baltimore county - Mason Dixon Arrive Magazine

YOUR LOCAL FABRICATOR AND INSTALLER
If you can dream it,
we can create it for you!
Expert Fabrication and Installation of Granite,
Marble and Quartz Kitchen Countertops,
Vanity, Bar and Table Tops, Fireplace
Surrounds, Outdoor Kitchens and more…
More affordable than ever
Granite starting at $39.99 per sq. ft. installed
(FREE UNDERMOUNT SINGLE SINK with a minimum purchase of 40sqft.)
Large in stock slab inventory including exotic varieties
Fast 3 to 5 day turnaround | Free Estimates
Visit our Showroom Monday – Friday 9 to 5
Saturday 9 to 2 | Closed Sunday
At JPS we don’t just do business,
we uphold our reputation!
1615 Robin Circle, Suite C | Forest Hill, MD 21050
Phone 410-420-9722 | Fax 410-420-9723
www.jpsgranite.com
best in show goes to New Jersey
designer Merilyn Marshall-Cullen’s
“Dog Lover’s Damask.” It takes a
minute to make out the canines
cleverly hidden in the formal damask
design, but after that, it’s a
must-have for any mutt-fancier. You
can have it custom-colored on wall
coverings and fabrics, made with
any material from cotton to silk
for $110 per yard. See more at
mmcdesignsllc.com.
Q: What’s that straw item on
the floors of England’s great old
houses?
A: Not straw, please, but rush
matting – the darling of royals,
landed gentry and world-stripe
decorators since Elizabethan times.
In the past, servants “stewed”
the floors with loose flowers
and reeds. Today, according
to writer Christopher Petkanas,
you’d have to stand in line behind
England’s National Trust houses
or New York’s Frick Museum and
Metropolitan Museum of Art to
order rush matting from its few
remaining weavers.
Here’s compensation: A natural
material harvested from English rivers,
rush matting must be watered
betimes to keep it flexible and
smelling fresh. Put away the vacuum;
get out the watering can! One
place to learn more is rushmatters.
info).
LOCAL BIZ
By Gregory J. Alexander
Master bedrooms:
More Than Just Bed and Pillows
For years, the master bedroom was a utilitarian room,
a place to retire at the end of the evening and catch
some sleep. The décor matched this philosophy, with
furniture consisting of a standard bed and a few pieces
of furniture to store clothes and shoes. (You’ll recall
that early sitcoms of the ‘60s and ‘70s even showed
star couples in twin beds in the master bedroom.)
Well, things have definitely changed since Lucy
and Ricky were in those twin beds. Homeowners are
now viewing the master bedroom as more than just
a place to sleep. “The master bedroom has evolved
into a multi-purpose area,” says Terry Varner, owner
of Decorating Den Interiors, who has owned the
full-service interior decorating firm for 17 years. “It
all depends on what your interests are. Some people
want the master bedroom just to be a place to relax
for the evening, where others want to watch television,
work on their laptop or have a sitting room to
read and momentarily have some time to themselves
away from family and other obligations.”
Since Decorating Den Interiors is a full-service firm
that handles flooring, custom upholstery, furniture
selection, art, lighting and window treatments,
Varner can help clients with any aspect of the master
bedroom décor. “I start with what I call my ‘fact finding’
initial meeting. I come to clients’ homes and we
discuss what their likes and dislikes are, their budget,
what their goals are for the bedroom and any color
schemes they want to use,” she says. Varner adds
that clients look at previous jobs on her website and
through her book, which helps them identify what
they hope to accomplish.
“I talk to them to find out what type of feeling
they want in the bedroom. Many clients want a
peaceful, restful look with cool colors like green or
blue combined with some soft neutrals. However,
others want a bright and cheery room using reds,
pinks and other warm colors,” says Varner, who adds
that lately she has been doing a lot of blue bedrooms
with neutral accents to create a respite area.
“Then we look at furnishings. If you have custom
closets, for example, this might negate the need for
some furniture used for clothes storage. If you like to
work at night, we can create a small workspace with
a desk or writing table that’s separate from the bed
area. I also consider the size of the individual. If the
client is a petite woman, a small reading chair will fit
her body type better, but if it’s a larger man, a chair
with a taller seat back makes more sense.”
Varner adds that custom upholstery will really
dress up a master bedroom. “I also love custom bedding
instead of the ‘bed in a bag’ approach. It’s a
more sophisticated look, and the bedding fits perfectly
on the bed.”
To reach Terry Varner at Decorating Den
Interiors, call 410-378-3124 or e-mail
tvarner@decoratingden.com; for more information,
visit decdens.com/tvarner.
60 Mason-Dixon ARRIVE | APRIL 2011 Mason-Dixon ARRIVE | APRIL 2011 61