Have you made a New Year’s Resolution? January 5, 2010

If you have then good luck to you.  But if your like many of us, we all start out every year with resolutions to improve our lives, health, finances, organizational skills, etc. , and then within the month the resolutions are forgotten or morfied into something different.  So, I’m going to offer a piece of advice….

Keep your resolutions small and goal oriented. 

If you want to be healthier in your diet, don’t set a resolution to cut out all junk food and sugar.  Your just setting yourself up for failure there.  Why not try something like, “I want to eat healthier so not only am I going to try and cut back on junk food but I’m going to have a piece of fruit with my breakfast every morning.”  that way if you do have junk food your not technically cheating and having a piece of fruit every morning with breakfast is not only healthy but will help vitalize you with energy to get through your day.

If you want to be more organized.  Why not start getting rid of the things that make you unorganized.  If you have email, set up electronic statements from your bill companies, utilities and banks.  That way you can set of folders on your computer for your statements and it’s less paper to clutter up your desk and counters.  Bonus, its environmentally friendly, too.

These are just a couple of examples but keeping in light with the New Year and starting it off fresh and right, keep your resolutions small.  It’s the many little steps you take that make the greater, larger picture.  These steps will help you meet your goal and hopefully, make you feel and live better.

Happy New Year! May it be filled with prosperity and happiness!

Happy New Year January 5, 2010

Hope you all had a great 2009 and best wishes for an even happier and prosperous 2010!

Are you “going green”? July 21, 2009

You find tons of commercials and news print on what we can do help the environment.  Well, here at EmShaw’s Place we would like to provide you with some more tips that not only contribute to the environmentally friendly cause but can also save you money.

1.  Turn Off Lights. Turning off lights in rooms not being used, unplugging items not being used, and using compact fluorescent light bulbs are energy efficient, environmentally friendly and save you money in the long run.  Remember, just because something is off does not mean it is not using energy.  Items like cell phone chargers, cable boxes, TV, computers are things that will still use energy and electricity even when turned off; so, unplug them when you can and you’ll see a difference in your electric bill. 

2.  Recycle. Recycle. Recycle.  And not just plastic, glass, and aluminum.  Donate old clothes and toys.  Recycle old electronics and cell phones.  Check out http://www.freecycle.org,  a great resource. Repaint, refurbish, and reuse old furniture.  Most donations are tax deductable.  Contact any cell phone provider or electronics store for recycling programs, which are usually as simple as dropping off the old electronics at the store.  Check out decorating books from your local library for tips on how to decorate your home with fresh, new looks using what you already got.  A little elbow grease and some stain or paint can do wonders for furniture.  Also, look at your local elementary schools and middle schools to see if they have a recycle program for fundraising.  A local school here in Gig Harbor, WA collects newspapers and cardboard, in which they recycle for cash for the school.  Also Check out Aveda Recycle Caps Program: http://aveda.aveda.com/aboutaveda/caps.asp – this is a great way to help out.

3.  Plant a tree or plant.  Enclosed is a list of Air –purifying plants, perfect for your home.

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema); Ficus; Gerbera Daisies; English Ivy (Hedera); Philodendron; Burn Plant; Mum; Dumb Cane; Pease Lily; Mauna Loa

4.  Build or Buy a compost bin.  A compost bin provides you with your own free mulch, potting soil, lawn food and you can put just about anything in it; grass clippings, chopped trees, cardboard, wood ash, leaves, tea bags, egg shells, coffee grounds and more.  There pretty easy to make and will help you have a beautiful lawn and garden, saving you money.  Some resources: http://www.compostingguide.com, http://www.ehow.com/how_16876_make-compost-bin.html, http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Compost-Bin

And there are tons more ways you can contribute, i.e. using reusable grocery bags, carpooling, so get out there and make a change.

New Microfiber Sofas and Chairs July 8, 2009

EmShaw's Place - www.inyourhomedecor.com

EmShaw's Place - www.inyourhomedecor.com

EmShaw's Place - www.inyourhomedecor.com

New Arrivals July 8, 2009

EmShaw's Place - www.inyourhomedecor.com

EmShaw's Place - www.inyourhomedecor.com

EmShaw's Place - www.inyourhomedecor.com

EmShaw's Place - www.inyourhomedecor.com

EmShaw's Place - www.inyourhomedecor.com

Happy 4th of July! July 4, 2009

Have a great 4th of July.  Remember safety first!

Don’t forget about our Summer Storewide Sale: 10% OFF all puchases now until August 31st.  Code: TENOFF

Have a great Summer!

100% Bamboo Fiber Bedding and Linens… June 28, 2009

…Now available at EmShaw’s Place – www.inyourhomedecor.com.

100% Bamboo Fiber Towel Sets and 100% Bamboo Fiber Bed Sheet Sets available.

Why Bamboo Fiber? Well…bamboo fiber  sheets are actually temperature-regulating, naturally staying cool in the summer and warm in the winter. And let’s not forget that bamboo fabric is naturally hypo-allergenic, anti-microbial and ordor resistant, which is ideal for a hygenic environment.
But bamboo sheets aren’t just heavenly to sleep on — they’re also environmentally conscious! An ever-important factor in making any decision, bamboo sheets are made from one of the world’s fastest growing, greenest, most renewable resource — bamboo! Bamboo plants can grow up to a foot per day so there’s really no worry about deforestation. Another wonderful factor: because bamboo can grow so densely, a bamboo forest has around 40% more biomass than a regular hardwood forest, that’s 40% more carbon-reducing power!

As for herbicides and pesticides and other nasty chemicals, bamboo simply doesn’t need them. This makes bamboo a naturally organic product — unlike cotton. Despite the fact that it is a natural fiber, cotton production is a very unnatural process using more pounds of chemicals per pound of cotton than any other crop. Of course, some of this ends up in clothing and other products made from cotton, but the vast majority ends up in the rivers, and ultimately in the Gulf of Mexico’s “Dead Zone.” Think you’re doing the environment a favor by eating organic foods? Your clothes, sheets, towels and other textiles are more likely to have more of an impact.

Bamboo sheets are also the vegan/animal friendly choice for luxury… unlike silk or cashmere. This means you can sleep peacefully knowing no animals were harmed for you to sleep on your comfy bamboo sheets.

Having a Kid Friendly and Stylish Home – June 2009 Newletter June 26, 2009

Volume 1: June 2009

Furniture  and Home  Décor  related News, Stories, Tips and Resources

Having a Kid Friendly and Stylish Home

When buying furniture or redecorating your home for your family many often think durability and practical; not stylish and chic.  Well, guess what, you can have it all.

First and foremost with young children, you want to focus on safety.  So, when buying furniture  buy furniture with rounded edges and stay away from fragile materials, like glass.

Sturdy, durable but stylish and chic materials that are kid friendly include:

Stainless: extremely resilient and when combined with wood cabinets and furniture gives a beautiful gleaming look.

Wood: well made wood furniture of oak, mahogany and pine are great pieces to add to any home.  Although, wood can become scratched and weathered looking over time, it can easily be treated or refurbished yourself to make it more durable.  Also, quality wood pieces last lifetimes and blend well with just about any décor.

Upholstered:  Twill, heavy-woven cotton, wool, felt, leather and microfiber are excellent choices for sofas and chairs.  Easy to maintain and clean, since most are treated at the manufacturer with fabric protection.

So, when making furniture  decisions there are many options for you to design your home to be kid friendly and still stylish.

Just remember to keep fragile items off low tables.

Also, get your kids perspectives, their ideas can be refreshing and fun.

More on creating a kid friendly environment:  Check out Eugenia Santiesteban’s book “Living with kids: ideas for family friendly interiors.”

 LDS Living Magazine offers kid friendly tips, too.

Tip of the Month:

Microfiber is inherently stain resistant.  Microfibers are so small and tightly packed that liquids just run off it.  And if you should need to clean a determined spill, use a mild soap and water.

Summer Discount: 10% off all purchases  Code: TENOFF

To Sign up for our Monthly newsletter visit our Contact Us page or Home page and submit your information.

Have a Great Summer!

Coming Soon… June 24, 2009

As a new business, we are constantly looking for ways to expand and improve our store.  We are glad to announance we will be adding a Pure Fiber Internal product line to our inventory.

The Pure Fiber Collection was designed to provide customers with a unique and vibrant color selection, unsurpassed softness, and extreme absorbency.  They utilize the most advance and efficient manufacturing techniques, and the most purest natural materials, and the most ecological friendly dyes to create for you Pure Fiber Products.  They have over 20 years of manufacturing experience and their products are made with an emphasis on quality at every step.

So, look for the Pure Fiber Collection of Bamboo Fiber Products at EmShaw’s Place at www.inyourhomedecor.com!

Expected arrival June 29, 2009!

LET’S GO GREEN!

Know what you want but can’t find it? June 17, 2009

Here are some tips for searching and buying furniture online:

1. When searching, try to be as specific as possible. When you put in general terms you’ll end up with thousands or millions of prospects, however, when you use specific words, such as, brand name, finish or material, fabric, etc., with quotation marks will get you more precise results.
i.e. Instead of searching for “coffee table” you could put “swivel top coffee table” or “Winsomewood Concord coffee table” or “antique walnut finished coffee table”.
Not only will you get more precise results, it will be easier for you to compare prices between different stores.

2. “Always read the fine print,” or store policies and shipping policies of the store your buying from. Many furniture stores, both online and store front retailers, will offer free shipping, which is great. BUT BEWARE OF THE “FINE PRINT”! Many of these free shipping offers only include curbside drop off, which means you have to unpack the item, dispose of the debris, and do your own in home placement. So, be aware of what exactly the “free shipping” entails and don’t be afraid to call or email to request more information.

3. Shop around and compare, not only products but prices and service. For example, here at EmShaw’s Place we may carry a sofa that cost more than one being sold on amazon or another competitor but we offer free “white glove” delivery service for our large furniture sales at no additional cost. So, when comparing pricing on furniture online remember to compare total or final price including delivery costs and what kind of delivery service your paying for.

4.  Finally, measure, measure, measure!  Know how big your room is and the dimensions of the furniture your buying.  There is nothing worse than buying a piece of furniture thats just not right for your room. 

There are home and room floor planners available, some for free online, that you can put in your room dimensions and furniture dimensions and basically plan out your whole room or home.

We hope these tips are helpful in making your online furniture shopping experience a bit more pleasurable.  If you have any questions or comments, we’d love to hear from you.  You can contact us at support@inyourhomedecor.com or our Contact Us page.