A classic Martha Stewart look. Neutral backdrop, color and pattern repetition with bold accents.

I was in Macy’s the other day when a display of towels caught my eye.  It just happened to be a new Martha Stewart Collection.  I have always admired her color palettes; ranging from mossy green and etherereal blues, to china red and myriad shades of ivory.  Her products are distinctIy displayed in Macy’s and I have also noticed that she is selling collections through a number of other well known retailers.  So, I thought I would take a look and see what she has to offer these days.  Martha’s products reach into many categories and you can see them all in the SHOP section of her website.  But today I would like to point out some of my favorite items from her furniture, rug and lighting lines. 

Opal Point features some very sophisticated designs but always based on classic elements.

Many celebrities put their names on home design products but hers actually makes sense because decorating, gardening and entertaining have always been her forte.  And she has been very smart about it because instead of starting her own furniture company, she has formed a partnership with Bernhardt.  This is a company that has been known for high quality furniture since 1889.  Martha started her partnership with Bernhardt in 2001 and they now feature 5 lines that are named after her residences:  Katonah, Opal Point, Turkey Hill, Skylands, and Lily Pond; plus there is an upholstery line.  The styles range from cozy farmhouse to modern classics with fabrics reflective of her signature colors.  Katonah, Turkey Hill and Skylands mirror lovingly cared for estate pieces with traditional European styles that Americans have embraced for years.  Opal Point and Lily Pond show some modernism and mid-century looks. 

This classic, country bed from the Turkey Hill Collection reflects where Martha started with her first home collection.

The Martha Stewart Rug Collection offers a wide variety of cotton, wool and silk rugs with most featuring subtle monochromatic tones, with a few bolder ones mixed in.  Some patterns are offered in 4′ and 6′ rounds which is refreshing because many companies forgo these sizes because they are more costly to manufacture.  I have seen these rugs at Macy’s, Horchow, and the Home Decorator’s Collection.

The Harvest Foliage Rug featured at Horchow has a subtle pattern that would layer well with stripes and florals.

I love the subtle colors and 3 dimensional effect of this rug.

The lighting collection, which is manufactured by Murray Feiss, has a great variety of classic fixtures that you wish were in your house when you moved in.  These are the period pieces that I love: Classic Foyer Lanterns, Milk Glass Chandeliers and simple and solid floor lamps.  The lighting collection is available at Capitol Lighting and Lighting Universe as well as other online stores.

Lanterns are my favorite look for a traditional foyer.

I would love to see this chandelier in the breakfast nook of a kitchen with white cabinetry and a black and white checkerboard floor.

Martha Stewart furnishings offer some very attractive items that have design staying power.  There is no doubt that the furniture is an investment, but it follows the very same advice that I give to my clients.  Invest in quality furniture that will last you for years and then update your style and color palette with accessories, window treatments, sheets, towels, and rugs.  This allows you to give yourself a little lift while staying in your budget

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Tags: furniture, lighting, My Favorite Things, rugs

This entry was posted on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 at 2:15 pm and is filed under My Favorite Things, furniture, lighting, rugs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.