Creative musings, great ideas & recommendations!

Our accessories featured by SPACES MAGAZINE

2010-02-04T13:15:00.000-08:00

As the new year begins to form its shape I'm transitioning the business. We're phasing out large container purchases and starting to focus on our design services, creative alternatives and latest trends of home decor.

Accessories will play a big part in this new phase as they do in real life...defining who we are and what we're feeling in various planes of our lives. I was pleased to see that a few of our unusual (but useful) accessories were featured in Spaces Magazine's Winter issue. It goes to prove that the little things do really matter :)

Spaces Magazine Article ~ "What's New"

Written by Jennifer Sergent

When this time of year rolls around, many of us are struck by a paralyzing sense of, “What do I get for (fill in the name)?” Clothes are difficult because they are so personal. Same thing with art – hard to judge what someone will want to display on their wall. But kitchen counters, coffee tables, and bedroom vanities are open game, and we’ve found dozens of beautiful new products that are sure to please. Happy holiday shopping, everyone.

Excerpt from "The Women of West Howard" Women's Magazine Article

2009-11-09T13:16:00.000-08:00

The women of West Howard Avenue, in Kensington, MD, invite you to get to know them and be
spoiled by their selection. This street has become known as the best-kept secret for savvy homeowners and designers. Here you’ll find treasures from all over the world, and meet interesting women with broad experiences and intriguing stories to tell.......

Deb Sagerholm founded Marco Polo’s Treasures in 2005 after previously operating Ancient Rhythms. Deb relocated from New Jersey where she was the director of Historic Preservation/Main Street. She was introduced to great design as a child on her weekend jaunts antiquing with her grandmother. While other kids were playing, Deb collected paint chips and fabric and was “contracted out” to decorate for family and friends. With that home-grown experience and later formal textile training, Deb has continued working in the design trade in the fields of furniture and fabric design, interior faux painting, wallpaper hanging, residential and hospitality interior design and even summer house painting and construction. It must be her love of the old and unique that led Deb to West Howard Avenue.

A Surprise Superstar Client ~ Adrian Dantley!

2009-09-30T10:36:00.000-07:00

Thanks to designer, Paul Hildebrand, this surprise visitor and basketball superstar stopped in!

Taking a break from coaching the Denver Nuggets, Adrian Dantley, breezed through our showroom a few times on his visit back East to find a few accents for his home.

Paul recommended pieces that he thought were "spectacular" to this 2008 Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. Adrian towered over many of our treasures then located the wood nymph and organic ROOT SCULPTURE TABLE that were put aside for his perusal. We chatted and needless to say, he went back to coaching with a bit of Marco Polo added to his decor! Thanks, Paul, for the referral!

Designing with David Copperfield & Musha Cay

2009-09-30T10:23:00.000-07:00

Take a peek at this fabulous resort for the rich and famous and you'll begin to spot treasures from MPT there!

David Copperfield has been designing & updating Musha Cay, his Bahamas island retreat bit at a time. He found that he needed inspired and creative solutions to revamp the 5 villas on his island...that's where we came into the picture!
We've been working on this unusual project with David for almost 2 years now and are extremely pleased that he has continued to use MPT as a resource. Along the way, we've shipped 2 containers full of treasures to the Bahamas, designed cushions and fluttering drapery, delivered cabinetry and accessories via private plane to this island resort.

On trips overseas, I've searched out and located some very unusual items for this exclusive retreat...including a
7' tall Buddha head * hand made pottery large enough to stew a person in * dozens of custom designed Balinese pieces & refurbished antiques * a 12' long wooden sacred squirrel artifact * and an authentic Borneo log canoe (which we're hanging from the ceiling!) to name a few!

David had this to say:
"Working with Deb has been a pleasure as I've realized that her quick response and follow up to my requests and creative thinking has made my island project less worrisome. She intuitively grasped my design parameters and decorating concerns then brought various elements together into a well thought out plan"

Always a gentleman, David is a man with vision, creativity and depth well beyond his famous magic repertoire.

East Meets West In A Prickly But Friendly Fashion

2009-09-17T13:57:00.001-07:00

“I just wanted to drop you a line to express how very thankful I am to have discovered you and your store, Marco Polo's Treasures.”

“Last year when I decided to start a new medical acupuncture practice, I knew that my office environment had to be some place special; and, so I was determined to find just the right pieces.”

“Deb, right from the start, you dove into the project and assisted me with the task at hand. Your decorator's acumen and eye for color, texture and detail, and your knack for bringing ‘good finds’ to Marco Polo's customers were invaluable. After several visits and consultations with you, I was able to put together some very special and unique Asian pieces to create the peaceful, serene, warm yet sophisticated ambiance that I was after. The rest is history!!!”

“And so, when patients enter my ‘alternative’ medical space "Point Well Taken Medical Acupuncture Treatment Centers" something unique happens: an aura of relaxation and calm overtakes them and is instantaneously displayed upon their faces and in their body language. From there, I know that my patients and I can truly get down to work!!!”

“Thanks, again, Deb for everything. In you, I not only gained an Asian antiques and decorating consultant; but, I also gained a friend.”

Sincerely,
Hazel
Dr. Hazel E. Jackson
D.O., DABPM, DABMA

(Trained in both Eastern and Western medical techniques, Hazel is uniquely qualified to provide the best where East meets West!!! Information? Call 301.585.7PWT)

Staging Sells Houses and Dreams

2009-09-17T11:17:00.000-07:00

Camille Saum rests after a hard days work! She is well known for her flamboyant personality and flair for over 20 years. I’ve had the privilege to work with this seasoned interior designer on a myriad of projects. She can now proudly include 'designer staging' to her repertoire!

We worked closely with Camille on her latest stylish home environment at 7816 Maple Ridge in Bethesda. This home had a good foundation, but definitely needed Camille's touch to bring out its attributes. The builder called on Camille to dress it up in great style! So she stopped by MPT for a meeting of the minds and left with a collection of furnishings and accessories to add to her zesty style...the results are just wonderful! BTW, the house sold!

"CREATIVITY" ON CALL HERE!

2009-09-02T13:01:00.000-07:00

My in-house interior design services have been getting a lot of attention lately!

If you're ready to reclaim your home after the crazy summer season do give us a call at 301-530-3420 or email your designing dilemmas to me.

I also do artistic painting, faux finishes and hand painted furniture!

A fresh coat of paint or hand painted motif to create an accent wall can be just the thing you're room's been looking for! Consider staining your kitchen cabinet fronts with an exciting new color or give a bedroom walls depth with a traditional ragged finish.

For the environmentally conscious I can repurpose an old dresser by repainting it with a stenciled tribal pattern... Give new life to an old bench with a coats of colored stain and a batik design to mimic its new cushion... Strip and refinish your favorite side table....there's so much you can do when you let your imagination fly!

(Initial consultations are free and our design services are HALF PRICE to Marco Polo's customers. With over 20 years experience in the trade, we've seen all of the fads come and go so I know good style and how to make it happen! )

A WONDERFUL COMPLIMENT!

2009-09-02T12:12:00.000-07:00

"I have always been fond of Marco Polo's Treasures....I go into that store and I am transported by the colors, the textures and the general feeling of comfort and beauty.

I have a very small waiting room in my home office where I work as a psychologist. We had done some painting and put in new carpet. We wanted to keep the furniture but add a touch of Marco Polo for accents.

Deb was so helpful when I came in with photos of the waiting room. We were able to play and she was so generous with her time and her ideas! You can see the magic!"

~Kay Kosak Abrams, PhD/Director

Abrams & Associates, LLC

301-949-2098