Posts Tagged ‘Cushions’

How Garden Furniture is Used Outdoors Today

Sunday, February 7th, 2010

The use of smooth modern lines and intense angles mixed with beautifully crafted wicker helps portray an exquisite appearance of elegance and comfort. Garden furniture made from this material can add life to any outdoor area. 

There is a variety of pieces and sets of wicker (rattan) collections to choose from are complete with chairs, glass top coffee tables, and sofas. These are all are integrated in a certain way to produce the look you want. 

These contemporary pieces are often combined with a variety of accessories to create a space, which will depict your unique and personal style. It is how you can make each summer or outside social event as inviting and fun as possible. 

Suggestions 

Recommended wicker arrangements of include the following (pending current availability): The Juniper Garden Set which is known for its black base and frame against bright colored 12mm cushions, The Saturn Rattan Garden Furniture set which comes with thick, white padded cushions, and the Arizona styled furniture set which is known for its depiction of “Old West” themes. 

These pieces of furniture can complement any outdoor area and will make a warm and inviting place for you and your family to enjoy. There is another reason these sets or ones similar to it are often recommended-because they are UV or weatherproof. 

As mentioned already, contemporary wicker garden furniture is made of the most durable and superior materials with the most careful artisanship.  This is a type of wood material that is harvested from palm trees located in certain regions of Africa, Asia, and Australasia. 

Quite a large percentage of this material used for the production of some of the finest wicker comes from Indonesia. Oftentimes, the frames are produced from lightweight aluminum is usually coated in order to prevent it from rusting. 

Besides being able to resist the outdoor elements, you might want to select furniture that simple to move from one place to another and can be stored compactly. It makes entertaining and dining outdoors much more convenient and your furniture is retained for much longer periods. 

However, of course not all wicker collections can be readily transported every season. That is the main reason why many people prefer types that are treated, which include more than just the ones listed above. 

In any case, garden furniture is beginning to be set in increasing numbers of outdoor spots. It is becoming more of a precious luxury and seems not be any longer just thought of as some affordable wood replacement as it used to be.

Tips for Caring for Furniture

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Furniture can be an expensive investment so why wouldn’t you want to care for it properly?  Caring for your furniture will help it last for many years to come.

Here are some helpful tips to keep your furniture looking great.  A little tender loving care goes a long way to keeping your furniture looking beautiful.

Always, always, always read the manufacturer’s care instructions.  You could permanently damage your furniture using the wrong cleaning materials.

Wicker furniture can be cleaned using a hose or pressure washer, 1200 – 1350 psi, a low setting is best.

  Simply remove the cushions and spray off dirt and spills. Dry furniture with a dry soft cloth, unsealed wicker absorbs moisture like a sponge. Vacuum, dust/dirt from wicker furniture with brush attachment going with the weave. If the wicker is especially dirty, use a sponge, mild soap and cold water to wash. Dry with dry soft cloth. For outdoor wicker furniture apply a paste wax to the frame to keep it shiny and water-resistant. Some types of wicker are weather-resistant, making care easier. Store cushions indoors and keep frames covered during the off-season. Try to keep wicker furniture away from direct sunlight, radiators, heating ducts, fireplaces, and wood burning stoves. As dry wicker has a tendency to split. Before using again allow wicker furniture to dry completely.

Upholstered Furniture should be cleaned according to the manufacturers instructions.  If you do not have the instructions contact the service department of where you purchased your furniture.

  Test cleaning product in a not easily seen area first. Preventive care is possibly the best way to care for upholstered furniture.  Most fabrics have protection that will last for years but that does mean you shouldn’t not care for your furniture. Keeping upholstered furniture clean is important.  Spills, dust, soil seep into the fabric and cushioning which will cause break down. Brush upholster furniture with upholstery brush or whisk broom. Remove cushions, if possible, vacuum frame of furniture using brush attachment. If considering shampooing or dry cleaning upholstered furniture, please refer to manufacturer’s instructions.  Remember, it is important to know what kind of material your caring for before using or doing something that could cause permanent damage. Also, check your local directories for professional cleaning services. Apply stain guard after purchase or a professional cleaning will help protect your furniture fabric.

Leather furniture can easily be maintained; knowing the type of leather material will go a long way with cleaning maintenance.  Always refer to manufacturer’s instructions when caring for furniture.

  Clean, dust furniture with a soft cloth or vacuum with soft brush extention. Clean spills immediately. If leather furniture is unsealed, dust and clean then seal with water repellant protection.  Unsure if sealed or not: test by placing a couple of drops of water in an inconspicuous location and watch to see if the water is absorbed.  If it is absorbed quickly your leather furniture needs to be sealed. Sealed leather furniture can be wiped down with a soft damp cloth with mild soap. Tougher stains use leather furniture cleaner.  Refer to manufacturer’s instructions for recommendations. To help keep furniture from fading or drying out keep leather furniture out of direct sun light and away from heating vents. Occasionally using professional cleaning products is recommended to maintain leather quality and softness.  Again, refer to manufacturer’s instructions for recommendations. Check your local directories for professional cleaners and restorers.

Aluminum, wrought iron and steel frames require cleaning with water and mild soap. Many modern metal frames are rust-resistant or rust-free. If your metal furniture is not, paste wax or naval jelly can be used to protect from corroding or rusting.

 

Wood Furniture should be care for regularly especially if used every day.

o       Dust and clean furniture with damp cloth and mild soap regularly.  Lift objects from table, do not slide across surface.

o       Avoid using abrasive cleaning materials when cleaning wood furniture.  Use specialize wood furniture polish and/or oil occasionally for furniture treatment and care. Refer to manufacturer’s instructions for recommendations.

o       Use coasters, table runners or clothes to help protect furniture from everyday use

o       Minor damage to solid hardwood furniture can be repaired quickly and effectively with the right materials, a bit of elbow grease, and some careful attention to detail. More complex repair or refinishing jobs are best left to professionals. Refer to manufacturer’s instructions.

o       Keep out of direct sun light and away from heaters, radiators and heat vents.

o       Do not set extremely hot or cold items directly on wood furniture; use a pot holder.

o       Check your local directories for furniture restorers, if needed.

 

Resources on Furniture Care:

http://www.furniturecaretips.com 

http://www.hardwoodinfo.com/display_article.asp?subID=26

http://www.guardsman.com/guardsman/index.jsp

http://www.homefurnish.com/bedbathstorage/bedroomfurniture/woodcare.aspx

http://interiordec.about.com/od/woodfurnitcare/Wood_Furniture_Cleaning_and_Care.htm

http://furniture.about.com/od/furniturecareandrepair/Furniture_Care_and_Repair.htm

 

 

For those Seeking Garden Furniture Help: Style Guide

Friday, August 21st, 2009

People today are always looking for new suggestions regarding today’s selection of garden furniture (rattan wicker varieties particularly). Finding out more about current trends can help you make the best possible choice. 

Today’s Top Choices 

The use of smooth modern lines and distinct angles blended with beautifully crafted rattan results in the production of the most elegant and comfortable wicker works. These timeless works of art were created with the intent to complement any outdoor area and will create a warm and inviting place for you and your family to enjoy. 

A very gorgeous example of a recommended modern collection is the Arizona Wicker set, which turns out to be one of the more popular choices.  This collection of furniture often includes chairs, sofa, and coffee table.  

This particular set of rattan furniture is characterised by its soft, white cushions. This collection combines clean modernistic lines and sharp angles mixed with glass that would look stunning in any indoor or outdoor sun display. 

An additional fashionable collection of wicker items is the Cube Garden Furniture set, which is one of the top-selling collections. This set is meticulously assembled in such a way that it is likely to last an entire lifespan. 

It often is sold with four chairs, one table and two footstools. It might also come with a variety of other pieces, such as a side table depending upon the specific set you bring home. 

Additional options of today include the following: The Juniper Garden Set, The Saturn Rattan set, and the Havana Rattan Set all which are noted for a variety of characteristics. 

For instance, they are often chosen because of their rich colours, sharp corners, and distinct shapes. The Juniper and Saturn are particularly noted for their very attractive and roomy L-shaped designs which are more suited for large areas. The Havanna set represents a type of desert or “Western” theme. 

Miscellaneous Info 

Contemporary wicker furniture is durable and is made of the finest materials by the most careful hands. Rattan in particular is a type of wood material that is harvested from palm trees located in distinct regions of Africa, Asia, and Australasia. 

About 70% of the material used for the creation of some of the finest wicker comes from Indonesia. The finest pieces are UV treated and can be placed outside all year long very little worry of fading, splitting, or cracking of the rattan.  

Most of these pieces come with an outdoor waterproof cover that can protect the furniture and helps keep it dry and clean when not in use. Frequently, the frames are created from lightweight aluminum is usually coated in order to prevent it from rusting. 

Likewise being able to resist the outdoor elements this type of garden furniture is easy to move from area to area and can be packed away compactly. It makes entertaining and dining outdoors much more convenient and your furniture is retained for much longer periods.