When it comes to redecorating a room, it can become frustrating when you can’t find a set of furniture that seems just right for your tastes. Maybe the table is the right shape, but you don’t like its legs; or the chair has the edges you want, but it’s not the right color. Why settle for a set that doesn’t appeal to you on every level? At Walter E. Smith, a leader in furniture retail, Chicago customers don’t have to settle thanks to our Bon Appétit custom dining selections! Continue Reading

In case you haven’t heard, people are going “greene” at home – that’s right, green with an “E”! In addition to doing things like driving hybrids, using reusable grocery bags, and recycling, you can help the environment by making your home greener (And no, you don’t have to buy furniture that’s the color green!). Today we’d like to give you a few reasons why you should consider making your home more eco-friendly and also let you know where a good place to start would be. Continue Reading

At Walter E. Smithe, we are proud to offer a diverse selection of collections and designers. No matter what your styling tastes may be, we are sure to have exactly what you’re looking for! One collection that we would like to showcase today is Avalon, a part of Lauren by Ralph Lauren. Continue Reading

Why not welcome the green of spring by bringing a little of it indoors? Furniture retail Chicago buyers will want to check out not only the new furniture and accessory pieces available, but will want to try out some affordable color palettes at home.

Paint is one of the most inexpensive ways to change a room and it’s easy to change when you need a fresh look. Don’t be afraid of a little paint. It can be coordinated with accent pieces you already own to dress up a drab-from-winter room.

Pick your preference. Are you a Kelly girl, a sage kind of guy or just someone who likes a splash of lime? Then green is your springtime friend.  Personally, I prefer a muted sage in the living room with some accents of sepia, red floral prints and a hint of butter cream.

Lime is fun and cheery for a bathroom or kitchen. Because it’s bright and trendy, yet still a natural color, it can be mixed with contemporary pieces or surrounded by natural elements and not be uncomfortable.

Lime green is very effective paired with other flashy colors like hot pink or orange. Buyers of the best furniture Chicago offers will also want to consider the style of their furniture when choosing colors. Although any combination you enjoy is good to use, think about lightening up darker rooms or those with heavy furniture by incorporating lighter shades or bright, bold colors. When shopping for the best furniture Chicago buyers will appreciate the professional advice from staff.

Those with more casual taste might want to try a lime green, red and periwinkle combination. For those partial to a gentleman’s library look, try layering Kelly green with gray or sepia colors. A background of clean white with soft shades of blue and green will achieve the feel of a beach house. Try using natural elements like seashells and wheat grass to complete the feeling of the room.

We true Irish love our green year-round, so a palette layering various shade of green is always provides a fresh feel. Depending on which shades of green dominate, this can be elicit moods of sophistication and elegance; fun and flirtatiousness or the under canopy of a rainforest. For a more eclectic look, add in some bold black accents.

Pale shades of green paired with bright pinks or blues made wonderful backdrops for children’s rooms and furniture retail Chicago dealers enjoy helping customers design a personal space.

Have you ever had a room that was so cluttered with furniture you felt like Dorothy in Oz when she and her friends reach the enchanted apple orchard? Perhaps you feel the drawers are ready to fly open and bombard you with T-shirts and stray socks just like the tree pelted Dorothy and friends with apples.

Choosing bedroom furniture is important for just that reason and many times dressers are where we go wrong.  Deciding what, if any, dressers to purchase requires evaluation in several areas. The first area is the amount of clothing and accessories to be stored. The second is the available floor space in the room. Once these two factors have been determined, the questioning can move to size and style. When shopping furniture retail Chicago buyers want a variety to choose from and Smithe offers buyers of Chicago furniture modern and tradition beautiful custom pieces.

First, look at the amount of closet space you have. If there is sufficient hanging and shelf space in your closets to accommodate most of your clothing, dressers may not be necessary, or you may be able to get by with one smaller piece. Depending on the size of your closet, you might even want to consider placing a dresser in the closet for easy access and added floor space in the bedroom. Let’s face it, as buyers we want the best furniture Chicago retailers carry and we want it to fit perfectly in our room and our lifestyle.

If closet space is at a premium, you must decide on the style of furniture you prefer and evaluate whether one larger piece or multiple smaller pieces would better fit the size and style of the room. Several tall, dark pieces can be quite overwhelming in a small room (like Dorothy in and the apple trees). On the flip side, a large room with one or two small, low pieces may appear stark and under furnished. Sometimes the best furniture Chicago buyers find is when they seek help from an experienced decorating team at their Chicago furniture modern/traditional retailer.

Estimate the number of drawers needed, choose the furniture style you prefer and begin comparing pieces and sizes. Sketching out a scale model of your room with the pieces you like will give you a good idea of whether your dream pieces will fit in your available space. (Often they won’t except in your imagination!)

Take advantage of the decorating services offered at your furniture retail Chicago dealer.