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It’s the time of year when mail order catalogs should be going out. I love home product catalogs! I can sit on my comfortable couch, with a hot cup of tea, and peruse the newest and best furniture, home décor items and gifts—without the expense of gas, the time hassle, or the crush of crowded shopping venues..jpg)
If you’re not on the direct mail bandwagon, I say give it a try. Catalog shopping allows you to easily compare prices, assess quality, and talk to your own individual sales person if you so choose. Oftentimes when thinking about ordering upholstered goods, you can even receive material swatches prior to purchase. I’ve ordered thousands of dollars of home-related products through the mail and, unlike most other businesses, can honestly say I’ve never been disappointed, stiffed, or shocked at bad customer service. For many businesses mail order catalogs have been one of their front line strategies for decades. While the cost of printing, postage and shipping has increased substantially, I seriously doubt that this service will be going under.
Here are a few of my favorite catalogs and a small description of each:
Horchow. Horchow is the premier of catalog vendors. This is a company with top-of-the-line case goods, bedding, home décor items and gifts. My favorite of all the direct mail companies, Horchow’s product line is expensive and in the best of taste. The buyers get the finest goods from all over the world and yes, the price points are high, but if you’re buying one special statement piece, you’ll find it here. The photos are worth studying. You can find sumptuous room arrangements and the bedding sections are to die for.
Restoration Hardware. This catalog is not all about hardware as the name suggests, but the company does have terrific high-end traditional upholstered furniture, leather couches and chairs, bedding and linens (in my favorite hues, lots of sea tones: seafoam green, sage, sand), lighting, yes, fixtures, and more. I visited the Manhattan store and the visit took my breath away; very nice textiles and quality.
Ballard Designs. Ballard Designs catalog is a pleasure to go through and I get some great ideas from here. Mid-to-high priced goods are featured and they specialize in Country French items (the fleur de lis is often shown), wonderful mirrors and plagues, furniture, fabrics and occasional pieces such as ottomans, consoles, pillows and tables. They have splashy pieces like the Westbourne mirror in a classic quatrefoil design, huge clocks, chandeliers, and they even venture into great garden stones.
Home Decorators Collection. Shopping for a leather chair? You can’t do better than this. The selection is intriguing but they specialize in modern club chair styling and smooth lines. The prices will surprise you. They also have tons of marvelous large cabinets, storage pieces and occasional furniture items. Their rug selection is wonderful and the prices are varied; they even have a patio collection of rugs, suitable for outdoors and covered patios. I’ve ordered large pieces from them for a private job and have never been disappointed.
Country Curtains. There are two window dressing companies I like quite a bit, Country Curtains and Smith + Noble Windoware. Country Curtains is an establishment in Maine (they were originally housed at the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge), and they have homey, dressy and sophisticated window dressing from valances to roman shades drapery goods and cotton voile. I purchased a beautiful toile set for my mother’s room and love it every day. The workmanship is nice and the service is better. For higher-end blinds, shades and fabrics, look to Smith + Noble. The selection is amazing although I find the shade price charts a little overwhelming.
Well, I’m running out of space but not suggestions. Here are a few more you might like: Through the Country Door for gifts and unusual almost kitschy décor, Grandinroad for design elements and accouterments, Design Toscano for historical and antique replicas (find your gargoyles here—yes, I said gargoyles), and don’t forget the old standbys such as Lillian Vernon, Crate and Barrel…
By the way, if you already receive too many catalogs or unwanted catalogs, the link below will help you to address that; their motto is “You decide what gets in.”
http://www.catalogchoice.org/ Eliminate unwanted catalogs you receive.
So, whether you spell it: “catalog” or “catalogue,” check out some mail order offerings, I think you’ll love it just like I do.
TIP: visit the Google and Catalogs.com links to see some catalogs and for ordering information.
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Google listings http://catalogs.google.com/catalogs?catid=95
Catalogs.com http://www.catalogs.com/home-decor.html
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