Urban Dwellings Design is Closed

We have shut the doors at 412 Delaware in the River Market.

We hope you will stop by and see us at our new business venture, The Coveted Home.

The Coveted Home will carry many of the same lines you are used to finding at Urban Dwellings, but we have fine tuned our vision. We have also added a few new lines that bring a wonderful freshness to our look.

The Coveted Home opens in late April 2012.

Visit our new website: covetedhome.com

Or get updates on our facebook page.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions: info@covetedhome.com

Let the SALE begin!

It seems the question out of everyone's mouth these days is: "so when are you going to have a sale?" As you have heard, we are moving the location of the store to Corinth Square next month and changing the name to The Coveted Home. And while there are certain pieces that will not be joining us on our move, the majority of our inventory will. We hate to disappoint all of you with this news, but we believe in the beauty and value of our product. Plus it is VERY expensive to stock an entire store with merchandise, just FYI: ) Don't worry, there will be plenty of new goodies to get your attention in the new shop, and we know you are just going to love the additions we are making to the already stellar line up of products that we currently offer.

Below is a start of the items we have marked down. They are mainly bigger pieces that we know will not transition to the new location. There will be more to come as the moving process begins, check back often for updates, we will post them on facebook also. And drop in the store if there is something you particularly would like, we may be able to make you a deal.

As pieces are sold we will update this post, also as new items are marked down we will add them to the post.

A handful of pillows are now 75% off!

Vine ottoman is $229 (half off!)

MG+BW Martin 90" leather sofa, $2376.50

Metal and wood console on wheels marked down to $1440 (half off!) 1 HAS SOLD, ONLY 1 LEFT

White leather MG+BW Kirk Swivel Chair, $812

MG+BW Collins Bar, $597.50 (half off!) SOLD

Select candles and room diffusers 75% off! THESE ARE GOING VERY FAST, ONLY A FEW LEFT

Ferret Dining Table, $1031.50 (half off!)

Thank you to all of our customers and everyone who has helped to get us this far. It really means the world to us!

xo, Jaclyn

Taxidermy Doesn't Have to be a Trophy

Taxidermy swept through the interior design scene a few years ago and seems to still be a relevant fad in home decor. At first I had my reservations, being an animal lover and a vegetarian. But a few things changed my mind.

Many taxidermy shops don’t support the traditional trophy aspect of hunting and killing. Those with this view are carrying antique pieces from the late 19th and early 20th century. Much of the hunting done at that time was considered scientific, a form of nature preservation.

Many people who have begun to collect these pieces view the animals as a piece of art and a gift from nature. Since many of us may never see these animals up close in real life, it can be fascinating to have them in our homes.

Since I still have the thought in the back of my head that popularity creates demand, and if the fad is big enough there will have to be more killing to produce the supply, I have found many alternatives to the trend.

Hand-carved wood deer heads are some of my favorites. The detail on them is beautiful, and they provide a unique natural appeal in a similar fashion to the real thing.

A hand carved wooden stag head commands attention in my small apartment.

Felt animal heads are a bit more whimsical and playful. I love the softness of them and think they are perfect for a child’s room.

These felt heads by Roost are currently for sale in the shop!

A vintage Aoudad head from Africa

I have also seen beautiful and colorful papier mache heads of a bull, goat and deer that add an enchanting aspect to any interior.

This is one trend that may come and go for some, but the animal lover in me will always find it appealing.

This post appeared in last Sunday's Kansas City Star Magazine.
By Jaclyn Joslin

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/03/03/3457731/design-notebook-taxidermy-doesnt.html#storylink=cpy

Exciting news! Sales Position Available!

The Coveted Home (formerly Urban Dwellings Design) is seeking part time, experienced sales people to join our team. Here is what we are looking for:

• Considered applicants must have sales experience. Furniture sales is preferred but not required
• Candidates must be motivated and possess a genuine, friendly and helpful disposition with a desire to become part of a closely knit team
• Sales performance is a must for job retention
• Please send resumes in PDF format only (no word files please) to: info@covetedhome.com

Commercial Space for Lease in Kansas City

You may have heard--we are moving. Consequently our space in the River Market is available for lease. It is hard to find a space with more character than this; shiny concrete floors, brick walls, high exposed ceilings. And on one of the most historic and beautiful streets in KC, Delaware Street.

Here is a link to Aron Real Estate with more details: LEASE 412 Delaware

Please spread the word to anyone you know looking for commercial space for rent!

On trend: Kilims

I've been noticing and admiring the use of kilim rugs in interiors lately. Middle Eastern in origin, these traditionally woven wool flatweaves have graphic patterns and tribal characteristics. They look great in just about any type of interior, but I'm particularly loving them in more clean, sleek, and modern spaces because they add just that right amount of global-boho chic to liven it up.

A Stockholm apartment looks gorgeous with the addition of a neutral kilim rug.

We currently have a handful of pillows made from vintage kilim rug pieces for sale in the shop:

They'd be a fun way to interject a bit of color, pattern, and texture into a space.

I find these antique kilim rugs from Apadana to be so pretty and surprisingly modern feeling. The aged patina makes them even more desirable to me.

I've also been spotting kilim motifs all over in fashion right now. How great are the Chuska loafers from Anthropologie? I think they'd look effortless with skinny black capris and a denim shirt come Spring.

And check out these beautifully beaded statement necklaces, available through the Seattle-based boutique Totokaelo. They definitely invoke a kilim-like pattern. I can see these being worn with a simple maxi dress or a flowy top.

xo, Amanda

First image, NY Times Style Magazine, Nov. 4, 2011. Following two are my own. Remainder are vendor images.

Rethink Reupholstery

Being located a block away from an antique mall, and having fabric swatches hanging in the back of the store, we get a lot of people asking if we offer reupholstering services. Also, because of the nature of our design business, we get just as many asking for reupholstering advice (e.g., "How much yardage do you think a chair 'yay' big would need?")

Of course, we don't reupholster here at our retail shop, as this arduous task is clearly best left to the skilled professionals with a workshop and years of experience. However, what I can offer is some insight because it seems that there are many misconceptions about the reupholstering process. There is a great interview of an upholsterer's perspective in this month's issue of Real Simple magazine (February 2012) that got me thinking about the subject.

Here are some quick tips:

1.) Reupholstering furniture probably won't save you money. In fact, it could cost you more when it's all said and done. Buying a "steal of a deal" from the antique store may not always be so great if your goal is to spend less than you would on a new piece. Once you factor in the cost of your piece, the cost of fabric and labor, it may be a wash. Other factors that you should consider are: the need for any new painting/staining, repairs/reinforcements, or new cushioning/springs -- all of which could send you over the edge.

2.) Good quality fabric is expensive. Manufacturing fabric is a labor and resource intense process, especially if it is anything worth putting on a piece of furniture. Buying enough yardage to cover an occasional chair or sofa will be costly.

3.) Reupholstering is not a DIY job. Unless you are looking at something like a little bench seat or a small inset cushion, upholstering should be done by professionals. It is a skilled trade and one can easily tell the difference between a good and bad upholstery job.

That said, there are many great reasons to reupholster antique and vintage furniture. For one, mixing in older furnishings adds character, depth and style to your home. Antique and vintage furniture can possess certain qualities that newer items seem to lack. I myself have had pieces reupholstered for my home, and we occasionally sell refurbished items in the store or have pieces reupholstered for design clients, and the results have always been well worth it. Giving a second life to an older piece is creatively rewarding and inherently eco-conscious. As an added bonus, utilizing antique and vintage furniture will make your interior unique and enviable with one-of-a-kind treasures.

xo, Amanda

Image from House Beautiful magazine. The homeowner chose to leave the backs of the chairs sans upholstery :)

Not Your Average Granny

Riddle for the day: What's pink, orange, and floral all over?.....

Granny Chic of course! And not the typical granny house you've spent countless holidays at, this one is infused with pops of color, quirky accents, and lots of texture. Let's just say, it's not your average Granny, unless your Grandma happens to be Betsey Johnson (a huge influence in this post today). So bust out that afghan and pour yourself some tea, this is going to be a fun read!

My inspiration for this post comes from an amazing handmade gift I received over the holidays.



Adorable right?! It's a cross-stitched, family portrait, that my Mother made of my significant other, our four-legged son, and myself. I'm pretty sure I squealed with delight when I unwrapped this. Immediately I ran home to hang this on the wall, and ever since, I've found myself attracted to anything needlepoint, cross-stitched, bright, or floral.

And really, who can resist the charm that granny-chic can bring to any room?

Needlepoint Heart Pillow by Jonathan Adler. Adorable!

This afghan adds so much pattern, texture, and excitement to this modern bedroom.

Needle point wall decals, love it!

High gloss white floors with granny-chic decor.

While this look is adorable, personally, I find it looks best in small doses. The juxtapostion of the look with modern, sleek, interiors is what makes my heart skip a beat. Little hints of something vintage and feminine can bring warmth and coziness to any space, along with adding a lot of spunk and personality! Don't be afraid to add a little crochet to your space, your Granny would be proud.

-Katie:)

Photo credits:

first image, my own. Second image from jonathanadler.com.Third image, harperkingsley.com. Fourth image, storybookwoods.typepad.com. Fifth image, creativeinfluences.blogspot.com

Spare, But With Purpose

Below is a copy of the article by Jaclyn that ran in this past Sunday's KC Star Magazine. Enjoy!

Photo by Roy Inmann

By JACLYN JOSLIN

Special to The Star

Do you have a guest room that rarely gets used? Or would you like a spare room to be functional for you on a day-to-day basis and accomodate guests when necessary? Many of us only have guests once or twice a year and having a room that is not functional for other purposes for the majority of the time seems like wasted space to me.

Here is another good question to answer: do you use your guest room as storage space for things that you don’t know where else to put? Before moving into my small apartment, I had a guest room that held junk. Honestly, when I went to move I uncovered things I had not looked at in years in the guest bedroom closet. I had to ask myself: what purpose are these things serving me? If I am not using them, not even looking at them for years at a time, it is hard to justify holding on to them.

Now I am a big proponent of editing and an even bigger proponent of not collecting junk. Too many of us hold on to things that were either given to us, or at one time were useful to us, but no longer fit our lifestyle. It is OK to let these items go, in fact it is a good thing. The items could be useful to another person and it is important to not let things stagnate in your life.

I like to move my accessories around every few months. I will take everything off my bookshelves to dust and be sure to not study the arrangement too closely before dismanteling. Then when I go to put it back on the shelf, I purposely try to put items back in a different spot. If pieces end up not fitting back in, I will look for a place elsewhere and if it still has no home, I know I need to evaluate keeping the piece or putting the item back into circulation.

The pictured room is a perfect example of having a beautiful space that is functional and comfortable for guests or for everyday use by the homeowners. There is no clutter, only well selected pieces that serve a purpose, have a timeless appeal to them and most importantly, the homeowners love them!

In this particular home, the owners already had one complete guest room, but there was still another small spare room. It could have been outfitted with another bed that would have taken up most of the floor space, or we could make the room a bit more useful for their everyday living. We chose the latter by putting in a chair and a half with a twin sleeper. A pair of Moroccan poufs in front are great for kicking your feet up on while sitting in the chair reading, and are easily moved to pull the sleeper out.

The room also sports a wood-and-iron side table with a few minimal accessories. That way it is not bare, but also leaves guests a spot to place belongings or a drink. The pharmacy floor lamp is perfect for sitting in the chair reading, or when the bed is pulled out. The small dresser that fills the semi-awkward niche is kept empty so that guests have a spot to put belongings when visiting. This is important! Resist the urge to fill dressers up with clothes that you will never wear or other junk that you do not need. Pillows and bedding for the sleeper are kept in a small closet. Along the other wall there is a bookshelf for holding a few accessories and books, making this room a quiet reading retreat when company is not in town.

I find that most people underestimate the energy that inanimate objects hold. It is easy to operate out of guilt or laziness and think that you should hold on to something because it was a gift or because it is just plain easier to let things sit and not think about the purpose it is serving you. By clearing out your extra rooms or any portion of your home (basement, attic, closets, etc.) and only keeping the functional and decorative items that you love, you will be amazed at the space you create in your life for other good to come in.

Reach Jaclyn Joslin, interior designer and owner of Urban Dwellings Design in the River Market, 412 Delaware St., at info@urbandwellingsdesign.com.

Not A Paperback

I love accessorizing with books. Coffee table books have beautiful covers and images, but some shelves need something a bit smaller and it is nice to have a variety of sizes. I have dealt with many a home where the builder thought it would be nifty to have built in shelves all over the place. I am typically not a fan and have advised more than one client to just tear them out and dry wall over them. But when this is not an option decorative books can provide a good solution, and possibly an opportunity to read a classic such as Jane Eyre or Oliver Twist.

I'm mad for the Hardcover Classics by Penguin, designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith. The details make them so lovely; linen cases, colored endpapers and ribbon markers.

These decorative books we have in the store are recycled old library books. The covers are hand made and come in a variety of colors and designs. It is quite entertaining to browse through the books that have been recovered, there are some very random topics under those pretty cases!

As I am striving to read more lately, I have books on the mind and it is nice that I can justify thinking of them in the design sense as well!

-Jaclyn

DECOrating

You know what they say, 'what goes around comes around' and the world of decor is no exception. I must say, one of the most notable comebacks, originating from the late 1920's mixed with today's clean modernism, is chic, timeless, and lovely.

And the fabulous style that is making an iconic comeback is none other than...(drum roll please)....Art Deco! The style that made its first debut in 1925 with a French art exposition became Amercianized and booming into the 1930's. Characterized by smooth lines, geometric shapes, and graphic images, this style easily blends into modern dwellings of today.

Notice above, the graphic color palette, architectural detailing surrounding the windows, and the simple lines repeating in the upholstery. Love that Zebra dome chair on the left? We have access to a similar style here at Urban Dwellings!

Graphic lines of the headboard paired with a ultra cool pattern makes the Deco bed from Dwell Studio both Art Deco inspired and totally awesome.

The Donnabella Mirror from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams is classic Art Deco with its silver leafed glass and black inlay.

Art Deco is even making a comeback in jewelery. Check out these fabulous earrings from Scarlett Garnet Jewelry.

The Celia sofa from MG+BW plays up the original french Art Deco style with a graceful camel back.

This little beauty is new to the store, and one of my favorites from Regina Andrews. The simplicity and clean lines make it easy to add a little Art Deco to any space.

-Katie

Images: First image, access.decorati.com.

Holiday Decorating...Naturally

This post comes a little late in the game, as I am not known for exceptional holiday decorating skills (however I am working at improving this!). I have never had a real tree before and this year I decided to put one in the store. A 7-8' white pine was just the tree for my first go at this.

Amanda had ordered us some great ornaments that we are selling and mixed with some others I bought at Target a few years ago our tree was coming along. But what for the top? After a few days of brainstorming I had an idea. Remember the lovely Book Wreath we made for the DIFFA auction? That could be done in the fashion of a tree topper! I put my talented assistant, Katie to work on it and within about an hour or so she whipped this beauty up!

I call the style of our tree "Naturally Modern". It is simple and holds its own done sparsely but could also be layered with more for a bigger impact.

A burlap skirt with some shiny gold & silver wrapped presents is pretty.

The hand carved owls, silvery/gold orbs and bells are for sale at the store (click here to see an up close image with pricing or to order). The white balls, pinecones and small mercury glass ornaments are from Target.

The tree topper is made from rolled up and hot glued pages of a book.

Enjoy the season,

Jaclyn

Something BIG

I have been up to something big for a while now. Circumstances arose that made me consider a name change for Urban Dwellings Design. Admittedly in the beginning I was resistant and wanted to stand my ground. Then I had a shift in thought--there is good in this, I just have to find it. Sure enough it hit me on the head one day, after a phone call with a potential client. I had heard it before, but not really HEARD it.

The word "Urban" was not resonating with a portion of potential customers. People were assuming because of the word urban that the selections at Urban Dwellings would be too modern, contemporary or um..urban.

I chose the name Urban Dwellings because I wanted to juxtapose two different concepts--urban being more modern and dwellings being more rustic or old. This was and continues to be my approach to design. And while I still love the name and the concept of it, more than one instance guided me into going forward with a name change.

Coming up with a name is not easy. I thought long and hard the first time around and this second time was no exception. But I could not be happier with the new name--I think it represents the lines and style that we have become know for to a T. It also represents the direction I will continue to take with the store and my design work-chic, sophisticated, coveted and most importantly, livable.

So here it is, the new name, complete with a gorgeous logo and tag line. I could not be more thrilled!

We are currently still operating under Urban Dwellings Design and will gradually make the shift over the next several months into The Coveted Home. Stay in touch to see the full transformation take place!

-Jaclyn

Creature Comforts

Animal inspired decor is extremely popular in design right now. Examples of this are showing up everywhere; from furniture vendors, to shelter publications and home furnishings retailers. Items like taxidermy, antlers, hair on hide upholstered pieces, tortoise shells, feathers and more are great for adding an element of the natural world's beauty into your home. Whether you choose faux or real, or vintage/antique items, this look is sure to remain chic indefinitely.

Here are some of my top picks that will lend that wild side look to your space:

The Neta bench in hair on hide, Oly Studio

X-imapala horns, Barbara Cosgrove Lamps

The Ari side table, Oly Studio

Sheepskin rug, DwellStudio

Polished Horn ornaments, Arteriors

xo, Amanda

First image, DwellStudio. Remainder are vendor images. Items available through Urban Dwellings Design.

Reminder...Shop Local!

As we gear up for the holiday shopping season and the busiest shopping weekend of the year please remember to support your local businesses. Here are some great facts to keep in mind from the 3/50 Project website:

For every $100 spent in local and independently run stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. If that $100 is spent in a chain store only $43 stays here. Spend it online and NOTHING stays in our community.

This Saturday the 26th we will be participating in a new movement called Small Business Saturday. This is a day when we should all remember to shop local and celebrate America's small businesses. Here at Urban Dwellings Design we will be offering 25% off any in store purchase and 10% off any special order.

We have got some great small accessories for gifting and some really sweet holiday decor, check out the adorable hand carved wood owl ornaments!

I hope you can make it!

Jaclyn

Contemporary with a Twist

I am drawn to contemporary style homes and furniture and although I have furnished my home with mostly contemporary furniture, I have started to do a lot of antique shopping. I think it is because I want my home to feel more personal and collected, and nothing does that better than a one-of-a-kind find from an antique shop.

This image is a great inspiration for how I would like to decorate my bedroom. (Note the blue-grey walls, sleek case goods and upholstered headboard.)


bedroom by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams

www.mgbwhome.com

But to make my bedroom more special (and which I envision to be more soft and romantic) I have been thinking a Louis XV chair in the corner would add that element.

This past weekend I was in Charleston, South Carolina shopping on King St. (where there are some fabulous antique store and art galleries) and I spotted my dream chair that would take my contemporary bedroom from generic to really special! I'm now on quest to find one just like it locally!


French Regency Armchair, Jacques' Antiques, Charleston, SC

-Ilyssa