When the sun sets, the classiest room in the world is nothing without the right lighting. Too much or too little light, the right tone of the shade, the right shape of the base, the distribution of light from standing floor lamps to petite table lamps all have to come together to set the proper mood.

Whether you like classical, vintage-inspired industrial, modern or whimsical, Red Barn Mercantile has what you need to make your favorite room shine. And during the month of April every lamp, light and shade in the store is 25 percent off.

Lamps and fixtures reflect your personality as much as your largest pieces of furniture or smallest keepsake treasures. Day or night, they are among the first things you see when you enter any room.

Not exactly sure what you need? Make an appointment with one of our staff designers to assess your room and help you find the perfect lighting solution.

Brands include: Jamie Young, Arteriors, Visual Comfort, Thomas O’Brien, Architects & Heroes, Barbara Cosgrove and more. And our special 25% off discount applies to special orders too.

We’ve all been there. We want a fresh look, a new rug for a drab room. So we schlep down to the big box store and flip through giant racks of hanging rugs — the lighting is always bad and the selection is always limited. When we find the one we think will work, we order the size we need and wait six to eight weeks for delivery only to find out it’s completely wrong. Now what?! Well, you either put up with it or you send it back and start all over.

That’s not how things are at Red Barn Mercantile. We’re proud to be the only Dash & Albert partner in Northern Virginia. That means shopping for a new rug doesn’t need to be a hassle. We have every color, style and texture – from cotton-woven stripes to tufted wool patterns – available in 2-by-3 samples in our store.

You’re not only allowed to pull out any rug you want, touch it and compare it with others, but you can take it home for a day or two. Heck, take three or four and look at them in the actual room, in the actual light, where your rug live.

There’s no deposit. No purchase necessary. And it’s much easier to envision how your room will look using an actual rug rather than a tiny swatch.

When you’re ready to order, just bring your sample back and our courteous staff will take your order. If your rug is in stock, it’s usually delivered within a few weeks.

So if your favorite room is looking as drab as a half-melted snow drift, come in today and unroll a little warmth. Dash & Albert rugs are available only in our store, 113 S. Columbus St., Alexandria, Va.

I love the Oscars.

There. I said it. It’s a bit of an obssession really but, I’ll work on that later. Right now we are celebrating all things red carpet.

This weekend, March 5th to the 8th, we are celebrating the movies with popcorn, Oscar winners playing on a big screen in the store and a once-a-year discount on all our rugs — red or otherwise!

What is more Hollywood than the red carpet?  We think the best way to celebrate is to give you 15% off makers like Dash & Albert, John Robshaw, Amy Butler, Serena & Lily and Thomas Paul.  Between all these lines there are nearly 200 styles of rugs from which you can choose.

Come by, pick a few out, take them home, try them out in your space, bring them back and order the size you need.  It’s a simple and very user friendly process.  Knowledgeable (and stylish) staff will be on hand all weekend to help you with all your rug needs.

We’ll see you at the movies!

This wonderful 1920s cabinet can hang or sit atop another piece. It is in great condition and features the original green paint and hardware.

Only one in stock. Dimensions: 30 3/4 inches tall by 24 1/8 inches wide and 14 1/4 inches deep.

Call (703) 838-0355 or contact us for shipping quote. All antiques are unique and sold “as-is.”

SOLD 

(Updated October 26, 2009)

Halloween is one of our favorite holidays. And this year we’re hoping you and your family will spend it with Red Barn Mercantile.

First, stop by and see our wonderful vintage-inspired Halloween decorations, cards, candles and more, now 25 percent off. We have everything you need to delight and bedevil your Halloween guests and goblins.

We are also participating in the Children’s National Medical Center Care for Kids Card program. You can purchase a Care for Kids Card online for $50. All of the proceeds go to Children’s National. The card entitles you to 20 percent discounts at nearly 500 Washington-area stores from October 23 through November 1. We are offering the discount on all non-antique items – perfect for discounts on those last-minute Halloween goodies!

Finally we will be joining our other Old Town Boutique District member-shops in welcoming the entire community into our stores Halloween Day for a little pre-sunset trick or treating. Throughout the day there will be free treats for the kids, and special gifts and discounts for the grown-ups at each of the 27 participating stores. If you wear a costume you might even get a little something extra. Some of the stores will even have special Halloween events. For example, at Red Barn Mercantile we’re inviting all shoppers to receive a free Tarot card reading between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Come by, bring the family and see what your future holds.

Happy Halloween!

Hello All,

We often get asked if we carry Dash & Albert.? The answer is YES, do we ever!? We are pleased to carry every style of rug that they make.? We want to make it easy for you to see, touch and feel the rugs before you commit to such a large purchase – and by large I don’t mean expensive, for these rugs are priced for any budget.

To make it easy to find the perfect rug, we have a 2×3 rug in every style that they make in our store.? If it’s not there, it’s because someone either bought it yesterday or has it out on loan.? That’s what we like to do.? We encourage people to take a few – or 8 -?rugs home to try in their house, with their painted walls, fabric swatches, and morning, afternoon and evening light.? It’s the best way to really decide on which of these fabulous rugs works best for them.? I know I had to take several home before I chose mine.? I thought for sure it was going to be Siena Stripe, but in the end I went with Blueberry Ticking for my red and cream dining room.

Once you decide on the right rug, throw, pillow or bag?for you, we order it.? If they are in stock (and 9 times out of 10 they are!) the products are shipped within 24 hours.? They never take more than 2 weeks to get to us!? You can pick it up or we can ship it straight to your door or second home in Florida or the Eastern Shore – FOR FREE!? It’s sooooo easy.

If you don’t know about Dash & Albert rugs, bags, throws and pillows then let me introduce you…? These products are great.? The rugs are fun and happy while still being sophisticated.? They come in cotton woven, cotton hooked, wool woven, hooked and tufted, and in woven polypropylene that works in- and outdoors.? The bags are made out of the rugs and are roomy and sturdy – perfect for the market whether it be of the farmer’s or flea variety.? The pillows and throws are the same fun patterns as the rugs.? They’re the most wonderful accent to any room.

We hope you will stop by and see for yourself how fantastic these products are.? Then, take one home, try it out, order your rug and enjoy!? The process couldn’t be more pleasant or more easy.? We look forward to helping you find the perfect piece for your space.

See you soon!? Amy

EVERY LAMP AND SHADE ON SALE AT RED BARN MERCANTILE

ALEXANDRIA, VA ? Visit Red Barn Mercantile June 13-28 for 25 percent to 75 percent discounts on every lamp and shade in the store. If you?ve been searching for that special lamp to light your summer evening, then visit our store for great designs at terrific prices.

?When the sun sets, the classiest room in the world is nothing without the right lighting. Too much or too little light, the right tone of the shade, the right shape of the base, the distribution of light from standing floor lamps to petite table lamps all have to come together to set the proper mood,? said Red Barn Mercantile owner Amy Rutherford. ?We have a great assortment of lamps and shades that can help you light just about any room in your home, from bedroom to living room, family room to dining room.?

Red Barn Mercantile features lamps and shades from Jamie Young, Thomas O?Brien and Visual Comfort. All lamps and shades in the store are marked down from 25 percent to 75 percent off; special orders will also be discounted 25 percent.

Red Barn Mercantile would also like to announce its new summer hours. We?re staying open late on Thursdays and opening earlier on Saturdays to help Old Town shoppers take advantage of the long summer days. Our new store hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Red Barn Mercantile is an independently owned and operated home furnishing and gift store that provides a one-of-a-kind mix of new and old. By combining rustic antiques, conversation pieces and newly manufactured items, Red Barn Mercantile offers a whole-room approach to home d?cor. The store is also a member of the Old Town Boutique District, a grassroots co-operative of small businesses working together to make Old Town a vibrant shopping destination.

Hello All!

We made the Spring Wedding Edition of the DC Daily Candy!? Actually, Made By One Girl photo albums made the cut, but we are smart enough to carry these beautiful creations.

Made By One Girl photo books are handmade by Lisa Norris in Chattanooga, TN.? They are truly wonderful.? Each is individually crafted using vintage paper including French wallpaper and old road maps.? Some are adorned with little extras to make each book entirely your own.

These are perfect for holding all your memories whether it’s a family vacation bound between the pages of an old road map or the day you start a life with that special someone held tightly together in the accordian pages of the Jessica album.? You can get your one-of-a-kind book at our store right now.?

We have several on the floor and are getting paper samples so that you can custom make your very own book.? Those should be in the store soon.? Join us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or check back here to be notified of their arrival.

On another note, I wanted to tell you about our next event…? On April 25 from 2:00 to 5:00 we will be having a Serena and Lily trunk show!? Join us for snacks and peruse some of the latest bedding designs from Serena & Lily.? Preston, Emily (the newest member of the Red Barn family), a representative from Serena & Lily, and myself will all be available to help you design a bedroom for the newest member of your family, for their older sibling or for you.? From crib to king, Serena & Lily has something fantastic for you!

Hope to see you all soon!? Amy

Hello all!

We are so excited about what is going on at the store right now.? Although the sun hasn’t shown in a week, we are set for Spring.? The store is totally decked out for the season.

We have new pieces of furniture like this great REALLY primitive blue cabinet and this super sweet distressed turquoise step-back cabinet…? Doesn’t get more Spring-y than that!

We also brought out all our fun Spring accessories and gifts: wonderful galvanized pots (galvanized anything is on my list of favorites), fun gardening gloves and aprons from Hable Construction, equally fun and brightly colored aprons from Utility Canvas (they are hanging on the wall so you can’t miss ‘em),?incredible photo albums/scrapbooks?handmade with vintage maps and Parisienne wallpaper, letterpress notecards with the most scrumptious vegetables on them and adorable stuffed animals made from reclaimed sweaters.

We also got new pillows from Thomas Paul.? He is going in a whole new direction of which we are tremendously fond.? But don’t worry, our favorites are still available!

Sticking with our garden theme, we are pleased to have seven new scents of candles from k. hall.? From their garden grows Peony, Honeysuckle, Verbena, Blueberry Basil, Black Currant and Clary Sage.? And, not from the garden, is Washed Cotton.? Each and every one is truly amazing.? It’s as if Peonies and Honeysuckle sproutted in your living room and a fresh load of laundry (without all the work) just came out of the dryer.? If those weren’t enough, they have made a candle version out of Pipe Shop Tobacco.? Come by and take a whiff for yourself!

In addition to these scents, we are pleased to introduce?Olivina.? This is an all natural beauty product line – lip butter, hand and body lotion, hand and body wash – that is made in Napa Valley from Olive Oil.? I was reading the lip butter ingredients last night and there was no mention of petroleum products.? Hallelujah!? And, it felt great and tasted, dare I say,?a little yummy.? Double Hallelujah!

Not only do we have all these fantastic new additions, we have a number of fun vintage items too.? Old milk bottles of every sizes make for great vases for fresh cut Spring flowers.? Cute enamel kitchenware will brighten any space – not just your kitchen!? Old frogs for arranging flowers, vintage textile gears for weighing down papers on your desk or for stacking on a bookshelf, old expandable tape measures perfect for keeping in your toolbox, kitchen or car for when you need it, and lots more of our favorite type blocks to spell almost anything.? As we are want to do, these gems are sprinkled throughout the store, so come by and see for yourself!

In my humble opinion the store has never looked better and I have never been so proud of what we accomplished.? I’d like to thank my mom, dad and husband for hustling to get the vintage items ready and moved in, Taylor (Preston’s brother and newest Red Barn family member!) for moving virtually every piece of furniture in the store – not once, but six times – and most of all Preston.? She is truly responsible for all the beauty.? Her displays are awe inspiring.? If you come by please give her and the others?a huge pat on the back for a job well done!

Enjoy and we will see you this weekend for the Dash & Albert event!? Talk about a great way to spruce up for Spring…

Take care,? Amy

BRING SPRING INTO YOUR HOME WITH COLORFUL NEW FLOOR COVERINGS

UPDATE: THIS SALE ENDED MARCH 23

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Welcome spring with bright new colors from Dash & Albert. From March 21-23, Red Barn Mercantile is marking down all Dash & Albert Rugs ? all patterns, all sizes ? 15% off.

?These rugs are a customer favorite because they are so colorful, versatile and a bargain ? even at regular price,? says Red Barn owner Amy Rutherford. ?But after a long cold winter and all the economic gloom I thought it would be nice to offer a little color and warmth at a discount.?

With more than 100 styles ? from woven to hooked, cotton and wool, there is literally a Dash & Albert rug for every room.

?My personal favorites are the bright, woven cotton stripes,? Rutherford said. ?They?re perfect for spring and will liven up any room.?

The rugs are also available in a variety of shapes and sizes, including: