firouzeh's Profile

Thanks for highlighting our North Carolina furniture craftsmen and women! NC is such a great place to find quality and custom furniture, made locally. When my husband and I bought our first house, we made a point of traveling to Hickory, Lenoir, and High Point to shop for quality furniture that would last. We ended up ordering a locally-made hardwood bed and dresser in Hickory, and a custom ottoman and a lamp from a store in Lenoir. They were worth the wait, and far less expensive than you might think!

I like the fact that this is not a typical AT-style home. It's always great to get out of your comfort zone for fresh inspiration! Their use of mirrors, green plants, and fine finishes is translatable to any type of decor. I appreciate how Terry and Lyndon chose to keep a big-enough apartment and turn it into an utterly elegant and pleasurable place to call home.

Personally, I would never buy anything other than a red sofa. It was the first piece we purchased when we moved into our current home, and it instantly made the room feel cozy, warm, and inviting. Nothing intimidating about it!

I admire Friedman's courage in taking Restoration Hardware in a new direction, but I can't deny the visceral reaction I had to the new store in our area. Dark, grey walls. Bland, oversized, overpriced, overwrought furniture. As a consumer in a down economy, I want an antidote to bleakness - fresh, cheerful, creative reminders that there are better times ahead! Where I once enjoyed browsing, I now go out of my way to avoid walking in. Guess I'm just not the customer he's looking for anymore....