Surviving “Snowquester” with EcoSmart Fire
Anybody who’s been watching or listening to the local news in the past couple of days has probably heard of Snowquester, the name for a seemingly impending snowstorm full of precipitation, wind gusts, thundersnow and even power outages. Gross.
Taken by bvrdc on Flickr, 2009
With 4-8 inches forecasted for the area, it’s probably safe to stay inside where you can be warm and toasty if you still have power. For those of you lucky enough to own an EcoSmart Fire fireplace you should be fine even if the lights do flicker..
Freestanding with no need for a vent, flue or gas lines EcoSmart Fire fireplaces are a great way to stay warm when winter weather hits…even this late in the season.
***If you’re in need of fuel, we are currently stocked up!
Fuel sells by the gallon/$25 or by the case (4 gallons)/$80.***
Knoll Classics Sale 2013
What:
The Knoll Classics Sale
15% Off Classic Designs From:
- Bertoia
- Breuer
- Knoll
- Nakashima
- Noguchi
- Platner
- Risom
- Mies van der Rohe
- Saarinen
- and Schultz
Where:
Vastu
1829 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
www.VastuDC.com
When:
Monday, February 25th, 2013 – Sunday, March 3rd, 2013
Holiday Floor Models for Sale
For anyone who’s shopped at Vastu you know that we don’t typically have things “in stock”. We actually pride ourselves on the fact that we source from various vendors that give you the chance to personalize your furniture with custom sizes and finishes, meaning each piece is made just for you.
Sometimes, however, we do obtain a few brand new pieces that we would rather see go to a good home off the floor. Here are some ready and priced for immediate purchase and pickup…
Quad 3-Drawer Bedside Tables (Custom Order)
Espresso finish | Originally: $735-each | Floor Model Sale Price: $1,250-pair
White Seat, Chrome Frame | Originally: $523-each | Floor Model Sale Price: $900-pair
Clear Maple Frame, Licorice Cotton/Nylon Webbing | Originally: $902-each | Floor Model Sale Price: $800-each OR $1,500-pair
Elegant Versatility: The Nelson Pedestal Stool
Designed in the mid-1950s by George Nelson, the Nelson Pedestal Stool is the perfect example of elegant versatility. With a beautiful sculptural base and upholstered seat, this small (it’s only 15″ diameter and 19.5″ high) yet functional stool work well in casual living spaces where you may need multiple seats as well as smaller spaces such as foyers or walk-in closets.
With four base finishes and a large selection of upholstery options, you can customize this stool to match your personality and design aesthetic.
The Nelson Pedestal Stool is part of the Herman Miller Holiday Sale and qualifies for 15% off through December 10th.
The Colors of Halloween
Happy Halloween! As many people who celebrate Halloween probably realized when they were young, black and orange are Halloween’s colors (just like Christmas gets red and green).
And while, in theory, you can’t really celebrate Halloween everyday…if you’re drawn to these two hues there are subtle ways to infuse them in your spaces year-round. Check out some suggestions below!
- Lampadina Table Lamp by Flos
- Eames Molded Plywood Lounge Chair w/ Black Metal Legs (Ebony Finish) by Herman Miller
- Sayl Chair (Black Suspension Back, Rhythm ‘Pumpkin’ Seat) by Herman Miller
- Armadillo Pendant in Orange by LZF
- Monja Decanter and Tumbler in Black
New to the Showroom: Albion Side Tables
In creating a room design, keeping a balance of textures, colors and materials is key. With really sleek and modern spaces, a great way to keep the look balanced is with natural, organic pieces. A popular table we’ve loved using in the past is the Terra Stool. With its shesham wood top and hand-forged iron legs these fun little tables add an earthy feel to any room they’re in.
Well, we’d like you to meet the Terra Stool’s cousin, the Albion Side Table. In pairs of two (one small and one large) these beautiful tables are made from wood burls that have been cut into thick slices and set on iron hairpin legs.
Due to the nature of wood burls, each piece is unique and contains swirls, raw edges and the occasional knot or hole. Check out these awesome tables you can come see on our showroom floor.
The Albion Side Table is sold in sets of two (one small, one large) for $225. Click here for more information or stop by Vastu and see them for yourself.
Custom = Exactly What YOU Want
Have you ever been online, in a store or even watching TV and seen a piece of upholstered furniture that drove your design senses crazy? Whether it was a great fabric, a bold leg design or other feature you just knew you had to have it! And then what happened? You did some shopping around and searching around but came up empty handed.
In that instance, Vastu loves to be able to provide completely personalized, handmade-to-order furniture. When Vastu co-owner Jason Claire returned from this year’s trip to the Salone del Mobile show in Milan, he had tufting on the brain. After seeing several vendors play around with this classic upholstery method he knew he needed something made for his home.
So he got in touch with Steven Anthony, our upholsterer out in Los Angeles, and this is what they came up with!
A gorgeous diamond-tufted cube in a beautiful cognac leather!
So with a concept in mind and the help of a Vastu designer, you really can make your design dreams come to life.
What’s In A Name?
One of the cool things about sourcing furniture from hundreds of vendors all over the world is the diversity it brings to our catalog. Diversity in styles, materials, colors, textures and overall looks, but also in names. Pieces created by designers in other countries often come with names in the native language.
Take the Italian-lighting company Flos, whose name means “flower” in Latin. Even though Flos works with some of the best British, Danish, German and Dutch designers out there, they are, at their core, an Italian company with a majority of their designers being Italian. This, in turn, means many of their lighting designs are going to have Italian or Latin names regardless of where you buy them in the world. And more often than not, the name matches the look of the item.
Here are just a few examples and their translations***…
Gatto table lamp / Gatto = Cat
Lampadina table lamp / Lampadina = Bulb
Fantasma floor lamp / Fantasma = Ghost
Lastra pendant / Lastra = Plate
Taraxacum pendant / Taraxacum = Dandelion
But don’t think we only see this kind of naming from Italian companies. Here are some other products whose names have a hidden meaning.
MidCity Dog Days Sale – 2012
It’s nearly that time of year again! Time for the neighborhood-wide Dog Days Sale.
On Saturday, August 4th and Sunday, August 5th, the stores and restaurants in the MidCity district will be hosting awesome sales and promotions.
At Vastu, you’ll have the opportunity to take 15% off all new Steven Anthony custom upholstered furniture orders. That includes chairs, sofas, sectionals, ottomans and beds!
Don’t know where to start when it comes to personalizing your own furniture? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Check out this short “how-to” blog post on how to order your own Steven Anthony piece from Vastu during the Dog Days Sale.
Visit MidCityDogDays.com for a full list of participating retailers and restaurants.
Trends from Milan 2012 – Upholstery
It goes without saying, but the Salone Internazionale del Mobile furniture show in Milan is an exciting experience for everyone who attends, especially those who are in the design and interiors industries. For Eric Kole and Jason Claire, it’s a chance to see what’s new from well-established manufacturers and to see who’s new in the world of design.
This year they came back with some new lines for the store (more to come on that later) as well as several trends to share with you all. Here’s a small recap…
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