July 2017

July 31, 2017

A Jazzy Weekend in the Burg

Maybe its just us, but there’s something enchanting about listening to great music on a warm evening with your friends and family; especially when great music comes to historic downtown Ellensburg. This past weekend marked the 20^thyear Jazz in the Valley brought its “A” game to town. 20 years of great Jazz and great company.

“20 years of great Jazz and great company”

We were lucky enough to host two excellent groups at the store. The Chris Brown Quartet Friday night and Pearl Django with Gail Pettis Saturday. Both groups sounded fabulous and played for a full house of festival attendees watching from our selection of sofas,tables and chairs set for a concert. We enjoy making the conversion from furniture store to jazz club, and always hope that listening in our venue guarantees the most comfortable seats in town.Though this year, we got so full on Saturday night, the stairs doubled as chairs!

**It was a full house on Saturday, standing room only!**

We’d like to say a special thank you to Larry Sharpe, the Jazz in the Valley Board, all of the talented musicians and many volunteers who make this event possible each Summer. Its a special thing to watch Ellensburg come to life with music and smiles on every corner!

Who did you enjoy most this weekend? Where did you go to listen?

July 24, 2017

Tiny Homes, Big Appeal

Cheryl

The spaces are tiny, but the reasons for choosing to live small are many. While the term downsizing may illicit thoughts of tightening budgets, many people are choosing to reduce their living spaces for other reasons.

Less is More?

Reducing clutter and keeping living space minimal is appealing for many, as is the draw of an urban nomadic lifestyle. Seasonal home ownership and the benefits of big city amenities that come with apartment living are also drawing consumers to smaller spaces.

Times are Changing

This trend is not only effecting home builders and the real estate market, but also the furniture industry. While stores who primarily cater to urban residents have been well versed in tiny space furnishing, those who serve more suburban communities may begin to see the need to adjust. Consumers who are resizing their living spaces but not looking to downsize the quality of their furniture or interior design are searching for pieces that accommodate tighter square footage and keep up with standards of excellence.

Make it fit

Some unforeseen repercussions of converting to a smaller space include lack of storage, space for overnight guests to sleep and wall space for cabinets and shelving. Though inconvenient, there are excellent solutions that can ease the transition to less square footage. Multi functional furniture such as small sleepers, loft beds, wall beds and sofa consoles make excellent alternatives to traditional furniture, and as this trend continues we are likely to see a rise in the availability of such items.

The tiny trend is certainly growing , with no signs of slowing anytime soon. As consumers get comfortable in their smaller spaces, we can expect to see continued variations in furniture and design to ease the transition from full-size to small and mid-size homes. Tiny living does not have to mean big sacrifice.

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July 24, 2017

The Key to a Good Nights Sleep: Making your Bedroom Work for you

Cheryl

Everyone knows that a good nights sleep is important, but its not always easy to get those hours in. Plenty of basic tips for achieving a better nights sleep live on the internet and in magazines. General advice like avoiding electronic blue lighting, caffeine in the afternoon and alcohol before bed are what you’ve likely browsed over the years, and they are all great tips for better rest. What you may not have considered though, is how the design of your bedroom and your furniture can work to help you catch more Z’s.

Calming Colors = Peaceful Sleep

Calming paint colors that put you into a relaxed state can send you into snooze mode quickly. Loud colors and bold accent walls, while beautiful, can be a hindrance to achieving a quality sleep state. Choosing soft greens, blues and yellows would be a great for tranquility, though any color that you find soothing is a great choice.

Invest in a Quality Mattress

In addition to a comfortable environment , keeping up with your mattress quality is equally important. Mattresses that have lost their cushion, or simply do not fit your needs it terms of size or firmness can cause tossing and turning. This leaves you with a sleepless night and groggy morning.

In general, the recommendation for mattress replacement is at least every seven to ten years, however; if you find yourself sleeping poorly, it may be important to look at a replacement sooner rather than later.

Wrong Pillow?

While Mattresses are probably the top mentioned furniture for sleep quality ,pillows are just as important as mattress choice when it comes to preventing shifts through the night. There are many types of fillings to choose from , including memory foam, down and polyester. The best choice for you will depend on many factors, including whether you sleep on your back , stomach or side. Flatter pillows generally work much better for those who prefer to sleep on their backs or stomachs. Loftier pillows allow a side sleeper to fill space from the shoulder to neck.

De-Clutter

So many of us take the stress of the day to bed with us as it is, and clutter in your bedroom can be distracting when you are trying to drift off. Keeping the bed the focal point of the room can help with keeping clutter to a minimum, maximizing your rest hours.

There are so many ways to achieve a more quality nights sleep. When conventional methods like keeping your room dark and cool, steering clear of coffee and tea before bed, and exercising earlier in the day fail to get the job done, give some of these ideas a try!

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