Official Blog of Gallery Furniture's Mattress Mack of Houston, TX

Unique Deco Pieces and... furniture made from FOSSILS??

 
picture may be worth a thousand words, but a fossil has a word count that is beyond counting.  New to the retail wholsesale business, custom furniture designer John Strauss uses materials such as fossils from lakebeds - you read that right, fossils - to make gorgeous works of art as well as coffee and accent tables.  So, it's not often you get to set a drink down on a piece of stone where you can see the fossil bones of millions and millions of years ago right below your glass of Coca-Cola, but Gallery Furniture's High Point Market team found just such a piece you could accomplish this on.

 
 
Though Strauss has branched out - and the Gallery Furniture High Point Market Team found him as a result of Twitter trends on the High Point topic - he still has not fully engaged in the retail sales experience, and so he's pretty lucky to get found by the Gallery Furniture High Point Market buying team.  Carol Dougherty, Nancy Burke, Lori Murphy, and a Gallery Furniture staffer checked out the very chic showroom John Strauss had in Interhall at High Point Market.  John Strauss only brought a few pieces in, but the pieces he brought in had an impact on Lori, Carol, and Nancy. 

"The use of the fossil in the stone is innovative, this is AIA Home quality material here," she said flatly, referring the Architectural Association's annual pick of homes in Houston, TX.  Beyond that, "I liked his catalogue of material and pieces he does, many are hard to peg down in style - and I like that - are they transitional?  Traditional?  Contemporary?  When you can't pin down a type, that means the furniture will last your family a while."

From dining to occasional, from benches tbold fossil art pieces, John Strauss had a lot of bases covered beautiuflly, though he extent of his catalog was not done one bit of justice by the smaller space he occupied.  A great find by the wonderful team for Mattress Mack to go through!

Accent Chairs Bonanza Finds at High Point Market!

 
Gallery Furniture's High Point Market Team - the first buying market team sent by a retail store that actually had customers involved in the buying process, saw lots of gorgeous products all over the beautiful area of downtown high Point, North Carolina (home to two large furniture showcases each year, the world's largest home furnishings and accessory showcase). 

Since the team members consisted of the world's greatest customers, then it stands to reason that they would find pieces that were not only remarkable and beautiful, but also filled some holes in the Gallery Furniture line-up.  When Patricia Brinker and Valerie McKinney walked into Our House Designs over in High Point, North Carolina, she found a line-up of accent chairs that were not only richly traditional, but they also had a series of curves and beauty that could be enjoyed by Houstonians all over the Gallery Furniture area.

 

 
 
Gallery Furniture's customer-centric focus means truly engaging the customer in the overall workings of Gallery Furniture - including the selection process.  As such, customers making selections for product to carry just seems like a practical idea - after all, the end user should be the one making the selection, since these are the folks who actually use the furniture on a daily basis.

 
 
These accent chairs represnt versatility as well - with functional use in bedroom, living room, entry foyer, game room, or other part of the home where having that extra chair or two can finish the look or compliment a theme going on within the home.  Big thanks go to customers like Patricia Brinker and Valerie McKinney who make such fabulous finds for Gallery Furniture customers to look at and enjoy.

 
 
Whether rich leathers, fine fabrics, or gentle curving woodwork, an accent chair does not have to fully match a set, it has to compliment and work.  That's the key, and these chairs have the look and versatility to make a house a home in many ways, so that's why they wanted to show the world's greatest customers of the world's greatest furniture store some beautiful accent chairs from Our House designs.

Eco-Friendly Furniture Find at High Point Market!

Going Green, and Finally at a Normal Price

 

 

Lots of times, when it comes to upholstered furniture in the furniture industry, folks can't seem to get a price that works.  You look around, and to be quite frank, the idea of sacrificng little Johnny's tuition money for a new loveseat or couch doesn't seem to weigh against saving the planet.  So, it was a neat find for the dedicated customers who went to the Gallery Furniture High Point market trip, who each found new and novel pieces in every category, to stumble upon the likes of BKIND3 - a company dedicated to an American-made piece of quality furniture that not only is affordable, but is eco-friendly, too.

It was a visit that lent itself to the concept that price can be normalized in the eco-furniture lines, and with its sustainability model, BKIND3 was a unique and fun find that allowed Gallery Furniture to finally see some progress in comfortable price points for consumers who, yes, want to care about the environment in every aspect of their lives, but wanted to do so affordably and without breaking the family budget.

Lori Murphy, local Houston architect and member of the Gallery Furniture High Point Market trip, found this collection at the High Point market and wanted to show Gallery Furniture customers and Mattress Mack this find in a sectional whihc looks similar to pieces on the floor already at Gallery Furniture!

The sectional shown in the video as manufactured by BKIND3 carries recycled cotton and sustainably made wood framing, all done right here in the United States - Gallery Furniture believes in quality, and pieces made here in the United States are often done with care and pride and an eye on quality.  Gallery Furniture's customers - the world's greatest - spend hard-earned money on their furniture, and deserve the best.

Gallery Furniture Goes to the Andes... at High Point

Gallery Furniture's team of customers turned buyers at High Poingt, North Carolina made a find they wanted to share with Mattress Mack and the greatest customers in the world - the wonderful men and women who walk through the doors at either 6006 I-45 North between Tidwell and Parker or 2411 Post Oak Boulevard. 

The pieces that have been seen by nearly every single team member which all agree are certainly worth carrying at Gallery Furniture are all eco-friendly, made from 100% solid wood, and have some of the most unique features ever.  More than that, these gorgeous pieces have a story, a story that sometimes adds that final touch of detail in your Houston furniture.

 

Pictures above, see the San Pedro Bed by Andes International, all of the wood you see here in this beautiful bedroom piece is constructed using old railroad ties from the remote parts of Chile.  Designer and owner Fernando Urquiza, a native of Chile himself who has grown his company from a team of 10 members to a group of 100, while retaining the hand-made artisans that first made the company successful in 1991.

Regarding the San Pedro Bed: given that in the more dry parts of Chile the wood itself is not treated with the same chemical process and finish that are found in United States railroad ties, the wood hardens in a natural state for strength and beauty.

As Gallery Furniture customer Lori Murphy stated, "This is your Crate and Barrel customers who really don't want the lower quality of Crate and Barrel - they want higher quality, period.  This brings you a unique look, too, you don't get with Crate and Barrel.  Here, you get beauty and a nice eco-friendly story to back it up."

 

The Madera Bed, shown above, even more so echoes these qualities of the Pottery Barn/ Crate and Barrel customer who needs a higher quality at a similar retail price point.  Said Nancy Burke of League City (a professional cellist who is on the Gallery Furniture High Point Market Team): "This is gorgeors, and the owner's environmentally sound business practices makes this even more attractive - you also get a higher quality for the price, something the big box stores don't seem to get.  I can get a type of bed anywhere, but I can't get my bed everywhere - and the story behind this bed makes it my bed, its beauty is unique and you can be proud of it."  When this bedroom group was viewed by the rest of the Gallery Furniture team, words such as "solid, beautiful, and well-constructed" came rushing forth.

The dining table series shown above, the Elqui by Andes International, was something also found by the High Point Market Team that is both beautiful and its strength can be felt as you run your hand over the smooth surface, following the natural texture as you move from end to end.  The Sueletta Chairs that join it, below, use top grain leather weave in the back that, at first glance, may not seem comfortable at all.  "I was very, very surprised," said Lori, "that is a darn comfortable chair, and when you look at it first, you just don't get that impression, but take a seat, you can sit down for hours with your family in this chair."

Gallery Furniture is committed to having an eye on the future of sustainability in the product line, and as more and more pieces in the dining room, living room, and bedroom furniture categories expand to inlcude these lovely eco-friendly motifs in their line, Gallery Furniture will check them out.

A big thanks to the High Point Market team of customers dedicated to finding the newest and greatest for the world's greatest customers of the world's greatest furniture, Gallery Furniture, for finding new and innovative pieces at great value and quality - all while being sustainably made.

Colorado Delivery? No Problem for Gallery Furniture.

Gallery Furniture proudly delivers all across the great United States - and the world.  From the shores of Hawaii to penthouses overlooking New York's Central Park.  From USO centers in Baghdad to the farthest north tips of Michigan, Gallery Furniture always delivers.

So when some local Houstonians with vacation homes in Colorado asked Gallery Furniture to deliver their new Drexel Heritage, Mayo, and solid mango wood furniture to the rocky mountain state of Colorado, Gallery Furniture responded "no problem!"

Selecting two of Gallery Furniture's most experienced drivers - Roy Ortega and Ricky Tello (with a combined 23 years of Gallery Furniture delivery experience), they headed out this past Monday on three deliveries in Colorado.

"We left on Monday, and the best part is we got to the first stop a bit early - we drove in shifts, did not encounter any major traffic or anything, and we made it to the first Gallery Furniture customer outside of Divide, Colorado around 4 a.m."

They took a short four-hour power nap and made it to the first stop promptly at 8 a.m.  The challenge that Roy and Ricky came to face turned out to have nothing to do with the weight of the furniture.  "You know, you come up here knowing the elevation is gonna affect you in some way, little do you know how much until you get involved in a simple living room set delivery."

They felt it as soon as they had to move the old furniture out "We had to move out the old pieces, and nothing weighed that much, but even I was coughing on just moving the old sofa, it was something else."  What's more, when they had to do some minor disassembling of legs to get some new pieces in: "Ricky and I were getting tired just turning bolts, which says something - and I couldn't help but think that wow, this is just the first stop."  They made it, though, and they powered through in Gallery Furniture fashion, making sure the first customer had everything just the way they wanted.

The second stop was something Roy was ready for.  "We headed over to a beautiful condo outside of Crested Butte, and we had a solid Mango Wood table and chair set by HTD to deliver - anyone who knows these pieces knows they are heavy.  Thing is, we had a couple of things that made it easier.  First, we had gained some valuable experience on breathing and working in this elevation.  Second, we had an elevator."

Gallery Furniture definitely believes in hard work, and also believes in working smarter, as Roy and Ricky used the large elevator to make it up the condo and get the delivery in place. "At this point, I looked at Ricky and we both kind of knew that we just needed to head out to the last stop, even if we would make it by night.  We were ahead of schedule, and we just wanted to knock it out."

The funny thing about the last Gallery Furniture stop in Colorado?  There was no furniture on board the truck!  Explains Roy Ortega: "the last customer outside of Longmont, Colorado ordered nothing but Drexel Heritage from Gallery Furniture.  So much, that Mack had to send a 53' truck out to Drexel Heritage to meet us in Colorado."

The roads apparently presented some dangers - Roy and Ricky quickly found the lack of guardrails in the mountain ranges disturbing, if not downright scary.  "You get used to driving in Texas with lots of safety guidelines on our state highways.  Colorado was a whole other picture - Ricky and I exercised extreme caution making our way on winding elevated roads with no guardrails and small curbs.  When we finally got to the last stop, we saw the truck waiting.  All 53 feet of it."

Roy and Ricky looked at the clock, it was 8 p.m. local time and they decided "let's do this."  They  spoke with the customers and the driver, and while the Gallery Furniture customers and eighteen wheeler driver went to grab dinner, Roy and Ricky stayed behind.  "I didn't see the sense in eating and grabbing sleep - let's just do this the Gallery Furniture way and get it done."

Working by themselves, Roy and Ricky verified items as they unpacked all 53 feet of the eighteen wheeler.  "We had to check everything, the manifest, the receipt, the delivery ticket, everything was triple checked."  They worked tirelessly into the night and until the morning.  And while the truck driver slept, Roy and Ricky toiled away getting hundreds of Drexel  Heritage pieces into a valued Gallery Furniture customer's home.  

"The neat part?  The customers stayed up even though they didn't have to, pointing out where things were going and what they wanted done.  It was nice of them to do that - they got us water and kept us motivated."  They wrapped the delivery up at 4 a.m., after one last piece presented a challenge unlike any other.  

"It was what we called the kidney bean desk.  A beautiful desk made by Drexel Heritage, and that sucker was heavy.  Easily 400 pounds of solid desk in the odd shape of a kidney bean.  One solid massive, piece.  Add to that we were just a bit tired and were wearing protective booties to keep the home looking clean and nice, and you talk about a challenge hauling that kidney bean desk up the stairs."

Finishing up at 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday did not mean that the Gallery Furniture Team was done, it just meant that they could rest til morning and come back for final clean up.  "We could've worked through, but honestly, we needed a shower at that point - and some sleep, so we grabbed both at a local motel and were back at 9:00 a.m. to finish the job.

"We took all that trash and compacted it into our truck - just image that.  A 53-foot truckload of paper, cardboard, and plastic all into a Gallery Furniture truck.  We then went back in, talked to the customers, and we did some final re-arranging.  They had some new  thoughts on where to put some pieces, and we were more than happy to make them happy."

When did they get back in?  Thursday.  Roy Ortega said "it was just one more Gallery Furniture delivery - only a longer drive."  Way to go, Roy and Ricky!  Gallery Furniture delivers your furniture wherever you want it - from Hawaii to New York or Michigan to Colorado.  Wherever that vacation home, summer home, or winter home is, let Gallery Furniture's experienced team get your furniture there when you want it, how you want it.

 

Above, the "kidney bean" Drexel Heritage desk.  Below, driver Roy Ortega back from his three stops in Colorado.  He had to get back to work - and Ricky (not shown) was busy again today making Gallery Furniture customers happy with same day delivery.

What’s the hype with Microfiber?

Microfiber is new age technology that has been labeled as the fabric of the future. Microfiber is fiber with very thin strands, (less than one denier).

It can be made to look like suede or leather, and makes very attractive furniture. For example, many manufacturers make excellent microfiber sofas. Fabrics made with microfibers are very soft, repels water, and can be cleaned though washing allowing you to maintain beautiful and clean furniture after accidents or spills.

Gallery Furniture sells a variety of microfiber furniture in order to provide you with furniture that is durable, water repellent, and will fit well in a single person home, or where there is a big family with children.

The microfiber furniture is a great choice for price conscious shoppers and those who want furniture to resist stains and dirt. A lovely choice is the Ashley Eli Galaxy sofa. The stylish contemporary design and plush pillow top makes the sofa fashionable and comforting.

The seating cushions are surrounded by thick padded arms and supportive back cushions. The artistically curved design with the clean look of the durable upholstery fabric comes together to create a beautiful contemporary style that will fit flawlessly into any living room decor.

The sofa also has a matching love-seat, sleeper sofa, and rocking recliner. Come to Gallery Furniture today to see the wonder of microfiber for yourself. Best of all you can buy it Today and get it Today!

Gallery Furniture and Home Trend & Design: the Beginning

Each year, Gallery Furniture sends some of its most trusted employees to High Point, North Carolina, to find the next fantastic thing in furniture for your home. It was there last April that John Brown, a former decorator for Gallery Furniture, met Brian Royce from Home Trend & Design. And it was there that the two became quick friends and spent hours talking about how their companies would do great business together.

When Ted Goldsman, a leading salesman at Gallery Furniture, was introduced to mango furniture and HTD, he instantly knew that mango wood furniture was exactly what Gallery Furniture needed. They convinced Hank Cravey, the owner of Mango Furniture, to bring a full truckload (pictured above) of furniture all the way from the tradeshow in North Carolina to Gallery Furniture in Houston, Texas to show Mattress Mack.  Brian Royce and Barrett Tucker jumped in their brand new Mega Truck and headed across the country.  “Mack was so impressed with the quality of the furniture that he bought everything in the truck,” Royce said. 

This was the start of a great partnership. Home Trend & Design, the company that produces mango wood furniture, began with just a small section of the sales floor in Gallery Furniture, but has steadily expanded as the partnership has continued. Home Trend & Design is even creating special pieces of furniture just for Gallery Furniture.

Home Trend & Design, based in Austin, has been in business for a short three years but has been growing at a rapid rate. Gallery Furniture is proud to say that they are the only store in Houston that carries this genuine, solid mango wood furniture. 

Mango wood furniture is made out of solid hard wood using quality construction processes. Mango trees are worth more when they are bearing fruit, and once they stop producing, they are cut down and they are quickly replaced with a new young trees. Usually the cut trees are burned, but Home Trend & Design buys the wood to utilize it for furniture.

Solid mango wood furniture uses sustainable production processes, is eco-friendly, and will be a beautiful addition to any home. Visit Gallery Furniture TODAY to see the large selection of mango dining tables and chairs, end tables, and bedroom furniture!

Accessorize your Kitchen

Trying to update your kitchen? Like to entertain? 

Come check out the solid marble islands with pine bases at Gallery Furniture today. They come in two different sizes and will command attention in any kitchen. The marble top is a unique rustic color that compliments the gorgeous finish on the pine. This piece will add a definite Texan flavor to your room.

They come in two different sizes so you can choose the one that fits your kitchen the best. Both pieces have wood glide drawers with traditional stoppers to keep the drawer from falling out.  This prevents the usual irritations that rollers can cause.

The smaller island has 6 spacious drawers and two wide shelves underneath with plenty of space for kitchen supplies. The larger island holds 8 drawers and holds 4 cabinets with ample shelf space inside. There is also an elegant wine holder on one of the ends and small shelves on the other side to hold small kitchen items, cans, or jars. Both of the islands, the large one in particular, make very efficient use of space.  With all the compartments, no space goes to waste in the island. 

As if these pieces weren't fantastic enough already, they are made with reprocessed wood and as a result are eco-friendly. Purchasing one of these beautiful islands not only makes your home a more beautiful place, it also helps protect the environment. Come into Gallery Furniture TODAY to see all the fantastic new furniture for your home!

Decorate your Dining Room with Mangos!

 Gallery Furniture prides itself on the ability to meet your furniture needs in the dining room and other areas of the house with their Solid Mango Wood furniture. Solid Mango Wood is durable and made of renewable and sustainable mango wood. Gallery Furniture sells the eco-friendly furniture in tables, dining room tables, pub tables, chairs, buffets, side boards, and much more.

If you prefer furniture in a darker shade you would enjoy the Tao Dark – Solid Mango Wood 104” rectangular shaped table. The beautifully hand-crafted table is rich in quality and color. The legs of the table are thick, sturdy elongated squares that further reinforce the solid wood feel.

If you have a smaller space, or prefer a more intimate setting, you might be interested in the 54” Pub table that can comfortably seat four to six. The attractive water stained table is a beautiful shade of mahogany, and the legs of the table are as beautifully designed as the top.

There is also a wide variety of Solid Mango Wood chairs to choose from that attractively accent the beautiful hand-made pub and dining room tables. The dark brown Jenny chair is a great choice for your home. It features a bicast leather seat and back in a beautiful dark brown. The exposed wood legs are tapered in simple, elegant lines that will bring taste and sophistication to your home. Solid Mango Wood benches are an excellent option for a unique look in your dining room.

Chairs aren’t the only option for accenting the gorgeous Solid Mango Wood tables; there are a variety of shades and sizes of hutch and bases, buffets, and attractive sideboards as well.

Gallery Furniture has tables ranging from 60” to 132” in pub and dining heights, chairs, and much more to ensure that your dining room is beautifully decorated. Best of all, you can buy the set in store today, and eat at your beautiful new table tonight.

New Arrivals of Solid Mango Wood Furniture

It is the season for Christmas parties and gatherings. Everyone wants their home to look beautiful for the holidays. Gallery Furniture can help you fill your home with beautiful solid wood mango furniture. Whether you want cocktail tables, dining room tables with side chairs and side boards, bedroom sets, or even if you need a mango wood flat screen HDTV stand; Gallery Furniture can deliver it today! Gallery Furniture also has upholstery, leather, and solid wood chairs in varying styles with a mango wood frame - all hand made, all hand finished.

Come into Gallery Furniture TODAY and get the holiday season started off right in buying your mango wood furniture today! A large shipment of solid mango wood furniture just arrived at Gallery Furniture today ready for your Houston home! Mango wood is known for its sturdiness and durability, and is excellent for everyday use. Strong, beautiful, and tough, this instant heirloom is ready for your home today.

Gallery Furniture is taking a proactive approach to bringing you quality eco-friendly furniture. Folks, this wood is 100% mango and hand made from certified sustainable forest using ecologically sound plantation management practices! Most of all, the mango wood has a water-based wood finish to offer a safe and sleek look to blend with any decor.

Looking for bedroom furniture made from this 100% solid wood?  Gallery Furniture also has Solid Wood Bedroom sets made of luxurious Mango Wood for you to enjoy in your Houston home, stop by and see the entire mango collection - from bedroom to dining room and media room. 

There is a large supply of mango wood tables ranging from round to rectangular. The rounds tables range from 48 inches to 84 inches, and the rectangle tables range from 68 inches to 132 inches - easy for you to entertain large families for the holidays. Come into the store and buy your solid mango wood furniture today and have it delivered today! And Gallery Furniture will SAVE YOU MONEY!!!