair, cleaning, custom embroidery, and custom colors.

WingardHome - A site that is "a clean, contemporary collection of home accent pieces at reasonable prices." The company lives up to that billing. Some of these items are quite unique including a star mo-bi-le-o: antique brass stars that link together to make a screen or backdrop. Vases, leather, frames, candlelight, lamps and sundries round out their offerings

Inspired House, a Taunton magazine soon to be discontinued, recently featured a number of links that could be useful for home decorating:

Inleaf Design - Begun by Swedish native Lotta Helleberg to combine her graphic design skills with a passionate interest in botany, gardening and sewing. The line has an arts and crafts look and is predominately done in linen. The collection includes pillows, linens, and bags as well as a series of leaf printed note cards and gift tags. There's also a list of limited stores and other websites where the line can be found.

Barbara K Tools for Women - For those women who want to do their own home repair (and there are more all the time) Barbara K is a single mother who developed credibility in the construction industry. (We, too, have a friend who's in the senior category and has her own construction company.) There are many tool sets/kits on the site that can be also given as gifts: a 30-pc. toolkit, a power-lite cordless drill, a bucket of tools with a power screwdriver, a roadside safety kit and a precision kit.

Hotel Shopping

Shopping the hotels you may have stayed in from home has become an increasing reality. Three years ago we bought a mattress and box spring from Westin Hotels after reading an enthusiastic endorsement by a man who traveled thousands of miles a year, and even more hours staying in hotels along the way. This site has expanded their offerings to the point that there is jewelry, travel frames, a folding ruler and lambswool pillow.

The Waldorf Astoria Collection includes items for those you may have left behind on your travels: pets. There are Penhaligon products, picnic basket sets and even recipes from the hotel's kitchen.

The Beverly Hills Hotel which has hosted celebrities and the closings of business deals features the hotel's signature hat box, a jigsaw puzzle with an image of the hotel and to bring home to the waiting child, a pink duckie.

Although not online as yet, the Rocco Forte Hotels in the UK are in the process of introducing a range of products including The Olga Chair from The Lowry Hotel, a selection of house wines and champagnes as well as tea sets from Hotel Astoria in St Petersburg.

The W hotel catalog site includes Naked Music CDs, Hotel Stories (the book), and bathroom accessories labeled Wet, Wash and, yes, Welcome. There are footprint scales, bathroom hardware and soft gel socks.

Links

Jonathan Adler - They have a wonderful, quirky, good-humored selection of lighting, pottery (some pieces named for Dali's wife and Picasso's muse), lamps, groovy gifts such as dog bowls (see our review of Animal House Style) and some smashing ornaments, pillows, rugs and throws. The dinnerware is awfully good looking but because it's hand thrown, more pricey than the usual. The site also offers advice on cleaning their products, always a helpful addition.

• Janet Albert Pottery - We met Janet Albert at the Westchester (NY) craft fair, admired her work and bought a few pieces including the tea pot featured on the site, some bowls, tea strainers and cups. Janet, a Rhode Island School of Design graduate, produces a line of terra cotta tableware and complementary pieces that we thought particularly well done.

• Altamira Lighting - Owners Gibb Brownlie and Michael Lamar Masters' degrees are in Sculpture from the Rhode Island School of Design and they continue to teach at the school; a tour of their former 19th century textile mill building is on site. You've probably seen their great-looking lamps in retail stores; they're handcrafted from a number of materials: glazed terra cotta and porcelain, hand cast resin, stained wood, brushed copper, cast and plated pewter, handmade paper and an array of fabrics.

• Always Something Brilliant - This Denver, CO site offers something quite unusual these days, a lifetime unconditional satisfaction guarantee and a recommendation connected with every product they sell. There's also an offer to meet a competitor's price. One humble item is a corn brush touted as an easy way to clean away corn silks. A Christmas-related product is a battery-operated LED candle that automatically lights at dusk and turns off at dawn. I first found this site while looking for Roseanna tableware and this site is stocked with dessert plates, ice-cream bowls by that maker. Batten dryer balls are part of the cleaning section of the site and something we hadn't seen before. With energy costs doubling, they might just be a 'good thing.'

• Arango -There were quite a few items I like from this site and they weren't all for the home. The jewelry is smart, clean, functional if jewelry can be called a functional item.

• Archive Edition Textiles specializes in Arts and Crafts designs. They work especially well with the William Morris style, Aesthetic Movement, Art Nouveau, Austrian Wiener Werkstatte, Secessionist, Craftsman, Mission, Prairie, Art Deco, Victorian and even contemporary interiors. Fabric is available by the yard and in a variety of custom merchandise items including bedspreads, pillows, table runners, placemats, drapes and throws. There are even purses made from the fabrics in a variety of sizes including backpacks.

• Arts and Craft Tile - Not only does this site carry Heath and Motawi tile, they feature Dard Hunter solid oak frames, note, cards, welcome mats, rose stencils, Motawi / Hunter clocks and handmade paper prints. The Motawi storybook collection of tiles, based on the original art of the Victorian artist and illustrator Walter Crane, depict such classic images as a boy reading, a magic ship, and a clifftop castle, and are quite marvelous. Pewabic Tile's masks of Comedy and Tragedy are historic images for this company.

• BelgianHuis - This site specializes in linens and many of those are from the firm of Libeco in Belgium. Luxury bed linens, designer table linens, the Val St. Lambert crystal collection, handmade embroidered lace tablecloths from Louise Verschueren, wedding veils, and christening gowns are part of the inventory. Flemish wall tapestries, pillows and throws from Sequoia are offered as well as classic men's and women's linen pajamas.

• BellaLino Luxury Linens - I went looking for a certain manufacturer (of pillows, actually) and came across this site which has an impressive array of bed and table linens, quilts, pajamas and robes from famous names: Anichini, Designer Guild, Chandler Quilts, Frette, Pine Cone Hill, Le Jacquard Français and Yves Delorme. There are comforters, featherbeds, down pillows, and blankets offered as well as very good looking diaper bags and totes.

• Spirit and Hope Blankets - These beautiful blankets, designed by Indian artists have stories to tell and a cause to serve: The American Indian College Fund founded in 1989 to support Indian Tribal Colleges which now total 29. A blanket in the limited edition Spirit Series collection is the Cheyenne Eagle blanket, designed by US Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Cheyenne) from Colorado:

  One day, a Cheyenne warrior was out hunting on foot. He came across a dead elk by a stream. Trapped in the elk's antlers was a large eagle. "Free me and I will give you a gift," said the eagle to the warrior. The warrior freed the eagle from the elk's antlers and the eagle said, "On the other side of that hill is my gift to you." And the eagle flew away. The warrior walked to the top of the hill. Below was a beautiful stallion, covered with black and white spots, exactly like the eagles feathers.

  The Cheyenne Eagle blanket is manufactured especially for the College Fund by Pendleton Woolen Mills. Each signed and numbered blanket measures 66" x 39" and only 1,200 of this unique and beautiful design will ever be produced.

• Bauerware - A home hardware emporium of pulls and handles. If you're outfitting a child's room browse the circus animal knobs; pewter football, helmet, soccer ball, tennis or bat and ball knobs or a porcelain Dalmatian dog knob. Gamespiece knobs are as varied as backgammon, Mahjongg tiles, dominos and snooker. Traditional knobs comes in designs such as a maple, acorn, peegee, ivy or hydrangea leaves in various finishes. Pulls come in lizard shapes or silverware or twigs or half moons or, for the truly traditional, Chippendale and Hepplewhite. Vintage hardware such as Bakelite pulls are also on the site.

• Two Luxury Bed Linen Sites - We won't try to pretend this bedding isn't expensive, it is....years ago a set of these linens would have been my yearly college tuition. However, they're fun to look at for pillows and footstools as well as bed and bath inventory. The Covington, LA Linen Closet carries Averonique, Agenta Venetian Lace and a number of sets made up by their company. Accessories, sachets, toiletries and soaps make up their product line. The hassocks and other like products are wonderful looking pouffy little works of fabric that you could imagine sinking your tired feet into. The site also has a link to Arcopedico Shoes.

• Bedside Manor is a similar pricey site with wonderful linens for bed and bath as well as table linens and accessories that concentrate on pillows to die for. Bedside Manor's range is somewhat more familiar: Ygle, The Purists, Yves Delorme, Ann Gish, Angel Zimick Steven Drew, NC Souther, Anichini, Nancy Koltes and when stocked, Leitner.

• Berkeley Potters Guild - Representing a group of 50-60 potters, the guild was founded in 1971 and is northern California's oldest and largest collective of professional ceramic artists. Jewelry, dinnerware, sushi platters, vases, teapots, garden or indoor sculpture, fountains, trays, whimsical figures and a wide diversity of containers for flower arrangements are handmade made by this group of artists. Email is available for purchasing.

• Berkeley Mills - A blend of Asian and Western styles, Berkeley Mills crafts well-made and good-looking furniture. Several years ago we bought a couch and chair from the California location; the fabrics stocked are sturdy and handsome. Recently, they've added a trellis and gate category with a true 'wave' bench, again blending styles.

• Bradbury & Bradbury Wallpapers - Reproductions of historic wallpaper designs created in Europe and America in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The selections are divided into . Divided into the Victorian, Arts & Crafts, Lion and Dove frieze and Neoclassical designs. Museums, libraries, factory records, old wallpaper books, private homes, period literature are used for the patterns from the Americas, Europe and Australia for this well-known northern California based firm that used silk screen printing to produce the papers.

• C and H Supply Co. - An extensive online catalog styles as a complete antique restoration resource, C & H runs the gamut from short bed rails, veneers, knobs, pulls, wood carvings, escutcheons, sandpaper, oak high chair trays, rocking chair seats, oak washstand towel racks, Hoosier parts, icebox parts, turn buttons, sawtooth picture hangers, Victorian teardrops, Gillespie Brass Refurbisher and thousands of other hard-to-find parts and products.

• Clio.com - How could you not love a site carries dinnerware termed Big Starving and Large Hungry plates as well as Thirsty Bowls? Dragonfly napkin rings, felt place mats (washable), a Striped Susan lamp, Hive Glass pendant and Butterfly vases, all imaginative and beautifully executed. Burnished horn table accessories, French tin boxes, colorful trivets and pewter serving pieces are in the 'more' category.

• Conant Custom Brass - Another lighting source but one that focuses on the antique fixture whether they reproduce it or restore it for a customer. They've designed or restored lighting for Edith Wharton's Mount, Union Station in Kansas City and the Vermont State House, as well as numerous colleges and universities, churches and cathedrals, Disney, Universal Studios, Polo/Ralph Lauren and Crabtree & Evelyn.

• The Craftsman Home - We've visited this handsomely stocked shop in Berkeley, CA and purchased a crystalline lamp. Handmade tiles, mica lamps, faience pottery and Persian rugs with Craftsman themes and patterns are part of the site. Custom furniture and woodworking products are offered as well as their line of collectible antiques. Kathleen West's prints run in limited series while Wanda Westberg's scenic paintings continue the tradition of the early California impressionists who painted “en plein air.” Dianne Ayres Arts and Crafts period textiles consisting of hand embroidered and hand stenciled pillows, curtains, table linens and bedspreads, as well as embroidery kits and yardage will be available soon at the website. Mirrors and frames are designed and made in the tradition of the classic Craftsman home by Holton.

• Creative Wallcovering -A catalog of Children's, Vintage, Designer, Novelty & Trendy wallcovering, wall murals and wallpaper borders for commercial & residential markets. Perhaps it's because when I was young, almost every house I went into had wallpaper and I'm nostalgic, but nowadays I think there's a bit of a wallpaper revival or perhaps it's always remained a popular alternative to paint. This site has the kinds of wallpaper I remember from my youth and now find increasingly attractive. We've also lived in homes that it was easier to wallpaper rather than repair walls. This site also has images of rooms using some of the patterns which is very helpful. We loved some of the novelty prints as well as Susan Sargent's bright borders, the Europa collection, and papers of Christopher Dresser and William Morris.

• Crispina Designs - We first met Crispina ffrench at a craft show situated near 'her god,' weaver Randy Darwall. At that time we were lucky enough to purchase a jacket by Crispina, which she told us (years later), would turn into a collector's item as she had discontinued making those one-of-a-kind jackets. Since then we've purchased a number of her stuffed animals and blankets for grandchildren. Her home and child accessories are made from recycled raw materials: colorful, fanciful, whimsical designs that turn into Ragamuffins. Door curtains similar to those used by frontier pioneers in the 1800's, pillow shams, blankets, potholder rugs and a denim blanket/pillow collection make up the selections at the site.

• DesignStore.com - We must admit to be Alessi fans and this site carries that line and much more: Stelton, Rosendahl and Eva Solo online since 1997. They feature items designed by Michael Graves, Philippe Starck, Erik Magnussen and Aarne Jacobsen, etc. We were impressed by the fact they carried the Lexon Dolmen radio (which we had bought years ago with accents of blue and green) and the trendy Jere Wright poker cases. The Romanovski Travel game set makes good sense for both car and vacation periods. We loved the Eva Solo ice cube cooler set designed by Claus Jensen and Henrik Holbaek.

• Design Within Reach - A San Francisco-based firm that has a great selection of classic and well-designed furniture and lighting. Some of the designers and manufacturers are Charles and Ray Eames, Thonet, Alvar Aalto, Arne Jacobsen, Alessi, Philippe Starck, Chadwick and Steumpf (who created the Aeron chair), Marcel Breuer, Le Corbusier and George Nelson. 

• DeWoolfsonDown - A North Carolina based-company with outlets in both North and South Carolina. Fine down products consisting of comforters, pillows and featherbeds made by this company. If you wish,  you may request a custom fill of the items. When this company had an outlet in Massachusetts, we visited the shop whenever we could; the linens they stock are superb and carried brands that we saw years later in New York City. Customer service was always of a high quality. As with their printed catalog, the site uses clear definition of each type of comforter.

• Sid Dickens - It's a treat of a site, a little like fragments of a museum but actually tiles made from plaster with some of them having a thin metal surface. They cost between $65 and $95 and can be purchased through his Vancouver site.

• Ed Donaldson Antique Hardware - Doorknobs, latches, doorbells, knockers, cabinet hardware, locks and hinges and also a selection of reproduction hardware. 

• Elanbach - Fabrics from Wales - A line of products started by the husband of the late Laura Ashley, using printing technology to create textile designs that encompass traditional, antique and modern themes. Wares include postcard and CD boxes, albums, bags, dining linens, cushions, aprons, bed and bathroom items and fabrics by the yard. By the way, Llangoed Hall is a country house hotel in Wales, the site of where the Welsh Parliament stood some fourteen hundred years ago.

• Elegant Linens of Park City - We love real linen: for nightgowns, pajamas as well as bed linens, finding this site while taking a look at a favorite supplier, Libeco). Besides Libeco products, Elegant Linens carries Sferra, Peacock Alley and Kelly Hoppen, among the more familiar names. Blankets, throws and down items are also in stock. A line of baby linens, soft books and toys, handkerchiefs, gifts, table linen are on the extensive site.

• EnlightenedPapers.com - Paper products for lighting are very reasonable and beautiful. These examples are Asian and Celtic in pattern, inspiration and use. Luminaries are international in use and these are marvelous to use during celebrations, holidays and just for every day enjoyment. The Charm Lamps have decorative wedding or baby charms dangling from the wire ends at the top of the lamp. In one example of custom work, the firm restored the shade on an antique lamp by designing a watermark to go with the existing base and coloring the cotton pulp to match the original fabric of the shade. They also design room dividers, watermarked cards and window treatments. Don't overlook their books on papermaking and their uses.

• Fishs Eddy - We've spent many a happy hour in the NYC downtown shop (near that other fave, ABC) picking out amazingly well made tableware for children and ourselves, many from restaurants and hotels that have passed in history or changed patterns. For their on-line line, patterns are especially made for the company. Flatware, glass ware, assorted gifts such as umbrellas, mugs and a mixing bowl are available in appealing designs.
  

• Frontera Furniture - We've ordered furniture from this firm and in this case, mainly because we were able to find furniture at this site that we didn't have time to hunt down in person (though we had seen the brand in a NYC store). We did negotiate the sale price of the furniture as we had compared it with what we knew it to be through a decorator. Shipping was free during the time we ordered. The range of the pieces offered by this particular company was very wide and exactly what we wanted to see. The quality of the manufacturers work carried appears to be quite high and therefore prices will be comparable, that is, pricey.

• Frontier Ironworks - Chandeliers with the names like Bozeman Trail and Buffalo Hunt, beds with names like Pine Pole Wilderness and Bed Buckaroo Bed, sconces with names like Cowboy Campfire Diamond Wilderness are as entertaining as the furnishings designed by this firm. If you have a concept you'd like to have translated into an object, this firm also does custom work. Fireplace screens, lighting with mica lampshades, pot and hat racks, mirrors, benches even curtain rods are part of this approach to western themes in furnishings. There is no shopping cart facility but you can contact them by various means for more information.

• GarrettWade - One doesn't have to have the emblem of 'handywoman' in order to appreciate the tools in this catalog-online. A British security lock, a pair of old-fashioned trimming snips, a 'German Pouring Cup and Offset Funnel,' a master set of brushes made in France available for both oil/solvent base finishes and water base finishes—they're all so beautiful that they give you goose bumps Okay, now doesn't an 'Extruded Brass Fixed-pin Butt Hinge' sound sexy? If you want to consider woodworking, get a copy of The Fine Art of Cabinet Making by James Krenov. Garrett Wade sums him up: "Krenov has had maximum impact on woodworking during the last 25 years, and his views on craftsmanship have enlightened and inspired woodworkers around the world." And, he was our youngest daughter's teacher.

• GalbraithandPaul.com - Although their fabrics are through 'the trade' (see Jean Hubbell Asher's article, The Color of Candles) only, the lamps are available directly from Galbraith & Paul, a small husband and wife firm from Philadelphia. The couple use a manual block-printing process which is almost unknown nowadays in the US. It is that process that makes the fabric so unique and attractive to the touch as well as to the eye. The fabrics used are shantung silk, cotton /rayon velvet, sheer and heavy linen.

  Cube, cone and vase lamps, drum, hex and funnel pendants and box sconces are available for choice. Some of the patterns to select from are ivy paisley, beads, citrus, smokebush, marigold, birch, hive, sunflower and blossom. Call, fax, or email if you need pricing or interested in seeing shade pattern swatches or would like to discuss a project.

• The Giving Tree - Luxury Linen and gift site which, fortunately, enlarges the 'swatches' of material so that it's fairly easy to get a good idea of the pattern and perhaps the texture. Top brands: The Purists (a favorite), Yves Delorme, Anali Table Linens, Sferra, Flatso Farm stuffed animals,  (we picked up some in England for our granddaughter), bath linens, blankets and LeBlanc linen, silk and lingerie wash. There's also a catalog you can request.

• GraciousStyle.com - How could you go wrong with a name like GraciousStyle, one asks? Belgian, Irish and Czech linen napkins and tablecloths as well as table linens made with sheer organdies, elaborate embroideries and even sequins. Other products include lacquered placemats, place card holders, salt and pepper shakers made in flower shapes and a whimsical marble cheese set of cat and mouse. Organdy chair covers, Murano glass plates, curvy Bloom plates and trays in the shape of fans, handsome Pompadour flatware and spiral stemware are some other quite beautiful items. There's a linen guide as well as tips for care.

• Hida Tools - Whether you're shopping for garden or woodworking tools, cutlery for kitchen or doing Ikebana, (flower arranging) Hida makes beautiful implements. We always carry one of their pruners in the door well of our car to do some pruning up our hillside on the way to the front door. The hori-hori tool does everything: digging, weeding, planting, opening soil bags and transplanting work. Bamboo brooms and Japanese worker cotton shoes with split toes are on the site. Their cotton gloves with a rubber surface are perfect for all sorts of work around the home. The chef's knives are of professional quality and are reputed to stay sharp for a considerable length of time. Traditionally, Japanese carpenters use an ink line & bamboo pen to mark their projects and the 'layout' section carries these implements. Chisels, adzes, axes, planes, hammers and saws make up some of the the woodworking selection.

• High Beams - The search for good looking lampshades have been a preoccupation of mine for awhile. HighBeams specializes in lampshades made from leaves and petals, mica, fabric, copper or glass. Their inventory includes ceiling and wall sconces, indoor and outdoor fixtures, standing and table lamps made of copper or brass. The ordering process is a collaborative one.

• Historic Lighting - We must admit that we're particularly fond of the Arts and Crafts Movement in the US and elsewhere and this site provides many examples of that design. Chandeliers are termed 'Clouds' and that they seem to be...extraordinary clouds of colored glass. Table, floor and wall-mounted lamps are a similar decorative approach. The Leick Curio cabinets are graceful new applications of an arts and craft sensibility while the CD cabinets are another answer to a storage problem. Since we just had a rather expensive frame made in this style for English tiles, we're happy to find a less dear source for picture frames.

• HistoryCompany.com - The items that this site links to will look familiar to many: Halliburton luggage, classic toys for children and grandchildren (Lincoln Logs, Radio Flyer Wagon, etc), a Madame Alexander Betty Boop doll, White Mountain Ice Cream maker, the Oval Office presidential chair and a number of others.

• House Jewelry - Dimmer plates, doorbells, etched switch plates, burnished or etched knobs and switches with finishes of copper and brass make up the selections of hardware. Kevin Loughran, a graduate from Dartmouth, traveled to Japan to study which clearly has influenced his work.

• Internet Wallpaper Store - Strictly a shopping site but for all of us who have been at a store leafing through those larger-than-life books, a convenience.

• KellyMarshall.com - Minneapolis-based fiber artist Kelly Marshall makes table runners, rugs, wall hangings, pillows and oversized carry bags from her woven fabrics as well as upholstery fabrics The fabric itself is pricey and, consequently, the products but they are individually woven and hence, understandable. Variations according to your interior colors and matching needs.

• LaughlinDesigns - Bed linens, comforters (including hypoallergenic, Hungarian and Siberian down, as well as silk filled), cutwork and lace items, placemats, napkins and handkerchiefs which, in this disposal age, would be perfect as bridal shower gift. Coasters, runners, tablecloths, doilies, all the accessories of a well naperied home. There are over 60 Pimpernel designs for laminated, durable placemats and a selection of Christy and Sferra cotton bath towels. Jane Wilner, Belisari, Bischoff, Lisa Galimberti, Ygle, The Purists, Ogallala and DeWoolfson down products are on this luxury linens site as well as baby crib linens, pillows, blankets, quilts.

• Levenger - Once confined mainly to office-type furnishing along with lawyerish bookcases, chairs and desk accessories, this catalog cum website firm, presents many other items for travels, writing  and electronics.

• Liora Manné - Bold colors and patterns highlight a stylish site for lighting, home accessories, rugs, furniture, wall coverings and fabrics (at a width of 84 inches). Totes, bags, clogs, clutches and smaller items are included as well. The Museum of Modern Art featured the Lamontage rugs, placemats, platters and coasters in the 2004 holiday catalog.  

• Liz's Antique Hardware - From reproduction heat registers (one model has the Tiffany cobweb design), contemporary cabinet knobs, crystals (presumably for chandeliers) to contemporary bath accessories, this site has a full range of hardware. Out of the usual range are repro mail slots, vintage medicine chests, antique lighting, shades and sconces. There is a mail matching service. send them a photo and template of size of the items you're trying to match. If you're not trying to match something exactly, give them an idea of what you need, which may involve cutting photos out of a magazine or sending a photo of the piece that needs hardware.
  
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