Furniture And Upholstery Advice

Useful Tips Before Buying Antique Furniture

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Ribbing) — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 03:29:00 +0000

Useful Tips Before Buying Antique Furniture
Sarika Kabra

If you are not sure what you are about to buy, better defer your shopping plans until you get complete education about the product than going ahead with the gamble of making an uninformed choice! This article precisely aims at educating you about all you need to make sure before you buy antique furniture. These tips will help you make a better choice on your requirements pertaining to antique furniture as well as provide you with some useful insights to avert a possible scam. Since antiques are high in demand. They also command a higher price. And due to lack of proper understanding about antique furniture, many Smart Alecs find it easy to dupe people by selling cheap fakes in the name of antiques.

To save yourself from embarrassment, the first obvious step is to make sure that the furniture article on offer is actually ‘antique’. A true antique item is at least 100 years old. Now, how to make sure that what you are buying is actually, in fact, an antique?

Take a good look at the furniture by taking it outside the closed interiors. The first sign to observe in true antique furniture is the non-uniformity in its dimensions. This is so due to the fact that wood shrinks as it ages by up to 1/8 inch per foot. The finer aspects in wooden antique furniture may seem missing. If every nook and corner, length, breadth and width of the furniture seems perfect, this is the first sign that something is not right with the antique.

If you are told that a particular antique furniture item is of Amish made furniture, make sure it is genuine. Typically, Amish furniture is made of 3-pieces. These are joined together by different techniques but the number of sub-pieces is always small. If it is genuine Amish handcrafted furniture, it will show its class by the bulkier weight and fine craftsmanship.

Before buying the antique furniture, make sure that it has not lost its sturdiness in the years gone by. If the furniture item is not too light and delicate, you can easily test the sturdiness by sitting on it or shaking it lightly. You can also check out for cracks and cuts by running your hand smoothly all over the furniture surface.

A typically old piece of furniture item will appear discolored from certain places. Some kinds of natural wear and tear at the corners will be evident by a close look at it. This is due to the exposure, over the years, to environmental and other hazards. But the damage should look natural. For instance, the corner blocks should be the same color as surrounding wood. Any variation is a sign that the nature of woods used in a single furniture item is different.

Any kind of hardware used on the antique furniture must be original. The knobs, sliders, screws and bolts can be easily checked by careful assessment of the wood behind these attachments. Any sign of plugged holes means that the hardware has been tampered with.

The next thing is to ask the dealer for necessary warranties and guaranties. Ask all other relevant questions you may have in mind before buying any piece of furniture. For instance, the nature and periodicity of repairs undertaken on the article, the best price for the furniture etc.

Always seek second opinion before buying antique furniture and educate yourself with some useful literature on antique furniture.

About the Author:
The author has antique Amish furniture in her home. Authentic Amish oak furniture can be purchased very easily from an online store. Online wholesale Amish furniture dealers offer good discounts on their prices.

Submitted at: Content-Articles.com - WebSite Content and Article Directory

People Love Leather Furniture For A Good Reason

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Ribbing) — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 15:58:00 +0000

People Love Leather Furniture For Good Reason
Bruce Channers

There has to be a good reason why people are willing to pay substantially more for a leather interior in their cars. For probably the same good reason, people are also willing to pay more for leather furniture as opposed to upholstered furniture. Frankly, the fact is that leather is a very appealing fabric that people want to have. A set of leather furniture in the living room isnt just about comfortits also about status.

But owning leather furniture is certainly about more than just impressing your neighbors. One of the biggest single reasons why people choose to spend extra for leather furniture is because it lasts. Typical upholstery will only stand up to constant use for about 5 years before it begins to fray, tatter, and tear. But when properly cared for, leather furniture can last for 20 years or more before needing major repair or replacement. So, while leather furniture may be more expensive, it certainly isnt 4 Xs as much! Therefore, going leather is actually the better economic move AND still will impress your neighbors!

Aside from being a status symbol and very durable, leather furniture is simply great on the skin! If you have ever noticed, leather furniture stays at room temperature. When the temp is high, the leather is very soft and pliable. But, when the room temp dips for any reason, the leather will become more brittle and less pliable. The reason for this is because leather furniture breathes.

Made from animal skins that have pores throughout them, leather furniture breathes through the pores in its surface. Genuine leather will not become sticky in the summer and is one of the most comfortable materials for your skin. So long as the leather furniture is cleaned and conditioned regularly, the leather will also not be brittle in the winter unless temperatures drop far lower than is normal in a household.

Another big advantage of leather furniture over upholstered varieties is that leather itself ages very well indeed. Developing what one might call a weathered look, leather takes on a patina as the years roll past. In fact, leather furniture actually looks better as it ages while upholstered furniture just fades and looks aged.

Of course, leather furniture must be cared for in order for it to age properly and stand the test of time. It is important to keep the pores in the leather free from dust so it is necessary to dust the leather furniture once a week. That way, the leather cleaner and conditioner can get down into the pores and keep the material soft, pliable, and well preserved. Plan on using a leather cleaner 3 times a year or so in order to prevent premature cracking or peeling that results from improper maintenance. But, with proper care, you can continue to impress your neighbors for many years to come while being able to enjoy the soft feel of leather the whole while!

About the Author:
Leather Furniture Hub is an information site that contains links, a directory and other Leather Furniture Information. It can be found at: http://www.leatherfurniturehub.com.

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furniture

How to configure Living Room Furniture

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Ribbing) — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 02:07:00 +0000

How to Configure Living Room Furniture
By Stephan Teak

The living room is one of the most important in your home when it comes to style. Here is a quick guide on how to configure living room furniture.

After you finish furnishing your living room, you might look around and realize that it looks dull, boring, or lacks any kind of pizzazz. Instead of rushing out to buy different furniture or more accessories, take a break and think about how to arrange living room furniture in light of the space you have.

It is a simple mistake that many people make when arranging their living room. They often don’t know how to do it correctly. The first thing you should do is find the dimensions of the living room and then draw it out on graph paper. The rule of thumb is that a ¼ inch is equivalent to one foot of the room. Make sure you draw it to scale to get the most accurate measurements.

Step two is to mark anything that would effect your arrangements such as wall outlets, telephone and cable wires, light switches, windows, and doors. Now it is time to whip out your child’s construction paper and make scale paper cutouts of all your furniture. Again, remembering that ¼ inch is equal to one foot on graph paper. Arrange the furniture to the dimensions until a furniture arrangement that you love emerges.

Step three is to figure out the focal point of a room. If you have a fireplace, that will most likely be it. On the other hand, it could be a large sofa with a beautiful painting over it, bookcases, built in shelves with wonderful accessories, or anything that you want to emphasize. Arrange all the furniture to subtly orient towards the focal point. Step four is to make sure all furniture and accessories are the same variance in height. If you have a high chair next to a low table then add a large vase and flowers to the table so they are almost the same height. Do this with all groupings to make the eye flow naturally.

Step five is to set up cozy conversation areas among the groupings by angling two chairs towards each other, or something that would give a natural flow to conversation. Step six is to pull furniture away from the wall to create the conversation centers. Following along those lines, step seven is to position the sofa so it is at a non-perpendicular angle to any walls to create drama. The final step is to allow a minimum of 24 inches for traffic lanes through the room. Lanes will probably meander because of the conversation areas so it is okay to have a few different spots to walk.

Voila, you now have a beautifully set up naturally flowing living room without having to spend a dime on an interior decorator. With this quick guide on how to arrange living room furniture, you should be able to get the feel you want with the minimum of fuss.

Stephan Teak is with FurnitureStoresforYou.com - providing furniture articles.

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Tips on Preserving Antique Furniture

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Ribbing) — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 01:53:00 +0000

Tips on Preserving Antique Furniture
By Rob Buenaventura

If you happen to be looking for a wonderful investment in the beauty of your home, you should seriously consider antique furniture. This sort of investment, however, doesn’t come inexpensively. As a result, you should take great precautions to properly care for your antique furniture. In addition to the beauty and tradition that is part and parcel of owning antique furniture the wonderful memories that this furniture can evoke as well as the educational value of it make it an even greater investment.

To properly care for your antique furniture you will need to do more than the occasional dusting with a can of Pledge. You must also protect your furniture from the damage that can be caused by environmental effects as well as the climate and amount of activity that it will be subjected to. Kids and antiques are not necessarily great mates.

You may be surprised to discover that ultra violet rays are one of the most damaging things to which you can expose your wood or fabric antique furniture. For this reason it is a good idea to make sure you store your antique furniture far away from windows that allow direct sunlight into the room. Not only will these rays cause bleaching and cracking of the wood they will also cause fabrics to fade over time. Buying heavy-duty drapes can help reduce exposure of this beautiful furniture to harmful ultraviolet rays as well as treating it with furniture oil or wood polish that is specifically designed to protect wood from ultra violet damage.

By keeping the rooms in which you store your antique furniture at a fairly consistent temperature and avoiding excessive or extreme highs or lows you can also extend the life and beauty of your furniture. Extreme temperatures can cause the furniture to rapidly expand and contract resulting in cracked wood. You should also work to avoid exposing your antique furniture to humidity. Humidity creates an environment that is favorable for bacteria to grow in fabric and mold to grow on wood, neither of which are attractive situations for your antique furniture.

By learning the proper care for your antique furniture you can extend its life another century or so and enjoy years of use and beauty from your furniture. There are plenty of online sources from which you can learn a great deal about caring for your furniture be sure to check them out and find out how you can get the maximum enjoyment from your antique furniture.

Rob Buenaventura has worked in the home improvement industry for several years. Learn more about furniture ideas, rustic furniture and other home remodeling ideas at HomeImprovementTouch.com

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Easy Fix for cushions that don't stay in place

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Ribbing) — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:27:00 +0000

BY Richard Ribbing

Do you have a sofa or chair that the cushions are always sliding out towards the front? It seems like you are always adjusting the cushions , and shoving them back into place. I've found a simple solution to this problem.

What you want to use is a non-skid rubberized shelf liner. This material is made by a number of manufactures and can be found at most hardware stores or department stores, pharmacies or supermarkets. It also comes in different thicknesses. I would suggest you get the heaviest thicknesses. This seems to work the best and hold up the longest.

What you want to do, is remove the cushions. Measure the area of the deck, this is the area that the cushions sit on. Measure between the arms, and from the front to the back. Cut a piece of liner this size. Lay the piece of liner directly on top of the deck. Now just replace the cushions. If there is any part of the liner showing on the front, remove the cushions and cut off about 2" of the liner

In most cases this will do the job, and you won't have to be re-adjusting the cushions all the time. This also works well for area rugs, window seats and bench cushions.

Furniture Trends

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Ribbing) — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 04:12:00 +0000

Furniture Trends

by Jason Cox

Furniture trends don?t really have a drastic change overnight. Mostly the trends are small changes nothing quite big. But they are subtle changes that might surprise you. The latest trends are all about accessorizing.

Furniture trends and designs today a more conservative, the colors are basically the same and so are the styles, which mean that the furniture pretty much stayed the same without many new arrivals or new styles. But there are new accessories that have come out with bold colours and patterns.

The statement in furniture trends today is global, with influences from all around the world. Furniture today is simple and has an international language, from Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa, and America.

The international trends express sophistication to tropical luxury. Animal prints have come back into style as well, with leopard to cheetah, skin looks may be used with antique and contemporary furniture, and it can go with anything.

Leather has been around for years and is still popular. Today you can have a collaboration of leather and fabric. Leather has also been as an accent on wooden and fabric pieces. So if you love leather you can still have it with a little more style.

To keep it simple furniture trends today have a mix of everything. Wood is mixed with fabric, or metal, or even glass. There are many new and exotic material such as coconut shells, stone, crushed bamboo, and even fossil stones. Could you have even imagined using those materials on furniture, I wouldn?t.

So there are many choices for those new shoppers, go out and explore the new and exotic looks that can be found! I predict it would be hard to choose from the new unique styles that are out there. Just have a style in mind and go from ther

Article source: ArticlePros.com

About the author

Mitch Johnson is a successful freelance author that writes regularly for http://www.curtains-n-drapes.com/ . His articles have also been featured on related sites such as http://www.antiquefurnitureforu.info/ and http://www.artdrawingtips.info/

Leather Living Room Furniture

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Ribbing) — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 14:19:00 +0000

Leather Living Room Furniture
By Eddie Tobey

Leather is made from the dressed, tanned hide of an animal. It is used in a wide variety of goods that are manufactured, such as boots, purses and other accessories. It is widely used in furniture, such as sofas, ottomans and love seats.

Leather furniture gives a contemporary look to a living room. It gives an elegant, distinguished look while giving an extravagant feel to the room. Leather sofas and couches are soft and sinuous and have long been a favorite for individuals in quest of true sophistication. A black leather couch has always been viewed as the ultimate in high-end home furnishings, with a lustrous, sophisticated look.Leather has many unique characteristics that make it an attractive choice for sofas, chairs, and other furnishings. When properly cared for, it outlasts traditional upholstery, making it cost-effective for those who wish to use their furniture for many years to come. It retains its softness well and may become supple over time. Top grade leather provides the greatest durability and longevity. People buy it when they plan on keeping the furniture for 20 or 30 years. While leather furniture is expensive, many people are looking at Internet discount retailers for competitive prices. There are many manufacturers who use split- leather, which is not the expensive top grade leather. Hence, faux leather is also becoming more common, as it is affordable.

Though the classic black leather couch remains popular, people are experimenting with new combinations and furniture suites that aren't all one color or style. Each type of leather has specific recommendations for cleaning and maintenance. Leather's durability and soft, supple feel makes it a wise choice for those looking for quality furniture. It is available in many style and design themes. Leather remains a smart choice in upholstery fabric, with greater durability and longevity.

Living Room Furniture provides detailed information on Living Room Furniture, Cheap Living Room Furniture, Discount Living Room Furniture, Contemporary Living Room Furniture and more. Living Room Furniture is affiliated with Upholstered Ottomans.

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How To Clean The Upholstery On Your Furniture

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Ribbing) — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 23:24:00 +0000

BY Richard Ribbing

Upholstery cleaning is inexpensive and an often neglected part of general home maintenance. Most people underestimate the amount of dirt contained in their furniture. Does the fabric on your furniture look drab, dull or downright dirty? Furniture is subjected to an array of soils on a daily basis. Understanding upholstery and how to care for your furniture is essential .

Like so many things in your home, every piece of upholstered furniture is unique and requires special care. There are different types of cleaning methods for different fabrics. Different fabrics have different cleaning codes. The best thing you can do when you buy your new sofa or chair is to find out what the manufacturer recommends for all purpose upholstery cleaning. If that is not available you should be able to find out the cleaning code.

Cleaning Codes

W-WATER BASED CLEANER
Spot clean using the foam only from a water-based cleaning agent such as a mild detergent or non-solvent upholstery shampoo product. Many household solvents are harmful to the color and life of the fabric. Apply foam with a soft brush in a circular motion. Vacuum when dry.

WS-WATER SOLVENT CLEANER
Spot clean with a mild solvent, an upholstery shampoo, or the foam from a mild detergent. When using a solvent or dry cleaning product, follow instructions carefully and clean only in a well ventilated room. Avoid any product that contains carbon tetrachloride or other toxic products.

S-SOLVENT CLEANER
Spot clean using a mild water-free solvent or dry-cleaning product. Clean only in a well ventilated room and avoid any product containing carbon tetrachloride or other toxic products.Th use of water-based or detergent-based solvent cleaners may cause excessive shrinking. Water stains may become permanent and unable to be removed with solvent cleaning agents.

X-VACUUM ONLY
Clean this fabric only by vacuuming or light brushing to prevent accumulation of dust and grim. Water-based foam or solvent-based cleaning agents of any kind may cause excessive shrinkage or fading.

If you don't know the cleaning code on your sofa or chair, this is one of the safest ways to clean it yourself. Vacuum your furniture on a regular basis. Try to wipe up any spills as soon as they occur. For a light cleaning use a foam upholstery cleaner, woolite is an excellent choice. When using a foam cleaner you will not get the fabric overly wet. Always try any cleaner on a part of the furniture where it will not be noticeable. This will let you check for color fastness, and to also make sure that it is not going to cause any damage to your furniture. When you are done cleaning the upholstery. Inspect it to see if you have any spots or stains remaining. If there are any you can use a spot remover. I recommend Goddards Spot Remover. This product is easy to use. All you have to do is spray it on the spot or stain that you want to clean. Let it dry completely, usually takes a few minutes. When it is completely dry, it will turn to a white powder. All you have to do is take a brush and brush it off. If the stain doesn't come out completely, you just have to repeat the process until it's completely removed.

In conclusion, regular upholstery cleaning of your sofa or chair is required for long lasting as well as good looking upholstery. In most cases, normal upholstery cleaning is not enough to remove pet urine stains and odors. When overall upholstery cleaning is required, professional cleaning will often achieve the most satisfactory results. To find a qualified cleaning company, I recommend calling your local dry cleaning store. They are in the cleaning business, and can often recommend a qualified upholstery cleaning company.

The benefits of slipcovers

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Ribbing) — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 04:00:00 +0000

Have you considered using slipcovers on your furniture? They can keep your furniture in excellent condition for years to come. Slipcovers can be custom made, or they are available ready made to fit many different styles of furniture.. Fabric selection could be a light weight cotton, or you can use a heavier weight upholstery fabric. Also you can use a plain or a printed fabric, the choices are unlimited.

Here are some some of the benefits I like about slipcovers . You can change the look of your room depending on the season. Use a plain fabric in the winter months, and a floral in the summer. Slipcovers are also excellent for preventing your furniture from being soiled or stained. If you have children, you know how hard it is to keep your furniture looking nice. I don't even want to mention what your pets might do to your furniture. Also a piece of furniture sitting in front of a window can be protected from the sun, and can keep the original fabric from fading or being damaged.

Slipcovers can also bring an old sofa or chair back to life. If you have a sofa or chair, that the condition seems to be in decent shape, it might be worthwhile to slipcover it. If the cushions are in poor condition, you should replace the foam. You can do this yourself, or take them to an upholstery shop and have it done..Another thing to look at is the deck underneath the cushions. If it doesn't seem to be as firm as it should be, the webbing on the underside of the sofa or chair might have to be replaced. Over time it stretches, and doesn't give the springs the support that's needed. Even with the cost of the slipcover, new cushions and webbing, it should be a lot less than replacing your favorite piece of furniture.

Over the years, of being in the upholstery business I've seen all of these problems. That's why in my opinion it is beneficial to use slipcovers.

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noreply@blogger.com (Richard Ribbing) — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 01:29:00 +0000

Leather Furniture Care:
Gary Bracken

Leather Furniture Tips and Care

Leather upholstered furniture used to only be for the wealthy. They were usually large stately pieces that featured extensive button tufting and the characteristic brass nails at the front of the arms. Almost all pieces were very dark in color and had shiny glazed finishes. That is no longer true in the furniture industry today. Manufacturers of leather furniture have successfully convinced the general public that leather furniture is attainable for most people. Leather has become so popular that we would benefit by being better informed regarding the terms that are being used and the proper placement and care of contemporary leather upholstered furniture.

Without exception leather is the most durable and long lasting fabric covering that has ever been used. Leather lasts 4 to 5 times longer than any other upholstered fabric. It is fire resistant, does not crack or peel, resists heat and sun, wears gracefully by becoming more supple with age and it holds its color fastness. Generally you can not go wrong purchasing fine leather furniture but it is wise to be informed before you buy.

Placement of Leather Furniture

The placement of your leather furniture is very important to ensure years of service. Do not place leather furniture too close to a radiator, fireplace or a direct heat source, even a heater vent. Maintain at least 2 feet between any heat source and the piece.

Avoid placing your leather furniture in direct sunlight. This will also dry out your leather and cause it to fade. Although leather is the most durable covering available anything exposed to direct sunlight will fade over time.

Whenever possible position your leather furniture away from high traffic areas that may be susceptible to family members or visitors who will inadvertently rub against it. This may seem trivial but leather that is continuously will show marks that may not be able to be removed by conditioners. The best policy is to place leather furniture at the far end of the footpath. This way you can display its beauty more openly and at the same preserve its look.

Care of Leather Furniture

Weekly - Dusting your leather weekly is very important to keep leather pores free from dust particles. Simply wipe it with a soft cloth. Dont under estimate this seemingly small task; it goes a long way in the long term care of your leather. We will discuss more thorough cleaning next but remember not to neglect the weekly maintenance.

Spot Cleaning - As always the quicker you get to a spot or stain the greater success you will have. Most spills of food and beverages should be wiped up using a damp cloth with a light detergent soap, such as liquid hand soap.

All other stains such as ink marks, grease, blood, urine, wax or gum should be removed using a professional leather cleaner. Just follow the instructions that come with the product. It is a good idea to have a good leather cleaner on hand so that you will be able to address the problem immediately after it happens.

Quarterly - When you first place your new leather furniture be sure to use a high quality leather conditioner/preservative to protect it and keep the leather supple. You should fully clean your leather furniture four times per year using quality leather cleaner. Pay special attention to wear surfaces, arms, backs and seats. After a thorough cleaning always re-apply the conditioner/protectant to ensure many years of trouble free service from your leather furniture.

About the Author:
Greg Brandon maintains a site dedicated to leather bags, couches, furniture and the proper care of leather at www.andante-leather.com

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Why a Microfiber Sofa Might Be Just What You Are Looking For

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Ribbing) — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 00:57:00 +0000

Why a Microfiber Sofa Might Be Just What You Are Looking For
By Andrew Caxton

When it comes to decorating and buying furniture for the living room, a sofa is undoubtedly the most important piece of furniture you can purchase. It provides somewhere for the whole family to sit and either entertain or watch television and it also comes in extremely useful when you just want to relax after a hard days work!

Choosing the Right Sofa for You

As the sofa is fairly important within the home, it is vital that you choose one which is right for you. There are quite a few to choose from and that makes choosing a style to suit you fairly easy if you know what you are looking for.

You need to decide whether you want an ordinary sofa or one which converts into a bed. Sofabeds also come in a variety of styles to suit you so if you are looking for one, again you shouldn’t find it too difficult. Generally a sofabed will come as a large two seater or a three seater sofa. This is because most sofabeds tend to come in a double size but there may be some which convert into single beds, they are just not as common as the double sizes are.

One sofa which you might want to consider is a Microfiber sofa. These types of sofas are extremely good because they help to cut down the costs of cleaning expenses. However, it is important to know that Microfiber sofas do need specialist cleaning products as ordinary ones contain bleach or fabric softener which will break down the Microfiber over time. The cost of cleaning is still lower than an ordinary sofa however so it is still an advantage.

With this advantage in mind, it is easy to see why more and more people are choosing Microfiber sofas. After a hard days work nobody wants to have to spend hours cleaning their sofa. With the Microfiber sofa you really don’t have to and it is one of the easiest sofas to maintain without a doubt. Microfiber is around one hundred times finer than human hair and it provides a really soft surface when combined together. So, Microfiber sofas tend to be soft and they are highly recommended for allergy sufferers as the fabric does not leave any dust or lint lying around.

Overall a Microfiber sofa is definitely something you should consider but there are other styles and types of sofa available if you would prefer.

Andrew Caxton contributes editing long articles on home ideas and microfiber furniture for http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com You can find more information and resources on microfiber sofa at his website.

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Easy way to remove spots and stains on furniture

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Ribbing) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:08:00 +0000

One of the easiest ways I have found to remove stains on furniture, is a product called Goddards Spot Remover. Very easy to use. It comes in a spray can. I don't know if it is that easy to find locally? I found it on the Internet. Just do a search for Goddards Spot Remover.

The one thing I liked about this product is it's easy to use. Just spray it on the stain that you want to clean. Let it dry completely, usually takes a few minutes. When it is completely dry, it will turn to a white powder. All you have to do is take a brush and brush it off. If the stain doesn't come out completely, you just have to repeat the process until it's completely removed.

This product is safe to use on a lot of different fabrics, even silk. Just to be on the safe side, I always try it on an area that isn't going to be noticed. It will lift stains from the fabric without leaving a ring. I've even used it on clothing.

I've had good luck with most stains. The stains I've had the hardest times with , are dried blood and magic marker.

Sofa Furniture, Choose it Stylish and Durable

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Ribbing) — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 02:27:00 +0000

Sofa Furniture, Choose it Stylish and Durable
By Angel Abdulnor

There is no denying that sofa is probably the most important piece of furniture in any household and as a result, it has the greatest range of styles and qualities available for purchase.

As there are many styles, it may actually be easier to first categorize them into either sectional or sleeper types which could be further divided by using the styles of their backs which normally done in four styles: tight back, attached pillow back, loose pillow back and multi pillow back.

Tight back sofas have a very firm seat and one must sit upright as they don't have supporting pillow. It is suitable for people who do not have much time as the fabric normally used for this type of sofas is very easy to clean and additionally, there are no pillows to straighten.

Attached pillow back sofas have softer seats and backs because the filled pillows are sewn into the backs of the sofas to prevent them to move around. However, as the pillows are permanently attached, it is more difficult to clean and 'hide' if they got stained.

Sofas that have loose pillow backs have the same number of seat and back cushions. The back cushions are normally reversible and can be unzipped for re-stuffing and cleaning purposes. The comfort of this type of sofas depends on the quality and firmness of the stuffing of the seat and back cushions as well as the depth of the sofa itself.

Multi pillow back sofas are also referred as scatter back sofas and they have a larger number of back pillows than seat pillows, which can be casually scattered all over the sofas to create a casual looks. This type of sofas is usually more comfortable as the size of the sofas tend to be larger and deeper than other types.

Furthermore, they can also be classified by the types of skirts (dressmaker or boxpleat), arms (roll arm, Charles of London and tuxedo arm), and base treatments (upholstered foot and plinth base).

Choosing the right type of sofa according to your lifestyle is highly advisable to get the maximum comfort out of it. For example, if the owner likes to lie down near the sofa, then it makes more sense to choose a sofa with arms that have lower pads than a high tuxedo arm.

Fabric of the sofa also plays a very important role, not only it must have a pleasant color and pattern, it must also be durable and easy to clean, as the cost of replacement in case of accidental damages could come close to a whole new sofa.

Sofa Furniture
Room Deco offers a wide selection of home furniture, office furniture, sofa furniture and retro furniture.

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The best way to shop online for furniture

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Ribbing) — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 21:58:00 +0000

By Richard Ribbing

Buying furniture online is one of the best ways of saving money on your furniture purchases. Online retailers don't have to pay for a brick and mortar storefront, or keep a staff of salespeople. Saving on these expenses, they can pass the savings on to their customers.

Some of you might be reluctant to buy furniture online. It's hard to imagine how it's going to to suit you. You can't sit down on it and try it out. How do you know if the sofa or chair is going to be comfortable? What about the construction, fabric, or other concerns you might have. It's hard to tell all of these things from looking at a picture.

One of the best ways that I have found is comparison shopping. Visit the different stores in your area. There you can you can get a better idea of the different brands of furniture. Check out fabrics, construction, comfort. Ask the salesperson any questions about the different pieces of furniture you are considering. Pick up brochures if they are available, and check out prices.. Very similar to shopping for an automobile.

When you get home and get on the Internet, you should have an idea of what manufacturer you are most comfortable with. Do a search for furniture online. You should come up with various online stores that carry that brand. Most online stores have a qualified staff on hand. You can talk to somebody on the phone about any information you would like to find out about. Most of them will send you a swatch of fabric, if you request one..

Now you can compare prices and their customer service polices. Find out about there return polices, just in case you were to run into any problems. Check on the amount you are going to pay for shipping. This has to be figured in to the final price. Online retailers have different ways they calculate the shipping charges.

All of these points considered, you should be happy with your furniture purchase, and the amount of money you saved.

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Ribbing) — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 03:44:00 +0000

Sofa Beds: Can You Have Taste And Function?
Amy

Sofa beds are designed to fill the needs that you have in having extra space available for guests and for when someone cant sleep in their own bed. But, one of the largest drawbacks that people face when purchasing one is that they dont always look like the nicest couches to have in your living room. Or, you may find one that just doesnt have enough comfort to really be considered anything more than a sofa. Is it possible to get what you need and want in a sofa bed? It is, especially when you know what to look for in them.

Function And Comfort

First, take into consideration the comfort that a sofa bed has to offer to you. You should be able to enjoy the comfort of this bed by trying it out. If you walk into a showroom and they dont encourage you to pull out the sofa bed and actually get a chance to lay on it, leave. Would you purchase a standard type of bed without first being able to lay down on it? You probably would not do that and it makes sense to try out this bed too. Thats especially important when you know youll have guests that have hip or back pain.

If you cant find a sofa bed that provides you with the stability that you need, take into consideration adding a mattress topper to it. You can purchase these in a wide range of materials including foam. They can help to add support and comfort to your bed so that it is more enjoyable to sleep on even when the bed itself isnt that great of a choice.

Style Too?

If you are shopping for a sofa bed for your home, you obviously want to use it as a bed. But, youll probably have it out and used as a sofa for most of the time. Therefore, it is important to enjoy the style of the sofa as well the material that its made from. Just as you are shopping for a sofa, you want to find these qualifications so that you can truly enjoy the look and cut of your sofa. The good news is that you should be able to have your sofa bed custom built for you if you cant find just what you are after. Not only can the color and material of the sofa change, but so can the style and size of the furniture. You can even purchase these as part of an entire living room set, if you like.

With so many options, it can be overwhelming to make the right choice for the sofa bed for your home. But, remember, you dont have to sacrifice your back or your homes dcor for a sofa bed. You can create an elegant and even comfortable living space with these units! Take the time to shop around and compare whats out there. Dont settle, though. You dont have to settle when you can have your own piece of furniture custom made for you.

About the Author:
For important information from Amy about choosing a child bed click the link.

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Home furniture buyers guide

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Ribbing) — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 15:39:00 +0000

By Richard Ribbing

When you arrive at the furniture store and see a piece of furniture you like, sit down on it. Does it feel comfortable? Check the arms to see if there is enough padding, you don't want to feel any sharp edges from the frame. If it doesn't have enough padding the fabric is going to wear out, and it's not going to be comfortable. Bounce up and down on it, you don't want to hear any sounds, like a squeaky frame or any springs hitting on the frame. If it's a sofa lift up one end from the floor, then wiggle it around a little. It should feel heavy and solid. Now we can go on to a closer inspection of the furniture.

If you don't see these things listed, a salesperson should be happy to help you. .

Lets start out with the frame. On the best pieces of furniture, the frame is constructed from a hard wood. The most popular would be oak, maple or ash. It should be kiln dried. I would not advise a plywood frame or plastic. Some furniture manufactures are using them now. The legs should be made of wood, and attached directly to the frame. Some manufactures use plastic or metal legs, I would avoid them.

Now we can go over the type of spring we should be looking for. These would be located under the seat cushions, this part of the furniture is called the deck. The best spring setup would be eight- way hand tied springs. This makes the piece more expensive because there is a lot more labor involved. My second choice would be a ready made coil spring unit. These would be coil springs hooked together to make a unit. My third choice would be no sag zigger wire springs. I would not recommend using these unless the piece of furniture has a hardwood frame.

Cushions are going to be an important part of the furniture. High density polyurethane foam with a wrap of Dacron is what is used most often. If you select foam make sure it is at least 1.8 or 2.5 density. If it is any less than that, you are going to end up replacing the cushions before too long. Just remember you want the Dacron wrap, without it the foam will wear out the fabric. Other cushions to consider are spring and down cushion. These cushions have a spring unit usually wrapped with Dacron or encased in a foam unit. Then the whole unit is then inserted into a muslin cover of channeled down blend. You can also have a down blend cushion. Down blend are feathers and down mixed together. These are the softest and most comfortable. The choice you make is up to you. Some people like a firm cushion, and some like a soft one. Back cushions are a lot softer than seat cushions. These will usually be made with softer foam or all Dacron, encased in a muslin cover.

The choice of fabric has to be taken under consideration. It depends on where you are going to be using the piece of furniture. If your going to be using it in the family room you'll want to pick out a fabric that's going to be durable. Synthetics might be best like, polyester, nylon , olefin, or a blend of different synthetics. Leather or vinyl would also be a good choice. For a formal living room or bedroom, you can use a more delicate fabric. Natural fibers like cotton, wool, linen, silk. I would stay away from using rayon unless it is in a blend. Rayon doesn't seem to hold up very good.

In conclusion, just take your time and don't be afraid to ask questions. You want to make sure your new piece of furniture is going to be comfortable, and serviceable for a long time.