Come by the store June 11-13 for free design consultations with Red Barn Mercantile’s knowledgeable staff. Bring your swatches, paint samples, pillows, pictures, your special inspiration and we’ll provide the ideas you need to create a room that expresses your unique sense of style.

We’re also raffling off two one-hour design consultations. Our designers will come to your home and provide their advice and artistic eye for a free.

It’s all part of the Old Town Boutique District’s Summer Stroll — three days of discounts, gifts and events from local independent merchants. Download the map (PDF) of the Boutique District’s 28 members to visit all the unique and wonderful stores Old Town has to offer. 

Some of the other events and discounts include designer trunk shows at The Shoe Hive and The Full Cup, storytimes and craft classes for children at Hooray for Books, pick your own discounts at Monday’s Child and Pink and Brown, discounts on summer clothes at Treat, Gossypia and Apple Seed, free gifts with purchase from Arts Afire, The Christmas Attic and The Little Monogram Shop, and chances to win classes from Fibre Space and La Cuisine.

It’s here!  Our first shipment of Thomas O’Brien’s new book American Modern is in the store now!  Get ‘em while they’re hot…

I’m having Tim, our contractor friend, over this evening to look at the house for a few small projects.  Not sure if we are going to put the house on the market or just fix it up for another year.  Will let you know what we decide…

Anyway, since we are planning a bit of fixing up I have been searching for brilliant ideas on the blogosphere.  While hunting I found this gem of a bathroom remodel from Door Sixteen – http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/12/15/my-downstairs-bathroom/. 

Check it out.  I think you will be inspired.  My favorites are the sink, the first aid/medicine cabinet, the tile (my most favorite!) and the old mirror with the black and white.  What is your favorite?

 Enjoy!

Amy

Hello all!

I was reading my fav blogs tonight and saw this on Re-nest…

OMG!  My mouth fell open and my heart stopped.  This is my kind of guy!  Where do I start?  The wall color is not what I would choose for my home only because I’m not that daring.  It is fabulous.  I love how the map blends seamlessly yet still stands out.  The farm table is pitch perfect in my book as is the trunk underneath.  And, if you knew of my obsession with old bank boxes, boxes in general and how I love to stack things as above, you would know why I love this so.

Oh, and there is the globe… that is a reproduction and one that you will be able to find in the store in the near future.  We found it in NY at the Gift Show and have been waiting for it ever since.  Will let you know when it arrives.

The rest of the pictures are equally stunning.  The house was featured in today’s New York Times Home Section.  I suggest you visit to see the rest of this eclectic house.

Here are my other favorite spaces…

That cabinet with all the drawers is spectacular, the chipping paint is great and the bat illustration is just plain cool!

I dearly love that rocker!  It is truly amazing.  And, I love the nook bed.  My son would go berserk for something like that.  How cozy and inviting.  Only trouble with such a space is he would soon outgrow it.  But, how he would love it while it lasted.

That green floor is inspired and the wall of glass cabinets is beautiful.  What I wouldn’t give to have such cabinets.  Not just for the space but for the dark wood contrasting with the white – Ahhhhhhh!

Finally, this artist and homeowner has a wonderful fascination with anatomical charts and other teaching tools like the one above.  I suggest he check out our skeleton below.  I think it would fit in perfectly.  What do you think?!

Anyway, I was truly inspired by this space and wanted to share with you.  Will now have to make a pilgrimmage to the Catskills to visit his shop Kabinett & Kammer in Andes, NY.  See you there…!

Take care,

Amy

Happy New Year!

I hope this post finds everyone happy and healthy in the new year. Can’t believe it’s already here! Like Spring, January 1 fills me with a sense of hope and new adventure – what will this year have in store for us? On what new roads should we travel? It’s a brand new start and anything is possible!

January 1 is also the time for new resolutions. Frankly, I’m not a big fan of resolutions. It seems that I make a beeline to change with all the gusto I can muster and by mid-February (more often than not, Mid-January) I’m completely out of steam. So that is why I’m not going to resolve to change, but I’m going to try really hard to change. I’m not going to beat myself up if I fail. I will get back on the proverbial horse and try again. All that being said… to you I say that I will try to be a better blogger.

It amazes me that anyone really cares to hear what I have to say. Who am I to wax poetic on design and who cares about my philosophy on the New Year? But apparently some people care and don’t mind the waxing. So, for you, for whom I am very grateful, I will try to be a better blogger.

Here it goes…

Thursday is my favorite day of the week. The reason is because Thursday is the day the Washington Post’s Home Section is delivered to my door. I know you can see it online the night before, but there is nothing like opening up the real thing, getting newsprint on your fingers and seeing what is going on in the homes in WDC. It’s a simple pleasure that I truly enjoy – I hope you do too!

Well, today’s Home section had a wonderful article on an architect whose home is 11 feet wide. What’s so great about the home is how she has mixed old and new, high and low – just as we do in the store. The picture on the front page is of Ikea kitchen cabinets with antique Chinese doors – fabulous! I’m sorry to say that at “press time” I could not get a picture of the kitchen. You’ll have to check back later.

The guest room/library is my favorite. What a wonderful way to multitask a room. In the rowhouses in DC and in Old Town every inch counts and she really maximized this room. Would you believe those are Ikea cabinets too?! I would love to be her guest…

If you get a chance pick up the Post on Thursdays. You will be happy you did!

That’s it for my first blog of 2009. As stated above, I will try to be a better blogger. If there is anything you would like to talk about, just shoot me an email. I’d love to chat!

Take care and have a happy and healthy New Year! Amy

PS – Just so you know, all the Christmas goodies are 50% off in the store! Get it while it lasts…

Bonjour! My friend, Laura Dowling of Interieurs et Fleurs, has just written a wonderful piece for StyleMePretty.com a great all-things-weddings blog. I just had to share it with you! It includes an impressive list of trends in French flower design and stunning photos of her work. Laura is a floral designer in Old Town who creates the most incredible pieces of art. To view her masterpieces go to LauraDowling.com.

She was also kind enough to mention us! One of the recent trends in French floral design is the use of mirrored cubes as vases. She recently did a wedding where she used our mirrored cubes as centerpieces. They turned out great! We have several wonderful mirrored pieces – orchid pots (above), boxes and cubes. Pick one up today and you too can be tres chic!

Merci! Amy

Hello! I’ve been wanting to talk about this since Thursday… Did you see the article in last week’s Washington Post Home section about family-friendly interiors? It was really well done and very comprehensive. The tips were spot on!

I especially agree with the thought that good-quality furnishings that can be refinished or recovered over time are better than flimsy new pieces.

It is better for your pocketbook and the environment if you buy something that can be used again once it has outgrown it’s intended purpose.

They give an example of a pine kitchen island as a changing table in a baby’s room – can I just tell you… that is exactly what I did four and a half years ago when my son was born. Now my daughter is using it. Great minds think alike! When she is out of diapers – hopefully VERY soon! – I’ll clean it up and use it somewhere else in my house. Maybe in the kitchen… or maybe not. : )

I could go on and on about the article, but you should read it for yourself. I think it sums up a new style of thinking for the whole home, whether you have kids or not. Enjoy and let me know what you think!

Speaking of tips… Please take a look at Vintage Indie’s blog. She very kindly asked us to write some design tips on how to mix old and new. We were very honored to contribute. You can view the three-part series here, here and here. It’s a great blog with really neat handcrafted features. I hope you find my tips helpful as well!

Finally, I wanted to give you a proverbial heads up about an upcoming sale. Beginning February 1, all upholstered pieces on the sales floor will be discounted 25%. And, if that weren’t enough, we are giving 15% off all upholstery special orders. Oh, and there will be several accessories on sale too. More details to follow. Sign up for our email list for more information and reminders.

That’s it for tonight! Take care, Amy