It's All About Furniture And Your Home

Bassett Furniture

2011-10-03T07:06:00.000-07:00

Bassett HQ Sign

Bassett Furniture is a furniture manufacturer headquartered in Bassett, Virginia, United States.

It was founded in 1902 by John David Bassett (July 14, 1866 – February 26, 1965) and C.C. Bassett. Bassett Furniture is one of the oldest furniture manufacturers in Virginia and has been producing hand crafted furniture for over 100 years.

Early employees of Bassett Furniture Company, Bassett, circa 1900

History: World War II

During World War II, the company's main plant in Bassett, Virginia produced the wooden truck frames for the troop haulers in Europe.

Old Bassett Warehouse

Bassett Headquarters, current

Links:

Bassett Furniture

Virginia Furniture

Bassett, VA

Source: Internet

Thomasville History

2011-10-03T06:51:00.000-07:00

Our History at a Glance

Links:

Thomasville, NC

Source: Internet

Thomasville Furniture Industries

2011-10-03T06:45:00.000-07:00

Thomasville Furniture Industries entered the first decade of the 20th century as Thomasville Chair Company in a railroad-side community in the triad area of North Carolina, near High Point, the furniture capital. Founded in 1904, it was just one of many chair manufacturers scattered throughout North Carolina. It turned out 180 chairs a day and owed two local timber farmers, T.J. Finch and his brother C.F. Finch, $2,000 for lumber.

When the company couldn't pay its debt in cash, the Finch brothers reluctantly accepted stock instead and decided to buy out the other stockholders. Business improved immediately under the astute guidance of the Finch family with sales topping $1 million by 1917 and the company becoming recognized for innovations in design as well as manufacturing quality. The Thomasville Chair Company achieved many "firsts" for the furniture industry. These included the first national sales force in the furniture industry and the first American furniture company to produce and sell an entire suite of furniture: Thomasville dining tables, buffets and chairs.

To survive the Great Depression, the company stopped paying dividends to stockholders and management took a cut in salary. Then, in 1933 the company began a series of trade classes which enabled hundreds of their employees to learn new and better manufacturing techniques.

In 1941, Thomasville Chair Co. went to war with the rest of the country, making items requested by the federal government, including: double decker bunk beds for the Army, wooden plugs for bombs, tent stakes, wooden spatulas and rolling pins. And with 597 company men serving in the war, the first group of women reported for work in March of 1942.

During the 1950's, sales reached $17 million, many innovations in machinery were made and the company's reputation for crafting quality furniture grew. In the '60s, the company (under the direction of Tom A. Finch) received a new name, Thomasville Furniture Industries, Inc. In 1968, it was acquired by Armstrong World Industries. In the 70's, Thomasville entered the contract market, providing furnishings for hotels and inns, primarily in the United States. In 1984, they expanded into Government sales, and their products can be found in military facilities worldwide. In December 1995, Thomasville was purchased by Furniture Brands International, Inc., a major residential furniture company located in St. Louis, MO.

Today, Thomasville Furniture Industries is a full-line furniture manufacturer with dedicated galleries in more than 400 leading independent retail furniture stores. Additionally, there are over 160 Thomasville Home Furnishing stores which carry only Thomasville products.

In October 2007, Ed Teplitz was named as CEO of Thomasville, replacing Nancy Webster, who had served in that post since August 2005.

Thomasville Cabinetry, sold at retail by Home Depot, is made by Kemper Cabinets, a unit of MasterBrand Cabinets, Inc., owned by Fortune Brands.

The corporate offices and showrooms are still located along the railroad tracks in Thomasville, NC, but most manufacturing has been transferred to China.

The famous Big Chair, an 18-foot reproduction of a Duncan Phyfe design (first erected in 1922 and rebuilt in 1951) still stands in the town square as a symbol of the mutual success of a now famous chair company - and the town that cherishes its nickname, "Chair City".

Links:

Thomasville Furniture

Thomasville Kitchen Cabinets

Thomasville Lighting

Furniture Brands International, Inc.

Source: Internet

Create-Your-Own Clocks

2011-09-01T15:27:00.000-07:00

Click Here to check out Home Made Simple and there wonderful ideas for clocks that you can make for your home.

Source: HomeMadeSimple

Laundry Tips

2011-08-02T14:32:00.000-07:00

With more outdoor activities, trips to pools and nights out with friends and family, summer is the season of changing outfits often. To stay on top of your laundry this season, try a few of our favorite organization tips for laundry day:

• Handy Hamper Trick: Clip clothespins to the sides
of your hampers and teach your family to pin them on clothing to mark stains or spills.

• Mismatched Socks: Tack mismatched socks on a bulletin board on the wall of your laundry room, so you can tell at a glance when you’ve found
their mates.

• Perfectly Prepared: Save time by keeping extra bottles or boxes of detergent and dryer sheets on hand. Plan ahead and shop from the convenience of home by getting savings on Tide® at the eStore.

• A Trick for Your Closet: For an easy way to organize and clean out your closet, try turning all your hangers in the same direction. Then, when you wear an item, flip its hanger around. At the end of six months, toss or give away all the clothes still facing the original direction.

Try adding these tips each week, and you’ll soon be on your way to a more streamlined routine. For more laundry suggestions, visit Home Made Simple.

Source: HomeMadeSimple

Three Steps To A Sunnier Kitchen

2011-07-04T11:27:00.000-07:00

The sun shines brighter this time of year, and that means it sheds more light on messes. Luckily, with our easy approach and Mr. Clean® Magic Eraser® Kitchen Scrubber with the Grease-Fighting Power of Dawn®, you’re 3 steps closer to a cleaner, brighter kitchen!

Tackle up-top trouble spots. Begin by dusting high-up areas where dirt, grime and dust quickly collect, like the tops of cabinets, doors and the top of the fridge. It’s important to do this first, as some particles may fall to the floor. Then wipe away greasy kitchen messes like fingerprints, spills and splatters on your refrigerator’s exterior with Mr. Clean® Magic Eraser® Kitchen Scrubber.

Tip: Make the kitchen feel bigger and brighter by removing cabinet doors, or installing open shelving. Suddenly, dishware becomes décor, and there’s a reason to keep it tidy. Need a little help organizing the contents of your cupboards? Read Kitchen Cabinet Refresh.

Clear your counter tops. The more clutter, the more cleaning. Those minutes spent sorting through misplaced items can really add up, so organize as you go. Simplify the process by setting up systems in drawers and the pantry. Then make it easier (and more fun!) for others to join the effort by creatively labeling catchall areas so they always know what goes where. For more tips on motivating the whole household, read Clutter Busting Tips.
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Tip: Between cookouts, family suppers and picnic prep, countertops are prone to more messes. Use Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Kitchen Scrubber to clean 3X more greasy kitchen mess per swipe than the leading bleach all-purpose spray cleaner, then spend the time you saved soaking up some rays!

Handle the hidden details. Once a week, wipe baseboards and microwave keypads with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Kitchen Scrubber. Next, wash the rug in front of your sink, if possible, or go outside and give it a good shake. Then, every 4-6 weeks, zone in on the dirt-prone details you may be overlooking. Never miss a spot with the handy downloadable checklist in our article, 4-Step Deep Clean: Kitchen.

Source: HomeMadeSimple

Summer-Ready Living Room

2011-06-18T05:02:00.000-07:00

Simple, Sunny Style
Bring summer to life in your living room in easy, eye-catching ways:

Try a touch of color. You know a new wall color can instantly boost the look of a room, but smaller doses—think accent pillows, window treatments and lampshades—can have the same effect. Call to mind a beautiful summer day with textiles and accents in cheerful shades of yellow, sky and ocean blues, and crisp, clean whites.

Engage the senses. Go beyond what the eye can see with soft, flowing fabrics, soothing sounds—we love the calming trickle of a homemade water fountain—and Febreze® Home Collection Flameless Luminary. It features decorative, scented shades that are easy to change with the seasons, or your mood.

Tip: Transport yourself to a summer garden with Febreze® Flameless Luminary in Willow Blossom, featuring the gentle aroma of blossoms budding on a warm morning.

Decorate with happy patterns. Bring the breezy, restful feel of a seaside retreat to the space with bright, bold stripes. Vertically striped curtains draw the eye upward, making a small, short-ceilinged spot feel more spacious, while a multi-colored rug can energize a neutral color scheme. To animate the area even more, incorporate colorful floral designs.

Reconfigure the room. Achieve a whole new look without making any major changes—all it takes is one afternoon and a little muscle! Open up the space by changing the focal point from the fireplace to a window with a view, or spark conversation among family and friends by turning seats towards each other. Before you start shuffling sofas and chairs, learn a few tips and tricks in our article, Decorating Basics: Furniture Arrangements.

Tip: This summer, give that dark corner of your living room a little love with Febreze® Flameless Luminary, which provides a flickering glow without the worry of an open flame. Try the Green Tea Citrus shade—the crisp, light tang of citrus mingling with the robust aroma of green tea. For more inspiration, read Refresh a Nook 4 Ways.

Add outdoor-inspired accents. Let lush gardens, sandy beaches and summer vacations inspire your choices. Consider framing a set of beautiful paper butterflies, craft a simple sand scene for the coffee table or decorate with souvenirs. Even when there’s no time for a trip, you can evoke your favorite escape with vacation-inspired décor.

Bring even more style and scent to your space with the Febreze Home Collection Wooden Wick Candle, Reed Diffuser and more. Discover scented décor for every room at febreze.com.

Source: Homemadesimple

Bold Dining Rooms

2011-04-01T13:23:00.000-07:00

Timeless damask chairs in a rich berry red make a dramatic statement in this eclectic Manhattan dining room designed by Rate My Space user Patrick. Erinn's Tip: "Sometimes it doesn't take a lot to make a room pop; a single strong pattern may be all you need."

Source: Internet

All-Star Headboard Special

2011-03-16T12:26:00.001-07:00

Click Here, to check out featured headboards.

Source: Internet

60-Minute Spring Cleaning

2011-03-16T12:01:00.000-07:00

Though times have changed, the idea of spring cleaning is still as sound as ever. But it doesn't have to usurp your whole schedule. In fact, if you can block out just sixty minutes this season...you can make a significant inroad toward a fresher, cleaner, more attractive home. And we're here to tell you how.

The key to our 60-minute spring cleaning plan is organization. To help, our cleaning experts have compiled a set of the most fruitful tasks. Read through our time-saving tips; then start your timer. You'll be out on your lawn enjoying the sunshine before you know it!

Gather the team. Unless you live alone, family members can be called upon to lighten the work load. Parcel out tasks to each participant. Even the youngest can help dust or spend time putting away their things. Give them the same hope you have: it'll take only an hour!

Set a clear direction. Work your way from the outside of the house inward. Begin with exterior doors and windows and progress into the house, working your way from the front door to the back. This gives you a feeling of constant progress and focuses your first work on the parts visitors see most.

Protect your hands. Try rubbing a small amount of liquid hand soap onto your fingers and palms, allowing your skin to absorb it as if it were hand lotion. This will prevent dirt and grime from soaking into your skin and save you cleanup time later.

Make short work of exterior windows. Many spring cleaners get bogged down in the tedious task of window cleaning, an especially tough chore when second-story heights are involved. Here's a solution: use Windex® Outdoor Multi-Surface. This time-saver washes patio furniture, play sets and siding with a standard garden hose and allows them to air dry. Windows can be washed at the rate of one per minute, so the average home will require only 17 minutes.

Change the furnace filter. A clean filter takes accumulated dust out of circulation so indoor airflow cannot redeposit it on furniture. This means less dusting and fewer lingering winter odors. And don't forget that filters work when the central air conditioner runs as well.

Don't answer the phone. Let the answering machine pick up your calls until the spring cleaning hour is up. You're on a mission and there will be plenty of time to chat about your accomplishment after the house has been cleaned.

Spray and walk away. Cleaning products like Antibacterial fantastik® All Purpose Heavy Duty Cleaner clean better on really tough stains, when they have a few minutes of time to work. Apply and then spend a few minutes on another chore before wiping the area clean. Standing and waiting wastes time and you have only 60 minutes.

Open the windows. Even if the temperature seems a bit chilly, throw open all the windows and give the house a thorough airing. If the outdoor air is simply too cold, consider freshening with Glade® Tough Odor Solutions Air Sanitizers.

Give yourself a reward... and don't forget to reward each family member who helped. This leaves everyone with a pleasant memory of the experience and makes them more agreeable to repeating these important chores next spring.

Chances are, once you complete the hour's exercise, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much you've accomplished. In fact, you might find yourself in the mood for a second hour of spring freshening! Click to read unusual tips on how to tackle tough jobs.

Source: RightAtHome

8 Great Ways to Make Your Home Shine

2011-03-16T11:55:00.000-07:00

1. Let in some light. Did you know that neglected, dirty window screens can block natural light and diminish the brightness in your home? With a grimy screen, dirt or dust can get splashed onto windows during rainstorms, meaning you might have to clean your windows all over again.

So before you wash your windows, get your screens and window frames into top condition. Simply vacuum screens with your brush attachment. Or remove them completely, rinse with a garden hose and dry out in the sun. Keeping your screen clean will also help keep your windows cleaner, longer.

2. Be a window-washing whiz. Sparkling clean windows let in more light and bring a brightness to the entire room, making seasonal window washing a good idea.

To clean inside windows, use Windex® Original Glass Cleaner. Wait for a cloudy day to clean your windows because sunlight tends to dry the glass too quickly and can make it difficult to see spots you may have missed.

Cleaning outdoor windows can be challenging. But Windex™ Outdoor All-in-One streamlines the process. It attaches directly to your garden hose to easily clean with no drying required. In just a few minutes, you'll have a beautiful streak-free shine.

3. Brighten faucets and fixtures. After a summer of heavy use, your home’s faucets and fixtures could probably use a little extra care. To get your shower spotless and clean, try Scrubbing Bubbles® Mega Shower Foamer on dull showerheads, shower door frames, faucets and fixtures. Your bathroom will shine like new.

4. Clean up in a flash. For a quick sprucing up before guests arrive, go through the house with a few Windex® Original Glass & Surface Wipes and use them to remove smudges on mirrors, fingerprints on sliding glass doors and grime on light switches. You’ll be surprised at how quickly your home will seem polished and pulled together, with just a few touch-ups.

5. Turn on a clean machine. The kitchen is the heart of any home, especially as we spend more time indoors. While it’s easy to remember to clean countertops and refrigerators, appliances sometimes get short shrift. Easy-to-use Pledge® Multi Surface Wipes can add shine to your stainless-steel toaster, mixer and microwave in one easy step—so you can spend less time on cleanup and more time doing what you enjoy.

6. Make it crystal clear. To return the luster to crystal figurines and decorative bowls and to remove smudges, dust and dirt, put your delicate pieces into a sink or basin lined with a large towel and spray them with Windex® Crystal Rain™ Cleaner. Wipe gently with a soft cloth, rinse with warm water and let air-dry. Hint: Never place crystal items in the dishwasher as the heat and intense water pressure could cause damage.

7. Don’t overlook the details. Most likely, it’s the little things throughout your home that have suffered through an onslaught of fingerprints and smudges during the summer months. Now is a good time to work on returning the shine to doorknobs, remotes, light switches and telephones. Pledge® Multi Surface Wipes are perfect for the job. They can be used across glass, wood and more, so you don’t have to keep switching products to bring a glow—quickly—to your entire home.

8. Go for the glow. Dusting furniture with Pledge® Natural Beauty helps protect against ordinary wear and stains, brings out the natural beauty of wood and removes dust and the allergens from dust mites and pet dander found in dust. You can even use it on leather furniture for a quick and fresh-smelling shine.

*Antibacterial Scrubbing Bubbles® XXI Bathroom Cleaner

Source: RightAtHome

Quick Compound Butters

2011-03-03T09:05:00.001-08:00

Whipped with fresh herbs, citrus zest, spices and more, butter becomes more than just a spread. Create your own customized butters with our easy instructions and flavor variations, plus get ideas for cooking with them. And when it’s time to clean up, simplify dishwashing with smart tips from Cascade®.

Quick Compound Butters

Compound Butter Basics

Start with 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter or margarine, then flavor it in three easy steps:

1. Soften butter to room temperature.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine butter and flavorings. Mash with a spatula until well combined.
3. Transfer butter to a sheet of parchment paper. Roll it into a log, twist the ends together, then chill for at least 1 hour. When ready to use, simply slice what you need and re-wrap the rest.

Tip: Whether you’re making compound butter or cooking with it, chances are you’ll be left with messy dishes. Keep clean up simple by using Cascade® Complete® Pacs™ in your dishwasher—they power away 24-hour stuck-on food so you don’t have to.

Flavor Variations

With compound butter, the possibilities are endless. Experiment with your favorite ingredients, or try one of our easy combinations:

Lemon Herb Butter: 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 1-2 teaspoons lemon zest and 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh herbs—try dill, parsley, tarragon, thyme, oregano or a blend.

Chili Lime Butter: 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, 1-2 teaspoons fresh lime zest and 2 teaspoons red chili flakes.

Blue Cheese Butter: 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese and 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives (optional).

Cinnamon Butter: 1 tablespoon cinnamon and honey (or superfine sugar) to taste.

Fig Butter: 1 jar fig preserves—chop up any large bits of fig—1/2 teaspoon vanilla and 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg.

Tip: Blending butter is quick and easy, so why shouldn’t dishwashing be the same? With Cascade Complete Pacs, there’s no need to pre-wash, so you can spend less time cleaning mixing bowls and measuring cups and more time doing what you love.

Cooking with Compound Butters

Pair your gourmet butters with fresh-baked bread, or get creative with them:

Toss pasta with lemon herb or blue cheese butter—or a little bit of both!

Sauté cod filets in herb, chili lime or fig butter.

Whip mashed potatoes with savory butters, or let slices melt atop baked potatoes.

Melt chili lime butter, then drizzle over corn on the cob.

Spread waffles, pancakes and scones with cinnamon, fig or butterscotch butter.

Finish steaks with slices of herb or blue cheese butter.

Add sweet butters—fig, cinnamon and beyond—to oatmeal, rice pudding and other porridges.

Tip: Butter isn’t the only condiment you can flavor in unexpected ways. From rosemary mustard to cilantro sour cream, get more ideas in our article Spice Up Your Condiments.

Source: Homemadesimple

Painting Tips for Outdoor Décor

2011-03-03T08:55:00.000-08:00

After a summer of backyard activities, your garden furniture could probably use a refresher. Give your patio a stylish and unified look by painting your garden furniture to match your outdoor décor. Or get your grill looking new again with a good cleaning and a fresh coat of paint. You’ll be well prepared for those end of summer parties and for more outdoor fun next year.

Garden Furniture

Perfect Patio Furniture

With fresh paint, you can tie mismatched pieces together or make an old set look new again. Painted patio furniture is a big trend right now. By doing it yourself, you can save money while making your old outdoor furniture look like an expensive new splurge.

* Clean: Paint won’t stick well to a dirty surface, so give your furniture a thorough cleaning with Mr. Clean® Magic Eraser® Extra Power before you apply your first coat. Its water-activated micro-scrubbers reach into surface grooves, lifting away the toughest soils with water alone.

* Smooth: If necessary, use a fine or medium grade sandpaper to smooth out rough surfaces and get rid of any rust or chipped paint.

* Prime: Once your furniture is clean and smooth, apply a coat of primer and allow it to dry overnight. There are different kinds of primers, so be sure to select one that is recommended for outdoor use and the type of surface you are painting.

* Paint: Now you’re ready for color. Choose an acrylic paint that’s suitable for outdoor use and apply 1-2 coats, letting each one dry for 12 to 24 hours. Try using a paintbrush for wood or plastic furniture. If you’re painting wicker, metal or pieces with small nooks and crannies, a spray-on paint will work best.

Have fun with this project. Pick a color that matches or coordinates with your outdoor décor. Or unify mismatched pieces with a single color. You can even get creative and paint every piece a different bright, summer hue. Then sit back and enjoy your furniture’s brand new style.

A Grill as Good as New

After all those summer barbeques, your grill might look a little worse for the wear. Make it shine like new again with a good cleaning and a fresh coat of paint.

* Prepare: This first step differs slightly, depending on whether you have a gas or a charcoal grill. Before you start, remember to make sure that the grill is cool and has been off for at least 24 hours.

-Gas: Start by disconnecting the gas. Then remove the interior grates and any briquettes or lava rocks to expose the burner. Carefully wipe away ash or residue and make sure that there is nothing on the burner to block the flow of heat.

-Charcoal: Remove the cooking grates and empty your grill of all the old charcoals from early summer barbeques.

* Clean: For both kinds of grills, give the inside and outside a thorough clean with water and a good degreasing soap.

* Paint: Paint the outside with a heat-resistant paint designed for barbeques. It comes in black and silver and is capable of withstanding temperatures up to 500°F. Allow the paint to dry and replace your cooking grates.

* Store: Proper storage helps keep your grill looking great. To protect it from the weather, cover your barbeque with a waterproof cover. During the off-season, try to move it to a sheltered location. Indoors, in a garage or basement works best, but keeping it under a covered porch or against the wall of your home can also help to stave off the elements.

With a thorough cleaning and fresh paint, you can get a grill and garden furniture that looks as good as new without spending a lot of money. Your outdoor spaces will be ready for a whole new round of summer fun!

Source: Homemadesimple

Tiffany lamp

2011-03-02T08:19:00.000-08:00

A Tiffany lamp is a type of lamp with many different types of glass shade. The most famous was the stained leaded glass lamp. Tiffany lamps are considered part of the Art Nouveau movement.

"Venetian" desk lamp c.1910-1920

Table lamp c.1900-1906

History

The first Tiffany lamp was created around 1895. Beautiful in design and intricacy, each lamp was handmade by skilled craftsmen, not mass or machine produced. Its designer was not, as had been thought for over 100 years, Louis Comfort Tiffany, but a previously unrecognized artist named Clara Driscoll was identified in 2007 by Rutgers professor Martin Eidelberg as being the master designer behind the most creative and valuable leaded glass lamps produced by Tiffany Studios.

Tiffany's first business venture was an interior design firm in New York, for which he designed stained glass windows.

Most of his lamps can be grouped into one of seven specific categories: Irregular Upper and Lower Border, Favrile, Geometric,Transition to Flowers, Flowered Cone, and Flowered Globe lamps. The Irregular Upper and Lower Border lamps carry an openwork crown edge that helps to simulate a branch, tree, or shrubbery. The Favrile category, which means handcrafted, identifies the first lamps Tiffany made with this label. His initials LCT, later replaced the Favrile stamp. The Geometric category, done primarily by the male craftsman, speaks for itself. The Tiffany craftsman used geometric shapes such as triangles, squares, rectangles, and ovals to form these patterns for these lamps. Next is the Transition to Flowers group, which is subdivided into the Flowered Cone and Globe lamps. All of these lamps follow a nature, or botanical, design using flowers, dragonflies, spiders with webs, butterflies, and peacock feathers. The difference within these two smaller categories is the difference in the lamp shapes, basically a cone and a globe.

Pendant "Laburnum" (replica)

Pendant "Dragonfly", (replica)

Production

Aside from their categorization every lamp is prepared by using the copper foil method. First a pattern for the lamp is drawn out on a heavy piece of cardboard. Next a number and glass color is written on the pattern piece. After the pattern is drawn and labeled, the glass is laid over it and traced. Once the pattern is traced onto the glass, the pieces can be cut and ground to their correct shape. Next the pieces need to be cleaned so the copper foil can be applied to the edges. The copper foil solution allows the pieces to adhere together. After the lamp has been placed accordingly and it is fully bonded, the edges need to be soldered together for a firm hold. Finally after the lamp has been soldered it is cleaned to bring out its beauty.

Links:

Tiffany glass

Favrile glass

Clara Driscoll (Tiffany glass designer)

Out of Tiffany’s Shadow, a Woman of Light

"Tiffany Glass Never Goes Out Of Style"

"Lamps of Tiffany"

Tiffany Studios

Source: Wikipedia

Tiffany Lamps

2011-03-01T15:02:00.001-08:00

Tiffany Lamp #3 8752 352 pieces of glass and 20 Cabochons

Click Here to check out prices for this Tiffany Lamp as well as other designs.

Source: Internet

Decorating with Celery (Green)

2011-02-01T16:56:00.000-08:00

The winter may have hit many of us hard, but who says we can't have a little spring in our lives? In this edition of Color Chic, we will discuss ways to incorporate a little green into your space.

Celery: A Soft, But Rich Green

Celery is the perfect color for the traditionalists at heart. An ode to tradition, celery is a classic hue that can be used in the most sophisticate of spaces. It can also be incorporated into contemporary spaces due to its light and playful nature. Celery is light, cool and can brighten up any space without making it too electric.

* Prosperous/Wealthy
* Renewal
* Fertility/Youthful
* Envy (Envious)
* Soothing/Peaceful

Decorating Tips & Tricks:

* Celery looks great against neutrals so incorporate it with grays, whites and creams
* Stay away from the kitchen! Though it can work in the kitchen, stay away from cliché colors
* Celery is very striking when used in large spans. Window treatments, paint and even furniture (accent chairs, etc) are great outlets
* If you still feel timid in using color, try celery in moderation. Accent pillows, table decor and lampshades (random we know, but it works) are a striking choice

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Color Chic: Decorating with Celery - National interior design | Examiner.com

American Kitchens: A Brief History

2011-01-18T08:52:00.000-08:00

This week, as you coax your Brussels sprouts out of their climate-controlled produce drawer, mince your celery in a high-speed food processor, or call up a cranberry relish recipe on your iPad, take a moment to savor all the innovations that have gone into kitchens over the years. In homage to Thanksgiving, This Old House takes a look at the messages buried in kitchens past, from the white-porcelain spaces of the 1920's, to the...well, take a look.  

Click Here to check out this article.

Source: Internet/ThisOldHouse

Comfort Foods To Satisfy Body & Soul

2011-01-18T08:44:00.000-08:00

Click here to check out McCormick Kitchens and their easy recipes.

Source: McCormick

The Perfect Valetine's Day Sent

2011-01-18T08:38:00.001-08:00

The month of love will be here soon, making now the perfect time to prep for the sweetest season of all. And with the limited edition Febreze® Sweetheart Bouquet Flameless Luminary refill, enjoying the authentic aroma of a romantic bouquet is so easy. No watering, no wilting–just set your shade on the decorative base and enjoy the fresh, floral scent.

Receive a limited edition Febreze® Sweetheart Bouquet Flameless Luminary refill when you purchase any Febreze® product at the eStore. It's simple to claim your seasonally scented refill: just click here to shop the eStore's selection of Febreze products.

Since the Febreze Home Collection Flameless Luminary is a must-have combination of scent and décor, it adds a special touch to any home:

•Seasonal Scents: Experience uplifting scent, great for Valentine's Day, as your Sweetheart Bouquet Flameless Luminary shade releases the rich aroma of ripe fruit, rose petals, wild violet and creamy jasmine.

•Changeable Shades: Express your style with ease by changing your shade to match the season, occasion or your mood.

•Safely Scented: Place a Febreze Flameless Luminary on your entryway table, on a coffee table or in a bathroom. You'll love how convenient it is to experience the scent and flickering glow of a candle without the worry of an open flame. Place a Febreze Flameless Luminary on your entryway table, on a coffee table or in a bathroom. You'll love how convenient it is to experience the scent and flickering glow of a candle without the worry of an open flame.

After shopping at the eStore, let the floral essence of your new Febreze Flameless Luminary shade set the tone for Valentine's Day. Here's to the freshest scent of the season!

Source: Homemadesimple

Five Germy Mistakes You're Making Everyday

2011-01-14T14:28:00.000-08:00

You wash your hands frequently, do your best to avoid coughing strangers, and generally consider yourself to be a germ-avoiding pro. Still you may be surprised at five little things you're doing that may be leaving you susceptible to harmful bacteria and viruses.

1. Fruit peels: You buy lots of fruit to eat -- bonus points! But, when it comes to fruit you peel (think: bananas, oranges), do you ever wash them first? If you grab that banana, peel it, then handle the fruit as you eat it, you're potentially putting harmful bacteria right in your mouth. Think of all the people who handled that banana: the banana farmer in another part of the world, the guy at the grocery store who stocked the bunch, 19 customers who picked over it to get to the greener bunch they wanted, the checker at the market, the bagger -- and then you!

2. The handles/railings in your house: Did your roommate have a cold this week? Sure, you kept your distance and washed your hands frequently, but did you think to wipe down the stair rails and doorknobs? Using a little hot soapy water or a light bleach solution (like Clorox Anywhere Spray) on frequently touched surfaces can keep you extra protected.

3. Your shoes: Do you keep your shoes on in your house? Yes, this is a controversial issue -- those who like to keep their shoes on, thankyouverymuch, may take offense to rhetoric about removing shoes at the door. But, there has been a mounting amount of research in the past years indicating that what we track in on the bottom of our souls could be making us sick -- from chemicals lingering on sidewalks and roads to the microbes you picked up in the public restroom. In fact, some health experts consider taking shoes off in your home as a way that anyone can improve their health. Even the super-doc Dr. Mehmet Oz suggested this year that it was on his top-5 list of things he'd recommend people do. So take those shoes off, darlings!

4. Touching your face: We all do it -- a scratch here, a nose rub there. But every time we're touching our face (especially our nose, mouth and eyes), we're giving germs a free ride into our bods. Even if you can be a teensy bit more aware of when you touch your face throughout the day, you can reduce your germ exposure. No, don't be compulsive about it, but if you avoid rubbing your eyes now and then, you're doing your body a good service.

5. The water glass in the bathroom: When's the last time you sent it for a run in the dishwasher? How about now? Frequently used items like glasses -- especially when shared or left out on a countertop where droplets can accumulate from various sources -- can be a breeding ground for germs. Wash those glasses frequently, and don't share them!

Source: Internet

Refinishing Wood Furniture : How to Stain Wood Furniture

2011-01-03T01:00:00.001-08:00

Source: Internet

Organization Tips for Winter Closets

2010-12-24T09:46:00.000-08:00

As the temperatures drop and the snow starts to fall, what was once neatly tucked away in the far corner of the closet now needs to be ready to go everyday. From coats to scarves, get all of your winter essentials organized with our helpful tips and tricks.

Organization Tips for Winter Closets

•Make the most of hooks.

Install metal hooks on your closet walls or avoid drilling holes by using over-the-door or adhesive hooks instead. Hang scarves on them or designate a hook for each member of your household and give them canvas tote bags they can fill with winter gear. To encourage tidiness, surprise them with a personalized screen-printed bag.

•Utilize space under coats.

To create extra storage space in this often-unused area, hang a shelf. Line the top with baskets or wire mesh storage drawers from the office supply store and tuck snow boots under the shelf. Give hats, gloves and scarves their own bins so you always know where to find them.

•Use a hanging shoe organizer.

Inexpensive, over-the-door shoe racks are for more than just footwear! The pockets are the perfect place to stash winter accessories like scarves (tightly roll them for easy storing), pairs of mittens and gloves, knit hats and fleece headbands.

Tip: Shoe organizers mean metal hooks hanging off the exterior of the closet door. As an alternative, try this simple solution: On the inside of the door, attach one adhesive hook towards the top and another near the bottom. Tie a piece of clothesline between them and attach your gear—or gloves that need to dry—with large kitchen clips. For a special touch, decorate the clothesline with ribbons and buttons.

•Keep coats on slim hangers.

Outerwear is bulky enough as it is, so maximize space in small closets by using slim hangers for coats and jackets. Or try specialized slotted hangers that hold up to 5 individual hangers then collapse to half the size.

•Try a store-bought solution.

Hanging organizer bags, available at most home goods stores, keep your accessories within easy reach. Usually made of sturdy fabric, they’re about 6-8” wide and hang from the closet rod. Some even have wooden inserts that turn the pockets into stable shelves!

What winter gear do you have trouble keeping organized? Or have you discovered the perfect storage solution? Sign up or login to share your tips and tricks in our comments section.

Source: Home Made Simple

Tips For Cleaning The Shower

2010-12-02T16:38:00.000-08:00

Freshen Daily

To simplify your weekly cleaning routine, complete a few quick and easy tasks each day:

•Hang up accessories like washcloths and loofahs after each use. It speeds up their drying process and helps prevent soap scum buildup. To get everyone in your household to participate, designate an accessory hook for each person.

•Give your shower a quick cleanse at the end of each day. For a powerful clean without harsh odors, try Mr. Clean® Disinfecting Bath Cleaner with Febreze® Freshness, which kills 99.9% of bacteria* and leaves behind the gentle, fresh scent of Meadows & Rain®.

•Put a stop to mold and mildew by giving excess moisture somewhere to go. Turn on your bathroom fan before you hop in the shower or crack a window. Learn 6 more ways to prevent pesky fungus in our article Avoiding Bathroom Mildew.

Order Your Steps

Speed up the process and avoid extra scrubbing by cleaning your shower in this sequence:

1.Walls, Doors and Ledges: Start at the top of the shower and work your way to the bottom. To save time and effort, clean 3X more soap scum per swipe** with a Mr. Clean® Magic Eraser® Bath Scrubber.

Tip: Help prevent the unsightly rust stains caused by shaving cream cans and other metal containers by coating the bottoms with a layer of clear nail polish.

2.Floors: Daily use causes soap scum and grime to collect in the bottom of your shower. A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Bath Scrubber gets it sparkling clean in no-time flat, so you can spend less time scrubbing and more time doing the things you love.

3.Fixtures: To finish up, focus on faucets, showerheads and other fixtures. For a fast, fresh clean, use Mr. Clean Disinfecting Bath Cleaner with Febreze Freshness, available in soothing scents like Lavender Vanilla & Comfort®.

Stay Organized

Keep your shower tidy and easy to touch up by organizing it in smart ways:

•Use a shower organizer to keep bottles, bars of soap and accessories off floors and ledges, where they accumulate soap scum. In small showers, try a space-saving caddy that hangs from the showerhead. For larger ones, consider a corner unit.

•Mount a chambered soap dispenser on the shower wall, so when you do want to clean, there’s no need to move around body wash, shampoo or conditioner bottles. Just be sure to label each chamber.

•Control clutter and keep everyone’s bathroom belongings in perfect order with a clever color-coded system. From towels to toiletries, it’s the smartest way to organize items you use every day.

Source: Home Made Simple

Holiday Season Survival Guide

2010-12-02T16:21:00.000-08:00

When it’s time to start tackling your to-dos, download and print our Holiday Season Checklist to track your progress.

1st Week of December

•Finalize gift list.

•Buy wrapping paper, ribbon, tape, gift tags and all other gift-wrapping essentials.

•Start shopping. Be sure to place all online orders this week to guarantee gifts arrive in time.

Tip: For less stress later, wrap gifts as you buy them. Just be sure to finish each with a gift tag so Grandma doesn’t accidentally open your youngster’s new toy.

•Shop for handmade holiday gift supplies.

•Take an inventory of dishes and decorations, testing lights and tossing anything that’s broken.

•Buy replacement platters, strands of indoor and outdoor lights, decorations, etc.

•Buy or make greeting cards (don’t forget to pick up extra stamps!). By the end of the week, have all cards written and envelopes addressed.

•Finalize your holiday meal menu and write a detailed shopping list.

•Order turkey or ham, if serving.

•Send holiday party invites. While you’re at it, go ahead and send the invitations for your New Year’s celebration. Calendars fill up quick this time of year—your guests will appreciate the advance notice.

Tip: This season’s all about peace, joy and casual gatherings, so it’s okay to send email invitations instead of formal paper ones. Just be sure to call and extend the invitation to family and friends outside the digital world.

2nd Week of December

•Mail greeting cards.

•Shop for non-perishable items, from canned goods to flour, sugar and spices.

•Buy live decorations, such as sprigs of evergreen.

•Decorate your holiday home.

•Clean your home, especially high-traffic areas—bathrooms, entryway and kitchen.

•Buy batteries for electronic gifts like alarm clocks and toys.

•Double check that your camera or video recorder is in working order.

•Start making cookie dough.

Tip: Most cookie dough can be made ahead of time and baked later. Tightly wrap rolls of sugar cookie dough in plastic wrap, chill in the refrigerator, then freeze. For drop cookies, freeze them on a baking sheet, then transfer to freezer bags. Thaw both for 30 minutes before baking.

4th Week of December

•Bake and package cookies.

•Shop for fresh items like flowers and produce.

•Wash your special occasion dinnerware.

•Preset your holiday table. Label platters and bowls with the names of the dishes to be served on them.

•Charge camera and/or video recorder.

•Take photo albums and scrapbooks out of storage and ready them for post-meal reminiscing.

•Finish last-minute wrapping.

•Cook.

•Freshen your home before guests arrive.

•Clean before, during and after your party.

•Rejoice with the ones you love.

5th Week of December

•Take down holiday decorations.

•Organize decorations and wrapping supplies.

•Decorate for your New Year's party.

•Plan your New Year’s menu. Keep it simple with bite-sized snacks, like crostinis and French macaroons.

•Cook.

•Ring in the New Year with your nearest and dearest.

Source: Home Made Simple

Formal Dining At Home

2010-11-02T00:31:00.001-07:00

Some of today’s most popular television shows revolve around fine food and living beautifully. It was my good fortune to grow up with parents who paid attention to both. This was especially apparent at dinnertime. My mother recognized the value of eye appeal and went out of her way to increase our dining pleasure by setting an attractive table and presenting the food in an enticing way. I find at this stage in my life there is nothing more conducive to reviving myself at the end of a hectic day than returning to my nest and savoring a meal with the people I love.

I hope the makeover story in this issue of Decorating Tips will inspire you to ask one of Dec Den’s interior decorators to assist you in designing the dining room of your dreams. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a room that stimulates appetites, nourishes dialogue and puts you in a great frame of mind? Make enjoying your dining room an integral part of your everyday life, and not just a space reserved for holidays and special occasions.

THE PLEASURE OF DINING

Decorating a home is a work-in-progress, especially if the homeowner is an interior decorator. This was the case for Dec Den expert Diana Apgar who has been making changes to her 1950’s ranch style house for the past thirty-six years. Her latest project was converting her rarely used living room into a dining room that would comfortably accommodate up to twelve guests.

One element that Diana always tries to include in her decorating projects is wall covering. To create the warmth and contrast she felt her dining room needed she chose a textured looking damask paper in shades of tomato red for the walls, and a light khaki grass cloth for the ceiling. She covered the window with framed white plantation shutters and drapery panels in a linen print with a large branch, floral and bird design. The 2” rod with tropical flower finials coordinates with the metal parrot chandelier. Inspiration for the color scheme came from the large Aubusson style area rug in Diana’s favorite greens, reds, and gold with touches of blue.

English and French Manor pieces that Diana and her husband collected over the years mingle with recently purchased items from Decorating Den’s vast selection of home furnishing suppliers. New fully upholstered plaid chairs surround a grand pedestal table. And like my mother, Diana believes that setting a beautiful table is all a part of the dining experience.

Just as a woman is not finished dressing until she adds her jewelry, shoes, and handbag, a room is not complete until the lamps, rugs, and pictures are in place. Note how Diana’s selection of new accessories resides in perfect harmony alongside her family heirlooms.

People are always interested in seeing how Dec Den decorators make their clients’ dreams come true, but it’s a special treat when they give you an inside look at the way they decorate for themselves. Thank you Diana for sharing the superb design job you did in your own home.

Source: Decorating Den

The inside story: How Upholstered Furniture is Built

2010-10-21T05:32:00.000-07:00

A beautiful fabric and stylish frame may be the reasons you fall in love with a sofa or chair, but if you ignore what's inside, your affections may fizzle over time.

To help consumers understand the variations in interior workmanship and materials that impact both price and durability, the American Furniture Manufacturers Association offers tips for consumers who want to purchase the best quality within their price range.

"There is quality-constructed furniture for every budget," says Jackie Hirschhaut, vice president of the American Furniture Manufacturers Association. "Understanding interior features will help you make the best purchase in your price range."

Four basic components create the comfort and durability of your upholstered furniture: the frame, the supporting foundation, the cushioning and the fabric.

The Frame

Historically, the more durable frames were made of kiln-dried hardwood, such as oak, alder, birch or maple. Drying ensured the frame would resist warping, and hardwood species were preferred because they hold pegs, screws, staples and nails securely in place for a long time.

However, because of technological improvements over the last decade, frames made of hardwood plywood are now among the most durable. Other materials that perform well include steel, plastic, strand board, softwood plywood or some combination of materials.

Regardless of the framing material, more durable pieces are constructed with reinforcements that are glued and screwed into place at critical joints and stress points. Less durable pieces may only staple the support blocks in place or contain none.

Shopping checklist:

Ask what materials are used in the frame.

Make sure it feels sturdy, sits squarely on the floor, and doesn't creak or wobble.
Look at the underside for interior corners that are braced with corner blocks.

The Foundation

The frame style and the amount of support desired determine the type of foundation used in constructing upholstery. Eight-way, hand-tied, coil spring construction was once considered the hallmark of quality upholstery. In this type of foundation, each coil spring is placed in the seat by hand and tied into place with twine in a series of interlocking knots.

Although eight-way, hand-tied coils are still a mark of fine craftsmanship, other construction techniques, including new steel spring configurations, offer equal comfort and durability. In general, the number of springs and how they are reinforced determines cost and quality.

Shopping checklist:

Ask how the foundation is constructed.

For more resilience, look for steel spring construction, whether coil, zigzag or some other configuration.

Cushioning

Depending on the product's design, the back and seat cushions may include a combination of springs, cotton or polyester fiber, foam or down. Most upholstery cushions are made from some type of polyurethane foam. Density is used to gauge the durability of foam, and, generally, the higher the density the more durable (and more expensive) the cushion will be. Better quality upholstered furniture uses foam with a density rating of 1.8 to 2.5.

Foam cushions should be wrapped or covered to protect the foam from direct contact with the upholstery fabric.

Shopping checklist:

Sit. Slump. Sprawl out! The best way to tell if the cushioning is right for you is to feel it in just the manner you'll be using the piece at home.
If durability is a key factor in your purchase, find out how cushions are made, including the density of foam used.

Cover

Options for the color, pattern and texture of your upholstery are virtually unlimited, but cover components fall into just two basic categories: natural and synthetic. Natural components include cotton, linen, silk, wool and, of course, leather. Synthetics include acetate, acrylic, nylon, rayon and polypropylene. Many fabrics are woven with a combination of natural and synthetic fibers.

Fabrics combining a tight weave and durable fibers like nylon or polypropylene are a good choice for active use. Leather is also a popular choice for durability.

Shopping checklist:

Ask about fabric components. Look for high percentages of durable fiber for durability.

For very active use, look for tightly woven fabrics or leather.

One Final Consideration

For fire safety reasons, make sure new upholstery carries the gold UFAC tag.

This tells you the piece was manufactured according to fire safety standards developed by the Upholstered Furniture Action Council. These standards reduce the likelihood of upholstered furniture catching fire from a smoldering cigarette, which is the leading cause of upholstery fires in the home.

"When you are purchasing seating for a room that is the hub of family activity, a little knowledge about upholstery construction makes it easy to select just the right pieces," Hirschhaut said.

Source: Furniture Planners

French Furniture

2010-09-01T19:38:00.000-07:00

Armchair in solid mahogany and mahogany veneer on beech, with gilt bronze mounts and covers of silk damask.

French furniture marks itself off as being, in the main, highly decorative, elaborate, innovative, and stylish. French furniture designers would decorate their furniture, and then decorate the decoration, great emphasis being placed on display and pomp.
French Furniture Periods

These are the major periods of antique furniture in France.
Renaissance

The revival of the designs of the ancient world in French Renaissance furniture begins our journey through the major periods of French antique furniture. Louis XIII furniture continues the Renaissance tradition.
Baroque

The great splendour and glory of baroque furniture is seen in the period of Louis XIV furniture.
Rococo

The wild and romantic designs of the rococo style are pioneered in the time of Regence furniture and come to full fruition in Louis XV furniture.
Classical Revival

In the late 18th century and throughout much of the nineteenth century furniture designers and artists return again and again to the heritage of the classical world of Greece and Rome, and now Egypt, and this is seen Louis XVI furniture, Directoire furniture, Empire furniture, Restoration, and Louis Philippe furniture, and to some extent in the reproduction furniture of Napoleon III.
Modern

Nothing if not fashionable and daring the French contribution to modern design comes in Art Nouveau furniture and Art Deco furniture.
Rustic

The types of designs dealt with in the major periods are those of the palace, the great home, and mansion, however for most ordinary people French country furniture is of most interest.

Highly recommended is a visit to Design Toscano for antique replica French furniture.

Source: Furniture Styles

Quick Fixes and Big Returns When Selling Your Home

2010-08-15T06:44:00.000-07:00

Selling your home is stressful even during the best of times, but when the market is slow it sometimes seems like "Mission: Impossible." In order to sell your home for top dollar in a down market, you need to be proactive in making your home stand out from the huge inventory of listings that buyers have to choose from.

Thankfully, there are many small improvements that you can make to get a big return on your investment and help your home sell faster:

1. Make a grand entrance. Front doors need to be welcoming and in good repair or potential buyers will go back to the car without walking inside. If your door doesn't make a good first impression, replacing it is one of the best investments you can make. Not only will the new door attract buyers, it can add a 128 percent return on the investment when the house sells.

2. Wash the exterior. Exterior siding and shutters must be clean and mold free. But don't worry about the expense of renting a power washer or hiring someone to do it. Simply spray on liquid house wash (Mold Armor House Wash is under $10 and works great): Let it sit for 10 minutes, rinse with a garden hose and your siding is as good as new.

3. Dump the popcorn. Popcorn ceilings are not popular with buyers. Luckily, they are inexpensive to fix. First, empty the room or cover everything with plastic. Next, gather a ladder, a garden sprayer filled with water, a 4-inch scraper, a face mask, and goggles. Using the garden sprayer, wet an area as big as your arm's reach while standing on the ladder. Once the popcorn is wet, it comes off easily using the scraper. Be sure to wear the mask and goggles to protect yourself. Keep moving your ladder around the room, scraping the ceiling off in sections. After all the popcorn is gone, you may need to go back up and re-spackle or sand where the builder taped the ceiling. Finish with a fresh coat of flat paint. A word of caution: If your home was built between 1930 and 1985 there is a strong possibility that it may contain asbestos. Before proceeding, you should scrape 3 to 4 samples from around the room into separate resealable bags and send to a certified asbestos testing agency. If the results are negative, you can proceed without worry. If they are positive you will need an alternate method, such as covering it with something like Armstrong's ceiling systems or an extra layer of sheetrock.

4. Do easy upgrades in kitchens and bathrooms. Kitchens and bathrooms are known as the rooms that sell the house. Don't make the mistake of taking on an expensive remodeling project in order to sell your home. In the kitchen you will get a better return on your investment if you simply upgrade the appliances and replace the countertops. Another easy fix is updating the hardware on the cabinets and drawers. In the bathroom, replace the large, landscape mirror with a smaller, framed mirror. Replace dated light fixtures, and re-grout the existing tile. The idea here it to refresh, rather than remodel these valuable rooms.

5. Paint in welcoming tones. Paint is an inexpensive fix for rooms that might be too bold for the average buyer. However, don't turn to white paint when trying to neutralize offensive colors. You want to have rich, beautiful color on your walls so that your home stands out from the rest. White walls just leave your home looking cold, bland and uninviting. Instead, neutralize with warm tan or taupe to broaden your home's appeal. Other good choices for paint are muted greens, soft golds or pale yellows. Use an eggshell or satin finish to make the walls easy to clean.

6. Look at your home through a camera lens. Photograph your home before putting it on the market. It is easier to see your home's flaws in the photos than in person. Today's buyers search the internet before ever calling a realty agent, and studies show that they only spend three seconds on a listing before they click to the next one. If there is more than one home for sale in a neighborhood, the one that photographs best will likely sell fastest.

Your home is probably the biggest investment you will ever make. Remember, once you put your home on the market it is no longer your home. It is a product that needs to be sold in the shortest time possible. By making these small improvements you are eliminating potential obstacles to selling your home, in addition to creating a property that is appealing to the broadest cross-section of buyers. Your efforts are sure to be rewarded with a quicker sale at a higher price.

Source: Realestate AOL

Southern Home & Garden Expo

2010-08-01T16:07:00.001-07:00

MEMPHIS – As the largest home and garden show in the area, the Southern Home & Garden Expo presents more than 250 exhibitor booths representing home design, remodeling and landscaping on August 14 through 16 at Agricenter International, 7777 Walnut Grove Road in Memphis. More than 8,000 visitors from all over the mid-South attend the show each year. This year’s eleventh annual expo again features a variety of gardening and home do-it-yourself demonstrations. “Each show continues to get bigger and better with increased attendance and greater involvement from renowned exhibitors in the area and respected experts from the home and garden industry. It’s also the best place to learn more about the latest tips, tricks and trends to enhance your home and garden and to tackle those home improvement projects this fall,” explains Kristi Rowan, manager of the show and president of MidSouth Media Group.

Paul James, host of HGTV’s “Gardening by the Yard,” uses his trademark wit and vast knowledge to aid visitors in the challenging, but also rewarding process of developing and managing beautiful gardens. A master gardener and one of the original stars of HGTV, James answers questions about specific gardening concerns at his special presentation filled
with down-to-earth advice on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and again at 1:00 p.m. on the main stage.

Whether a homeowner wants to remodel the entire home or simply make some improvements to its landscaping, interior design or technology, the expo’s exhibitors offer the latest products and services and examples of their work. “Our guests receive all the resources they need to truly improve the value of their home by comparison shopping and meeting key experts in one location,” says Rowan. Seminars provide even more in-depth instruction on a variety of topics.

The three-day expo also includes a main stage for demonstrations by well-known area home and garden experts and seminars demonstrating the newest looks and techniques in remodeling the home or updating the garden; a food court and featured garden areas.

Exhibitors showcase an extensive array of products and services related to remodeling, new construction, landscape design and interior design. Many home improvement door prizes, as well as giveaways add even more value to the show. Exhibitors include landscaping companies such as Michael Hatcher & Associates and Lawhon Landscaping; builders and remodelers such as Bruce Upchurch Homes and DeLee Upchurch II Homes; as well as FlatSafe Tornado Shelters and Spearman Ornamental Ironworks.

MidSouth Media Group has been producing quality trade shows representing the home and garden and gift markets for the past eleven years. The company also manages the popular weekly TV show, “Southern Homes & Lifestyles,” which airs on WKNO in Memphis.

Home

Spring Market - Jackson, MS

Spring Market - Memphis

Mistletoe Merchants - LR, AR

Mistletoe Merchants - Memphis

Busy Womens EXPO

Design Services

Television Production
HOURS AND ADMISSION
Friday, August 14
11 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Saturday, August 15
9 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Sunday, August 16
11 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Admission
Adults $8
Children 12 & Under FREE
Free Parking

August 6-8, 2010
Agricenter International Memphis, TN

Source: Midsouth Media Group

4th Of July Weekend

2010-07-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

We hope that each of you have an enjoyable 4th of July Weekend with your family and friends.

Thomasville Furniture Industries

2010-06-02T23:01:00.000-07:00

Thomasville Furniture Industries entered the first decade of the 20th century as the fledgling Thomasville Chair Company in a bustling railroad-side community in the triad area of North Carolina, near High Point, the furniture capital. Founded in 1904, it was just one of many chair manufacturers scattered throughout North Carolina. It turned out 180 chairs a day and owed two local timber farmers, T.J. Finch and his brother C.F. Finch, $2,000 for lumber.

When the company couldn't pay its debt in cash, the Finch brothers reluctantly accepted stock instead and decided to buy out the other stockholders. Business improved immediately under the astute guidance of the Finch family with sales topping $1 million by 1917 and the company becoming recognized for innovations in design as well as manufacturing quality. The Thomasville Chair Company achieved many "firsts" for the furniture industry. These included the first national sales force in the furniture industry and the first American furniture company to produce and sell an entire suite of furniture: Thomasville dining tables, buffets and chairs.

To survive the Great Depression, the company stopped paying dividends to stockholders and management took a cut in salary. Then, in 1933 the company began a series of trade classes which enabled hundreds of their employees to learn new and better manufacturing techniques.

In 1941, Thomasville Chair Co. went to war with the rest of the country, making items requested by the federal government, including: double decker bunk beds for the Army, wooden plugs for bombs, tent stakes, wooden spatulas and rolling pins. And with 597 company men serving in the war, the first group of women reported for work in March of 1942.

During the 1950s, sales reached $17 million, many innovations in machinery were made and the company's reputation for crafting quality furniture grew. In the '60s, the company (under the direction of Tom A. Finch) received a new name, Thomasville Furniture Industries, Inc. In 1968, it was acquired by Armstrong World Industries. In the 70's, Thomasville entered the contract market, providing furnishings for hotels and inns, primarily in the United States. In 1984, they expanded into Government sales, and their products can be found in military facilities worldwide. In December 1995, Thomasville was purchased by Furniture Brands International, Inc., a major residential furniture company located in St. Louis, MO.

Today, Thomasville Furniture Industries is a full-line furniture manufacturer with dedicated galleries in more than 400 leading independent retail furniture stores. Additionally, there are over 160 Thomasville Home Furnishing stores which carry only Thomasville products.

In October 2007, Ed Teplitz was named as CEO of Thomasville, replacing Nancy Webster, who had served in that post since August 2005.

Thomasville Cabinetry, sold at retail by Home Depot, is made by Kemper Cabinets, a unit of MasterBrand Cabinets, Inc., owned by Fortune Brands.

The corporate offices and showrooms are still located along the railroad tracks in Thomasville, NC, but most manufacturing has been transferred to China.

The famous Big Chair, an 18-foot reproduction of a Duncan Phyfe design (first erected in 1922 and rebuilt in 1951) still stands in the town square as a symbol of the mutual success of a now famous chair company - and the town that cherishes its nickname, "Chair City".

Disney Princess Collection

2010-05-26T11:20:00.001-07:00

Dreams begin with this whimsical Cinderella carriage bed. Including tent and canopy, this magical bed is made of scrolled metal and has an appealing white-gold finish. Crown feature on top has bow detailing. Fitting for a princess, the carriage bed evokes images of happily ever after.

Source: Rooms To Go Kids

Furniture Delivery Service

2010-05-26T11:17:00.000-07:00

Source: Sun Delivery

Princess Emily Carriage Canopy Twin Bed

2010-05-26T11:12:00.000-07:00

Embellished with carriage wheels that are elegantly designed in tubular steel with hand wrought scroll work. Fit for a princess. This twin size arched canopy bed is finished in an "Antique, Hand-Washed White" with pink sand-through.

Source: Furniturebuzz

Cinderella Collection Castle Twin

2010-05-26T11:01:00.000-07:00

Fit for a goddess. The Cinderella Collection Castle Tent Bunk Bed with Slide includes a tent over twin bed and a covered hiding place below. The top of the slides is tented with a Princess Tower with peek through, fold down window covers.

Source: Warehouse Direct USA

Shoe Storage Cabinet - Three Tier

2010-05-26T10:56:00.000-07:00

Neatly store and organize all of your shoes and keep them completely out of sight with this Three-Tier Shoe Storage Cabinet. Featuring a solid steel frame with resin supports and a durable 600D polyester fabric cover, this triple shoe cabinet has space...

Source: Bizrate

Camden Tufted Bed

2010-05-26T10:47:00.001-07:00

Create an inviting, custom look with our exclusive padded Camden Bed. Order the entire bed including Headboard, Footboard and upholstered side rails or just the Headboard. Full Bed features turned hardwood legs finished in dark mahogany stain. All styles come upholstered in Off-White Twill. Tufted pieces feature self-covered buttons. Untufted pieces are available with or without Nailhead trim. Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery; add 2 weeks for Custom.

Source: Ballard Design

Kitchen Cabinets

2010-05-26T10:40:00.001-07:00

Wellborn Cabinet

We are dedicated to servicing Wellborn customers with our pledge to shipping accuracy and short lead times, and we'll continue to strive for excellence in this crucial function of our business.

At Wellborn, we appreciate the privilege of being your cabinetry supplier and we'll continue to bring you the best product at a competitive price with our service as a part of the sale – a true value.

Wellborn Cabinet, Inc., is a family business that was established in 1961. Years of individual dedication by hundreds of Wellborn employees has created today's multifaceted company. Located in the foothills and timber country of the Appalachian Mountains in Ashland, Alabama, Wellborn Cabinet, Inc., now encompasses over 2 million square feet and integrally operates its own timber processing mill.

Source: Wellborn

How to Make a Cornice Board?

2010-05-03T14:16:00.000-07:00

When you've determined the height, depth and width of the cornice board, have a lumberyard cut the plywood to size. Label the top, front and side pieces with a marker.

Tip: Make the height of the cornice board 1/5 the length of the draperies.

Step 2: Determine the Batting Position

Before assembling the cornice board, set the crown molding and corner molding in place on the front and sides of the cornice and mark their placement. This will determine the position of batting that will be attached to the cornice board before the fabric is added.

Step 1: Determine the Size

Use wood glue to attach the sides of the cornice board to the front and secure with screws. Repeat the process to add the top to the assembled front and side piece.

Step 4: Cut the Fabric

When the cornice board is assembled, it's ready to be padded and covered with fabric. To determine the width of the large rectangle of fabric that will cover the board, measure from one side, across the front and around to the other side. Determine the length of the fabric by measuring from the bottom front of the cornice board, up the front and over the top. Add 4" to both the length and width measurements. Seam the fabric if necessary so the pattern runs the right way.

Step 5: Attach the Batting and Fabric

Use spray adhesive to attach a layer or two of batting to the sides and front of the cornice board between the lines marking the edge of the decorative molding that will be applied later.

When the batting is in place, place the fabric face down and center the cornice board on it. Staple the fabric in place, beginning at the inside center edge of the front piece of the unit. Then pull the fabric taut and staple underneath the top center of the board. Secure the fabric at each side of the cornice board the same way, then continue stapling alternate sides. At the edges where the pieces of the board are joined, fold the fabric in hospital corners and staple to the inside.

Line the inside of the cornice board with a piece of muslin attached with spray adhesive.

Step 6: Cut the Molding

Dress up the cornice board with crown molding at the top and trim molding around the bottom edge. Measure the width of the cornice board from corner to corner and add the thickness of the wood molding to both ends. Use a back saw and miter box to make the angled corner cuts. Make the first angled cut, then set the piece in place on the cornice board and measure again. Add the width of the wood molding and make the second cut. Don't make both cuts at the same time. Cut the side pieces of crown molding at the correct angle to match the front piece. Then cut the pieces of trim molding for the bottom of the cornice board, using the same method.

Step 7: Paint the Molding and Hang the Board

Prime and paint the molding as desired and let dry. After drilling pilot holes, attach the molding to the cornice board with finishing nails. Recess the nails with a nail set, fill with patching compound and touch up with paint.

Hang the finished cornice board on L-brackets and secure with screws.

Source: DIY Network

Cleaning and Organizing Tips

2010-04-14T10:38:00.001-07:00

Living Room/Den

A fresh coat of paint can give new life to an old piece of furniture or accessory. Find new and practical uses for those sentimental items.

Sometimes the simplest arrangements are the best. Laying out furniture in harmony with your room's shape will create a more peaceful, less cluttered feel.
Exotic items from faraway places are great to display around your home, but if you bury them in clutter, you aren't honoring the memory of the trip. Pick a few pieces you love and display them properly, or risk losing them in the clutter.
If you have two spaces separated by an arch, think of adding a display unit with two open sides so it can be enjoyed from both angles.

Walls and furniture that are the same color can cause things to blend into each other, and make you forget about keeping it looking nice. Try painting the wall a nice contrast color to help your pieces "pop" and make the room look sharp.
If you have two open rooms side-by-side and want to separate them, try hanging a large, decorative curtain to define the boundaries of each space.

Source: Cleansweep

Enhance a Home's Character with Hardwood Architectural Details

2010-04-14T10:32:00.000-07:00

Walk into any older home and you'll always find a lot of hardwood details - wainscoting, crown moulding, fireplace surrounds, spindled staircases, even chair rails - because decorative trimwork used to be standard in new home construction. But after World War II, builders began reducing the amount of trim, using just enough to cover gaps around windows, door frames and between walls and floors. Unfortunately, that cost reducing practice continues with most new home construction.

As a result, today's rooms often appear plain and featureless, lacking the warm ornamental details that would otherwise provide architectural character. But they don't have to be plain. Enhance the character of your home by installing or upgrading its trim. It can be as easy as it sounds. Consider some of these cost-effective ways to add hardwood details to your home.

Wainscoting

Wainscoting is a type of paneling most often used to decorate the lower three feet of a wall. It comes in different styles, from simple flat panels to a raised design or beadboard; is installed with nails, screws, glue or a combination of these and is usually topped with crown moulding or a chair rail. During colonial times it served to protect the bottom portion of a wall from water damage arising from a cracked foundation. Today, it continues to ward off damage - scratches, dings and the like - while adding warmth and great architectural interest to any room.

In living and dining rooms, dens and libraries, it adds a formal look, especially when finished in a dark stain or paint. A white finished wainscoting in a living room suggests more of the country cottage look. And the wall above the wainscoting panels can then be painted or wallpapered to achieve the desired look.

In bathrooms, including wainscoting is a great way to add architectural interest without having to totally remodel. It is most commonly featured as white beadboard, which creates a clean, crisp feeling and complements any accent color. And try it on the ceiling. It's a great way to hide an old-fashioned textured ceiling without the bother of removing it.

Chair Rail

Chair rail is functional as well as decorative. It helps protect areas where chair backs might damage the wall. Various chair rail styles are available. They can be a single piece of wood, called a moulding profile, or two or more different mouldings can be combined to create a built-up profile.

Chair rails are often used alone, but are also used to top wainscoting to give it a clean edge. When teamed with wainscoting, it will have a groove underneath that allows it to be placed onto the wainscoting, so be sure to install the wainscoting first.

Crown Moulding

Any moulding or group of mouldings installed between the wall and a ceiling is called a cornice. It provides a decorative transition between the wall and ceiling, and can improve the appearance of almost any room.

Crown moulding is the most popular cornice. It is a thin length of wood installed diagonally to the corner of the wall and ceiling. Like chair rails, crown mouldings can be a single piece of wood, or can be built up of a number of different profiles. Some cornices include details such as dentil blocks and other intricate features.

Since crown moulding is placed at an angle to the wall, the cuts needed to form corners are more complicated, so you might want to have it installed by a professional.

From Plain to Elegant

Redecorate by incorporating hardwood architectural details and see how wainscoting, chair rails and crown moulding create a greater sense of warmth and indeed enhance the beauty of your home. These easy and cost-effective additions will transform any room from plain and empty, to a richly textured, even elegant living space.

Source: HardwoodInfo

Easy Way To Remove Scuff Marks From Your Wall

2010-04-11T11:07:00.000-07:00

Source: AOL Living

How to Hang a Window Box

2010-04-09T08:24:00.001-07:00

Click Here To Read The Complete Article

The Best Bedroom

2010-04-09T08:01:00.000-07:00

We spend one-third of our lives sleeping, which makes the bedroom a very important space in the home. Often, bedrooms are made to multi-task; they serve as the exercise room, the laundry folding station, the office and the repository for clothes, shoes and more. With all of these layers of clutter it can be hard to use the bedroom as the restful sanctuary it’s meant to be—a place to connect, relax and recharge. Try our organized cure for the bedroom that’s bulging at the seams, so you can focus on cuddling up under the comforter.

Assess the Mess

The first thing you’ll need to determine is what you use your bedroom for and if that is affecting its cleanliness and organization. Maybe you’re the type of the person who lives in your bedroom, tackling activities from yoga to paperwork. Or perhaps your bedroom is a place you tend to dash through leaving clutter behind as you move on to the next part of your day.

Either way, you just need to remember one rule: your bedroom should only be used in the morning when you get up and at night when you’re going to bed. This cuts down on excess items and keeps it as a space for sleeping, relaxing and romance. Chances are, you can do most or all of your activities elsewhere in your home and come up with a routine that helps keep clutter off the furniture and the floors.

Cleaning Surfaces

Begin your big bedroom clean up by removing clutter from all horizontal surfaces in your room: floors, bed, tables and chairs. Use these tips to help get you started:

Make your bed: Taking a few minutes each morning to make your bed will help you get in the habit of keeping your room in order in general. Treat your bed as a refuge and prepare it for the next time you will use it. Try not to cover your bed in laundry, piles of worn clothes, bags or other items that will keep it from appearing inviting.

Off the floor:

If your shoes are overflowing onto your floors, look into adding shelving, an over-the-door shoe holder or rolling boxes for under the bed. Organize your shoes by color and season for easy access. If you choose to keep your shoes under the bed, pick out the next day’s pair the night before so you don’t have to search around.
Bedside basics: Your bedside table may have accumulated a few things you don’t need on a daily basis. Hair accessories, glasses, books, magazines and medicine will all find a home there. Clear any unnecessary items off your table so you don’t feel surrounded by clutter when you go to sleep and wake up.

Put clothes in their place:

Avoid using your floor, chairs or other bedroom furniture as a hamper. Hang up clothes you plan to wear again immediately, install hooks to hang up pajamas and robes and keep a hamper, laundry bag or basket in or near your closet for dirty items. Double hampers or baskets are wonderful tools for immediately sorting whites and colors.

The Best Bed

The bed itself should be as comfortable and inviting as possible, so try our ideas for keeping your linens in line and organized.

Smart Set up:

Place the head of your bed against a wall and in direct view of the door or a window to help to make it feel stable and grounded while also governing good airflow.

Bed skirt savior:

If your bed skirt is dragging the floor, getting dusty or looking askew, employ the help of bed skirt pins. These simple spiral pins are available at home goods stores and without any sewing or cutting, can keep your bed skirt from shifting or drooping.

Curtail your collection:

You really only need three sets of bed linens per bed: one in use, one in storage and one in the laundry. It is a good idea to have a few extra pillowcases, especially if you find a unique pattern you love. They tend to wear out faster than other linens.

Storage solutions:

If you do prefer to have a wider variety of lines for different times of the year, such as flannel for winter, try storing excess linens under the bed or in a chest at the end of the bed. Make sure to remove linens from the dryer while still warm to prevent wrinkling. Store in a cool, dry place and use a pillowcase as a holder for each group of sheets to help keep them from getting separated. Label shelves or boxes with the season and type.

Classic and Comfy:

For a clean, classic look that’s also easy to maintain, limit your throw pillows to one large pillow for the center of the bed or two smaller pillows to set in front of each of your regular pillows. This will make your bed look cozy, yet uncluttered.

Bedroom Routines

Come up with a system that helps you stay organized and keeps your bedroom clean with a couple of simple tips for morning and night.

Avoid the morning rush:

If you tend to be in a rush in the morning and end up making mess searching for shoes and accessories, set everything out the night before. Try installing a hook to hang your chosen outfit and designate a space on your dresser for a basket or container where you can place smaller items like jewelry and socks.

Bedtime ritual:

A set bedtime routine will help you wind down and prepare your mind and body for sleep. Everyone has specific activities that will help them relax, but taking a bit of time each night to tidy up and freshen your space will not only help keep it clean and organized, it also makes the bedroom more conducive for sleeping.

Stick to your routines and organization plans and your bedroom will be a place for relaxing moments and sweet dreams. For décor ideas and ambiance suggestions, read Creating a Bedroom Retreat.

Source: HomemadeSimple

Turn You Bed Into An Inviting Getaway

2010-04-09T07:48:00.000-07:00

Step 1: Bed Basics

Understanding the basic elements of creating a comfortable bed is the kind of must-know information that will help when it comes to giving it an updated sense of style.

Thread Count

When it comes to picking a thread count, a higher count does not always equal greater comfort. Thread count actually measures the number of threads per square inch, not the softness, style or quality of the material.
Thread counts ranging from 200 to 400 work well with a quality single ply cotton sheet like 100 percent combed cotton. This is preferred over carded cotton, which generally feels rougher since it doesn't go through as complex of a spinning process.

Tip: Since softness can depend on so many factors such as the type of fabric, thread count, price and—perhaps most importantly—the manufacturer, spend time touch testing a variety of sheets to find what feels best to you.

Washing

It's best if sheets and duvet covers are washed once a week to keep them freshly cleaned, although it's ultimately up to your personal preference. Sheets should be washed on the warm setting since anything over 104°F is considered hot and can shrink fibers.

Most classic bed pillows can be machine washed a couple times per year-just be sure to check your pillow’s washing instructions. Also, make sure to turn pillowcases, duvet covers and patterned fabrics inside out when washing to help preserve color.

Step 2: Color

With a few easy color additions or changes, you can turn your bed into the focal point and most influential decorative piece in your space.

Choose a base color for your bed like dreamy light blue, lovely lavender or mossy green. Include complementary colored patterns or motifs with the use of pillows, throws or blankets.

Start with a neutral like white or gray and add a few bright pops of color for a striking effect.

Use colors found in current accents and artwork as inspiration for including complementary colors with your bed linens to give your bedroom a unified look.

Step 3: Fabrics

Purchasing a brand new set of bedding can be pricey and difficult to find an appealing pre-packaged set or pattern that piques your interest. The bedding you have on hand can easily be enhanced with the addition of new fabrics in the form of pillows, throws or sheets.

Use a variation of textures, colors and patterns to add contrast and style to the bed. For a bold, geometric theme, try using solid-colored, square pillows with a rectangular, patterned throw that incorporates a complementary color from a textured comforter. Read Mix and Match Makeover for additional ideas.

Accent pillows often have interesting stitching, beading or patterns that can add depth and class to the top of your bed.

A comfortable blanket or throw can be folded in various ways and draped across the comforter for an inviting place to relax with a good book without unmaking the bed!

Step 4: Personalization

Set your bed apart with a few easy, creative personal touches that can turn ordinary bedding into a custom creation.

Use artsy batik patterns to alter fabric materials with wax and dye. Read Beautiful Backyard Batik for tips.

Create a quilt, throw or pillow out of your favorite fabrics from around the house. You can even sew fabrics such as scarves, handkerchiefs, doilies or sentimental t-shirts into quilts, throws, pillows or comforters. For a more vintage appearance, check out your local thrift store for antique fabrics such as floral prints, art deco patterns or Victorian lace.

Have your duvet, comforter or throws monogrammed for a small fee, or try it yourself with this simple project:

Stenciled Duvet Cover.

Now that you have the know-how, all you need is the can-do. With a few easy changes to your current bedroom haven, you can unwind in your new relaxing and intimate space in no time.

Source: Home Made Simple

Outdoor Rooms We Love

2010-04-05T22:47:00.000-07:00

"Walls" can be trees, fences or swaying grasses. Here are some of our favorite garden rooms.

We can imagine whiling away sweet summer afternoons in this rustic arbor, made especially cozy with a topping of wisteria and Carolina jessamine and lush plantings in front.

Colorful cushions add life to this festive area that seems perfect for relaxing with friends and family.

The homeowners have created an ultra-livable room in their small backyard with this outdoor kitchen.

With astilbe, ferns and heuchera in front, and woods as a soothing surround, who wouldn't want to venture up this flagstone path to a comfortable swing?

Not exactly an outdoor room, but this "Narragansett shed garden" is clearly where the homeowner spends most of her time. "The girls next door refer to it as the 'Enchanted Magic Garden,'"

Building a retaining wall to level out the yard enabled the creation of this cozy spot.

Source: HGTV

Beyond Looking Good

2010-03-23T23:43:00.000-07:00

An enticing attraction of many newer homes is the prominent location of the living room front and center as you walk through the front door. If this type of room were found in a Show House, the decorator's main focus would be creating a visually arresting atmosphere. However good looks alone are not enough when it comes to designing rooms around a client's everyday lifestyle. Here function and comfort are as important as beauty and fashion.

Step one in the decorating process is gathering the necessary information about a client's objectives, followed by a presentation of options until the client's vision of her dream room takes shape. These were the choices that the decorator and client made together to bring this room to life.

WALLS

To set the living room's warm and inviting tone they chose a
toasty parchment paint color for the walls and a deeper tint for the trim.

SEATING

A clubby grouping of sleek tranquil blue wingback chairs around a cocktail table complements the imposing architecture. The grouping suits the client's desire to entertain friends in an elegant setting, but also accommodates her need for a comfortable place to read with her children.

FLOOR

The choice of a large durable neutral rug helps define the conversational area and soften the hardwood floor.

FURNITURE

In striking contrast to the soft color palette, an etagere in a dark root beer finish was added to house the client's treasured photographs and artifacts.

ACCENTS

To reflect additional light into the room the decorator rested an oversized mirror against the wall on the opposite side of the room. Intriguing metal accents add extra panache.

WINDOWS

Rather than leave the focal point expanse of windows bare the client loved the idea of bracketing her beloved garden view with lush drapery panels.

LIGHTING

A gorgeous crystal chandelier was the piece de resistance that draws your eye up and sets off the sweeping columns that flank the entrance to the room.

Source: Decorating Den

Purchasing a Sofa

2010-03-23T14:41:00.001-07:00

The Charles of London is a simple curved arm that works well in either a contemporary or traditional home.

One of the first things someone looks for when buying a sofa is the arm style. There are three basic classic arms including the Charles of London (also known as English traditional), roll arm and straight (or square) arm.

This roll arm has a little extra finesse to it with pleated arms, welt cording and a front panel for a very traditional feeling.

Finally, use a straight or square arm for a modern look.

Another option is no arms at all. A tight seat and tight back construction works well for this style because all the cushions are attached and don't need to be fixed after each use. What's important to know about buying this is that the cushions are not easily replaceable.

Once you decide on the basic sofa shape, the next option is fabric. While solid colors are easier to decorate with, patterned sofas don't show wear as quickly. Gold says the most durable and practical material is leather, which he says wears in not out. The longer you have leather, the more patina it gets whereas a fabric, no matter how good, will get worn out.

After you decide which look you like, the next step is finding out what a sofa is made of. The most important thing is the actual frame for the whole piece, which should be made of a kiln-dried hardwood like maple, poplar, beach or oak instead of pine.

When thinking about support, look for durability. One option is coils that are tied together and another durable and less expensive option is wire springs.

The cushions are what really make a sofa comfortable. The least expensive option is high-resiliency foam, which compresses during use and comes back to its natural shape. For real luxury, all goose down filling is the most expensive option, but it doesn't offer much support and must be fluffed up often. A good compromise between comfort and budget is an inner core of foam topped with cotton batting surrounded by a cover filled with goose down. The foam center provides support for the soft feathers.

When shopping for a sofa, sit in it the way you will at home or lay across it to test its comfort level. Finally, measure the sofa before leaving the store to be sure it will fit in the front door.

Source: HGTV

Your New Home

2010-03-11T14:56:00.000-08:00

Pay attention, airlines. Here is a way to recap some of those losses. Imagine having a Boeing 727 as a home.
The plane set Joanne Ussary back $2,000.00, cost $4,000.00 to move, and $24,000.00 to renovate. That's not bad for a $30,000.00 investment.

The stairs open with a garage door remote, and one of the bathrooms is still intact. And let's not forget the personal Jacuzzi in the cockpit. Sweet . . . The Boeing home is featured as part of a collection of creative conversions.
I want it . . . and the view! Anyone with an old 727 they don't want?

THE WOMAN THAT DID THIS IS A GENIUS...VERY CREATIVE!

Furniture Mistakes You Can Avoid

2010-03-03T14:49:00.000-08:00

Q: Some people love to look at beautiful interiors but have no idea how to achieve their own -- what are some tips that can help them through the process?

A: Inspiration is where it all begins; get inspired and then take action. The introduction to my book has some great tools to help people get in touch with their inner decorator and tackle a project with confidence.

The first step is to pick a room where you want to see a difference. Step two: Make a plan. Set a date of when you want to complete the project and just do it!

Q: In your book you discuss speed-shopping tips – can you give us some of your favorite highlights?

A: Be prepared! Shop with a digital camera loaded with pictures of the room you're decorating. Bring a notebook with vital stats, such as room measurements. If you're buying something big like a sofa make sure to bring the measurements of your front door. I had a client who had to quickly sell a sofa on eBay because it wouldn't fit in the front door.

Q: What are some common decorating mistakes you see people make – and how can they be fixed?

A: They push all their furniture against the walls so there's a big hole in the center of the room. It's better to create seating areas -- group furniture together so that you can easily have conversations or set your glass on the coffee table.

Also, when there's no color; it's a mistake to decorate with just blah browns and beige. This is such a fun and easy solution: Bring on the color! You can add a burst of red tulips or buy throw pillows or splash the walls with a bold paint color!

Q: If you only have an afternoon to update your home, where should you focus your energy?

A: Focus on one place. The key is to focus on one room and get moving. If you have an afternoon, you could make a dramatic difference in the living room, for example. You could start by getting rid of any clutter that's accumulated, old magazines or things you just don't like.

From there you could make a big difference by buying a new rug or head to an art crawl and buy an amazing painting for over the sofa. If you want a new sofa, shop online to get an idea of styles (there are a lot of resources for this listed in "Places I Love" section of my book to help get you started) or go to vintage stores or the flea market and find a mid-century modern sofa and then reupholster it.

Q: You just got a call that your mother-in-law is on her way over. She'll be there in an hour – what are some quick tips to get the place in order?

A: Pick up the mess! If your place is already impeccable, run out and buy flowers. Flowers are a speed decorator's best friend -- they're fast, gorgeous and bursting with color, and they make any room feel vibrant and fresh.

Q: On a similar note: You have 30 minutes and zero budget – is it still possible to style things up?

A: I know this sounds simple, but here's the deal: Clean up! No matter how clean you are, there are scuffs all over the foyer and layers of dust lurking under the sofa. For dramatic improvement in 30 minutes, brighten up your home by taking all your light fixtures down and washing the globes, Windex the chandelier so it sparkles and replace burned out bulbs -- your place will gleam!

Source

Automobile Inspired Furniture of 2009

2010-02-06T14:04:00.000-08:00

If you are an auto nerd passionate about vintage cars and bikes check out this years best collection of automotive style furniture to lend a stylish look to your modern living space.

Source: Youtube

Thomas Chippendale – The Legend

2010-02-05T00:12:00.000-08:00

The name Chippendale is probably one of the most recognized names in furniture design today and his contributions to design are still as highly praised today as they were three centuries ago and many people still seek out Chippendale style furnishings to add to their antique collections.

Chippendale was born in 1718 in Yorkshire to a carpenter father and apart from the fact that he married Catherine Redshaw in 1748 little else is known about his life. His work however which was influenced by English, French and Chinese furniture design remains as an incredible example of quality antique furniture and much is known about that.

Chippendale first became well known after he published a book entitled the "Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director", which was illustrated with examples of work that he had produced for clients and which later served as a kind of catalogue for the wealthy. The book was reprinted several times and is considered by many to be the most important collection of furniture designs ever published in England.

Chippendale furniture was so important that it dominated the English furniture market from 1745 to 1770 and its influence remained strong until the late 18th century.

One can fairly neatly separate Chippendale's style into four classifications. The more English influenced pieces used motifs of lions, masques, eggs and darts. Then there is what he borrowed from the style of French Louis XV furniture which is called rococo which featured elaborate lines and embellishments. He also had a Chinese style, sometimes called Chinoiserie which featured pagodas, bamboo turnings, claw-and-ball feet, intricate latticework and lacquering. Then finally, he had a Gothic influenced style that contained pointed arches, quatrefoils and fret-worked legs.

Chippendale was best known for his desks and secretaries and he was the first to design the Pembroke table which had a drop-leaf design with an oblong or rectangular fixed centrepiece which contained a drawer underneath.

His favourite wood to work with was mahogany and he always used solid woods to construct his furniture and not veneers and it was by necessity and well as perhaps by choice because of the deep carving and details that he used.

The Chippendale style has been widely copied so it is sometimes difficult to determine the authenticity of a piece that is called a Chippendale. However one of the best ways to check for authenticity is to study the carving and if it's uniform and symmetrical then it's almost certainly not an original. Another yardstick would be the price that's being asked as most Chippendale pieces from the 18th century would sell for in excess of several thousand pounds so if your asked for much less – beware.

A last small titbit of information for you is that Thomas Chippendale had the unique distinction of being the first non-monarch to have a furniture style named after him. Not bad for a Yorkshire carpenter!

Chifforobe

2010-01-07T02:15:00.001-08:00

A chifforobe is a closet-like piece of furniture that combines a long space for hanging clothes (that is, a wardrobe or armoire) with a chest of drawers. Typically the wardrobe section runs down one side of the piece, while the drawers occupy the other side.

Chifforobes were first advertised in the 1908 Sears, Roebuck Catalogue, which described them as "a modern invention, having been in use only a short time." The term itself is a portmanteau of the words chiffonier and wardrobe. It is currently in use only in the United States, primarily in the southern portion of the country.

In Southern literature, the chifforobe appears in Carson McCullers' 1953 short story "The Ballad of Sad Café" ("The room was furnished with a large chifforobe," p. 43), in Harper Lee's 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird, in which (in chapter 18) Tom Robinson tries to help Mayella Ewell to "bust up this chiffarobe", and also in Flannery O'Connor's novel Wise Blood, in which one of the main characters returns to his childhood home only to find his mother's chifforobe in the kitchen. A chifforobe is also referenced in the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?. Also, in Mildred D. Taylor's The Land, Paul must make a chifferobe. In Cormac McCarthy's 2006 novel "The Road," the man and the child discover an abandoned farmhouse, in the parlor of which stands "an old handmade cherrywood chifforobe" (p. 22). In Gary Cooper's "Pride of the Yankees" (1942), a chifforobe bought by Lou Gehrig's loving but interfering mother is a source of contention between the new Mrs. Gehrig and her new mother-in-law.

Chifforobes are mentioned in Thomas Harris' novel, The Silence of the Lambs (1988). FBI trainee Clarice Starling comes to a small town, Potter, West Virginia: "Starling looked at the men as the cruiser pulled into the lot, and at once she knew about them. She knew they came from houses that had chifforobes instead of closets and she knew pretty much what was in the chifforobes" (chapter 12).

Chifforobes are mentioned in "Final Truth: The Autobiography of a Serial Killer" (1992) by Donald "Pee Wee" Gaskins & Wilton Earle. He tells his twelve year old statutory rape victim Patsy to hide behind a big chifforobe in a corner of his room while hiding her from police after the act. (p. 75)

A passing reference to Harper Lee's chifforobe usage in To Kill a Mockingbird occurs in an episode of 30 Rock.

This term was referenced in a November 2009 episode of Fox's "Family Guy" satirizing a relationship between Brian and his older girlfriend.

Alternative spellings, in order of usage frequency, include: chiffarobe, chifforobe, chifferobe, chiffrobe, chifrobe, and shifferobe.

Chest of drawers

2010-01-07T02:11:00.001-08:00

A chest on chest, a derivative of the simpler chest of drawers

A chest of drawers, also called (especially in North American English) a dresser and a bureau, is a piece of furniture that has multiple parallel, horizontal drawers stacked one above another. A chifforobe (from chiffonier + wardrobe) is a combination of a wardrobe and a chest of drawers.

Chests of drawers have traditionally been made and used for storing clothing, especially underwear, socks, and other items not normally hung in or otherwise stored in a closet. They are usually placed in a bedroom for this purpose, but can actually be used to store anything that will fit inside and can be placed anywhere in a house or another place. Various personal sundry items are also often stored in a chest of drawers. It has a long history as one of the stand-bys of a carpenter's workshop. A typical chest is approximately rectangular in overall shape and often has short legs at the bottom corners for placement on the floor.

Chests of drawers often come in 5-, 6-, and 7-drawer varieties, with either a single or a double top drawer. The chest illustrated at right would be described as a '2 over 5 chest-on-chest', the latter term deriving from the fact that at one time it would have been made as 2 separable pieces. They are commonly made of wood, similar to many other kinds of furniture, but of course can be made of other materials. The inside of the drawers can be accessed by pulling them out at the front side. It is often placed so that the back side faces a wall since access to the back is not necessary. The lateral sides of are also usually made such that they can be placed against a wall or in a corner. Although they can be plain in appearance, chests of drawers can also be made with a fancy or ornamental appearance, including finishes and various external color tones.

Most chests of drawers fall into one of two types: those which are about waist-high or bench-high and those (usually with more drawers) which are about shoulder-high. Both types typically have a flat surface on top. Waist-high chests often have a mirror placed vertically on top, which is often bought with the piece. While a user is getting dressed or otherwise preparing their grooming, he or she can look at themselves in the mirror to check their appearance. Some users may keep lamps for lighting on top of either kind of dresser, and decorative items or photos are sometimes added for appearance.

History

A predecessor to the chest of drawers, an early 19th Century American painted pine blanket chest

Styles

Mule Chest: A chest is commonly wider than it is high and deep. A mule chest has drawers in its base and a hinged top. beneath which there are either two short drawers or one long one. This form, introduced in England in the 1600 was popular for 100 years in England and colonial America.

In late medieval Europe the chest came into widespread use, especially in homes of the nobility. This type, also known as a coffer was more or less a simple joined wooden box with a hinged lid. It may or may not have stood on feet. An early transitional phase was the installation of one drawer beneath this main compartment. A number of early pieces from the seventeenth century are extant of oak manufacture from England, and corresponding seventeenth century pieces of French walnut have survived. Some of the early surviving English specimens are from the Charles I period. Nutting ascribes the earliest piece in his Furniture Treasury to "before 1649".

Lowboy

2010-01-07T02:10:00.001-08:00

A lowboy.

A lowboy is a small table with one or two rows of drawers, so called in contradistinction to the tallboy or highboy chest of drawers. Both were favourite pieces of the 18th century, both in England and in the United States; the lowboy was most frequently used as a dressing-table, but sometimes as a side-table. It is usually made of oak, walnut or mahogany, with the drawerfronts mounted with brass pulls and escutcheons. The more elegant examples in the Queen Anne, early Georgian, and Chippendale styles often have cabriole legs, carved knees, and slipper or claw-and-ball feet. The fronts of some examples also are sculpted with the scallop-shell motif beneath the centre drawer.

Upholstered Furniture

2010-01-07T02:03:00.002-08:00

In many pieces of furniture dating from 1680 to 1690 the upholstery is the most conspicuous feature. As a matter of fact the framing of the chair or settee is a minor detail, and the consideration of such pieces seems to come under upholstery rather than cabinet work. The majority of the large high-padded chairs were doubtless intended for the bedroom, then, as it has been pointed out, one of the chief reception rooms of the house. Settees were used with equal frequency in the bedchamber and in the state rooms. There came a time later when the best efforts of the needleworker and the upholsterer were found in the drawing-room, but in the days of Charles II. greater attention was given to the furnishing of my lady's bed-chamber, where according to the custom of the age privileged guests assembled. The large settees and chairs were chiefly covered with petit point needle-work, the patterns of which were extravagantly large, and in some instances appear to have been specially woven for the furniture, in other cases to have been indiscriminately chosen.. Sometimes settees upholstered in embroidery, velvet, and tapestry are made grotesque by the use of these large designs, which oftentimes cut into the figure and leave an unfinished design on the back of the settee or chair, the remainder of the pattern disappearing behind the cushion of the seat, and in some instances going over the head and being hidden at the back. In the same way cushion seats limited in extent by the framework of the chair were not sufficiently large to display the pattern to full advantage. In a lesser degree the large patterns of woven damasks lost their effect when used on the ends of couches and settees or on smaller chair arms. The variety of patterns during the reign of William and Mary were as numerous as the variety of materials, and the colourings were not always happily chosen. Some were most gorgeous, especially the green damasks, crimson velvets, and the blues of the tapestries and embroideries. Striking contrasts were to be seen in many of the houses where their owners could not afford to entirely furnish a room en suite, but indiscriminately used such furniture and materials as they might possess. Undoubtedly while French Huguenots, and those whom they taught, were working away at Spitalfields the needlework hobby was extending, and hand-worked furniture, upholstery, and coverings were being made everywhere by the lady of the household and those she employed.

Although reference is made in the foregoing pages to the fine examples of upholstered furniture found in the homes of the wealthy and in royal palaces, the middle classes and those who were engaged in commerce were furnishing their houses with walnut furniture. Their upholstery was of a more homely kind, but it was none the less handsome in proportion to the other surroundings of the house. Ladies everywhere were plying the needle. It was indeed the age of needlework and the beautiful petit point or tent stitch. In some cases flowered damask sufficed for the coverings of the broad and copious backs of the walnut-framed chairs, but in nearly every household needlework was wrought, and little by little favourite chairs were covered with home-made embroidery. Large patterns continued popular, but when ladies had work on hand without any intention of buying new furniture, they usually worked a piece suitable for the chair they had already, and which they intended to re-cover with the labour of their hands.

In Fig. 41 is shown an early walnut chair with upholstered seat and back, and some carving on the arms and feet. Fig. 42 is a walnut settee, 1715-1720, also upholstered in petit point needlework with brass studs, the legs being quite plain cabriole design.

A new era in house furnishing came in with the advent of wall papers. The age of oak had been famous for the rich panelling of the walls with wood, for inlays and carvings, just as at an earlier date tapestries, covered the walls. The first patent for the manufacture of printed wall paper was granted in 1691 to W. Bayly. At that time it was of course very expensive, and was seldom used excepting in the homes of the wealthy ; indeed until the commencement of the nineteenth century whitewash and the colouring of the walls by lime and dry colours sufficed in many houses.

WALNUT TABLES AND BUREAUS

The gate-legged tables, so popular in the reigns of Charles II. and James II.., remained the type generally met with in English homes during the reigns of William and Mary, and Anne, and even in George I's day ; but during the reign of Anne there was a change which gradually caused the gate-legged table to be received with less favour. It was then that a Dutch or club-footed table, supported by cabriole legs without stretchers, came in. It was found suitable for flap leaves, and could be made either square or oblong. The new style became the groundwork of the beautiful walnut Queen Anne card-tables, which, covered with baize, served such a useful purpose, and could be extended by the addition of five flaps. Although walnut was used at first, mahogany was found equally as suitable, and when that wood came into general use the Dutch style was continued. Smaller tables became the vogue, and many were used as side-tables. Then when the day came for more refined bedroom appointments similar tables were used as dressing-tables.

Chests of drawers and bureaus were made during the days of Queen Anne, surmounted by bookcases and cupboards, a typical example shown in Fig. 43 being recently in the Hatfield Gallery of Antiques. The divisions of the interior were well made, and the brass handles and escutcheons strong and serviceable. In the example illustrated the candlestick slides should be noted, also the inlays and carved ornament.

Contemporary with the Age of Walnut commoner chairs were made in this country ; the kitchen furniture of the days of Queen Anne and the early Georgian period consisted largely of locally - made chairs and tables. The most popular styles of chairs were those known as "Windsor" and "rush bottom," and from these two base - lines many minor developments took place. The early eighteenth - century chairs were made by village carpenters and local chair-makers, and as the middle classes evolved they were for a long time satisfied with such furniture as they could obtain near at hand. The evolution of chairs, other than those made of walnut, already referred to, is a very interesting study, and collectors who desire to obtain chairs contemporary with the period they are specialising upon, or to identify any old chairs they may have that have come down to them as heirlooms, will find some useful hints given in the somewhat exhaustive account of chairs (see chapter xxiii.).

Walnut furniture continued to be made for some time after the days when walnut was the chief wood used. At that time there were many screens, stools, and sundry articles of furniture made for the needlework so many ladies were working. Generally speaking, there was not much activity among cabinet - makers during the last few years of the walnut period. There were, however, some new pieces introduced, for it was then that the rage came in for china cabinets and bureau-cabinets. Architectural ornament was then being introduced in the pediments of bureau-cupboards and book-cases. The same influence was at work when room decorations were contemplated. At that time, too, houses were being erected in large towns on sites which had hitherto been unoccupied, and in London on sites which had been vacant from the time of the Great Fire ; for those houses some new furniture was required. A change was taking place in outside architecture, frontages were being beautified by the erection of over-doors and carved porticos, incidentally influencing the carving of overdoors in the houses. There was also quite a rage for fine wrought iron work, such as railings and gates. It was about that time that Tijou published a " New Book of Drawings," showing a variety of designs for architectural work. This artist's work was much sought after, for he had then completed the magnificent gates and screens of wrought iron at Hampton Court Palace.

Those who are wishful to examine more fully the carver's art, and also the beautiful wrought iron work of the period, may do so at the Victoria and Albert Museum, where there are many examples in the wrought iron gallery. In the same museum there are some especially interesting examples of walnut furniture of a late date. There is a settee with walnut - wood arms which curl over and terminate with the heads and beaks of eagles. The cabriole legs are distinctive in that they have the cabochon - and - leaf decoration upon the bend.

Source: Old & Sold

Boulle's Inlays

2010-01-07T02:03:00.001-08:00

Andre Charles Boulle was one of those artists who now and then in the history of a country's craftsmanship stand out as the initiator of some new process. His invention or method by which he beautified cabinet work by the introduction of foreign substances, was quite new—it was something that had not been thought of by any one else. This famous artist was a worker in ebony, gradually improving his work by inlays and clever coverings with ornaments of brass and other metals. His great success, however, was inlaid tortoiseshell, cut out and encrusted with arabesques, and ornaments of thin brass and white metal, many of which were elaborately engraved, as well as being inlaid. Boulle appears to have been a man of many abilities, for in royal patents granted to him in respect of his inventions and processes he is described as : " Architect, painter, carver in mosaic, artist in cabinet-work, craftsman in veneer, chaser and inlayer; and designer of figures." Briefly describing the most popular of his processes, it may be explained that his work in tortoiseshell and brass was effected by cutting the two substances together in fanciful fretwork, and then pressing the cut-through materials together, thus forming an inlay. After this process had been carried out the metallic portions of the inlay were surface-engraved, the graver's tool thus giving life to the object. Objects so decorated in some instances represented insects and animals, in others his ornament was merely decorative scroll-work or fanciful design. The colouring of Boulle work differs, sometimes it is brown, at others red or black, the colouring matter being placed under the tortoiseshell inlay.

Most of the Boulle pieces were very massive, such objects as commodes, bureaus, and desks being further enriched by the free use of handsome metal handles, and corner ornaments. Boulle also made smaller tables and cabinets for private houses, together with caskets, ink-stands, bookcases, and cupboards. He was an artist who was much copied, and connoisseurs are reminded that comparatively few of the pieces met with in dealers' shops, or coming under the hammer, were made by the great master or in his workshop. Some of his imitators used horn instead of tortoiseshell, adding blue or vermilion paint, until some of the work became extravagant and almost ludicrous. Inferior Boulle work was made up of the portions cut out of the metal and tortoiseshell sheets which had been first operated upon in the construction of the better pieces. The name given to this second quality by French artists was coutre partie, as distinct from the premiere partie, that consisting of the original fret or inlay. Many of the collectors' pieces which come into the market nowadays are found to be defective, and others have been indifferently repaired at an earlier date, such pieces being " restored " by those who have not had the experience of the original maker.

The finest and most reliable examples of Boulle work which may be inspected are those met with in the Wallace Collection, and the few very choice examples in the Victoria and Albert Museum, especially a Boulle cabinet in the Jones bequest, which is said to have cost its owner £5,000. One of the most beautiful examples in the Victoria and Albert Museum is the commode in the style of Bergin, bequeathed by the late Mrs Julia Bonnar. It was formerly in the possession of her father, Captain Charles Spencer Ricketts. The top of this beautiful commode is covered with brass and tortoiseshell inlays, enriched by the addition of mother-of-pearl and green and blue enamels. These are wrought into mythical designs in which Cupid and Psyche figure. In the Wallace Collection there are two cabinets of ebony with marqueterie of tortoiseshell and white metal on yellow metal, and mounts of gilt-bronze cast and chased after the style of the Louis XIV. period, but said to have been made by a skilful imitator in the reign of Louis XVI. There is also a cabinet of ebony and marqueterie of the same materials, in the metal being set a medallion of Henry IV., King of France. That cabinet is also of the style of Louis XIV., but probably made later. Another well-known example in Hertford House is a cabinet of ebony with panels decorated with floral designs in marqueterie of various woods ; the ornamental bands and plaques are in marqueterie of metal, ebony, and tortoise-shell. The style is closely allied to the earlier period of Louis XIII., but the tentative marqueterie work denotes a transition to the style of Louis XIV., and presents the curious characteristics of that peculiar work of the ebenisterie of Andre Charles Boulle. A prominent feature of this magnificent cabinet is the crowning decoration of gilt-bronze, consisting of a military trophy, in the centre of which is a medallion of Louis XIV. in his early manhood. In the same collection there is an armoire in ebony, also by Boulle. It is enriched with marqueterie of metal and tortoiseshell, the mounts of gilt bronze being cast and chased. The central ornament of the face of the armoire is a nymph and young satyr, at the sides being plaques in low relief, symbolising Summer and Autumn. Another piece of Boulle's work is a coffret de mariage (marriage casket) in ebony, standing on a base of the same wood. Both are decorated with the usual marqueterie and gilt bronze ornament. There is a second marriage chest in the collection, the special feature of which is the peculiar red tortoiseshell of the inlays.

Collectors need not be disheartened on account of the many fine pieces named as representative of the style, for minor examples are often rich in marqueterie and inlay, some of which are made up of bois du roi ("King wood "), the name given to a species of West Indian wood which is somewhat darker than mahogany.

It was when China and Japan had sent over their wonderful productions in lacquered wares that European connoisseurs became interested in this, to them, new art. As a natural consequence, cabinet-makers in France and afterwards in England commenced to manufacture the nearest approach to Oriental lacquer or varnished wares they were able to produce. To a large extent, they were successful, but they had to contend with the natural difficulties of producing a gum or lacquer to take the place of the Oriental lac which could only be applied under conditions which prevailed exclusively in the country where the trees from which the lac was obtained grew. The most celebrated exponents of European lacquer work, as applied to furniture and household furnishings, were the Martins, who about the middle of the eighteenth century produced some of their marvellous works of art in the " Royal Manufactory," the title given to their factories and cabinet works, one of which was in faubourg Saint Martin, another in the faubourg Saint Denis, and the third in the rue Saint Magloire. The French Dauphin purchased many cabinet specimens, and other members of the royal house of France added to the nation's treasures. Some of these choice examples are still stored at Versailles. The Martins were specially famous for their black lacquers, and they applied their special varnish, closely copying the Chinese, upon all kinds of metals and woods, as well as on leather and pasteboard.

In the reign of Louis XV. porcelain was evident everywhere, A room was considered incomplete unless filled with priceless china. It was a time when the potters of Saxony had discovered the art of making a hard paste like the Chinese. In the reign of Louis XVI. there were some 'additions to the furnishings of the palace. Then delicate paintings became evident, and Sevres porcelain was in the ascendent. Many of these delightful ceramics were introduced, harmonising with the rosewood veneers. The dead gilding of the bronzes incorporated in furniture was relieved by Sevres plaques and panels. Those combinations formed a happy relief to the wood-work and took off some of the extravagance of ornamentation, just as the porcelain of China and Japan relieved the severity of the marqueterie and bronze of the Louis XIV. period. Undoubtedly the Sevres panels and porcelain were fittingly appropriate to the furniture of that day, for they would not have been suitable on Boulle cabinets of Louis XVI.

Bedrooms on a Budget

2009-12-05T00:35:00.000-08:00

Create a budget-friendly bedroom by learning to do it yourself. RMSer kblalock and her husband designed a sophisticated headboard from an old door and even built their own cornice boards to highlight the windows.

Smart shopping is all you need to achieve a chic, yet cheap bedroom. RMSer trickygurl found a bed for only $200 and purchased a nightstand at Goodwill for $6 that she updated with spray paint and hardware.

Inspired by Madeline prints her father gave her, RMSer MrsLime designs a gorgeous French-inspired bedroom around them. A combination of hand-me-downs and savvy purchases create a stunning yet simple space for her guests.

Achieve a design trend, like everyone's favorite brown and blue combination, without spending a fortune. RMSer Tammy181 infused her bedroom with the color palette by purchasing accessories from T.J. Maxx and craft stores, like Hobby Lobby.

Source: HGTV

3-Stage Makeover: Elegant Dining Room

2009-11-05T21:58:00.001-08:00

Bland as clear broth, this dining room lacked spice. A three-step makeover adds piquant tang with a generous dash of exotic flavor.

With generous proportions, handsome floors, and a distinctive niche, this dining room has loads of latent promise. But the room is too neutral, the floor blends with the furniture, and the lighting fixtures and draperies are wimpy. The dining set is a gorgeous choice for an inspiration piece. Its striking Chinese Chippendale style is timeless and suggests a design direction for the room. The table is set with simple china and crystal that, while a little too understated, create a solid foundation upon which to build.

Stage 1: Plain Dining

The alcove is a terrific feature that increases serving space, creates a natural focal point, and balances the room's pair of tall windows. The arrangement within the alcove, however, underwhelms. The console table is beautiful but underscaled for the niche. The mirror is dowdy and the spindly lamps belong in another house entirely. Walls and window treatments have the clout to make or break a room and in this case, it's the latter. Dining rooms offer the perfect canvas for invigorating color, but this room's beige-and-white scheme plays it far too safe. The windows' drama is stifled by timid draperies that melt into the walls.

Stage 1: Must-Have Basics

When shopping for china or dinnerware, first evaluate your lifestyle. Will the dishes be used only on special occasions or do you want something you can enjoy routinely and dress up for the holidays? White plates with a simple edge design are the easiest to coordinate with a variety of layering pieces. When choosing accent items, take cues from your dining room: Hand-glazed stoneware may be great on an Arts and Crafts table but odd on a Chippendale.

Stage 2: Adding Sophistication

The dining table is twice as commanding when anchored by an eye-catching rug. The subtle Greek key pattern echoes the chairs' fretwork, while the anything-but-subtle coral hue establishes the table as a focal point. A black pendant lamp adds dramatic scale with a contemporary twist. Walls and window treatments haven't changed dramatically -- they're often among the final touches in a room's decor. The tired sheer panels have been replaced with simple white shades, while the bold new rug cues the need for more color.

Stage 2: Simple Upgrades

The alcove houses a modern interpretation of a Chinese altar table that serves as a bar, while the handsome console table has found a better fit on the adjacent wall. Dragonfly prints -- Web clip art framed in faux gold-leaf molding -- reinforce the dining room's budding Asian aesthetic.

Stage 2: Building Layers

Accent plates don't have to be precious; look for distinctive dishes at import stores and catalog retailers. Chargers lend heft to a place setting and present an opportunity to incorporate contrasting materials, such as lacquer or metal, or shapes, such as squares.

Stage Three: Dashing Dining

With the furniture in place, it's the windows, walls, and accessories that propel this dining room past the finish line. Timid beige is ousted by swaggering color and pattern, and the tall windows finally receive their due. The table sets the stage for a chic evening. The simple white china is layered with graphic peony-pattern dinnerware, and votive holders are filled with marzipan favors. The runner fabric is a mid-century classic, but its crisp black-and-white geometry is perfect in the room's mix.

Stage Three: Add Accents

Seek out unexpected accents for the table -- decorative votive holders make clever personal candy dishes.

Stage Three: Dressed Up Alcove

The alcove is clad with boards to suggest the grid of a shoji screen. The altar table is bracketed by sculptural lamps that make a big statement. Unusual in a dining room, the floor lamps are an unexpected choice that ups the style quotient. A mirror framed in back-painted glass lends an exotic air.

Stage Three: Dramatic Walls

Walls and window treatments make all the difference in this makeover. Daring and glamorous, this wallpaper is certainly no wallflower. The bright orange and pink balance the rug, while black and white accents keep the powerful paper from going over the top.

Stage Three: Well Dressed Windows

Towering draperies play up the great windows and mirror the painted-white alcove. Black grosgrain trim echoes the chairs' fretwork, incorporates the rug's Greek key design, and adds a contemporary twist on a classic Asian motif.

Source: Better Homes & Gardens

Soothing Bedroom Just in Time for Baby

2009-10-15T20:25:00.000-07:00

This master bedroom is mid-renovation.

Candice Olson creates a much needed retreat for newlyweds.

By Candice Olson

Before: Dingy and Disheveled

When newlyweds Jeff and Tamara purchased their home a year ago, they started a massive renovation project. But their work stopped abruptly when life presented them with some unexpected ups and downs. While they got the great news that they were expecting their first child, they also found out two months later that Tamara had cancer. Needless to say, they quickly shelved plans to finish the house and began what seemed like an endless stream of medical appointments.

Fast forward one year, and things are on the upswing. Baby Jasmine has been welcomed into the world, and Tamara has been given a clean bill of health. But since the couple’s bedroom was left unfinished during their renovation, it was important to Jeff that it be completed and transformed into an oasis in which Tamara could relax with their daughter. So after receiving his letter asking for help, I grabbed my crew and geared up to give the family a bedroom sanctuary that would help them unwind after a tough year.

The existing bedroom was bland, boring and very blue. It needed more light, more storage and an airier, more contemporary look. To give it the soothing, peaceful vibe I wanted, I looked to nature for my colors, fabrics and finishes.

Using organic materials and nature-inspired patterns and colors, Candice created a soothing sanctuary for two.

After: Breezy Oasis

Taking inspiration from a fabric with a cherry blossom pattern, I decided to fill the room with soothing shades of cream, green and bark, and I started things off by painting the room in a fresh coat of celery green.
I made a fantastic bed the focal point of this room. I used a sustainable wood frame and an organic rubber mattress, and then I topped it all off with natural cotton and linen bedding in meadow-inspired shades. But the big story here is the headboard, made of a blown-up floral pattern put on canvas and then on Masonite.

Flanking the bed are two dark walnut bedside tables with storage drawers that are backed with mirrors and sconces above it. At the foot of the bed, I put a wooden bench with a soft, buttery green vinyl top.

Opposite the bed is an oddly angled area, which I filled up with a mix of open and closed, custom and store-bought storage features. I also put in a small chair and a gorgeous wood table to sit below the room’s windows. On these windows, I put up the cherry-blossom patterned fabric for a light and airy feel. For privacy, I also installed some green and bark woven blinds.

To lighten and brighten the room, I put in some well-placed monopoint lighting, in addition to a centerpiece fixture on the ceiling comprising a simple, modern linen shade with a diffuser on the bottom to create a relaxing glow.

After adding accents and accessories, including a beautiful and colorful composition of carved blocks on the wall, I called this relaxing space complete.

The unfinished, blue bedroom wasn’t cutting the calm criteria, so I called on Mother Nature to help create a soothing room full of relaxing hues and natural fabrics that play softly against stylish linear furniture and cabinetry. Now the room is a mix of organic and modern; it’s a breezy oasis that is just what the doctor ordered for Tamara, Jeff and baby Jasmine. Now that’s divine!

Source: HGTV

Sideboard

2009-09-01T03:36:00.000-07:00

Modern sideboard

A sideboard is an item of furniture traditionally used in the dining room for serving food, for displaying serving dishes such as silver, and for storage. It usually consists of a set of cabinets, or cupboards, and one or more drawers, all topped by a flat display surface for conveniently holding food, serving dishes, and even lighting devices. The overall height of the tops of most sideboards is approximately waist level.

The earliest versions of the sideboard familiar today made their appearance in the 18th century, but they gained most of their popularity during the 19th century as households became prosperous enough to dedicate a room solely to dining. Sideboards were made in a range of decorative styles and were frequently ornamented with costly veneers and inlays. In later years, sideboards have been placed in living rooms or other areas where household items might be displayed.

In traditional, formal dining rooms today, an antique sideboard is a desirable and fashionable accessory, and finely styled versions from the late-18th or early-19th centuries are the most sought after and costly today. Among its counterparts in modern furniture styles, the form is often referred to as a server. Some of the earliest production of sideboards arose in England, France, Belgium and Scotland. Later, American designs arose. Characteristic materials used in historic sideboard manufacture include oak, pine and walnut.

Sheraton Style

2009-08-31T22:49:00.000-07:00

A Sheraton style chair with rectangular back

Sheraton is a late 18th century neoclassical English furniture style, in vogue ca 1785 - 1800, that was coined by 19th century collectors and dealers to credit furniture designer Thomas Sheraton, born in Stockton-on-Tees, England in 1751 and whose books, "The Cabinet Dictionary" (1803) of engraved designs and the "Cabinet Maker's & Upholsterer's Drawing Book" (1791) of furniture patterns exemplify this style. The Sheraton style was inspired by the Louis XVI style and features round tapered legs, fluting and most notably contrasting veneer inlays. Sheraton style furniture takes lightweight rectilinear forms, using satinwood, mahogany and tulipwood, sycamore and rosewood for inlaid decorations, though painted finishes and brass fittings are also to be found. Swags, husks, flutings, festoons, and rams' heads are amongst the common motifs applied to pieces of this style.

Without pedantic archaeology, it brought the Neo-Classical taste of architects like Robert Adam within reach of the middle class. In many respects Sheraton style corresponds with the contemporary Directoire style of France. The Sheraton style was the most reproduced style in the United States during the Federal period.

Mission Style Furniture

2009-08-31T22:25:00.000-07:00

Mission Furniture is a style of furniture that originated in the late 19th Century. It traces its origins to a chair in a San Francisco Church. The term mission furniture was first coined by Jose McHugh of New York. The word mission references the Spanish missions throughout colonial California. The style became increasingly popular following the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, New York in 1901. The following years saw designers begin to blend the original style with Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau.

Art Deco

Vase by Daum (c. 1900).

Chair designed by Henry Van de Velde for his house "Bloemenwerf" in Brussels.

Art Deco Furniture Collection, Royal Ontario Museum

Design Philosophy

Mission Style is a design that emphasizes simple horizontal and vertical lines and flat panels that accentuate the grain of the wood (usually oak).

Influential People and Companies

Many designers and companies played an important role in the development of the design over the years. L&JG Stickley, Stickley Brothers, Charles Limbert, Charles Rohlfs, Grand Rapids Bookcase and Chair Company (Lifetime), The Shop of the Crafters, Frank Lloyd Wright and Greene and Greene.

Tuffet

2009-08-31T22:19:00.000-07:00

1940's Poster promoting reading among children

Tuffet, pouffe or hassock are all terms for a piece of furniture used as a footstool or low seat. It is distinguished from a stool by being completely covered in fabric so that no legs are visible. It is essentially a large hard cushion that may have an internal wooden frame to give it more rigidity. Wooden feet may be added to the base to give it stability. If the piece is larger, so that storage can take place inside it, then it is generally known as an ottoman.

Hassock has special association with churches, as it is used to describe the thick cushions employed by the congregation to kneel on while in prayer.

The names tuffet and hassock are both derived from English names for a small grassy hillock or clump of grass, in use since at least the sixteenth century. Pouffe is a nineteenth century French import for "something puffed out".

A tuffet is also an English unit of capacity, equal to 2 pecks, or half a bushel.

Another connotation of the word tuffet is the description of an inflatable landing area for precision accuracy parachute landings.

Bergère

2009-08-31T22:08:00.000-07:00

A French Empire bergère by Pierre-Antoine Bellange, c. 1815, of gessoed and gilded beech, in the Blue Room of the White House.

A bergère is an enclosed upholstered French armchair (fauteuil) with an upholstered back and armrests on upholstered frames. The seat frame is over-upholstered, but the rest of the wooden framing is exposed: it may be moulded or carved, and of beech painted or gilded or of fruitwood, walnut or mahogany with a waxed finish. Padded elbowrests may stand upon the armrests. A bergère is fitted with a loose, but tailored, seat cushion. It is designed for lounging in comfort, with a deeper wider seat than that of a regular fauteuil, though the bergères by Bellange in the White House (one illustrated) are more formal. A bergère in the eighteenth century was essentially a meuble courant, designed to be moved about to suit convenience, rather than being ranged permanently formally along the walls as part of the decor.

The fanciful name, "shepherdess chair", was coined in mid-eighteenth century Paris, where the model developed without a notable break from the late-seventeenth century chaise de commodité, a version of the wing chair, whose upholstered "wings" shielding the face from fireplace heat or from draughts were retained in the bergère à oreilles ("with ears"), or, fancifully, bergère confessionale, as if the occupant were hidden from view, as in a confessional. A bergère may have a flat, raked back, in which case it is à la reine, or, more usually in Louis XV furnishings, it has a coved back, en cabriolet. A bergère with a low coved back that sweeps without a break into the armrests is a marquise.

Appearing first in Paris during the Régence (1715-23), the form reaches its full development in the unifying curves of the rococo style, then continues in a more architectural rectilinear style in the Louis XVI, Directoire, and French and American Empire styles.

Fauteuil

2009-08-31T22:03:00.000-07:00

Fauteuil by Pierre-Antoine Bellange, c. 1815. Gilded beech, gesso, with 1996 reproduction silk jacquard based upon an 1815 Tassinari et Chatel document. Located in the Blue Room of the White House.

A fauteuil is a style of open-arm chair with a primarily exposed wooden frame originating in France in the early eighteenth century. A fauteuil is made of wood, and frequently with carved relief ornament. It is typically upholstered on the seat, the seat back and on the arms (manchettes). Some fauteuils have a valenced front seat rail which is padding that extends slightly over the apron. The exposed wooden elements are often gilded or otherwise painted.

Fauteuil

Attributed to Nicolas Foliot

Mid-18th century

France

Wood, carved and gilt, upholstered in red velvet, silver embroidery

113 x 77 x 90 cm

This armchair is part of a suite which was made for Louis XV's daughter, the Princess of Parma, who decorated her Italian palace with furniture imported from Paris. Unlike the other two armchairs of this suite, now in collections in the United States and France, the Hermitage example has retained its original upholstery with embroidery on the back and seat, which complements wonderfully the carved decoration.

Curio (furniture)

2009-08-01T04:55:00.000-07:00

A curio is a predominantly glass cabinet with a metal or wood framework used to display collections of figurines that share some common theme. Most curios have glass on each side or a mirror at the back and glass levels to show the entire figurine. A curio prevents dust and vermin from destroying the value of the collection. Curios are also used to display single crafted dolls. A curio is different from a display case, in that while a display case is usually horizontal to display jewellery for sale on top of a felt bottom, a curio is vertical to show standing items and usually has no bottom lining.

Hall Tree

2009-08-01T04:50:00.001-07:00

A Hall Tree is a piece of furniture, usually found in hallways or near the entryway of homes, on which people hang items such as hats, coats, or other clothing. They often have mirrors and drawers to store personal items such as wallets, sunglasses, money, etc. Many incorporate a bench to sit upon while putting on or taking off footware. The bench seat is often hinged with a storage space underneath often used for shoes, hats and gloves. Most Hall Trees are made of wood. In Victorian times some of the better quality hall trees were made of walnut or oak.

See also:

Cloakroom

Coat closet

Entryway

Hatstand

Watchman's chair

Cupboards

2009-08-01T04:45:00.000-07:00

English livery cupboard approximately 1600 to 1640

Decorative crockery and bibelots in vitré armoire or vitrina

A cupboard (pronounced /ˈkʌbərd/) or press (Hiberno-English) is a type of cabinet, often made of wood, used indoors to store household objects such as food and crockery, and protect them from dust and dirt.

As the name suggests, this piece of furniture was originally a simple board or table on which to place cups or mugs - recorded use of such a name dates back to at least the Middle Ages. For the last few centuries, "cupboard" has referred to a storage area enclosed by doors.

The term cupboard originally was used to describe an open shelved side table for displaying plates and cups and saucers. These open cupboards typically had between one and three display tiers, and at the time, a drawer or multiple drawers fitted to it. The word cupboard gradually came to mean a closed piece of furniture.[1]

Airing cupboard

An airing cupboard is a large built-in wardrobe, sometimes of walk-in dimensions, containing a water heater; typically an immersion heater for hot running water rather than a boiler for central heating water. Shelves, usually slatted to allow for circulation of heat, are positioned above or around the heater to provide storage for clothing, typically linen and towelling. The purpose is to prevent damp rather than to dry wet clothing. Other names include "boiler cupboard", or (in Ireland) "hot press".

China cabinet

The very first china cabinet was created during the King William and Queen Mary era (1689-1702) in England. William and Mary came from Holland, and brought with them lots of Dutch craftsmen. Queen Mary was obsessed with the Blue and White china that was being imported in Europe, so she commissioned the craftsmen to create a special cabinet that would display some of her personal collection. The cabinet itself was made of walnut, so it had to be moved with a stretcher because the large piece was too heavy for the small legs that were under it. It had a glass door, which were glass panes, which at this time were created by blowing glass into compartments and then spreading it into sheets. The original china cabinet had an oriental influence to go with the idea of the Blue and White china.

Linen cupboard

A linen cupboard is an enclosed recess of a room used for storing household linen, usually with shelves; or a free-standing piece of furniture for this purpose. [2]

Thomas Chippendale

2009-07-03T03:35:00.000-07:00

A provincial Chippendale-style chair with elaborate "Gothick" tracery splat back

Thomas Chippendale (Otley, near Leeds baptised 16 June [O.S. 5 June] 1718 - November 1779) was a London cabinet-maker and furniture designer in the mid-Georgian, English Rococo, and Neoclassical styles. He went to London in 1749 where, in 1754, he became the first cabinet-maker to publish a book of his designs, titled The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director. Three editions were published, the first in 1754, followed by a virtual reprint in 1755, and finally a revised and enlarged edition in 1762, by which time Chippendale's illustrated designs began to show signs of Neoclassicism.

Chippendale was much more than just a cabinet maker, he was an interior designer who advised on soft furnishings and even the colour a room should be painted. He worked in partnership initially with the upholsterer James Rannie and later with Rannie's assistant, Thomas Haig, but artistic control of the luxurious furnishings that came from his premises in St. Martin's Lane was firmly in Chippendale's hands.

"A Design for a State Bed" from the Director, 1762

In 1978, Christopher Gilbert was able to identify from among over sixty known clients twenty-six documented commissions where surviving furniture by Chippendale could be identified, much of it still in the aristocratic houses for which it was made. Chippendale furniture was supplied to Blair Castle, Perthshire, for the Duke of Atholl (1758); Wilton House, for Henry, 10th Earl of Pembroke (c 1759-1773); Nostell Priory, Yorkshire, for Sir Roland Winn, Bt (1766-85); Mersham Le Hatch, Kent, for Sir Edward Knatchbull, Bt (1767-79); furnishings for the royal family and for the actor David Garrick both in town and at his villa at Hampton, Middlesex; Normanton Park, Rutland and other houses for Sir Gilbert Heathcote Bt (1768-78) that included the management of a funeral for Lady Bridget Heathcote, 1772; Harewood House, Yorkshire, for Edwin Lascelles (1767-78); Newby Hall, Yorkshire, for William Weddell (c 1772-76); Temple Newsam, Yorkshire, for Lord Irwin (1774); Paxton House, Berwickshire, Scotland, for Ninian Home (1774-91); Burton Constable Hall, Yorkshire for William Constable (1768-79); Petworth House, Sussex and other houses for George Wyndham, 3rd Earl of Egremont (1777-79), to name only the most outstanding commissions.

He collaborated in furnishing interiors designed by Robert Adam and at Brocket Hall, Hertfordshire, and Melbourne House, London, for Lord Melbourne, with Sir William Chambers (c. 1772-75).

"Two Bookcases", from the Director, 1754

His workshop was continued by his son, Thomas Chippendale, the younger (1749-1822), who worked in the later Neoclassical and Regency styles, "the rather slick delicacy of Adam's final phase", as Christopher Gilbert assessed it. A bankruptcy and sale of remaining stock in the St. Martin's Lane premises in 1804 did not conclude the firm's latest phase, as the younger Chippendale supplied furniture to Sir Richard Colt Hoare at Stourhead until 1820 (Edwards and Jourdain 1955: 88).

Recognizably "Chippendale" furniture was produced in Dublin and Philadelphia, as might be expected, but also in Lisbon, Copenhagen, and Hamburg. Catherine the Great and Louis XVI both possessed copies of the Director in its French edition. (Gilbert 1978, xvii). As a folk hero of English craftsmanship, he is enshrined as a full-size sculpted figure standing among other notables adorning the facade of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

A Chinese Chippendale desk

His designs became very popular again during the middle to late 19th century, leading to widespread adoption of his name in revivals of his style, so much so that dealers spoke of "Chinese Chippendale", "Gothic Chippendale", and even "Irish Chippendale". Many of these later designs that attach his name bear little relationship to his original concepts.

Thomas Chippendale's workshop, in Otley, West Yorkshire.

The "Chinese Chippendale" chair is characterized with having a pagoda roofline, dragon motifs, and flipped up ears on the top. The body of the chair has fretwork, a stretcher for carving, a drop in seat with an exposed wooden apron. Its legs are sober in the back and square in section, on block feet. The "Gothick Chippendale" chair has a cupid's bow crest rail, highly pierced splat, and a stretcher that is for show rather than function. The chair also has a completely covered seat as opposed to the drop in seat. The legs are straight or square but do not sit on feet. This chair has a masculine and rectilinear quality. The "Neo-classical Chippendale" chair is a lyre back chair. The integrated crest rail at the top has flipped up ears. There is a boss, or circular decorated motif, often incorporated into the design of this chair. The central splat is in the shape of a lyre. Greek and Roman motifs are often also incorporated into the chair. This chair differs from the Gothick Chippendale by having a drop in seat. It is similar to the Chinese Chippendale by having an exposed apron.

There is a statue and memorial plaque dedicated to Chippendale outside the old Prince Henry's Grammar School in Manor Square, in his home town of Otley, near Leeds, Yorkshire.

External links:

The Chippendale Society

Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director, first edition, 1754 – online as part of the University of Wisconsin's Digital Library for the Decorative Arts and Material Culture.

Thomas Chippendale - The Legend!

Tallboy (furniture)

2009-07-03T03:14:00.000-07:00

Philadelphia Highboy with cabriole legs.

A Lowboy in the same style might likely consist of the lower two drawers.

• Other varieties contained drawers on the bottom but retained capability to hang clothes in the upper cabinet.

A tallboy is a piece of furniture incorporating a double chest of drawers and a wardrobe on top. A highboy is similar but consists of both upper and lower having drawers, many of which may not be doubled, and some of which were tripled. A lowboy, is a table-height set of drawers designed to hold a clothes chest, which was and had been the predominant place one stored clothes for many centuries.

Where as the chest of drawers in its familiar form contains three long and two short drawers, the tallboy has five, six, or seven long drawers, and two short ones. It is a very late 17th-century development of the smaller chest. The early examples are walnut, but by far the largest portion of the many that have survived are mahogany, this being the wood most frequently employed in the 18th century for the construction of furniture, especially the more massive pieces. Occasionally the walnut at the beginning of the vogue was inlaid, just as satinwood varieties were inlaid, depending for relief upon carved cornice-mouldings or gardrooning, and upon handsome brass handles and escutcheons.

The tallboy was the wardrobe of the 18th century, but it eventually gave place to the modern type of wardrobe, which, with its sliding doors, was speedily found to be not only capacious as its predecessor but more convenient of access. The topmost drawers of the tallboy could only be reached by the use of bed steps, and the disappearance of high beds and the consequent disuse of steps exercised a certain influence in displacing a characteristic piece of furniture which was popular for at least a century. This is in contrast to a lower piece of furniture called a lowboy.

Philadelphia

In the mid-18th century, highboys in North America became very ornate. The most elaborate pieces came from Philadelphia. At that time it was one of the most important cities both before and after the American Revolution and was a center of style and culture.

External links:

National Gallery Of Art (Highboy)

Tallboys And The Like

Queen Anne chair

2009-06-17T04:09:00.000-07:00

A Queen Anne chair is a chair in the Queen Anne style of furniture design that developed in England in the 18th century. Queen Anne chairs are characterized by simple. curvilinear lines, vasiform splats, and cabriole legs. Seats often feature a horseshoe shape. The most important decorative elements are carved shell and scroll motifs, often found on the crest and knees.

Cabriole legged marble topped table.

The Queen Anne style was a continuation of the William and Mary style of furniture design. Its cabriole legs were influenced by the designs of the French cabinetmaker André-Charles Boulle. But the intricate ornamentation of post-Restoration furniture was abandoned in favor more conservative designs, possibly under the influence of the simple and elegant lines of imported Chinese furniture.

A variation of the Queen Anne chair was the Queen Anne wingback chair. Fully upholstered with the exception of the exposed wood legs, the Queen Anne wingback has sides folded inward to keep heat contained within the chair. All four of the cabriole legs legs sit on padded feet. The shoulders of the back droop slightly to give a more feminine look to the style, in contrast to the squared shoulders of the masculine King George wingback chair.

Armchair

This Philadelphia armchair, with its highly articulated vasiform splat, exhibits the seamless blending of curving forms into a single, harmonious design that defines the Queen Anne chair style. The Queen Anne style, imported from England, flourished in the United States from about 1725 until 1760. Elements of the chair, such as the carved shell and scroll motifs on the crest rail and knees, the sculptural contouring of the arms and arm supports, the fine beading on the outer edges of the stiles and arms, and the gracefully flaring trifid feet, are characteristic of high-style Philadelphia workmanship.

Furniture Style

2009-06-17T04:01:00.000-07:00

Furniture Style

Type business:

magazine

Format:

Paper and online magazine

Owner:

Vance Publishing Corp.

Editor:

Romy Schafer

Founded:

1996

Language:

English

Headquarters:

Lincolnshire, Illinois, USA

Circulation:

25,000

Furniture Style (magazine) is a monthly business-to-business magazine and Web site serving home furnishings retailers, specificially furniture retailers, and interior designers. Owned by William C. Vance's Vance Publishing Corp., the magazine is BPA-audited and reaches 25,000 furniture retail professionals in the United States and Canada. The magazine is based in Lincolnshire, Illinois, at Vance Publishing's corporate headquarters; it was founded in October 1996. Key members of the editorial staff include Julie M. Smith, publisher; Romy Schafer, editor; Thomas A. Prais, managing editor; and Senior Contributing Editor Nancy Robinson.

Content and coverage

Furniture Style presents content in a concise, highly visual format that puts product trends at center stage. Topics include merchandising advice, consumer shopping trends and timely news about home furnishings retailers' most profitable product categories, such as bedroom, dining room, entertainment, youth, accent, area rugs, mattresses and upholstery.

Other publications and properties

A.D.I. Awards — Advancing Design & Innovation - Annual home furnishings awards program for Las Vegas Market exhibitors produced by Furniture Style magazine and the World Market Center.

www.furniturestyle.com - Furniture Style launched a new Web site in May 2007 that includes multimedia pods, Style File trend slide shows, Web-only articles, breaking news and editors’ blogs, as well as current and archived articles from the print edition.

Home Fashion Forecast - A quarterly fashion supplement that showcases new products for the whole home, presents color forecasts and interviews with design talent, and offers timely merchandising advice. Previously distributed only at the High Point and Las Vegas markets, Home Fashion Forecast is now available online.

Home Point — Where Furniture Retailers Click – An online focus group of home furnishings retailers that provides the data for Furniture Style's monthly "Retail Matters" column.

The Retail Experience – An annual supplement that provides extensive, exclusive research about home furnishings consumers and their purchase decisions.

Cabinet (furniture)

2009-06-17T03:50:00.000-07:00

Glass display cabinet.

A cabinet is usually a box-shaped furniture, either standing alone as a piece of furniture or built into or attached to a wall (such as a medicine cabinet) typically made of wood but now often made of synthetic materials, and used for storage of miscellaneous items.

Cabinets usually have one or more doors on the front that are mounted with door hardware and occasionally a lock; they may also contain drawers. Short cabinets often have a finished surface on top that can be used for display, or as a working surface such as the countertops found in kitchens.

Oriental cabinet.

A cabinet intended for clothing storage is usually called a wardrobe or an armoire (or a closet if built-in). In previous centuries, such a cabinet was also known as a linen-press. In British usage, a wardrobe occasionally was referred to as an oakley, because of the oak wood used in its construction. In India, a cabinet is often referred to as an Almari.

Old cabinets

Wardrobe

2009-06-17T03:20:00.000-07:00

Wardrobe

A wardrobe (sometimes called an "armoire" the french word) is a standing closet used for storing clothes. The earliest wardrobe was a chest, and it was not until some degree of luxury was attained in regal palaces and the castles of powerful nobles that separate accommodation was provided for the sumptuous apparel of the great. The name of wardrobe was then given to a room in which the wall-space was filled with cupboards and lockers, the drawer being a comparatively modern invention. From these cupboards and lockers the modern wardrobe, with its hanging spaces, sliding shelves and drawers, evolved slowly.

History

A Chinese Ming Dynasty compound wardrobe made of rosewood, latter half of the 16th century.

I Intricately carved French Oakley style Tallboy with under cabinet instead of a chest of drawers.

In its movable form as an oak "hanging cupboard" it dates back to the early 17th century where it was an early export product to England from America since English Forest lands were over forested or reserved for the navy. Consequently, these were sometimes referred to as an Oakley. For probably a hundred years such pieces, massive and cumbrous in form, but often with well-carved fronts, were produced in moderate numbers; then the gradual diminution in the use of oak for cabinet-making produced a change of fashion in favor of the more plentiful American walnut. (Ironically, the virgin American forests became successively Oak, then Maple with successive deforestation episodes.)

Walnut succeeded oak as the favourite material for furniture, but hanging wardrobes in walnut appear to have been made very rarely, although clothes presses, with drawers and sliding trays, were frequent.

During a large portion of the 18th century the tallboy was much used for storing clothes.

Wardrobe size; a common feature was to base future size on the eight small men method. A considered good size double wardrobe would thus be able to hold within its capacity, eight small men.

A modern fitted wardrobe.

In the nineteenth century the wardrobe began to develop into its modern form, with a hanging cupboard at each side, a press in the upper part of the central portion and drawers below. As a rule it was often of mahogany, but as satinwood and other hitherto scarce finely grained foreign woods began to be obtainable in considerable quantities, many elaborately and even magnificently inlaid wardrobes were made.

Where Chippendale and his school had carved, Sheraton, Hepplewhite and their contemporaries achieved their effects by the artistic employment of deftly contrasted and highly polished woods.

The first step in the evolution of the wardrobe was taken when the central doors, which had previously enclosed merely the upper part, were carried to the floor, covering the drawers as well as the sliding shelves, and were often fitted with mirrors.

Using Vintage Furniture in the Bathroom

2009-06-17T02:57:00.000-07:00

Whether reproduction or the real thing, antique vanities and cabinets give your bathroom a truly unique look.

A cabinet used as freestanding display in a Southwestern home

By Katie Allison Granju

When considering redecorating a bathroom, most people think in terms of a new tile, shower enclosure or toilet. But a growing number of designers and homeowners are finding that bringing actual vintage furniture into the bathroom offers decorating possibilities beyond the expected.
Rachel Horn, a residential interior designer who works in both Mexico and the Southwestern U.S. says that in recent years, there's been a change in the way people view bathroom design.

"Now, bathrooms are much more than just a small room in which to bathe," says Horn. "The bathroom has become a sanctuary for some and has come to reflect the owner's taste in more than just tile."

A massive antique French dresser converted for use as a vanity

A reproduction French provincial dresser made as a plumbed vanity

A barrel-shaped chest used as a vanity in Julie Anderson's home

Rachel Horn's custom-made replica of a cantera stone baptismal font.

A Syrian chest converted to a vanity by designer Rachel Horn

Horn is seeing more of her clients using traditional furniture pieces in non-traditional ways in their bathrooms. She says there are two basic ways furniture can be used in bath spaces: plumbed and freestanding. With plumbed pieces, furniture is converted for use as part of the bathroom's water system. For example, antique bureaus and desks can be reworked to serve as the bathroom vanity, providing a uniquely stylish sink stand.

"I've used many different types of objects as a vanity or sink, from an old, rustic wood cabinet to a stone baptismal font to a horse trough. I found them in the countryside, flea markets or vintage furniture stores," says Horn. "Just about anything can be used, but the easiest pieces to convert for bathroom use are cabinets and chests."

Horn stresses that not all antique and vintage furniture is suitable for conversion to plumbing.

"The most important things to consider are strength and durability," she says. "With an old or vintage cabinet, for example, you have to be sure it's sturdy enough to hold the sink and faucets and that it will hold up in terms of water and also, that it can house the plumbing comfortably."

With the growing interest in converting vintage pieces for bathroom use, some furniture manufacturers are offering reproduction pieces that come ready to hook into a house's existing pipes. Julie Anderson, who recently completed building and decorating a new home near Nashville, Tenn. loves the look of antiques in the bathroom, but decided to go with the ease reproductions offered.

"In one bathroom, we went with a cherry vanity with a black granite top that we bought pre-plumbed, with faucets and everything," says Anderson. "We also bought some pre-plumbed, vintage look pieces on eBay."

For homeowners who want the look of vintage furniture in their baths without the commitment of reworking any plumbing, freestanding pieces offer endless design variety. Elegant armoires can be used for towel storage, while painted, "shabby chic" bookshelves offer a great option for stashing toiletries and bathtub reading material.

Julie Anderson encourages other homeowners to think creatively when considering how to bring vintage pieces into a bathroom.

"We took two mirrored doors off of an antique wardrobe that was otherwise destroyed in a fire and mounted them side by side on the powder room walls," says Anderson. "It really opens up the space and makes it more interesting. It helps expand the room, which doesn't have windows."

Rachel Horn says that with both freestanding and plumbed vintage pieces, homeowners should take some precautions to insure that wood finishes aren't damaged by the damp environment in bathrooms.

"I use deck sealer on bathroom furniture, so my clients then don't really have to worry about moisture, although I do recommend resealing the top every few years, just to be sure," says Horn.

Another option is to replace older wood tops on dressers and cabinets with granite or other natural stone slabs.

As for finding unique, older furniture for the bath, Rachel Horn says she's had great luck finding unexpected pieces in traditional antique stores, as well as salvage and junk stores. And flea markets and estate sales offer a veritable smorgasbord of possibilities.

But Horn says that before designers or homeowners spend a penny, they should first take a look around their own homes.

"I've found some really fabulous things in clients' basements. So before shooting off to buy something, it's always good to look in Grandma's attic."

HGTV [Source]

Glossery Terms For Furniture (Starting With An A)

2009-06-01T18:17:00.000-07:00

Abacus: The topmost member of the capital of a column.

Abrasion Wear: Distress or wear marks on fabrics, wood or metal. Created when a furniture or accessory surface experiences friction in use or handling.

Abstract: Style of design that uses general forms verses detailed realistic representations.

Acanthus Leaf: A leaf decoration often used on furniture, particularly on brackets and legs.

Accent Colors: Contrast colors used to enhance room color schemes.

Accessible Design: Interior and exterior design that meets prescribed requirements for people with disabilities. Guidelines and laws related to accessible design include such issues as standard dimensions and features such as door widths, clear space for wheelchair mobility, countertop heights, audible and visual signals, switch and outlet height, and more.

Accessories: Objects such as books, plants, vases, lamps, and decorative pieces. Find home accessories.

Acetate: A synthetic fiber made from cellulose, which is a common material in the cell walls of many plants. It is usually combined with other fibers to add a luxurious feel and appearance.

Acorn: Turned ornament resembling an acorn; common in Jacobean furniture as finials on chair posts and bedposts, as pendants and as the profile of leg turnings in Jacobean tables.

Acrilan: A synthetic fiber used in producing Wear-Dated® fabrics.

Acroterium: Originally an ornament on the roof corners of Greek temples. In classical furniture, similar ornaments applied to the top corners of secretaries, bookcases, highboys and other furniture.

Acrylic: A synthetic fiber that's derived from a plant or chemical resin. Acrylic's best properties are its moderate strength and acceptance of brilliant color dyes. Acrylic also has a plush loft that will not flatten.

Adam Style: British neoclassical style that predominated during the later half of the 1700’s. This style developed out of reaction to the more fanciful rococo style of the 1750's, and is characterized by slender, graceful lines, refined shapes and restrained ornamentation.

Adaptation: Furniture that captures the feel of an original design or period, but differs in some details.

Ageing: Decorative technique used to create the effect of wear-and-tear on a wooden, painted, plastic or other surfaces.

Air Bed: A vinyl or rubber mattress core that's filled with air for support. Can be upholstered and covered with cushioning and ticking and be used in combination with a foundation. Find beds and mattresses.

Alcove: Recessed part of a room. Bed alcoves exist in Pompeian rooms, and such placing of the sleeping quarters was common in northern Europe through the Middle Ages and later. In the 18th century special beds were designed to fit such recesses. Alcoves are also used for bookcases and cabinets, dining groups, etc.

Ambry: In medieval churches a recess for the storage of goods. The addition of doors gave it the cupboard form. The English equivalent became a large cupboard with doors; the interiors were fitted with shelves for storage.

American Colonial: Term loosely applied to all American furniture used by the colonies prior to the American Revolution. This style includes rough handmade pieces of the early American frontier, New England versions of Jacobean and Puritan (Cromwellian), furniture imported by settlers from Europe and Americanized versions of formal English and European designs. There is no clear division of this period but most agree to group it into Early Colonial and Late Colonial (American Provincial).

American Country: Simple designs originating from the earliest settlers in America during the Early Colonial period (see above). These pieces are very simple and often rough in design. This charming style is still very popular today.

American Frontier (American Primitive): This style of late 1700’s to 1800’s was created to meet the demands of the western frontier. Noted pieces include wagon seat twin chairs, sinks without plumbing, cupboards and cobbler’s benches. Woods primarily used included ash, hickory, maple, black walnut and pine. Pieces of this period were usually painted black or in primary colors.

Americana: Objects and decor items that are characteristic of American history or culture.

Angel Bed: A bed with a canopy but no front support. Find bedroom furniture.

Aniline Dye: Term applies to dyes derived from coal tar, which are used to color fabrics and leather.

Aniline-Plus: Term sometimes applied to leather finished with an opaque pigmented dye. Find leather furniture.

Antique: Could be anything ranging from a piece of furniture to art. The U.S. government considers any item over 100 years old to be an antique, whereas most collectors use 50 years as a benchmark.

Antique Finish (or Antiquing): A paint or stain finish applied to an object to give an aged look.

Antique Satin: A drapery fabric that has a lustrous effect, normally made of rayon/acetate blends.

Apothecary Chest: A low chest with small drawers that was originally used to store herbs for cooking and medicinal purposes. Find home accessory items.

Apron: The wooden panel connecting the surface and legs of a table or chair.

Area Rug: A small rug or carpet which covers only part of the floor. Find an area rug.

Arm Caps: Coverings, usually crafted from fabric, to protect the top surface of sofa and chair arms.

Arm Chair: Seating that has both a backrest and armrests. Find an arm chair for your living room or dining room.

Armoire: A tall wardrobe with doors and shelves for clothing, more recently armoires have been adapted for use as an entertainment center or computer workstation. Find an armoire.

Arrow Foot: A cylindrical foot that's tapered and separated from the leg by a turned ring.

Art Deco: A streamlined, geometric style of home furnishings and architecture popular in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Characteristics include rounded fronts, wood furniture with chrome hardware and, or, glass tops.

Art Glass: Decorative glass - includes stained, beveled, fused, blown, etched, leaded and cut.

Art Moderne: The Paris Expedition of 1925 introduced a fantastically modern design called Art Moderne. This styling is familiar because of its angular and straight shape. Geometric patterns are the main decoration.

Art Nouveau: Decorative style developed in France between 1890 and 1910. Tiffany lamps are a great example of this styles ornate and flowing lines.

Art Print: A print that is a reproduction of an original piece of artwork. Find an art print.

Artisan Style: A style characterized by fine but not overly ornate workmanship that celebrates the maker's community identity or ethnicity.

Arts & Crafts: Also commonly known as Mission style. This style was popular from the late 1800’s through the 1920’s. The Arts and Crafts movement was a reaction against the mass-produced and ornate Victorian furniture of that time.

Asian Style: A general term referring to styles of the Far East. Such as Chinese, Japanese, or Korean designs for example. Furniture with Asian characteristics are popular as a subset of contemporary style.

Astragal: Small, semi-circular molding applied to the glazing bars on cabinets and bookcases.

Attached Back Pillow: A pillow treatment that can’t be removed from the upholstered piece, commonly found on sofas, loveseats and chairs.

Aubusson: A scenic tapestry used for wall hangings and upholstery. Named for Aubusson, France. Find a wall tapestry.

Austrian Shade (or Austrian Blind): A decorative window treatment with a scalloped lower edge. When the blind is drawn up it maintains the scalloped edge, creating folds of ruched fabric. Find shades and blinds.

How to Care for Wood Furniture

2009-05-29T21:14:00.000-07:00

Cleaning and Polishing Oiled Wood Furniture

Furniture finished with linseed or tung oil and a thin layer of wax needs only dusting and a reapplication of paste wax every two to four years -- or once a year for parts, like tabletops, that get heavy use. Properly applied (see How to Wax Wood Furniture, paste wax provides a long-lasting protective finish that repels water and dust. For heavy cleaning, use odorless mineral spirits (which acts as a mild solvent, so youll need to rewax) or Old English Lemon Oil.

Paste Wax

Renaissance Micro-Crystalline Wax Polish ($30, Gracious Home, 800-338-7809) is a quality clear wax.

Cleanser

Old English Lemon Oil ($7 at grocery stores) cleans and removes stains and wax buildup.

Cleaning and Polishing Varnished Wood Furniture

Don Williams, a senior furniture conservator at the Smithsonian Institution, recommends paste wax, applied once a year at most, for varnish and shellac finishes. Use clear wax on light finishes. For darker finishes, amber-colored wax helps fill in discolorations and even out sheen. For a shinier finish (and easier application), some restorers recommend silicone-free Guardsman polish. If cleaning is needed, use mineral spirits or a mild soap-and-water solution (see Cleaning Painted Furniture).

Cream Polish

Guardsman Furniture Polish (about $7 at hardware stores) can be used on light or dark finishes.

Paste Wax

Butcher's Boston Polish ($6.50 at hardware stores) is an amber formula that works well on dark furniture.

Cleaning and Polishing Painted Furniture

Dusting or vacuuming with a soft brush attachment is all that's usually necessary. When heavier cleaning is in order, wipe with a cotton cloth lightly dampened with a solution of one teaspoon of mild dishwashing liquid (one without hand moisturizers) mixed with one gallon of water. Applying a clear paste wax no more than once a year will slow dust and dirt buildup, protect the wood from water damage, and make the color more vibrant (if the paint is chipped, don't wax the wood).

Dish Soap

A gentle formula like Ivory ($3 at grocery stores) is simplest and best for cleaning painted wood.

Paste Wax

Clear MinWax Paste Finishing Wax ($7.50 at hardware stores) provides a protective layer.

Repairing Scratched Wood Furniture

Confine your treatment to the affected area. The last thing you want is to turn a little scratch into a giant blotch, says Bob Wilson of Wood magazine.

- For a superficial scratch with no change in color, a light coat of wax will even out the surface.

- For a light scratch with a change in color, apply a paste shoe polish that matches the finish. Use a cotton swab or a furniture marker (www.touchupdepot.com) sells them in a variety of colors).

- For a deeper scratch or gouge, overfill it with a wax stick (available from DAP and Briwax or at (www.touchupdepot.com) that matches the finish. (You may need to blend two or more colors to get the right shade.) In a pinch, you can use crayons. Scrape off excess wax with the edge of a credit card and remove any residue with a clean cotton cloth.

*Before attempting these fixes, clean the area with a mild soap-and-water solution. After repairing, wipe the wood dry and apply wax. Note: Valuable pieces should be taken to a professional restorer.

Removing Water Rings from Wood Furniture

White rings are easy to deal with; for black ones, consult a restorer.

- On an oiled finish, you can often remove white rings by rubbing paste wax over the surface with fine steel wool (grade 0000), suggests Rodney Keyser of the Restoration Studio, in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. If the mark persists, rub mineral spirits in the direction of the grain with fine steel wool.

- For a shellac finish, Keyser suggests cleaning the surface with mineral spirits and then applying a reviver -- made from one part mineral spirits, one part raw linseed oil, and a dash of vinegar -- with a soft cotton cloth in a circular motion.

*Before attempting these fixes, clean the area with a mild soap-and-water solution. After repairing, wipe the wood dry and apply wax. Note: Valuable pieces should be taken to a professional restorer.

Removing Burn Marks from Wood Furniture

Burns that penetrate not only the finish but also the wood can be hard to repair and often require the skills of a professional. If the damage isnt too drastic, try these solutions.

- For a shallow burn, gently rub the area with a piece of fine steel wool wrapped around your finger.

- For a burn that has left a deeper hole, Keyser recommends filling it in with a wax stick. For best results, he says, melt the wax with a hair dryer on high and let it drip directly into the hole. Carefully scrape off any excess with a credit card, and remove any residue with a clean cotton cloth.

*Before attempting these fixes, clean the area with a mild soap-and-water solution. After repairing, wipe the wood dry and apply wax. Note: Valuable pieces should be taken to a professional restorer.

Removing Candle Wax from Wood Furniture

If a candle drips onto your tabletop, don't try to wipe up the wax right away. Let it cool, then try either of two techniques. (Tips: To help keep candles from dripping, freeze them for 24 hours before lighting. And never move a burning candle or one youve just gently blown out until the wax has cooled and hardened.)

- Method 1: Ice. Harden the wax with an ice cube wrapped in a plastic bag, then scrape it off with a credit card. Clean the area with a slightly damp cotton cloth and wipe it dry. If there is still a waxy residue, gently rub it with mineral spirits to remove.

- Method 2: Heat. Soften the wax with a hair dryer on medium. When the wax starts to melt, wipe it away with a soft cloth. Gently clean any residue with mineral spirits and a soft cloth.

*Before attempting these fixes, clean the area with a mild soap-and-water solution. After repairing, wipe the wood dry and apply wax. Note: Valuable pieces should be taken to a professional restorer.

RealSimple [Source]

Fresh Headboard Ideas

2009-05-29T21:02:00.000-07:00

Just because it's in your bedroom, doesn't mean your headboard has to be a snooze. Get the designer look at the head of the bed with these four headboard designs.

By Susan Kleinman

Big, Bold Artwork Provides Organic Feeling

In this New York City apartment, designers Alan Tanksley and Adrian Gilbey of Alan Tanskley, Inc. placed a favorite painting at the head of the bed, above a headboard that was selected to blend into the wall's paint color.
"This was the perfect spot for the painting," Alan says, "because the scale was perfect, the color against the wall was very dramatic and the placement at the far end of the room — beyond the bed — created a long view, which gave the painting importance." What's more, he says, is "the architecture and decoration of the room was primarily comprised of furniture having straight lines and hard edges, with the exception of the leather and bronze console table at the foot to the bed. The organic feeling to the painting was a great foil to these lines."

Hanging a painting above the bed works best in a room with ample footboard space (and is ideal in a room like this one, where the bed's head is directly opposite the room's entrance), so that you can really see — and enjoy — the painting. "Look for artwork that's big and bold," says Tanksley. "Small-scale work or images will be impossible to view over the distance of a bed. And keep both the artwork and the frame very simple," he advises.

Once you've found the perfect painting, hang it high enough so the pillows (or your head) don't rest against it. Make sure the painting is lit properly, and it will serve as a beautiful focal point in your room.

Photo by Jeff McNamara, courtesy of Metropolitan Home magazine

Architectural Remnant Brings Room Together

Designer Joan Osburn was shopping in southern France when she stumbled across a beautiful architectural remnant. "It was probably part of a paneled Provencal room in the 18th or 19th century," she says. "Upon measuring it, I immediately thought of using it as a headboard."
Joan installed this fragment-as-headboard in the master bedroom of a house in northern California. "The house has very high ceilings, lots of large windows to access the water views and a juxtaposition of clean lines and architectural antiques," she says. "This unusual carved piece helps bring all those elements together in the bedroom."

Scale can be tricky when selecting architectural salvage for use above a bed, Joan says. "You don't want to have something that gets lost on the wall, but neither should you select something too massive," she says. "Measure it out on the wall and, if you can, tape a paper template up on the wall to see if the scale is right."

Once you've selected the right molding or architectural fragment, anchor it to the wall very sturdily, says Joan, a veteran of several California earthquakes. "And remember that without a soft headboard, you need lots of comfy pillows — some hard, some squishy — that allow you to sit up in bed and read."

Extra Fabric Adds Feminine Effect

If your bed already has a headboard — but that headboard is putting you right to sleep — take a cue from designer Cindy Rinfret, and embellish the bed with extra fabric.
"This was a boring bed that needed more visual strength," says Cindy, author of Classic Greenwich Style. "To add drama and make the bed the focal point of the room, we created a cornice of handpainted wood that looks like painted-metal tole. It really dresses up the room."

This sort of bed treatment — the technical name is a "tester" bed — creates the same feeling similar to that of a four poster, but is less massive, Cindy explains, and also requires less fabric, which can be a plus if budget or allergies are an issue.

To make this tester pass with flying colors, Cindy selected a print linen from Colefax and Fowler, plaid taffeta from Travers and a trim from Clarence house. The effect is very feminine, but not too fussy.

Photo by Michael Partenio

Lighted, Leather Headboard Brings Color to Room

With wraparound views of New York City, this penthouse apartment in Greenwich Village has plenty of natural light. To bring that sunshine into the apartment's interior and keep the space airy and fresh, designer Clodagh divided the space with partial walls. Sunlight and fresh air flow freely, and the effect is the openness of a loft with the coziness of a traditional apartment.
In the master bedroom, a partial wall conceals a walk-in closet on its far side, with a large master bathroom beyond the closet and dressing room. On the bedroom side, Clodagh upholstered the wall in Lexell Cobblestone leather so the expanse can function as a headboard. "I like headboard materials that can be sponged clean," says Clodagh, author of Total Design. "This leather can be wiped with a barely humid sponge to keep it fresh."

Adjustable Artmetide lights installed right into the headboard allow the bibliophile homeowner to read in bed, and a comforter from Ann Gish and simple pillows keep the look clean, spare and serene.

"I like to bring a bit of a color into a bedroom with a pillow or throw," says Clodagh, "but I don't like piling the bed with 15 pillows that you have to remove before you can lie down. A bed should be inviting, should allow you to just hop on and sleep, read or make love right away without any fuss."

Photo by Daniel Aubry

hgtv [source]

Thomasville Furniture

2009-05-15T13:27:00.000-07:00

Living Room Dining Room Bedroom Home Office Home Entertainment

Click Here to Visit Thomasville Website

Furniture Traditions (Bedroom Furniture)

2009-05-15T13:12:00.000-07:00

Check out this website and look at the beautiful bedrrom furnitur that they have for you to choose from.

Oak Bedroom Furniture by Furniture Traditions 714-538-2088

Click Here to Visit Furniture Tradition Website

Shipping Container Architecture

2009-05-15T12:54:00.000-07:00

Would you live in a shipping container? Until firms like Lot-ek, retailers like Freitag and architect Adam Kalkin started turning them into chic examples of creative re-use some years back, most wouldn't consider the question seriously. Kalkin's efforts stand out for drawing on the strengths of sturdy construction while also representing a new level of luxury that comes with an affordable price tag, in some cases even under $100,000. With the ongoing housing crunch and talented architects marketing home solutions, shipping container-as-prefab construction may be making a comeback.

Adam Kalkin: Shipping Container Architecture by Jacob Resneck

Click Here For Cool Hunting

Facts About Household Furniture

2009-05-15T12:45:00.000-07:00

While we love getting new digs to redo our living spaces, do we really know the eco-impact of our chairs, tables and beds?

It is estimated that by 2015, we will spend $121.7 billion to re-furbish our homes with new furniture pieces. When we buy this new stuff, our old furniture often ends up in the garbage. The U.S. EPA reported that furniture accounted for 8.8 million tons, or 3.6 percent, of our trash stream in 2005 (quadruple the tonnage in 1960).

If your household furniture is made out of wood, it could be sourced from a region making a serious dent in our global forests. If the piece of furniture is made from “exotic” wood like teak, it is likely sourced from old growth forests in Indonesia, Peru or Brazil.

The planet has lost nearly half of its forested area in the past 8,000 years, with the majority of this loss occurring in the 20th century. Between 1980 and 1995 alone, at least two million square kilometers of forests were destroyed, an area larger than Mexico.

Even if your new furniture isn’t rare wood, it may be emitting some not-so-good chemicals into the air. Adhesives, sealants and paints on household furniture emit VOCs (volatile organic compounds) into the air, which can irritate lungs, eyes and immune systems. Some VOCs are proven carcinogens in animals.

Click Here For Earth911

12 simple ways to reimagine a room

2009-05-05T14:33:00.000-07:00

No budget? No problem.

Great ideas for pulling together a new look, without
spending a dime.

Let's get started

We’ve put together some tips with the help of Doyle McCullar of Doyle McCullar Fine Interiors. The goal: re-imagining a room’s design and then using what you already have to pull your vision together at no cost.

Pull Away from the Wall

In many rooms, all the seating is up against the walls—creating an unwelcoming look. “Rearrange the living room furniture to create a new focal point,” says McCullar. For example, you could pull the sofa and loveseat away from the wall and arrange them into an L-shaped area, midroom. Shine, restore and refresh the surfaces of wood furniture, which may be dusty from having been against a wall, with Pledge® Natural Beauty Wipes.

Use Bookshelves as Dividers

Bookshelves can help break up big spaces into more manageable, livable areas. Put a bookshelf next to a sofa to serve as a divider and create a more private space.

Create a "Zone"

A rug adds instant definition by breaking up a large room and creating a “zone.” Take an area rug from another room and use it in your bedroom seating area or beneath a group of living room chairs to quickly reinvent and pull together the whole space.

Lift Up Your Lamps

Literally. “Add height to existing table lamps by placing them on top of large books with attractive covers,” says McCullar. You can even create custom book covers yourself.

Tell a Color Story

Tabletop accessories have more impact if you group like colors in one room. “Go through the house and find accessories from one general color group, and put them all in the same room,” says McCullar. Doing this creates a story with color and makes things look focused and cohesive.

Let There Be Light

"Throw open the shades and blinds you normally leave closed," says McCullar, noting that will help you look at the space in a new light. Also remember that the cleaner your windows are (try Windex® Crystal Rain™ , which has a clean, fresh scent), the more you can maximize natural light during the day and make your room "glow."

Rethink the Walls

Check the attic and basement for forgotten art; everyone seems to have old photos, prints or paintings tucked away. "Change the pictures on the wall with ones you have stored, for an instantly fresh look," says McCullar, noting that this is one of the most dramatic ways to change a room’s look.

Reposition a Vase

Often, colorful vases get lost in living or dining rooms, even if they’re on shelves or in a display cabinet. If that’s the case, McCullar says, move them to a sunny windowsill in the kitchen to better reflect light and create a more playful look.

Move Your Pillows Around

"Try switching all the accent pillows from the bedroom with the ones in the living room," proposes McCullar. If you have pets, don’t forget that accent pillows are typically cleaned less frequently than seating surfaces and collect plenty of pet hair (since pets love to lounge on them). Remove pet hair quickly from pillows and other upholstered furniture with Pledge™ Fabric Sweeper for Pet Hair.

Group Collections Together

To add an interesting focal point to a room, consider all the types of items you collect and then pick one and group all like items together. Accessories are more effective in a grouping of four or five on a shelf or cabinet, rather than one or two per room, where they might get lost among the other elements.

Make Potted Plants More Important

If plants are not in visually appealing pots or a big plant appears to be teetering in a little pot, it’s time to reimagine your houseplants. "Repot a large plant into a larger container than what it’s already in, using one you may have stored in the garage," says McCullar.

Bring In Nature

Don’t be afraid to blur the lines between inside and outside by bringing the outside in. If you have a backyard, you have access to instant décor. "Make an arrangement of newly budded branches from trees or flowering shrubs in your yard to bring a bit of spring indoors," says McCullar.

Click Here To Check Out Right At Home Website for more Ideas.

DECORATING ... the professional touch

2009-04-15T09:19:00.000-07:00

DECORATING ... the professional touch

By Carol Donayre Bugg, ASID, DDCD
Vice President and Director of Design

When I set out to write, “DECORATING…the professional touch”, my goal was to demystify the process of what it is like to work with an interior decorator. I once heard an interior decorator described as someone who creates beauty for others and thought how fortunate I was to be in that position. But along with the privilege of providing clients with beauty, comfort, and good design, I have always believed interior decorating is a service and should be accessible and affordable for everyone to benefit from and enjoy.

In the opening chapter of my book I describe what to expect from the initial meeting in your home, to the details the decorator oversees from concept to completion, to the final reathtaking result. Woven throughout the book are extraordinary room transformations, personal “Meet the Decorator” profiles, as well asthe story of my odyssey as an interior decorator and the way I have decorated my own home.

This fabulous living room makeover, from the chapter on Art Appreciation, is one example of the “what a decorator can do for you” stories you will find on the pages of “DECORATING…the professional touch”.

A long-time client presented her decorator with the supreme challenge of turning an average-sized, architecturally deficient living room into the most spectacular of all the rooms in her house. Zeroing on the plain wall behind the sofa and making it the focal point was the decorator’s solution.

www.DecoratingDen.com

Classic Automotive Furniture

2009-04-01T22:31:00.000-07:00

While we haven't purchased these items ourselves these are examples of what's out there!

1957 Cadillac Bar with Maple shelves

1957 Mercury Shelf Unit 24" deep x 78" wide x 40" high

1951 Cadillac Red Cedar Chest

1953 Pontiac Red Cedar Chest

1959Cadillac Wall Mirror

1959 Cadillac Couch

1959Cadillac Couch

1961 Cadillac BBQ Grill

1960 Cadillac Fin Attaché Case Lights up and opens 32" long x 24" high

Eldorado Lamp

About The Car Furniture:

I love wood and metal, but in my heart I'm a car freak.

The Cadillacs of the 1950's are the cars I love the most. I've collected dozens of them over the years, and have incorporated them into furniture and sculpture, hoping to keep them from going to the crusher (perhaps the most evil piece of machinery ever invented). I have made cedar chests, entertainment units, beds, lights, and other pieces of usable furniture out of these once rusting piles of metal. I am, after all, my fathers son.

- Steve Heller

Click Here for Web Site

Empire (1800-1840)

2009-03-23T10:06:00.000-07:00

American Empire is moderate in proportion with classical ornamentation, coarse carving, and a dark finish. It is patterned after French Empire with classical influences.

Upholstered Chair

Gaming Table

Chair

Bed

Appearance
Graceful and refined.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Arms
Slightly curved.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Material
Upholstered
Wood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Shape
Crosspiece - single flat vertical slat.
Fiddleback - fiddle-shaped central splat.
Rectangular or Square - solid or with central splat.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Leg
Cabriole leg with straight shape.
Splayed - legs with a concave shape.
Straight
Tapered

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Material
Cane
Rush
Upholstered
Wood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Shape
Square

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Drawer Pull
Oval back plate with conforming handle of stamped brass.
Mushroom-shaped brass knob.
Mushroom-shaped glass knob.
Mushroom-shaped wooden knob.
Lion's head with pull ring attached through mouth, usually in brass.
Loop bail handle without a back plate.
Rectangular back plate of solid stamped brass, often with canted corners and an oval bail handle.
Rosette - round knob in the shape of flower or leaf in brass or glass.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fabric
Brocade
Damask
Velvet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finish
Oil varnish
Paint

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Foot
Continuation of leg.
Paw or claw - animal paw or claw, carved or in brass.
Scroll - large inward curving foot with a loosely coiled appearance.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardware Material
Brass
Glass
Wood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joint
Dovetail

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Line
Straight lines

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Motif
Acanthus Leaf
Cornucopia
Eagle
Pineapple
Scroll
Star
Urn

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ornamentation
Carving - cutting or chipping shapes or design.
Columns - Decorative columns, often fluted, fixed to the front corners of case pieces.
Fluting - carved or molded vertical channels.
Gilding
Reeding - parallel lines of rounded molding.
Stenciling

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proportion
Moderate

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Resembles
Duncan Phyfe
Federal
Victorian

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Underbracing
Moderate.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upholstery
Upholstery on many seating pieces and chair arms and backs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wood
Black walnut
Cherry
Mahogany
Maple
Rosewood

Duncan Phyfe (1795-1848)

2009-03-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

The Duncan Phyfe style is characterized by carved or reeded legs and neoclassic motifs. It is named after American cabinetmaker Duncan Phyfe, and is considered by some art historians as more of an adaptation and refinement of Adam, Sheraton, Hepplewhite and Empire than a style in itself.

Side Table

Chair

Gaming Table

Bed

Appearance
Graceful and refined.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Arms
Arms slope down to meet posts from seat.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Material
Upholstered
Wood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Shape
Crossbar - X-shaped splat.
Crosspiece - single flat vertical slat.
Lyre - lyre-shaped central splat.
Scroll - curved X-shaped splat.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Leg
Curule - X-shaped curved legs.
Splayed - legs with a concave shape.
Straight
Tapered

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Material
Cane
Upholstered

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Shape
Horseshoe with a rounded or serpentine front.
Square.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Drawer Pull
Oval back plate with conforming handle of stamped brass.
Mushroom-shaped brass knob.
Mushroom-shaped glass knob.
Lion's head with pull ring attached through mouth, usually in brass.
Loop bail handle without a back plate.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fabric
Brocade
Damask
Hair cloth
Needlepoint
Satin

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finish
Oil varnish

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Foot
Continuation of leg.
Paw or claw - animal paw or claw, carved or in brass.
Knob - Small, round turned ball.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardware Material
Brass
Glass

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joint
Dovetail

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Line
Gently curving lines
Straight lines

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Motif
Acanthus Leaf
Arrows
Circle
Drapery swap
Lyre
Plume

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ornamentation
Carving - cutting or chipping shapes or design.
Fluting - carved or molded vertical channels.
Fretwork - decorative carving or openwork with interlacing lines.
Gilding
Inlay

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proportion
Graceful and delicate

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Resembles
Chippendale
Empire
Federal
Hepplewhite
Sheraton

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Underbracing
Limited usage.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upholstery
Most seating pieces are upholstered.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wood
Black walnut
Cherry
Fruitwood
Maple
Rosewood
Satinwood

Sheraton (1780-1820)

2009-03-23T09:53:00.000-07:00

Sheraton is a neoclassical style characterized by delicate straight lines, light construction, contrasting veneers, and neoclassical motifs and ornamentation. It is named for English designer Thomas Sheraton who published his designs in "The Cabinet Makers and Upholsterers Drawing Book" in 1791. It was the most reproduced style in the United States during the Federal period.

Sofa Table

Sofa

Pedistal Table

China Cabinet

Appearance
Graceful and refined.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Arms
Arms slope down to meet posts from seat.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Material
Upholstered
Wood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Shape
Banister - vertical turned slats in the shape of a baluster.
Crosspiece - single flat vertical slat.
Lattice splat - openwork or decorative carving of crossed strips of wood, often oriental in appearance.
Rectangular or square - solid or with central splat.
Urn - central splat is urn-shaped.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Leg
Curule - X-shaped curved legs.
Splayed - legs with a concave shape.
Straight
Tapered
Turning

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Material
Cane
Upholstered

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Shape
Curved.
Horseshoe with a rounded or serpentine front.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Drawer Pull
Oval back plate with conforming handle of stamped brass.
Mushroom-shaped brass knob.
Mushroom-shaped wooden knob.
Rectangular brass back plate often with canted corners and an oval bail handle.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fabric
Brocade
Damask
Hair cloth

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finish
Oil varnish
Paint

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Foot
Continuation of leg.
Paw or claw - carved animal paw or claw.
Spade - flat or rounded foot, wider than leg.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardware Material
Brass

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joint
Dovetail

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Line
Straight lines

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Motif
Acanthus Leaf
Circle
Drapery swap
Eagle
Lattice
Lyre
Shell
Star
Urn

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ornamentation
Bandings - thin strips of veneer used as a decorative border or edging.
Carving - cutting or chipping shapes or design.
Fluting - carved or molded vertical channels.
Inlay
Marquetry
Reeding - parallel lines of rounded molding.
Stenciling.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proportion
Graceful and delicate

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Resembles
Adam
Chippendale
Hepplewhite

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Underbracing
Slender.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upholstery
Most seating pieces are upholstered.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wood
Amboyna
Cedar
Cherry
Goncalo Alves
Mahogany
Maple
Rosewood
Satinwood
Tulipwood

Federal (1780-1820)

2009-03-23T09:01:00.000-07:00

The Federal style combines the neoclassic furniture style characteristics of Hepplewhite and Sheraton. It is characterized by graceful straight lines, light construction, tapered legs, inlay, and contrasting veneers.

Knee Hole Desk

Desk On Frame

Chair

Bed

Appearance
Graceful and refined.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Arms
Arms slope down to meet posts from seat.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Material
Upholstered
Wood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Shape
Fiddleback - Fiddle-shaped central splat.
Rectangular or square - solid or with central splat.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Leg
Straight
Tapered
Turning

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Material
Rush
Upholstered
Wood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Shape
Horseshoe with a rounded or serpentine front.
Square.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Drawer Pull
Loop bail handle without a back plate.
Oval back plate with conforming handle of stamped brass.
Mushroom-shaped brass knob.
Rectangular brass back plate often with canted corners and an oval bail handle.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fabric
Damask
Tapestry

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finish
Oil varnish
Paint

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Foot
Continuation of leg.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardware Material
Brass

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joint
Dovetail

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Line
Gently curving lines

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Motif
Acanthus Leaf
Conch shell
Eagle
Pineapple
Shell
Star

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ornamentation
Bandings - thin strips of veneer used as a decorative border or edging.
Carving - cutting or chipping shapes or design.
Fluting - carved or molded vertical channels.
Gilding
Inlay
Marquetry
Reeding - parallel lines of rounded molding.
Stenciling.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proportion
Moderate dimensions

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Resembles
Chippendale
Colonial
Duncan Phyfe
Hepplewhite
Sheraton

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Underbracing
Limited use

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upholstery
Most seating pieces are upholstered.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wood
Black Walnut
Cherry
Fruitwood
Maple
Rosewood
Satinwood

Hepplewhite (1765-1800)

2009-03-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

Hepplewhite is a neoclassic style characterized by a delicate appearance, tapered legs, and the use of contrasting veneers and inlay. It is named after British designer and cabinetmaker George Hepplewhite whose designs in "The Cabinet Maker and Upholsterers Guide" were published posthumously in 1788. This style was reproduced in the United States particularly in the Carolinas, Maryland, New England, New York, and Virginia.

Slant Top Desk

Secretary

Chair

Bed

Appearance
Graceful and refined.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Arms
Outward curve.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Material
Upholstered
Wood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Shape
Oval shaped often with central splat.
Shield-shaped.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Leg
Straight
Tapered

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Material
Upholstered

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Shape
Horseshoe with a rounded or serpentine front.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Drawer Pull
Loop Handle Bail handle without a back plate.
Oval back plate with conforming handle of stamped brass.
Mushroom-shaped wooden knob.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fabric
Brocade
Damask
Hair cloth
Satin
Silk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finish
Oil varnish
Paint

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Foot
Bracket - angular curved foot, usually with case pieces.
Continuation of leg.
Spade - flat or rounded foot, wider than leg then tapering

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardware Material
Brass
Wood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joint
Dovetail

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Line
Gently curving lines

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Motif
Drapery swag
Honeysuckle
Palmetto
Pine tree
Ribbon
Urn
Wheat ear or husk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ornamentation
Bandings - thin strips of veneer used as a decorative border or edging.
Carving - cutting or chipping shapes or design.
Fluting - carved or molded vertical channels.
Inlay
Marquetry

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proportion
Graceful and delicate dimensions

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Resembles
Adam
Ancient Greco-Roman
Chippendale
Sheraton

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Underbracing
Slender proportion

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upholstery
Most seating pieces are upholstered.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wood
Amboyna
Birch
Cherry
Mahogany
Maple
Rosewood
Satinwood
Sycamore
Tulipwood

Robert Adam (1760-1795)

2009-03-23T08:48:00.000-07:00

This style is named for architect Robert Adam who studied ancient architecture in Italy. While in England, he designed furniture with classical details that would fit the character of his classically designed homes. The Adam style was limitedly reproduced by cabinetmakers in the United States. Adam interior millwork and woodwork was reproduced in South Carolina.

Side Board

Bed

Side Table

Appearance
Graceful and refined.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Arms
Slightly curved.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Material
Upholstered
Wood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Shape
Oval shaped chair back often with central splat.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Leg
Curule - X-shaped curved legs.
Straight legs.
Tapered straight legs
Turned leg

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Material
Upholstered

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Shape
Horseshoe with a rounded or serpentine front.
Square.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Drawer Pull
Oval back plate with conforming handle of stamped brass.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fabric
Brocade
Damask
Satin

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finish
Oil varnish
Paint

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Foot
Block - flat-surface.
Continuation of leg.
Spade - flat or rounded foot, wider than leg then tapering

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardware Material
Brass
Iron
Silver

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joint
Dovetail

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Line
Straight lines

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Motif
Drapery swag
Honeysuckle
Lyre
Medallion
Ram head
Urn
Wheat ear or husk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ornamentation
Carving - cutting or chipping shapes or design.
Fluting - carved or molded vertical channels.
Gilding
Inlay

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proportion
Moderate dimensions

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Resembles
Ancient Greco-Roman
Chippendale
Hepplewhite
Sheraton

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Underbracing
Limited usage.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upholstery
Most seating pieces are upholstered.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wood
Amboyna
Goncalo Alves
Mahogany
Maple
Rosewood
Satinwood
Sycamore
Tulipwood

Chippendale (1750-1790)

2009-03-23T08:42:00.000-07:00

The Chippendale style is named after British designer and cabinet maker Thomas Chippendale who published his furniture designs in "The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director" in 1754. The Chippendale style can be classified into three types: French influence, Chinese influence and Gothic influence. In the United States, the Chippendale style was a more elaborate development of the Queen Anne style with cabriole legs, ball-and-claw foot, and broken pediment scroll top on tall case pieces.

Secretary

Upholstered Chair

Block Bureau

Appearance
Graceful and refined.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Arms
Slight outward curve.
Arms are straight with a simple turning or are flat.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Material
Upholstered
Wood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Shape
Ladderback or slatback - horizontal flat slats, either straight or curved.
Lattice splat - openwork or decorative carving of crossed strips of wood, often oriental in appearance.
Pierced splat - carved or pierced central splat.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Leg
Cabriole
Cabriole with decorative carving, usually on the knee.
Straight

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Material
Upholstered
Wood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Shape
Horseshoe with a rounded or serpentine front.
Square.
Trapezoid - straight with outward flare.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Drawer Pull
Bat wing shaped solid or pierced cast brass back plate with bail handle.
Loop bail handle without a back plate.
Mushroom-shaped brass knob.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fabric
Brocade
Hair cloth
Leather
Needlepoint
Silk
Tapestry
Velvet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finish
Oil varnish
Wax

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Foot
Ball and claw - carved claw grasping a ball.
Bracket - angular curved foot, usually used with case pieces.
Continuation of leg.
Paw or claw- carved animal paw or claw

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardware Material
Brass
Wood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joint
Dovetail

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Line
Cyma or S-Curve
Straight lines

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Motif
Acanthus leaf
Lattice
Oriental patterns
Ribbon
Rose
Scroll
Shell
Urn

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ornamentation
Carving - cutting or chipping shapes or design.
Finial - decorative turning fixed to the tops of cabinets, highboys, chair, and bed posts.
Fretwork - decorative carving or openwork with interlacing lines.
Oriental lacquerwork

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proportion
Moderate dimensions

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Resembles
Adam
Colonial
Georgian
Hepplewhite
Oriental
Queen Anne
Rococo
Sheraton

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Underbracing
Limited usage.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upholstery
Upholstery on many seating pieces and chair arms and backs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wood
Cherry
Mahogany

Pennsylvania Dutch (1720-1830)

2009-03-23T08:36:00.000-07:00

Pennsylvania Dutch is a simple, utilitarian American country style of furniture with Germanic influences. It is characterized by colorful folk painting on case pieces.

Slant Top Desk

Trestle Table

Cupboard

Appearance
Straight lines, simple design, and little ornamentation.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Arms
Arms are straight with a simple turning or are flat.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Material
Wood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Shape
Ladderback or slatback - horizontal flat slats, either straight or curved.
Solid - one piece or solid panel.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Leg
Cabriole
Simple turning
Straight
Tapered

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Material
Leather
Rush
Wood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Shape
Square

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Drawer Pull
Elongated turned wooden knob.
Loop bail handle without a back plate.
Mushroom-shaped wooden knob.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fabric
Leather

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finish
Paint
Wax

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Foot
Ball - rounded foot.
Bun - rounded foot, flatter than a ball foot.
Continuation of leg.
Pad - simple, rounded carved foot.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardware Material
Iron
Wood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joint
Dovetail
Mortise and tenon

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Line
Cyma or S-Curve
Straight lines

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Motif
Floral - sunflowers, tulips

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ornamentation
Carving - cutting or chipping shapes or design.
Paneling - raised, recessed, and framed panels.
Spindle - turned pieces split vertically, often fixed to the front facade of chests.
Stenciling

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proportion
Sturdy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Resembles
Colonial
Jacobean
Shaker

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Underbracing
Moderately proportioned.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upholstery
Limited to seats.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wood
Black walnut
Oak
Pine
Tulipwood

Georgian (1714-1760)

2009-03-23T08:23:00.000-07:00

The Georgian style is a more ornate version of Queen Anne with heavier proportions, elaborately carved cabriole legs terminating in a pad or ball-and-claw foot, ornate carvings, pierced back splats and the use of gilding. It is named after George I and George II who reigned England from 1714-1760.

Sofa

Tripod Table

Bed

Appearance
Elaborate ornamentation.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Arms
Slight outward curve.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Material
Upholstered
Wood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Shape
Carved or pierced central splat.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Leg
Cabriole
Cabriole with decorative carving, usually on the knee.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Material
Upholstered

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Shape
Square
Horse shoe with a rounded or serpentine front

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Drawer Pull
Bat wing shaped solid or pierced cast brass plate with bail

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fabric
Mohair
Tapestry
Velvet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finish
Oil varnish

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Foot
Ball and claw - carved claw grasping a ball.
Block - flat-surfaced
Bun - rounded foot, flatter than a ball foot.
Pad - simple, rounded carved foot.
Paw or claw - carved animal paw or claw.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardware Material
Brass

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joint
Dovetail

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Line
Cyma or S-Curve
Straight lines

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Motif
Acanthus leaf
Eagle head
Lion head
Mask
Oriental patterns
Scroll
Shell

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ornamentation
Carving - cutting or chipping shapes or design.
Oriental lacquerwork.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proportion
Slender dimensions

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Resembles
Chippendale
Queen Anne

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Underbracing
Sturdy.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upholstery
Upholstery on many seating pieces, chair arms, and backs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wood
Ash
Black walnut
Elm
Fruitwood
Hickory
Mahogany
Maple

Colonial (1700-1780)

2009-03-23T08:17:00.000-07:00

The Colonial style combines characteristics of William and Mary, Queen Anne and Chippendale. Colonial furniture tended to be more conservative and less ornate than English and European furniture of the same style period.

Settee

Bed

Bench

Appearance
Graceful and refined.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Arms
Slight outward curve.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Material
Cane
Upholstered
Wood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Shape
Fiddle-back - fiddle-shaped central splat.
Ladderback or slatback - horizontal flat slats, either straight or curved.
Solid - one piece or solid panel.
Spindle - simple turned vertical slats.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Leg
Cabriole
Cabriole with decorative carving, usually on the knee.
Elaborate turning
Simple turning
Straight

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Material
Cane
Rush
Upholstered
Woven

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Shape
Square
Horse shoe with a rounded or serpentine front

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Drawer Pull
Bat wing shaped solid or pierced cast brass plate with bail
Carved wooden handle.
Elongated, turned wooden knob.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fabric
Chintz
Crewel
Damask
Needlepoint
Tapestry

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finish
Oil varnish
Paint
Wax

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Foot
Block - flat-surfaced
Bracket - angular curved foot, usually used with case pieces.
Bun - rounded foot, flatter than a ball foot.
Continuation of leg.
Drake - simple carved animal paw.
Pad - simple, rounded carved foot.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardware Material
Brass
Iron
Leather
Wood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joint
Dovetail
Mortise and tenon

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Line
Cyma or S-Curve
Straight lines

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Motif
Acanthus leaf
Floral Flowers
Oriental
Seaweed
Shell

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ornamentation
Carving - cutting or chipping shapes or design.
Finial - decorative turning fixed to the tops of cabinets, highboys, chairs, and bed posts
Gilding
Inlay
Marquetry
Stenciling

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proportion
Moderate dimensions

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Resembles
Chippendale
Federal
Georgian
Hepplewhite
Queen Anne
William and Mary

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Underbracing
Moderate usage.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upholstery
Upholstery on many seating pieces, chair arms, and backs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wood
Ash
Black walnut
Elm
Fruitwood
Hickory
Mahogany
Maple

Queen Anne (1700-1755)

2009-03-23T08:10:00.000-07:00

The Queen Anne style is a refinement of the William and Mary style with a moderate proportion and graceful appearance. It is characterized by cabriole legs terminating in a pad or drake foot, fiddle-back chair backs, and bat wing shaped drawer pulls. It is named after Queen Anne of England who reigned from 1702-1714.

Desk On Frame

Daybed

Appearance
Graceful and refined.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Arms
Slight outward curve.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Material
Upholstered
Wood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Shape
Fiddle-back - fiddle-shaped central splat.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Leg
Cabriole
Cabriole with decorative carving, usually on the knee.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Material
Upholstered

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Shape
Curved
Horse shoe with a rounded or serpentine front

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Drawer Pull
Bat wing shaped solid or pierced cast brass plate with bail
Elongated, turned wooden knob.
Ring pull attached by a knob to a circular back plate.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fabric
Chintz
Crewel
Damask
Needlepoint
Tapestry
Velvet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finish
Lacquer
Oil varnish
Wax

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Foot
Ball and claw - carved claw grasping a ball.
Block - flat-surfaced
Bun - rounded foot, flatter than a ball foot.
Drake - simple carved animal paw.
Pad - simple, rounded carved foot.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardware Material
Brass
Wood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joint
Dovetail

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Line
Cyma or S-Curve
Straight lines

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Motif
Acanthus leaf
Shell

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ornamentation
Carving - cutting or chipping shapes or design.
Finial - decorative turning fixed to the tops of cabinets, highboys, chairs, and bed posts
Inlay
Marquetry
Oriental lacquerwork

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proportion
Moderate dimensions

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Resembles
Oriental
William and Mary

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Underbracing
Limited usage.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upholstery
Most seating pieces are upholstered and cushioned.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wood
Ash
Black walnut
Cherry
Elm
Fruitwood
Hickory
Mahogany
Maple

William and Mary (1690-1725)

2009-03-23T08:04:00.000-07:00

William and Mary is a European influenced style, named after the reign of William and Mary of England (1689-1694). William and Mary has Dutch and Chinese influences. It is characterized by trumpet turned legs terminating in a ball or Spanish foot, padded or caned chair seats, and Oriental lacquer-work.

Flat Top Highboy

Upholstered Chair

Appearance
Graceful and refined.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Arms
Arms curve inward.
Arms are straight and perpendicular to chair.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Material
Cane
Upholstered
Wood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Shape
Banister - vertical turned slats in the shape of a baluster.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Leg
Cabriole
Elaborately turned
Straight

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Material
Cane
Leather
Rush
Upholstered

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Shape
Square.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Drawer Pull
Elongated, turned wooden knob.
Ring pull attached by a knob to a circular back plate.
Tear-drop shaped pull attached by a knob to a circular, oval or diamond shaped back plate.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fabric
Chintz
Damask
Needlepoint

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finish
Lacquer
Oil varnish.
Paint
Wax.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Foot
Ball - round foot.
Bun - rounded foot, flatter than a ball foot.
Spanish - elaborately carved foot.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardware Material
Brass.
Iron.
Silver

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joint
Dovetail.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Line
Straight lines.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Motif
Acanthus leaf
Floral
Oriental
Scroll
Seaweed
Shell

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ornamentation
Carving - cutting or chipping shapes or design.
Gilding
Inlay
Marquetry
Oriental lacquerwork
Parquetry

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proportion
Moderate dimensions.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Resembles
Colonial
Oriental
Queen Anne

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Underbracing
Moderate.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upholstery
Upholstery on many seating pieces, chair arms, and backs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wood
Black walnut
Ebony
Fruitwood
Holly

Early American (1640-1700)

2009-03-23T08:01:00.000-07:00

Early American furniture is rudimentary, utilitarian furniture made from local woods. It was brought from or modeled after European furniture styles, particularly from England, France, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, and Spain.

Appearance
Straight lines, simple design, and little ornamentation.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Arms
Arms are straight with a simple turning or are flat.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Material
Solid wood.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Back Shape
Banister - vertical turned slats in the shape of a baluster.
Ladderback or slatback - horizontal flat slats, either straight or curved.
Spindle - simple turned vertical slats.
Turned.
Rectangular or square with a central splat.
Solid one piece or solid panel.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Leg
Straight leg, which is vertical to the chair seat.
Simple turned leg.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Material
Wood
Woven rush

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chair Seat Shape
Square

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Drawer Pull
Carved wood handle.
Elongated turned wooden knob.
Mushroom-shaped wooden knob.
Tear-drop shaped pull attached by a knob to a circular, oval, or diamond shaped back plate.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fabric
Cretonne
Leather
Linen

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finish
Oil varnish
Paint
Wax

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Foot
Block - flat-surfaced foot.
Bracket - angular curved foot, usually used with case pieces.
Bun - rounded foot, flatter than a ball foot.
Continuation of leg.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardware Material
Iron
Leather
Wood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joint
Mortise and tenon

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Line
Straight lines

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Motif
Circle
Diamond
Flowers - rose, sunflower, tulip
Pine tree
Scroll

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ornamentation
Carving - cutting or chipping shapes or design.
Finials - decorative turning fixed to the tops of cabinets, highboys, chairs, and bed posts.
Paneling - raised, recessed, and framed panels.
Spindle - turned pieces split vertically, often fixed to the front facade of chests.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proportion
Heavy with thick dimensions.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Resembles
Jacobian
Pennsylvania Dutch
William and Mary

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Underbracing
Heavy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upholstery
Most seating pieces of wood, cane, rush, or woven cloth.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wood
Ash
Birch
Cherry
Elm
Fruitwood
Hickory
Maple
Oak
Pine
Sycamore