SOMETHING NEW MIGHT BE COMING TO OUR WEBSITE, but first MAI wants to know what YOU think. Pictured in this post are vignettes found around the store, just as they appear in dealers’ booths, not arranged and rearranged for the camera’s benefit. We’re thinking that viewers might like to see the way our dealers/decorators show their merchandise, not isolated in tight thumbnail shots as on our Shop Antiques page. Of course, items in the vignettes will be listed with their details and pricing.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Would you like to see a Shop Vignettes page on our website? Instead of OR in addition to the Shop Antiques page? Give us your opinion by clicking on info@maihouston.com on the left side of this page and leaving 1 or 2 sentences. Commenters will be put into a lottery and the email address that is draw will receive a prize… merchandise from MAI in the $100 to $200 range! Drawing will take place on September 18 and winner will be notified by email. Thanks.

Customers tell us they always look forward to our new window displays (What will MAI come up with next?), and we appreciate that. Catch a glimpse of our newest window displays here, created by three different MAI decorators/designers. From industrial elegance to soft neutrals with colorful decor in between, Memorial Antiques & Interiors offers all things special for your home’s interior.

And run smack-dab into the date at the bottom of a page IN ROMAN NUMERALS.

Who remembers this stuff from school, anyway? Relax. You don’t have to. If you like the looks and price of the book and can’t wait to carry it home, no problem. Just pull up either of these websites on your computer: www.convertit.com OR www.thecalculatorsite.com. Both sites have Roman numerals converters. Find the converter, type in the Roman numerals from your old book, and click on “convert.” You’ll have the publishing date in a second. Easy.

P.S. Just in case your kids are still having to learn Roman numerals in school, you might want to share this site with them.

Local decorating source Memorial Antiques & Interiors was pleased to be the antiques source for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’s work in Houston lately. Construction of the home took place the last week of July and into the first days of August. Behind the scenes, the show’s decorators worked overtime, and that included after-hours visits with decorators and dealers at Memorial Antiques & Interiors. MAI’s contributions included antiques and vintage accessories to be used in decorating the Johnson family’s home. The show’s season premier is September 26th, and the airdate for this actual episode will be announced soon.

The Emmy award winning reality program Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, now entering its 8th season, is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. It is executive-produced by Brady Connell and George Verschoor. David Goldberg is Chairman, Endemol North America. The show airs Sundays from 8 – 9 p.m., ET on ABC.

After seven seasons on the air, who HASN’T heard of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” on ABC? And who hasn’t wondered, if only briefly, just how they pull off such large projects in so little time?

As primary antiques source for the show’s recent project in Houston, MAI got a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what these projects involve. MAI’s role involved contributing antiques and vintage accessories for the home’s interior. In doing so, we participated in just a small but fun part of the huge process on Goodhope Street.

Mid-July – MAI gets a tip from a local photographer about EMHE’s need for antiques and vintage decor. After several resulting emails, MAI gets a call from the site coordinator about their needs. A time is agreed upon for an after-hours visit to the store.

Monday, July 26 – Site coordinator and two site decorators visit each booth, lists are made of measurements and photographs that are taken back to the site for further discussion. All week, phone calls, emails, and texts narrow down options and agreements are made. Delivery times are scheduled and rescheduled due to construction time (heat, rain, mud, etc., get in the way). MAI makes plans to assist with “move day,” i.e., interior installation.

Saturday, July 31 – MAI delivers items to be stored in “Bin City” until move day. Security check-points, a code name, waiting in line at drop off, getting special shirts, walking the site, not snapping photos of big-name designers… Lawns and homes spruced up, designated spectator areas, residences along the street set up for families to watch the action… Endless bottled water and frozen yogurt distributed to workers… very enjoyable, we must admit!

That weekend, last-minute requests come in for a few more items that are needed, and “Move that Bus” filming with Ty and others is reset for late Sunday afternoon. At 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, one last call: “If you can come help with more installation tomorrow, don’t come at 6:00 a.m., we’re not starting until 8:00!”

Even today, the process is still going on with paperwork, application for approval of press releases and logo use, etc. Through it all, MAI has been impressed by the sincere gratitude and friendliness of all of the EMHE staff, from site workers and decorators to marketing personnel, here in Houston and in Los Angeles.

Here, one of the 2 LUCY’S lights up a corner in her home’s family room with the use of an oversized window-now-mirror and new lamps created from architectural fragments. Updated upholstering using animal print and a French child’s horse lighten up the mood, too. Painted pieces mix with more traditional furniture to give a fresh and fun appeal.

The large kitchen makes for a great gathering place with lots to look at and enjoy. Guests’ eyes are carried upward to catch antique French lettering and confit pots. A center work island invites participation and lends warmth to the heart of this home. This is a space that is friendly and usable, not cluttered or distracting.

Dining is accented by softly slip-covered chairs, painted chandeliers (two!) and a wonderful mirror that adds dimension to the space. A large table gives plenty of room for enjoying food and conversation. A touch of greenery dresses up a metal bin and an antique cloche further carries out the color. As in almost any room, full drapes frame the window and soften the look.

Updating antiques, mixing finishes and textures, and tossing in a little of the unexpected are “the look” that so many of us love right now. This look inside a Lucy’s home shows just how some of us at MAI do it.

Strictly speaking, the Victorian period covers 1840 through 1900. Its name hinges on the reign of Queen Victoria; for more on that, Google is a great place to start. The dates we’re interested in are as follows:

Early Victorian 1840 – 1860

Furniture in this period has an overall feeling of heaviness, woods are darker, legs and bases are chunkier. Dovetailing is wider apart. Keep in mind, “The heavier the furniture, the earlier it is.”

Mid- to Late Victorian 1860 – 1900

At this time we see lighter furniture, sometimes painted, and an occasional use of birch veneers. During this span of time, the bamboo furniture that is still so popular was increasing in popularity. Just remember, “The lighter the furniture, the later it is.”

KAY GILBREATH, also known for years in Houston as KAY THE BOOK LADY, has just restocked her shelves with tons of great looking books. Leather-bound sets and individual copies of classics and more obscure titles are in her booth just to the left of the front doors. And need we remind you of Kay’s more-than-reasonable prices?

Staying on the left side of the store and making your way to the back, you’ll come across SUZAN GALVAN’S booth known as IN THE GARDEN. So many of you have been coming in over the summer looking for those stone tables you’re seeing in the decorating magazines that Suzan has placed yet another order. Just in is her latest delivery! In the next day or so she’ll be moving in 48″ round stone tables as well as lots of “just perfect” bistro tables. These tables are in French wax, cream finish, and a moss finish that is almost a light brown. And she is bringing in a new style of end table called the Estate cocktail table, standing 29″ tall with an 18″ diameter round top.

Dealer MARCI ALVIS’s booth is on the center aisle, and there you can find several examples from a large selection of Biot Pots from southern France. Currently, only two can fit into her booth, but she can provide pictures of the entire collection that is available.

ADVANCE INFO: We know of at least three of our dealers who are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their newest containers from France and England! Be sure to hear about their unloadings… when they are about to occur, you’ll find out here on our “What’s New” page, or you will be getting one of our email newsletters. Send us an email at info@maihouston.com if you want to be added to that email list.

18th c. French farm table

Of course we enjoy changing things around at home, updating and changing out or moving pieces around for a fresh look. But we can’t help choosing our favorites (admittedly THEY sometimes seem to choose US) — these are the pieces that we simply love keeping around forever. They “feel good,” and they make us feel good! They may be multifunctional, moving easily from room to room, such as a chest that serves well in an entry, hallway, or bedroom. Others may be so comfortable that they have been adopted by every member of the family. And some items are investments that will appreciate in value with time.

Last summer, a casual survey among MAI’s dealers and decorators resulted in a list of “timeless treasures” that so many of us love. This summer, the list remains almost the same, reinforcing that many of our favorites are truly timeless in their appeal, freshness, and value. Fortunately, MAI stocks many examples of all: DINING TABLES… CHESTS… BOXES AND BASKETS… BENCHES AND STOOLS… WINE BOTTLES… DROP LEAF AND GATELEG TABLES… RELIGIOUS ARTIFACTS… IRONSTONE AND MAJOLICA… LEATHER-BOUND BOOKS… OLIVE JARS… CEMENT AND WROUGHT IRON FOR THE PATIO… and more.

Seen here is a very special 18th c. oak French farm table, priced at $3,950, and surrounded by antique chairs. Close by at MAI and new this week are cement and cast stone items for end-of-summer outdoor decorating. Throughout MAI are benches and stools, all sizes and finishes, from Sweden, France, this country, and points in between. And in a booth near the back of the store is an antique French crossbow chest with lovely patina, priced at $3,200. You know our stock is always changing, but we always offer timeless treasures that just might end up being YOUR favorites.

Seen here are a painted chandelier and a large wall piece from a French cafe, now filled with antique objets d’arte. Also newly arrived to their booths are tables of varying sizes, pine doors, and more. Come see!