Sunday, January 29, 2012

Something is up.


Something is Up

 
Something is up, there is a change in the air. No, it is not the year, nor the season, nor is it politics as usual. Oops, can't talk about that.

No, change is coming to our stores in Overland Park and Wichita. Exciting new products are arriving daily prompting us to spruce things up a bit. And there will be changes to our websites as well. No, I am not going to spill the beans just yet, because we always like a surprise.

We could give you a few hints. That always seems fun. So, look at the images and see if the light turns on. Our changes will be electric.

While you are thinking about this, we want you to be comfortable. Relax in the chair of your choice, stretch out your legs and close your eyes. You know by now that we are the exclusive Stickley retailer in Kansas. You also know that we are the one place to go for Stressless recliners by Ekornes. And we show the best from manufacturers like Century, Sherrill, Vangurard, Paul Roberts, Charleston Forge, and many, many others.

Relax, you are among friends.


Sunday, January 22, 2012

Welcome to the Dallas Market

Welcome to the Dallas Market held January 18th through the 29th.

Coming right on the heels of the Atlanta Gift Show, this one is a little daunting. Daunting because there are 15 floors in the Dallas Trade Center alone, not to mention the Trade and Apparel Marts. Still it is always fun to get away and find something new. Dallas, unlike Atlanta, has a better selection of lighting and florals. So, a five hour drive by car down I-35 to the Dallas World Trade Center at Market Center Parkway, and we are here.

Fine art fills up the many walls of our two stores in Wichita and Overland Park. I have always thought of art as an easy and inexpensive way to travel. So, here is a preview of some of the artwork you can find at Traditions Furniture.

Enjoy the trip.






Sunday, January 15, 2012

Don't take it too seriously.

Uniformity is important when one is mass producing the screws, cog wheels, and widgets that make up a clock. It is also important if one is one of a hundred-and-one trombones in a big parade. When it comes to styling your home, however, you can be as unique as you want, and, perhaps, even a little foolish.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Atlanta - Home of the Braves

Atlanta, home of the Braves and Falcons, headquarter to CNN and Coca Cola, and the location of AmericasMart, the Atlanta Gift Show, that is held every January come rain or come shine. Thankfully, it is shining and the sky is a robin's egg blue. The air is crisp and cool. The trees line the streets like so many soldiers standing guard as the guests march to market. In winter the leaves have all fallen and the limbs point to heaven. And we are reminded that life on earth is short. The city, mindful of its night time guests, provides brightly lit streetlights in a turn of the century style. Oh why can't Wichita do the same along Douglas Avenue?



Unlike the High Point Market in North Carolina which showcases the major furniture manufacturers, Atlanta's market highlights apparel, rugs, gifts, and decor. The show is located in downtown Atlanta on Peachtree Avenue, Atlanta's answer to New York's Fifth Avenue or Chicago's Madison Avenue. If you are coming by plane the subway has a stop on Peachtree right at the market. Even so, we prefer to cab it from the airport to any number of hotels in walking distance of the market. The fare is a reasonable $35 and the cabbies are all friendly and foreign.

The more than 4,000 permanent showrooms are housed in three towering buildings that overlook Centenial Square and the CNN headquarters. Bridges connect the three towers on several levels making it easy to wander and walk back and forth between showrooms.



Traditions has been coming to the Atlanta show for over 20 years. Some of the recent finds at the showrooms have included brilliantly colored glassware, scented floral bouquets, and French milled soaps that have an air of Provence. There clearly is no rhyme or reason to what is shown at Atlanta, it is only the unique that strikes us.

More to come...

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Stickley Winter Sale

Stickley Winter Sale

It is always a good time to buy Stickley Furniture, but it just got better with the 40% off Sale starting now at Traditions Furniture. Traditions with locations in Downtown Overland Park and the College Hill  neighborhood of Wichita, is your single source for Stickley in Kansas.

The sale includes all of Stickley's great products, from its fine upholstery and leather to its Mission, Williamsburg, Modern, Pasadena Bungalow, and Antiquities Collections. What a great time to come in from the cold and watch a game of basketball in front of a Mission Entertainment Center that will house all of your electronic equipment. Game On!

Everyone is familiar with Gustav Stickey and the Arts & Crafts Movement. Gustav and his brothers were Modern before it was cool. The Arts & Crafts Movement, Mission style as it became popularly known, was a transition to simplicity and craftsmanship. Instead of imported mahoganies, the Stickley brothers worked with native American hardwoods of oak and cherry. Quarter-sawn wood cuts reflected the natural beauty of the oak. Emphasis was placed on the quality of the craftsmanship and the practicality of the design. And after over 100 years, Stickley Mission Furniture is still highly sought after by collectors. Anyone who has watched the Antiques Roadshow will recall the many appearances of a well-worn but still beautiful Stickley furniture piece.

Fingerlakes Collection

This year Stickley has brought out a new collection that reflects the rugged beauty of upstate New York. The Fingerlakes Collection is made in cherry. Its hand-planed finish captures the spirit of the northern woodlands and the beauty of the Fingerlakes Region of New York. It is not a coincidence that Stickley Furniture, located in Manlius, New York, should choose this style. Stickley is all about American style.

When we say, "Gather the family and create beautiful memories," we hope to suggest a return to better, simpler times when sitting around the table with family and friends meant something. Sure, going out to a restaurant is all the rage today. Sometimes, it is a necessity. In the hectic pace of life, we don't have time to sit down at home and share the day's stories. But, life is short, and priorities should be the home spun values we prize. The relaxed feel of the Stickley chair, the smooth hand-rubbed patina of the cherry wood, will re-create the perfect environment for your kitchen or dining room. Share again the experience of dining at home with family and friends.

Stickley Story

There is a lot to the Stickley story. Come in today to Traditions Furniture in Downtown Overland Park or Wichita and take a seat in one of Stickley's Morris Chairs or kick back in a recliner and watch TV. You can see it all at Traditions, and enjoy the Stickley Winter Sale, going on now.