Our top-selling leather chair!!!!

(Mark Sunderland FOR Home Fashion Interiors)

Fall is in the air, dontcha feel it?  The Economy has finally eased up in our Industry.  Furniture stores usually follow the real estate market, and, from what I hear, most of the forclosures are bought-up, and new-home building is BACK!  Now THAT's A Good Thing!

I started at Home Fashion Interiors a month ago, and boy, TIME FLIES when you're Über-Busy!  Each and every day, dozens of people visit our store, ....some for the first time.  I've met some great clients.  Some LOVE the fact that 95% of our 18,000 square feet of Showroom is AVAILABLE for IMMEDIATE delivery (we usually deliver within the week).  I simply cannot understand how some stores just won't sell their floor samples, ESPECIALLY in this New World Economy.  Each week, we sell about 15 sofas "off the floor," and within a day or two, Jim, the owner, brings new ones from his 10,0000 square foot warehouse in the back.  Last Sunday, I personally sold 7 items of furniture off the floor.  Why? The client didn't want to wait.  He's moving into his NEW house in Brookhaven September 27 and wanted that "feel good,...immediate" rush of happiness that comes with NEW FURNITURE!  BTW: we deliver his things Saturday, September 28!  Win-Win!

Now for the NEWS FLASH OF THE MONTH:

Our TOP-SELLING leather chair,...we're sold-out today, BUT: we left 2 on the floor for y'all to come in and sit on, because we have 48 on-order,....arriving at our warehouse early-October.  How's THAT for inventory-back-up?!!!!  As Jim has made this uber-big order, he's received not only the EXCLUSIVE on this chair, but received a better price which we're sharing with our clients.  How's $1599/chair sound? Henredon.  Leather. $1599.  Who wouldn't?

I've already "pre-sold FOUR for a client for a "chat room" in her home.  So that leaves 44.........all of the designers are calling their clients with this great promotion, so we expect to sell-out by the end of the month.

So pull the trigger, jot me a note, and order the most supple leather in that gorgeous colour, chamois (the colour of your chamois cloth that you dry your car with, BUT: the leather is tanned in a most-luxurious smooth, finish ("feels just like 'BUTTAH'.......").

AND, if you're eyeing that WONDERFUL dining table, it's from Theo and Alexander; the "Bromwich Castle Collection."  All antique wood planks hand-planed and hand waxed for that antique-look.  This is a long table; there's about 30 more sizes available: round, rectangle, oval, and, if you haven't seen it yet, several sizes of dining tables that start at one size, ...and,....after moving the "pie-pieces" out, then opening up these Über-Cool self-storing leaf-extensions, becomes a LARGER table within 4 minutes!  Here's one we have in a smaller size (there's several larger versions):

These tables are SOOOOO cool; an engineering marvel!

THANKSGIVING is fast-approaching, Folks!  These tables are in-stock and READILY-AVAILABLE.  Prices upon request,....let me know what size fits in Your World.

We expect our BEST Fall Season EVER!  The Economy is getting better, and we're seeing lots of people shopping for furniture that haven't done so for the past 3 years.  Good Thing, This!

Enjoy that cool nip in the air and:

Keep Calm and Order Some Great Furniture

from Home Fashion Interiors!

Mark.

Traffic Court: It's NOT "A Good Thing!"

Last Tuesday, I had to go to traffic court. Many of you know the accident I had, when I swerved to avoid killing a squirrel, and scratched my neighbor's car. I was raised to do the right thing, so I had to pull over to report this minor accident to the owner of a VW Passat. I WANTED to pull right in front of my neighbor's car, but alas, I could not, as there was a fire hydrant there. So I circled my own block (15+ minutes) and returned, parking BEHIND said Passat.

While I was waiting for the police to arrive (again, doing the right thing) a HUGE 20' dead tree-limb came CRASHING down on top of my 2002 Range Rover!  I found out one week later that State Farm deemed my vehicle: TOTALED.   This story, by the way, was featured in the Atlanta Jounal-Constitution August 22.  Really.

But I digress.  Back to Tuesday; back to traffic court.

As a true Sunderland, I arrived early for my 3 pm court appearance (Courtroom  6A, City of Atlanta Court), and gave up my seat in the hall outside to a woman who arrived after me.  At 2:55 pm, the pleasant, yet stern, security-guard asked for all for 6A to "gather.". As 20+ people remained seated, Mr. Officer grumbled, then eventually all stood around him, like cattle going to slaughter.  He opened the locked double doors, after warning us of the strict rules and regulations we were to expect inside the courtroom.  Well, THAT was a sign of things to come........

We were directed to form a line single-file and wait to check in with the Court clerks.  Several were reprimanded for not following instructions, and an eerie silence pervaded the Courtroom.  Her Honour sat above in the right corner of the Court.  She was tailored, well-kempt, and sported a festive, sparkly hair accessory.  We all soon knew that this judge meant business, as she multi-tasked filing papers, entering things on her computer, calling each attorney who sat at the front-left of the court, among other things.

Her Honour wasted no time requesting Mr. Officer to REMOVE the mothers with the crying babies (who were in an antechamber WAY in the back.....behind a closed door!) to the outside hall where we had convened before 3.  This was simply "unacceptable" in her courtroom.  Then, she barked something stating that we would NOT start the proceedings until more people arrived.  It was 3:14 and she was visibly agitated for these latecomers (who after 3:21, were herded into a 18th century New England-like penalty box where they later suffered the Wrath of The Judge).  This lady HAD to have been a German Catholic nun schoolteacher in a former career; she had everything but a blood-stained ruler.  She had, of course, her gavel, and she used it!

My favourite part of waiting for "my day in court" was the procedure of Judge Hilda calling the names (and, unbelievably to moi) of MANY.........25+ sad sacks who were no-shows. Well!  She would speak into her microphone each name.  "Catherine Conrad?" ......VERY QUIET,....although it was difficult getting much more quiet than had already been established.    There was a three-second pause, then: "NOT PRESENT IN THE COURT; SUMMON A WARRANT FOR ARREST!" and THAT was immediately followed by the Court Clerk shouting, "YES, YOUR HONOUR!". This continued for fifteen minutes, and my armpits soaked my t-shirt under my blue French-cuff shirt (shoulda worn white!!!) as I dreaded spending the night in a jail cell downstairs.

After the non-attending Losers were summoned (with gusto), the Judge proceeded to the cases of those who had brought an attorney.  It was clear to me that these folks had done more than swerve from a scampering squirrel.  I heard amounts like, "$800, $1200, etc.," and the several attorney'd-up violators happily agreed to pay their high fines (to avoid the salt mines, I guess!) and get the heck out of Dodge.

Finally, it was "our turn," i.e. those who were pleading guilty or lobo or loco or whatever that Latin phrase is.  Note: My attorney-friend, Steve Lore, who volunteers with me at Shepherd Center, had advised me to plead, "Guilty With An Explanation.". I even asked the nice Prosecutor when it was my turn to submit my guilty plea signed paper if I could ask him a question (God forbid doing ANYTHING without asking permission in THIS Courtroom), he said, "Of course!". I said, I have been advised to plead guilty with an explanation.  He reached for my signed paper, turned it back over, and entered something in his computer.  I THOUGHT I'd have a chance to explain to the Judge my sad story of The Squirrel and The Dead Limb.

WRONG!!!  As the three people in front of me told the Judge they could not pay today, they were escorted to the New England Penalty Box to await jail, I guess.  They were sad.  They were poor.  I was sad for them. I've been poor.   As I approached the podium with my own microphone, I practiced in my mind what I was going to say, and how I would say it.  Calmly, Collectively.  Waiting, I stared at my yellow ticket from August 1st and panicked that my iPad, which I had turned off, I know, would erupt in a blink-blink into the mike, ruining my chances of finishing the day a free man.

The Judge was brief and succinct.  "Mr. Sunderland, your fine is .......(I'm fading away, knowing that my opportunity to say something has just vanished into the silence of the lambs.........) blah-blah-blah, plus court costs for a total of $215.25; can you pay this amount TODAY, Mr. Sunderland?"

"Yes, Your Honour, I can." Gavel down,.....I grabbed my leather-covered iPad, yellow ticket and RAN (well, not really) out of her sight, heading downstairs to pay the cashier.

Oh, ....and another thing: she mentioned at the End: "If you do not pay your fine downstairs today, Mr. Sunderland, a warrant will be issued for your arrest.". No Shit, Sherlock!  Got it.  Loud and Clear.  Over and Out.  Actually, I cannot remember my spectator-clad feet hitting the ground until I was downstairs on Floor 2.  I must have been so thankful that I left her courtroom unscathed, no bleeding or vomiting (and I expect one of those things happened amongst the 80+ traffic criminals  who followed me that day).

I have NEVER witnessed such a strict disciplinarian; Hitler and Attila The Hun have nuttin' on this broad!  (no letters, please!).   In my opinion, she should run the entire school-system in the United States.  Within 2 years, crime would go down, children would learn more,....the World Would Be A Better Place!  Of this, I am sure.

Traffic court needs good people, I suppose.  I'm telling you, this Lady churned and burned it.  The name, Taskmaster, just wouldn't make it as her moniker.  I welcome names that might be worthy of this Public Servant.

Now, I must relax, enjoy my evening, and hope that I can sleep through the night,...happily on my Ralph Lauren sheets, not a flea-infested cushion hanging from a pair of thick chains.

As always: Keep Calm and RESPECT THE LAW!!!

........Mark.

WON'T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?

Remember Mr. Rogers?  Remember, "Won't you be my neighbor?"

Well, .......YOU could be my neighbor!!!  Kyle and Kelly, my next-door neighbors JUST put their charming house on the Market.  AND........Kelly herself is the listing agent!

It's a great house in a great neighborhood (Berkeley Park) in central Atlanta,....1/2 mile from I-75. SO convenient,...I can get just about anywhere in 20-30 minutes!  And of course, you'd have MY beautiful property to look at every day (haha).

With the fenced-in back yard, this is a great home for a dog lover (Kelly and Kyle have 2).  They've done a GREAT job renovating,....and that screened-in back porch ROCKS!!!!

So give Kelly a call, or please forward to someone you know who wants a great house (and a great neighbor) in Mid-Atlanta.  At this price, it'll sell FAST!!!

Keep Calm And Live In Berkeley Park!

...Mark.

How To Install Paintings In Your Home

Earlier this month, I was one of the featured Interior Designers at an Event at the Baker Knapp & Tubbs showroom at ADAC, featuring current paintings from Anne Irwin Fine Art, Miami Circle, Atlanta.  It was quite an honour, and there was a great turn-out!  Here's one of my interiors featured on the Power Point presentation:

This week, I'm writing on how to install paintings in your rooms.  First, like a recipe that uses quality ingredients and creates a wonderful meal, start by using QUALITY ART (all paintings in this blog are offered for sale by Anne Irwin Fine Art; just contact me for sizes and prices).

And, to clarify, all of the wonderful vignettes shown were installed by: PETRONILLA PEMBERTON, Visual Display Coordinator at Baker's Showroom at ADAC.  Petronilla has a discerning and creative eye, and we talked about how I as a designer use some of her "tricks" of displaying art in my own installations.

Hanging a large painting over a sofa might sound simple, but you'd be surprised how many people hang art-over-sofas TOO HIGH!  Measure the distance of the top of the sofa to the ceiling.  Rarely will you install right in the middle; instead, "weight" the painting closer to the top of the sofa, 6 to 8 inches most-always works. BTW: same applies to hanging art over a bed.

Perhaps you have a small painting, framed or unframed, that just seems too small to hang on your walls.  Try leaning it against a lamp or mirror; the light from the lamp with give it a nice, warm glow.  You might want to place a book or small object to keep the painting from falling, OR just put the small painting on a black plate-stand.

And while we're on the subject of art and lamps, there is NOTHING WRONG with hanging a large painting behind a lamp.  So the lampshade "covers" part of the painting: "Big Deal, only if you cover the artist's signature or an integral part of the painting do I see this as a problem."

3 Paintings from the Same Artist:  you might like the idea of 3 small to medium-sized paintings instead of one large painting.  AOK!  Just space the paintings 4-6" apart from each-other; Voila!

3 Paintings, Different Artist: this can get trickier.  Either experiment on a bare floor, arranging and spacing, OR, there's NOTHING WRONG with hiring an EXPERT (that would be I) when hanging wall art becomes anxiety-ridden or overwhelming.  It's What I DO!

Maybe it's time to treat yourself to a new painting or two.  Give me a ring (404-274-5091); I'd be happy to help!

Keep Calm And Invest In Fine Art!
....Mark.

Baker Furniture, Anne Irwin Galleries, and Mark Sunderland Interiors

I have been very honoured to have been selected by Melody Trivosone, the new Showroom Manager of Baker Knapp & Tubbs, ADAC, to participate with about a dozen or so other interior designers for a private function in their beautiful showroom the week of Design ADAC.

Anne Irwin Fine Art, one of my favourite art galleries in Atlanta, will be showing some wonderful paintings from her gallery amongst the beautiful room settings at Baker.

Baker and I go way back.  At Beverly Hall Furniture Galleries, I had a loyal following of Baker clients.  Here's a photo of one of my "All Baker" rooms:

.....and guess where those beautiful paintings came from?  That's right, Anne Irwin Fine Art!

http://anneirwinfineart.com

I am so looking forward from returning from Kentucky Derby Weekend and participating in this fine Event with Baker and Anne Irwin.

Having been an Independent Designer since Fall 2010, when Beverly Hall closed their doors, I'm a "regular" at the Baker Showroom at ADAC.

http://www.bakerfurniture.com

Are YOU a Baker fan like me?  If so, I'd be happy to propose your new Dining Room, Living Room, bedroom, or, as one of my Baker clients did, furnish your ENTIRE home with all the different Collections from Baker and Milling Road.

Thank you, Melody, for this wonderful opportunity to network my businesses: Mark Sunderland Interiors, Inc. and Mark Sunderland Antiques, LLC. (http://www.msunderland.com/)

I'll keep y'all posted on how the Event goes!

Keep Calm and Use Baker and Anne Irwin Fine Art!

Cheers!
Mark.

CHRISTMAS AT CALLANWOLDE VIDEO CLIP FEATURES MSI!

I was not-only honoured to have been invited back for another Decorator's Showhouse at Callanwolde,....but was filmed as I prepared my rooms for their "12 Days At Atlanta's 'Biltmore'"........

Please watch as: Lathem, David, Loren, and I walk you through our rooms, telling our stories........Enjoy!

Cheers to All!!!

...Mark.

Christmas at Callanwolde: Digital Photos by DIGITAL ARTS STUDIO!!!!

This past Monday, Barry Glustoff and his wife Robin, co-owners of DIGITAL ARTS STUDIO in Atlanta, were my guests at Christmas at Callanwolde.  It was so nice to see them both,.... ESPECIALLY as it was Robin's birthday, and she chose to come visit my rooms and Christmas tree as a relaxing thing to do on her day-off.

As many of you already know, I use DIGITAL ARTS STUDIO for MANY things: the Keep Calm and Carry On banners on stretched canvas shown in the photos,......in fact, my Keep Calm and Carry On 5x7" card (that I used as my theme on my tree......) was produced, beautifully, by Barry's department at Digital Arts Studio.

Robin is my GO-TO for ALL my custom-framing.  Most of the artwork you see here in the photos were framed by Robin and co-owner, Peter Leafman's framing department at Digital Arts Studio.  I've used them for over 10 years now.  My clients LOVE going there; you should call them sometime you have a framing-job or digital photography work; they're by far, the BEST in the South!

Enjoy Barry's photos of my most-recent rooms......

Cheers!

...Mark.

Christmas at Callanwolde; my Second Year!

I was honoured to have been invited back to do a few rooms for the Designer Showhouse at Christmas at Callanwolde.  This year, I did the Foyer, The Great Hall, and The Grand Stairway Greenery.

Here are some pictures from our Premier Party,....many taken in my rooms!

BTW: I'm the one in the RED tails (as if you didn't know that).........

All photos courtesy of David Fisher

Enjoy!

Cheers!
Mark.

IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS!!!!!!!!

My Mission chairs, waiting for their new look.

...thought I'd blog about my upholstery-projects,...and give a SHOUT-OUT to my upholsterer for over 12 years, Aaron Richmond, owner of: M. SOUTHERN DESIGN CONCEPTS, Norcross, Georgia.

I met Aaron in 2000, and, after seeing his workmanship on a pair of chairs he did for one of my antique-dealer-friends,......hired him then-and-there for my first upholstery project,....and have used him EXCLUSIVELY since then.

Last week, I stopped-by and gave Aaron about 8-12 projects I need for my Designer Showhouse at: Christmas at Callanwolde.  He's such a Good-Listener,.....and I appreciate him telling me what I CAN and CANNOT do (sometimes we designers have the IDEAS,.....but sometimes our ideas do not interpret into REALITY.....).

My black/tan hounds tooth fabric and black leather for contrast-welt on a pair of ottomans.

Wait'll you see how Aaron at M. Southern Design uses my 

antique Caucasion rug on my Mission chairs....

Wait'll you see what I do with these ottoman frames!

Aaron's input is ALWAYS appreciated by this designer.

Here are some photos to share with y'all........your upholstery project is only as good as the skilled-WORKERS involved......

My good friend, Aaron Richmond, owner of M.Southern, my ONLY upholsterer for over 12 years.

Proud upholsterer!!!!

Skilled worker at: M. Southern Design.

Skilled worker at: M. Southern Design.

Another careful upholsterer.......

Why I've used M.Southern for over 12 years: attention-to-DETAIL!!!

Kudos, Aaron!   Kudos, M. SOUTHERN DESIGN CONCEPTS!!!

Cheers,
Mark.