Posts Tagged ‘Cushions’

Kitchen Tables And Chair Sets – Fill Your Kitchen With Country Charm

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

In creating a perfect rustic home, many start with the kitchen. After all, what is more rustic, and country, than a home cooked meal with the family.

These days, more and more families are enjoying meals at kitchen tables and chair sets instead of a formal dining room. Dining rooms are a lot of hassle, and are now used more for special occasions when a larger number of people need to be seated. This change is a great thing for the cook, because instead of being left out of all the conversations, while being stuck in the kitchen preparing the vittles, the family can be in the kitchen as the meal is being prepared and can all share this time together. This is also a great way to remind the rest of the family to do their part in helping to set up for, and clean up after, the meal. There’s no escape when they are all in the kitchen.

To get the right old country look in the kitchen, you should start with the kitchen tables and chair sets. This is going to be the centerpiece of the room. Sure, there are all the appliances, but when people walk in, their eyes are always going to go to the table and the chairs where they can take a seat. This table and chair set needs to be comfortable, yet convey the look of life on the farm. A simple wooden set can create this look. A tabletop made of oak or cherry wood, surrounded by four chairs, for the family setting. Look for hand-embroidered cloth napkins or placemats and a real wicker basket for the bread that is to accompany the meal to complete the look at mealtime.

If your family is prone to a lot of conversation at the dinner table, you may want to make those chairs a little more comfortable, by adding a couple of cushions, one on the seat, and another on the back so everyone can be focused on the conversation and not their sore backside. When first buying the kitchen tables and chair sets you also may want to think about getting ones with arm rests, so people don’t feel a need to rest their arms on the table during those talks. Just make sure there is room in the kitchen for the extra space that chairs with arms will need to fit.

Another part of creating the country kitchen look is through the appliances in the room. While we can’t get rid of the refrigerator, there are some home decorators that disguise the modern appliances with false cabinet fronts or curtains to remove them from the view. When it comes to stoves, there is even a trend to change out a modern stove for a wood stove that can add the right flavor and look for the decorative style. While a wood stove may seem like an interesting idea, it is also a costly one to put into place. There is major work that will have to be done to accommodate not only the stove, but also the chimney that releases the smoke as the wood burns.

Tips for Caring for Furniture

Thursday, July 15th, 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

 

 

How Garden Furniture is Used Outdoors Today

Wednesday, April 21st, 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.