Greetings from New York

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A blurry shot I got from the back seat of my cab.

I flew out of KC Tuesday and headed for a much needed trip to NYC. The New York Gift Show begins tomorrow and I arrived early to meet up with old friends before I got to work. It has been two years since I was here and I immediately knew this cannot be the case ever again. Once a year is a must because, well- it is New York.

The new credit card/GPS system in the back of most cabs,

The first change I noticed since my last trip is that the cabs have gone digital! Swipe your card, punch a screen and you're off. My second observation- everyone's hand seem to be growing out of their ears! Cell phones rule, texting keeps our heads down and iPods keep us from hearing anything we don't want to. Technology is among us and it cannot be ignored. As I write this I am resting in Rhinebeck, NY visiting my best schoolgirl friend of 40 years, Billie. Her new luxe modern glass home is on 25 acres buried in a grove of trees with views of the Catskills among Hudson Valley. It is breathtaking.

Billie's new home on 25 acres in Rhinebeck, NY

It is quite the vista yet her two teenage sons have not come up for air since I have been here. They mumbled a hello to me and have remained glued to computer screens buried in their rooms for 48 hours now. So is the new age.

Funky graffiti in the Village

Now I am one to talk as an eight hour stretch on my computer is nothing. It happens every day for me, but I am in New York so visual research is a must. Eye candy is everywhere and I am doing my best to get it all in. Before I headed to Rhineback, my first stop off the plane in Manahattan was lunch at Balthazar.

My lunch at Balthazar and a new Blanche Belgium wheat beer I loved.

I love their sister restaurant Pastis and wrote about it heavily on this blog two years ago. But sometimes I am embarrassed I love it so much as others may not, so I thought I would broaden my horizons. Now that I have, why mess with a good thing?

Balthazar had the antique touches I love, the food was good but the funky, informal, European vibe was just not there. I'll be back to Pastis Monday when my niece arrives here for her first look at NYC ever! I will run her ragged showing her the city as well as last minute shopping at the gift show. Out of Balthazar I walk around the village for a little inspiration and came upon the sweetest little baby store, Sense of Wonder.

This store used a lot of natural elements around their store fixtures. Nice touch.

Then a stop at Sabon, a wonderful soap store with all product made in Israel.

Later I meet up with my friend Chuck who hands me the keys to his fab pad in Chelsea where Cindy and I will be staying. Tonight he was determined to take me to the newest, hippest, 'Deb has to see this place' called Freeman's. It's a good thing he is my guide as I would have never found it.

The entire space was filled with mismatched industrial lighting fixtures which somehow worked perfectly together.

I loved the pile of books in the corner for no apparent reason.

Buried around the bend and down the alley in Nolita (North of Little Italy), I enter an urban man clothing store with an antique barbershop in the backroom and a restaurant around the corner. Someone hand me the smelling salts as I was dying when I saw this dusty, funky, antique undecorated venue. Unfortunately the restaurant was closed for a kitchen remodel but will reopen Friday night and I will be there with bells on.

Notice the live fish swimming in the old battery glass.

As I pressed my face against the crusty painted doors and wavy glass of the restaurant, I see a refuge of old taxidermy, mismatched shelving units over the bar, plants scattered on strange sconces on the wall..... be still my heart. This may change everything. I will report back (with pictures) later.

Each menu had a handmade leather frame the daily selection was slipped into. Brilliant!

Since Freeman's was closed Chuck and I wander over to Peasant for dinner. A restaurant that was on my list to visit since learning about it on the Food Network. It was everything the name promised; simple, rustic decor with outstanding food. The main floor was booked so we go to the suggested wine cellar.

My oval basil pizza.

Dark, fabulous rough hewn beams, distressed wood tables, plates of olives and carafes of wine. Clean and primitive and leaving me speechless. After dinner I had to walk around upstairs and cruise the brick enclosed kitchen, surrounded by loaves of warm bread, hanging salami and bowls of citrus. The thin, cracker like pizza was amazing along with the lamb dinner and ricotta cheesecake for dessert.

The rustic ovens ar Peasant.

I spent that night in the city and arrived in Rhinebeck the next day to see my old friend. Today we cruised the shopping in town and in Red Hook, NY. Hammertown Barn is always on the list as it has the vast assortment of products like we do at Curious Sofa. I had not been to this location and it was brimming with home decor. I discovered some new lines I will check out at market which is why I do my pre-shopping at wonderful boutiques like this. It helps me find lines I may have missed at the Javits.

Hammertown Barn in Rhinebck, NY.

I also discovered the store Paper Trail with an amazing collection of papers, ribbons, stationery and such. The paper dresses in the window are what drew me in.

Tissue dresses,

Red Hook is home to a store that wowed me years ago, East Market Street Antiques. Then it was stark and minimal, almost gallery like with amazing folk-art objects. Today it was closed but I managed to grab a few images for you as it is now filled to the brim.


We walked down the street to Basic French. A simple, little French product store with some fun things I had read about in Country Living.

On our way back to Rhinebeck Billie tours the campus of Bard College and I had to shoot the new Performing Arts building by famed architect Frank Gehry.


Later that night I had an incredible meal at a wonderful place in Poughkeepsie called the Artist's Palate. The chef/owners were friends of Billie and her husband John and during our conversation we learn she is auditioning for a show on the Food Network.

Today is my last day here and we are off again to shop the town of Hudson, NY with great antiques and food. What more could I ask for? A train back to Manhattan tonight and the Gift Show tomorrow. Stay tuned.
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Idle Time

...July into August is an interesting part of summer as all things seem to be downhill after the 4th. Unbearably hot weather seems to go on for weeks, watering the garden becomes a chore and attitudes are in turmoil waiting for something to look forward to.


They say summer is idle time, but do any of us know how to do that anymore? I for one admit to being the laziest person on earth. Give me a chair and a beverage and I'm good for at least 8 hours.

So as a retailer, what do I do to show people there is still as much interest and motivation to buy, decorate and experiment as if Thanksgiving were right around the corner?... You keep things simple. Because whether our lives are simple or not, our surroundings can be and they are much easier to control than our circumstances!


Since my clearance sale, everyone is asking what I am doing with my home now. I am proud to say, I am in no hurry. I am enjoying my 'less is more' surroundings. Just this week my stylist friends at Hallmark called to come over and scout for a photo shoot. I laughed and warned them, "You know, I really did sell everything. All I have is a bed and a sofa." I explained my clothes were in laundry baskets, the spare bedroom has become a giant junk closet until things find a new container and any 'ol rickety table I pick up has turned into my vanity, desk and dining table. So what happened? They loved it! Go figure.


Now before you think I really do have it decorated and just not sharing, Hallmark rarely wants my stuff, they just need the bones of the house for background, a neutral palette and a few good windows- so that I can deliver. In fact, they fill my yard and porch with tons of their own furniture and props that they bring from headquarters.


Throughout this blog I am sharing some of the newest goods that have arrived this week. These new Katie Brown French Picnic dishes are my current favorite. Simple and imperfect, rustic ceramic dishware. The pedestals are perfect size, the rimmed side dishes are an unexpected design and the plates look like someone (really good) just turned them on a wheel and plopped them in a kiln. Use these along with her burlap tablecloths- after a trip to the Saturday framers market, how could things be more simple?


We also changed our Love Shack to house a vintage iron bed with white linens and a small lamp. Curl up with a good book, open the windows and dream on.

The giant birdcage also arrived this week along with the funky patio set. I would love to see the table and chairs inside rather than out and the birdcage taking center stage on a mantle or buffet. The vignettes one can assemble inside are endless!

And finally, some unexpected jewelry here at the Sofa: chunky, ethnic pendants on leather straps. Grab a white tank top and you're done!

FYI: Our SOFA SALE starts August 18th. This new loveseat just arrived (along with two other pieces) so we are getting ready for you.
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Designing Kansas City

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Recently my retail friend, Karen from Rochester, came to visit me on her way to the Atlanta market. We only had two days to hang out but I managed to cram it full by showing her the best of the best in eating and shopping here in Kansas City. I also had the August copy of Kansas City Home Design (KCHD) magazine which has a current story about me and the store.

(click on photos below to enlarge text)

Karen was blown away by this magazine and when I told her K.C. has about four other home design publications she was floored. She continued to be impressed by the size of Kansas City- from Blue Springs (home of American Idol David Cook), to Briarcliff (home of the new Nell Hills), downtown in the bohemian Crossroads (where Curious Sofa began), south to 119th (with our new West Elm and the incredible Apple store), Olathe (home of the soon to be crowned HGTV Next Design Star Jennifer Bertrand) and on to Prairie Village (that's me), Fairway, Brookside with lots of great Stuff; Crestwood Shops, 45th & State Line Antique Row, 39th Street, Westport and then ending our evening at the Classic Cup on our legendary Country Club Plaza. All of us in K.C. take these small neighborhood districts for granted as Karen wasn't the first to tell me she had nothing like this to choose from in her town. What this also shows is that for the small independent retailer, there are many tempting shopping districts to choose from if you want to open a store- and we have many great ones.

I have come to learn that outsiders think if the word 'Kansas' is in the title they think there are miles of flat prairie, cows and cornfields everywhere. Well sure, that's here but not inside the city! We are a widespread booming metropolis and although a little behind the style radar, we managed to finally get a Crate and Barrel, Dean & Deluca, Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters and so much more.


We are also a town for outstanding antique junkin'. We have great antique malls in every corner of the city and beyond. I haven't even listed here the great small towns less than 40 minutes out of the city limits for great weekend antiquing. (Parkville, Weston, Lexington, Greenwood, Topeka, St. Joe).

The staff told me recently that we had some retail visitors from St. Louis who were not finding anything to resell. Sorry! But you need a good guide to show you the best haunts. It is just like any city- you have to be shown around by someone who shops a lot and knows where everything is. The 'average' person does not know, nor does the hotel concierge or local cab driver!

Two years ago I cringed when I ran into the editorial staff from Country Living magazine at the High Point market. They said they were on their way to scout my home town and I was worried that 'just anyone' was going to show them around K.C.- so I jumped at the chance and when they arrived, I wore them ragged. As I was driving them to their hotel, at 11:30 on the last night of our scout, I said, "Wait! I forgot to show you 39th Street!" I drove past frantically through this neighborhood, talking a mile a minute, explaining this shop and that restaurant and Monica the travel editor looked dazed and confused at Frances Bailey (the features editor) and said dead pan to her, "You got that?" I knew my time was up!

Anyway, many of you write and say you have visited our town before or want to. My goal in the next year is to have a page on our website to show you where to stay, shop, junk, eat and so on. If ever there is a time to visit Curious Sofa it is during Halloween (premiers September 6) or Christmas (Open House November 8)- so plan ahead! Everything may not be 100% up to date in Kansas City, but- I will make it worth your while for a long weekend.

Note: A week ago, in the local newspaper this article ran:
Please email starmag@kcstar.com and tell them of your local favorites and why. (You can start with us if you like!)
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Design Obsessed

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I returned last Monday from the Atlanta gift market to find that my beloved Bichon Pearl, had tried to chew her leg off while I was gone. Actually, the babysitter took her to the vet and found the dreaded summer 'hot spot' on her leg from heat, allergy or whatever. I had never heard of such a thing as she had remained unscathed up until this point, but I trust in Leslie her caretaker to do what is necessary to fix her up.

(Canine Reenactment)

I open Leslie's door to find my 12 pound ball of fluff with one of those hideous e-collars on her neck and I gasped at the bad design of it all- not to mention the fact that Pearl was paralyzed with shame or fear at what the heck she was wearing. (If mother like daughter she wanted this bad style removed immediately!) This hard white plastic shell was so big she couldn't walk and just stood and stared at me with that, "Are you kidding me with this?" look.

I immediately took it off of her knowing that my good parenting would keep her from itching or chewing more fur from her leg. When we got home I kept a watch on her but knew this medical collar might have to be used while she was sleeping. I decided to trim it down so she could walk better, and well- one thing lead to another and I found myself getting out the hole punch to make eyelets, scalloping the edges for flair and a few silk ribbons for a well needed feminine touch. The results...

You already know I am not a fan of cute or pink or ruffles but hey, she's a white powder puff so who better to pull off this look? Little did I know I could have taken a fabulous old lampshade and achieved the same results! We we're rolling at the store as I couldn't help but compare her resemblance to Gone With the Winds' Aunt Pittypat!



















Good for a laugh even at Pearls expense.
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Grey Gardens

I was interviewed recently for a local Home Design magazine and was thrilled with the layout and photos they used from the store. It's weird for me to read things I say in a magazine as I always hope the reader understands what I mean in the right context. In this interview I was asked about my use of color (or lack of) and what my current favorite texture is: my answer? Driftwood. I decided to share my current passion for all things grey.

Maybe it comes from my photography background but things are just more dramatic or emotional to me when you can concentrate on tones, shades, hues and texture and not intense pigment.

The grey and neutral tones of this room scene turn opulent with the touches of gold.


Nothing is better than the patina of concrete, stone or plaster statuary.

This is a swatch from a linen tablecloth but could easily be wallpaper.

Some may think wearing grey would make you look washed out but I say it's all in the construction (note all the great stitching, pockets and details). A grey wardrobe can also be accessorized with tons of silver, brass or gold jewelry for interest and will always look great with a small pop of color like pink or turquoise.

Whether it is zinc, pot metal or galvanized- dusty old pots only get better with age.

From Elie Saab and style.com this wedding dress from the current Paris couture collections. Imagine with a bouquet of deep red roses....

Grey bedding is also the perfect mix with white sheets and men will love it!

And the classic of course- grey flannel suit.

Is there anything classier than grey hair with grey clothes? Instant chic.

I often wonder why car colors are so boring- although there are plenty of greys to choose from.

Another lovely creation without color. Imagine how garish this would have been in red. I also adore how the grey neutral shoe can make the leg look longer and so elegant.

Even reproduction art can seem authentic and expensive in neutral tones.

Like the color white, there are a thousand shades of grey.

Environmental artist John Dahlsen uses driftwood to create art.

I also love when greys turn to shades of blue.

I love the dirty color beige lace over grey used here.

Is this an ombre cat?

Mother Nature always does it best... a rare grey Labrador!