Friday, February 12, 2010

7 for all mankind

A few months back a few people came into the warehouse to rent some pieces for a photo shoot. We love rentals because you never know what kind of ideas will come from them, and sometimes we get to see our pieces in unexpected places.

In this case, a fantastic trio of people Anne, Heather, and Eric checked out some ingas slabs, and ended up buying and renting a few for a photo shoot. A few weeks later we found out the shoot was for 7 for all mankind. The photos actually made it to their home page. Check them out:




Since then, we've sent a few more slabs to them for some of their store locations - most recently California, Florida, and even here in New York. Thanks to Eric, Anne, and Heather for the referral.

greener than thou: Spouse edition

It's not necessarily a new phenomenon that disagreements about household purchases can sometimes strain relationships. Anyone who's tried to buy a couch, tv, kitchen, or even a printer with your roommate or significant other has probably experienced some sort escalating argument that stems from slight differences of opinion.

It's a scenario that people in the furniture industry often see, and especially in a company like ours where two people come to the warehouse to buy a dining room table, and one falls for a live edge light brown mango table, and the other can't take their eye off a slab made from railroad ties

However, an article in the NY Times from January still seems to be relevant as we mull it over and over, and run into the situation (as recently as last weekend)...therapists seeing an increase in strained relationships because one considers themselves more environmentally aware than their significant other.

photo: Ann Johansson, NY Times.

Here are a couple of really good lines...

"As awareness of environmental concerns has grown, therapists say they are seeing a rise in bickering between couples and family members over the extent to which they should change their lives to save the planet."

"Mr. Fleming, who says he became committed to Ms. Cobb “before her high-priestess phase,” describes their conflicts as good-natured — mostly.

But he refuses to go out to eat sushi with her anymore, he said, because he cannot stand to hear her quiz the waiters"

We'd offer advice, but as we've found when folks are deciding between two slabs or debating whether to go with a clear water-based finish, or a dark brown finish, sometimes it's best to step away and come back in a few minutes, which might not actually be bad advice.

Friday, February 5, 2010

STRAP ON YOUR BOOTS AND COME IN FOR A CHANCE TO SAVE!

25% OFF ALL STOCK ITEMS!!!

come in NOW to take first dibs on the goods...

dining tables
desks
shelving
chairs
slabs
accessories
mirrors
reclaimed doors
beds
dressers
nightstands
and MORE!!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Cozy up with our New Urban Farm products

Here's a sneak peak:


We are producing a new line of merchandise that combines beautiful, reclaimed teak with variations of metal framing, which are completed with your choice of funky new base options. Everything from coffee and side tables, storage cubes, consoles and sideboards will be available this Spring.

However, we have one "teaser" available now, which is our Reversible Painted Teak slab. The coffee table (48" L x 24" W x 17" H) is pictured above and is available in a variety of other sizes as well. This one retails for $675.

Come by and check it out...

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Stay warm, while maintaining a beautiful Design aesthetic

This past weekend, it was almost as if there was a magnet hidden in our custom radiator cover at the Chelsea showroom...


Everyone was interested to know what exactly this beautiful piece was, and how it worked.

When we renovated last Spring, the goal was to cover this eye-sore (aka-the radiator) with something attractive. The result showcases our balance of rustic wood with industrial iron. Additionally, we wanted to make a nod to the warm hearth and mantle, which is the centerpiece of most homes, but something often lost in NYC apartments that lack working fireplaces. The depth of the custom piece helped to achieve this concept, by giving us space for display. Honestly, it almost acts as a fireplace, considering the heat generated into our showroom. But, the design allows users to control the temperature, because the reclaimed teak "shutters" open and close manually.

Come by to discuss options for designing a custom radiator cover for your home or apartment. Also, we can of course produce a variety of other custom pieces as well...

See you soon!!

Monday, January 25, 2010

L-magazine's eco-friendly, seasonal series

We're always on the lookout for sustainable sources, information, and other general green tidbits.

Anyone's that ever visited our Dumbo store knows that we're a big fan of The L Magazine. Hang around the store long enough on a Friday, and you'd see several folks just pass through to see what's new and special, and pick up the new batch of L Magazine's that we set out.

Leafing through my copy (yes, that's where I get mine too) last week, I was surprised to find The Conscientious Objector's column announcing a new seasonal cooking project.


The Seasonal Cooking Challenge

If it sounds like someone at From the Source is re-reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle that's because someone is...we'll keep who secret, but the recipes there are fantastic too.

As a fan of Farmer's Markets in general - personally,I prefer the ones at Grand Army Plaza and Brooklyn Borough Hall, but we'll be that there's one near you - it's always great to find another source for great recipes that observe seasonal cooking. This is especially true in winter months of January & February when many fields and gardens lay dormant, storing energy for the spring bursts of green.

So we'll definitely keep tabs on this new series. Sure, the first column's recipe is for mashed potatoes, and you might think "there's nothing all that complicated about mashed potatoes", but to quote the Conscientious Objector -

"they're cheap, usually cheaper than at the market (my potato guy sells ten-plus varieties for a dollar a pound), and they're WAY more nutritious than you think."

That's all the convincing we need. They're also good with garlic & cheese, but that's just a personal preference. We're excited, and can't wait to see what comes next (there's talk of rutabagas...we'll have to see) .

Friday, January 15, 2010

New York Restaurant Show, 2010

Next month, FTS will be exhibiting at the International Restaurant and Food Service Show at New York's Javits Center. The show starts Sunday, February 28th and runs through Tuesday, March 2nd. Check out the link for more details...

http://javitscenter.com/



Our new Sonokeling wood vertical applications, pop-out table hardware, Column table bases, Sonoma chair (previously featured on the blog http://fromthesourceny.blogspot.com/2009/12/sit-on-this.html), Painted Teak slabs, and enticing new light fixtures are just a few of the innovative new products we will be showcasing...

Please let us know if you would like to visit the booth and we will let you know where to find us!

Hope to see you soon!