Linen Care and Cleaning

Caring for the linen on the furniture in your home is the best way to ensure their longevity. Don’t fret over spills and stains, there are simple ways to clean your furniture’s upholstery.

For stains, try the following:

Ink: Soak in milk, or in soap-and-ammonia mixture, and rub the spot.

Blood: Rinse immediately in cold water.

Fruit, coffee, tea and chocolate: Rub with alcohol, white vinegar and ammonia.

Candle wax: Scratch off dried wax, absorb residue with blotting paper and warm iron.

Greasy Stains: Rub with ammonia.

Red Wine: Rub immediately with sparkling water or white wine.

If stains do not disappear, you can try:

Soaking the linen in a good washing detergent, or dissolving 3.5 oz. sodium borate in boiling water, then adding enough cold water to yield 1½ gallons, and let soak for 1 hour.

Never use chlorine bleach which may damage the fibers. It is important to select the proper washing agent. Many detergents today contain optical whitening agents that work well on white linens. These are not recommended for colored linens, however, as discoloring and spotting may result. When washing colors, check that your detergent does not have whitening agents, or choose a soap powder. If you have hard water, with a high lime content, we recommend a softening agent, especially for darker colors.

Try a traditional remedy: spread the linen out on a sunny meadow or your back yard for a few days.

Linen can be laundered with confidence, and all Libeco·Lagae products carry full washing instructions.

For more information on linen and clean codes click here.

Handcrafted Furnishings

At Gabby, we celebrate the mysterious and beautiful nature of imperfections. For us, the charm is found the the unexpected details.

Watch the video below to get a closer look at the hard work that goes into creating our handcrafted furnishings.

The difference is in the details. At Gabby, we believe truly exceptional furnishings and decor have a story to be shared. We hoped you enjoyed our video.

Duncan Cabinet

The Duncan Cabinet has a decorative quatrefoil pattern made of iron that floats on top of the glass doors. This captivating cabinet’s natural mindy wood body contrasts with a black iron frame. Use it as a wine or bar cabinet or an entertainment cabinet for a flat screen television.

Like the popular Nathan Cabinet, the Duncan Cabinet creates its charm by mixing iron and wood for a unique pattern.

The cabinet is versatile and goes well in any room. It is the perfect place to display your favorite home accessories and photographs.

The circular pattern on the doors combined with mixed materials makes the Duncan Cabinet eye catching and different.

Behind the Scenes of Gabby’s New Furnishings Photoshoot

 Chapter 4: Refined

Watch the video to see how this photo was created!

 Visit our website to see more photos of our new furnishings!

Gabby and Habitat for Humanity

            Gabby has chosen Habitat for Humanity of Greater Birmingham as their charitable partner of the year. To begin this partnership, Gabby recently donated several thousand dollars in home furnishings to Habitat for Humanity’s Restore program.

            Habitat’s Restore shop is located in Irondale, Alabama, and sells donated furnishings, building materials, gardening tools, and appliances. The funds generated by the store helps sponsor several homes for Habitat and partner families. Many of the items in the store are also used in the homes built by Habitat. The store promotes conservation by diverting materials away from landfills, and helping those in need.

            “A lot of people don’t know that Restore exists,” said Beth Jerome Vice President of Marketing and Development for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Birmingham.

“It’s there, and it’s a great way to get supplies for remodeling your home while helping others in the community,” Jerome said.

            In addition to the donation of furniture, Gabby is also launching a campaign to donate a dollar to Habitat for every Facebook fan they receive from now until the end of their next High Point show in April. Currently, the company’s Facebook page has 733 likes.

            This year, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Birmingham has 50 homes scheduled to be built, and the group is also working on repairs and rebuilds in the area from damage caused by the April 2011 and January 2012 tornadoes. Construction on an average three bedroom, two bath house takes eight weeks and costs $78,000. Each home requires approximately 400 volunteers to build.

“Making a tangible difference in the lives of the families we serve is one of the greatest parts of working with Habitat,” said Jerome.

            “A common misconception about Habitat is that the homes are given away, but that isn’t true,” Jerome said. “Habitat offers a mortgage on the home, and the families pay the mortgage off with no interest. Being able to help people achieve their dream of home ownership is probably the most rewarding aspect of my job,”

            Habitat for Humanity of Greater Birmingham was founded in 1987, and serves Jefferson, Shelby and Walker Counties. After the April 2011 tornadoes, the group is now building three homes and helping with repairs in Saint Clair County. Last year the group along with over 13,000 volunteers served 153 families, built 41 homes, and helped with disaster repairs and rebuilds.

             Each year Gabby chooses a different charitable organization to partner with to fulfill the company’s mission to give back to the community. Last year the company partnered with Plant-It 2020, and donated funds to help the organization plant over 800 trees in unharvested areas of the world.

            “Part of our mission at Gabby is to serve the community and give back to organizations that we are passionate about. We appreciate what Habitat for Humanity stands for and we are proud to help support the good they do in our community.” said William White, Vice President at Gabby. The company, founded in 2010, strives to enrich the community by giving back, and aims to be an innovator in the home furnishings industry by creating furniture that changes the way people think about home décor.

Read the article from Home Accents Today.

Don’t forget to Like us on Facebook to help us help Habitat!

Defining Gabby- Decor with a Story

Chapter 4: Refined

Featured throughout Gabby’s new catalog are definitions of words that define our unique furniture. These details share Gabby’s story, and as you read we hope you understand what sets Gabby a part from other furniture companies.

Refined: Elegant and cultured in appearance, manner, or taste.

Refined reflects Gabby’s mission as a company to create furnishings that reflect beauty and elegance.

Eclectic: deriving ideas, style, or taste from abroad and diverse range of sources.

Gabby’s furniture is inspired by unique and beautiful places from all over the world. When combined our furnishings create an eclectic style.

Illuminate: to provide or brighten with light, or to enlighten intellectually or spiritually; enable to understand.

Bringing Gabby’s new accessories into your home will add details to your decor that will inspire conversations and enliven your decor.

Blend: to combine things or qualities to create a pleasing effect.

The Coleman Cabinet is the perfect example of how Gabby blends materials to create a unique piece. The cabinet features a chevron pattern created by an iron inlay in the wood.

Unconventional: Not based on or conforming to what is generally done or believed.

Gabby’s exceptional designs are different, captivating and unlike anything else in home furnishings.

Tailored: custom made, made according to the specifications of the individual.

Our newest collection, Gabby Tailored, is a customizable upholstery collection with a COM option. By choosing your own fabric; you add your own story and personal style to these Old Hollywood Glamour inspired pieces.

Details: the small elements that collectively constitute a work of art.

We celebrate the mysterious and beautiful nature of imperfections. for us, the charm is found in the unexpected details. Featuring detailed latticework on the front and back of the chair, the Verona Chair is a great example of the impact of Gabby’s fine detailing.

Unique: being the only existing one of its type or, more generally, unusual or special in some way.

Not only are our designs unique, but Gabby also sells unique finds. Our Unique Finds are one-of-a kind pieces and beautiful antiques from around the world.

Truly exceptional furnishings and decor have a story to be shared. Gabby’s mission is to be an innovator in our industry by creating exquisite products that change the way people think about furnishings.

The Gift of Gab

The Gift of Gab

Gabby wants to hear your story! Share the story of your favorite piece of furniture or accessory and you could win a set of 4 cafe chairs! Perhaps your favorite chair has been passed down for generations, or it was bought in an interesting place.

Whatever the item, whatever the story, we want to hear it. Submit a photo along with the story of why your piece is so special to i.gabbyhome@gmail.com.

New Decor for 2012

Gabby’s introductions for 2012 include over 35 new accessories. European inspired candlesticks, architecturally inspired lamps, and bowls and hurricanes inspired by the beauty of nature are just a few of the new additions. Accessories are one of the best ways to add your personality to your home decor.

Gabby has also expanded our seating options to include more transitional styles and materials such as rattan. These new designs are versatile in function and mix well with any home decor.

Upholstered seating, like the Cooper and Conrad Barstools, mix up decor by contrasting dark woods with softer linens.

Tables and cabinets for 2012 also feature mixed materials and textures for Gabby’s new products. The Ingrid Chest makes a richly elegant statement with its sleek bowfront, antiqued brass drawer pulls, honed marble top, and textured gesso finish.

Visit our new website to view all of our new products, and be sure to let us know which one is your favorite!

Season’s Greetings and Gabby News

Be sure to check our site for specials! In January the site will be updated with a new look and new products. Continue to check in here for more news and announcements! Don’t forget to visit our new showroom in AmericasMart!

Gabby hopes you all have a great holiday season!

These are a few of our favorite posts

In the spirit of the holiday season we wanted to highlight some of our favorite design blogs from the past year. There are so many great bloggers in the interior design industry, and here are just a few that keep us reading.We’ve included portions of recent posts from the blogs, and once you read them you’ll see why their some of our favorites.

coco+kelley: Blogging from Seattle, Cassandra LaValle posts everything from her favorite fashion trends to home inspiration. She melts over her favorite products and gives useful ideas for how to use them in home decor. Often featuring guest bloggers, coco+kelley makes wishlists grow and stylish living possible no matter where you live.

INTO THE WOODS

Let’s face it. I live in Seattle. It’s hard not to get all nature-inspired with tabletops around here. But, that doesn’t mean that a little glamour, a hint of modern styling, or even a bit of english countryside can’t come into play…

I always love a little feather detail in my Thanksgiving tabletop, and this hint of sparkle is a sweet addition to a more traditional tabletop. I’d love to see a centerpiece of casual tree branches to contrast such a refined setting. Continue reading the post from coco+kelley.

Cote de Texas: “French design on the Texas Coast. Yes, it does exist!” Even if you don’t live in Texas, this blog is a must read for French design inspiration. The descriptive and often witty posts filled with large images of the blogger’s designs, and photos of what inspired them are what keep us coming back.

Reader Kitchen Series #7- Inspired by a French Hotel!

I received pictures for the kitchen series from a homeowner who kitchen’s renovation was inspired by the French boutique hotel L’Hotel Particulier.  This small boutique hotel is located in the south of France in Arles, whose most famous resident was Vincent Van Gogh.   The homeowner had stayed at the hotel and loved their original kitchen so much, she used elements of it in her own kitchen’s reno.   Once the reader mentioned this hotel, I was intrigued enough to research it on the internet (of course!) continue reading post from Cote de Texas

Design Sponge: Grace Bonney and the talented Design Sponge team cover  DIY projects, before & afters, traveling, entertaining, and the best products for crafts and the home. Based in Brooklyn, Bonney has a team of writers from all over who bring their personalities to posts, making it a blog enjoyable for everyone. Katy Pruitt’s recent post, “A Rustic & Collaborative Thanksgiving,” is a holiday must-read.

A Rustic & Collaborative Thanksgiving

While it was once customary for the host or hostess to prepare the entire Thanksgiving feast themselves, these days, it’s far more common for everyone to chip in by bringing a dish to share or helping set the scene. Thanksgiving is only a week away, and if you need a bit of inspiration for the day, look no further than this lovely collaborative effort between Jeni Maus of Found and her very talented group of friends. Continue reading post from Design Sponge.

STYLE BEAT: Covering topics about her favorite people, products, furnishings and designs in the home decor industry, Marisa’s enthusiastic personality sparkles through her posts. Like the blogs above, Marisa is an expert in interior design and the industry. Every post is exciting, fresh and filled with information on Marisa’s favorite things and expert knowledge. Clever titles, pun-filled posts and a variety of topics make Stylebeat worth reading. Each new post must be read instantly because you have no idea what she’ll write about next. You don’t want to miss a second of it.

Seeing Red: Connor Channels Diana Vreeland Style

(Photos courtesy of Diana Vreeland archives)
Fashion icon Diana Vreeland’s famous living room created by Billy Baldwin swathed in crimson red. Her dictate, to furnish her home like “a garden in hell,” was interpreted by Mr. Baldwin with yards of Fleurs de Mal Scarlet chintz. It covered everything in the living room, the sofa and the draperies. Continue reading post from Style Beat.