One of my favorite things in my business is to source new and exciting products. One of my Dallas showroom reps. had introduced me to a great new (to me)  line a while back. I’ve recently learned I’ll be able to carry a curated selection of their products in my new shop. I am really excited about this line because not only are their products great, but for a modest up-charge, they will finish any product in a Benjamin Moore color. Or, if you don’t know the color….but have something you are trying to match, you can send a swatch and they’ll color match. Love it!  In the age of mass produced stuff….I love the ability to be able to customize at a relatively affordable price point.  Want to see some of the stuff I’ll be carrying in the shop?

I love the daybed above.  Can you imagine it in a fun color for a little girls’ room.  But even more fun, they offer it in a hanging version…..  (I kindof wish I was on said daybed with a glass of wine and a stack of design mags instead of sitting in my office working!)

I love the lines and the shiny finish on this little side table.  Thinking I might need to be the guinea pig and try one out in our guest room.  I also love the wicker chairs below…..and they will also custom color the wicker as well.  Fun, right?

And while they have a large product catalog, I am choosing an edited version of my personal favorites at launch.  For some reason, I am finding myself drawn to their beds.

Imagine a pair of the Nevis beds, above, in the twin version and a fun color for a child’s room.  So many possibilities.  And finally, I love the lines on the below dresser, which also comes in a smaller side table.  I have been contemplating a pair for our master bedroom.

Do you see anything you like?  Want to check out the full line?  Head over to the vendor, Palu Ltd, and take a look.  While a curated selection of their products will be in my shop when I launch, I can help with anything in their catalog through my buying service at the moment.

And with that, I am off for the day.  We have a quiet weekend planned which is a welcome change.  My husband has been traveling all week, Harry finished school, my attempt at a mid-week girls night out ended in rushing home to my sitter as terrible weather took us all by surprise (leading to a 9 PM clean out of the closet under our stairs!)  and Maddie’s activities seemed to have accelerated as the end of school approaches.  Hoping to push a few home products forward, post some more fabric remnants and get a little yard work done.  What is on tap in your world?

Almost a year ago, I signed on with a web designer to launch my new shop.  At the time, we thought we would launch in September 2012 at the latest.  Almost immediately after this decision was made, I found out that my mother had very limited time left with us.  If you have followed my blog for a while, you know the kids and I packed up and headed to Virginia to be with her for the better part of last summer.  It was a gift for Maddie, Harry and me to be able to spend so much time with her and my family.  She passed in September and while I still miss her every day, I have no regrets or worries that there were words left to be said before she went.  She was an incredible mother and she and my Dad blessed us with their love and support.

Easter 2012

In the Fall, after mom’s service and with the kids back into their routine I got back to work on the website.  It was clear at the time that I did not have the right team in place to execute my vision for the site.  When I do something, half way isn’t an option.   And when I have something in my mind, I cannot settle.  I’d rather wait and get it right.  So, this led to finding web designers who could take my vision and find a solution to make it happen.  This meant changing platforms and back-end functionality.  All of this has taken hard work and time.  And, we are nearly there and had agreed to launch later this week.

But I’ll admit, a few weeks ago when we were in a forced holding pattern due to a server upgrade….I enjoyed the time away from the technology.  I played with my kids more….I was nicer, less stressed.  More home cooked meals made it on the table….and playdates happened, walks to the park happened, decorating around my own house pushed forward, etc.  These two precious little ones got a lot more of my attention.

Summer is knocking at the door and I’ve been worried about launching the new store while we have lots of family plans.  While I have no doubt it all could get done……I’ve been questioning whether it needs to.  Waiting to launch the shop by a couple of months isn’t going to bring the end of the world (hardly!).  Coming to that decision has lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.  I can add a few new vendors I was going to do after launch and get things tweeked and ready to go…..but wait to launch until I am ready.  When I am not feeling like I am taking away from my family…..the two priorities competing within me.

With the overwhelming support of my husband and the agreement of my web guys I am guessing we will launch in late July or August.  I feel great about this decision….and know that I’ll start this new venture feeling rejuvenated and excited to expand a business that has been my little baby for the past 4+ years!

In the meantime, I am going to create a new board on Pinterest to sell some of my fabric stash.  The fabric will go up as I have time to photograph it—so check back often if you are looking for something.  It will be for sale for a limited time (I’ll take it down mid June at the latest) and will be one time deals.  The fabrics are primarily Quadrille and Shumacher, with some Raoul and a few other things thrown in.  If you see something you like, you just email me and I’ll send you a paypal invoice.  Easy.

Finally, my trade only buying service will remain active and up and running throughout the summer.  So, if you need a quote or help with home decor related purchases, contact me as usual and I am happy to help!

One of the features of my new website will be to display images of products I’ve sold with the ability to tag them so others can get an idea of how I may help them. 

I have been really bad over the last few years asking people for photos and testimonials.  I have a bunch of images mostly from bloggers who have used my service…..primarily because they have been more likely to share images on their blogs.  So, if you have purchased from my buying service in the past and would be willing to write a testimonial or share images of where you used the products we’ve helped you purchase, I’d love for you to share by emailing me at info@maddiegdesigns.com.  There is no need for a magazine worthy spread to submit.

Thanks in advance!

I promised some info this week on the new site.  The new shop will primarily be a retail store where you can buy rugs, furniture, accessories and fabric that will be new, first quality goods shipping directly from the various manufacturers.  I’ve tried to carefully select items I think would be of interest and items that I would personally use.

I will still have the current “Trade Only” Buying Service which won’t change much at all except for a little spruce up.  And then, there will be “Shop Maddie G” where you can get the instant gratification, retail experience.  For the customer, this means you will be able to get pricing and order online as soon as you find something you want vs. waiting for me to secure a shipping quote, look-up a price and get back to you…which as many of you all know can involve some back and forth.  The two sites are connected so you can easily go back and forth, depending on what you are looking for.

Something else I will be doing in conjunction with this change is doing away with “Maddie’s Market” where I have periodically sold designer remnants, seconds and one off fabrics from my stash.  I really try to keep the blog from being a sales tool….and I always feel funny about listing fabrics instead of posting.  So now, if I have something, it will be listed with available yardage in the shop under the category “Designer Remnants.”  When it is gone, it will be gone.  See screen shot below. 

The limitation here won’t be having fabrics to sell….it will be getting them all photographed, double checking yardages, inspecting for flaws or dirt (to be noted on listing),  making sure everything is accurately described, uploaded to the shop, etc. etc.  Here are some quick images of stuff you might find. 

Honestly, this is just the tip of the iceberg…..I’ve got such a stash.  It is kindof embarrassing….like I should be on an episode of hoarders!  Some of it I plan to have made into pillows to list and some will be available by the yard.

See anything you like?

I am finding that blogging these days takes a lot longer than uploading a photo to Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.  And, quite frankly, the stuff I share in those forums may not be what I’d consider blog-worthy here.  For instance, here is a little camera dump from recent sourcing trips about town.

The top and bottom florals on right above are contenders for our guest bedroom.  And I absolutely loved the below French architectural print in an unexpected pink!  Where could I use it?

I was a bit obsessed with lighting….wondering if the scale of this would work in our guest room finish (need to measure).

Two different showrooms, very similar look…..

 The trim on the shade is too cute….and really made this lamp a stand out in my opninion.

I really want something like the work table below for my office.  It would be perfect with two industrial pendants over it!  I’ve got a major vision for my office just waiting to see if I’ll stay working from our backhouse or move to actual office space late this year.

 Hmmm, I don’t think I’ve ever seen this mirror before??????

Anyways, I am going to try to start being better about snapping and uploading finds I see while out and about.  So, if you want to join me on my next shopping trip, you may:

Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Pinterest

I always smile when I run across these photos, from the home of Lindsey Ellis Beatty, on the web.  So fresh and fun.

Photography by Laurey W. Glenn for Southern Living

Photograpy by Laurey W. Glenn for Southern Living

While looking through catalogs for my new shop I ran across these fun little take on antlers from one of the vendors I work with.  I immediately thought of the breakfast nook featured above.

What do you think?

Antlers on the wall.

Yea or Nay?