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.
Fine antique furniture is a little harder to take care of than Ikea furniture. If you need a little help, Mary Helen McCoy, founder and president of Mary Helen McCoy Fine Antiques, has some tips.
WOOD: Many furniture pieces are coated with wax and may need professional maintenance. If you take care of it yourself, only polish twice a year with beeswax-based polish and a soft cloth. Don’t use spray polish because it may contaminate the surface and make it sticky. Keep furniture out of direct sunlight to avoid fading and make sure it is stored in a room-temperature environment.
MARQUETRY: Marquetry veneer is sensitive to climate changes, so check to see that it is still stable, especially in winter. If the veneer becomes loose, go to a professional to get the proper glues. Also consult a professional for polishing. Keep away from heat and direct sunlight.
DMC Dynamic Rotating Banner - Requires JavaScript and Flash 8+
BRONZES: Do not try to clean bronze yourself! Household cleaners can permanently damage their patina.
SEATING: A professional should check your seating to make sure it is stable, which can involve new webbing on the bottom, strengthening of the wood, and reassembly using appropriate pegs and glue.
GILDING AND PAINT: Most pieces do not have their original gilding or painting. For restoration, consult a professional.
CAST METAL FEET (SABOTS) AND FURNITURE LEGS: Try to get a replacement for feet that will matches the original. Broken legs should be repaired by a professional.
by Jennifer Uscher
Green wood furniture can be dauntingly expensive, whether it’s certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) as a product of well-managed forests, shaped from reclaimed materials or made with least-toxic finishes and glues. Happily, it is getting easier to find green tables, chairs and beds that meet at least one of these standards and are comparable in price to conventional furniture.
Crate & Barrel and Ikea recently introduced lines featuring recycled or renewable wood, and many online stores are selling pieces made from reclaimed or FSC-certified wood. Still others use non-toxic and/or sustainable materials, such as bamboo, a non-forest product. (See product listings, below.)
To get you started:
• Begin with a small piece, like a nightstand.
• Buy an item with one sustainable component like reclaimed wood but treated with a conventional stain and finish. These can be less expensive (and easier to find).
• Choose unfinished wood and finish yourself.
• Before buying uncertified recycled wood, always ask for assurances as to sources. Emily Jaklitsch, chain of custody associate for the Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood program, notes that there are currently “a dozen or less” certified recycled-wood-furniture manufacturers.
Fortunately, you don’t have to sacrifice style for sustainability. Here are some beautiful, environmentally sound pieces for every room in your home:
Foyer
VivaTerra’s Wine Barrel Stave Bench (made from an old oak wine barrel) is the perfect place to sit while you pull on your shoes ($219; www.vivaterra.com, 800-233-6011).
Living Room
A well-designed, eco-friendly couch, Eli Sofa by Greener Lifestyles has an FSC-certified pine frame, a natural rubber latex seat and down-filled back cushions ($1,950). The clean lined Dora Chair has an FSC-certified pine frame with a natural rubber latex seat ($512). Both pieces can be upholstered in an organic cotton and hemp blend, sustainable wool, recycled polyester or conventional fibers (www.greenerlifestyles.com, 888-220-6020).
Taken from http://www.thegreenguide.com
Carbon monoxide poisoning kills or injures someone in New Hampshire every year. Since the danger rises with increased use of furnaces and generators, state Fire Marshal Bill Degnan issued a warning this week to New Hampshire residents following the winter season’s first cold snap.
While generators and malfunctioning heating systems are most often the culprit, ovens, space heaters and vehicles can be a danger, too, Degnan said.
Degnan said he’s heard of people using regular gas in their furnaces because it’s cheaper than heating oil. He strongly urges not doing that because it can cause a fire or explosion.
He does recommend keeping generators at least 10 feet from a house with the exhaust pointed away from the building. They should never be used in an enclosed space, including garages, he said.
Heavy snows bring another danger, namely overloaded roofs that can collapse from the weight of snow and ice buildups, Degnan said. Snow buildups should be watched carefully and removed when necessary, he said.
Degnan released further tips for a “fire safe winter”:
Only use type of fuel listed for the appliance.
• Have each heating appliance serviced every year by a trained technician. This will improve the efficiency of your heating system as well as its safety.
• Install furnaces or other heating appliances in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and the State Fire Code.
• Plug electric space heaters directly into the outlet. Keep furniture and draperies at least 36 inches from the heater.
• As a rule of thumb, provide 36 inches of clearance between a wood heating appliance and any combustible surface or material.
• If you aren’t sure your heating system and chimney meet fire safety codes, ask your local fire department to inspect them.
• Use only dry, seasoned hardwood. If you are unsure about the rules for safe wood burning, consult your local fire officials for advice.
• Install a smoke detector on each level of your home. Check your smoke detectors at least once per month.
• Install at least one carbon monoxide detector in your home.
• Develop a fire escape plan and practice family fire drills.
• Coals in a pile of wood ashes can stay live for many days. Store wood ashes in a covered metal container set on a dirt or concrete surface at least 36 inches from any combustible surface or materials.
Taken from http://www.nashuatelegraph.com
Washington, December 14 (ANI): A new study suggests that the flammability of upholstered furniture can be dramatically reduced by adding a small amount of carbon nanofibres to the polyurethane foams that are used in them.
Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have found that adding carbon nanofibres to the polyurethane foams can reduce flammability by about 35 percent when compared to foam infused with conventional fire retardants.
The finding is significant because treating mattresses and upholstered furniture used in public spaces with fire retardants can help reduce fire fatalities and injuries and, thereby. decrease damage costs.
The researchers said that they added carbon nanofibres to the foam because they knew that adding nanoparticles to a polymer normally increases the viscosity, and thus it does not flow as easily.
The carbon nanofibers help prevent the foam from dripping in a pool under the furniture and increasing the fire intensity, said Jeff Gilman, leader of the Materials Flammability Group in the Building and Fire Research Laboratory.
The team said that experiments conducted by them had shown that carbon nanofibres seemed to create a thermally stable, entangled network that kept the foam from dripping.
They revealed that their study involved small-scale experiments.
These small-scale experiments correlate well with the fire behavior of larger foam samples and are easier and less expensive to conduct. The small-scale tests will allow us to cost-effectively perform more experiments and help us find an optimal fire retardant faster, said Gilman.
arbon nanofibers are still more expensive than conventional flame retardant materials, but because the price is decreasing and so little needs to be used, they could soon be an affordable and effective option, Gilman added.
The scientists said that they would continue studying the mechanisms that reduce flammability and dripping.
They would also work with chemical companies, nano-additive suppliers, flame retardant suppliers and foam manufacturers to test new blends of foam and carbon nanofibres to improve flame retardant material. (ANI)
Taken from http://www.newspostonline.com
“What do you want to call this groovy stuff we are making?” asked Chris Bruning.
His partner, Jeff Singleton, didn’t know what to call it either and, after much consideration, the groovy stuff became Groovystuff.
The vernacular may be dated but the furniture isn’t. The designs are new and unique, seeming to almost be one-of-a-kind pieces.
The company just celebrated it’s 10th anniversary by opening a showroom at the World Market Center Las Vegas.
Designed for today’s lifestyles and inspired by yesterday’s antiquities, Groovystuff offers six unique residential collections: Prairie, Iron Horse, Adirondack, Back to the Roots, Kodiak and Rocky Mountain. Each group features pieces designed with the foundation of style, value, longevity and preservation of natural resources.
In an industry just beginning to understand the impact and demand for sustainable home furnishings, the Dallas-based manufacturer is a veteran. Committed to sustainable manufacturing and environmental accountability, Groovystuff produces distinctive pieces crafted from reclaimed teak wood and antique farm implements. Its vision is to assist its retail customers in growing their businesses sustainably.
“They are thoroughly thought out and crafted from sustainable products which were tools and tree roots or worn out wagon wheels or plows,” explained Bruning as he touched a unique piece that looked like a wagon wheel sitting upright against a box. With a couple of twists of the handles secreted into the “hub” of the wheel it divided in half and swung open to reveal a beautiful bar. The Trail Boss bar features a handy wine rack below the serving area for storing your favorite bottles of wine.
More wheels were evident in the seats of the chairs at the Husker table, and wagon wheel spokes served as the trim on the back of the chairs. Plows were used as the chair legs, but the craftsmanship and blending of the pieces was so intricate that you had to do a double take and sometimes even a triple take to fully appreciate it.
Even the tiniest of roots from the teak trees are used for framing mirrors as large as 50 inches and weighing more than 70 pounds. These same roots were once discarded as not usable and burned. Some of the larger roots are fashioned into one-piece tables shaped like the letter “Z” and others are hollowed out to form tapered leg tables.
The Adirondack pool chair from Groovystuff is created by blending resalvaged farm plows and rice barrel sections. The angle of the plows and rice barrel sections create the perfect ergonomic surface to relax poolside.
Bruning didn’t start out to design furniture. The artist, electrical engineer, world traveler and disillusioned corporate executive was “tramping” through Asia and, more specifically, Thailand.
“My family believes that as much time as you spend learning something you must at least spend that same amount of time doing it,” he said.
After five years in the corporate setting, 21/2 as an engineer, Bruning said he was “burned out with the whole corporate thing. So I bought a one way ticket to Bangkok and spent the next three years going south, from one end of Indonesia to the other.”
He was astounded and amazed at the collections of old wheels and farm implements simply discarded by the farmers when they no longer had any use for them. His artistic side kicked in and he started to develop relationships with the local artisans, creating chairs and tables that he then marketed to his friends back in the United States.
Bruning hasn’t stopped there. He has since developed a whole program working with the University of Texas, Dallas and the American Home Furnishings Alliance doing case studies to show the effects of sustainable materials in the furniture industry.
BERKELEY — The door of the bamboo kitchen cabinet glides open smoothly as customer Rick Unvarsky pulls the knob at the Berkeley Mills furniture showroomhere.
“The hinges are durable,” said Unvarsky. “That’s a sign of quality.”
In a field notorious for shoddy work and fly-by-night operations, it’s unusual to find a 21-year-old shop of 40 employees making handcrafted furniture to the highest design and environmental standards. And though the economy isn’t making it any easier for Berkeley Mills, its cofounders are determined to maintain their commitment to quality.
“We don’t use particle board. None of our panels are manufactured with formaldehyde,” said Gene Agress, co-founder of the company. The bamboo, jarrah and other woods he uses are sustainably harvested and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, Agress said.
Late afternoon sunlight floods into the room through a red stained-glass window, throwing a patch of umber across the hardwood floor and a $2,090 cherry and birdseye maple harp dining chair. Not surprisingly, the company’s goods aren’t cheap.
“Everything’s about labor and craftmanship and materials. Our average sale is probably around $12,000,” said Agress.
So far, the economic tsunami sweeping over the country hasn’t pulled Berkeley Mills off its mooring, the cofounder said.
“We did borrow some money for the first time on our credit line. But we are still busy,” Agress said. “It’s just that
things are moving a little slower.” Though he wouldn’t say how much the privately held company made this year, Agress said it was on a par with 2007.An industry expert had hopeful words for companies like Berkeley Mills.
“We’re seeing a resurgence of domestic production,” said Ray Allegrezza, editor in chief of Furniture Today. “So much furniture has been coming from China, where they have massive factories. But China has its own issues now with overtime and the cost of Asian goods is going up to the point that some companies say, ‘We can do better doing it here.’
“So much of the stuff coming from China looks alike, there’s real opportunity for small boutique furniture companies that don’t look like everyone else,” Allegrezza said.
One look at the Berkeley Mills showroom confirms that the company’s wares match this description. A mahogany home office tansu, which combines the functions of a sideboard and cabinet, has the simple lines associated with Japanese architecture.
“There is a tiny bit of space between the panels. This means they will last a long time because the wood can expand and not crack,” said cofounder Dave Kent. “This tansu will last hundreds of years.”
The sharp smell of freshly cut wood greets visitors to the workshop that shares Berkeley Mills’ 35,000 square feet of space. Traditional equipment like bar clamps, which essentially weld pieces of wood together with the help of glue, share space with a Busellato CNC cutter with a built-in keyboard and monitor.
The back of the shop is stacked almost to its 30-foot ceilings with 8- to 10-foot-long boards. Dark brown wenge from Sierra Leone; pinkish jarrah from Australia; andiroba from South America and Africa; and the more familiar California walnut, cherry from Pennsylvania and maple from Michigan await the attention of Berkeley Mills’ craftsmen.
“Sustainability was an important criterion in selecting this shop,” said Unvarsky, a San Franciscan who is LEED-accredited. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building rating system designed by the U.S. Building Council. “We tried other places, walked out and said no.
Unvarsky’s kitchen will use bamboo wood. “It’s rapidly renewable. Once you harvest it, you can plant another tree and harvest it again within 10 years, as opposed to cutting down a tree that may be 100 years old,” Unvarsky said.
“They’ve (Berkeley Mills) been doing a good job. We chose them because we wanted a local company, and because they have the highest craftsmanship.”
WOODBRIDGE, Va., Dec 08, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — How to not get bamboozled by too-good-to-be-true deals
How do you know that you’re really getting a good deal during a furniture store’s “Going out of Business Sale”? Follow these tips from local furniture craftsman Mark Gatterdam to ensure you won’t have buyer’s regret once your new addition comes home.
1. Shop locally: Not only will you save on shipping costs by choosing
companies who keep their sales and manufacturing processes in a small
geographic area, but you'll also help stimulate the local economy.
2. Look for quality: A good quality item is one that will last you as long
as it will take to reproduce the raw materials that go into the
construction of that item. Look for a manufacturer's warranty that
you can live with. Also, furniture which looks as good on the inside as
it does on the outside is a sign of quality. Pull out a drawer!
3. Google your local handyman: Look for items that are repairable. Not only
is a repair greener for the environment, but it can also be less costly
than purchasing a new item.
4. Think creatively: Before plunking down your hard-earned money on a
gorgeous item, consider any future alternative uses. For example,
yesterday's TV armoires are today's bookcases and stereo
cabinets.
5. Get comfy: Your salesperson is your best resource in a furniture store,
and you should not feel obligated to oblige a salesperson who makes you
feel uncomfortable.
6. Don't settle: Furniture is an investment which should not leave you
second-guessing yourself. If you cannot find a piece of furniture which
matches your needs, you may find customization to be the best option
despite the increase in cost.
When you’re thinking about a new sofa, you’ll want to check our sofa buying tips. While it is important to get a sofa in just the right color, it is just as important to get one that will last. Inexpensive furniture can break, pop springs, and look out of shape within a year of constant use. Quality construction will offer years of enjoyment and has enough good “bones” to allow you to recover it periodically.
Choose the Style of Cushions for Your New Sofa
First decide if you prefer the look of loose back cushions or attached. Loose cushions give you the option of turning the pillows as needed, while attached backs won’t need fluffing or rearranging. Be sure to sit in the sofa you are considering. Is it comfortable? Are the arms the right height for taking a nap or reading a book?
How Many Cushions Do You Like on a Sofa?
How many seat cushions would you like? One cushion offers a clean modern look while two or three are traditional. When you sit on the cushions, do they stay in place or do the corners flare up? Are they attached to the frame with a clip to hold them down?
What Style of Sofa Arm Do You Like?
Choose an arm style for your new sofa. You can choose from armless, traditional rolled arm, curved English arm, or a straight Parsons style. The rolled arm has a flat front panel and is often outlined in cording. English style is rounded at the front, with fabric formed into sunburst-type pleats. Straight arm sofas are most often seen in contemporary settings.
A Skirted Sofa or One With Bare Legs?
Do you want a skirted sofa or one with the visible legs? Choose from leg styles that vary from heavy square chunks and wide bun feet to more delicate tapered legs or carved and curved formal versions. Legs are usually available in a number of finishes as well.
Understand Frame Construction for Upholstered Furniture
Ask about the construction of a sofa under consideration. The best are made from kiln-dried hardwoods (oak, maple, poplar, etc.), while inexpensive furniture is made from softer pine lumber. Interior construction is important as well. Cheap furniture is stapled together and has haphazardly constructed corner bracing. Better frames are securely screwed together.
Understand Sofa Seat Construction
Find out how the seat support system is made. Often a furniture store will have a cutaway model of the interior of upholstered pieces. Does it have quality 8-way tied springs or cheaper wire coils?
Choosing the Cushion and Pillow Filling for Your Sofa
The cushion and pillow filling are important to the feel of a sofa. Upholstery foam is inexpensive and comes in several thicknesses and weights, however the best cushions have down fillings. All-down cushions must be fluffed daily, though another option uses down pads wrapped around a core of foam. Understand these options for the sofa you want and which might be best for you. Are the cushions standard or special order, foam or down?
Choose the Fabric for You New Sofa’s Final Cover
Choose a fabric for your sofa. Chenille is soft and durable while Leather is long-lasting and attractive. Velvets and other fabrics look lovely but may wear out with heavy use over the years. Finally consider options for trimmings. Dress up a sofa with fringed pillows or double welted seams. While these options add to the cost, they also give your piece a one-of-a-kind look. Many furniture manufacturers also offer the option of custom-made slipcovers to give you a seasonal change.
An armoire is a tall cabinet, usually with drawers, shelves, and doors, used for storing clothes or household items. With our help, you’ll find ways to make use of an armoire all around your home.
An armoire is a very versatile piece of furniture and can be used exclusively for decoration or for the main storage unit in any room in the house. It can hold clothes, household furnishings, china, stereo equipment or a computer. The possibilities are endless!
Historically, an armoire was used as a clothes closet to store apparel in homes that did not have a built-in closet. Today, it can be fitted with shelves, drawers, hanging poles, or left open.
Armoires were once made of beautifully finished wood, either waxed or painted. Now high-tech materials are used to create this wonderful storage piece to fit in any setting.
This one piece of furniture will be one of the most useful pieces you own. Read on to find ways to use an armoire throughout your home. You’ll probably be able to think of lots more!
In a Family Room or Living Room
Hide a Television
By installing shelves and having a hole cut out in the back of the cabinet, an armoire is the perfect place to hide a television and CD player. A cut-out at the back will channel all the wires. Watch movies or television shows, and then close the doors to conceal everything.
House Your Stereo and Video Equipment
With so many high-tech components, stereo, disk changers, and other audio/video items in people’s homes, they’ll fit well into an armoire or entertainment center. Keep the doors closed, with speakers arranged around the room, to maintain a neat look.
Store Games and Activity Kits
Sort games, dice and cards, in coordinated plastic storage boxes and keep them hidden away until you’re ready to play.
Organize Your Hobby Equipment
From model plane kits to knitting projects, an armoire is a perfect place to put away craft and hobby projects when not in use. Add hooks or pegs on the side walls or doors to hang things.
File Your Music and Instruments
This won’t work if you play a bass or piano, but an armoire is a great place to store a musical instrument, carrying case, and all the sheet or book music that goes along with your hobby.
Archive Your Memories
Scrap booking supplies, souvenirs, photo albums, and collections can be stored together in an armoire. With the items in the family room, everyone will be able to get to whatever they want.
In a Bedroom
Clothing Storage
An armoire is a perfect place to store folded sweaters, shirts, lingerie, bedding, and miscellaneous items.
Accessory Garage
Purses, shoes, scarves, and jewelry can find a home in an armoire. Keep pieces sorted, shoes in pairs, necklaces and bracelets hanging on hooks on the side walls. Add pegs or small rods for scarves so they don’t get wrinkled.
Make-Up Center
Keep your make-up sorted and organized on a shelf in an armoire. Include a mirror and install a plug for curling iron or hair dryer. When you’re beautiful, close up the doors.
Entertainment Central
If you enjoy watching TV from bed, hide it behind the doors of an armoire. The room will look neat and orderly, but you’ll have your evening or morning entertainment at hand.
In a Bathroom
Store Your Linens
Store towels and bedding, neatly folded, on the shelves of an armoire in the bathroom. Keep scented papers near so that everything comes out fresh-as-a-daisy.
Cleaning Supplies
Have everything you need for bathroom cleaning right where you use it. No more trips to the basement or garage for cleanser to clean the tub. Keep a handled tote filled with glass cleaner, clean rags, scrubbers, soap scum scrub, and shower cleaner.
Everything to Get Ready
If you don’t have room elsewhere, a bathroom is a perfect place to fix your hair, shave, apply cosmetics, or do your nails. Keep all your supplies in an armoire in your bathroom, including a robe and slippers.