Archive for December, 2008
Art Deco was one of the shortest-lived design periods in history.
All about sensational, freewheeling modern living and daring new designs, Deco was hit hard by the looming Second World War. It was time to pack up the Charleston records, put away glamorous accoutrements and face harsh reality.
But the style never seems to go quietly, or for long.
The reason Art Deco furniture is popular again now is easy to figure, says James Caughman, senior marketing director for Chicago-based Baker Furniture, part of the Kohler Interiors Group.
“Art Deco designers synthesized simple forms, exquisite materials and luxurious finishes to create a truly modern expression. We’re comfortable with the familiar shapes and proportions,” he says. “That’s why Art Deco resonates and endures.”
Art Deco complements both modern minimalism and classic traditionalism. Many of today’s interior and furniture designers, such as Nancy Corzine, Barbara Barry, Jeffrey Bilhuber and Richard Mishaan, use its elements in their work.
When we think of Art Deco home furnishings, we envision voluptuous leather or velvet upholstered club chairs, sleek lacquered cabinetry, gleaming martini sets and mirrored boudoir vanities. Hallmarks include geometric or rounded silhouettes, inlays and veneers, ornamentation such as starbursts and zigzags, and machine age materials such as aluminum, plastic and steel.
Barry has created a collection for Baker Furniture that epitomizes the grace and elan of Art Deco. Look for her curvy upholstered chairs, metallic-leafed tables, and a group of smartly tailored yet sexy cabinets and desks (www.kohlerinteriors.com).
Corzine’s chic desks and vanities would look right at home in Carole Lombard’s suite; at the same time, they’re fresh and contemporary (www.nancycorzine.com).
That’s certainly Art Deco’s appeal to consumers: its versatility.
Pieces originally designed for the dining room or bedroom can now be used anywhere. Wireless devices and laptops give clients even more freedom when choosing furniture, says Lorial Francis of Naples, Fla., who, with husband Bryan, has been selling Art Deco furniture since 1998 through their online store, www.decodame.com.
“Art Deco cabinets have become very popular to place under the wall-mounted TV, giving people a place to store audio and video equipment,” she said. “Now a collector can enjoy a period Art Deco desk without cutting holes into it for cords.”
For those interested in buying vintage as well as reproduction furniture from the period, Decodame’s collection includes a pair of crimson and black club chairs, and several vanities and sideboards crafted of lacquer, zebrawood or burled walnut.
One iconic Deco piece, the self-contained bar cabinet, is finding favour with young urbanites. It fits nicely in a smaller apartment. Pottery Barn introduced their version this year; the mahogany lacquered City Bar (www.potterybarn.com). With space for beverages, glassware, mixing equipment and room for serving, it even features a pop-up mirror.
Homegoods offers a smart mirrored chest that could serve multiple purposes, as well as chunky crystal candlesticks and a variety of vanity items that echo the style (www.homegoods.com).
More Deco touches for the home are available on the Internet, which offers many sources for reproduction and antique doorknobs, cabinet pulls and lighting fixtures (www.houseofantiquehardware.com, www.clsterling.com).
Taken from The Canadian Press.
December 24th, 2008
By Mary Cummings
For anyone leaving busy Race Lane behind and entering the hushed interior of Pritam & Eames in East Hampton, there is bound to be a brief moment of disorientation. Inside the showcase for works by what co-owner Bebe Pritam Johnson considers “the most original voices in furniture,” the artist-craftsmen who have created the tables and benches, wall cabinets, chairs and other functional art works speak powerfully, but soundlessly through their work.
It is a quiet, softly lit world where strong personalities, nevertheless, have their say.
Indeed, says Ms. Johnson, ever since she and her husband, Warren Eames Johnson, first began exhibiting and selling the original furniture designs of creative craftsmen in 1981, that has been “the central idea” of their enterprise.
“Furniture can have a personality as original as its maker,” she said during a recent interview and tour of the gallery’s Early Winter Show, which features small-scale work by Duncan Gowdy, David Ebner, Hank Gilpin and Andy Buck. “Each piece reflects the personality of the maker, and that,” she noted, “is the trademark of the American studio furniture movement.”
At the heart of that movement, she said, is a question: “How do you make this your own?”
It is, after all, what distinguishes furniture that is both made and conceived by its creator from furniture that is manufactured. Using a mirror by Duncan Gowdy as an example, Ms. Johnson gave a verbal sketch of his background and linked the silhouettes of bare-branched trees that he has carved and stained on the frame to Gowdy’s Yankee heritage.
“He lives on his brother’s farm in New Hampshire,” she said “The austere beauty of his work reflects the New England winter landscape. Nobody else would have made that piece.”
A “wine table” speaks of another, more mischievous, side of the New Englander’s personality. Its pedestal, carved to look like a wine bottle has the sheen of glass and has been painted inside to look “either half-empty or half-full,” said Ms. Johnson. “He is very clever.”
Each of the artist-craftsmen in this Early Winter Show speaks with a strong, recognizable voice. Each is distinctive, yet a provocative—sometimes humorous, sometimes edgy—streak runs through much of their work. Even the younger ones “have been fueled by the ’60s generation,” said Ms. Johnson. “They may be younger than us but they can sense the genuine thing.”
She suggested that one reason studio furniture artists are generally free of the self-importance and cynicism so often found in the art world today is because they are obliged to think of others when they create. With furniture, she said, “you have to do things like accommodating a person in some way.” A chair has to be comfortable to sit in. It should not be too fragile, too delicately balanced or too easily scratched or gouged.
Another reason for the shared sensibility came to light as Ms. Johnson hit the highlights among the pieces on display not just those being featured in the show on view through January 6 but those by artisans on her regular roster. Wendy Maruyama, whose series of chairs with glass bottoms shocked back in the early ’80s, when she first showed her work at Pritam & Eames, is now a highly respected leader in the world of original furniture. She continues to show and sell her work at the gallery and, as a teacher, to influence the next generation, including Duncan Gowdy.
“She is fabulous, very provocative,” said Ms. Johnson “She introduced us to Duncan about ten years ago and we have had his work ever since.
Lines of descent in this movement, which puts a premium on originality combined with functionality, are easily traced. It is necessarily a limited circle, restricted to the generously gifted who possess the patience and dedication for an artistic pursuit too time-consuming and cumbersome to promise fame and fortune. In this small world it was Ms. Maruyama who inspired Mr. Gowdy with her spontaneous, experimental approach, an approach that she developed at Boston University, where Jere Osgood and Alphonse Mattia—both of whom have pieces on view at Pritam & Eames—were co-directors of a storied program in artisanry from 1976-1986, which influenced “a constellation of furniture-making talent,” according to Ms. Johnson.
While there is probably no one more appreciative of the sheer beauty of their work, Ms. Johnson has no patience for those who believe it belongs in a museum.
“To me that is the death knell,” she said. “It is furniture and it is meant to be used.” Judy McKie’s limestone Ram Bench may be a bit unforgiving on the sitting spot but it can certainly serve. Likewise her charming Bird Settee. Wall cabinets are for treasures or pills—whatever needs some tucking away—and chairs, of course must be sat in. And that includes Ms. McKie’s “Wagging Tail Dog Chair.”
Taken from http://www.27east.com/
December 23rd, 2008
PEOPLE treating themselves to new furniture this Christmas or in the New Year sales are being asked not to throw out their old items.
Somerset Waste Partnership wants people to donate them top a furniture re-use group rather than sending them to landfill.
The groups accept donations of reusable furniture and large electrical items like fridges and washing machines, which they can collect free of charge. The items are then sold at low cost to people on low income in the county.
A partnership spokesman said: “The groups are always on the look out for reusable furniture items, but please do not offer items which are badly stained or broken.”
Local furniture reuse groups include The Home Furniture Services Trust in Taunton on 01823-253053 and Engage West Somerset on 01643-707484.
Taken from http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk
December 22nd, 2008
By rita st. clair DESIGN LINE rsca@ritastclair.com
We have always wanted a wooden cabin as a weekend getaway. But now that we have one, it feels way too woody. The floor is wood, the walls are wood-paneled and the kitchen cabinets and millwork are stained in the same dark shade. The effect was intended to be rustic, but the interior just looks dark and dreary. My thought had been to paint some of the surfaces - until everyone said that would be a horrible thing to do to a natural material.
Now what? Would some colorful furniture help?
Let everyone be horrified. I’m always amused by the view that wood should never be painted, regardless of its quality or condition. No one would want to paint a tree, but once it’s been cut down and made into furniture or planking or cabinets, I fail to see what’s so sacred about it.
Tell your critics to take a look at this photo from The House to Ourselves, a Taunton Press book by Todd Lawson and Tom Connor. It presents a fine example of the type of solution you - and your critics - might consider. Every surface in this house is also made of wood, even the ceiling. And as you can see, painting some of them, including the moldings, lends an appealing appearance to what would otherwise be a dark and dreary setting. Note that the stair stringer and balustrade have also been painted, as has the partial wall below the stairs.
My own approach - and the designer of this room seems to concur - would be to use only one color of paint, preferably something cool rather than a warm color such as orange or yellow. I would also add other colors with the furniture, rugs, window coverings and accessories. Colorful furniture itself, by the way, won’t be sufficient to offset all the brownness that’s making your weekend cabin look too somber.
Those who regard painted wood as something horrible should be further informed that many rustic or country-style interiors have traditionally featured moldings and doors painted in colorful decorative patterns.
Rita St. Clair is a Baltimore-based interior designer. Readers with general interior-design questions can e-mail her at the above address.
Source : baltimoresun.com
December 22nd, 2008
- Shoe polish and felt tip pens work well in hiding small scratches in furniture. Shoe polish applicator bottles work well for furniture touch-ups, when filled with stain.
- Color rings left on tables by cups and glasses by roughing slightly with an abrasive pad or paper and then rubbing with cigarette ashes mixed with cooking oil.
- Have furniture deluxed (buffed and polished) by a professional once or twice a year.
- Keep the finish rejuvenated by cleaning it with a mild soap (like you would wash your hands with) that has been diluted.
- Avoid using a household cleaner that contains ammonia.
- Polishing your furniture once a week with a quality polish will also help protect a finish from damage.
- Be careful not to use a polish that contains silicone or alcohol. Alcohol is a basic ingredient in some strippers and if included in a polish can actually damage the finish.
- To protect the finish of your dining room table, place a table pad on top of the table when it is not in use. Table pads are relatively inexpensive and can be ordered in any shape and size.
- When serving plates and dishes that are hot, use a tablecloth.
- Position furniture so that it isn’t exposed to direct sunlight. Sun dries out wood.
- To prevent water rings, always make coaster easily accessible. One of the best coasters to use is one made of wood that has felt underneath and an absorbent material to rest the glass on. Metal coasters tend to sweat onto the table, and the chemicals in a plastic coaster may react with the high-tech finishes used on today’s furniture. It is also helpful if the coaster has a slight outer ridge to capture any condensation coming from the glass.
- Water spots should be left to dry out completely. Then place regular mayonnaise, not sandwich spread, onto a soft cloth and rub it on the water mark. In most cases it will disappear.
- When burning candles, use a large felt protector with a plastic top. Candle wax doesn’t run as much when it hits plastic. If wax does drip onto a table, wait until the wax has cooled and hardened. Then apply an ice cube directly to the wax and give it time to make the wax hard and brittle. Take a plastic spatula and gently scrape off the cold wax. Then polish the table with a clean cloth and a good cream furniture polish. Buff away any remaining residue.
- Minor scratches can often be disguised by using a scratch cover product. Just apply the product to a clean cloth and rub lightly over the scratch.
- Make furniture polish by mixing lemon oil with 3 parts olive oil.
Source : http://www.allabouthome.com/
December 19th, 2008
Finding and purchasing the furniture for your home is a task that cannot be taken lightly! Once you’ve chosen the perfect pieces to compliment your décor and personal tastes, it is important to care for them properly, ensuring that they will be in top shape for years, or even generations, to come.
Our Furniture Guides are packed with the helpful tips and tools you need to care for your different types of furniture. From customizing your climate to protect wood furniture, to conditioning your fine leather pieces, we’ve got you covered!
Wood Furniture Care – Wooden furniture requires special care and maintenance to keep the finish beautiful and the structure sound. Learn how to remove dust and allergens without leaving a harmful residue on your tables and shelving units. Repair your chairs properly and inexpensively to keep them stable without damaging them further in the process. Our guide teaches you to protect, clean and maintain all types of wood furniture.
Upholstery Care – Upholstered furniture brings warmth, texture and beauty to any living space. However, it can also attract stains, pet hair and allergens. Use this helpful guide to clean your upholstered furniture and master safe stain removal techniques. Learn what to ask the professionals before having them clean your upholstered furniture for best results and to prevent damage from harsh chemicals or cleaning procedures.
Leather Furniture Care – For many homeowners, a leather set is the Holy Grail of all furniture ensembles. If leather is your style, keep it looking gorgeous with our Leather Care guide’s practical cleaning techniques, conditioning tips and the do’s and don’ts of stain removal.
Source : http://www.greatpricedfurniture.com
December 19th, 2008
Furniture is a major investment for any homeowner. Our convenient guide is designed to assist you in making one of the most important buying decisions a homeowner will face. Choosing the right piece is simple with tips and advice from the pros!
Wood Types – With the myriad of grains, textures, colors and finishes available, its no wonder that choosing just the right piece of wooden furniture can be a daunting task. Discover which types of wood are most durable, which require special care and even which woods offer the most fragrance!
Grades of Leather – You may have an image of your ideal leather set in your mind – you have the style, color and size all picked out. However, the most important consideration of all is one that is often overlooked. Learn about different leather grains and their durability, patina, dyeing techniques and the pros and cons of each grain in this helpful guide.
Wood Stains and Finishes – What is the difference between a stain and a finish? Which will work best in my home? Learn which wood furniture option works best for the amount of traffic, wear and sunlight your furniture will be subjected to.
Wood Veneers – You might have a predetermined notion that wood veneers represent cheap or shoddily constructed furniture. Think again! Read this interesting guide to learn how veneers are better for the environment, how to select a durable veneer piece and best of all – how you can enjoy stylish furniture without breaking the bank!
Drawer Construction - This is your all-inclusive guide to drawer construction; discover which joints are most durable, which type of construction will give you the most drawer space and what type of runners will work best for you.
Upholstery and Fabric – Acrylic, Microfiber, wool, cotton… which upholstered piece will fit in best in your living space? Join us as we investigate different fabric options and their benefits or flaws. More furniture and decorating resouces.
Source : http://www.greatpricedfurniture.com
December 19th, 2008
There are a number of things that we do not know about the furniture we use. There a number of small problems that crop up every now and then with the furniture that is regularly used. It would be simple if someone gave you a few ideas on small repairs that you can do yourself at home. Given below are a few tips on dealing with simple problems with furniture and answers to some common questions about furniture.
- Be careful while buying wooden furniture. Furniture made of particleboard and medium density fiberboard is also called “solid wood”. But furniture made out of these is not worth buying, as it is harder to repair and heavier than real wood. Buy furniture with signs that explicitly say solid oak wood or cherry wood or ash wood. These are safer to buy.
- A number of times you want to know the kind of finish that has been used on your furniture. To find out you will have to do a solvent test. Dip cotton in some nail polish remover or acetone and rub over an area that is not easily visible. If the finish softens then the finish is nitrocellulose lacquer, which is the most popular finish in the furniture industry. If the finish softens with alcohol then the finish is shellac. If it does not soften with either acetone or alcohol then the finish is varnish, polyurethane, catalyzed lacquer etc. that cannot be dissolved by its original solvent.
- If you are applying finish on your furniture then remember to account for humidity. High levels of humidity in the air will prevent the finish from drying and it will turn white or have a dull finish. If a professional is finishing your furniture then allow the piece to dry completely, for a few days before using it.
- Placing any kind of potpourri directly on the furniture will damage the finish even though it is kept in cloth or plastic bag.
- If metal bed frames are squeaking then just apply oil to the rivets and this will stop it from squeaking. If a bed made out of wood squeaks, it means it is getting loose and needs re-gluing.
- In a drawer wood moves against wood and certain parts need to be lubricated. If drawers stick rub some paste wax on the drawer and the wood that it rides on. If this does not work then the drawer needs some repair or is very worn out.
- Glass tabletops actually protect the wooden tables. Do not allow moisture get trapped between the glass and the wood. Raise the glass tabletop with rubber bumpers, this will allow airspace and let the wood breath.
- Before using wooden screws rub a little candle or bee’s wax or soap on the screw threads and it will move more smoothly.
Source : http://www.indobase.com/
December 19th, 2008
By Peter Hotton
The Boston Globe
Q: My front door is solid wood with a solid storm door. The main door fit snugly for some years, but recently it has developed a large gap on the latch side, from the knob to the floor. The latch also will not engage. What’s wrong, and how can I fix it?
A: I think the top of the door has dropped a bit, creating a tapered gap from knob to floor. The gap also made the latch unable to engage, either because the latch itself dropped a bit or the gap is too wide for the latch and/or deadbolt to reach the keeper.
First, check to see if the hinges are tight, both on the jamb and on the edge of the door. There are three of them, and just looking will not reveal anything. Check the screws with a screwdriver. If there are loose screws, tighten them. If the screws keep turning, put a sliver of wood in the hole so the screws will tighten up. The door should return to its original position when all the hinges are tightened, and the latch and/or deadbolt will engage in the keeper (the brass plate screwed to the jamb).
If the latch fails to re-engage, it may be too high or too low. Try to close the door and see where the latch hits the plate. If the latch is too low, take the plate off and file down the bottom. Sometimes the latch will not engage when you close the door, or you may have to give it a bump to close it. If that is the case, you can file the side of the keeper opening.
Q: When I bought some used wood furniture, I painted it flat black. It looked good, but I wanted a slight sheen, so I applied furniture polish, and it came out badly streaked and looks terrible.
A: Don’t panic. Clean the polish off with paint thinner; two applications may be needed. Once the black is nice and flat and not streaked, never use the polish again. To get a sheen, apply two thin coats of an oil-based semigloss polyurethane varnish.
Send questions to photton@globe.com. Sorry, no personal replies.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Source : ttp://seattletimes.nwsource.com/
December 18th, 2008
Wood use at High Point Market surveyed
Heath Combs — Furniture Today
HIGH POINT — American cherry was the most popular choice for wood furniture at this fall’s High Point Market, according to a survey by the Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc.
Knowing what happens in the finished goods marketplace helps lumber producers in purchasing tracts of timber for future production, said Tom Inman, president of AHMI, in a press release.
The survey is done annually with volunteer crews visiting showrooms to see what woods are used in the bedroom and dining room, wall unit, entertainment and home office categories. The sampling is then measured against previous markets.
The survey covered 146 companies, ranging from large to small suppliers, Inman said.
In bedroom and dining room, the use of solid woods and veneers was up 7% this year. Just over three-fourths of the bedroom and dining room furniture surveyed at market used an identifiable wood species.
Among the findings:
• American cherry remained the species of choice with more than 12% of the bedroom and dining room furniture.
• American maple doubled its share to 9%, moving into a tie for second with rubberwood, whose use also increased.
• Use of American white oak grew to 7% from 3% a year ago, moving into a tie for fourth with mahogany, which remained flat at 7%.
Most American hardwood species gained in share of use, Inman said. International woods had been on the rise at recent markets but only two species, rubberwood and parawood, were up in 2008.
The survey team could not distinguish the species on about 10% of the wood bedroom and dining room furniture on display because products were painted, printed or covered with overlays or other materials.
That’s down from 2007, when 17% of products were painted, printed or covered.
The survey also sorted case goods by style. Traditional styles (American, English, French and Spanish) accounted for 68% of the bedroom and dining room on display, down from 73% in 2007. Contemporary styles (just about everything else) rose to 31% from 26% the previous year.
In the home office, entertainment centers and wall unit categories, cherry was again the dominant species at market and was used on more than 22% of furniture on display, up from 20% in 2007. Red oak was second with 15% and rubberwood was third at 9%.
Maple gained share to 8%, up from 5% in 2007, while white oak ticked upward to 4%.
Contemporary designs made gains in home office, entertainment centers and wall units, rising to 26% from 14% a year earlier. Traditional maintained its dominance in the category at 74%, but that was down from 86% in 2007.
AHMI represents more than 220 hardwood lumber producers and distributors in the Appalachian Mountain region. It has been tracking wood species and style trends at the High Point Market since 1934.
Source : http://www.furnituretoday.com
December 17th, 2008
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