Seattle's Best ...

Patina Welcomes Polly McArthur & Associates As Its Newest Rep...

For Polly McArthur, the journey to becoming Patina's newest sales rep began in an unusual place - an estate sale in Washington State. "I've always been drawn to painted furniture, especially antique pieces and when I found two beautiful painted chairs at an estate sale here I just had to have them", Polly remembers.

Being an antique expert, Polly knew immediately that they were contemporary pieces but she was drawn to the workmanship and artistry of the decoration. Not long afterward, at yet another estate sale, Polly made another discovery. "I found a bed, a beautiful hand painted bed in a similar style as the chairs. I knew they had to be from the same manufacturer and this piece had a little brass plaque with the Patina name on it."

An engraved, solid brass tag is affixed to every Patina piece. This miniature plaque individually identifies and authenticates each piece as an original work of art and the plaque led Polly to contact Patina.

Patina had never been represented locally in Seattle and Polly thought it would be a natural addition to the product lines already in her showroom. Polly McArthur & Associates specializes in traditional design, restoration and renovation and reps de Gournay wallpapers, fabrics and porcelains, Beaumont & Fletcher's line of wall coverings and upholstered furniture, the Janet Yonaty collection of textiles and trims, as well as, antiques sourced by Polly herself.

And so a partnership was forged and Patina now has representation in one of the fastest growing markets in America. "We're very pleased to welcome Polly McArthur & Associates to the Patina family," says Marylu Stevens, President and CEO of Patina, Inc., "She and her team bring incredible enthusiasm and experience to Patina and we couldn't be happier that they now represent us in the Northwest."

Polly McArthur & Associates is located near the Seattle Design Center at 607 South Fidalgo Street, Seattle, Washington 98108 telephone: 206.768.1964 online at www.pollymcarthur.com.

Running the Room...

Pat Kreeger Showroom Manager For Polly McArthur & Associates

Pat Kreeger, with the able assistance of restoration specialist Mark Failor, runs the 4000 square foot showroom at Polly McArthur & Associates. With its floor to ceiling windows and huge awnings it's a formidable presence on the street and the perfect backdrop for the designs of Polly McArthur.

"There is a Polly look. She has a strong affinity for French and Italian antiques and I think we're very successful at mixing the current with the antique. Which is why Patina fits in so well here. Everybody walks through the door and says, 'Of course, this belongs here. It's the perfect spot for it'. It fits right in."

Pat sees her role as that of a concierge for designers of the Northwest. " Our philosophy is, 'The answer is yes, what's the question?' So, we not only have our lines of fabrics, wall coverings, furniture and accessories but we also offer antiques and restoration services. It's very close to one stop shopping for a traditional design style."

Pat's philosophy extends to the shopping experience as well. "It's a very user friendly showroom. We have retail prices on all our pieces so that a designer can shop with their client without fear of pricing and still be very open and candid about costs."

The showroom is also designed to make it easier for clients to visualize a piece in their own home. "Many people have a problem with that but this showroom has such a home-like atmosphere that clients can see a mirror over a fireplace and more easily imagine it in their own home."

From a business stand point there is one other guiding principle at Polly McArthur & Associates. "Everything on the showroom floor is available for immediate delivery. We hold nothing back. If you like the style and the color, send a driver and take it away. If you want to make changes we'll be happy to order it for you."

Together, the design sense of Polly McAthur, the sales philosophy of Pat Kreeger, the attention to detail of restoration specialist Mark Failor and the gorgeous showroom itself add up to an outstanding addition to the Patina family of sales reps. The next time you're lucky enough to be in the Northwest drop by and take a look.

Calendar Of Events
April 11 to 14 International Window Coverings Expo, Washington Convention Center, DC 651-293-1544 Ext. 3016 April 16 to 18 LA International Textile Show, California Market Center, 800-272-SHOW April 21 to 25 The New York Tabletop Week at 7 W New York, NY 212-279-6063	April 22 to May 20 Pasadena Showcase House of Design, Pasadena, CA 626-578-8500 April 27 to 30 10th Annual Chicago Antiques Fair, The Merchandise Mart, IL 800-677-6278 April 28 to 30 Los Angeles Furniture & Accessory Market, Los Angeles Convention Center, 305-792-9990

A Patina Classic!

The "Comodino" Nightstand

“Comodino” is Italian for “bedside table” but it would be a shame to limit our Comodino to the bedroom.

The design was taken from an 18th C. Venetian antique we found in a museum in Austria. It was finished in the traditional blue color and decorated in a multi-color floral pattern.

We changed the dimensions slightly making it wider and shorter. Pay particular attention to the way the curve of the leg integrates the two separate parts of the structure (leg and skirt) in a single flowing line.

Originally, we put this particular decoration on our Palazzo Secretary, but it adapts nicely to the smaller scale of the “comodino”. From the moment we first saw the “Comodino” we were smitten and knew it had to become part of our line.