Funny how one little treasure can make us so happy. You see it, and it speaks to you. You don’t even need it.  B U T   Y O U   D O .

One of our staff recently found a treasure on MAI’s aisles, a small white French porcelain dolphin with longing eyes and a big happy smile. For about a week he sat on a bistro table in one of our dealers’ spaces, beckoning her to take him home. And she did.  Just for fun, here are a few other little discoveries at MAI that just might make YOU smile…

Vintage Staffordshire-style pugs, actually a sugar and creamer set.

Vintage French store sign, spec-shaped.

Small but fun Napoleon.

Large metal dolphin from a children’s ride.

Original contemporary oil painting.

Set of 10 lobster ramekins from Czechoslovakia.

As for that small white dolphin that has found a happy home, perhaps our staffer will send us a pic. If you see something you like above, more information on these fun finds is on our Shop Antiques page.

Memorial Antiques & Interiors offers great art, and with even more artists and in-store galleries being added these days, now is a good time to share tried-and-true tips on hanging artwork in our spaces…

“Don’t make the mistake of hanging artwork too high.”

When hanging a single piece of artwork, the center of the picture should be 57″ – 58″ high. This puts it at eye level.

“Do pay attention to spacing.”

In general, “normal” spacing is about four inches between pieces.  It’s okay, though, to try two inches of wall space between pieces when hanging groupings.

“For a formal or an informal feel…”

The old rule we’ve heard before still applies: even numbers and symmetry = a more formal feel to an arrangement.

“Do let waxed paper be your friend.”

Grouping multiple pieces? Lay them out on the floor and arrange to your heart’s content. Cut a piece of waxed paper the size of each, then pierce the paper where the wall hook will connect to the piece. Next, lightly tape each waxed paper replica onto your wall. Step back and view from all angles, then regroup if needed. NOW you’re ready to hang your art without all those extra nail or hook holes!

“Do click here for more ideas on hanging art.”

Try MAI’s Pinterest board “Decorating fixes plus” for templates and inspiring photos of how others have done it.

MAI and wonderful customers simply sparkled yesterday at MAI’s Temptations Trunk Show. From beautiful wares shown by ten – ten! – fabulous vendors to dealers’ spaces stocked with the best inventory ever, treasures were discovered at every turn. Store gift certificates were given away and a light lunch, tempting sweets, and champagne were enjoyed, too.  Just a few of the views from yesterday…

So much jewelry to see! So little time!

Much more than jewelry to see and enjoy.

Customers came from nearby neighborhoods and from as far away as Arizona. One gift certificate winner, Brenda Clements, is a Houstonian and a regular at MAI.  Another winner, Sharon Pauly, drove in from Louisiana for a Girls’ Week of fun and shopping with two friends. We were thrilled to hear her remark that they “come to MAI every time” they plan a trip to Houston.

If you missed MAI’s May 1 trunk show, we’ll look forward to seeing you at our next big event, already in the planning.

We’re really getting excited about our Temptations Trunk Show set for Wednesday, May 1, at MAI.

To be held 10 to 6 in both buildings, Temptations promises to be the best trunk show yet for Mother’s Day gifts, graduation presents, and little temptations for – well – all of us!

Tables will be loaded with custom jewelry from six artisans… that’s right, S – I – X !

         

  

From a brand-new vendor this time: hand-crafted chocolates that you won’t find just anywhere.

  

Gifts for the home, too, from other vendors. And back again, our custom pet portrait artist (bring pics of your favorite pet)!

These are just samplings of what you’ll see at MAI’s Temptations Trunk Show on May 1.

Mark your calendars!

Who wouldn’t want to stroll the villages of France searching for fabulous finds? Sometimes that just isn’t possible, though, so the next best thing is to stroll the aisles of MAI. You won’t even need to dig out your passport.

Just spotted this large mirror made from an antique French zinc dormer window. Tres chic!

Around every corner (this one is in MAI Building 2), you can find treasures waiting.

Like these details? Then you’ll love this antique French pastry table.

If you like European artifacts and art, a new load has just arrived at MAI.

It’s French, and it’s one of many items on sale too… oh my!

All of the pictures above except the last one were taken at Building 2 yesterday. If you see something you like, please call or email MAI. We would love to hear from you.

Looking forward to shopping Round Top antiques this week and next? There’s just something about bluebonnets and the thrill of the hunt. We hope you’ll visit MAI’s dealers when you’re in Round Top, and here’s where you can find most of them…

Blue Hills Antique Show (March 25 – April 6/7)

Brocante French Antiques

Reworks

Old Henry Farm (March 25 – April 6)

The Lagniappe Shoppe

Marburger Farm Antique Show (April 2 – 6)

Leighton Hale Antiques, 2 Lucy’s, Faded Rose Antiques, Designs by Grace, Kelly Zeleskey, Kay Gilbreath the Book Lady, Kimberly Williams, Parkhouse Antiques

Acres and acres of antiques await you in the rolling hills of Texas. And when the tents have been packed up and the dealers from all points across the globe have gone home, YOU KNOW that you can still enjoy the thrill of the hunt whenever you want at…

Memorial Antiques & Interiors… seven days a week!

Soooo ready to get outside and enjoy the weather? Here’s a sampling of what MAI has that’s hot for spring 2013.

Continuing this year, container gardening is hot, with attention paid to a mix of plant textures and colors. According to a recent post on HGTV.com, “Containers add interest and color. . . You can put almost anything in a container. Plus they’re portable, and they give you plenty of new planting opportunities. By adding containers on porches, patios or decks, you add another layer to the landscape. If you’ve got only a deck or a patio and no in-ground planting space, containers are a great way to give yourself a place to garden.”

Eco-gardening is always smart, particularly in drought-conscious Texas. More nurseries are stocking drought-tolerant, low-maintenance plants and native varieties suited to the area. Along with such plants, the “collected look” that many interior designers and home owners love extends to our out-of-doors. Decks, outdoor rooms, and patios are so much prettier with antique pieces (note: they’re green, too) like those below, now on MAI’s aisles.

Post-recession days ahead, again via HGTV.com, mean that “over-the-top, showy landscapes are out. Now, homeowners prefer to invest in quality and natural materials.”

With so much of our days spent indoors, no wonder that we are ready to move to the beautiful outdoors and love it!

Luxe interiors + design Houston features some gorgeous Texas homes in its Winter 2013 issue. And MAI is so pleased to see one of our mirrors on the pages of Volume 11, Issue 1. Kudos to Houston designer Ashley Goforth for her great design work shown on the pages of this issue, and for shopping the aisles at Memorial Antiques & Interiors!

We’re loving the way the large mirror shows on the gray wall. Don’t you?

Have you ever search  d e s p e r a t e l y  for just the right piece?

You’ve combed the aisles in all the right places. You’ve stayed up late searching the internet. Your friends have been asked (no, ordered) to be on the lookout… But sometimes, no matter how hard you try, that one perfect piece remains just around the corner.

MAI’s newly launched Personal Shopper Program is your ally. This complementary service is at your fingertips, either by sending a message via our site’s Contact page, visiting the Personal Shopper desk at the store, or calling 713.827.8087 and asking for LeAnn. Your heart’s desire will be added to the Wish List, and our Personal Shopper will use all of MAI’s resources to help you find just what you want.

MAI’s Personal Shopper can also assist you in custom orders, and she is one of MAI’s pinners of curated looks that will inspire you in your searches for ALL of those perfect pieces!  Check out our boards and follow MAI by clicking on the Pinterest button at the bottom of some of our site’s pages.

Happy hunting!

We pin and we pine for it, right? MAI is on Pinterest, and we invite YOU to follow us. Just click on any of these images from our boards, and you’ll be taken to views that we think you’ll love. We hope you and your friends will follow us for inspiration and sneak peeks at promotions. You’ll see these looks at our store, of course, too!

Follow us on Pinterest. We’re pinning just the curated looks that our customers love to see!

Did YOU get this email today? You did, if you are on our email list.

MAI invites you to sign up on our Contact page to be one of the first to hear about our events, promotions, and special day gifting ideas like this.

Houston is fortunate to have so many designers and decorators to choose from. If you’re deep into a design of just about anything right now (and who doesn’t want to be?), take a break just for fun, courtesy Houzz.com and Coffee with an Architect. Enjoy!

We think Houston is fortunate to have a wealth of wonderful interior designers and decorators. Enjoy the ride.

Browsing the aisles at MAI feels like going on an art walk, but better… You can enjoy this experience 7 days a week! Just look at this wall full of original art from the studios of Segreto, one of our dealers in Building 2.

                         ”Great art for your home is around every corner.”

These large (30″ x 40″) original oils by a Houston artist feature some of spring’s favorite colors.

Original art from neutral palettes, like the two pieces here, is offered at MAI as well.

Another gallery, this one in Building 1, offers countless antique lithographs and more, with each piece custom framed.

You’ll love the art-full inspiration throughout MAI’s 12,000+ square feet of magazine-ready vignettes. MAI’s dealers and designers change the decor in their spaces regularly, so the looks you’ll see are just what you’re looking for right now. Great ideas for art in your home are around every corner, literally!