Furnishings & Retail
There is no right or wrong when it comes to selecting the furniture and accessories for your home, but working with experts in the field before making your selections can make the process a whole lot more enjoyable. Fortunately for us, the area offers a wide swath of quality retailers and showrooms, with furnishings for every style, taste, and budget. If you go for the instant gratification of a retail shop or showroom, don’t forget to measure before you buy!
"Choose the items you love and don't get caught up with the 'rules'" — Room & Board
EuroNest
Minneapolis, MN
952-929-2927
www.euro-nest.com
About us:
Our showroom features European antiques, interesting accessories, and quality reproduction furniture lines not carried in traditional furniture stores. Our in-house designer can help you choose fabric, add personality with antiques and accessories, or select the perfect furniture for your home.
What, in your opinion, should be considered investment pieces that will stand the test of time?
Antiques and fine reproduction furniture are great investment pieces in terms of quality, make, and design. Antiques have already had a “first life” and continue to age beautifully. Fine reproductions made with Old World techniques that stand the test of time will also have a similarly long life.
How can a person find his or her style when it comes to home furnishings?
The best way is to work with an experienced interior designer who will help you find your style, then assist you in pulling together your look based on what you love, how you live, your functional needs, and your budget.
What criteria should our readers look for when judging furniture for quality?
First look for how a piece is made—the type of wood or materials used, then look to see where it was made.
What are some common furniture buying mistakes?
Sometimes people buy furniture pieces that are too large or overwhelming for a room. Another mistake can be buying “down” to save money, when in the long-run you should buy “up” whenever possible. Classic, timeless, well-made pieces will last. You get what you pay for.
Grand Oriental Rugs
Edina, MN
952-844-0696
www.grandorientalrugs.com
Who we are:
At Grand Oriental Rugs, we have one of the largest selections of hand-knotted oriental rugs in the Twin Cities, with over 2,000 rugs to choose from. We have been serving the Twin Cities for 36 years, and have an extensive network of connections that let us find rugs all over the world.
What, in your opinion, should be considered investments that will stand the test of time?
Hand-knotted rugs in classic designs made of handspun wool or silk and organic dyes.
What criteria should our readers look for when judging rugs for quality?
Look at construction, materials, knot density, and country of origin. Rugs should be hand-knotted (not “hand-tufted”), of fine or superfine wool and/or silk, with at least 125 knots per inch. Rugs from Iran (Persia) tend to be of highest quality and hold their value very well.
How can you determine if a rug is truly environmentally sound or if it has been greenwashed?
Look for natural materials (wool and silk) and natural dyes.
What are some common rug-buying mistakes?
People often buy rugs over the Internet or when traveling, and do not have the chance to see the rugs in their own environment before purchasing them. We will go to our customers’ homes, look at their existing decor, measure the space, then suggest different options that could work.
One more thing:
Every rug we sell must meet our rigid standards for quality, beauty, and durability. The goal—always—is 100 percent customer satisfaction
Room & Board
Edina, MN
952-927-8835
www.roomandboard.com
How can a person find his or her style when it comes to home furnishings?
Choose the items you love and don’t get caught up with the “rules.” Our furniture isn’t made to match, it’s designed to mix—whether that means blending with the furniture you already own, or providing you with versatile pieces to help create the perfect space.
How can you determine if furniture is truly environmentally sound or has been greenwashed?
For starters, be committed to researching where and how things are made. Ask the right questions. When you choose well-crafted furniture designed and built to last, you don’t have to worry about it breaking or going out of style. That means less waste, less energy consumed, and more money in your pocket. We use wood from responsibly harvested forests, recycled natural steel, reclaimed wood, and even recycled high-density plastics.
What criteria should our readers look for when judging furniture for quality?
To us, quality means handcrafted pieces made with enduring materials that customers will live with and love for a very long time. For more than 30 years, Room & Board has focused on the simple idea that good design should be beautiful, affordable, and long-lasting. The timeless quality of our designs is due in great part to the enduring materials with which they are made: wood, steel, cotton, granite—natural materials that stand the test of time both physically and aesthetically. We’re proud that more than 90 percent of the products we sell are handcrafted in the U.S.
What tips can you offer when it comes to choosing upholstery?
You’ll want to consider not only the color, but also the texture and finish of the fabric. What’s the primary function of the piece in your home? Are children or pets a consideration? How much time will you be spending in it or on it? At Room & Board, you can create a look you love by choosing from more than 300 fabrics and leathers. Browse by color, style, or fabric type. Order free swatches to experience them first-hand.
You might not realize:
Room & Board offers an array of complimentary design services. Our team can help you customize one small space, or furnish an entire household.
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