Are you too trusting with brands?

Reclaimed Pressure Treated Lumber

I recently visited a couple reclaimed lumber yards looking for some great barn wood or other material for a table I'm building. I came across these boards that are close to perfect for the look I'm going for except there is one major problem. They are loaded with arsenic! Making a kitchen table out of this material would expose people to some serious health risks. Fortunately for my customers I know what I'm looking for and quickly walked away from this find. However, what about people who don't know what this material is or worse yet, someone who doesn't care? So this got me wondering why I always assume the stuff I buy is safe?

Trust in our manufacturer's is something a lot of us take for granted. I do everyday! Even in the wake of some pretty serious problems like the not so distant Melamine laced baby formula and lead painted toys. So why do we do it? I don't have that answer because I'm not a psychologist but there is something you can do about it. Ask more questions! Ask companies where they manufacture. If it's off shore ask them where? Where do the materials come from? Are they sustainable? Who's making sure it's safe?

Asking yourself these questions will put you into a different mindset when you look at packaging labels on consumer goods. Much in the same way we are retraining ourselves to look at food labels. Consider that when companies talk about building consumer trust it's almost always based on marketing ploys or gimmicks. Here are some hit points from two different blogs about building consumer trust.

1. Stop being a cold impersonal business and start being a warm, personable business.
2. Be truthful.
3. Spell out your guarantee.
4. Make it easy for customers to complain.
5. Build on your successes.

None of those points have anything to do with ethics or doing the right thing. I'd be impressed with "Be Truthful" but it's about being truthful in advertising. FAIL!! Besides, all of those points made should be a standard part of doing good business. That fact that people in business have to be reminded of that makes me cringe.

A Gallop poll published back in 2008 asking what's the top thing companies can do to increase your trust level revealed the following: 67% of Americans want increased disclosure of the origins of food, medicines and the like. Behind that was to certify that products being sold are safe. We care about these things but largely don't question them when we buy. Most businesses are still focused on how to convince you to trust them rather than proving it.

So my message is ASK BEFORE YOU BUY! If they can't answer your questions confidently and quickly . . . buy from someone else!

Outdoor Living Accessories In 2012

Antique Garden Tools (See Vintage Below)

Well it may be the holidays but I say it's never too early to start thinking about your outdoor living space for the upcoming season. Believe me, you'll want to be ready when the warmth comes back. Enjoy it form start to finish this year instead of working on it all spring. I'm guilty as charged myself! I'm usually too busy designing outdoor living products to ever get a chance to enjoy any of it. I'll work on that for this spring. :)

So I want to focus on the space accessories in this post. Furniture, patio's and landscaping are done to death so you don't need to hear that from me. Let's talk about details! Your personal taste and the style you like will help determine what things you should consider adding. Let's go through some of the more popular one's.

Traditional
The traditional genre is as stable as ever in it’s dominance of the market. I would propose using a modest blend of Victorian Era design and simplified modern traditional. In addition, you should lace your personal collection with other elements of trending styles to keep it fresh. For example, choose items with light non-specific scroll work and muted ornamentation. The simplification allows the piece to blend into other traditional styled items taking away a lot of guess work. Here are some accessory items you should think about.

Examples of Traditional Outdoor Accessories

● Decorative Bird Cages
● Armillary
● Freestanding Clock or Gauge
● Hanging Chandeliers
● Hanging Pendant
● Hanging Candle Lantern
● Table Top Candle Holders
● Cloche
● Vintage Stool/Table
● Wall Mount Weather Gauges
● Jeffersonian Style Gauges

Vintage or Found Object
The up trend in vintage goods it apparent but by no means a recent development. I am proposing clocks and gauges reminiscent of classical instruments as well as decorative accessories that speak to the romance and spirit of the period. Create a overall feel of inspiring creativity and thought in a lost age. The accessory items to think about fall into the same buckets as the Traditional above but with that vintage twist. Consider worn furniture or vintage garden tools. It's hard to go wrong if you troll your local antique shops for classic pieces.


Modern
Clean line geometric forms with raw finishes such as natural concrete and oxidized metals characterize this style. This is an emerging trend that you can capitalize on now. Consider cast concrete planters, urns and fire pits. In addition, I suggest a variety of wall art, candle items and clocks.

Modern Accessories

● Outdoor Room Dividers
● Wall Art/Shelving
● Decorative Wall Candles
● Table Top Candle Holders
● Large Floor Candle Holders
● Wall Clock
● Table Top Tea Light Pillars
● Wind chimes
● Fire Pit
● Planters

Natural Examples

Natural
We have all been aware for a long time that natural forms (particularly in outdoor) are on trend and still growing. I suggest using branch forms in candles, wall art and clocks. Introduce related leaf and vine forms in your space with wind chimes, trellis and other accessories.



Coastal
Richly textured elements and fabrics such as linen, weathered wood, distressed paint, and stone make up the coastal trend. Accents are rich in color and inspired by coastal foliage, birds, found objects and nautical creatures. Use some slim metal lanterns like those shown and listed below. These lanterns are awesome by the way. You can use these in most categories we covered.

● Natural/Distressed Mirror
● Table Top Candle Holder
● Slim Metal Lanterns
● Shepherd’s Hook Floor Lantern
● Table Top Candle Lantern
● Woven Candle Pendant
● Natural Fiber Table Lamp
● Cloche
● Woven Containers
● Glass Vessels
● Stone Planters
● Nautical Clock/Gauge




I know we didn't cover every style out there but I just wanted to get you thinking. I'll come back to this around March and we will get REALLY SERIOUS then. In the meantime I hope this little blurb gets the gears going.

Quick note about mirrors: Use these in every style category to add depth and space to your outdoor living area. I'm talking about BIG ONE's if your budget allows it. This will be big in 2012!