Home Improvement Design

Office Chairs: More Eco Friendly Than Ever Before

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:00:17 +0000

With the increased knowledge of our negative effect on the earth, we have learned that energy efficiency, pollution prevention, substitution and maximization of recycled products are an absolute must. Many people are looking for ways that they can personally have a positive impact on our environment and are interested in purchasing products that can help them do just that. We are proud to say that we offer many office chairs that meet the new environmental standards.

Many office chair manufacturers have now recognized that they too can make a difference by coming up with alternatives in their manufacturing and shipping processes. By coming up with new ways they have been able to substantially decrease their direct effect on the ozone and water supplies. With changes to recycled materials used in the packing process and new designs containing recycled materials such as fabrics and leathers, they have been able to dramatically decrease waste.

GREENGUARD is becoming a renown company that certifies manufacturers who’s products meet the stringent chemical emission requirements. Products undergo both annual re-certification and quarterly quality monitoring tests to maintain this elite credential. They provide participants with marketing support training as well as list them on their website to help introduce them to users looking for products that meet their standards. Manufacturers whose products achieve GREENGUARD Certification gain the privilege of using the GREENGUARD mark; a great tool for marketing their products.

Many manufacturers have made the choice to follow these guidelines. For example, OFM, a Greenguard certified company, has made advances in updating their company by selling eco friendly products as well as making changes in their working environment. They recently installed a solar panel system on the roof of their main headquarters in North Carolina and are proud to say that they are now carbon-neutral and have been certified as a New Renewable Energy Facility. Last year they modified their invoicing, order processing and shipping methods resulting in cutting their paper consumption in half. They have also changed all of their lighting from 400 watt metal halide exterior high bay lights to 200 watt induction exterior high bay lights, cutting the power needed in half.

Global Total Office is also Greenguard certified and has an ongoing policy to do their part by using cardboard packing that utilizes 80% recycled material. They have created a non-hazardous powder-coat paint process that reclaims up to 99% of overspray with minimal discharge to the environment. They have also completely eliminated the use of CFC’s and HCFC’s in all their manufacturing processes to protect the ozone layer. Many of their office chairs have an option of fabric that is constructed of recycled polyester.

Eco-Friendly Leather Leather Chairs

Many do not realize that leather actually has an impact on the environment using hazardous materials in the tanning and manufacturing process. Eco-friendly chairs do not use the restricted chemicals, such as banned azo dyes, PCP, chrome VI, formaldehyde. They are made from leather scraps and recycled leather with a material backing but still have a soft feel and the look of full hide genuine leather chairs.

If doing your part in saving the planet is important to you, you might consider purchasing an office chair made by a manufacturer that shares in your concerns and are voluntarily doing their part to decrease the negative effects on the environment.

Metal Garden Furniture Preference

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:00:17 +0000

Metal garden furniture can be placed indoors or outdoors and still look great. They make stylish furniture pieces for relaxing and unwinding as well as serve as functional pieces in dining and entertaining.

Metal furniture pieces can be placed at any available space to add the distinction to the homeowner’s property or outdoor space.

Quality

There are two types of metal furniture; the standard type is very affordable to most consumers which come in many designs and sizes. These can come in a set or individual pieces from all sources.

Premium metal furniture is more expensive as they are made of higher quality material for longer durability. These are usually in sets which can be bought directly from the manufacturer or supplier; they can also be custom-made according to the specific designs and sizes.

Seat pieces

Metal garden furniture can come in different number of pieces to form a set; they are very versatile pieces. Two-seater garden furniture can be very cozy for a couple who wants to relax privately in the garden; 4-seaters are greater for a small group gathering for a simple meal or discussion.

Metal furniture can come in as many as 10-seat sets to accommodate a bigger group in a bigger garden space. These would usually come with an appropriately sized table for a sit down discussion or meal. Tables can be square, oval, round or rectangular in shape of various types of material to complement the metal furniture. Many homeowners choose metal, aluminum, granite, stone or ceramic as table tops on their metal table frames and chairs.

Most garden furniture tables are fixed as the metal material is quite solid for stability.

Delivery

As metal garden furniture is usually heavy and bulky, store delivery is expected of all metal pieces purchase. The store assistant will collate the homeowner’s delivery information after the full payment is made.

Heavy duty vehicles are usually used to deliver metal furniture; hence, the homeowners should inform the retailers of special road or parking restrictions to the home to avoid difficulties in the delivery.

Old furniture pieces will not be carted away with the delivery of new metal garden furniture. It is the purchaser’s responsibility to check the condition of the goods delivered before signing on the acceptance form to avoid future dispute. There will not be any liability for damage to the delivered pieces if the purchaser does not perform a thorough check when the goods are delivered.

Wooden Garden Furniture Outlet are proud to announce launch an improved new Outdoor Furniture to all our main wooden, rattan, metal & teak furniture categories.

Modloft Furniture: Quality, Affordability and Design

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:00:17 +0000

Modloft, over the past couple of years, has grown significantly in United States and Canada. With more than 100 stores and growing, Ted Toledano, has made it a big brand in the modern furniture market. While most of the other players in the modern furniture are focused on chairs, bar stools, counter stools and tables, Modloft has made its niche in the residential furniture with modern beds, Modloft entertainment centers, dresser and nightstands.

Although Modloft too caters to restaurant chairs and tables segments, it main focus has been the modern residential furniture market. Not only they pep theirs designs up every season but also they keep changing their logo, site and colors to keep the freshness in the brand and its products.

New collections are added every year with some subtle in the existing collection has been forte of Modloft. While Modloft outdoor furniture is a non-stock item catering to restaurants and resorts, most of the residential furniture always has a good inventory on hand. With warehouses in Miami and North Carolina, the logistics of the furniture is handled nicely and effectively.

Although most of their manufacturing is based out of china, some of it gets manufactured in near shore countries like Brazil too. Primarily, the furniture construction is out of Medium Density Fiber (MDF) with White Lacquer, Oak Finish, Walnut and Wenge finish veneers on top of it. They produce quality Modern furniture but like any piece constructed out of MDF, the durability increases if you are not moving it frequently. Frequent movements of any modern furniture can causes damages, scratches and lose ends and knocked down corners.

Classic Modloft Monroe beds and Worth beds have traditionally been bestsellers in the platform bed section. Both of them are inspired by the Japanese style low rise close to floor platform beds with clean straight line designs. Most of the headboards come in Leather or Fabric and the footboard in wenge or walnut finish. They have corresponding nightstands and dresser matching to all the collections. Their bedroom line boasts of Italian innovation and modern design in an elegant manner.

Modloft TV Stands are their second bestselling items. Lexington TV Stands hold the ground for living room in modern furniture. Previous best seller Anna Wall unit has been replaced by Esplendore and Fenzo Wall Units. The living room line is accompanied by coffee table, bookcases, benches and side tables.

Luxo and Azur by Modloft are upscale furniture collection. Most of the products in these collections are non stock items having a lead time of ten to fourteen weeks and can be custom made according to the needs. Modloft, with its current offerings, sums up modern residential furniture from average to upper segment very nicely.

Professional Upholstery Cleaning Services – Do You Really Need Them?

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:26:17 +0000

All types of upholstery fabrics will at some time in its eventful life require cleaning and some more frequently than others. Your upholstered furniture is amongst the most used and therefore most seen items in your home or workplace. Its appearance can thus tell lots about you or your business.

Soft furnishings are perhaps one of the largest investments in most households. Regular use of upholstery cleaning products will extend the life of delicate upholstery fabrics significantly, while keeping them looking in good condition.

Dirt, oil, grease and dust builds up and soil your upholstery. Regularly vacuuming is necessary to avoid hard stains as when upholstered furnishings become dirty, they can also become a breeding ground for mould, bacteria, and allergens. Most furniture manufacturers recommend that upholstery should be professionally cleaned every year.

The reason for this has to do with the way that upholstery is manufactured. Underneath the surface is padding, designed to cushion and reduce friction. If stains and spills soak into the padding, non-commercial cleaning methods struggle to remove them. Stains can appear to be temporarily removed but then can reappear.

Professional upholstery cleaning guarantees to leave your upholstery neat, clean and looking like new. Upholstery cleaners are trained in this specialised task. They have the requisite materials and machines, cleaning supplies and training needed to accomplish impeccable upholstery cleaning, safe for you and your family.

The process will take a fraction of the time with use of truck mounted cleaning machines which enormously reduce the drying period. This enables them to promise minimal disturbance to you and your family.

A NCCA trained upholstery cleaner will benefit from a wealth of knowledge in cleaning care and will be happy to offer general advice on maintaining and getting the best from your upholstery as many factors can affect its longevity.

For spot cleaning, spraying water directly on upholstery can cause a water ring, so instead:

Begin by scraping any excess off with a dull edge as soon as possible after the stain appears. Dampen a microfiber towel by spraying it with water. Use a circular motion to work over the stain towards the centre. Rinse the cloth and repeat as necessary.

It is important to test any products used on an inconspicuous area of your upholstery before beginning any spot removal procedure; as some chemicals can inadvertently damage your furniture. For optimum performance, vacuum and rotate cushions frequently and protect your furniture from sun and direct light.

Buying new upholstered furniture to replace items that are dirty can be very costly. If the condition is good, employing skilled upholstery cleaners will be cost effective as good cleaning will definitely pay well if your upholstered furniture simply needs cleaning.

Due to the multi-faceted nature of upholstery and fabric, qualified upholstery cleaners will work to the internationally accepted IICRC S300 Standard for Upholstery Cleaning which is actively supported and promoted by the NCCA.

Upholstery cleaning is at the complicated end of the cleaning spectrum and is often thought best left to professionals!

Outdoor Wicker Furniture: Spruce Up Your Home for Less

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:46:17 +0000

A set of outdoor wicker furniture can be several times less expensive compared to choosing an equivalent traditional outdoor furniture set. Another best thing in choosing wicker is you only spend less time for maintenance or not at all, but you get excellent value for your money because they last for a very long time.

It is smart to purchase your wicker outdoor furniture in set if you want to keep the price down. This will also allow you to decorate your outdoors with a classy appeal as most space look better with furnishings that are well-paired and well-chosen.

When choosing your outdoor furniture, you must have a definite plan as to where you want them placed and how you and your family intend to use them. Do you plan to slip it into your outdoor kitchen and use as a breakfast nook? Will you use your outdoor wicker furniture by the poolside? These are just some of the intuitive questions that will help you better understand which sets to buy that will work best for your plans.

If you have rowdy and active kids around, you’ll want to consider the build as well as the materials used for constructing the furniture that you are looking to buy. If you want to keep your outdoor furniture in an area where your kids will run about, it is a must that you evaluate how your choice of furniture and its materials will work for them. Additionally, you also need to consider the design of the furnishings. Ensure that they are safe, sturdy and durable apart from being ornate and stylish.

You can find some excellent resource links featuring wicker furniture makers as well as a directory of listings for dealers of furniture and decors, craftsmen and websites of retailers where you can find classic and very unique sets and pieces of wicker furniture. You can find several family owned businesses that are into creating high quality furniture for indoor and outdoor use. You can actually see a large number of creative ideas by viewing every site’s online catalog.

If rustic creations suits you, you will never lack for choices of fantastic twisted and weaved natural rattan furniture that will bring the charm and beauty of nature into your home, but natural wicker are not created for outdoor use because they are not all-weather types. Look for the premier maker and provider of custom indoor and outdoor wicker furnishing that’s reputed for producing excellent quality outdoor furniture pieces that’s always a conversation starter.

From a multitude of online stores offering world-class outdoor wicker furniture and furnishings, you’ll definitely have an effortless time in finding information about the fine pieces of furniture that the company you are looking to deal with makes. Decorating outdoor spaces with wicker today is possible with the synthetic wicker material that’s known to withstand the elements. You get the same decorating effects outdoors by using inexpensive and easy to maintain furniture pieces or what is known as faux wicker made of resin, plastic or fiberglass.

Polishing Indian Wooden Furniture

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:10:17 +0000

Indian furniture is a lifetime asset and the pieces are known to last for generations when you take proper care of them. Since Indian wooden furniture boasts of exquisite craftsmanship, it’s necessary to polish the furniture at least once in two years so that they retain their craftsmanship and continue to shine. Keep in mind that polishing Indian wooden furniture doesn’t mean that you don’t dust your furniture regularly. Cleaning activities must be carried out continuously.

Following are some of the common polishes for Indian wood

Bee-wax polish

Bee-wax is produced by the honey bees and has been used for long to polish Indian wooden furniture, especially finished and fine wood. It’s a soft substance that usually melts easily under heat and never dries up to be a hardened finish. As a result, it doesn’t provide the furniture an adequate protection from steam, heat and chemical spills. However, over the years, bee-wax has been generously mixed with various other harder waxes, like carbuna, to get a more durable and modern Indian furniture polish. Such additions have significantly enhanced the ability of bee-wax to protect Indian wood and Indian furniture manufacturers are increasingly recommending bee-wax for its intended purpose.

Aerosols and spray polish

While aerosols and spray polishes are the handiest, they cause the most damage to Indian wooden furniture. They comprise silicone oil and other materials and ingredients that damage the wood. Besides, many sprays are known to damage lacquers and varnishes.

Emulsion polish

These are oils, waxes and other organic solvents mixed to water-based solutions and can be easily applied on Indian furniture. These polishes can clean extremely well and also leaves a good shine on the surface of the furniture. The shiny effect, however, lasts only till the time the liquid dries.

Oil polish

Oil polishes are usually available in two types i.e. drying oils and non-drying oils and are mostly used to apply the final finish. Non-drying oils include lemon oil, paraffin and mineral oils and Indian furniture manufacturers consider these to be less harmful when compared to the drying oils. Some oils stay on the surface of the wooden furniture and tend to attract dust, dirt and other contaminants on the wet surface. Drying oils, like walnut and linseed, dry when applied to the wooden surface because of oxidation. It’s a chemical reaction over time and difficult to remove.

Semisolid polish

Indian furniture manufacturers consider semisolid polished to be the best. These polishes are popularly known as paste waxes and cause no damage to the Indian wooden furniture. Not only the Indian furniture manufacturers, furniture conservators and experts recommend semisolid polishes as well. Applying such polishes involve great physical labor. These polishes are both durable and stable and can be used once in a couple of years. In fact, as most of these polishes contain wax in a good degree, they mustn’t be applied too frequently as that may lead to a wax buildup on the surface of the wood.

Take proper care of your Indian wooden furniture and they’ll last for centuries.

Select from a wide range of quality furniture & attractive wooden crafts to enhance the look of your home.

Sun Lounge: Add Character to Your Outdoor Haven

admin — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:00:37 +0000

A sun lounge, a coffee table, a dining set, end tables, conference tables, office desks, bar and stools, benches, sofas, chairs and virtually anything can be searched and bought on the internet.

A sun lounge is available in different styles, designs, frames, shapes, textures and colours. Today, outdoor lounges made from wicker are very popular and sought after for both domestic and commercial use. This type of outdoor furniture is woven with polyethylene resin fibers with aluminum or steel frame and base. Synthetic wicker can withstand extreme weather conditions hence they are the perfect choice of material for outdoor furnishing.

Outdoor wicker furniture is basically manufactured and goes through a 2-stage premium finishing work in order to make it weather resistant and colourfast. For coloured lounges, it is manufactured and painted utilizing the multiple dipping processes to make certain that the nooks and crevices are painted and all surfaces are sealed properly. The process of mixing the colour dyes right into the resin ensures non-flaking and peeling.

Choosing a wicker sun lounge may seem a little luxurious and extravagant at first, but you will realize that after several years of weathering, you will appreciate the excellent quality that resin wicker have. In fact, they seem to look better with rugged look because high quality wicker are created and designed with longevity in focus. So it’s like buying furniture that’s purposely designed to age like wine. It gets more comfortable and cozy as time goes by.

Outdoor furnishings made from wicker furniture vary in prices. The ones that have an inexpensive price range are generally constructed from rattan or hollow bamboo frame. These types of furniture are not meant for outdoor use and they don’t really last long. Outdoor furniture that comes with higher price is made from wrought iron or galvanized steel frames and they are rust-proof and weather resistant.

Those with high-end prices are the upscale type and rare combination of wicker and teak or wicker and real wrought iron frames that are not only attractive but are created for great longevity. You can find a remarkable selection of upscale sun lounges if you want to provide a luxurious and more rustic charm to your pool side garden that will surely impress your guests.

Depending on your personal preference, you can have your outdoor furnishings made from wicker bought, custom-built or assembled at home. Before you make a decision, it is important that you understand the variables that are to be considered before choosing the furniture to invest your hard-earned money in. Ensure that you go for pieces that are made to last for many years even with minimal care.

Develop a long-term decorating plan complete with your desired colour scheme, furniture and accents that you plan to use. This entails you to zero in on your family’s lifestyles in order for you to determine the types of furnishings to buy and where you should place each piece. Choose a well-crafted sun lounge and use it as the key furnishing in your pool area. Think of it as a piece of artwork that will add character to your outdoor haven.

Rustic Cabin Bedroom Furniture

admin — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:00:37 +0000

Decorating a cabin or rustic home can be really fun since there are so much rustic furniture and decor options to choose from. Many times people look for traditional log furniture however there is so much more than that. The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to rustic cabin furniture especially with you are looking for bedroom furniture. Every bedroom is supposed to be a restful place whether it is your bedroom, a child’s bedroom or a guest bedroom you want a relaxing atmosphere that is clutter free. It is helpful to have lots of storage room in a bedroom to help make the space more clutter free. It is helpful to have a nightstand with multiple drawers and a chest or dresser with lots of large drawers as well.

When looking for rustic cabin bedroom furniture there are a lot of options to choose from… Do you like the clean peeled logs? Or do you prefer a little more character on the logs such as the skip peeled logs? Which finish do you prefer a lighter more natural color or a darker more modern color? Would you prefer the more timber design instead of the round log look? Do you like to see the actual bark left on the logs? Be sure to check out all of the different options before rushing into buying rustic furniture for your home or cabin. You don’t want to buy something that you will be unhappy with later.

Another great option for cabin bedroom furniture is to buy a log bed with underbed storage. Log beds can be built with drawers underneath to provide a ton of additional storage, this is an excellent idea in a small cabin where you are trying to fit as many beds as possible and not lose so much room with a large rustic dresser. The drawers that are underneath the bed are really large drawer to provide extra room for pillows, blankets, sheets, clothes or anything else you may need to store.

Just remember that the possibilities are endless with cabin furniture to be sure to look at all the options before settling on a piece of furniture. When you find that perfect log bed don’t forget to look at the matching bedroom furniture at that time. Trying to match bedroom furniture to a log bed at a later date will be much harder so make sure to look for the extra furniture pieces right away.

Sofa, So Good: The History of Man’s Most Comfortable Creation

admin — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:00:37 +0000

You might say the invention of the sofa was inevitable; mankind’s predisposition towards warm, squashy snug things and their sociability coupled with their frequent need to sit down has naturally resulted in the manufacture of giant cushiony chairs. But couches, divans, or settees – whatever you chose to call them – didn’t come about that simply.

From leather sofas to love seats, they are part of a proud tradition. Having evolved from humble recliners, they’ve been modified, redesigned and improved at the whim of time and cultural inclination – taking many forms before settling into the comfy living room furniture we know and love today.

So without further ado, why don’t you settle down in your favourite niche and enjoy the short history of the sofa?

900BC – 400AD: Egypt, Italy and Greece all develop their own sofa prototypes – in the latter two nations, their use is restricted to the men. In Greece, men would relax, eat and nap on the soft benches and Roman men would forgo the upright dining chairs that women used for chaise lounges-esque affairs.

1500s: It takes a thousand years for the fashion to catch on in the colder West, but as the insulation of palaces and castles improves in the medieval period fabric makes its way off the walls and onto furnishing. Upholstery becomes more widespread in Europe: in the UK, cushions are filled with squishy dried moss and horse hair makes its first appearance on the continent as a sofa-stuffer.

The 1800 s were the century in which these loungers took the biggest steps towards what we consider sofas today. The fashion for all things Arabian turned a ‘couch’ (from the French ‘coucher’, to lie) into ‘sofa’ (from the word ‘suffah’, Arabic for ‘long reclining bench’) – and edged people towards the notion that instead of being used as a place for private rest and reflection, it could be used to seat social gatherings.

However, ‘sofas’ were still used in formal settings – they were either used by ladies after dinner or to receive guests. They certainly weren’t for curling up on with the family.

1857: A seminal year for the sofa. Sewing machines go into mass production and the coil spring is invented, leading to more durable, comfortable couches that won’t become misshapen over time. The middle classes blossom with the Industrial Revolution – they buy sofas in emulation of the gentry but put them in the large, social rooms of their house rather than the more intimate greeting rooms.

1920: Dunlop invents rubber foam – soft, modern furnishings are filled with the squashy substance for ultimate comfort and shape-retention.

1928: The launch of a reclining porch chair by Edward Knabusch and Edwin Shoemaker. The chair only becomes popular after the cousins upholster it for use indoors – one naming contest later and America had its first Lay-Z-Boy.

1950s: War has decimated Europe – a lot of people are looking to refurnish their homes and ‘new sofa’ is the top of many lists. After a break in broadcasting in the UK for the last few years of the war, televisions begin to be produced again.

1966: The Football World Cup draws 32 million viewers – many will be sitting on family sofas. Having moved from dining room to bedroom, sofas have found a new natural home: in front of the TV.

1970s: Modular furniture, including sofas that can be rearranged for custom shapes, comes into fashion as people’s lives become more flexible and living spaces become smaller.

1992: The pilot episode of ‘Friends’ is aired – in the opening scene, we see Joey, Monica, Chandler and Phoebe sitting on the now-iconic sofa of the Central Perk café. The evolution of the sofa is complete for now: it’s the perfect casual seating for any situation, be it social or intimate, personal or public.

Selecting A Sofa: Tips And Ideas

admin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:00:37 +0000

Thought up as a communal item for family members and guests, the sofa is the best furniture for visitors to enjoy a nice relaxing conversation. Without the couch, it becomes difficult to sit comfortably and enjoy your favorite television episode or movie because sitting on a chair isn’t the same as sitting on a sofa. Sofas come in all sizes and shapes; some include built-in recliners while others have tiny pillows with armrests. No matter which kind of sofa you like, from the standard, four-seat sofas to luxury home theater sofas with built-in recliners, you always want to base your decision on the design, materials and firmness of the cushions.

Design

Sofas are one of the most used furniture sets, so be prepared to spend many hours talking, sleeping and seeing movies and television shows on your couch. The design lends itself to the type of activities meant to be enjoyed while sitting down; for instance, a couch with sharp angles and firm pillows is more for greeting and conversing with guests and may not be very comfortable for lying down and enjoying a movie. If you plan on watching television or movies, you’ll want to get a set that welcomes these activities. A design that welcomes seeing movies is one with curvy edges, soft pillows and large armrests. If you really decide to enhance your movie watching experience, you may want to look into ordering best home theater seats that usually include more seating and customization options.

Materials

The materials for your sofa will decide both the price and amount of cleaning required, and if you’re looking to save money, you might be better off getting cloth seats. Some people enjoy the softness and warmth of fabric, while other shoppers love the coolness and glow of leather. While leather seats tend to be more resistant to stains, they do require that you clean the material often to keep the leather from losing its natural shine, while cloth seats attract more stains but require less cleaning. The materials you get should be based on your budget, preference and comfort level experienced.

Firmness

Aside from the design and materials, the firmness in the cushions and pillows is another aspect to consider when buying a sofa. Picking the firmness of the cushion is similar to settling on the firmness of a pillow: different levels of softness are better for particular classes of sleepers, just as different firmness in cushions are better for set activities. Whether they’re custom home theater chairs or normal four-seat sofas, you always want to keep the firmness of seats in mind to determine your comfort level.