Furnish Green donated some pieces for the Real Life Real Design Debut Event for Youth at Risk in October, and the photos from the event have been posted so check ’em out! Our Server is featured here. We would like to thank Jane Brown Interiors for inviting us to be a part of it!
For upholstered furniture, the choice of fabric totally makes or breaks a piece. Sometimes a boring, dull chair can be reborn with just a newly upholstered cushion. In other cases, you might see a piece that’s almost perfect, but the fabric just isn’t for you. These things happen a lot at Furnish Green. Did you know we offer, by request, custom reupholstery on select items? Maybe we have a chair you love but the upholstery is just a little too shabby for your taste. We can fix that for you!
But you may be thinking, where can I find that perfect fabric? There are some primo spots in the city, some more well-known than others. These are our five favorites:
Mood Fabrics 225 W 37th St 3rd Floor – At this point, you probably know Mood. Thanks to Project Runway, it’s probably the most famous fabric store in the city. But it’s also a great spot for top quality fabrics at very fair prices. And most of its visitors don’t realize something about this store: The lower level is all upholstery and interior fabrics and leathers. A great selection of materials to make re-invent your favorite furniture.
Trumart Discount Fabrics 261 7th Ave (corner of 25th St) – Trumart is a Chelsea hidden treasure for fabric shoppers. This tiny, family-run shop is stuffed to the brim with all sorts of fabric at rock-bottom prices. This store has an extremely wide range of different styles and qualities, so you’ll have to really search to find what you’re looking for. But with a little persistence, you might discover just the right fabric, and end up saving a ton of money. The staff here are friendly and willing to help.
New York Elegant Fabrics 222 West 40th Street – New York Elegant Fabrics is across from the famous Parsons School of Design. It’s a huge store with a large range of fabrics. The upper level has a great selection of really unusual vinyls, nylons, faux leathers and furs. This store has some really eye-catching heavy weight materials that are perfect for upholstery. And it’s rarely busy or crowded, so it’s great to just wander and get a feel for what they offer.
Zarin Fabrics 72 Allen Street, 2nd Floor – Zarin Fabrics is quite well-known for having high-end quality fabrics. The majority of their selection is heavier fabrics for interior use. They also sell foam and inserts if your cushions are starting to sag. A great place if your looking for luxury and designer looks.
Global Leather 253 W 35th St #9 Leather is expensive, but it’s a worthy investment, especially for furniture. And if you’re prepared to shell put big bucks for leather, this is the place to go. They have literally every skin you can imagine: cow and calf, zebra, alligator, stingray, python, you name it! They have all weights, from light garment leather to heavy upholstery leather. And they have more finishes, colors and styles than you can imagine, so set aside a lot of time to browse their selection.
Garment District 34th St to 42nd St between 5th Ave and 9th Ave I know, I know, this post said “Five Favorite Fabric Stores,” but this sixth option isn’t a store. It’s not really fair to narrow New York City’s fabric selection to a mere five stores, so why not take a stroll through the garment district? This midtown Manhattan neighborhood has tons of tiny little fabric shops tucked in every nook and corner. Most of these shops are between 7th and 8th ave from 35th St to 40th St, though the official district is much larger. Take an afternoon to wander these streets and you can come across some great fabric finds at really low prices.
There are also some great upholstery fabric stores throughout the Lower East Side and Chinatown. To be honest, there are probably more great fabric stores in this city than we can even name, so we’ll just stick with the above mentioned. Otherwise, you’re on your own.
We have a number of items that could be reworked to fit your own style, with your choice of fabric. Here are just a few:
Mid Century Danish Modern Lounge Chair
Set of Six Traditional Dining Chairs
Mid Century Velour Backed Chair
Square Mid Century Slat Back Side Chair
So come to our showroom and check out these items plus many more!
We are now supplying the dresser in your bedroom and the clothes on your back!
Did you know…? Furnish Green carries a small selection of vintage clothing and our wardrobe is expanding! It’s true, we’ve got some cool, unique, even strange, pieces. From WWII 100% wool trench coats to mu mu dresses from the 1960s, Furnish Green’s vintage apparel is quite the mix of items. We recently got in some very classy and chic women’s winter coats! This is not so well-known. We would like to not only sell you a dresser, but also something to go inside it. We will clothe your bodies just as we furnish your homes, with special, unique, quality items. While the pieces are unique, they are not pricey. Everything, from outerwear to summer dresses, is priced between $5 and $10! Our clothing inventory is not available online so pop by the showroom to check out the pieces, and with Halloween just around the corner, who knows what you’ll find!
The results are in, and Furnish Green has selected Three winners! We were so pleased with the results that we decided to award 3 prizes for our Facebook “Photograph Your Space” Contest.
And 1st place goes to… Jamie Mandelbaum!
Jamie will receive a $100 Gift Certificate to Furnish Green.
2nd place goes to… Jonathan Kemp!
Jonathan will receive a $50 Gift Certificate to Furnish Green!
3rd place goes to… Shurika Kikuchi!
Shurika will receive a $25 Gift Certificate to Furnish Green!
— Thanks to everyone for your participation and for inviting us into your home! Stay tuned for future contests!
When living in the city, we often miss out on simple pleasures of nature. So this fall, plan an escape from the urban jungle. Get down and dirty on a hiking trip, or spend some time in a national park. And while you’re getting back in touch with the earth, think about bringing some of that nature back to your New York apartment. Here are some fun and easy ways to decorate your space the natural way.
Pressed leaves are a must. While you’re out and about, gather some of the biggest, brightest and most beautiful fall foliage you can find. Get a wide variety from different types of trees. When you get home, press them in a heavy book for 24 hours. Or, to save time and preserve more of the leaves’ colors, put each leaf in between 2 sheets of wax paper. Iron it until the wax paper sticks together. Peel apart the wax paper, and the leaf will be perfectly dried and pressed. Next is the fun part. Do whatever comes to mind with your pressed leaves. Paste them to a sheet of thick paper as artwork, or create a leafy mural on your wall. You can hang an empty frame on the wall and arrange some leaves inside. If you have a table or credenza with glass covering the top, arrange the leaves underneath the glass to add an autumnal flair to your furniture.
We also love the idea of using tree branches as decor.
Next time you’re strolling through the forest, pick up some fallen branches. Take them home and get creative. Spray paint them and mount some up on your wall. You can also glue small candles to a painted branch to create a one-of-a-kind lighting piece. Or one large, intricate tree branch mounted on its own can make quite a statement piece.
You can also display branches in a vase. Display a branch or two in your favorite glassware and secure them by placing some stones at the bottom. Decorate your branches with anything that suits your style. Hang nuts or pine cones for a natural vibe, or deck them out with chains and crystals for a more opulent look. Or just go with the simple beauty of the branches and stones themselves.
Is your favorite Fall scented candle running out? Try a new approach to satisfy your fragrance craving. Head to a farmer’s market and pick up some fresh rosemary and lavender, or any strong-scented herb of your choosing. Hang them upside down to dry overnight. The savory scent of the rosemary mingles nicely with the sweetness of the lavender to fill your home with a fresh aroma.
Decorate by placing these herbs in a wooden crate on your windowsill, or arrange them in a basket to create a simple centerpiece. You can also tack a bunch to an unused wall space. Maybe throw in some dried flowers and leaves for added color. Never underestimate the power of some simple plants to make your space charming and inviting.
Another fun way to decorate a surface is to make an autumnal display in a bell jar. Take some branches, leaves, maybe some moss and a gourd, and create a stunning centerpiece by placing them in the bell jar.
And we all know that small pumpkins and gourds are fall decorating staples. But you might be thinking, how can I do something new with these basic items? Here’s an idea: Get some old wire, preferably some that’s sort of rusted or tarnished. Wrap the wire around your pumpkins and gourds in varying styles to create a very simple but playful look. Curl the wire ends as a finishing touch. Or maybe you want something a little more eye-catching. Then iridescent spray paint and some fine glitter are your friends. Spray paint your pumpkins and gourds, and add a light sprinkling of glitter to a few of them. Now you’ll have some classic fall decorations with a touch of fantasy.
With so many stores selling mass-produced decor for every season, it’s easy to forget that there are plenty of ways to do it yourself. And these are just a few. So go outside, get creative, and fill your home with one-of-a-kind pieces you can truly call your own.
Get Spooky and Strange with Furnish Green this Halloween!
Halloween, the very fun and always strange holiday, is right around the corner, and Furnish Green has some fun and strange products to give you a more thrilling and chilling experience this holiday season! Whether you need some festive decor for your home or you need a last-minute costume for a Halloween party, Furnish Green is your one-stop-shop.
Give your home that eerie Halloween vibe with items like our Thirty-Two Tooth Antique Saw Tooth Rostrum as a wall-hanging and our Hold-em Animal Trap as a decorative piece. Set your table for the annual holiday party with our Dansk Danish Modern Fruitbowl for chips and our Set of Two Brass Candle Holders for a bit of spooky ambiance. And don’t forget to make some Halloween-themed cocktails with the awesome Mason Shaker.
As you contemplate your costume this year, consider items like the Driftwood Walking Stick, for your Gandalf impersonation, and the Vintage Mailman’s Uniform complete with all things Mailman. The Spanish Antique Battle Axe will give you the true Games of Thrones experience (beware of blade).
Just as October 31st is not your average day of the year, Furnish Green is not your average vintage furniture store, so you can count on us this holiday season!
Shop the items listed above, among other festive items, here.
Furnish Green’s Facebook Contest: Photograph Your Space! October 15th – October 25th
What to do:
Take a photo of “your space,” one that encapsulates your sense of style and design. We would love to see what you’ve done with the place! The image can be of anything from an entire room, to your favorite corner, to even smaller detailed spaces. The photo does not have to include Furnish Green furniture but it does have to be taken in your apartment! Post it to your Facebook wall, and tag Furnish Green’s business page (Furnish Green) in the image & the text.
What you’ll win:
$100 Furnish Green Gift Certificate to help make your design dreams an even greater reality! We’ll choose our favorite photo and announce it on Facebook on October 26th. The winning image will also be featured on our website!
slider photograph by irene blazquez
As you probably know, Furnish Green is all about turning old into new. So we’d like to share one of our favorite innovations with you: the Crate Shelf.
This is a really fun and simple way to create custom shelving, storage or decoration for any room in your home. As many of our New York customers know, there’s always a need for extra storage space. This method adds a simple touch of rustic charm. All you need is a vintage wood crate (we always try to have them in stock), a pair of shelf brackets (use decorative brackets for an extra oomph), a drill, plastic anchors and handful of drywall screws.
All you have to do is secure the brackets to your wall with the drywall screws and plastic anchors. Make sure they’re level, of course. Place the crate on its side on top of the brackets. Secure the crate to the brackets with short screws through small pre-drilled holes. If need be, you can add an extra L bracket to the top of the shelf for extra support. That’s it! You can use an assortment of different shapes and sizes to make the perfect arrangement for your space. Place them at different levels or have some that are hung vertically and some horizontally. This will create an awesome shadowbox effect, so we recommend taking a playful approach. The crate shelves are prefect to store your favorite books or showcase your accent pieces and souvenirs. And if you’re feeling extra creative, integrate lighting and flat shelves into the installation, like we did in our showroom.
These new arrivals would make great shelves, with tons of space. $39 apiece!
We’re maybe a little too excited about this, but it’s just so simple and perfect! We hope you give this a try and love it as much as we do. Let us know if you need any more pointers!
We’ve recently acquired an unusual and exciting piece; an early 20th Century Hoosier Cabinet!
What is a Hoosier Cabinet, you might be asking? Well, it’s a type of cupboard popular in the first decades of the 20th Century. Originally made by the Hoosier Manufacturing Co. in the early 1900s, they were made to meet the needs of the home cook. Around this time, kitchens were not typically made with built-in cabinets. The need for convenient storage and work space in home kitchens was dire, so the Hoosier Cabinet came to save the day. They were highly sought-after pieces for every home until the 1920s, when houses were constructed with built-in kitchen storage.
The Hoosier Cabinet is also known as a Baker’s Cabinet, as they were made with an extended enamel surface, with several cupboards for storage above and below. They often included baking hardware such as a cooling rack or flour bins, or other accessories to store spices and cooking staples. Ours includes a cooling rack and sliding shelf in the lower cabinet, and plenty of drawers and cupboards for kitchen storage.
This beautiful and hard-to-find piece can be yours for just $482. It’s in very good condition for its age; a little wear and tear, but it’s solidly built and still has a ton of life in it. Come check it out at the Furnish Green Showroom!
The Furnish Green Team loves Fall; the chill in the air, the pumpkin, the colors. The colors! Unfortunately, here in New York it’s quite difficult to get your fill of fall foliage, so why not bring the color palette into your home?
Of course Fall comes with it’s staples. You’ve got your oranges, your reds, your golds and browns. Pumpkin, Marigold, Ochre, Amber, you know the gang. These natural hues never get old and create a welcoming, soothing atmosphere when utilized in the home. Reds and yellows make us feel warm and cozy amidst the dropping temperatures. Browns and dark greens make us feel more in touch with our natural roots. There’s a reason we all love fall. Because it’s Mother Nature’s way of reminding us that colors make us happy. So it’s the perfect time of year to draw inspiration from the world around us. But this season, don’t limit yourself to these beautiful but oft-used colors.
When decorating your home, or yourself this Fall, think about accenting the usual Autumn color story with rich jewel tones and bright statement colors. Fall doesn’t have to be so neutral. Burgundy and maroon add a feeling of richness to anything adorned with this hue. Emerald is a timeless color to add a bit of regality to any room. And if you’re feeling adventurous, chartreuse and turquoise can be exciting and unexpected, if used in moderation. In this city of steel and concrete, grey and black, it can be difficult to satisfy your color craving. But here at Furnish Green, we have a cornucopia (seems fitting for the time of year) of colorful, rare and exciting pieces to add to the palette of your home.
Come check out these colorful items and many more at the Furnish Green showroom. Here are the links to some of these colorful pieces:
Mid Century Marigold Globe Lamp
Decorative Stained Glass Window