new moves

Everyone shops for everything on-line these days – it is easy, always open, and competitively priced.  As an interior decorator who helps clients purchase items for their home, certain purchases have always been made through retail channels – like sofas, upholstered chairs, blinds and shades, carpet, tile, flooring, and custom window drapery, among others.

According to the latest US Census Bureau, the amount of e-commerce purchasing in the furniture category has risen significantly, where e-commerce is outpacing retail sales – 4.1 billion in retail sales versus 7.8 billion in e-commerce furniture sales.  Of course, after reading the fine print, I realized that e-commerce includes telephone purchasing which I utilize many times AFTER a showroom/retail store visit.

But the data still begs the question (at least to me) around what furniture items are people purchasing on-line?  More specifically – think of your family room and bedroom. Which items in each room have you purchased on-line?  I am curious to hear from you so feel free to answer below.

We have recently been featured in the first issue of CRAVEDC, a stylish guidebook of over 140 businesses that women CRAVE in the DC area. We are one of a few interior decorating/design companies and the only HOME STAGING company included in the book!

To learn more about businesses that DC women crave, just contact us to purchase your own copy!  There are great boutiques, yoga studios, cupcakes and concierge services included as well. Each book is only $20 – and they are going fast! Makes a great gift for new-to-DC women , and new or soon-to-be Moms too!

I was very happy to find the newly created MidCity Design District webpage, including some of my FAVORITE design stores in DC.

Most of the stores that I enjoy are already listed on this blog in the Favorites section but let me focus on a few here for fun.

My all time favorite – partly because it is one of the oldest on the corridor and partly because they have been INCREDIBLY supportive for yours truly is Reincarnations Furniture.   Frank and Jonathon have been a great support  to ra redoes rooms, referring us to TV production company looking for designers as well as to great clients.  In addition, most every picture of me IN a decorated room is actually in the Reincarnations showroom.

Having fun at Reincarnations!

They provide fabulous customer service and have wonderful sidewalk sale at least twice a year too. If you are fortunate to be around when they do the sale, it is an event NOT to be missed. and if you are 30 minutes late to it, you will miss it.

Tied for second favorites are the RCKNDY and Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams stores.  RCKNDY is an independent local  furniture store, like Reincarnations, and is run by a great manager/owner David. He specializes in modern furniture and accessories for one-bedroom apartments and condos in the city.  He has also referred fantastic clients my way and hosted a design seminar, featuring yours truly, in the store too!

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams has successfully coupled comfortable and tailored furniture with an easy going vibe. The staff there is comfortable too! I was fortunate to meet Bev and Page after opening my business years ago. They along with manager Ryan, and staff members, always make sure I am taken care of at MG+BW.  Plus it is cool to meet Mitchell or Bob themselves when they visit the store during events. (and they follow me on twitter – cool-o!)

I have most recently met staff at Vastu and Millennium Decorative Arts – and both seem like great places to shop as well. Hope to get back there and work with folks more closely in the near future!

Needless to say, I am ecstatic that more retailers are finding their way to the new and EMERGING MidCity Design District, bringing  customers and complementary businesses along the way.  Welcome Well Built and Room and Board to the MidCity Design District – and looking forward to meeting and working with you there as well!!