How is the New Year looking?

The New Year looks pretty good from the Voyager recliner by Stressless.

Stressless recliner at Arches National Park

Visit Arches National Park in eastern Utah and discover a landscape of vibrant colors, unique landforms and textures, unlike any other spot in the world.
(Image from National Park Service at the US government digital archives.)



Traditions' traveling reporter thought this image of Arches' Balanced Rock a suitable way to look at the new year. How is your new year shaping up? Here we are, two weeks into 2014; and it has been a week of "polar vortex" combined with snow, ice, and sleet, then days of balmy bliss. Well, it teaches us that the weather is anything but predictable.

Stressless Voyager recliner

Voyager in Cerise color

What is predictable is the comfort one experiences in the Stressless Voyager recliner. With its innovative Scandinavian design, the Voyager brings a new dimension to Stressless design.  The comfort is unrivaled, the leather cushioning - sumptuous and luxurious as you relax, while embracing and supporting your entire body.

Defining Modern at Stickley

Often, designers use the terms modern and contemporary interchangeably. 

We can agree that contemporary decorating is current with today, things modern right now. Contemporary is thought of as warm and welcoming without clutter, casual and inviting. Modern styling is similar - simple, unadulterated, and even minimalist to the point of being considered stark. Every object has its place and purpose. But Modern design technically refers to a time period, the 1920′s – 1950′s. 

Colors schemes in both modern and contemporary design are neutral - black and white with a splash of color to make a statement. Floors are normally hardwood, a carpet may soften the look.

We've chosen three collections by Stickley Furniture to show how modern and contemporary styling can be at home in three different settings.

Stickley Prairie Settle and Bow Arm Morris Recliner

In the mountains or at the farm, the Stickley Prairie Settle and Bow Arm Morris recliner in cherry is at home. A classic design since 1912, when L.& J.G. Stickley unveiled the paneled “Prairie” design. Available in both quarter-sawn oak and cherry (shown here). The focus is on the beauty of the wood.

Stickley 21st Century

Stickley's interpretation of the 21st century with this cherry setting. The Stickley 21st Century collection defines the timelessness of arts and crafts design and the essence of Modern style.

Stickley Bay Road sofa

Stickley goes to the lake with the Bay Road sofa and occasional pieces from the Coronado collection.Pretty doesn't have to be cluttered. The lake is the perfect place to relax and Stickley is the perfect setting wherever you are.

Stickley Traditional dining in the 2014 Winter Sale

Warm up with the Stickley 2014 Winter Sale - 40% off suggested retail prices.

Hepplewhite sideboard by Stickley

In the 18th century, Europe and America fell in love with the rich, satiny look of mahogany wood from Central America. Along with cherry, mahogany became the basis of a classic style that adorned homes in England and America.

Choose the classic mahogany dining table and Chippendale chairs. Thomas Chippendale (1718-1779) did not invent the style that bears his name. In 1754 he published a book of his designs, titled The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director that reflected reigning fashion in England, blends of Gothic, Asian, and French Rococo designs. The designs were used cabinet makers in Boston and Philadelphia, as well as London.

The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director

Classic Mahogany dining table and chairs by Stickley

Chippendale chairs

The equally beautiful Monroe Place table and Hepplewhite chairs are always in style. George Hepplewhite (1727? –1786) was one of the "big three" English furniture makers along with Chippendale and Thomas Sheraton. No furniture made by Hepplewhite exists but he gave his name to a light, elegant style. A Hepplewhite chair typically exhibits a shield back design. In 1788, his widow Alice, who continued his business after his death, published a book of his designs, The Cabinet Maker and Upholsterers Guide.

The Cabinet Maker and Upholsterers Guide.

Monroe Place table and Hepplewhite chairs

See all the Stickley traditional and classic dining in pdf format.

Historic Old Salem, North Carolina

When my wife and I travel to High Point for the furniture market, we stay in Winston-Salem just a stone's throw from Old Salem. Most everyone is familiar with Salem, Massachusetts, but have you heard of Old Salem, North Carolina?

Tin Coffee Pot, Old Salem

Salem was originally settled in 1753 by members of the Moravian Church. Today, the historic district showcases the Moravian settlement in North Carolina, along with restored communal buildings, churches, houses, and shops. To the north of the city is the Moravian cemetery where the men folk and women folk are separated by gender.

 As a history buff, it was interesting to find an historical connection between Old Salem, the Moravian Church and my wife's great ancestor Valentine Van Huss (1726 - 1781, Vanhouser). Old Salem was established the same year that Valentine Vanhoeser moved to Rowan County, North Carolina. What's more is that the Moravian Church and Valentine Vanhoeser originally came from the same area of Pennsylvania.

Here's the story - In 1740, members of the Moravian Church settled in eastern Pennsylvania in the communities of Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Lititz. At the age of two, Valentine moved with his parents from New York to Tulpehocken, half way between Bethlehem and Lititz. He married there in 1746.

In 1753, the Moravian church purchased a little less than a hundred thousand acres from John Carteret, Lord Granville in Rowan County, in the Piedmont of North Carolina. The Moravian community centered around Salem. The same year Valentine moved his wife and three children to southern Rowan County along the PeeDee River and later the Yadkin River (following in the footsteps of a young Daniel Boone and his father Squire Boone).

Valentine was not a member of the Moravian Church. The Moravians were Czech in origin and followers of Jan Hus (Huss), who was burned at the stake for heresy. The first Van Huss (the name "Huss" is coincidental) in America, Jan Franz Van Husum was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church. By the time that Valentine arrived in Tulpehocken, it is likely that he was a member of the Lutheran Church.

Here is my photo tour of Old Salem:

Craftsman leather by Stickley

Be slow to fall into friendship; but when thou art in, continue firm and constant.
Socrates

Craftsman leather chairs

Well it is September again in Kansas and the evenings are cool. It is a great time to light up the fireplace and sit a spell in a Craftsman leather chair and ottoman. One of our friendly favorites is the Lake Placid, solidly firm and constantly comfortable.

Lake Placid chair and ottoman by Stickley

What if you live in a great apartment or loft on Kansas City's Plaza. We suggest the Sundance chair with its high style.

Sundance leather chair by Craftsman and Stickley

Shakespeare says, 'Tis one thing to be tempted, another thing to fall. Here is a chance to fall into temptation with the classic tufted sofa and chair in a setting to warm the heart and soul.

Craftsman tufted leather sofa and chair

Goldilocks, three bears, and a Stressless recliner

Once upon a time in a fairy-tale forest, three bears lived together in a tree-house - a Wee, little bear, a Middle-sized bear, and a Large, huge bear.

For brown forest bears, the three bears were very good-natured, even the Large, huge bear; and they got along quite nicely with the other animals in the forest, even the porcupine, who at times could be quite prickly.

I know that you heard that these bears were a family - they weren't. They were just bear friends who got along together, hardly ever arguing. Still, each bear was set in their own way, preferring their food just so, their dress just one way or the other. Each bear had their own Stressless chair in just the right size - small, medium, and large. Size mattered for each bear liked to stretch out, read a favorite book, eat cookies and drink hot cocoa before taking a nap. And no chair is as comfortable as a Stressless recliner. That, they all agree on.

Stressless Voyager recliner in sizes any bear could like

The tree-house was quite a large affair. The tree itself was the largest oak tree in the forest, so large that the three bears with their arms outstretched together could not reach around the trunk.

In the middle of the trunk was a door with a window.  Inside the door, a circular stairway took one up above where long branches extended way out over the forest floor. On the largest branch was a porch, where the three bears could watch all that went on in the forest. It was on the porch that the three bears kept the Stressless recliners in sizes large, medium and small.

One day the three bears decide to take a walk in the woods while their cocoa cools. The Large bear dresses in a bowler hat and bow-tie,  the Middle-sized one takes a walking stick of burled oak, and the Wee bear wears a green and yellow scarf decorated with butterflies. The three bears set off without a care in the world.

A little girl with golden locks wanders away from home. As her home was in the valley near the forest, it was not unusual that she should stray into the forest where the birds and other animals dwelt. By chance she discovers the bears' dwelling. She looks through the window, peeps through the keyhole, and lifts the latch to the door. Finding no one home, she walks in.

The little girl with the golden locks admires the bears' tidy house immensely. Finding one of the Middle bear's walking sticks she waves it about and breaks it. She tries to drink the Large bear's cocoa, but it is too hot. She then sits in the Wee bear's Stressless recliner and exclaims, "It's just right!"

So, she drinks the the Wee bear's cocoa and eats the Wee bear's cookies and soon falls fast asleep.

Soon enough, as you might guess, the three bears came home. When the Wee bear sees the little girl in his chair with the empty cup on the floor, it lets out a low growl.  The little girl opens her eyes, sees the three bears rising menacingly on their hind feet, jumps up and off the porch, and runs away, never to be seen again.

And as for the three bears, they laugh heartily. Then, as they were weary from their walk, they each make a cup of hot cocoa and go back to their Stressless recliners and take a long nap. As the chair was so relaxing, they didn't really miss the cookies.

Green Mountain Falls Vacation

[This is summer and Traditions has invited guest writers to tell their summer stories.]

Bring Home Your Mountain Vacation

Pikes Peak Colorado

               In the heat of the summer, why not ditch the hot windy Midwest for the cool mountain air?

               Recently, I (I being Traditions' guest writer for the summer) vacationed in Green Mountain Falls, Colorado. Everything about the trip was peaceful and gorgeous. We stayed in this beautiful old craftsman style house that has been in my friend's family since 1940. The craftsmanship in the home was detailed, yet natural. 

A sign directs us in life

                By definition, a vacation home should be smaller, more intimate and charming, not to mention the plain fact that there is less to clean. The essential features to a proper vacation home are a front porch, rock fireplace, a comfy couch to sit on, bedroom, kitchen and bath. The porch to sit on in the cool summer evenings, the couch and fireplace to relax on and around which to tell tall-tales, the bathroom to wash up, the kitchen to fry up the day’s catch of Rainbow trout, and the bedroom, of course, to lay your head down after the day’s work.  I call it play.

Leather is indestructible

              Green Mountain Falls, at an altitude of 7,800 feet, is located north of Pikes Peak and 10 miles west of Colorado Springs, off U.S. Highway 24. The town population has less than 700 year-round residents, as most folks now-a-days prefer to commute, or just come for the summer. 

               It is tucked in a peaceful mountain valley and its natural assets include three creeks, waterfalls, a lake, rugged cliffs, forests, wildflowers, and abundant wildlife. The nature we witnessed on our daily hikes was breath-taking. One day, we hiked to the top of a mountain and then over to the town reservoir. From there, we could see Pikes Peak covered in Aspen and pine in all of its glory; it was simply amazing. 

Aspen leaves rustle in the wind

 

               The trip got me thinking, though: How can I bring the relaxing, effortless feel of this vacation home with me? I think it comes down to one central idea: be natural in your design. The mountains are all about serenity where nature speaks softly. 

Shapes and patterns

To give your home the feeling of a cabin retreat, it is great to use rich colors and textures, like brown leather. It adds a woodsy, refreshing feel to your home. Adding simple but beautiful accents in different shades of green will give your home a lush, fresh feel. You can do this by adding pillows or throws. 

Pillow with fern and maple leaf

               The most important thing to remember is to live in that place of serenity that the mountains encourage. Find a few special pieces of artwork that show beautiful landscapes reminiscent of the mountains and add those to your home. A Meissenburg sign is an ideal way to give your home a cabin feel. Most have customizable words, indicated by the green arrows in the picture. 

Add your own place name

               In the end, it's all about making your home feel like an oasis from everyday. All you need is find your happy place and go from there. And if you bring back a woodsy pillow or a sign of the great times, you will always remember the great time.