The Green Room

Verde Home is wins Best of Atlanta for 2009!

2009-12-07T13:11:00.007-05:00

For the second year in a row Verde Home is honored to have been selected by Atlanta Magazine for their Best of 2009 List. This year Verde Home won "Best Sustainable Style"! We would like thank Atlanta Magazine as well as our other supporters and customers. We appreciate the acknowledgement.

I would also like to say congratulations to all of my Westside neighboring business selected as well. The Westside was strongly represented this year and with all the development continuing over here we can only assume it will be better next year. Below is a list of a few of our fellow Best of Winners:

Best New Restaurant - Abattoir

Best New Hot Spot - Flip Burger

Hall of Fame - Carvers Country Kitchen

Hall of Fame - Star Provinsions

Best Bang for the Buck - Toscano & Sons

Best Bew Pub - 5 Seasons

Best New Mens Boutique - Ken Barber

Best Mens Boutuique - Sid Mashburn

Best Cottage Chic - Bungalow Classic

Best Bit of Glam - Maison Atlanta

Best Eco Housewares - Eco Emporium

Best Consigned Home Furnishings - Savvy Snoot

Best Loft Style - Stanton Home Furnishings / Provenance

Best Home Bargains - World of Rugs/Progressive Lighting

If you haven't been over to this side of town lately it is definitely worth a trip. Several new business and restaurants have opened and the energy continues to grow.

Below is a map of all the 2009 Shop category winners for 2009. We hope to see you soon on the Westside!

View Best of Atlanta 2009 - Shop in a larger map

Black Friday and Holiday Hours

2009-11-25T10:24:00.002-05:00

We realize that many of you may want to rush out and by your "Holiday Sofa" on Friday but unfortunately Verde Home will not be open. We will however be re-opening on Saturday for our normal 11-4 hours if a beautiful Tibetan rug is a must have and you simply can not wait.

Have a great holiday and we will see you soon.

Westside ArtWalk - The place to be on Saturday

2009-07-20T09:14:00.002-05:00

The recently formed Westside Arts Ditrict has been hosting an ArtWalk on the third Saturday of each month to promote awareness of the area and all the fabulous galleries. This past saturday turned out to be a great weekend for the walk. The weather was perfect and hundreds turned out to see the great art and browse the shops.

Participating Galleries include:

The Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, Bobbe Gillis Gallery, Emily Amy Gallery, Get This! Gallery, Kiang Gallery, The Robert C. Williams Paper Museum (to begin Art Walk participation in April 2009), SALTWORKS, Sandler Hudson Gallery and Octane Coffee Bar.

Don't miss the next Artwalk on Saturday August 15th!

5 Seasons has soft Opening

2009-05-06T08:36:00.003-05:00

Last night 5 Seasons held an event in connection with Georgia Organics which served as the soft opening for the restaurant. We went over at about 6:15 and it ws already filling up pretty good. Unfortunately, and despite great effort, they were unable to get the liquor licsense in time for this event but that didn't hamper a few hundred people from stopping by to sample the great food and get a sneak peek at the space. You can tell by looking inside that many of the finishing touchs are yet to come but the overall feel is spacious and social. The restaurant will encompass three levels with a terrace level beer garden, street level main dining room, and roof deck. Over the next few days I will walk over and get some photos as they finish up. I don't have official word as to when they will be open for regular business but I would assume it is about a week away.

Congratulations 5 Seasons and welcome to the neighborhood.

The Book Report

2009-03-02T16:16:00.001-05:00

I believe a truly respectable weblog should prove itself to be more then a soapbox for unsubstantiated opinions and so as a way for you, the reader, to assess my ability to review a topic, organize data and develop an argument, either for or against a particular issue, I did what any grammar school teacher worth their mettle would do and assigned myself a book report. Beyond the basic function of proving I am literate, a book review also helps to illustrate how a person experiences a subject or ideas. You can learn a lot about a reviewer by reading the review. I don’t expect this to end well. I took an emotional IQ test a few years back and the results said my temperament was best suited for a society based on collective anarchism. This still confuses me. And makes me angry. And then I get sad. And then I just don’t care; stupid Emotional IQ tests.

Martin Lindstrom’s Buyology: Truth and Lies About Why We Buy discusses the burgeoning approach to measuring consumer behavior called neuromarketing, which, simply put, is the endeavor to apply scientific method to the business of branding. Proponents, such as Mr. Lindstrom, believe that neuromarketing will unlock the mystery behind our subconscious choices of one brand over another, by using brain-imaging technology that is traditionally used to detect illness. The picture on the cover is a profile of a human head in black silhouette with a barcode tag attached to a string, which then winds around to form the outline of a human brain. As you will learn after reading the book, I’m sure there was a subliminal message hidden in this cover, meant to induce more readers to pull it off the bookstore shelf, however, on the surface it seems to infer that the human brain doesn’t have much going on inside it other then a compulsion to shop. A compulsion whose tendencies can be recognized and measured in the same way a virulent tumor is detected.

1. Negatively judging a seemingly innocuous book cover: -10 emotional IQ points.

Mr. Lindstrom uses the introduction to Buyology to define neuromarketing and defend it against mind control alarmists. It is not, according to the author, an Orwellian instrument for governments and corporations, employed to manipulate our consumerism to their benefit, but, rather, is a defense against the tactics of advertisers who don’t always have our best consuming interests at heart. In fact, as the author illustrates in a discussion of cigarette warning labels, governmental efforts to curb smoking by putting warning labels on cigarette cartons often backfire, since just seeing the label stimulates the part of the human brain that compels a smoker to light up. As the author succinctly surmises, “…neuromarketing isn’t about implanting ideas in people’s brains, or forcing them to buy what they don’t want to buy; its about uncovering what is already inside our heads—our Buyology.”(P 35). And what Mr. Lindstrom and the scientists monitoring the brain scanning equipment soon find out is that we are frequently irrational in our consuming behavior and sections of our brain regularly compete to influence our decision-making processes. It is these internal conversations within our brains that lead us to predominately choose Coke over Pepsi even though in taste tests we slightly prefer Pepsi and why we would rather take a $15 gift certificate now then wait 2 weeks for a $20 gift certificate.

I found this part of Mr. Lindstrom’s argument personally compelling, since I am keenly aware of the internal monologue that mumbles just below the surface of our consciousness. In my previous employment I often travelled great distances, by myself, in a car. On these long, solitary road trips, what begins as a hushed conversation between you and the world speeding by, can steadily develop into internal debates that suddenly escalate into raging arguments between you and…you. For travelers who get uncomfortable stopping late at night for gas, food or lodging, I assure you that the chances of being accosted or even bothered are greatly reduced if you get out of the car screaming at yourself.

2. Emotional Intelligence Quotient of previous paragraph.

a. Recognizing and accepting the multiple voices inside your head: +5 Emotional IQ points.

b. Allowing these voices to argue publicly: -7 Emotional IQ points.

Chapter 2 of Buyology dealt with the effectiveness of product placement and used American Idol as a test case. Although I found this chapter to be one of the more interesting pieces of Mr. Lindstrom’s research, I found it hard to relate it back to Verde Home and our extensive offering of fine, hand-woven wool and silk rugs, or our recent arrivals of soft, textured, vibrant upholstery from American Leather or our custom, contemporary hardwood furniture brought to you by Skylar Morgan’s DOC Collection. Mr. Lindstrom’s research illustrated that product placement was most successful in grabbing viewers’ attention when the product was integrated into the actual program (or blog?). Coca-Cola was the clear victor, considering the American Idol judges drink from Coca-Cola cups, much like the one I just set down on Verde Home’s CS Oval Dining Table.

Additionally, American Idol’s furniture on the set is designed with rounded edges that mimic the shape of Coke bottles, similar to these Zig Zag vases from the Verde Home collection of accessories.

And, finally, the contestant waiting area is painted the same red as a Coca-Cola can, which, by the way, closely resembles the leather in our Hugo chair.

Cingular was the next most successful integrator of their brand considering the audience is repeatedly told to text their votes via Cingular wireless and their orange logo, coincidentally the same color as Verde Home’s Sandy love seat, pops up every time a contestant’s telephone number is listed to start the voting.

On another note, if you would like to vote in support of my candidacy to be President of the Confederacy of Collective Anarchists, please scroll down to the comments link and register as a member. Considering this is a party based on anarchy, your membership will be immediately denied, but that’s just because formal memberships have been outlawed. I know it seems confusing but you try finding common ground among a bunch of anarchists. The current president is some guy named Carl, who I have not actually met since he’s never been present at any meetings. Attendance is optional and if you do decide to go to a meeting, I would come armed. For the answers to any other questions, I would refer you to our constitution but I should warn you that it is written in pencil in 36 different languages, so it could best be described as a fluid document.

Of all the American Idol sponsors, Ford motor company was shown to register the least in the minds of viewers and not coincidentally their product was only viewed during commercial breaks. If Ford isn’t smart enough to drive one of their SUV’s on to the American Idol set, then they really don’t deserve a bail out. I would consider buying a Ford if they plowed an Escape Hybrid into the panel of judges and I doubt I’m alone on this sentiment. These are the kinds of things I think about while lounging back in the Acacia chair by Cisco Brothers with my feet up on the recently delivered DOC round Coffee table.

3. Wishing physical harm on people you have never met: -15 Emotional IQ points.

Although it’s a relief to know that we now have scientific proof, the theories expressed in the next few sections of Buyology are not what I would call revolutionary. Mr. Lindstrom begins with an explanation of mirror neurons, the biological basis behind why we yawn when someone else yawns and concludes that consumers are influenced by the frequency of seeing a product being utilized by other consumers. In short, we imitate one another in the same way monkeys do. We are talking basic evolutionary theory here and the rest of the chapter borders on condescension when Mr. Lindstrom informs us that our willingness to purchase something can be greatly affected by our interaction with a positive or negative salesperson. The entire discussion left me muttering the phrase, “No duh”.

4. Using expressions common to a 13-year -old girl when you are actually a 36-year-old adult male: -13 Emotional IQ points.

The chapter on subliminal messages in advertising is slightly more thought provoking, if only for the final analysis that the logo is dead, and, therefore, subliminal marketing will only become more prevalent. Mr. Lindstrom gives a brief explanation and history of subliminal advertising, with the spotlight being on the cigarette industry, since smoking ads are widely banned and has forced this industry to find creative ways to promote their product. Which they accomplish with great success, while simultaneously doing their part to control the world’s over population and serve at the pleasure of their underworld master. It is Mr. Lindstrom’s contention, throughout Buyology, that neuromarketing will protect us from these manipulations by giving us the power to recognize when we are being subliminally influenced. Now all we need are individual, portable versions of an fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machine; a piece of equipment that currently weighs in at 32 tons.

5. Resorting to unnecessary sarcasm bordering on cynicism: -7 on the Emotional IQ meter.

Things begin to regain some momentum in a discussion of humankind’s penchant for rituals. Mr. Lindstrom’s research shows that our psychic attachment to rituals comes from the same nerve center in our brain that compels us towards brand loyalty. It is the human desire for the appearance of control in an unpredictable world that induces us to check our horoscope every morning or pray before we go to bed every night or, in my case, repeatedly check locked doors, unplug electrical outlets, check for running faucets and drain a tub of hand sanitizer almost weekly. This same compulsion also directs some of us to order a Guinness draft, with its formal procedure for the perfect pour, rather then a less expensive but similarly tasting beer that just streams out of the tap without the ceremony.

This contention, alone, is worthy of note but what makes it truly attention grabbing is Mr. Lindstrom’s transition into a discussion on religious experiences and its relation to our behaviors as consumers. The author provides numerous links between religions, and their accompanying rituals, and the characteristics that make up a strong brand; from the palpable sensory appeal and use of symbols to the perceptible identification of enemies, which in terms of religion centers on Satan and in regards to myself, includes the following list:

Ed. Note: A directory of people, places, organizations and even some flora and fauna was provided, but the list was disturbingly long and deemed by this editor to be unsuitable for the forum. If you are interested in knowing things like, “Paul’s top ten most annoying sport’s figures in history”, then submit a resume and wait for a slow afternoon because, frankly, I can’t listen to it anymore. It has been almost 20 years of this and it is starting to have a profound negative effect on my health.

But I digress, and, in summary, Mr. Lindstrom’s provocative assertion is that our brains react the same way to strong brands as they do to religious images. I will leave it up to you to ponder the possible repercussions of this theory.

6. And the Emotional IQ experiment continues:

a. Finally admitting that you suffer from a slight case of OCD: + 20 points

b. Making lists of perceived enemies or annoyances: -80 points. (Ouch)

In the final chapters, Mr. Lindstrom turns his attention to somatic markers, which he believes are at the root of our buyology and therefore the primary focus of all neuromarketing research. Somatic markers are imprints of past experiences that the brain stores and then relies on later to assist in the decision making process. Subsequently, what we think is spontaneous behavior is actually directed by our subconscious using prior experiences, from very old to very recent. To further impress upon the importance of these markers, Mr. Lindstrom proclaims, “These cognitive shortcuts are what underlie most of our buying decisions.” (P 131) Simply put, if you want a successful brand, then it needs to connect to a somatic marker, such as Johnson’s No More Tears shampoo, which connects the user to an actual experience stored in our mind from childhood and subconsciously influences our purchasing decision as an adult. Additionally, somatic markers are often sensory in that smelling, hearing or feeling something can spark a marker in our brain and cause us to buy something that on the surface may seem unrelated.

Mr. Lindstrom contends that 80 percent of all product launches fail in the first 3 months and often because marketers don’t heed somatic markers. Thusly, neuromarketing is vital to not only judging a product’s worthiness to be in the marketplace but should assist companies in launching advertising campaigns that are appropriate to the products themselves. Which leads to Buyology’s final assertion that sex doesn’t always sell because it focuses people’s attention away from the actual product trying to be sold. Research showed that viewers were less likely to recall a name brand or logo when it was accompanied with more suggestive sexual content because their brains were disproportionately more focused on the arousing content in the advertisement rather then the product being propped up or endorsed. As an addendum to Mr. Lindstrom’s research, I can tell you that the type of suggestive language used can directly affect people’s reactions to a product. For instance, at Verde Home, the closest we have come to a sexually charged promotion was when we hung the following rugs by Tamarian Carpets, with their accompanying design names, on the walls of our Tibetan Rug Gallery.

Rather than anything even alluding to arousal, I would best describe the overall customer reaction as perplexed. For the record, my safe word is Tamarian.

The Wrath of Grape Smoothies

2009-02-03T15:22:00.003-05:00

If you glanced at my previous blog, you know that I was recently paroled from the AmericasMart. I had paid my debt to the wholesale community and resigned myself to a long walk back to Verde Home. Honestly, I welcomed the solitary reprieve from the collective pessimism of Gift Row.

As I passed the CNN center, I ran into an old friend, Casey James. Casey previously owned a lighting store in Atlanta, but was ultimately forced to close his doors when Georgia Power cut off his electricity. The irony had not been lost on him. After a brief exchange of pleasantries and predictions on the weather, I asked Casey for a ride back to the showroom, but he mumbled something about problems charging his Prius, difficulty with electricity, in general, and a medical recommendation to get more exercise.

For reasons that will later be made glaringly apparent, Casey was apprehensive about going back inside the CNN center. Since his gallery closing, Casey had returned to a career in marketing and taken on the responsibility of coordinating a comprehensive strategy for the vendors in the CNN food court. The work appeared to be taking its toll on him physically and mentally. His hair had gone white, his face red and a paunch protruded awkwardly from his lower waist, like a marsupial carrying its young.

He lamented that between watching CNN report on the economy all day and the copious amount of free grease from the fast-food vendors, he had gained thirty-five pounds and had a resting heart rate of 174 over 128. In an effort to lose weight and avoid panic attacks he had taken to pouring vodka into grape smoothies, which he then nursed throughout the day. As we marched the long mile from CNN center to the BrickWorks, Casey slurped on an adult smoothie, chain-smoked Marlboro Reds and rambled on about a Woody Guthrie biography he had recently finished reading by candlelight.

Initially distracted by Casey’s stream of barely consciousness, I hadn’t noticed that traffic on Marietta Street was uncommonly quiet. As we neared the BrickWorks, it quickly became clear that the complex was deserted, doors to businesses were locked and there was no sign of working electricity. Casey instinctively denied responsibility for the power outage. Confused and increasingly concerned, I started to briskly jog and then sprint to our showroom. I found Kent and Laura outside Verde Home, packing what was left of our store into a converted SUV. A sofa was strapped to the roof, dining chairs hung out the back window and a couple of floor lamps had been tied to the hood.

Most of our room settings had been destroyed, in what the BrickWorks community now refers to as the Wool Bowl. The Wool Bowl was caused by a major influx of rug inventory into the Verde Home Tibetan rug gallery. While I was serving my sentence at the Merchandise Mart Super Max, our market shipments had arrived and the ensuing stacking and flipping of the new rug merchandise caused a violent blast.

In scientific terms it is a type of chain reaction, often referred to as dispersed fuel combustion and is most commonly identified with grain silo explosions. Although certainly not a frequent occurrence, there was an astonishing amount of information on the internet concerning the topic of wool induced fuel-air bombs; including a list of reported cases since the tracking of this phenomenon began in the early 1980s. There are even the minutes from a conference held in Turkmenistan in 1993. Not personally holding any degrees in physics or chemistry, much of the jargon was beyond my comprehension, but the phenomenon had something to do with static electricity, dyed wool, and aerial propulsion. More then a few of the conference attendees maintained that this marvel of destruction was the scientific basis behind the myth of the magic carpet ride.

Nonetheless, with nothing to anchor our furniture, much of it blew away or was pulverized into dust. The ensuing cloud of dust and fuzz spread across the Brickworks, billowed through crevices and under doors, settled in lobbies, galleries and eateries, contaminated food and coated furniture. Maid services were called in from across the city.

Laura described the scenario as a “wool blizzard”. Kent kept repeating “sheep tornado”, over and over, but this was probably due to a nasty head wound and obvious concussion. The situation was dire, however, in retrospect, not unsalvageable. Unfortunately, before I could regain my composure and proceed logically with an insurance claim, Casey rose up and delivered the following sermon:

“I don’t know if it’s my place, but someone needs to say something. It’s too quiet. All I can do is hear myself think and that’s a noise I don’t find very appealing. I mean come on, ya’ll have done this before and you can do it again. Hell, I’ve done it before and I’m not so sure I could do it again - I mean look at me, I’m hanging on by a thread - but I could help you. We just need to get out of here. You need a new beginning, because, honestly, I don’t think there is anything here for you anymore. The wounds are too deep and the memories too clear. And I don’t think you want to be around for the clean up.”

In my defense, this is when I first tried to interject with a more practical solution, but there was no stopping Casey when he set his mind to finishing a thought.

“Listen, I got a call a few weeks back from a young lady. Now that I have had some time to reflect, I think she may have been an angel of some kind. She wanted to know if I would consider moving my lighting gallery to ADAC. Can you imagine? My gallery, Let there be Light, in the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center? This was an opportunity of a lifetime, to sell my lamps, pendants and chandeliers inside the most exclusive home furnishings center in the South. I felt like my heart would explode with joy. Then my extremities went numb and I broke out in a cold sweat and realized I was actually having a heart attack. As I clutched my chest and tried to focus on my breathing, I squeaked out a brief explanation about how I had been delinquent on my electric bills and how difficult it is to sell lighting without power. I explained that I had been forced to close up shop months ago, but that I was touched ADAC thought of me and could she please send an ambulance to the Smoothie King at CNN Center. Then I blacked out. But, regardless, the point is, we could go make a new start at ADAC. I got connections. So, you all climb into that vehicle, now.”

I could see Laura hesitate and I was about to say that we needed to slow down and discuss our next move, when out of the corner of my eye I saw Kent drop the tape gun he was using to wrap his head wound and stumble into the back seat like a zombie who just hailed a cab.

“That’s the spirit, Kent.” Casey cried.

Our fate was sealed.

Casey continued, “But I’m going to need a smoothie. Grape. And some Vodka.”

En route, we stopped to pick up the needed supplies for Casey and as Laura and I returned to the truck with enough vodka and fruit smoothies to power an entire cross country team of alcoholics, we found Kent and Casey formalizing a marketing plan for our re-start up.

Kent thought it would be a good idea to launch some kind of direct marketing campaign, to get the word out about the move and present it in the most positive light possible. Laura proposed a direct mailer, maybe a post card or letter to designers.

Casey snorted, “Junk mail.”

Kent agreed that e-mail would be more cost effective and environmentally conscious.

Casey shook his head and barked, “Spam!”

I recommended phone calls, since they were more personal and would put a human voice to our situation.

Casey was incredulous. “Cold calls? Really? Ever hear of No Call Lists…dumbass.”

As Casey’s tone turned increasingly negative, we arrived at the entrance to ADAC. We soon realized that conditions for success were no better at ADAC then anywhere else. Traffic was down, Casey’s “connection” had been “deselected” during a round of layoffs and the simple hope of earning a decent wage seemed unreasonable. Honestly, the whole idea had been a bad one, born of panic, but at least we were starting to see things clearer. It was time to return to the BrickWorks, file an insurance claim and wait for the home furnishings bailout that assuredly would be included in the economic stimulus package.

But for Casey there was no gleam of hope. His dream had been a simple one but when it turned out to be impossible, his dejection spilled out in a heartbreaking confession of marketing ineptitude.

“Truth be told I have no formal training in marketing. Those ideas you guys had; they were good ones. I just hadn’t thought of them myself. Attaching coupons to pizza boxes was the best I could come up with and that had met with mixed reviews from the CNN crowd. Frankly, I don’t even know what guerrilla marketing is and have no earthly idea how to apply it to high-end home furnishings. You could have told me you planned to hide behind sofas and throw candles at customers as they passed by and I would have thought you were on to something.”

And with that, Casey gave us a half-hearted salute, lit a cigarette and turned towards the entrance to ADAC. Sensing our concern, he paused and tried to put our minds at ease.

“I’ll be around…I’ll be around in the unnatural glow of a furniture showroom with no view…of a rug gallery with not an inch of bare floor left and a fabric house whose racks swing empty. I’ll be everywhere. Wherever there is a sample sale so an overstocked showroom can clear inventory, I’ll be there. Wherever there is an interior designer ordering discontinued fabric, I’ll be there. I’ll be there in the way shipments land on a dock and clients breath a sigh of relief when they’ve finally found that perfect ottoman to rest their weary feet. And when these halls are filled again with designers ordering upholstery for newly built homes – why, I’ll be there.”

By all reports, Casey’s first couple of weeks went smoothly. He helped organize the Brotherhood of Rug Porters, submitted a proposal to open ADAC to the public and was working on an infomercial for a local cable access station, when he issued the following warning:

“I swear to the Lord above, that if one more person uses the phrase, “in this economy”, my head will explode.”

Rest in peace, Casey James.

Market Wrap Up

2009-01-21T10:51:00.006-05:00

My new years resolution was to start writing on our blog, so this is my first post. Kent has asked me previously to participate in “The Green Room” and I managed to procrastinate for almost 16 months: a new record. By attaching the endeavor to a New Year’s resolution, I know I can quit by the spring, without any considerable carriage of guilt. Although, I am counting on Kent asking me to stop by then, which is a very real possibility.

Considering the 2009 NORS (National Oriental Rug Show) just wrapped up at the Americasmart in downtown Atlanta, I figured a market review would be as good a place as any to get started. I have been attending this trade show for over ten years, the majority of the time as the general manager of a wholesale rug vendor and then more recently as a co-owner and buyer for Verde Home. It is vastly more enjoyable to be a buyer at the rug show, if for no other reason then the fact that you can escape whenever you feel short of breath or dizzy. Vendors are trapped inside their windowless display areas because buyers rarely keep to appointments, or even bother to make them, and you never know when a “giftee” will wander in with fabrics.

The inevitable light-headedness or shortness of breath is due to the poor indoor air quality on the rug floors, the result of carpet smog. The sheer quantity of carpet and rug fibers wafting through the halls would alone be enough to kill a lamb, but the problem is compounded by the fact that many of these fibers have been doused with caustic washes. Kent has written at length in our monthly e-newsletter on the topic of floor covering household emissions and this is just one of the many reasons why we carry mainly Tibetan rugs, due to their common practice of using metal-free, low impact dyes and bio-washes.

I have always been partial to dogs as pets, but I am beginning to sympathize with cats, since I think I now know what a hairball must feel like. In the case of a rug market participant, it is a wool ball and it builds with every breath, no matter how hard you try to wash it down with every free cocktail offered to you. Each showroom has a bar; ranging from make-shift tables with white catering linens and folding chairs to fully stocked saloons with stools and a bartender.

At least I think there was a bartender. The market wasn’t very well attended and between my labored breathing, increased alcohol consumption, and the eerily empty hallways, I started to feel like Jack Torrance after a few winter months in the Rockies. One particularly hazy afternoon near the end of the week I spent nearly three hours on the 3^rd floor looking for a carpet sample that would match the flooring from the Overlook Hotel. I don’t know why. But I think I found it.

“Give that man a cigar and a blow torch to light it with.”

- Jack Torrance as played by Jack Nicholson in “The Shining”

What I didn’t find was much of anything new, except from the usual innovators, who tend more and more to be Tibetan rug dealers. Perhaps, I am jaded from years of attending the market, but the truth is that the rug business does not lend itself to innovation. There is an occasional exception that proves the rule, but for the most part, if you are looking for something floor-breaking in the hand-knotted rug business, then Tibetan rug dealers offer the most original products by design, quality and color.

Nepalese producers use a business model akin to fabric houses, where you select designs from swatches and then the rug is made to order in your size. Most non-Tibetan, hand-knotted rug manufacturers reproduce antique designs and stock room size rugs for sale off showroom floors, and, so, design or color mistakes in room size rugs usually leads to dead inventory. Unsalable room size rugs then sit in warehouses and have to eventually be dumped at pennies on the dollar, if they can be sold at all.

Tibetan manufacturers, if they stick to the business model, minimize their holdings by making samples that can be ordered in any size and in custom colors. This allows them to be more creative and take a chance on a design that another manufacturer would deem too risky. This is another reason we dedicate so much of our rug gallery space to Tibetan designs and Nepalese manufacturers. This way we avoid filling our showroom with antique reproductions that reek of chemicals and inevitably contain one of the following colors; salmon, shrimp, coral, carnation, french rose veritouche or thulian, of which, at least one of these I don’t believe is even an actual color, yet all have been used at one time or another to describe: PINK.

Editor’s note: Throughout our many years in the wholesale rug business, Paul and I competed with the most innovative rug manufacturers in the world for square footage in the best Design Center and Retail rug galleries across the country. When we opened our own showroom, three of these firms in particular, were the first companies we thought of carrying ourselves. It was a pleasure to work with Tamarian Carpets, New Moon Rugs and Tibetano in our first year and we look forward to making more rugs with them in the future. With that said, we have greatly expanded our inventory from these vendors and have hundreds of designs and rugs to choose from. Additionally, I would like to apologize for any offense taken, now or in the future, by my business partner’s remarks concerning the state of the floor covering industry, or any industry...or person, for that matter. In many ways, I guess you could argue that I am entirely to blame.

By Paul Baird - Co Owner Verde Home

Next Week: Oushak Reproductions: The Devil’s Weave.

Best of Atlanta

2008-11-24T12:09:00.003-05:00

Verde Home is exctited to have been recognized in our first year in business on Atlanta Magazine's "Best of Atlanta" list. Go to the newstands today and check out this great issue. We can be found on page 105, but the whole issue is packed with great places to shop eat and visit!

I am not sure how the nominations or voting happens for this issue but thank you to everyone and anyone who had a part of this! We appreciate the recognition and will work hard to stay on the list.

The Day After

2008-08-22T13:03:00.003-05:00

Thank you to everyone who was able to stop by last night for our gallery opening. We had a great night and went on celebrating well into the evening. For those of you who could not make it...fear not because we have another event in the works for early November. Check back with our website or blog for details as they develop. As soon as I get a chance to gather some of the party photos I will post them.

Late Notice

2008-08-20T11:05:00.003-05:00

I have been a little slack in updating our blog as of late and as a result I completely forgot to add a post about our upcoming Gallery Opening. This is really late notice but we are hosting Ryan Higgins of Tamarian Custom Tibetan Carpets for an evening party tomorrow night (August 21st) from 5:30 to 9:00 or so. Please stop by and see us if you have a chance and I promise to update you sooner next time.

Tamarian makes fabulous tibetan rugs using himalayan wool and silk (which also happens to be rapidly renewable) carefully colored with Clairiant swiss low impact dyes. All rugs are then lightly washed in soap and water to bring out the natural beauty in the wool. Stop by anytime to check them out or visit our website.

Thanks AJC

2008-07-03T12:04:00.002-05:00

Nedra Rhone from The Atlanta Journal Constitution stopped by the other day to see what we had going on over at Verde Home. Yesterday we were excited to see that she wrote a nice piece about us for the Habitude blog on the AJC website. Check it out here.

Thanks Nedra

2008-06-19T15:57:00.004-05:00

After a brief respite, we are back with our free educational lecture series. July 17th at noon we will be hosting Karen Raymer of Waldenour Eco Design Source as she guides us through a discussion about designing healthy living environments.

Lunch and refreshments from Toscano & Sons Italian Market will be served so be sure to reserve your spot (space will be limited). If you are interested in attending please RSVP to kent@verdehomeinc.com or simply call us at (678)927-9113. We hope hope to see you then.

Reed LaPlant shows at Modern Atlanta show

2008-05-15T10:04:00.005-05:00

If you by chance attended the Modern Atlanta opening show this past weekend at the Mason Muer Gallery you may have seen two great pieces by Reed LaPlant. Both of these pieces are from the Reed LaPlant Studio collection available exclusively through Verde Home. The event was a great success with over 1000 guests stopping in on the opening night.

In addition to the pieces by Reed there was some great local furniture designed by Soorikian and Dex Studio as well as a nice display by Aretfacto.

It is great to see local design and business getting noticed. I hope they do it again next year.

Verde Home to offer O-ecotextile

2008-04-30T12:05:00.004-05:00

Verde Home is pleased to be the first showroom in Atlanta to represent the fabulous o-ecotextiles collection of fabrics. The mission at o-ecotextiles is to change the way textiles are made in order to prove that it is possible to create luxurious sensuous fabrics that are non-toxic ethical and sustainable. We have just today taken possession of our first fabric samples and will soon be offering these fabrics on all of our organic upholstery or by itself. If you are interested in seeing this line please stop by or contact us.

Reed LaPlant premiers at Verde

2008-03-26T10:36:00.004-05:00

For those of you who missed it, Reed LaPlant unveiled the first three designs of his new RL collection this past Wednesday at our gallery. Reed also spearheaded a great discussion about what sustainability meant to him as he designs his pieces and what choices he must make to serve both the environment as well as his vision.

Trade-offs between materials choice and design are sometimes inevitable. But as Reed pointed out, often it comes down to re-thinking a little and deciding what is best for for each piece given the intended use. A good example of this was covered as we discussed finish options for his furniture. Reed has researched and used most of the newest eco finish options available on the market today, however when finishing an item such as a dining table that is going to get a great deal of use he still prefers to use an oil based polyurethane. When asked why, he noted that no other finish hat he has tried has the same long term durability. When it comes down to a choice of whether to use a more eco friendly water based poly which may leave the surface more vulnerable to long term damage or to coat it with petroleum based finished to attain a harder, lasting surface finish, his choice is to use the later. This choice, while seeming less eco sensitive in the short term, was in fact a more sustainable option in the long run as it may prevent pieces from ending up in the landfill prematurely.

If you would like to see some of Reed's work please visit our website or go to ReedLaplant.com.

Earth Hour

2008-03-21T10:29:00.004-05:00

At 8 pm on March 29th 2008, cities across the world will turn off their lights for just one hour - EarthHour - to show that it is possible to take action on climate change. Switching off is a simple action that can make a difference and it sends a powerful message that the people of the world care about the future of the planet.

Go to EarthHour.org, Sign Up, Turn Off, and Spread the Word.

Movie and a Makeover

2008-03-13T13:54:00.002-05:00

Tune in this Saturday morning at 10:40a.m. on TBS to see movie and a makeover featuring our very own Laura Walker.

Take a tour with Laura as she gives us an inside look at some of her favorite home projects and shares tips for making your home a more beautiful expression of yourself. The feature movie this week is The Associate starring Whoopi Goldberg.

Planet Green

2008-02-22T17:06:00.003-05:00

Check out the new Discovery Planet Green website. They asked us to help with some green furnishings they needed for a video segment they were producing a few weeks back and yesterday I saw a small clip of the finished result. Navigate to the planet green website scroll to the middle of the page where you will find the video. We have several pieces in this segment including the coffee table and candle. Hopefully there will be more to come.

Verde Home Featured in The Atlantan

2008-02-12T17:39:00.000-05:00

We were pleased to see that Verde Home got mentioned recently in the February 2008 issue of The Atlantan. They wrote a very nice paragraph about our showroom including a photo of our space. If you see it out in stores grab a copy. Thanks Atlantan.

Only a few days left to get the goods!

2008-02-12T12:43:00.000-05:00

We had our Jewelry Showcase event this past Thursday and it was a great success. For those of you who could not make it I still have the goods for a few more days. Click here to see these great one of kind designer pieces. Please contact us if you see anything that you like. Gift wrapping and shipping are available.

The Little Green Book

2008-01-26T12:34:00.000-05:00

Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles has just published its 2008 Green issue entitled "The Little Green Book". This issue has great coverage of the emerging green design scene and notes 100 of the top people places and ideas that are pushing sustainable design forward in Atlanta and around the southeast. Verde Home is proud to have been included in this list and to have participated as a member of the "Green Team" design panel for this issue.

Valentines at Verde

2008-01-21T22:24:00.000-05:00

Verde will be hosting a valentines day jewelry preview party on February 7th from 3-8 pm with local artist Tamara Connor. Come on by and grab something for the special person in your life or just stop by for a glass of wine. For those of you who can't make it that night, these beautiful pieces will be remain on display through the holiday. We hope to see you.

Happy Holidays

2007-12-28T17:22:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays from all of us (all three of us) at Verde Home! We hope you have a great holiday season and we look forward to seeing you in the new year.

Verde Home featured in Peach Magazine

2007-12-08T13:02:00.000-05:00

Just out on the newsstand as of yesterday is the new Holiday issue of Atlanta Peach Magazine. We knew we were going to be in this issue because we had an advertisement running but we were excited to see just how many times they mentioned us! In addition to the ad (which they located directly under the letter from the editor) Drew Brown wrote a great piece about Laura and our store on page 80. As if that were not enough, Jonathan Lerner wrote a great piece about the revitalization taking place on Atlanta's Westside on page 126 which mentions Verde Home and has a great interior shot of of showroom space taken by Ben Rose.

The Deal Hunter

2007-12-06T12:16:00.000-05:00

While it is generally not my policy to reveal sources for our merchandise I will make an exception in this case. Our long time friend Ian Grant of Bjorling & Grant is starring in a new show for the travel channel airing on December the 21st called "The Deal Hunter with Ian Grant". Click here watch a preview. Paul and I go back several years with Ian when we used to do business on imported Indian rugs together. Ian has been off on his own for a several years now and has a fantastic store of great found and up cycled objects which we love and carry in our own store. If you find yourself in front of a TV on Friday the 21st at 8:30 please tune into the travel channel and have a look.

Holiday Gift Show!

2007-11-29T11:25:00.000-05:00

Verde Home, along with the other great vendors in the Brickworks, will be hosting a holiday gift event on Friday Dec 7th and Saturday December 8th. To kick off the event we will be hosting a wine tasting and preview party on Friday evening from 5:00 to 8:00 with our fellow tenants Toscano and Sons. As a special for those of you who follow our blog I have compiled a cross section of the goods that will be available and created a special section of our website for your preview (this link will not be sent out to our general client list until Monday). Please click here to view the gift section. If you see anything that you are interested in please feel free to contact me with the item number and I will get right back to you. Shipping is available if you need it.

Great Party!

2007-11-10T11:42:00.000-05:00

We had our grand opening party this past Thursday and if I can toot our own horn I think it went pretty well. I would like to thank everyone who came as well as those who made the party such a success. A special thanks to Atlanta Peach Magazine for helping coordinate everything as well as 5 Seasons brewing company for the great food and beverage. Below are a few pictures of us setting up. I put the camera away before the party started but Peach took a lot of pictures. They should be featured in the next issue but I will post whatever I get before then.

Thanks Daily Candy!

2007-11-09T13:05:00.000-05:00

We wanted to thank the Daily Candy for the kind mention in yesterdays Weekend Guide.

I thought I was doing a pretty good job of driving traffic to our website but we had more hits yesterday because of The Daily Candy than I was able to get the whole month prior. If you have not already signed up for this great resource please do.

Almost ready...

2007-11-02T15:17:00.000-05:00

With our grand opening party fast approaching we are steadily working to put the finishing touches on the showroom.
An associate of Laura's came in late last week and hung a sheer fabric to break up vignettes in our showroom. The effect is great. First off, it hides my office so clients are not looking at my back when they walk in, but more importantly it softens the space.

Yesterday we finally got both our hanging sign and window decals installed so people can actually tell we are open. All we have left is to do a little painting inside and we will be done! At least for a few weeks until we decide to change it all up again...but thats another entry.

Atlanta INtown paper features Verde Home

2007-10-31T09:15:00.000-05:00

We would like to thank Atlanta INtown Paper for mentioning us in the November Issue. Along with a brief write up about our business they were kind enough to featured our Howard Sofa made from reclaimed teak with organic wool pillows.

Verde Home shows at DIFFA

2007-10-26T09:49:00.000-05:00

Verde Home was fortunate to have the opportunity to design a table for this years DIFFA, Dining by Design event which took place October 24th and 25th at the Maison Murer Fine Arts Gallery.

I kept forgetting to take out my camera and snap some shots of all the great tables but I did get a few quick cell phone shots of our space as well as the funky Airstream trailer.

We had our friend and professional photographer Margaret Cain come in and photo the table for us so hopefully I will have some better pictures shortly.

All of the tables looked great but a few that we really seemed to gravitate to were the South of Market table designed by Kay Douglas and the table done by Susan Bozeman. Thanks to everyone who participated and came out in support of the event.

AH+L features Verde Home

2007-10-16T21:19:00.000-05:00

Atlanta Homes + Lifestyles has just printed a great write up about our store in the latest issue. If you happen to see a copy take a look. Keep a lookout early next year for more from AH+L and Verde.

Vol1, Issue 1 sent

2007-10-11T14:39:00.000-05:00

Many of you probably received the first installment of our new Verde newsletter yesterday. We hope to make this a monthly item to keep everyone up to date on what is going on at Verde and to supplement my posts here on the blog. If you did not get one of these in your inbox yesterday and would like to have us start sending them to you please contact us.

Look for us in Peach Magazine

2007-10-02T09:41:00.000-05:00

We have just run our first advertisement in Atlanta Peach Magazine which I believe is scheduled to hit the newsstand today (do they still have newsstands?)! Please pick up a copy and check it out or swing by our shop to grab a free one.

I would also like to thank Margaret Cain who did the excellent photography work for us on such short notice. We really could not have pulled this off without her.

Verde joins 1% for the planet

2007-10-02T09:31:00.000-05:00

As of Oct 1 we are officially members of 1% for the planet. 1% For The Planet was created in 2001 by environmental business leader Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, Inc. As a leading proponent of making business part of the solution, rather than the problem, 1% For The Planet works with companies big and small to generate funding, as well as awareness, to help restore our planet's health.

We might need more space!

2007-09-24T10:48:00.000-05:00

Last week Paul and I were able to get most of the showroom set up. We were surprised to see how quickly we filled the space up! We had joked about expanding right away but the more we look around now the less that seems like a joke. Our first big task was to get our rug rack assembled and into place. We made a few slight McGuiverish modifications to the mounting system in order to get it to lean properly but all in all it looks great. We currently have 48 samples displayed on the rack but it is capable of holding double that amount and we will need it to do so when the rest of our orders start arriving.

The picture below was taken from the front left corner of our space. As of now the space is roughly broken up into 7 or so seating groups. We recently contracted to have a sheer fabric dropped from the ceiling in many of these areas which should give a less cavernous feeling to the showroom without making it look small.

This week Paul and I will be putting the finishing touches on our set up. We still need to get a sign hung and the landlord needs to re-seal our front door but I think we should be able to accomplish that in the next few days. Our official grand opening party will be held on November 8th (time yet to be determined) but we are keeping regular hours as of this week. If you are around the Westside please come by and see us. Right now we are open 10-6 Monday to Friday and weekends by appointment. Our new number is (678)927-9113. I will post an update when we know more detail about our opening party.

We're in

2007-09-10T08:20:00.000-05:00

On Saturday and Sunday we got all of our goods moved into our new permanent home. We still have a great deal of set up to do but it is great to see the showroom finally starting to take shape. This week will be my last at Rugs by Robinson so I will be joining Paul and Laura over at the new space full time starting on Monday.

We can move in!

2007-09-07T08:50:00.001-05:00

We got our final inspections this week and have been given the go ahead to start moving in! This weekend Paul, Laura, and I will be over at our new permanent space getting it set up. The developer still has a few items to take care of before it is 100% complete (namely a missing window in our front facade) but we are hoping those will be completed today. If you are on the west side of Atlanta tomorrow feel free to come by and see us we will be shuffling goods between suite 122 and 244.

Almost done

2007-08-28T12:14:00.000-05:00

The final push is on! Our plumber is finishing up his work on the kitchenette and the GC is getting our check out done. We hope to get all the remaining inspections done this week so we can move in over the weekend or early next week. Lets keep our fingers crossed that nothing slows us down.

Good Neighbors

2007-08-17T08:43:00.000-05:00

We were excited to find out a few days back that we would have a new neighbor joining us in the 200 building! Provenanace will be taking over a large portion of the available showroom space located directly behind us. We look forward to having them join us and think it will be a great addition to the Brickworks.

Prime On

2007-08-17T08:33:00.000-05:00

Paul started priming the walls of our showroom this week! This is a herculean task for one man as the walls are 16 ft high and we have no functioning air conditioning. We will both be in the space tomorrow seeing if we can touch up the primer and start with the final wall color. We hope to have this done by Sunday.

The next step will be for our General Contractor to come back in and finish framing the doors and buttoning up all the loose ends. We are still waiting on the landlord to complete the bathroom, install a power meter, and pipe and finalize the a/c. Then we will seal the floors, put up signage and move in! Hopefully all in two weeks.

Inspections are done...almost!

2007-08-06T13:23:00.002-05:00

Last Friday was a big day for us. We passed all the inspections we had going on and got our HVAC installed.

The fabric you can see hanging from the ceiling is actually called Duct Sox. It is a economical and eco friendly replacement for traditional spiral duct. Rather than have grills cut into the side of it every few feet it has a series of small slits running the length of the fabric. I am told this provides a very even and efficient airflow throughout the space (thereby cooling more efficiently and using less power). Should we ever need the duct work cleaned it may be simply unclipped and laundered. The whole system, minus the hard metal duct, can be fit into a box about the size of two bowling balls.

Update

2007-07-11T19:51:00.000-05:00

After going silent for a month I am back with an update. We now have contractors in our space and working. Our hope is to have the permanent showroom open by August the 1st! Below are some pictures of our progress.

This is a look from the hallway entrance looking out to the front of the showroom. The opening you see on the left is our future office.

This picture was taken from the front of the room looking back. It is tough to get a good perspective without a wide angle lens but the space looks very open right now. We have 18 ft high ceilings which we have chosen to leave exposed to create a spacious feel. We are trying out a new environmentally friendly and efficient duct work system known as duct sox. We have had the ceiling painted in the same color as the sox which should make it disappear. The floors will be swept washed and then sealed to leave a the industrial concrete look.

Things should be moving along more quickly now that we are permitted and have hired our subcontractors. I will be back with more photos and updates as they become available.

BTW - I received word that construction of the new 5 Seasons Brewing Company Restaurant, that will serve as the corner stone of this development, should start within the next 30 days! That is great news, the sooner they can get beer flowing the better!

More Aerial Photos

2007-06-01T12:05:00.000-05:00

Our landlord has once again been kind enough to send us a few aerial view of the progress at The Brickworks. The roof is almost done sealing and should be open for parking any day now. I had occasion to talk with one of the contractors for the building last night and he told us that they are about 95% complete with all the "shell construction". This means the attention will be turning to the inside of the building which is where it should speed up considerably.

Here is an overhead look with our showroom circled. We are on the second floor.

This is where 5 Seasons Brewing Company is going to end up. We had a chance to meet Dennis Lange (one of the principals) last week are very excited to have him (as well as his great food and beer) as a neighbor. Without giving away any of his surprises, he told us a little bit about what they plan on doing with the space. It should be a great draw to the area.

Sundance Channel features Green Furniture

2007-05-31T08:36:00.000-05:00

In case you missed it, this past Tuesday on "The Green" the Sundance Channel focused on sustainable furniture. It was a great overview of some of the environmental issues arising from much of todays furniture production long with a good look at some innovative companies that are on the forefront of change.

Here is a video link from that show about a Brooklyn based company called Scrapile that we have had our eye on for some time.

Progess starts to speed up

2007-05-31T07:55:00.000-05:00

It looks like we are finally starting to get some progress done on our permanent showroom. Paul and I were walking through the development yesterday and ran into the owner of the project at the brickworks along with his general contractor. Below are some pictures of where things are as of now.

Above is Paul talking with the developer. As you can see, they have framed out the glass for the store front. We are told that the actual glass should be in shortly.

This is a shot looking back from the front of the space. The area has been roughed out and we are told that we can expect sheet rock in the next few weeks.

As of now, it looks like we may be able to get open in mid July. We are pushing to see if we can move this date up and will keep you posted.

We Have Signage!

2007-05-10T18:46:00.000-05:00

Ok...so maybe it is not a glamorous sign...but as they say "we have hung our shingle and are ready for business".

Tall Curley Vine

Today we were back over at the temporary space. More goods have arrived and you can start to get an idea of the look we will be showcasing. The final showroom will have a few more contemporary pieces but I think the photos below will give a decent idea of what we do. BTW, we are now open by appointment so if you see anything you are interested in please give Paul a call at (404)277-6349.

Torso Vase

Musical Chairs

2007-04-27T08:23:00.000-05:00

Last night Paul, Laura, and I started arranging what has arrived so far in an attempt to make our temp showroom a bit more appealing. It is still a bit packed but looks a great deal better than it did. Below are some pictures of where we are so far.

This about the only room setting we had space to display. The sectional is made from all sustainably grown timber with natural fill and organic upholstery. The coffee tables and console are also made from hardwoods collected from managed growth forests with natural and non toxic finishes.

This is a real unique looking piece that we just loved. It is also made of sustainable hardwood and natural finish.

This is a look at the front of the show taken from the back hallway. As you can see we still have a great deal of clutter but at least we can show the goods that have arrived thus far.

Our friend Ian has some great looking re purposed objects that we are using throughout the space.

Aerial Views

2007-04-23T19:44:00.000-05:00

Our landlord was kind enough to send us some overhead shots of the entire complex. From these pictures you can get a feel for the scope of the project as well as where we are in relation to everything.

Temp Space Move in

2007-04-22T15:47:00.001-05:00

Paul got us moved into our temporary space this past week. It is nice to finally have a home for all of our goods, even if we will be moving them again in a few months. For now we are just trying to fit as much into the showroom space as possible. Until we get into our permanent space across the hall we are not going to worrying too much about merchandising. Today was my first time seeing many of the furniture pieces and I must say I was very impressed with both the style and the quality.

Below are some pictures I snapped as we walked through both the build out and the temp space.

This is the hallway that will run along the left side of our showroom. Originally only one bay of glass was planned but the builders have decided to create additional glass frontage which will benefit our visibility greatly.

Finally the steelwork has started. The concrete footer shave been poured and they are starting to erect the steel for the catwalk that will make up the front entrance to our showroom.

This is the hallway the will run along the left side of our showroom as seen from the back entrance. We will be the showroom on the opposite corner.

This is the front of our new temporary home.

Here are some of the furniture pieces loaded into the back of the temp space.

The first of what will be about 70 samples has arrived. Paul and I laid them out to see how it all looked. So far they all look very good.

Here is the front room of the temp space. It is pretty cluttered right now and it probably will be for a while.

Progress

2007-04-11T11:50:00.000-05:00

Paul, Laura and I were over at the Brickworks Wednesday morning for a meeting with the architect about our pending build-out. Before the meeting Paul and I had a chance to wander through the space and snap a few pictures of what everything looks like right now.

The front facade of the building is coming along nicely. The back parking deck is where the most needs to be done. The "doorways to nowhere" will eventually lead to a catwalk which will wrap the interior of the complex and lead down to the main parking lot. We did not get pictures of it, but they appear to be pouring concrete for the catwalk footers so hopefully this mess will be gone soon.

Build out delays slow opening (temp space coming soon)

2007-04-10T08:23:00.000-05:00

Slow progress on phase two of the Brickworks project (1000 Marietta Street, Atlanta GA 30318) has caused a delay in the scheduled opening of Verde Home. Our original hope to take possession of our showroom on February 1st for a March 1st opening was obviously not going to happen after a walk through in mid January revealed significant work yet to be done (if you walked out the front door you would drop one story into an unfinished mud parking lot). Talks with the developers about the revised schedule provided a new estimate for occupancy on May 1st. Again, our survey of the progress so far (while considerable) makes us think that this may also be a wishful thinking. As of today our best estimate would have the unfinished showroom delivered to us by late May or early June. With a month or so of finish work to do ourselves before opening, we now hope to have the showroom open to the public in July.

In light of these delays, we have secured a temporary space in order to begin limited showroom and office operations. This space will be located in suite 122 of the Brickworks (across the parking lot from where our final space will be). Paul will begin moving into this space next week and by the following should be set up. If you are in the area please feel free to stop by and say hello.

If you have any questions about what it is that we are doing at Verde or have suggestions about what you would like to see, please feel free to post a comment or contact us directly.

And so it was written

2007-04-05T13:04:00.000-05:00

I just ran across this essay on Core77 via inhabitat (two very good sites if you have not visited them). I think it addresses some interesting ideas pertaining to sustainability and the way we have designed our lives. I was particularly found of the "screws not glues" concept. Too often I have found myself complaining that no one seems to know how to fix anything anymore. Under the guise of economic efficiency we have designed products to be cheaper to replace than repair. Instead of having a skilled craftsman refurbish an item it is made to simply be thrown "away". The problem of course is that most manufacturers incur no cost for "away". It becomes a cost of society (or environmental tax) for all citizens to shoulder.

Welcome!

2007-03-04T18:43:00.000-05:00

Welcome to BlogVerde, the soon to be blog for Verde Home. Please check back from time to time as we update this blog with the developments of our business opening.