And the Color of the Year Is....

Pantone LLC is known as the world-renowned authority on color and each year they determine which color will be the Color of the Year.

Tangerine Tango has been chosen as the color of 2012. It can be seen everywhere from makeup, clothing, and accessories to furniture. "Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”

So how should you introduce such a vibrant color into your home?  Here are some of Pantone's suggestions:

• Use patterned home accessories such as pillows, bedspreads, and tabletop accessories.
• Incorporate Tangerine Tango appliances or personal electronics for an extra pop of color.
• Paint an accent wall in Tangerine Tango.

Tangerine Tango can make an especially bright splash of summer colors in a beach home in the Hamptons or on Fire Island. Call Marc Williams Furniture for help bringing Tangerine Tango into your home design. 

Create the Feeling of More Space in a Small Bathroom

There is one room in our homes which serves a multitude of functions yet is often the smallest of the rooms.  Yes, we are talking about the bathroom.  Often, the room is shared by two or more people and is expected to accommodate everyone's needs and hold everyone's supplies.  While adding actual space may be unrealistic, there are ways to create the feeling of additional space.

• Cool soft colors create the illusion of space.

• Pedestal or wall mounted sinks will add the feeling of open space in comparison to a vanity cabinet which takes up a large amount of bathroom real estate.

• Utilize strategically placed shelves to make up for the loss of the vanity.

• Corner cabinets or shelving can provide storage space while using less space than a typical vanity cabinet.

• Lights!  Lights!  Lights!  Recessed lighting or wall sconces will brighten the room to give a more airy feel.  

• Limit the furniture and wall hangings to only those pieces needed for function or comfort.

If you are looking for ways to create more space in your home, Marc Williams Furniture design experts can help! 

Houseplants!

Flowers and plants can make a yard beautiful and inviting to relax in.  But you don't have to leave them to the outdoors!  Houseplants can brighten up the inside of your home as well.

There are many different ways to introduce plant life into your home.  Marc Williams Furniture offers these suggestions:

• Container Gardens - This is a great way to add a touch of your personality to the plants.  Choose baskets, planters, ceramic containers in shapes, sizes, and colors to match both the room and your taste.

•  Herb Garden - Beauty and function can be served well with an herb garden in your kitchen. Place on a window sill that faces east, west, or south for best results.

• Bathroom Garden - This room is often overlooked when it comes to plant life, but what a beautiful addition it can make!  Choose plants that do well in humid environments.

• Vertical Garden - Want help breaking up bare walls or directing a rooms traffic flow?  Use tall and spreading plants.  Trailing plants can be situated on high surfaces to catch the eye and make the room feel taller.

Whichever indoor garden you choose, be sure to read the labels on the plants to ensure you choose the best location for it to thrive.

High Point Market Funrniture Show Introduces New Trends!

Marc Williams Furniture had the pleasure of attending the spring High Point Market biannual furniture show in North Carolina. We were inspired by new industry trends and are excited to share our ideas with our customers!

The old chesterfield sofa has been revived and displayed in neutrals to reflect today's trends.

Now this is under bed storage!

Yet another innovative bed ...

Luxurious comfort!

Beautiful example of the trend in tufting.

Come visit our showroom.  We would love to discuss our fabulous finds and share our inspirations!

Decorating With Allergies in Mind

Itchy eyes, scratchy throat, and sneezing are abundant this time of year.  People who suffer from allergies tend to hide indoors during the springtime in an effort to find some relief.  So the question becomes, how should you decorate to help reduce allergy symptoms?

Marc Williams Furniture has done the research for you!  We have scoured through articles written by allergy specialists, doctors from the Mayo Clinic, and more.  Here's what they say:

• No knick knacks!  Ok, maybe a few, but limit them to a few favorites.  Knick knacks are wonderful dust collectors and they catch allergens such as dander and pollen too.

•  Leather is the way to go.  Upholstered furniture will trap allergens.  If you have severe allergens, you may want to completely avoid upholstery, but for mild to moderate allergies frequent vacuuming should be sufficient.

• Say no to carpets! Again, mild allergy sufferers may be fine with carpeting as long they vacuum frequently and change the vacuum bag after each use.

• Hardwood floors have nowhere for allergens to hide and are easy to clean which makes them a great choice for allergy sufferers.  Smooth stone such as highly polished marble or granite is another good choice. Porcelain and ceramic tile are also good, but be sure the grout between the tiles is kept in good repair to avoid trapping moisture and allergens.

• Window treatments hold allergens as well so consider fabric, ruffles, and styles here as well.  Again, proper and frequent cleaning can help.

All of us at Marc Williams Furniture hope these tips help you have a comfortable and happy spring!

Tips for Displaying Items on a Shelf

Spring is a beautiful time of year most of us look forward to.  We enjoy the longer days and the warmer weather and some of us even enjoy the spring cleaning.  The fun part for us here at Marc Williams Furniture is the re-organizing and re-decorating after the cleaning is complete. Spring is a great time to change the items you display in your home. Here are some tips on how to display items on a shelf or in a cabinet.

Start with a clean slate. Remove all the items currently on the shelf or in the cabinet as it is easier to envision the new display when the space is empty. Decide if you will replace all of the items or just a chosen few. There is no need to display everything you have at one time.  Choose the items that have the most meaning to you.  If you have many, consider rotating the items a few times per year.

 The color of the back wall of the shelf or cabinet is an important factor in deciding what to display.  If the wall is dark, you will want to display light colors and if the wall is light, you will want to display dark colors. You may want to paint the back wall or use wallpaper or a mirror to help your items be more visible.

If you have a collection that you would like to display, group the items together. Be sure to leave some empty space so that each piece can be fully appreciated.

Consider the room the display will be in.  A traditional room typically calls for a symmetrical design whereas an asymmetrical design can look nice in a contemporary room.  Try to bring the colors of the room into the display as well.


Displaying treasures on a shelf or in a cabinet allows you to bring your personality into the room and helps make the house a home.

Regular Cleaning Care For Your Furniture

Some people love it; some people dread it. Spring Cleaning. The words evoke feelings of cleansing and fresh starts as well as hard labor.  Yet, most of us have formed some type of spring cleaning routine we submit to annually.

 For some, spring cleaning means removing clutter and organizing their home.  For others, spring cleaning means cleaning out flower beds, cleaning gutters, and preparing the lawn for the hot summer months.  Less often, spring cleaning means caring for furniture.

Most likely, you took great care and time choosing the pieces of furniture for your home. To some extent, they are an extension of your personality and are instrumental in completing the feel of your home.  The financial investment you made in the furniture is worth it because it plays an important role in your daily life and you expect the pieces to last for a very long time.  Ironically, most people do not take proper care of their furniture.  If you want your car to function well for many years, you provide regular care and maintenance for it.  The same holds true for your furniture, especially since it is usually expected to last longer than your car.

Spring cleaning time offers a built in reminder to provide some general maintenance care to your furniture. Care instructions typically come with the furniture and should be followed for the best results, but Marc Williams Furniture would like to offer some general care guidelines for you to follow.

Solid wood furniture should be cleaned with a soft lint free cotton cloth dampened with water or furniture polish following the pattern of the grain. This will help remove the build up of grease, lint and dust that can get ground into or soften the finish. Use a quality furniture polish on the cleaned surface.

It is important to know what type of leather furniture you have in order to properly care for it. Aniline and Aniline Plus leather should be cleaned with a soft cloth and vacuumed with a soft brush extension. Rub the leather down with a cleaning solutions to preserve the quality of the leather.   Nubuck leather is more likely to stain and fade.  Using a Nubuck cleaner will help the leather resist natural body oils, liquid spills, perspiration and maintain the velvet/suede texture.  Remove spills immediately and dust regularly.

Most furniture companies will provide standardized cleaning codes and instructions which list the preferred spot cleaning method for upholstery.  They are as follows:

S: Clean the fabric sparingly with a dry cleaning solvent that's water free.  Test for color fastness, use sparingly.

W: Clean fabric with a water based solution, such as a mild detergent and water or foam upholstery cleaner.  Avoid overwetting.

WS:  Depending on stain, use a water based solution, dry-cleaning solvent or upholstery shampoo.

X:  Fabric should be professionally cleaned only.  Vacuum or brush lightly to remove any accumulation of dust, dirt and debris.  Do not use cleaning solvents or water based products on fabric.

Take care of your furniture and it will provide you with many years of comfort and enjoyment.