I think I went to that church growing up. ;)

I love the bottom one. It's beautiful! And I agree that not everything has to have some flashy quality.

You're being mighty kind to that church window :-)

Like you, I prefer the upholstered one. Boring can indeed be better, although I prefer the term "simple."

just for democracy's sake - i sort of like the west elm one. (i'm ducking for cover now)

he he...hatorade.

I love your posts.

Seriously true about the ta-da! factor.

That's my big problem with Ikea. I go in there to get a simple whatever, and I find myself wishing that my near-perfect side chair/table/lamp/anything didn't have that one "special" thing that makes it stand out. Garrr.

i heart west elm, my favorite piece from them is the parson dining room table. and you're right boring is beautiful, because i do relish in the simpleness of my parson table: stark, bare, straight lines with no thrills!
so i completely agree the cut-outs are bizarre to be found a design from west elm!

kristina
http://washwhendirty.com

The nailhead one has terrible fabric - its rough and not something i'd want to lean on before going to sleep. They need to bring back the simple upholstered headboard. And while we're on the subject whats with all the freakin chocolate/espresso stained furniture? Hasn't that been over for a few years now? Move on...

i LOVE that parsons table more than life itself. it's really well made, totally the cadillac of west elm catalog. bridget i'm with you 100% on the espresso stain. enough already! let's get to ebonizing, people!!! or bleachy-grey, not honey yellow.

I can definitely see stained glass in that comp -just add glass!

http://www.ecstewart.com

I don't like the cut-out headboard either. The parsons table however - amazing! I do love West Elm. And although I happen to like the dark wood look, I think we are all ready for a change... I am definitely on board with the bleachy-gray finish.

-mlh
http://www.modernlivinghawaii.com

Nick, have you seen the new secretary? If they had done it in the grey stain they have and the gloss white together - total Armani Casa! But no - its brown.

And i agree their 'blond' stain is not light enough - I find their display racks at the store more to my taste than the furniture.

YES! i was gonna blog about that secretary but couldn't deal with the espresso. why isn't it black? or any color lacquer? or cerused grey? the whole thing could be so thomas o'brien, but i'm also troubled by the corners at the frame which look cheap. so much potential though ...

I know! Black and white would be perfect, I love the cerused gray(now if you'll excuse me I have to go look up the word 'cerused')

Team WE Parsons Table!

I actually have the Parsons Desk in silver; it was a special-edition holiday color that was sold out all over the country, so I bought the (almost imperceptibly) dinged floor model from my store.

It is fab...sheeny rather than shiny.

Anna
http://misosouper.com

Nick, Nick, Nick,
I'm new to this blog and loving it!! Thanks for the good work...don't mean to hijack this thread, but I'm wondering if you have any idea where we might find the SeaCrest Trading Company chair and ottoman you featured last September. Their website seems to have disappeared. Great furniture--it would be sad if it disappeared forever!!

"...stained glass window in a 1970s Methodist church"

Ha! Perfect.