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Archive for the ‘Indoor Furniture’ Category

Mar
13

Kitchen Stools

Posted under Commercial Furniture, Indoor Furniture, Interior Design

Kitchen stools are designed to be used in a kitchen environment, with a counter height of around 90cm to the underside. These stools therefore have to have a seat height of around 65 – 70cm in order to leave enough space for your legs to sit comfortably underneath. This makes gas lifts very desirable, as you can adjust the seat height to suit your particular location.
The bar stool is being seen as an ever more fashionable addition to the home, and with the deletion of the domestic dining table, kitchen islands are quickly becoming a much sought after commodity. This has been helped in recent time by interior designers, who have turned the humdrum kitchen of the past into the vibrant hub of the home. Open plan living has seen this once utilitarian part of the house become the centre of action; many people now choose to socialise in the kitchen area, having a few drinks in the evening or watching the television from a bar. It has also become a popular place to complete the daily homework, under the supervision of Mum.
Due to its pivotal role in the modern family, it is common that each family member has their own stool, much like a traditional table and chairs. This makes width the all-important factor, as a 15cm gap between each seat is required as a minimum to allow for movement and easy access. This stops them from hitting each other and makes for a more comfortable seating arrangement.
But even if space under your worktop is lacking, or there is no island unit in your kitchen, there is no need to worry. Bar tables make an ideal accompaniment to any stool and provide an effective and cheap way of getting the most from your bar stools. The upside to bar tables as opposed to an island counter is that they can be moved, giving you a more flexible arrangement, as well as coming in a variety of designs to suit differing tastes.
Also becoming more popular is the brushed finish. This can be attributed to the rise in the number of appliances available in a brushed finish, not to mention all the trimmings and fittings like lights and door handles. People see brushed steel as more contemporary than chrome and it has become the must-have for modern installations. And thus brushed steel stools have had a surge in popularity, due to their ability to seamlessly blend into such environments and create a sleek, uniform look.
But if metal is not your thing, never fear! As the modernist movement gains momentum, so does the traditionalist. Many people are still after the rustic look in their kitchen, and this is where wooden stools come in. These beautifully made items are usually left in a natural finish, showing the grain of the wood and the craftsmanship involved. They give any kitchen a traditional look and feel, adding character and style to the atmosphere.

Nov
13

A gem in a sea of cheap chinese imprts

Posted under , Indoor Furniture, Interior Design

My wife and I have been looking for nice dining room furniture set for a while now. We are not asking for the world. All we wanted is to find a set that is a bit different from the sea of cheap Chinese imports that seem to have flooded the market recently. We wanted a solid wood, preferably Oak or Teak and of good quality. We found one or two, but most were well above the £3000 mark. Until we found these Solid Oak Dining Sets. Now, I have heard of Faraway Furniture’s excellent reputation for quality at a decent price point, but, as I have never bought from them before, we decided to take the 45 minute trip to their warehouse to see the set for ourselves. We were not disappointed. We saw their flagship Faraway Dining Set and fell for it immidiatly. It took 4 guys to get it out for us due to the extreme weight! More about this at a later date, but feel free to let me know what you think and if you have any other good looking, different sets that you have found on your travels.

Here are a couple of pics from their website.
solid oak dining set
solid wood dining set.

Oct
20

A TV should not be the focal point of your room!

Posted under Indoor Furniture, Interior Design

The rapidly falling prices of flat screen televisions has resulted in bigger screens for many households. The most common location for these to be placed, estimated at 75%, is above the fireplace in the main room of the household. Because of the increase in size both designers and woman have been having serious issues with a 50-70″ black glass object as the centrepiece and focal point of the living room.

Although it is simply a visual or mechanical change when the TV is hidden, to many it changes the entire atmosphere of the room. Even when the display has been turned off, attention is either consciously or unconsciously drawn towards the blank screen. This is not a figment of peoples imaginations, it is real, and it has a direct effect on both the décor and atmosphere of the room.

Concealment systems are essentially custom made furniture. Due to both television sizes and room measurements there is no single solution that will work for everyone, hence why such systems often cost more than the TV itself. The justification lies in that the time, money and creative effort spent in making the room look good is not destroyed by trying to make a 50″ piece of black glass blend seamlessly into the room décor.

If you were to do some extensive market research you would see there are a number of ways to get around this problem. All with certain pros and cons. However the widely used option is usually a plasma television lift.

A TV lift effectively combines both an item of home furniture and a TV stand. It gives the user the power to switch between viewing a piece of everyday furniture or viewing the plasma television. This is done using a remote controlled lifting mechanism which is fitted inside the furniture. When activated this mechanism will trigger a lift which will cause the TV to gently rise from the furniture and effectively turn it into a television stand.

This solution effectively solves all the problems faced by a home designer. The room decor does not have to be compromised, rather modified in a way which cannot be seen. And the television no longer has to be in full view unless you require it to be. As well as this there are security benefits which mean your television is a lot less likely to be taken or broken in the every day hussle throughout your household.

Conclusion

No matter what efforts TV manufacturers put into their aesthetic design, they do not solve the problem of having a large blank screen dominate a room when the TV if off. It comes as no surprise then, that demand for concealment solutions has been doubling each year.

The first question a designer or system integrator should pose to the client concerning the TV, should therefore be ‘How will it be installed without compromising the décor of the room? By educating themselves about concealment products, professionals such as TDK Joinery (www.tdkjoinery.co.uk) can offer the home owner a solution allows a large TV to be hidden within the décor using TV lifts, while maintaining the visual design of the room. It is a win-win situation for both parties.

Sep
09

The history of Teak wood

Posted under Commercial Furniture, Garden Furniture, Indoor Furniture, Interior Design

The wood used to build the early Chinese sailing ships was Teak. The wood used needed to be durable, weatherproof and minimum maintenance required. It is said that the Chinese shipbuilders would bury the wood logs in moist soil for many years prior to building their ships. This made the wood far stronger and impervious to the elements that could be encountered on the water, including enemies.

The strength of the ship building materials were vital because approximately 600 years ago the Chinese commissioned by the Ming dynasty to sail to the edge of the world. Year later the British naval ships were made from Oak whish is also a very hard and durable wood. The British encountered two problems with oak: Wood Worms and a shortage of Oak trees. Woodworms were destroying the ships in the British Naval Fleet and were the scourge of wooden ships throughout history. It could take 850 oak logs to repair one ship. It took a little over 2000 oak logs just to build one ship. The British needed ships as they continued for some time to have maritime issues with the French and to be able to go on to conquer and take control of British colonies. The British naval fleet was their primary means to accomplish this.

The British knew about the Teak wood used on the Chinese ships and how strong and rugged they were after having run into them, literally in the shipping lanes. The British had learned how impervious these ships were to all of the elements at sea: Saltwater, ocean wind, and the blistering sun. It was also found that Teak was difficult to splinter when hit by gunfire or artillery fire. This was a very important issue as splintering wood was the major cause of casualties among naval warfare in the eighteenth century.

Britain was very interested to grow and produce this wood. The British quickly realized they did not need to grow Teak Wood as they could occupy those countries where the Teak wood was grown and have a plentiful supply. India, Thailand and Burma were quickly annexed into the British Empire. This of course is not the main reason why the British took over these areas, but it certainly helped to give reason. Myanmar (formerly Burma), which is just south of India, and Yangoon became the first places where Teak was being cultivated for British ships. Calcutta was set up as another British shipbuilding site. All of the British merchant ships built in Calcutta were built with Myanmar Teak logs which were said to be the best. Once the wood was depleted from India, logs were harvested from Thailand and Burma.

Teak forests were quickly being depleted and forests dwindling. Teak was now the preferred wood used for building ships, Yachts, Ocean liners and furniture. Under ocean conditions, the wood had minimal warping, cracking or shrinkage. This meant little maintenance. The wood was also impervious to wood rot and insects, like the mighty woodworm. The famous Ocean liner “Queen Mary” used no less than 1000 tons of teak when built. The British understood the depletion that was taking place and developed a re-forestation plan. They appointed a leader to head a new department and began replanting Teak trees on what are now called

Teak “plantations”. A set of very strict laws were enacted regarding who can cut Teak Wood and who can purchase it. Once these laws were set in place, one needed to have permission from the British Government to be able to cut a Teak Tree down and or export it.
Teak was also being used by the locals for huts, fence posts, and furniture. Today India is the third largest importer of Teak , followed by China and Japan. As much as 80% of India’s timber consumption is Teak. The wood is used in India today for local consumption; building homes, furniture, fencing, etc. It is the one wood that can withstand the monsoons, the scorching heat and the humidity.

Teak Wood contains natural oils and Silica (sand) which makes it impervious to insects, and wood rot. These natural substances also help it to maintain its appearance for many years.
When many of the English ships of WWII were taken apart for salvage, the Teak Wood decks were re-manufactured into outdoor furniture such as park benches. Even today they can be seen in many parts of Europe still preserved and functioning.

Sep
09

Tips on choosing a dining table

Posted under Indoor Furniture, Interior Design

Size of room:

A large dining area gives you a wide range of choices. If you have the space you can choose a large, substantial, solid wooden rectangle table which can accommodate 8 to 10 seats. Tables with thick table tops and chunky legs can look spectacular in a large room. If you have the space, then why not use it to its full capacity?

If you entertain large groups frequently however have limited space then an extendable dining table style offers the most flexibility as the size can be extended to accommodate your party size. There are huge choices of both wooden and glass
dining tables which offer this function.

For smaller dining spaces a more delicate design with thin but sturdy materials give an illusion of space. Glass and wood with aluminium supports offer the best versatility.

Before you purchase your dining set take measurements of the dining area and consider the width of the table which ideally should be a minimum of 90cm. As a general guide you should aim to have a minimum distance of 120cm between the edge of the table and the wall to allow for enough seating room.

Material:

Should you buy solid wood, glass, veneer wood or a wood aluminium mix; the choice is endless. If on a low budget there are some excellent value wooden veneer tables or a solid pine table. As pine is a softer wood it may mark and scratch easily so this is best avoided if you have children. A wooden table with a veneer layer is the best option if money is tight and you have a large family with children. Veneer wood is tough, hardwearing and can be bought fairly cheaply.
At the high end of the scale a solid, chunky wooden oak table is recommended as it is practical, looks good and will last a lifetime.

Lifestyle:

Again as with the tables there is a choice of veneer, solid wood and upholstery, real or faux leather. Once again veneer chairs are at the lower end of the budget and the price increases if you have real leather seat pads. The top end the budget and the best looking is solid oak chairs with real leather seat pads. The style of the chairs, modern, contemporary and classic is all down to personal taste and the room decoration. There is an abundance of choice so shop around and choose careful before you buy as often the chars are the most expensive part of a dining set.

A family with young children needs a table which is easy to care for and has softer rounded edges. Speaking from personal experience I would advise that if you have young children, avoid upholstery which is easy to stain and choose wipe clean dark coloured leather or faux leather chairs.

Jul
23

How to clean you indoor teak furniture?

Posted under Commercial Furniture, Garden Furniture, Indoor Furniture, Interior Design, Office Furniture

How do you look after your indoor teak furniture to ensure it will look its best?
A proper cleaning and oiling plan will help.
Many people who have teak furniture in their homes believe they can have beautiful furniture without the need of a lot of attention and care. Unlike other wooden furniture that needs regular cleaning, oiling and care, you can actually leave your indoor teak furniture for many months, or even years, and it will remain as durable and strong as it was when you first purchased it.
Even though your teak furniture will last a lifetime, some attention is required. Indoor teak furniture left untouched will darken over time to a dark brown colour. To avoid this happening an annual cleaning and oiling procedure is recommended
Cleaning: Use warm soapy water and to thoroughly remove all dust, dirt and debris. Once this is done the furniture must be left to dry thoroughly.
Oiling: Teak has high levels of natural oils and to maintain these oils the furniture can be re-oiled after cleaning. This will help maintain the colour and appearance of your furniture.

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