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Dec
05

Finishings Launches Elegant New Line

Looking for a line of accessories you won’t find in department stores? Finishings For Her has the perfect bags, jewelry and leather goods for any designer diva. The collection is known as “My Flat In London,” designed by Jan Headrich as an homage to upscale boutiques and her European travels. Fun and elegant, My Flat In London celebrates classy women and their journey through the world.

Launched in 2002, the line originally retailed at upscale chains like Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus, and even at Fifth Avenue’s famous Bergdorf Goodman.  At the height of her popularity, Jan Headrich made the decision to stay at home and raise her family.  With the encouragement of some industry friends, she designed the current Fall 2012 line and promoted it to boutiques rather than large chain department stores. So you’ll find it only at local shops like Finishings who specialize in unique merchandise.

We’re a big fan of Ms. Headrich and the spirit she represents–not to mention the whimsical elegance of her bags and accessories. Her creed– “Be pretty, witty and wise, fulfill dreams, create inner style, be happy and eat cupcakes!’– is inscribed inside several of the bags.  Truly words to live by! This collection has a touch of sparkle, ladylike charm and savvy styling.  And the best part is, pieces start at just $18.

Dec
03

Tivol’s Store Closing Sale

This month Briarcliff Village will say goodbye to one of its largest retailers, Tivol jewelers. Founded in 1910, Tivol opened its third location at Briarcliff in 2006 and enjoyed reasonably good sales until the economy forced them to rethink their overall strategy.

“The truth is that, although we did decent business at this location, the logistics of running a store this size with two other established locations proved to be trying,” says Robert Gerard, G.G., corporate sales manager. According to CEO Cathy Tivol, the iconic local chain is in no danger of closing and will continue to operate from the Plaza and Hawthorne shopping centers. In the meantime, to avoid overstock, the Briarcliff location will liquidate several million dollars’ worth of jewelry from all locations before the end of 2012.

That means, if you want a great deal on jewelry this holiday season, Tivol in Briarcliff Village is the place to go.

Excess merchandise from all locations has been collected into one amazing sale. You can find diamonds, precious and semi-precious gemstones, 18K gold and platinum designer pieces, as well as a collection of fine Swiss timepieces. The entire collection is available for immediate sale during the closing event.

Don’t miss out on your chance to purchase some of Kansas City’s finest quality jewelry at unprecedented sale prices. Tivol in Briarcliff is open Monday-Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday noon-5 p.m.

Dec
03

Merchant of the Month Nell Hill’s

For home decorating fans across the nation, the name Briarcliff Village is synonymous with Nell Hill’s, its most famous locally-owned retailer. Founded in nearby Atchison, Kan., over 30 years ago, Nell Hill’s has grown from a single, small-town boutique to an empire of interior design products. The driving force behind the brand is Mary Carol Garrity, who still resides in Atchison despite her worldwide renown. You can also regularly find Mary Carol at Nell Hill’s second location in Briarcliff, chatting with her Kansas City customers and making them feel welcome.

“I am always available to answer customers’ questions and offer real-life decorating solutions,” Mary Carol says. “I always rise to the challenge of helping my customers uncover their own style.”

That reputation has certainly spread throughout the home decorating community. The Briarcliff store is a hot spot for Kansas City tourists, and the original Atchison location draws about 95 percent of its clientele from over 100 miles away. Merchandise is different at each store and always changing with the trends and seasons. But all of it expresses Mary Carol’s unparalleled style: classic yet creative, with an aesthetic that’s both cozy and exciting. It’s not surprising that Forbes magazine called her “one of the hottest little retailers” in America.

If you want to get a sneak peek at what’s in inside Nell Hill’s, you can check out the many helpful tips and articles on Mary Carol’s blog. Or, you can read one of her many books, including Nell Hill’s Style at Home, Nell Hill’s Christmas at Home, and Nell Hill’s Decorating Secrets: Easy and Inspiring Ways to Bring Style Into Your Home. 

Mary Carol says she named Nell Hill’s after her grandmother, an early Kansas pioneer. There’s something down-home in Mary Carol’s design elegance, a relic of that pioneer spirit. Down to her nationally syndicated radio program and her licensed paint collection, she’s truly forged her own path. And she loves watching others do the same.

“I never forget a face, and I thrive on meeting people,” she says of the countless hours she’s spent consulting with people.

Visit Nell Hill’s for the holiday season, and you won’t soon forget Mary Carol, either. Or the magical world she’s created. For more information, contact Nell Hill’s Briarcliff at (816) 746-4320.

Nov
05

Festive Photos of Your Pups

It wouldn’t be the holidays without family photos. And for some of us, “family” just happens to include a member with cuddly fur and a wagging tail. Thankfully, Land of Paws in Briarcliff Village is offering two opportunities for you to commemorate the season with your pup. Come out and see us for some holiday pet photos–including pictures with Santa!

Dress your dog up in his/her holiday best on Sunday, Nov. 11 from noon to 5 p.m. Our photographers will be standing by to capture the moment–perfect for your holiday cards! We have plenty of props and accessories around the store, so we can even style the photos for you. For a really cute image, get the kids and the dog together. It’s an unforgettable way to celebrate Holiday 2012.

Then, don’t miss Santa Sunday, Dec. 16 from noon to 5 p.m. Your dog can sit on Santa’s lap and bark what he/she wants to find under the tree. (Maybe one of our toys, or a hand-baked cookie.) And speaking of gifts, don’t forget to include your furry friend on your list this season. We’ve got plenty of great options.

Nov
05

Snuggle Up in Winter Bedding

One of my favorite rites of fall is to watch the leaves on the trees around my home turn amber, persimmon and ruby. Another is to see the bedding ensembles at Nell Hill’s Briarcliff transform from summer into wintery works of art. Our textile design team fearlessly mixes patterns, colors and textures to create collections that are so arresting you’ll never want to get out of bed. If your bedding is getting a bit frayed, or if you’re ready for a new look, why not remake your bed this winter? Here are a few of my favorite looks for the season.

You don’t have to be Scottish to feel a kinship with this drop-dead-gorgeous bed, complete with a tartan plaid duvet and pillows. While it is timeless and traditional, highlighting one of my favorite toile patterns and two different plaids, the bedding is anything but stuck in the past. Our designers kept it fresh by tucking in contemporary geometric Euro shams.

One of our go-to designs when dressing a bed is to include four rows of pillows, starting with a pair of matching Euro pillows in the back then descending in size until we finish off with a smaller rectangle accent pillow. Each set of pillows adds a distinctive element to the group, yet complements the overall design.

There is a lot going on in this grouping, but thanks to a repeated color scheme of blue, white and tobacco, the diverse patterns in the fabrics are lively, not overwhelming.

When we build our bedding ensembles at Nell Hill’s, we don’t just decorate the head of the bed – we make the foot sensational as well. Here, we added a royal blue quilt at the bottom of the bed to pull out the blue from the pillows and break up the plane of plaid in the duvet. We finished with a cable knit throw on top, just waiting for a Sunday afternoon nap.

 

This richly dressed bed is exploding with wonderful patterns. I think this diverse mix of tartan plaid, paisley, toile and floral fabric looks divine together. Even though each fabric has a lot of personality, they work well together because they toggle around the same color palette of brown, cream, cranberry and sage. Another trick to pairing bold patterns is to repeat the patterns throughout, like we did with the plaid and floral.

When dressing your bed, get the most luxurious sheets your budget will allow. My favorites are white cotton sheets with an impossibly high tread count, trimmed in lace. Look how delicate these beautiful sheets look against our winter bedding ensemble. Irresistible!

 

Orange is still hot, hot, hot in the decorating world. On this bed, we combined pops of bright pumpkin with fabrics that feature deeper, richer tones of brown, tan, rust and red to create a bedding ensemble that’s a bit more sophisticated. One of our favorite approaches when we design custom bedding at Nell Hill’s is to wed contemporary fabrics with time-tested traditional fabrics. We achieved a great balance on this bed by blending an animal print, flame stitch, plaid and bold floral. The more modern tan quilt balances the high octane pillow grouping on top of the bed. When you have custom bedding made, you can also feature unique finishes, like the matching covered buttons on our reversible duvet. It’s really a treat to have bedding made just for you, to celebrate your style and create a singular look in your bedroom.

We further enhanced the look of our warm-as-toast bed by sliding a gorgeous ottoman at the foot. These one-of-a-kind ottomans are upholstered in rugs and are a showpiece in and of themselves. They are the perfect place to sit while you dress or to place bed linens, like this soft cable knit throw and spare pillows.

 

I just had to show you an ensemble created to accent one of our fabulous upholstered bed frame. This beautiful bed is covered in a muted zebra pattern in faun and cream. In typical Nell Hill’s fashion, we did a study in contrasts by accessorizing the contemporary bed with traditional fabrics. We went for a quiet palette here since the bed is so bold, zeroing in on soft and subtle shades of brown, taupe and cream.

I’m a huge fan of using menswear fabrics in bedding because it looks so classic and sophisticated. We tossed an intriguing toile pattern in with our glen plaid duvet and tattersall pillow.

In this close-up shot, you can see our four-layer approach to bedded bliss: Brown velvet Euro squares in back, a pair of paisley Euro squares next, crazy cute toil Euros to finish, and a tattersall rectangle pillow to accent.

Stop by Nell Hill’s in Briarcliff Village and discover more ways to transform your home this season.

-Mary Carol Garrity, Founder, Nell Hill’s

Oct
12

Cozy Crafts Make Affordable Fashion

With cooler weather comes a dilemma: how many new clothes should you buy? Since most of us can’t afford a brand new closet, it’s important to balance what we need for fall and winter with what we like the look of.

Accessories are one place where “need” and “want” often come together, especially during the cooler months. One great way to populate your wardrobe with items you love for a reasonable price is to make them yourself. Of course, most of us aren’t experts at knitting or sewing. But that’s where classes at Urban Arts + Crafts come in.

This October, check out the great opportunities to learn step-by-step and produce your own fashionable, functional fall accessories. You can take a two-part class in knitting basics, or start right in with a knit scarf. Other classes allow you to craft more intricate items, like a cabled cowl or a diamond-knit beret. There’s also crochet scarves and an adorable fall “carpet” bag. And if you want to branch out, you can learn how to make a fabric cover for your iPad.

Classes usually last 3-4 hours and are held on the weekends or weekday evenings. For a complete schedule and pricing, and to sign up, visit the Urban Arts + Crafts website. You can also check out classes for November and December.

Have fun making something that’s uniquely you, fashionable, and perfect for fall.

Oct
09

Tricks and Treats for Halloween

When you grow up in Atchison, cited as one of the most haunted towns in Kansas, you just can’t help but love Halloween. I enjoy celebrating this spooky silly holiday by brewing up some tricks and treats in my home décor. Whether you want to add just a hint of haunt to your home or do a full macabre makeover, here are some tips for creating a singular and stylish Halloween look this year.

When I think Halloween, I think of my friend Twila, who does it up big. She teams up with Chery, one of the designers at Nell Hill’s, and the two of them have a ball as they make over Twila’s house. Every year, they come up with completely new creations, giggling and cheering as they go through Twila’s treasure trove of Halloween decorations, which she has collected through the years. Once her home is decorated to perfection, Twila hosts parties and gatherings, inviting her friends to share in the fun.

Twila likes to weave Halloween decorations into her existing fall décor. For example, she tricked up this bouquet on her entry table by plopping a ghoul in the center. Talk about unexpected! What tools to you have that could take on a sinister cast if placed in the right setting? How about some tarnished silver candlesticks, lanterns or iron urns?

Hunt through your home for additional props. The fedora jauntily perched on this skeleton’s head was a perfect last-minute addition – pulled out of one of Twila’s closets on a whim. I think it makes the whole display. I’ve found that when you set your creativity free and play around with your displays a bit, you come up with masterpieces.

When you decorate for Halloween, don’t do over the whole house – that’s overkill. Instead add some powerful punches in a few key places. In my home, that includes my dining room. In years past, for my Fall Open Houses, we’ve gone to town in my dining room. The table in the photo above is a tribute to playful pumpkins. Pumpkin vines twist through the chandelier and along the buffet. Gothic looking risers hold containers of mini pumpkins. And a pumpkin-headed figurine looks down upon the dinner guests.

Try this trick if you want a huge Halloween impact with little effort: Shroud each of your dining room chairs in a yard or so of scrim fabric, then tie them up in back with Halloween ribbon.

Scrim, an inexpensive, gauzy cotton fabric, is one of my favorite tricks for Halloween decorating. I’ve used it to drape over creepy heads and plastic skeletons to make them look like specters. And I’ve shredded it and hung it from twisting sticks mounted around my dining room windows. In the photo above, taken at one of my Fall Open Houses, we set my table for an elegant dinner party for ghosts.  Tendrils of scrim cobwebs dangled from the chandelier. The table’s disconcerting centerpiece included black iron urns holding legs and arms – mannequin parts we spray painted black.

My dining room buffet is always an important stage for my seasonal displays, so on Halloween it echoes the look I’ve created on my dining table. Twists of honeysuckle vine give the tableau the feeling of fall, as do the gourds, dusted with glitter. I topped the candelabra with black pillar candles, reserving one of the arms as a resting place for a blackbird figurine.

Another key spot to dress up for Halloween is a chandelier. I was going for a more whimsical Halloween look in my kitchen one year, so I secured some twigs to the chandelier in our breakfast nook. Add some blackbird figurines and a black-and-white check ribbon and you have a simple but fetching treatment in minutes.

In addition to decorating my front door, my exterior Halloween display usually includes my screened porch. Here, we set the table on my patio for a kid-friendly Halloween party, using a black and white quilt for a tablecloth.

 

- Mary Carol Garrity, Founder, Nell Hill’s

Sep
13

Trend Watch: Design In The City

Consider yourself warned. Walking into Design In The City may result in a spending spree. The trendy Briarcliff boutique has all the latest looks for fall. So, what should you wear to update your look? Here’s a peek to get you inspired:

Wild Prints and Wine Pairings.

Exotic prints make a global statement this fall, in bold and eclectic shades. This top pops with pattern and color, making it a centerpiece of any wardrobe. Pair with wine-colored bottoms, instead of black–it’s the base color of the season.

 

Animal Instincts and In the Trenches.

Animal print just won’t die. Plenty of it ran wild on the runways again at Fall 2012 Fashion Week. Here, a trendy bowler gets the wildlife treatment, to liven up the ensemble. Rust is another base color for fall, as demonstrated by this warm scarf. And did we mention trenches? Coats, sweaters, dresses … this belted, tailored look hasn’t looked so modern since it first hit the streets of Paris.

 

Leather and Luxury.

Remember Trinity in The Matrix? You’ll be seeing a lot of her this fall. Daring fashionistas are stepping out in all leather from head to toe. For the rest of us, leather accents are a fun way to layer black-on-black and get edgy with texture. This beautiful shirt combines a soft, draping synthetic fabric with leather shoulders.

 

Pure As Snow.

Winter white comes out early this year, with warm knit sweaters like this one. Wear it layered with ivory-colored tones in various textures for full effect. Let fashion and function get cozy together!

 

Cross My Heart.

Cross-body bags in every shade made their way across the runway this season. Accessorize any outfit, and comfortably pack all your essentials on-the-go. Dress them up with high-heeled shoes, or perhaps an embroidered military jacket. It’s impossible to run out of ideas at Design In The City.

If only it were impossible to run out of cash.

 

Sep
12

Meet a Merchant: Urban Arts + Crafts

About 10 years ago, something changed. Twenty-something girls put away their Spice Girl boots and began joining knitting circles. Even in big cities like New York and Boston, you could find them on the subway, needles moving calmly as they gazed out the train windows. When the economy crashed in 2008, the craft phenomenon seemed to soar. Do-it-yourself became an American obsession, and homespun fashion was all the rage.

Karen Roark must have seen it all coming. An interior architect for 12 years in Kansas City, she launched Urban Arts + Crafts in June of 2002. After ten years of business, her store remains more popular than ever–with weekly craft classes supplementing a trendy collection of yarns, boutique fabrics, beads, and accessories.

True to its name, Urban Arts + Crafts could easily be located in any major city, from Austin to Portland to Brooklyn. But Karen thinks that Briarcliff Village is the perfect spot.

“We were drawn to the unique mix of independently owned stores and the beauty of this area,” she says. “Our customers range from 8 to 88 but what most of them have in common is the desire to be creative and an appreciation of all things made.”

Kansas City’s latest moniker is the “creative crossroads,” and people from all areas flock to Karen’s store to fuel their inspiration. In the summer, beads and jewelry are most en vogue. Knitting and crochet pick up in winter, because as Karen says, “everyone enjoys making and wearing their own warm, winter projects.”

As for Karen, she enjoys watching people create something new. It’s what she calls a “modern and fresh approach to arts + crafts.” There’s something for everyone on her class calendar. And if you’re shopping for jewelry, tote bags, notebooks or gifts, you can satisfy your inner artist that way, too.

So, we were curious. What’s the latest craft trend for fall?

“The 20 minute infinity scarf,” Karen tells us. “If you can tie a knot, you can make your own scarf. No knitting or crochet skills are required!”

Sep
06

A Fashion Show for Feet

School’s in session, and it’s time for smarter shoes. You know, the kind that look amazing but don’t pinch your toes or kill your back. Shoes specially designed to improve foot conditions, posture, and whole host of medical issues. But still look great. If you’re looking for a pair like that, don’t miss the Fall Trunk Shows at SmartFeet.

The first name brand we’ll feature is Naot, on September 20, 10-8 p.m. Enjoy complimentary beverages and appetizers, while you try out some new styles for fall.  Then, from September 24 through 29, it’s Rieker Boot Week. Rieker is one of the biggest names in comfort footwear, and something of a trendy label. Take a whole week to try on different shoes, consult with our certified pedorthists, and get an awesome pair of fall boots you’ll never regret for a second. Not like those 4-inch stiletto booties you bought last year online.
Definitely not smart.
At both Trunk Shows, you’ll also receive a free pair of select Smartwool socks with your purchase. For more information, contact SmartFeet at (816) 382-3668.