It’s been several weeks since the Boston Marathon bombings. Regardless of the amount of time passed, or the number of “suspects” in custody, the lives of many are forever changed. 

Like many of you, we have family and friends that live in Boston and we are incredibly grateful they are all ok.  

In an effort to help those affected, we have created the Tini B Table – the Tini Table we’re hoping will make a Big difference to someone’s life affected by the recent tragedy in Boston.  

100% of the proceeds will go to The One Fund Boston.

 

MADE IN AMERICA!

If you haven’t noticed, Summer is almost here! And just as we do most every summer, we head to Newport, Rhode Island.  Classic New England, Newport is the right amount of salty (when you arrive by boat like we do) and the right amount of glamour (Dark & Stormies at the New York Yacht Club!)

(oomph’s Newport!)

It’s not secret why we love and are so inspired by Newport. Newport has the energy of a bustling town, but the calm of a summer beach oasis. It’s considered the sailing center of the world, and with a glimpse at the bucolic and busy harbor during summer months, there is no denying it. At any given time, there are multitudes of jaw-dropping, gorgeous yachts – some stretching for several city blocks, others are sleek racing machines, and many are charming day sailors, gleaming with bright-work. Newport’s surrounding waters boast some of the best sailing in the World; it was the original home to the America’s Cup where the Newport-Bermuda Race begins – the best of the best.

But Newport doesn’t just have yachting. There’s the Newport Jazz Festival – a fabulous weekend every summer where the best jazz musicians in the world gather; and the Newport Casino – The International Tennis Hall of Fame complete with grass courts and 1880 buildings and stands. As you step through its arched entrance on Bellevue Avenue, you can’t help but be transported to a bygone era.

What Newport, Rhode Island might be most famous for, however, is it’s famed Gilded Age history.  Some of America’s greatest families spent the summer months in Newport and built grand summer “cottages” with incredibly ornate décor and details. These homes are chock full of inspiring architectural details, many of which have inspired us in the creation of our Newport Collection.

The Newport Mirrors, Consoles, and unique Coffee Tables epitomize the spirit of this great town – slightly gilded in detail, but classic styles by design, enhanced by a the daring hues of signature oomph colors in glistening lacquer.

If you haven’t noticed yet – we have a new website design.  Over a year in the making, it’s hard to believe how much work can go into a redesign (not to mention stress, tears, elations, laughs, and frustrations). Ultimately, we wanted to make the entire user experience better: easier to search and navigate, better pictures, and more editorial content that will keep you up to date on industry news and oomph happenings.  If you haven’t see the new website yet – check it out:  www.oomphonline.com

As part of our redesign, we now have the dedicated space to highlight designers and stores that are friends of oomph!  Starting today, we will profile one designer or store a month.  Our first month profiles Amanda Lindroth Designs.  You’ve seen her work featured in Veranda, House Beautiful, Coastal Living, to name a few, and ALL OVER Pinterest.  Amanda was one of our first clients and has been devoted ever since!  It’s only natural that we would want to spread the word about the EXCEPTIONAL work she does all over the world and highlight some of her favorite oomph pieces.  Read More  . . . .

Amanda Lindroth Designs (pictures courtesy of The Dunmore, House Beautiful, and Amanda Lindroth Design):

So, as it turns out, it was a big week for oomph in the design world.

Although we did not officially have our own booth at High Point Market this year (this year!), we were asked to join Thibaut, one of the country’s greatest fabric houses, to be a part of their showroom design.  In case you don’t follow our facebook, twitter, or instagram, we’ve included pictures to show you how fabulous the showroom looked with our furniture.  The Newport Tiered Console, Westport Mirror, and Hobe Sound Lanterns were just a few of the pieces included in this year’s display.

Also at High Point this year, the Junior League of Greensboro and Traditional Home Magazine came together for a Designer Showhouse, chock full of today’s top names in the industry.  The opening night was a Gatsby themed party, and the style continues over the next several weeks in this beautiful North Carolina home.  Lesley May, one of the featured designers, chose two distinctive oomph pieces for her showcase – the Edgartown Side Table (in custom pink) and Chelsea Desk in glimmering White Dove.

Finally, this Thursday marks the opening of Housingwork’s Design on a Dime Showhouse.  The most impressive designer showhouse the industry has to offer.  The participating designers are a who’s who from around the world.  The event takes place in New York City and we are thrilled to have collaborated with Harry Heissman on his yet to be revealed space!  Stay tuned for pictures, but in the meantime, visit HGTV or DESIGN ON a DIME for more information.

We love to beachcomb. There is nothing better than a stroll down a beach searching for treasures left behind by the sea. In Sanibel, Florida, shells litter the beaches. With that in mind, we created a table reminiscent of those warm days with our toes in the sand. The Sanibel Side Table has a clean square design with an elegant stretcher. But the top is what makes it stand out. We have inlayed a gorgeous mother of pearl surface in this beauty – a subtle, yet impact-ful, touch of glamour.

Maybe you’ve just returned from an island escape, or are planning your next visit. Perhaps you are just daydreaming about a swim in salt water and falling asleep to the sound of waves.  Like many of our designs which are named for places that we love, Sanibel is one of those memorable for all it’s beauty and charm.  What a more fitting name for a side table with a shell top!  We offer this table in 16 lacquer colors, all with the genuine mother-of-pearl surface . . . beach day-dream included!

We are always busy building new products for our customers. There never seems to be a “down-time” where we can take a breath. Same holds true for our website. There are improvements and trends that need to be updated – it is after all a living thing that cannot stay unaltered for long. We also wanted to make shopping the oomph online store easier and more enjoyable for our customers.  Next week, after a lengthy re-build, oomphonline will have a new look! Stay-tuned for the unveiling – we cannot wait.

TGIF . . .

A well stocked oomph bar cart is just the thing for Friday (any) night!

We quietly added a new phone number to our lines – the Designer Hotline. It took about five minutes for it to start ringing and it hasn’t stopped yet. It is so much fun to listen to our oomph in-house designers connect with a potential customer. The questions range from which style table to choose, to what color and surface would work best with their existing palette. Sometimes the inquiries require a simple answer, others are more in depth and complex. Most requests are resolved over the phone, some people send us pictures! We love talking about oomph, in fact there is nothing we like better. We genuinely enjoy connecting with the people on the other end of the line and hear what they want. Sometimes it’s even a designer asking about the best combination of surface to go with a lacquer color or how to best go about doing a piece of oomph that is completely custom.

Got questions? We have the answers. Who better than our own design team to guide you into adding a little oomph in your life. Don’t be shy, give us a call. We have the answers.

203-309-3700

design@oomphonline.com

With all the hub-bub surrounding Pantone’s 2013 color of the Year – Emerald, we decided we needed to get in on the act too. We have always loved the color, especially when it is in the form of a large stone preferably surrounded by diamonds.

The Wizard of Oz seemed to be awfully fond of that color as well; and, therefore, it was all the rage in 1939, just as it is today in fashion and home design. It is fabulous as an accent with black and white and is stunning with navy. I guess the wizard knew what he was doing. All the toniest fashion houses in 2013 embraced the color and now there are designer purses, lavish gowns, and shoes all awaiting a color-coordinated audience with the wizard. Get in line.

Since we are not in the jewelry, movie, or fashion business, we have created a limited edition of tini tables using a lacquer matched to Pantone color  17-5641 – Emerald. And to make our Limited Edition Emerald Tini Sale even more of an event, we have chosen PublicColor, a non profit organization as our choice to benefit from the proceeds of the sale. PublicColor beautifies public spaces through the affordable medium of paint and  engages under-achieving students and  readies them for college or careers by building their skills. Publicolor’s design-based programs and academic support engage at-risk youth in their education and combat the lack of job-preparedness that fuels poverty. What could be more down our alley than a program that uses color as their tool to brighten the future of the next generation?

Watch for the Limited Edition Emerald Tini Table Sale Thursday at 8 PM EST  on our Sample Room – oomph on Elm. But hurry – we really mean Limited!

Exciting News!

On Saturday, February 23, we will be opening our “showroom” in San Francisco.  Lotus Bleu on Hayes Street is now THE destination for all things oomph.  Lotus Bleu has been one of the largest purveyors of oomph since the company began and we are so excited about our new partnership.  Whether you are a designer or retail customer – the entire oomph collection and all our colors are now on display at Jeannie Fraise’s beautiful store for you to see, touch, and buy!  Jeannie and her staff are well-trained in the language of oomph and can help you with any design questions you might have.

Please join us on February 23 for a celebration, raffle, and to view all the new products from 2013!

Did I mention the Raffle!!!!! Visit Lotus Bleu on Saturday and you can enter to win a Tini Table!!

Concord Grape Tini 2! (with Natural Raffia top - not as shown)

If you have never been to Lotus Bleu, here is a look . . . COLOR, COLOR, COLOR!  You can understand why oomph and Lotus Bleu have such a great time together.