Basket in Business

It's no secret that we love baskets-- in our San Francisco showroom we have an entire wall of them, and they are scattered about both our SF and Los Angeles locations rather ubiquitously.  So it shouldn't be any kind of surprise that we love all the basket-related news we've been hearing lately.  Whether it's new uses or new decorations, baskets are back in business, and business is a basketful of goodness.

Before we talk about what all you can use baskets for, let's start with how to make them look as good as possible.  The two most popular ways currently to jazz them up are to paint them, or to line them with fabric... though if you're ambitious, you could certainly do both!  If you aren't too adept with a sewing machine, spray paint is about as easy a makeover as one can ask for.  Simply wipe down the basket to ensure there's no dust or debris left behind, and go to town with your favorite color (while in a well-ventilated location).

 Martha Stewart Living has a great example of a simple paint job looking absolutely professional, as seen below.

Apartment Therapy chose a two-tone look, which serves to further liven up a tall container.

If you're happy with your basket's outer beauty and instead want to make it a little more pretty on the inside, there's no need to send it to counseling-- instead, line it with fabric.  This is a great technique for personalization, as you can do everything from classic linen to a kid-friendly unique print.

Now that your baskets have found beauty in and out, what are you going to do with them?  For temporary use, nothing says, "I see your reusable grocery bag, and I raise you one eco-point," like taking a basket to the grocery store-- or, better yet, local farmers market.  

As if you needed further proof, just look at how attractive Catherine Zeta Jones is when shopping at her local market with a basket, as seen in Self Magazine:

For permanent home solutions, basket uses are endless.  Sure, you can keep your fruit in them, but you can also store books, cd's (does anyone even own those anymore?), toys, toiletries and makeup, and pretty much anything else that would otherwise need a drawer.  Large baskets can be used as indoor trash baskets, and extra large ones are perfect for hampers.  

Last but not least, baskets are still in vogue for their classic use: gifts!  So go grab a bottle of wine and assorted snacks, or some bath salts and a good book, stop on by to pick up a basket, and let someone know how much you love them.  And it's ok if that someone is you, because you deserve a nice gift AND a new basket today.