Monthly Archives: October 2011

Painting old furniture

Painting old furniture means giving your furniture a fresh look with a fresh coat of paint. This is very easy to do. Also, this is a great idea if you don’t have the budget to buy a new one. So, if you’re planning to paint your old furniture, then you will need a couple of things like knotting solution, sandpaper, water based primer, water based paint for wood and a couple of brushes. Repainting an old chair can take the whole weekend, it really depends on the size of the furniture that you wish to paint.

Painting old furniture – First step

To start painting old furniture, you must start to remove all the knobs and trim from your piece of furniture. If it has been painted in the past, give it a light sanding with a rougher piece of sandpaper to get the older paint off. The next thing you should do is to look for knots in the wood and apply the knotting solution. What can the knotting solution do? It can help prevent the knots from popping out in the future. Once you’re done with this, go over the whole piece again with a fine piece of sandpaper to smooth things out.

Painting old furniture – Second step

Now, the second step in painting old furniture is applying the primer but before you do this, you have to make sure that all dust and dirt is removed completely. Having a compressed air will be great to give it a good air shower but if you don’t have one, a slightly damp rag can do the trick. Once it’s dry, apply the primer. It is very important that you brush with the grain whether you are priming or painting.

Once you’re all done in painting your old furniture, you can replace any trimmings or knobs. Painting old furniture is not a difficult thing to do, but you should definitely take time to avoid making mistakes.

Occasional tables

Have you heard of the term “occasional tables”? If you have, you are probably thinking about tables for different events such as birthday parties, weddings, etc. because clearly, the name suggest that! However, you might be surprised to find out what it really means. Occasional tables is just another term for a few different types of tables that we are familiar with. Still confused? Here are some examples for your better understanding.

Lamp table is included in occasional tables. A lamp table is usually at the height of your bed or sofa where you can put your lamp on top of them. You can also put this table near your reading chair, sofa or bed so the lamp can cast light on you so you can still read while your husband or wife is sleeping. Another occasional table are the sofa tables. These are tables that are placed behind the sofa which means that the bigger the sofa, the bigger the sofa table is.

Now, do you get it? Here are some more examples for you to fully get the gist of occasional tables. Coffee tables are considered as an occasional table as well. This table is usually places in front of the sofa in your living room. It is usually low at your knee level. Such table is meant to be used to set down your coffee cups wile you enjoy your favorite brew of coffee or tea.

Accent tables are also included to be part of occasional tables. These tables are usually meant as decoration. Usually, they are placed in the corner of any room such as your living room and you can also put decorative objects such as flower pots or picture frames. Lastly, the end tables are also included in this group of occasional tables. These tables are located at the end of the sofa and its main purpose is to allow you to put down things like magazines, drinks even food.

Now, surely you know the meaning of occasional tables. You can now spring the term in furniture conversations with your friends or family members!

Leather dining chairs

In the dining room, the primary furniture is the first to get noticed by guests and that is the dining table and dining chairs. Leather furniture is gaining popularity today because of the sophistication it brings in the dining area and because of this, more and more home owners are getting leather dining chairs for a touch of sophistication.

Different styles of leather dining chairs

Today, there are a lot of high quality dining chairs on the market these days, you can find antique leather dining chairs to retro style chairs and to the modern day leather dining chairs. If you feel like your dining room looks dull and is lacking of style and fashion, then a touch of leather to your dining chairs will surely enhance the whole look and feel of the room.

There are many styles and materials that are used to make leather dining chairs. The most popular is the Cognac leather which is genuine cow hide leather with a hard wood frame and comes with a high density foam for extreme comfort.

Leather dining chairs also come in different colors. The usual colors are black and cream/white. However, if you are more experimental and adventurous, there are lively colors such as red, green and even pastel colors such as pink and blue. However, choosing colors beyond neutral shades can be tricky as the colors should blend with the whole dining room, not just the dining table. You surely don’t want your primary dining furniture to look awkward in a room where it really should be.

Finding leather dining chairs

Finding leather dining chairs is easier than before, because of the wide selection due to its popularity. The growing number of consumers who purchase leather dining chairs urges manufacturers to produce more and create new designs made of new materials. As they say, leather is the trend now. Instead of cushioned dining chairs that are really comfortable but too common, give yourself a break. Aside from this, a leather dining chair will be more practical especially if you have kids at home. There is no need to worry anymore about spilled food or drinks because you can easily clean it up.

Hallway furniture options

There are plenty of hallway furniture options for you. Decorating your hallway is so much fun because you can make a narrow walkway into a beautiful walkway! The hallway is the best place for a coat rack stand or maybe a hallway bench. Do not leave your hallways empty as this will look uninviting to guests, you surely want your home to be very welcoming.

Hallway furniture – coat rack

One example of hallway furniture is a coat rack near the entrance as this will provide the perfect way of storing coats that belong to the family or your guests when they come around. There are plenty of beautiful coat racks out there that you can find. Aside from this, you can get a coat rack that comes with an umbrella stand and drip tray as well. This will make it very convenient for you. You can also get a coat rack bench. This incorporates a coat rack and bench in one. It will allow family members to use the seating are to put on or take their shoes when the enter and exit your home. There is also a compartment underneath the bench that will allow you to store shoes in a more convenient manner.

Hallway furniture – mirror

Another example of hallway furniture is a mirror and maybe a vanity table. This is a great idea because you will be able to check your appearance before you leave your home and once you enter your home. There are a lot of beautiful mirrors and vanity tables out there. In fact, it doesn’t have to be a vanity table, just a simple table that can match the mirror will be fine. You can put picture frames in the table or maybe some figurines or vases to make it look more beautiful.

Some homes decorate their hallways by filling the walls with the family’s pictures of different paintings of known painters and artists. There are some that put vases and other hallway furniture that will perfectly fit their hallways.

When choosing hallway furniture, look for something that will be very useful and at the same time will match the painting and the theme of your hallway or even of your whole home. You can also go for furniture that expresses your personality. Everything will be perfect just as long as you’re happy with it!

Valuing and buying an antique couch

Those who have an antique couch must know how to value their antique couch especially for non-antique collectors who don’t have much experience and knowledge when it comes to valuing antiques. Aside from this, people who have acquired an antique couch from their grandparents should know how to value it. A genuine appraisal will require the help of a trained professional but there is something that you can do as well.

Valuing your antique couch

You should determine the signs of age of the antique couch. This can be done by feeling the edges of the couch’s frame. Sharp corners and edges are a hallmark of modern furniture and this can be your first clue. The next thing that you should do is to check underneath the couch for any tags that indicates the manufacturer, upholsterer or year or production. If you find any information, you could look it up in a furniture price guide. These guides can provide you estimates but not exact figures, but it will be very helpful.

When it comes to determining the signs of age, the last thing you can do is to remove the screw from the couch if there is any. Older screws have irregular spacing between the antique couch’s grooves and modern screws have the sharp pointed uniform look.

The next thing you need to do is to gauge the value. Check for ornate design features. If the antique couch has curved legs or carved, clawed feet is more valuable than plain, straight-legged furniture. Scratch through the paint if the wood appears painted. If there are several layers of paint, the piece may have depreciated in value.

You should also consult a trained appraiser. Before you take the antique couch to the appraiser, find out how much he will charge for the appraisal. An appraiser’s service can be expensive.

Buying an antique couch

On the other hand, if you are an antique collector and you just can’t wait to get yourself an antique coach, there are some things that you must know when buying an antique sofa. You see, if you are buying an antique sofa, you are just buying the frame. If you want an authentic, quality antique frame in good condition. Just by seeing an old feet doesn’t necessarily mean that you have an old soga. The internal frame could be entirely rebuilt and just have the original legs tacked onto it. When you buy an upholstered piece, have someone show you the frame if possible. If not, always ask for picture of the frame. Many dealers leave the underside of a sofa or wing chair open so that you can see the construction. Also, sometimes dealers leave the back fabric attached with Velcro so that you can see the back frame.

Examine the parts of antique couch like its back frame, legs, stretchers and arms. Knowing these things will let you have the best antique couch and if you already have one, you should always know how to value it as this piece of furniture may be very rare and valuable.

Antique couch

Old chairs

Old chairs can be considered as antiques… or not. This is because antiques are furniture or objects that have lasted for a century or more, only then will an object or furniture be considered as an antique. If you have a chair that’s been in your home or office for a couple of years now but still not hitting the “century mark”, then it’s just a plain old chair.

Old chairs – Astonishing!

There are plenty of old chairs being sold in the market today. Most of these chairs are antiques. Who would want to buy an old chair, anyway? Unless it is an antique and has a value that continuously grows. These chairs deliver a nostalgic feel in a room, whether in your home or in your office. The nice thing about these chairs is the value and its rarity. Imagine sitting on a chair that has been standing for a century or more? Isn’t is amazing and just one of things that can blow your mind.

Old chairs – A lot of styles to choose from

Aside from this, there are various styles of old chairs for you to choose from. For example, there is the Victorian style antique chairs that will look great in your waiting area. Such chairs speak historic times and have heard and seen the whispers and the events that took place centuries ago. Also, Victorian style chairs are often seen in the waiting rooms of lawyers or psychiatrists and might have been re-upholstered over the years but its sturdy construction and careful selection of the fabrics can make it last for a very long time and still manage to hold its value.

These old chairs are really special. Prepare yourself to spend a couple of dollars for a piece of an old chair, depending on its style, history, and rarity which determines its value. The good news is that if you’re on a budget and want to buy a couple of old chairs as a set, you can find some chairs being sold in sets of two or four in some antique stores. You can also find sets online. It will be much better if you take your time to have a browse on the selection of old chairs being sold so you can have a better chance to buy something that you really want.

Old cannery furniture

The Old Cannery Furniture is warehouse full of furniture located in Washington. This furniture business all started when Tony and Mabeth Grout started an upholstering business in 1953. Tony was the one responsible in designing the sofas and building the frame from lumber that he personally milled from trees he harvested. Mabeth and Tony did the sewing. They didn’t realize back then that they are starting a wonderful business together that’s going to be very successful.

Old Cannery Furniture is one of the largest home furnishing stores on the West Coast today. Although they encountered a lot of stops and bumps along the way, they managed and handled every problem, conflict and challenge that were thrown their way. The strong relationship of Tony and Mabeth Grout and the success they gained earned them a lot of loyal customers up to now. Old neighbors and friends back then were heard saying that they used to buy furniture from their home back in the days and they never thought that that small business can turn into something really big.

Another wonderful thing about the Old Cannery Furniture is you can really feel the love of two people, the founders and the makers of the furniture, Tony and Mabeth Grout. It inspired a lot of people which also helped them gather more customers. Today, more and more visitors from all over the United States always find the time to visit their furniture store when they are in the area.

Aside from this, the Old Cannery Furniture is a favorite among Washington interior designers because they offer a huge selection of furniture from living room up to mattresses. People in the neighborhood are very happy with the store being built near their area because it is very convenient for them and they are very happy and content that they have a wide selection of furniture to choose from. For people who have busy schedules and can’t find the time to visit the warehouse, they have a website that anyone can visit and from there, you can browse through their long list of furniture categories and find something that you like.

Old antiques

Hearing the word “old antiques” will transport you back to the old times. We all know that antiques are not called antiques for nothing. An object that lasted for a century or more is considered an antique. Imagine having an object or a furniture in your home that have seen and heard the whispers, the stories and the events that took place a couple of decades ago.

The cost of old antiques

Old antiques are very expensive. It also depends on the type of object you’re purchasing. In fact, sizes are not very important when it comes to antiques. You may encounter a small object that is more expensive than that large furniture that you wish to buy. This is because these old antiques have different histories and these histories are the basis of its price. It includes the rarity of the object as well.

Finding old antiques

Finding old antiques are not too difficult these days. This is because there are now more antique stores today. The reason behind this is more and more people are learning to appreciate antiques. Antique lovers are growing in number. With our modern technology today, there are times that we feel nostalgic and wants to just slow down and look back and these antiques are the best reminders of the years that passed by.

If you’re planning to buy old antiques, you don’t really have to spend all your money in the bank as there are plenty of affordable ones that will be very easy on the budget. You can score a nice antique furniture or an object worth a hundred dollars or more. Just keep a good eye because you never know what you’re going to find in an antique store. However, if you’re looking for something specific and you don’t want to search through shelves and rows of antiques, you can always go online and search. There are plenty of antique online stores where you can purchase old antiques conveniently through your computer. You just have to find a reputable seller and you’re all set!

Old antiques

 

All about modular furniture

What is modular furniture? It refers to pre-made units that can be combined in different ways in order to furnish a whole room. Usually, these furnishings are flat packed for home assembly. You will find some furniture companies that have a showroom with their modular furniture products set up so you can actually see what the items look like when assembled. For online shoppers, you can shop through virtual furniture galleries.

Modular furniture for your kitchen

The most popular modular furniture today are kitchen modular furniture. You will find that most of the furnishings offer upper cabinets with options like single or double doors and solid or glass door panels. There are also box-shaped cabinets with pre-drilled holes on the sides which will allow shelves to be added according to how much space is needed between each shelf. For a lower modular kitchen unit, it may have a sink already inserted in the top with cupboard space underneath. Also, lower units may have shelves, drawers or a combination and may be adjusted to fit a specific kitchen.

Modular furniture for all parts of your home!

There are also modular furniture for your dining area. This includes tables that you can add to create more seating by placing same table sections together. For your living room, this includes sectional sofas. These sofas have different units or sections that can create a whole sofa and these may include beds or large footstools as part of the design.

Closet furniture is very popular in bedroom closets. It consists of different components that you can fit into closets in order to create a storage system that looks built-in. A lot of people who live in flats or condominiums who only have minimum space settle for modular furniture for their bedrooms because this can save more space and leaving more room making the space larger and not cramped.

Shopping for modular furniture is a lot of fun. Whether you’re looking for something for your bedroom, dining area or any parts of your home, you will definite come across modular furniture that will fit perfectly in that place where you want it placed.

Mahogany furniture for your home

The old-age appeal of mahogany furniture makes it stand out from other furniture. What is the common color of mahogany wood often used in furniture? Medium to a rich brown colored wood that has tints of pink or maroon. This color is very in demand and beautiful because of its uniform graining. Traditional dining tables that were crafted with the use of mahogany wood were constructed in England in the 1730’s era. There are a lot of mahogany furniture that are made out of different styles that will be perfect for every single room in your home.

Mahogany furniture for the dining area

For your dining area, you have mahogany furniture made out of antique mahogany that is plain-lined and not very ornate. During the Georgian 18th-century era, there are a few antique dining tables that have oval shapes and legs that resemble tree branches. The dining chairs constructed in the Queen Anne style have three rounded and flat shaped posts for the backrest and the legs come with a minor curve.

The mahogany dining tables for the pedestal have a separate bulky base and often have a round shaped wooden cover. There is also a particular style of mahogany dining table that is crafted in the latest style that usually includes an openwork frame bottom to provide support to a glass table, though mahogany furniture is more often than not crafted in the traditional style.

Mahogany furniture for the bedroom

For your bedroom, mahogany furniture may reveal accents that are usually hand-crafted. Plenty of bedroom furniture back in the days are made from mahogany. This is because a lot of people believe that mahogany is extremely durable such as their beds, closets and dressing tables.

Mahogany furniture is really one of the best furniture ever. This is because of its extreme durability and at the same time, its beauty that adds sophistication to any room.