Archive for the 'Furniture' Category

Oct 16 2009

5 Simple Ways to Accessorize a Room

Do you find that the current look of your home is boring? Are you just looking for something different? There are plenty of simple ways to accessorize any room in your home. You don’t need a lot of money or an interior decorator to give a room an entirely new look. Try these simple ways to accessorize any room in your home.

Add Some Extra Flair with Throw Pillows
Start by adding some complementary throw pillows to a sofa or chair. Another simple way to accessorize is to add a throw blanket to the back of the sofa. Be sure, however, that these items are not the same exact color as the sofa or chair. After all, they should work to add some interest and design element to the room. A tan sofa should be complemented with decorative pillows where tan is not the main color in the design or pattern. To pull the room together, it’s also a great idea to add other complementary colors from the room to the sofa.

Update Your Lighting Fixtures
You can give your room a whole new glow by updating your lighting fixtures. Whether you have older fixtures or small ones, installing new lighting can make a big difference. There are many inexpensive ones available that are easy to install. Be sure to get a fixture that gives off plenty of light to make your room brighter. At the same time, find a design style that fits the room.

Go Green with Your Living Room Accessories
One really simple way to add color to any room is with either a houseplant or a vase of colorful flowers. No matter your style, you should be able to find some really beautiful fake flower arrangements at your local craft store. Otherwise, if you’re creative enough, you can make one yourself. The flower arrangement should be placed in a prominent spot in the room so that it garners more attention. The same thing applies to any houseplants you add, whether real or fake. Try placing two houseplants on either side of a fireplace, which will help create a focal point for the room.

Fill Up a Blank Wall with Framed Pictures
By hanging a few picture frames in various shapes and sizes, you can banish those boring walls. You should be able to choose from a wide array of unique and stylish frames that will not only help you display your pictures but will also add some interest to the room. Try black-and-white pictures or those with only a touch of color for a dramatic look. Matted pictures can be eye-catching as well.

Reorganize Knickknacks with Shelving
Do you have a lot of knickknacks in your room that are getting lost in the shuffle? Consider grouping them together on a mantle, wood bookshelves or installing shelving on the walls. By stylishly arranging them into a display, they will better accessorize the room.

Adding simple accessories allows you to easily redecorate or switch around the style design of a room. If you really want to do something totally different, you might look into moving the furniture around. You could also add new pieces of furniture to the mix, such as new oak dining room tables. Adding accessories to a room should be neither hard nor expensive. Rather, just get creative and let your style show.

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Sep 16 2009

Buying A Quality File Cabinet

File Cabinet

These days there are so many ways to buy an oak filing cabinet that sometimes it can be confusing. With so many different types of materials that are used to make them there are some that you should buy and some that you shouldn’t buy. File cabinets that are made of cheap, non-durable board like particle board are some that you will want to stay away from. There are some descriptions that you may see on the tag or the outside of the box that may say “made of wood”.

With that said you have to be careful because sometimes when they put “made of wood” they are still making it out of particle board so be careful. The woods that you really want to try and get are oak, cherry, mahogany, or pine. The weight in which the file cabinet can hold will need to be taken into consideration, so you will want to make sure that you use glue, screws, and clamps, not cam locks in particle board. There is an easy trick to make sure that the file cabinet you buy is made of solid wood and not particleboard. It is very important to know the difference between Veneer, solid wood, and printed grain and the best way to find out if yours is made of solid wood is by looking at which way the grain is running. If all the grain is running the same way then you will know that you have a solid piece of wood, however, if the grain is running in the wrong direction which would then be perpendicular to the other grain then you know yours is made with veneer.

When it comes to wood office furniture and file cabinets wood drawers, there are quite a few ways that you can assemble these. Some will enable you to put them together with strength and some will make it so they fall apart. English dovetail joints are the best way to hold a wood drawer together, you can also use glue and staples as long as the staples are only holding it together until the glue dries. There are many things that are important to look at when making sure that you have a solid cabinet. One of the things that you need to make sure that you look at when it comes to your file cabinet is making sure that the hardware that’s used for the drawers is sturdy and will put together. You will want to slide the drawers in and out and make sure that they slide smoothly with no catches. Making sure that your drawers pull out a 100% is important with a file cabinet because if the drawer pulls out 90% you will find yourself reaching into the back to pull out files.

If you are looking for the best glide system out there today, you will want to make sure that it has a full ball bearing- full extension slide system with at least a 100 lb weight rating. Depending on the files that you are going to be storing you will want to make sure that you if you need locks. If you have files that are confidential and only for the viewing eyes of certain people then you will need to put a lock on the drawer.

Now there are different ways that you can lock that cabinet yourself. One of those way is installing separate locks for specific drawers if there is a need for the remaining drawers to be unlocked. The other way you can do it is by simple using the locking mechanism at the top, which when locking will lock all the doors. The best thing to do is to make sure the wood used to make your file cabinet is solid, the glide mechanisms work properly, and the joints are put together well and you will be on your way to a long lasting quality file cabinet and .

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Aug 28 2009

Warming Up Your Bath

What could be more luxurious in winter than a warm bathroom? Fortunately, this is one luxury that almost anyone can achieve without sacrificing period style or your pocketbook. Many of the most desirable options are also the most affordable. For instance, plug-in electric towel warmers can be had for under $150, whereas overhead rain shower fixtures start at around $60. You can find a good pressure-balance mixer for as little as $200. However, there is another side of the spectrum. Jetted pedestal tubs and steam shower systems can easily set you back a few thousand dollars.

You will find that towel warmers and radiators come in two basic styles: the traditional round tube shape and the flat-panel “Euro” style. Another option is a tubular towel-warming basket. This handy basket can be mounted in tight spaces to keep hot fluffy towels within easy reach.

Although every towel warmer generates some heat, many of the hard-wired versions are powerful enough to be rightly considered radiators. Inexpensive electric models that put out 100 watts or so are great, because they not only dry the towels in the bathroom but also reduce dampness and mildew. If you go with a more powerful hard-wired electric or hydronic towel radiator, it can easily heat a larger space, especially if it’s sized and placed properly. Even better, neither gets too hot to touch. An electric towel warmer should only reach 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Hydronics can range between 120 and 150 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on how hot you keep the system. You can think of these radiators as zoned heating.

A good dealer will help you find a unit to match the needs of your space. You need to take into consideration the amount of tile or stone, the type and location of existing heat sources such as steam radiators or forced air, and the number of windows. If your bath is too tiny for even a small towel warmer, see if you can find room along the baseboard for a couple or horizontal radiator panels to keep your room nice and toasty.

When it comes down to it, however, it’s the water in the bath or shower that warms the most. If you plan on upgrading the shower anyway, consider installing a pressure-balance or thermostatic mixing valve. Pressure-balance valves are less costly and simpler, keeping the water pressure in the shower constant and preventing sudden fluctuations in water temperature, as often occurs when the toilet is flushed, for instance.

Thermostatic valves are more sophisticated. They mix the hot and cold water to fairly precise temperatures, usually within one degree Celsius of the setting. These valves also compensate for fluctuations in the incoming water pressure.

For a truly luxurious valve, plan on spending at least $1,000, although you can easily spend more. Conveniently, many of these mixers are available in suites that include period-inspired shower heads and cross-handled knobs or levers. Some even come with memory settings, so each family member can choose and record a preferred shower temperature.

If you are a shower lover who can’t get enough humidity in winter, consider a steam shower. To install one, you’ll probably need a major retrofit, since there must be a spot for the generator and you may have to make modifications for the steam shower doors. Once it’s installed, a twenty-minute steam uses a fairly low amount of water: only about two gallons. But a basic system—including a generator, steam head, and temperature controls—starts at about $3,000. And if you’re thinking about adding stereo speakers, light, or aromatherapy packages, expect the price to climb higher.

Do you prefer an old-fashioned tub for your bath? Reproduction roll-top designs with claw feet begin at about $1,000, and you can choose between either cast iron or the more environmentally friendly acrylic. There is no place better to soak than in one of these deep tubs. They also come in double-ended styles that will accommodate two, or multiple children. These tubs will fit any décor, as you can specify claw feet in the style and finish of your choice. For a dramatic flair, you can go with a custom-made tub in copper, steel, marble, and even teak.

For a traditional tub that will accommodate a water- or air-jet system, go with a pedestal or Roman tub. The skirt will conceal the tubes and motor. Strategically placed jets will turn any bathtub into a home spa. Do expect to pay upward of $4,000 for a fully equipped air-jet tub.

Leon Tuberman writes for a furniture store that specializes in American made solid oak furniture like wood bookcases and elegant Amish wooden dining chairs. For over 60 years they’ve offered the best in wood furniture at affordable prices.

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