| Enduring Legends in Design
William Morris was an English designer, poet, artist and craftsman whose designs for textiles, stained glass, furniture, wallpaper and many other decorative arts helped create the arts and crafts movement during the Victorian era.
Morris originally entered Exeter College at Oxford to study theology but later changed his focus to the arts. However, his spiritual beliefs remained an underlying force in his work as he believed nature was the perfect example of God's design.
 He also regarded nature as the spiritual remedy to the inferior standards of art and design during the Industrial Revolution. Leaves, trees, flowers and vines are a recurring theme in his incredibly detailed drawings.
The talents of Morris knew no bounds. He had an innate curiosity and an appreciation of all things beautiful and handmade. He tried his hands at almost everything.
 Unable to find a suitable fabric for a library chair, he set up a loom in his home and taught himself to weave with only an 18th century French manual for guidance. Within a matter of months he had completed his first tapestry design.
Symbolizing growth and continuous life, his Tree of Life tapestry is one of his most easily recognizable designs. Morris was one of the most prolific artists of his time. Even now, 150 years later, we are the beneficiaries of his passion for art and design. |
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Jewelry For Your Home  The Beauty is in the Details
Discover handcrafted artistry and unmatched clarity of detail in our new line of decorative knobs and pulls for cabinets and furniture. The oak leaf pulls at right are hand tinted brass.
 Notting Hill Decorative Hardware offers a fine selection of handcrafted Period-inspired designs from Art Nouveau to Art Deco knobs, Prairie, Traditional and Victorian knobs, Lodge, Nature and Rustic knobs, Leaf and Flower knobs and more. Notting Hill's decorative hardware are classic and timeless.
Pearly Peapod Knob - Hand Tinted Pewter |
| Are You Making These Lighting Mistakes?
It's easy to underestimate the power of a smart lighting plan. Here are the top 3 mistakes we see and how to correct them.
1. Counting on recessed cans to do the heavy lifting. Typically, the optics of can lights don't put sufficient light on wall surfaces, which is where the eye perceives light. Where possible, retrofit with adjustable or wall wash components. 
2. Forgetting to install dimmers or rheostats. Of the 37 wall switches in the average American home, only 2.7 of them are dimmers. We recommend them just about everywhere we spec incandescent and halogen lighting. Available in a variety of styles and finishes, they're a snap to install.
3. Failing to use a harmonious blend of ambient, task AND  accent lighting. Well-designed spaces incorporate different kinds of light. Ambient light is general lighting for walking around and conversing (table and floor lamps, for example). Task lighting provides higher, more concentrated lighting for tasks such as chopping vegetables or studying. Accent light is used to highlight art- work or architectural features, such as wall niches and bookcases. Combining all three types of light promises greater functionality and interest.
As we head into the holiday season, now is a great time to make sure your home is seen in its best light. For inspired lighting solutions and much more - call 281-580-7775 or e-mail us. |
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Help Us Celebrate our 28th Anniversary!
Enter this easy contest for a chance to win 50.00 CASH. Just shoot us a quick email by noon, 9-15 with your name and the correct answer in the subject line.
What company's colors are famous worldwide and name is both a noun and a verb?
Winner will be drawn and notified by e-mail on 9-16. Must be a newsletter subscriber to enter and and one entry per person. |
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Do You Have Back Issues?
Find out how you can make your entry grand. And why classic design is always in style. Want to know the color of the year?
Filled with more than 100 design ideas and tips, we've gathered all our e-newsletters in one place.
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Good Enough to Eat?
Well, Not Exactly....
Crayola introduced a 16-pack of crayons that released realistic fragrances when you use them.
Due to a high volume of crayon eating, 13 of the 16 were replaced. It seems that cherry, chocolate, bubble gum and blueberry smelled too good to resist.
Quick Quiz
Who own Crayola today?
A. Hallmark
B. Binney and Smith
C. Avery/Marks-A-Lot
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"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." |
William Morris 1834-1896
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| Did You Know?
Dimming incandescent bulbs is a great way to save energy in your home without putting compact fluorescent bulbs in all your light fixtures. If you dim a bulb by 50%, you use 40% less electricity and increase the bulb life twentyfold.
Dimming reduces the amount of heat on the bulb's filament, which helps it last longer. |
| Answer to Crayola Quiz: A Hallmark |
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