Empty chair and table around outdoor deck
Spring is Here. Is Your Patio Ready?

Depending on where you live, warm weather might already be here or it might still be just around the corner. No matter what situation you’re in, it’s time to start thinking of getting your outdoor furniture out of storage. Make sure to take the time to do the following: Inspect Your Furniture The biggest factor in the condition of your furniture will...

Large and spacious living room with big windows and mountain views
Room Design 101

Whether you’ve just purchased a new house or are simply ready to redesign a room or two, planning and decorating is an exciting adventure. It’s important, though, that before you start you put a plan into place and follow these tips and tricks. Consider the function. No matter which room you’re working on, it’s important to take into consideration what...

Finding the Right Sofa for You

Consider Function, Style, Fabric, Color, Cushions, Comfort and Price. Finding the perfect sofa is not always easy. Here are some things to consider when you are making your choice. Need help? Our team at The Open Room would be happy to assist!...

Umbrellas and Outdoor Cushions

Looking for a quick and relatively low cost way to brighten your patio or outdoor room? Colorful umbrellas are a simple way to change the look of your space, make it cozier, and add shade, of course. If your old umbrella is still fine, but the color does not inspire you, why not change the color of the canopy? The...

Teak Source Matters

Clients often ask us why there is such a large price range for teak furniture. Why not just buy your teak furniture from a discount store or the cheapest source online? We're also asked whether teak is “environmentally friendly”. The fact is, that there are huge variations among teak, in terms of the price, quality, sustainability and durability. If the...

The Ottoman Empire

  In our book, the ottoman rules!  Whether you call it ahassock (old English), pouffe (French), tuffet (as in Miss Muffet) or ottoman (Turkish), the highly under-rated footstool can be one of the most versatile and transformational pieces of furniture in our home. The word ottoman (as in footstool) was probably introduced into English in the early 1800’s.  In Europe at that time,...

Modern Design and Mountain Architecture – James Bourret

Modern in the mountains: is modern design an appropriate style of architecture in a mountain environment? Style is, of course, a personal choice, or a preference that many people hold on an almost ingrained basis. Styles in architecture are associated with places, cultures and eras, but in one’s own home, especially in America, style is often thought of as something...

Why Outdoor Rooms are Important

“….the very joy of being outside reflects the reality that so much of life is spent inside.”John Pile. Most of us spend about 80-90% of our day indoors – hence the importance of outdoor recreation and the joy we derive from nature! Our outdoor rooms give us another means of getting that much needed breather – right at home. Creating an outdoor room is...

The Appeal of “Round”

Most of the furniture we surround ourselves with is linear in form; rectangular or square. Not surprising, giving that our houses and rooms are, for the most part, angular, and so must our furniture be, right? Not necessarily. There is something very appealing about things round. Consider nature, whose forms rarely have straight edges, such as trees, nests, rocks and...

Postcard from Paris – A conversation with Heather Hansen

A conversation with Ketchum fresco artist Heather Hansen, during her sojourn in Europe …. observations on frescoes in Italy and the artists’ community in Paris. Heather Hansen is well-known in Idaho for her beautiful frescos.  She has been showing her work at The Open Room for the last five years, and her pieces can be found in private art collections around...