A Valentine’s Day to Remember

As a college-student and young professional, I celebrated many, many Valentine’s Days without a boyfriend. I was never that great at timing my breakups and makeups to coincide with the holiday. So some of my favorite wishes were from family and friends. My Aunt Helen was especially good at remembering me on these days that I otherwise dreaded!

Similarly, nearly 20 years ago, my dad passed away just a few weeks before Valentine’s Day. It was a particularly difficult February 14^th for my mom. Imagine how surprised we all were when she received beautiful bouquet of roses on Valentine’s Day. When she opened the card, she was immensely touched to read that the roses were from some of my Dad’s friends – men who he shared coffee with nearly every morning at Tharp’s, the local lumberyard.  Their act of kindness and thoughtfulness remains with her – and me – to this day.

Perhaps that’s why I continue to think that wishes on this special day should not be restricted to our spouses or significant others. Everyone needs to know they are loved. And gestures of love and friendship don’t have to be extravagant or expensive to convey affection.

New Distressed T-shirts- Hurry in Limited Supply!

Happy Me!

Over the next few days, we’ll see more men than usual at our jewelry counter and browsing the nooks and crannies of the store. Often times, they are unsure of “exactly” what she wants, they just know it’s from The Schaefer House. And just as often, my amazing and wonderful staff does know exactly what she wants – they know her tastes, have seen pictures of her house, or in the case of jewelry, helped her try it on a few times!

Several new designs have just arrived!

Hearts are sure to please on Valentine’s Day!

This glitter crown is good for any Princess!

Jewelry makes a great gift for your Valentine

We’ll also see some really thoughtful women, looking for small tokens of their affection for friends, co-workers, teachers, mothers, daughters and sisters. I am especially happy to know we can help them find the perfect treasure at an equally perfect price.

If you’re on our email list, you’ve received our Valentine’s discount and you already know about the one-day-only jewelry sale on January 9.  If you’re not on the list, be sure to sign up here so you don’t miss out on future savings and events.

Follow the link below to add your name to our mailing list or visit our website and click on the “Join our Mailing List” button!

http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?v=001HTk7N6nZumJZVTxpCoGyDg%3D%3D

And take some time this week to express how you feel, especially to someone who might not receive another Valentine. Take if from me – it makes a big difference and will be remembered for years! Happy Hearts Day,

See you at the store,

Susie

Trading Spaces

As I wrote last week, January is my time to freshen things up – in my home and at the store. Both efforts are well underway and are dominating the  days (and nights) of my January!

We’ve recently moved the kids around – putting both of our girls in one bedroom. So far, they have been great roommates, but I know from experience that there will be some disagreements in the days to come. My sister, Pam, and I shared a room and even had a line down the middle (in masking tape) at one point in our lives. Today, of course, we’re as close as can be – the shared room is part of our family history – and I hope my girls are making their own memories.

Although I love beautiful home furnishings, our house is not a formal show place – we definitely live there! Dan and I have been in our current home for nearly 8 years – and with three small children – you can imagine that there are some signs of wear.

The most visible of these, at least to me, is the carpet. It was difficult to spend the money on new carpet in this economy, but the years of juice box spills and muddy feet have taken their toll. So, you can imagine how excited I am to report that the new carpet we ordered has arrived and is waiting to be installed – hooray!

The hidden benefit of new carpet is that it forces me to remove all of the furniture from the room and re-think my furniture placement, room orientation and purpose. This is a great and FREE way to “re-decorate” in your own home.

You have to put aside any notion that the couch must face a certain way, or the television must be placed against a certain wall. Just remove everything and give the room an objective overview. Draw a few different plans on paper, and if you have a willing assistant, try a few out.

Next, give new life to your current accessories by transferring them from another room and redefining the space with area rugs. I also find that little splurges – a new tray for the coffee table to corral remotes and magazines, or lantern with warm, battery-operated candlelight – go a long way in pulling a room together.

I’ll be sure to post some pictures as we go through this process at my house, but in the meantime, here are a few pictures from a similar effort at Pam’s. The first photo below was taken before they moved in. At first,  they oriented the entire room toward the fireplace, as had the previous owners. But this year, after the Christmas tree came down, Pam decided to shake things up by moving the television to a different wall to create a more inviting room and make use of the entire space.

Pam's Great Room Before

Pam’s Great Room After-What a difference!

 

What a difference – it opens up the entire room! I saw it firsthand when we were in Kansas City a few weeks ago and it looks like a million bucks! She’s still tinkering with it, but here’s a look at the key elements.

Her house was built in the 1970s – and we helped her come up with some clever ways to freshen and update, which accentuate the best features of the room – that awesome two-story rock fireplace, the soaring ceilings and the amazing views from all of the windows.

Some of my favorite touches are, of course, Schaefer House items… first, she added a fireplace screen to cover the dated brass, which is mortared into the rock. Next, she used an area rug to define the conversation space- note that all of the chairs are included, and there is cozy seating by the fire!

Finally, a few well-chosen accents make the room. We found the amazing doors at market last year – and they have transformed the room. Pam is waiting for one of our big clocks to fill the space between them, but aren’t they fabulous? The doors on the fireplace mantel and the tray on her coffee table help pull together the painted cabinets on either side of the fireplace.  They lighten the entire room and draw your eye to the beautiful stone.  As you can see, a simple decorative element or texture can really act as a common thread to tie a room together or inspire the end result. 

Keep your eyes open for those unexpected items of inspiration for your home.  At the store, the boxes from market are rolling in and your inspiration could be inside!

See you at the store,

Susie

Birds and Belljars

At our warehouse, we group items to make the backstocking process easy. There is, for example, a lamp room, an area for plate racks, a space for wall hangings and a large furniture area.  But for smaller accessories, our loyal customers know things change so much that it’s difficult for any one item to claim a permanent home.

I think I’ve finally fallen so in love with one item that this may have to change. Since I returned from market a few weeks ago, the girls at the store have nicknamed one area of our storage space “The Aviary”. It’s true – I’ve gone cuckoo for BIRDS!!!

I think you will too once you see all of the different birds we brought home. There are lifelike cardinals and whimsical robins. We have birds on bottle toppers and birds on plates. They sit in nests and they stand alone. And everyone loves them!

I love them best with another favorite of my decorating workhorses – the bell jar. Although we are always changing the size and shape of the bell jars we carry, they have been a constant for us long enough to also merit their own space in storage.

Combining birds and bell jars is the perfect way to give a room or table top a mini-facelift and say “Spring is on the way – just you wait!” I can’t help but be happy when I see the light reflect off of one of these happy critters under glass.

The best news for you is that, as always, we worked so hard at market to find the most delightful winged friends at the absolutely best prices. For under $25, you can bring new life to any corner of the room with this combo.

Last week, I told you that we would be posting some great centerpiece ideas – and we will – but I will give you a hint – they involve birds and bell jars.  I’m including some photos of the way our designers are using them around the store – but there are millions more. Stop by and see what all the tweeting is about!

See you at the store,

Susie

To market, to market!

Every year in early January, I travel with my trusty market companions (our designer Chris and my sister Pam) to Atlanta for the first market trip of the year. We go with two goals: establish our “looks” for the year’s fall and Christmas season; and seek out pieces and accessories that will help us reinvent the everyday look at The Schaefer House.

Often times, customers are surprised that we can take a fresh look at the holidays, having just packed away our own decorations. In fact, the three of us rarely take down all of our own Christmas items until we are home from market. But going to market in January is actually easier, because we’re not only inspired by the newest items, we have fresh memories of last year– and can deliver on our goal of avoiding the expected.

This year, we were also able to spend time with my sister Carla, who was in Atlanta for business. She treated us to a wonderful dinner, complete with champagne, which we loved! The days at market are long and tiring – at the end of the day it’s so great to have someone else make the plans. Carla has always been the most amazing hostess I know – even when she’s not at home. Thanks, sis!

And, I’m happy to report we found some amazing and beautiful must-haves for next Christmas – at the great value you’ve come to expect from the Schaefer House. I’m especially excited about the floral picks we found. I can’t wait to see the magic that Chris, Janet and the other girls at the store work with them.

In years past, I’ve gone to market with a pretty clear idea of the half-dozen or so looks we’ll have for Christmas. This year, I had a few in mind, but it took a full day of market for all of the ideas to gel – and for all of the market inspiration to steep in my head. But once it did, we were off and running.

Since the Christmas merchandise won’t start arriving at the warehouse until summer, I’ll wait to preview those items. But we were also able to find some new showrooms and potential furniture lines, along with great new products from some of our favorite showrooms.

If you’re like me, once the Christmas decorations come down, you wonder what’s happened to your house! This is a great time to rearrange furniture, paint walls and add a few new accessories to update the room without breaking the bank.

In the next few weeks, we’ll be doing just that at The Schaefer House, with fresh paint colors and the arrival of some of our new favorite year-round accessories. I’ll be giving you glimpses here on the blog, so keep reading. Pam has also agreed to provide the centerpieces for her favorite fundraiser again, and we came up with the most beautiful, simple ideas at market. She’s promised to send pictures in February, and I’ll post those as well.

Until then, please know of my warmest wishes for a happy, healthy 2010 for all of my customers!

See you at the store,
Susie

Making a list and checking it twice!

Because I work in retail, my Christmas shopping starts a bit early. But, you moms out there know it can’t start too early: my kids change their Christmas lists as often as they change clothes. I try to have most of my purchases complete by mid-November – once Thanksgiving hits, my schedule is a whirlwind as customer activity peaks at the store.

Last week, as I searched out the toys on my list, I noticed something unique at the big-box retailers that I’ve also noticed this year at The Schaefer House. The items that were sold out were not the same as they’ve been in past years. There were plenty of Wii game consoles (at least on the day I was there) and there were loads of ipods locked in the shelves. The aisles were well-supplied with high-end, high-tech items.

But there was not a ZhuZhu pet, normally priced at $9.99, to be found. Nor were there any “habitat” items for the popular hamsters. And the other toys on this year’s “Hard to Find” list are amazingly familiar to those of my childhood: a Barbie, a race car and a Nerf Toy (Barbie Fashionista, the Air Hog Zero Gravity and Nerf N Strike).

So, what’s it about these toy trends that I’m also seeing at the store: Customers are buying more this year but they’re returning to some fundamental strategies: Great deals and traditional values. Couple this with the fact that most retailers didn’t order as deep on items as they might have in the past, and we’re seeing sellouts everywhere!

One of my unwavering principles when I opened the Schaefer House was to seek out the most amazing in home décor at the best prices. The girls and I work like crazy at market to make sure we bring home only great deals for you. One of my favorite things to see in the store (and I see it often) is to see the gleeful, unbelieving surprise on a new customer’s face when she locates the price on one of our items.

And this year, customers are snatching up these items like crazy. I’ve sold out of some of our greenery picks (but I’m trying to reorder!) and I’m guessing that we’ll be sold out of our whispy pine garland by next week. At $26.50 for a six-foot strand, the garland is one of those things that’s almost too good to be true. There are dozens of ways to use it –from the traditional staircase and mantle to a chandelier embellishment.

At the Jr. League of Kansas City Holiday Mart, customers couldn’t get enough of these flat metal trees. The trees come in several sizes and range in 11.50-19.00. At one point, the girls couldn’t get them off the truck fast enough. We did save a few for the store but they are flying out the door here, too.

While my daughters and their daughters will probably always play with a Barbie, this year’s Barbie can twist and strike a runway pose that my 1975 Barbie never dreamed of. It’s the same with our customers who are looking for updated “workhorses” when it comes to home décor items they can use year-round. And they want to invest in pieces that won’t go out of style next year.

We can’t keep our new candles with timers in stock! Candles will always be part of adding warmth and drama to the homescape, but these new candles remove the stress of a real flame and the requirement to turn them on and off. Once you turn the candles on, they stay on for 8 hours, then turn off for 16 hours. They can also be operated with a manual switch, but the timer ensures they’ll turn off and preserve battery life, even if you forget! We still have the red candles in 3 sizes (3×4, 3×6 and 3×8) but I’m not sure how long they’ll last!

My little Charlie loves to play with race cars of all kinds including the tried and true Hot Wheels cars. But this year he has his heart set on mixing in a new Air Hog Zero Gravity car. If there is one under the Christmas tree, you can bet he’ll work it into the traffic with all of the other “lo-tech” cars we have.

Similarly, we’ve had lots of customers buy lanterns this year – to work into existing tablescapes, centerpieces and mantle decorations. As you might imagine, I have a fair amount of accessories in my home. But this is one I’ve added to the mix. I’ve included a picture of how I’m using them at home right now. And the lanterns can stay up all year – I’ll change them for Christmas by including seasonal filler and a trio of the timer candles. The range of styles is as broad as our customer base including different finishes, shapes and sizes. I’m sure we have one that’s perfect for your home.

This lantern is perfect for some of may taller Christmas decorations too.

The part I love most about this year’s “hot” toy trends, is that they are a perfect match for what The Schaefer House has always about. Our repeat customers consistently tell us that we have the perfect combination of old and new, must-have items at can’t-beat prices. Stop by and let us help transform your home without breaking the bank.

And, if you see Zhu Zhu pet, please get it for me! I promise I’m good for it.

See you at the store,
Susie

Holiday Mart Here We Come!

It’s hard to believe, but it’s that time of year again. The store is filled to the brim with Christmas trimmings, customers are buzzing about the upcoming Holiday season, and my husband and I are once again driving to Kansas City in a 24 foot yellow box truck loaded with goodies for Holiday Mart! Yes I know it sounds romantic!

Holiday Mart is the annual four-day shopping event put on by the Junior League of Kansas City held at the Overland Park Convention Center. The event boasts vendors from all over the U.S. and unique merchandise that appeals to a broad audience. V.I.P. shopping on Thursday morning is one of my favorite times at Holiday Mart. It always proves to be exciting and fun, with items selling out quickly during that time slot so be sure to come by our booth first so you don’t miss a thing! Friday evening is another special event with “Giirls Night Out” shopping going on from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. Visit www.jlkc.org for more information.

This event has now become a bit of a tradition for The Schaefer House. We load trucks of merchandise every October and make the drive to Kansas City to introduce shoppers to “The Schaefer House Shopping Experience”. Even some of our local shoppers make the drive up to the Holiday Mart to see what it’s all about, making a point to stop in and say hello while they are there. Customers have come to know that each year we bring a few surprises that are “Holiday Mart Only Items” and this year is no exception, you won’t be disapppointed!

Well tomorrow’s a big day-we will be preparing the booth for all of you Holiday Mart shoppers, so be sure to pop in and say hello, we’re in Booth #700. Just for fun we’ll be posting mobile feeds to our Facebook Fan Page during the show (if I can get my nieces to help me figure out how to do that!) so check it out!

Happy Shopping!
Susie

Always a Classic

It’s hard to believe, but October is upon us and fall is in full swing!  For me, September and October always bring many opportunities for entertaining  and spending time with family and friends.  This weekend is no exception.  My family is gathering together to join my Mom, Rosie, as she celebrates her 75th birthday!  (She is a classic and has truly earned this big shindig!)

We don’t ever do anything small, and entertaining is something that comes second nature to the Schaefer’s.  My Mom has taught us about hospitality, and we sure like to cook for a crowd and savor the company.  From barbecues to dinner parties, there are always endless opportunities to use some of my favorite serving accessories to really make a great presentation.  I love using decorative table linens, accent bowls and unique utensils to add interest and personality to a tablescape.  The secret is investing in a few timeless pieces that are multi functional and will quickly become your favorites that you pull out first-every time you have guests.

Aluminum serveware is one medium that is always a classic in any table setting.  I always point out to our brides who are registering that these are pieces that work in any situation, casual to formal.  There are so many styles of bowls, platters, and accessory pieces that everyone is sure to find one gem they can’t live without and use all the time.  A classic ice bucket and large ice scoop are something everyone can use-from Sunday brunch to cocktail hour-I actually have two of each!  I use a large wide style to accommodate bottled wine and a shorter version for ice.  I usually pair them up on a large silver tray with cocktail napkins and a corkscrew for a simple bar setup.  The scoops are available in various sizes and lend themselves to the obvious task as an ice server, but the smaller is commonly put to work dishing out nuts or snack mix at the bar.

This wide ice bucket works great for 2 bottles of wine!

A simple salad or pasta bowl with a unique or sleek shape offer double duty as a great serving dish or as a centerpiece filled with decorative spheres or fruit.  Add a set of salad servers and you have a great wedding gift for any couple.  Small individual bowls in multiples are also great staples to have in your stash of serving pieces.  I’ve found that they are great for nuts, dips or sauces which can be served with a mini ladle-style spoon that is just perfect for the job.

These small bowls are great staples!

Be sure to stop in and find a few pieces of aluminumware for your own collection.  They always seem to bring charm and personality to your buffet, table or bar and finish things off, just like the bow on a package.  We also have a great new product in the store that is perfect for polishing your new aluminum serveware and many other metals.  One of our loyal customers told us about it and how great it worked-so we had to check it out.  She made a believer out of  me and now we carry it in the store! (It would make a great stocking stuffer too.)

This bowl has a hammered finish on the outside and the salad set makes it a great wedding gift!

I’m off to start preparing my share of the appetizers for “Rosie’s Birthday Bash”, and you can bet I’ll be using my “alumninumware classics” on the buffet.  I’ll try to take some photos and post them on our Facebook Fan Page after the party! 

Happy Birthday Mom!

-susie

Autumn Spice & Everything Nice!

The beautiful fall weather has created a buzz around the store and enthusiasm is high among our customers as we head into autumn and the holiday season. We are all in the mood to “nest” and change things around or spice things up in our homes. With unique artwork and wall decor, striking new furniture pieces in rich finishes and colorful bedding, customers are sure to find some inspiration when the stroll through the store.

 

Dobry Duvet and Dawson Euro Shams add some spice!

To inspire you a little more, we’ve even sweetened the deal! During the month of September we’re offering 15% off beds and bedding. This marks the return of our semi-annual “Sweet Dreams” bedding event that was a huge success back in March.

Classic Ruffle in Ivory, I love it!

I’m even taking this opportunity to cozy up my bedroom with some new additions. A great set of Classic Ruffle or Lyall sheets from Pine Cone Hill add that crisp feel of fine cotton that I love on cool autumn nights. This past spring I fell in love with the Classic Ruffle duvet in ivory for our master bedroom and have been singing its praises to customers ever since. It creates the look and feel of fine hotel linens at a mere fraction of the cost. It is also machine washable which is a must for me with three small kiddos running around our house!

Da Bomb Duvet, Persimmon & Chocolate Herringbone Matelasse and Lyall Sheets

 

Several of our lines, including Pine Cone Hill, have a wide selection of quilts, duvets, matelasses and accessories. That makes it easy to mix in existing pieces that you want to keep or find something new to spice things up. Creating layers on the bed is a beautiful technique that affords customers the opportunity to transition their bedding throughout the year. By adding an accent layer between the duvet and the top of the bed treatment you can add a pop of color or pattern. Introducing shams and pillows in a variety of patterns can unify a color scheme and create a focal point. Those layers can then be rearranged to offer a completely new look anytime you’re ready for a change.

 

The store is bursting with new merchandise and filled with fall color so take some time to stop in. Our experienced staff is ready help you create a custom look that is all your own.

See you at the store!

Susie

P.S. Don’t forget our Fall Open House Sept. 4th and 5th

Consider improving…not moving

Roosevelt Double Arch Bookcase

As I was watching HGTV the other night, I heard the announcer tout that people are not moving, they’re improving.  I couldn’t agree more after visiting with our customers and watching our sales in bedding and furniture spike these past several months.  People are surrounding themselves with comfortable furnishings that add value to their home. 

This past week we just received another 40’ container of beautiful antique reproduction furniture that has been wowing our customers by its look and price.  These pieces have been so well received by our customers looking for a classic look that can be placed in several different places in their home.

Homestead Armoire

The classic Homestead Armoire is a great example of a piece with endless possibilities.  The size and style are perfect in a bedroom for additional clothing storage, but it also can be modified to act as a small entertainment center in a cozy living room with limited space.  It boasts several shelves and a closet rod that can be adjusted or removed to accommodate hanging clothes and a drawer at the bottom for hats, gloves or DVD’s.

 

If you’re looking for a timeless piece of furniture to add character to your home without breaking the bank-this is the perfect time to come in.  Narrow buffets are very popular and we have a variety of different styles and finishes to choose from.  They offer extra serving space in a dining room, a great platform for a flatscreen or a striking focal point for an entry. 

One of our many narrow buffets in distressed black

Be sure to visit the store and let us help you get more bang for your buck and improve your surroundings at the same time!

We have a winner!!!

 

Congratulations to our first Shopping Spree Saturday winner, Nicole Fanning!

Stop by the store to claim your bag of goodies and start shopping with your $25 Schaefer House Gift Certificate. We’re already looking forward to next Saturday’s drawing for a $50 gift certificate.

Don’t despair if you didn’t win this week because your name will stay in the box for next week’s contest! Remember every time you come in to visit this month, you can register to win. The more you shop the more chances you have to win-so shop often. 

The store is buzzing with activity today and our customers love all the new merchandise.  Come check it out and celebrate our birthday with us!

See you soon, Susie