With summer just around the corner, that means you will be having visitors and parties! Why not spruce up your home a bit with a new piece of furniture?

You don't have to sacrifice glamour to enjoy the ease of coastal living. The beauty of the natural landscape inspires our furniture lines.

Organic and textural. Yet Sophisticated. The result is comfort with fashion. Put your feet up and look good doing it.

Stop in the store today and check out all of the new pieces we have in!

As the weather begins to warm, it's time for evening parties and family gatherings to begin! Stop in today and add a little sparkle to your home with some of the new accessories we carry.

Accessories reflect your mood, personalizing your space and creating a sense of home:

The rich scent of a hand crafted candle, the glamour of a beaded pillow, the comfort of a cashmere throw.

See you soon!

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The blackbird is known for its simplistic beauty and smart thinking, said Wayne Rollins, owner of the Black Bird Home Gallery, the best kept secret in home design in Sarasota, located at 1540 Main Street. That’s part of the reason he named his new and unique gallery for the bird with dark imagery and simple lines. The store is like nothing else in Sarasota and Rollins takes specific measures to make sure of that. He hand picks every item sold in the store and travels far and wide to find them. From California to North Carolina to China and everywhere in between, Rollins seeks out pieces he loves and features them in his store. You won’t find any matching sets in the boutique style gallery – a trend that Rollins says is growing across the country. “I find that people don’t want to buy something and set it up in their home, and then go visit their neighbor and see the exact same set. Our philosophy is simple- surround yourself with pieces that you love, and mixing styles is ok.”

The Black Bird Home Gallery has been on Main Street for a little over two years and is Rollins’ first venture into retail. Wayne and his wife Mindy moved to Florida from Los Angeles, California and much of his style, he says, comes from trends he watched emerge on the west coast. The Rollins’ were drawn to Sarasota for its cultural environment and wanted to start and raise a family while doing what they love- inspiring others to set their own design trends.

“Many people who move to Florida want to get rid of their old heavy furniture and move into a lighter more Tommy Bahama type scene but they then end up missing some of their antiques. What we try and promote is that you can have both. Surround yourself with things that you find beautiful. The furniture shouldn’t demand your attention, or darken the room but you can fit pieces in here and there that you love.”

Walking into the gallery gives customers a good idea of exactly what he’s talking about. Beautiful and unique pieces in all different styles fill up the space creating a very warm and cozy feel, yet nothing is a set. The beauty of the natural landscape inspires the furniture lines with organic and textural, yet sophisticated pieces. The result is comfort with fashion.

You’ll find tables with petrified wood bases, a room divider with gold laced pearl tiles, ceramic animal sconces, and pieces that incorporate all of the elements at Blackbird. “Not all sofas need to be TV sofas,” said Rollins, while pointing out a unique and funky piece that can be a centerpiece for a room.

He says he very rarely buys anything twice and sometimes gets a bit weary when his favorites go out the door. “I don’t buy anything that I feel lukewarm about, and that is a concept that everyone should weave into their home design.” You’re bound to find plenty to love at this trend setting and understated design mecca, the Black Bird Home Gallery.

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Black Bird Home Gallery is the creation of Mindy and Wayne Rollins. Originally from Atlanta, they lived in Los Angeles for years pursuing careers and interests in art, film and interior design. Finally ready to find their forever home and realize their creative dreams, Mindy and Wayne moved to Sarasota in 2008 and opened Black Bird Home Gallery in November 2009. They live with their son on Longboat Key. For more information go to www.blackbirdhomegallery.com

It’s everyone’s favorite time of year on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The sun is bright but not yet ablaze, and that sea breeze is just begging for some gauzy curtains to flutter. It’s nearly impossible to stay indoors, isn’t it? But you’re not at all fated to feeling cooped up. Why not invite some of that spring feeling into your home? Here are a handful of suggestions for turning your living spaces into a light-filled natural haven like the one you’re seeing out your window.

1) It’s okay to let go of your traditional spring color scheme. No more lavenders, robin’s egg blues and sea-foam greens—go reflective. White immediately opens up a room, and won’t blind the eye when tempered with the glow of warm gold tones and pearly grays.

2) While we’re on the subject of gold, designs in metal actually can evoke spring’s delicacy. The softer sheen of pewter, brass and vintage wrought iron lend themselves to a surprisingly organic atmosphere.

3) Look for pieces that carry a balance of airiness and weight—they almost fool the eye in their delicate appearance, but are completely solid in terms of function.

4) No matter what season it is, your home’s style should be an expression of “you.” With just a little searching, you can easily unearth one-of-a-kind finds that tie a whole room together without being a part of any set or collection in existence. In spring you’ll find perfectly unique discoveries in the beauty of nature, particularly in unrefined textures and patterns seen in wood, plants and shells. 

5) When putting together a space in a home, it’s common to think large-scale first. But spring is the perfect time to focus on beauty in small packages and fine details. Instead of starting with a bureau or sofa, explore accents and give yourself the freedom to coordinate without matching. Suddenly, you may find yourself standing in a room that seems to have come together all on its own—looking fresh, organic and inspired.

Trend: Vintage Materials Meet High Quality

The terms “vintage” or “reclaimed” in home décor often evoke images of shabby fabrics and dilapidated old barn wood. Lately, however, we’ve noticed a shift in character among vintage finds. They don’t scream “save me;” in fact, they need little to no help in being restored to their former glory. They’re already glorious. Check out these three fine examples.