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This week, take advantage of several offers in our online Home Furnishings Gallery atwww.ShopDesignNashville.com
Beautiful Christmas gift certificate either buy $50 value for $35 or receive FREE a $50 certificate with any purchase of $220 or more. 

Free pocket toy pet bed with bedding ensemble purchase
Free paint selection by award winning designer, Tanna Miller with any bedding, drapery, or rug purchase
Free shipping with any fabric purchase of $220

10% off military, charity, police, rescue workers.  Code "liberty" active and retired.  we will ask for credentials after receiving your order. This is a permanent discount for this group. 
10% off seniors   all day every day all year.  Code "preferred"  
10% off all new customers first orders December only. 
10% off when you order two or more of any lamp or art from the same supplier (prefix of product code will match)  code:  "buy2" offer will expire without notice. 

As always, a bit of free decorating and design advice is available to each shopper in our online store.  Call for courteous assistance 615-399-0661 and speak with Tanna Miller, our award winning designer. 

Rug information provided by Tanna Miller "Ask a Designer" columnist and interior designer with 21 years in practice.  See gorgeous rugs online.    call 615-399-0661 for assistance with rugs. 

Area rugs are available in the widest range of styles, materials, and quality ever!

Historically, the best rugs were made in Persia with second best from the surrounding countries, until finally synthetic knock offs were machine made in the U.S. 

Now, rugs lead the textile industry in style setting. American designers are leading the way with fresh interpretations of historical patterns such as damask and floral, especially in large scale. Modern looks are most likely to draw from Art Deco and the Jazz age. Graphic manipulation of imagery provides layers of pattern and interesting cropping. Borderless styles enhance small rooms.  Random or subtly center focused patterns provide a backdrop for any furniture arrangement. 

These are the most common fibers in use today: 

polypropylene:  best for stain release, good imitator of soft wool, crushes more easily than natural fibers (heat setting improves wear)

wool: the preferred fiber of rug makers for centuries.  Durable, has a natural subtle sheen.  Most people agree that the best wool is New Zealand wool for it’s very light color and acceptance to colorants.  Quality can vary greatly within the wool category. Rugs that smell like a barnyard are most likely made of wool that has had less processing. 

seagrass:  The earth lover’s new friend.  durable, but stiff.  Loose dirt is easily removed.  Stains are challenging. Most better rugs tend to have enough colorant to inhibit staining. 

sisal: A tried and true natural grass also durable and a bit stiff.  Most commonly used in it’s natural state. Loose dirt is easily removed.  Stains tend to be permanent in natural sisal, if dyed, stains may be more easily camouflaged. 

silk: The most expensive of fibers provides extraordinary color subtlety and pleasant sheen.  The most delicate of fibers is usually blended with wool for durability 

cotton:  Affordable with little sheen, cooperates well with coloring process.  Tends to mat easily. Most quality rugs will use a looping or twisting technique to improve the wear of cotton fiber. 

goat hair:  Felted in to Bohemian rugs. Moderately durable, but may shed. Does not accept coloring well. 

faux silk:  A processed polyester or polypropylene where sheen is desired.  Synthetic silk typically has more sheen than natural silk. 

leather:  Previously used only for bordering.  Leather is now available in knotted shag rugs.  Quality ranges as any leather product. The best leather is moderately soft with no difference in coloring seen throughout the thickness of the leather. (Avoid leathers with obvious top coat of coloring or finish.  It will crack) 

Weaving techniques: 

Nap: 

Machine and Hand Knotting: Actual knots are worked into the backing with cut ends making the fiber.  Both machine and hand work are durable. Hand work provides less consistent effect and is preferred by collectors.  However, the best hand work is the most consistent in the size, positioning, and technique of the knot.  In fine rugs, quality is measured in knots per inch. The more knots, the more durable the rug.  Even if the nap is totally worn away, the remaining knot provides pattern to the rug after decades and sometimes centuries of wear. Moderately priced rugs such as ours online have medium high knot count with thicker yarns to provide density to the pile. 

Tufting:  A gun forces the fiber into the backing. An adhesive holds the fiber to a second backing. A third layer protects the floor. This process can be done by machine or hand which requires a great deal of craftsmanship in creating a rug of quality. Tufted rugs are rarely the choice of collectors as adhesives will not withstand decades of use, and repair is complicated. Tufted rugs of the same density as knotted should be less costly unless they are an exclusive designer rug. 

Flat Weave: 

Needlepoint: An embroidery technique through a woven backing providing a flat surface with no nap. This technique was typically used in Europe to imitate Persian rugs or to make French and English designs.  Detail amount depends on the thread count of the underlying mesh. Typically expensive and not very durable, the needlepoint rug is desired for an image of wealth.  Look for starting and stopping places of the yarns to find raveling or loose threads. The best rugs will have fine detail and no loose ends. 

Kelim:  A simple flat weave where yarns go over and under the warp threads.  This is very much like a thick fabric.  Gorgeous for wall hangings and appropriate for extravagant pattern. If made of wool, a Kelim will withstand wear of one or two family’s lifetimes. 

Soumak:  A weaving technique by Caucasians which includes looping over a couple warp threads while weaving across.  The process is slower than the Kelim and provides more density.  

Brocade: Flat weaving takes place over and under a foundation of both warp and weft yarns. Yarn is changed to change colors.  Look for raveling at the change. Sturdiness comes from the underlying foundation.  (Tapestry is a weaving of color across only warp yarns).  

Enjoy this fun photo shoot by Uttermost, one of our favorite suppliers of wall decor, mirrors, lamps, and accent furniture. Service is fabulous, and items are usually in stock. Shipping from two warehouses on each coast of the United States makes shipping motor freight items more efficient.


Our new Luxury Pet Beds inspired this series of photos, but the dogs look very much at home with all their fine things.

Call 615-399-0661 for courteous assistance with any item shown.

Don't Wash! 

Home decorating textiles are best not soaked in any fluid.

If you do, the next battle could be with mildew or a host of other undesirable situations. Shrinkage of the best goods is guaranteed at 1% however, I haven't seen a claim in years. Expect 5%. This wrecks lengths and causes puckering at seams when two materials shrink differently. (not to mention the thread)

The sheen and protective coating of fibers is lessened with each immersion. It may be a surprise to you that silk will retain it's sheen the longest.

What to Do at least Once per Year 

Get rid of dust by vacuuming with brush attachment, tumbling in dryer (with no heat) 3 minutes or beating and flapping out doors.

Get rid of mildew by placing the item in the SUN. For persistent mildew odors, try Febreeze Mildew, more sun exposure, or at your own risk a mild solution of water and bleach sprayed in a fine mist. This is great for backs of rugs or seam allowances of cushions for a boost in killing mildew. Avoid germ killing sprays containing oils or ingredients that will leave their own stain.

Spray a light coat of Scotchguard or similar product after cleaning to provide a barrier to the fabric fibers.



















































When there is a Spot  several tips for cleaning and camouflaging. 

Read full article at this link 

Receive $75 in store credit when you opt in for Free Design Tips and Updates sent once/ 3 weeks.  

When you need something New
Please consider us. Creative work and home furnishings with fabric is our pride and joy.

Known as a top drapery and bedding source throughout the state of Tennessee, Trends&Traditions; expanded 4 years ago with an online store serving the public with the same fine furnishings available to design clients.  
Now, one of a kind designs by Tanna Miller are available online with no design charges at all!  Bedding is made as an ensemble or illustrated with options available. 

Scottish Highlands showcases a huge scale Baroque Damask pattern in washed, comfortable chenille. Colors are not ivory and white as so many country French design, but Castle Grey and White Sand  like the shores of Scotland.  The design can be made with all cotton accents, linen, faux linen, silk or synthetics so that the degree of practicality and cost can be controlled. 

See more details online Scottish Highlands Bedding  Available in Queen, Super Queen, King, Cal King, and Super King 

other original designs by Tanna Miller 

Aspen Grove Bedding Luxurious Masculine fabrics in chocolate and olive with straight forward, classic styling.

Tropical Turquoise Bedding  Clean lined modern styling in fine Tropical Turquoise and white fabrics.

French Rivera Bedding  

French Country Sunshine Floral Bedding

Condensed from our monthly newsletter.  To opt in go to this link   Design Tips . Let us know you would like to see the market trip newsletter, and we will send it right away! (gifts of store credit are also send within 24hours)
Stroll through the manufacturer's showroom with us: it is a fabulous way to get a feel for size and proportion of the pieces online. See the substantial mass of accessories and large scale of wall decor.



Get a sneak peak at the new furnishings for our new site, Natalya and Ira coming summer 2011 featuring youth oriented, fashion forward furnishings. Retro, clean lined styling, global awareness and urban confidence shine through in every piece. 



Sustainable, New Zealand wool is the fiber of choice in Trendy and Transitional Rugs   as well as Color Gallery Rugs .  Dense plush pile is cut or looped. New Zealand  wool is whiter than other wool and more pure, so that color is more evenly dyed and vibrant. 


With over a dozen new bedding designs this April, we will show you the highlights.  New Opulent bedding features subtly colored velvet and linen with elaborate embellishments made by hand. Printed metallic motifs give a fresh look to Old World designs. Trendy Designer Bedding is clean lined, typically with linen duvet covers also showcasing fascinating, hand crafted pillows.  Bright and sophisticated colors are the main stream of new designs. Parisian Inspired Bedding is a step above country French these days. I like to think of the look as European Manorwith a touch of California added. At market, all bedding and furniture in this category was 100% linen. Occasionally, some cotton sneaks in for cost savings. Our designer, Tanna Miller is presently creating some bedding with a French Manor look in sumptuous more durable fabrics such as washed chenille,  poly/ linen, and chunky cotton. Call for any of these new styles or a design made just for you. 



We have so many wonderful things to bring to you this Spring, we don't know what to post first, so please call if one of these images intrigues you. We will send you photos and information or speed up posting that item online. 

Don't forget the heart and soul of our furnishings is  Trends&Traditions Custom Furniture   

Classic pieces which can have a trendy influence, but will outlast the trend itself.  

For our subscribers, Take 10% off anything online through April 30 using code "fromTanna" no exclusions or minimums.

Call 615-399-0661 for courteous assistance with all your decorating needs. 

It started with a box of scraps...

very expensive designer scraps. A quilted wanted them. The next box went to a school for craft projects.

Some where along the way, we quit throwing away any bit of fabric larger than 3 inches. Then, we started giving away old sample books. I wish we had thought of ways to use the fabric sooner. In the early days, we didn't have enough trash cans to hold the huge triangular scraps from every swag we made. Now, we make a lot more than swags, and scraps have taken on a whole new meaning.

Now, we BUY REMNANTS. Tanna MIller's original design French Riviera Bedding is made showcasing a gorgeous tapestry which was an end of the bolt cut from a fine furniture manufacturer. The fabric would have been $149, but in our ensemble, it is valued at $39.

We DESIGN USING REMNANTS. One year, we were signed up for a trade show but had no money to buy things to sell. I looked around the shop and put together bedding, hand bags, throws, and pillows. We had such success selling things made from remnants that we devote one show a year to just that. Some items are available online at this link Designer Pillows and Throws

We GiVE FABRIC REMNANTS To Charity. Many churches, senior centers, and schools have used fabric for their projects. We don't always know what they are making. Here are some we do know:

The smallest pieces have wrapped "prayer rocks" which are pendants which remind their maker to pray.

The sturdiest fabrics were made into book bags by the Lutheran World Missions and delivered to many countries.

One man called to get scraps to cheer his mother in making a craft project while recuperating from surgery.

The ladies of St. Andrew Lutheran Church of Franklin, Tn, made fabrics into quilts for their mission in Haiti. They sponsor two schools there which provide a meal a day to each student in addition to a good education. I asked them if it would be better to sell the quilts in their wealthy community and use the money for the schools. "No." they answered. We want them to know we love them and have made the quilt just for them." Okay, I answered as I gave them chenille, velvet, and other heavy woven fabrics. Later I asked them if the quilts were being used. Aren't they hot? I wondered. "Not at all!" the church ladies answered, "They used the quilts for hammocks!"

Quilts for hammocks in Haiti. That made me smile.

Let us know if we can supply your charitable cause, too.

Tanna Miller owner, designer Trends&Traditions/ DesignNashville 615-399-0661

It takes a keen eye to coordinate an all neutral room containing many elements, especially textiles. The key is to look for the undertone or overtone in your favorite selections and make sure it appears in most of the furnishings in the room.  This is the particular muddiness, light glaze, surface sparkle, or tinting that has been added to a hue. High end furniture companies label their fabric accordingly. A  khaki will be labeled green or yellow not neutral. Similarly, camel is with gold or orange.  Paint companies often have collections of colors all tinted with the same hazy tone or kissed by the sun in the same way. Look closer at your neutral and duplicate that secondary tone in more elements of the room. Shown to the left is a sitting room for a client in Franklin, Tn using all cool tones of smokey taupe in the fabrics, art, rug, and paint. Accents of  burnt red are also cool in tone. A piano on the right side of the room links to the small amount of black in the art. The smokey haze is never broken.

In our booth at the Home Show this year, all fabrics had a frosted look which seemed to be on the surface rather than a muddiness from within. Tinting of a hue can seem to be a glaze or the substance of the color itself. 

Pay special attention to built in items, lamps, and other functioning things to tint too.  For instance, instead of a white shade on a brown lamp, consider a glass, ceramic, or slate base and a shade with a touch of color that echoes your other textiles. Make tile grout a subtle color to enhance your plan.  Give thought to each decision to find the best choice which weaves a common thread of tint within your room. Nuances of harmony produce outstanding results! 

Call for courteous help in coordinating colors. 615-399-0661
Tanna Miller
owner, designer, columnist

Click each image for more details    
See other selections online www.ShopDesignNashville.com

Use Rugs, Quilts, Leather, and Textiles for Wall Hangings.  Here's how!
Click images to see details.  Sign up for free articles and tips like this at this link Design Tips by Tanna Miller

Rooms with tall or vaulted ceilings need special attention.  Echo needs to be reduced; large art is costly and scarce;  stacking small pictures is too busy for most spaces.  Any textile will absorb echo and provide insulation for heat and cold as well as visual warmth. The examples below are shown using our rugs. Other textiles can be substituted. Some methods of installing can be done without any special tools.... 

Choose your design well and turn the rug horizontally for most spaces. 
Ask yourself, will this read as a wall hanging or a rug on the wall? Graphic Patterns and asymmetrical designs work very easily.  Rugs without large borders are good too. Of course, I'll give you an exception!  Look at the Clydesdale Meadow Rug  in a vertical position.  We all know it is a rug, but the neutral colors and formal motifs are so desired as wall decor, that it easily works as a hanging even with the recognizable rug elements.  If any of the motifs in the rug  will seem awkward  (upside down) when used as a wall hanging, pass it by. Plenty of gorgeous rugs and textiles exist. 

Where to hang it on the wall
Typically, you should orient the rugs closer to the architecture beneath it such as windows and door ways rather than hanging them in the middle of the remaining space. You want the room you are in to extend higher, not have a clerestory of art above you. Center over doorways unless the wall above is vaulted.  A stair stepped effect works for vaults. When a doorway or window configuration is wider than it is tall, use a horizontal rug over it. If you have any doubts, please call us! 

Going Modern
A modern rug is even easier to use as a wall hanging as the divisions will tend to be geometric and properly seen from all angles. Consider subtle designs such as the Winnepeg Rug.  Remember, you are enhancing the space, creating height, and insulating as much as you are decorating. Don't compete too much with graphic design on the furnishings below. 

Light or Very Dark Colors  
Here is your chance to use a color that you could never have used for high traffic floor coverings or every day upholstery.  Can you remember something you liked but passed by?

Why Rugs work for Hangings 
Rugs are ideal for wall hanging because they are  stable (don't stretch or ripple) even in large sizes.  The backing is extremely sturdy which allows piercing without complicated reinforcement. No liner or stabilizer will ever be needed for a wall hanging made from a rug. Rugs will need to float 2-4 inches away from the wall to allow its weight to work for you. 

Anybody can DO IT YOURSELF with HOLDBACKS
All you need is a carpet or utility knife, hot glue and holdbacks, available as drapery hardware in many styles. PIerce the rug from the back making a vertical slit just large enough for the post of the drapery holdback to pass through. Hold backs are in two pieces.  One goes on the wall. Rug is placed over post. and decorative face is screwed in place to hold rug. Make the slit low enough in the rug so that the entire holdback overlaps the rug when hung.  The first and last slits go close to the side hems. Space other slits evenly about 10-14 inches apart . Use hot glue  to reinforce.

Traditional Hardware  
Most tapestries and textile hangings are hung by poles attached by loops, rings, or pockets.  Attaching these elements to rugs can be done easily by shoe repair shops.  Seamstresses often don't have the correct tools.  Double sided metal fasteners may work for do it yourself use. Consider a very unique hinge to add personality while attaching rug to pole. 

Embellish with other elements 
Fasten light weight wall decor pieces or other flat ornaments  in the center or at key points for unique looks. 

Design ideas by Tanna Miller
Trends&Traditions;
615-399-0661
www.ShopDesignNashville.com
www.DesignNashville.com

 

There are two ways to get free help from our award winning designer, Tanna Miller.  
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Come to the Home Decorating Remodeling Show SEpt 10-12 to our booth 823 and 825 to meet Tanna in person and to see design presentation boards.  If time allows, she will even make a sketch for you!

All visitors to the show receive $25 in store credit which can be used for design service or merchandise.  No exclusions, and no minimum purchase applies. 


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Also, your question may be answered in "Ask a Designer" the question and answer column Tanna write for Nashville House and Home and Garden magazine.  Email your question to the editor ngregg@ngregg.com.  If chosen, your question and answer will be printed in the magazine complete with drawings or photo reference. Questions should be specific and answerable in a small paragraph.  There is not room in the column to  design a room in all aspects. 

See our work online www.DesignNashville.com   and our online store www.ShopDesignNashville.com
For in hom design consultation at reasonable rates, please call 615-399-0661 

We look forward to seeing what your project has to offer.