See Dick, see Jane, see good stuff
Dick + Jane's is the newest of the off-beat little home furnishing shops on Maryland Avenue. Owners Andrea Dixon and Ken Ingels graduated from the Maryland Institute, College of Art, and worked at the Baltimore Museum of Art before striking off on their own to open a store that sells original crafts, fun collectibles and unusual furniture, much of it from the '50s. You'll find, for instance, a Danish-modern sofa next to a handmade quilt from the '20s.
And what's the significance of the name? "There really isn't any," says Ms. Dixon. "It's just a lot of fun, and we wanted to carry that through the shop."
Dick + Jane's, 1729 Maryland Ave., is open Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursdays, noon to 7 p.m.
Some do-it-yourself projects are boring but necessary. Faux painting, though, is done just for the pleasure of it.
M. M. Telak Interiors in Fells Point is offering a series of workshops in decorative painting and faux finishes that will get you started. You'll learn how to French-wash walls, marbleize crown molding and paint clouds on your ceiling. Each workshop session is 2 1/2 hours long and costs $30. Enrollment is limited to eight per class. The dates this month are Saturday, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: "Wood and Furniture" (parchment/fresco, dragging, washing/distressing and marbling); next Sunday, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: "Walls, Etc." (French washes, sponging, dry brushing and rubbing, rag rolling and scrunching), Nov. 21, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: "Specialties" (clouds, gold wash, Monet flowers, verdigris and stenciling).
The classes are held at her studio at 1809 Thames St. For more information, call (410) 558-0435.
Redecorating this fall? We asked local interior designers for advice. And in honor of the election just past, we asked them to put it in the form of sound bites:
Constance Lee, Constance Lee Interiors: "Slipcovers are popular now in a natural, prewashed, relaxed fabric. Feather pillows covered in pretty colors are a nice finishing touch."
Lisa Sepp Pintzuk, Lisa Sepp Pintzuk Interior Design: Warm up your colors to "heat" your house. Terra-cotta walls will feel better in January than turquoise."
John Stone, John Stone Interiors: "Back to basics. Look fo classic, timeless design that will outlive trendy fads."
Richard Taylor, Taylor/Siegmeister Associates: "Even if you're just starting out, buy something today you'll like as much 10 years from now, something you'd be proud to leave to your children."
Tom Williams, Federal Hill Interiors: "Look for greater comfort anwarmth using overstuffed upholstery pieces, plus personal collections and mementos."
Some of us are never going to get organized. We might as well admit it and get on with our lives. But some of us are going to keep trying; for those brave souls here's a phone number that may help. Dial (800) 733-3532 to reach the Container Store's hotline for both general and specific organization-related dilemmas. It's open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. Of course, the operators are there to sell you storage units. But they'll also offer you helpful advice on everything from how to organize your attic to ways to package your Christmas cookies.
Here are the Container Store's five steps for organizing a spaceTarget an area; pick one manageable space that can be completed in an hour or two. Decide on its function. Separate what's been in the space into five piles according to what you want to do with them: 1) the space you're now organizing, 2) other areas, 3) giveaway, 4) throwaway, 5) uncertain. Plan how to use the space. Implement your plan.
Sounds easy, doesn't it?