Phil Pendleton is a furniture professional with over 15 years experience in the industry. He continues to work with other furniture professionals promoting new trends in bamboo beds, platform beds and other modern furniture. He invites you to visit http://www.platformbeds.com for more information.
Posts Tagged ‘Furniture’
Eco-friendly Furniture – Recycling the Old and in With the Bamboo
We’re currently living in a day and age where the ecology of our planet is becoming a very important issue in everyday life. The way we use and re-use our resources as well as how we manage our homes and lives in green culture provides us an opportunity to make choices in helping to promote a cleaner healthier planet. Part of those choices stem from using more energy efficient light bulbs. Recycling our plastics and paper. Even making choices about the furniture we purchase. In this article we’ll take a look at some things we can do to recycle and re-use our older furniture as well as some tips on eco-friendly furniture products.
When purchasing new furniture or beds we often need to think about the furniture being replaced as part of the circle in promoting good ecological habits. There are several options that we can use to recycle or re-use your old furniture.
1.) Consider donating your furniture. Businesses like the Salvation Army or Goodwill Industries puts your older furniture back into circulation for others to use. The proceeds they generate from your furniture in turn helps to provide jobs and allows your furniture to find new life with a new family.
2.) Recycle your furniture. Wood furniture “can” be recycled at your local recycling center. There are also many local authorities who can assist in helping you to safely dispose of your furniture for recycling.
3.) Offer it to your family or friends. Your older furniture may be in tip top shape and if that’s the case you may still have sentimental feelings towards it and want to keep it in the family. If that is the case you can offer it to those you know who may have a need for the furniture.
4.) Try selling it. Many times your furniture may hold good resale value if it is a name brand or high-end piece of furniture. If that is the case why not sell it in a local newspaper ad or try selling it through online auctions like ebay or other online marketplaces.
Many of the options above give the added benefit of the furniture being safely and responsibly recycled or re-used which is an important step before shopping for new furniture and creating good eco-friendly habits. We need to avoid having older furniture added to landfills and we should make every effort to find a safe means of recycling our older furniture. After you’ve made arrangements to have your older furniture recycled or re-used you’ll want to start looking at some alternatives available in eco-friendly materials for furniture. There are many options available in furniture but one such material is becoming quite popular in green furniture. It’s called bamboo.
Bamboo is an interesting ecological friendly choice for a wide variety of products. What makes this product considered a green choice in furniture though is the process through which it is harvested and replanted. Many believe bamboo is a type of wood but it actually is classified as a grass. From the time it is seeded to the time it reaches maturity for harvesting is approximately 5-7 years. The stalk of the bamboo hardens and becomes tighter (harder than maple wood) which is then harvested and processed into a variety of products including boards which can be used for building and construction. It can be reseeded once harvested in as little as three months and because bamboo grows so quickly often reaching heights of 70 feet tall, this replenishment is quick with little to no impact on the environment.
Many domestic hardwoods like oak or ash do make great choices for furniture. In this modern age of resource conscious ecological living though many of us recognize that once an oak or ash tree is harvested it takes almost 40-45 years for a new one to be planted and grown to maturity. Many lumber companies do act responsibly with their cutting and harvesting of those trees but the maturity. However, if alternatives exist (like bamboo) and can be used in certain types of furniture in place of other woods then we should consider those resources ahead of others. Bamboo beds, nightstands, dressers and bookcases are just some of the many pieces of furniture made from this plant. The bamboo plant is even used in making fabric which is used in many types of mattress coverings.
In this article we looked at the two aspects of purchasing new furniture. We examined the responsibilities of what we should do with the older furniture. In the way of donating it, recycling it, giving it away or selling it. Doing these things allows our older furniture to be recycled and re-used creating a positive environmental impact. When getting ready to find new furniture we explored alternatives to domestic woods in the way of bamboo. Bamboo is fast growing, can be reseeded in less than three months after harvesting and provides material even harder than maple. Bamboo is a positive resource for eco-friendly furniture and if it is an available option should be considered ahead of other products. These suggested practices are not only good for you and others but for our environment as well.
Improve your Décor with Beautiful Kitchen Furniture
Great kitchen furniture can really enhance the look and feel of your home. Today’s kitchens are designed to embody style, functionality, and accessibility. Considering the wide variety of kitchen furniture available, finding items that will improve your décor may prove much easier than you think. The key is finding kitchen furniture that not only looks great in your home, but also serves an additional purpose.
For most of us, there is a need to decrease clutter in the kitchen. Kitchens often become the home for plants, decorative items, and cooking utensils. If this is the case in your kitchen consider incorporating a baker’s rack. Depending on the style that you choose, a baker’s rack provides additional shelves space, small wine rack, utility hooks, and/or small table top. This additional space could be used to free up areas by holding plants, pitchers, spices, and practically anything else. If you are excited about the organization that a baker’s rack would bring to your kitchen, then you will love the variety of styles you can choose from. A baker’s rack will also look good in a hall or area that is close to your kitchen. This will give your home more of a contemporary look and keep your kitchen open for better flow.
Today, there are even storage chests and units that are specifically designed for the kitchen and dining room areas. Kitchen storage furniture such as chests and other units can be a great place for table cloths, cutlery, cloth napkins, and similar items. Yet, unlike storage units for the garage, kitchen storage chests are uniquely designed to add elegance to the style of your home. Though they are often built as a combination item with a baker’s rack, or kitchen shelf, these items are also great to place in a hall near your kitchen or in your dining room area.
A baker’s rack is a great way to organize smaller items. However, if your kitchen is running over with pots, pans, and chopping boards, then a kitchen island may be just the thing that you need. Kitchen islands provide storage space for kitchen items, while providing you with a wide flat surface for preparing meals. The sizes, styles, and compartments of kitchen islands can vary greatly however. A kitchen island should fit comfortably within your kitchen while allowing for easy movement throughout the cooking area. Kitchen islands can also give your place a more cosmopolitan feel.
If you are looking at kitchen islands, but you do not see one that really fits the style of your kitchen. You may want to try a kitchen or cuisine cart instead. Though, they share similar qualities as kitchen islands, there are a few key differences that may make all the difference in your kitchen. For instance, kitchen carts are the best place store decorative items like plates or bowls. Kitchen carts can come with or without shelves. Also, depending on the layout of your kitchen, you can easily push the cart to another place for better flow.
Another great way to bring life to your kitchen would be to add a counter table. Kitchen counter tables incorporate a sense of tradition and a classic feel to you décor. The small, stylish storage units will remind of the stylish kitchens that your parents and grandparents used. Yet, their classic looks will mesh well with new styles. The table tops can be used to display plants, flowers, fruit, and even appliances.
Cabinets can also add a sense of style and functionality to your home. Cabinets are useful when looking for way to save space, especially in kitchens with high or vaulted ceilings. Cabinet styles vary, and you need to choose a style that fits your décor while adding functionality. For example, china cabinets are a classic way to show off hand painted plates and nice cutlery. However, microwave cabinets are typically used to house a wider variety of items, and often soften the feel of your kitchen.
If you are a wine enthusiast than a wine rack would not only add style to the décor of your home, but it would also be a great way to display the collection of great wines you have amassed. The flat surface certain wine racks provide is a great place to showcase your most prized or favorite bottles. However, you do not have to be an avid collector to appreciate the stylish display that a wine rack affords you.
The trend in kitchens today is to decorate for your life; so your kitchen furniture should be no exception. Those who love to entertain would need to have a good wine rack, with a nice baker’s rack to add the proportions of style, while opening up the kitchen to facilitate conversations. However, people who love or need to cook daily would benefit from a kitchen island. These are not hard and fast rules, kitchen furniture can be mixed and matched to fit not only the décor of your home, but also the style of your life.
Mike Cole is a freelance writer who writes about home décor and home improvement,often focusing on a specific type of décor such as kitchen furniture.
Customized Children’s Furniture
Over $50 billion is spent each year on children’s furniture. With such a large market for children’s furniture, manufacturers want to ensure that both the children and their parents are satisfied with their furniture. Furniture manufacturers want to know how the furniture will be used, where the furniture will be situated, etc. In recent market research, it was found that the number one thing parents and children alike want in their furniture is customization.
Customization is what brings out your personality and furniture should be the very first stop for that. With new customizable furniture, parents can change the color of their children’s furniture with just a few easy steps. Furniture retailers say this isn’t the furniture they would choose for kids, but it is the kind of furniture that kids choose for themselves.
Parents also want furniture that will last for awhile. Kids can be brutal on furniture, so it’s important that their furniture is durable and will grow with them. Furniture should be adaptable to grow with kids. An example of this is a crib that converts to a bed with rails that converts to a regular small bed.
Furniture makers and retailers are constantly updating furniture to fit the wants and needs of the customer. Customizable furniture and the functionality to grow with a child is truly the furniture of the present and the future. Look for more customizable furniture to be hitting the furniture industry soon.
So, if you want to find out more about Furniture or even about Furnishings or Living Room Furniture, you can click these links.
So, if you want to find out more about Furniture or even about Furnishings or Living Room Furniture, you can click these links.
Sunroom Furniture To Suit Your Sunroom Plan
What is a sunroom? Think of a warm. comforting room saturated with sunlight during most of the day. Sunrooms are placed facing the south in the northern hemisphere. and facing the north in southern hemisphere to take the most advantage of the natural light. If you are in an area where sunlight is not available all year long. you will appreciate the value of a sunroom. Very hot. tropical areas. near the equator. for example. would not need sunrooms since the temperatures there never get very low.
If you are lucky enough to have a house that sprawls across a space. such as a ranch house. you can place a sunroom at each end and take advantage of both the morning and the afternoon sunlight. A sunroom is a unique kind of space in your home and as such. requires its own special kind of furniture. Since it is a semi-outdoor room. it is exposed to sunlight (of course!). rain if the wind is blowing. and during the winter it can be exposed to snow and cold air. Because of this direct contact with the elements. sunroom furniture must be able to withstand harsh conditions. This makes it necessary for sunroom furniture to be very durable and long lasting. as well as easy to take care of. Furniture that would need to be covered when it rains. or polished frequently would require too much work.
Two types of furniture work well in this environment: furniture of natural materials that are used to being exposed to the elements. and synthetic furniture that has had durability manufactured into it. A sunroom is easy enough to achieve. especially if you are a handy do-it-yourselfer. A kit can be purchased that makes it easy to erect. You can make a sunroom of glass to maximize the amount of light that you get. and there are packages that include heating for those periods when there is no sunlight coming in. A low wall can be built to add to the feeling of making it a real room. The most common materials that sunrooms are constructed from are: PV. aluminum. wood and metals coated with PVC. The choice of furniture for a sunroom will depend on how the room is constructed. If the room is fairly well protected. you can use almost any type of furniture. just as you would inside the house. Otherwise. you may want to have furniture made of teak or bamboo. that can withstand the elements. These materials are long lasting and easy to care for. In a sunroom that is completely open. or with only a kneewall. the furniture has to be portable. since you are probably going to stop using the room in the harsh weather. PVC furniture. especially if it can be stacked. or metal furniture coated with PVC will serve this purpose. Both of these are available in many. many colors. so you can match any decorating scheme. Bamboo furniture is a popular choice for sunroom furniture since it is an outdoor material. It has the advantage over teak in that it is much lighter weight and easier to move.
If you have a sunroom where the sun moves around the room and you want to move the furniture to be able to sit in the sun. bamboo is the wiser choice. Since a sunroom is designed to be bright and “sunny”. the best choice for fabrics in the room is cheery designs that go with the light hearted atmosphere of such a room. Bright colors are typically used. but coordinating them carefully is important. since overwhelming brightness combined with the light of the sun may be overpowering.
Customized Children’s Furniture
Over $50 billion is spent each year on children’s furniture. With such a large market for children’s furniture, manufacturers want to ensure that both the children and their parents are satisfied with their furniture. Furniture manufacturers want to know how the furniture will be used, where the furniture will be situated, etc. In recent market research, it was found that the number one thing parents and children alike want in their furniture is customization.
Customization is what brings out your personality and furniture should be the very first stop for that. With new customizable furniture, parents can change the color of their children’s furniture with just a few easy steps. Furniture retailers say this isn’t the furniture they would choose for kids, but it is the kind of furniture that kids choose for themselves.
Parents also want furniture that will last for awhile. Kids can be brutal on furniture, so it’s important that their furniture is durable and will grow with them. Furniture should be adaptable to grow with kids. An example of this is a crib that converts to a bed with rails that converts to a regular small bed.
Furniture makers and retailers are constantly updating furniture to fit the wants and needs of the customer. Customizable furniture and the functionality to grow with a child is truly the furniture of the present and the future. Look for more customizable furniture to be hitting the furniture industry soon.
So, if you want to find out more about Furniture or even about Furnishings or Living Room Furniture, you can click these links.
So, if you want to find out more about Furniture or even about Furnishings or Living Room Furniture, you can click these links.