May 15, 2009

Interior Design

Interior Design

What is interior design?

Interior design is a term that has recently become synonymous with the rich and famous bringing in professional designers to makeover their mansions, or daytime TV programmes that often come up with some questionable ideas!

The idea of interior design should not be ignored though. It’s always good to have a final goal and a plan to work to. By doing this you are being an interior designer. There are some simple steps that need to be thought about before you even think about picking up a paint brush, so here I’ve laid out a few tips:

It’s not just choosing a theme or a colour scheme for a specific room that is important when designing your house. An equally vital ingredient is the choice of furniture, making sure that it blends succinctly with your aspirations and purpose for the room in question. Solid hardwood furniture is an excellent investment, majestic, aesthetically pleasing, yet robust enough for every day use for years to come. Never compromise on quality when designing the room of your choice.

Install superior quality solid hardwood such as oak, mahogany or mango (both light and dark should be considered) for a varied but complementary effect. Whether you select from modern bedroom furniture to help transform your personal space into a stylish sanctuary, rustic furniture for a relaxing feel distinct individual pieces such as a magnificent bed or a stunning sideboard with its dovetailed joint drawers, there is sure to be a special piece that compliments your design perfectly.

It’s not all about paint and cushions

Whilst interior design can be described as the art of selecting and organising room furnishings such as curtains, carpets and corresponding comfy cushions, not forgetting some unusual ornaments, a major aspect that ‘pulls’ the room together is the furniture itself. Whether it is the geometric shapes of cubism, fresh charm of rustic country cottage designs, or an exotic Asian style that you aspire to, with such a wide selection of solid hardwood pieces to choose from, there is bound to be a furniture item that will give your room the wow factor. All Oak Furniture Land pieces offer solidity and longevity, with solid hardwood backs and intricate dovetail joints for the drawers.

Practicality and an attractive room lay out is a major consideration when developing a successful design, in order to achieve a simple balanced living environment is created that is suitable for the type of room.

Take it one room at a time

Choosing complimentary furniture that is solid, strong and hard wearing yet elegant and beautiful too, is a vital ingredient to creating your perfect room. Care needs to be taken when choosing the correct colour and style of a piece of furniture – an airy room or where light is important, such as in a hall or a conservatory would best suit simple, light furniture, whilst if it is a sense of elegance that is desired, notably in a dining room or bedroom, chunkier pieces in darker hues might be more suitable. This is always a personal thing, and you’re often drawn to a certain design.

No matter what you choose, don’t be tempted by flat-pack furniture or furniture that is built using veneers. Always ensure that you are buying high quality, even if it means buying in stages or taking advantage of interest free credit.

April 7, 2009

Wood Finishing

Article Category: General — Tags: beeswax, danish oil, furniture, mango, oak, wood care

Oak Finished with Danish Oil

Finishing is probably one of the most important elements of an attractive piece of wood furniture. There is a vast array of different finishes available on the wooden furniture retail market today. It can be quite daunting to make sense of all the various finishes and their comparative benefits and downfalls. Below are some of the most common finishes of hardwood furniture with a little information regarding the pros and cons of each.

Danish Oil

Many people think that Danish Oil is a finish which penetrates deeply into the wood. This, however, is not true. The oil does penetrate slightly deeper than other finishes but not to the extent many people believe it does. It is vital that Danish Oil is able to penetrate the wood effectively in order to produce an excellent quality of finish. This means that if your hardwood furniture has been previously finished with either lacquer or paint, Danish Oil will not be an effective method of finishing that item. Danish Oil is the best product for giving an attractive natural finish to your wood furniture. It has a soft sheen to it, rather than the high gloss that lacquers produce. This has several advantages, in that it doesn’t show up fingerprints or dust, and should the wood furniture be damaged it is easy to repair for novices and experts alike, as all that’s required is a light sanding and reapplication. A lacquered finish, by contrast, will need the whole piece stripping and refinishing - a very expensive job that should only be undertaken by a trained professional.

Mango Finished with Beeswax

Beeswax

Beeswax is a natural way of finishing wood furniture. It can be used on virtually every type of wood used for furniture, but is most effective on hardwood furniture, such as mango. It will create a perfect, highly attractive finish which also serves as a protective layer which will help to keep your furniture looking its best no matter what. Beeswax is a great product for people concerned about the environment as it is completely natural and free from any nasty chemicals which can often be found in household products, such as polishes. Beeswax can be used very economically as only a small amount is needed to gain the desired effect. It is also excellent at revitalising distressed wood. Beeswax brings out the fine grain of the wooden furniture and achieves a beautifully tactile silky smooth finish. The finish that both beeswax and Danish oil produce is known as an unsealed wood finish. Therefore it is not recommended that chemical cleaning products are used, as these will permeate the wood, drying it out and causing irreparable cracking. Feather dusting or the use of a damp cloth is all that should be needed to care for your wooden furniture.

Sprayed Lacquer

Sprayed lacquer achieves 100% adhesion with underlying layers meaning that it seals the wooden furniture and produces a high gloss finish. At first this sounds very desirable, it does have its downsides though: it can be quiet easily scratched and the slightest marks or fingerprints will be very obvious, making it a high maintenance finish. This can be guarded against by protecting it with mats, cloths, etc., but what’s the point of having beautiful hardwood furniture if you have to cover it up?

Polyurethane

Polyurethane is a common film finish for wooden furniture. This is another finish that seals the wood. It is relatively inexpensive and easy for manufacturers to apply. For this reason it is often used on cheap, inferior quality wooden furniture, such as pine furniture. There are many disadvantages in using polyurethane to finish wood furniture. It shares many qualities of lacquered furniture, but it is also susceptible to damage from ultra-violet light exposure. This can crack the finish leaving white marks that are impossible to remove. Because of this, polyurethane finished furniture should not be kept in natural sunlight - a serious disadvantage unless you are furnishing a room without windows!

In summary

By far the best finishes for high quality wood furniture are either Danish oil or beeswax. They bring out the stunning beauty of wooden furniture grains and leave wood satisfying to the touch. Steer well clear of varnish and polyurethane if you are after a luxurious piece of quality furniture. For more information on wooden furniture care, please see our guide to treating hardwood furniture.

March 18, 2009

Designing a Dining Room

Article Category: General — Tags: dining chair, dining room furniture, dining table, interior design, office furniture, tub chair

Despite the basic principles of design when planning a dining room, a fundamental aspect is selecting and choosing the right dining room furniture that supports and enhances the ambiance of the dining room itself. Whilst dining rooms have tended to be formal in style with a sense of quality and luxury emanating from the choice of dining furniture, nowadays, they are being designed to incorporate a whole spectrum of styles, from ornate and grandiose schemes to modern minimalism with corresponding furniture in the desired style, too.

Naturally, if you plan to entertain regularly, then solid wooden furniture would serve you best, whether it’s the clear cut lines of a solid oak dining table and six matching chairs or the more traditional Corsica Brown Teak Dining Set. Some dining sets come in light or dark shades like the stunningly stylish Mantis dark or light solid mango six foot Indian dining sets with its six elegant high back grass chairs. Like wise the Baku Mango Indian Dining Table and accompanying comfortable chairs also has the choice of dark stain or natural waxed finish. Another option is to choose one of our ash furniture ranges. What ever your colour scheme or theme, make sure the dining furniture you choose compliments the impression you wish to achive.

Room space is a vital primary consideration when planning a dining room. Not only is the size of the table important for the number of guests you wish to entertain, but equally important is that there is enough room to allow your guests to pull out chairs and move around comfortably. Whilst lighter dining room furniture helps make the room lighter and more spacious, if it is a large dining room you are designing, then darker wood would perhaps be more appropriate. If space allows, then don’t forget a wine rack. Having a wine rack that matches the dining room furniture creates a sense of harmony and coherence. Examples include the beautiful Baku dark or light mango wine cabinet with a rack on one side to display the wine and a handy storage cupboard on the other.

Contemporary living means that the dining room isn’t used just for entertaining, but for hobbies and as a home office too, in which case, durable solid wooden furniture would be the ideal choice especially since it lends itself well to the demands of daily living. The multitude of uses for the modern dining room thus require more than just a table and chairs. Storage plays a vital part, so it’s worth considering pieces of solid wooden furniture such as sideboards and dressers in which you can safely store miscellaneous items when not in use. The Tokyo Solid Oak Glazed Dresser provides excellent storage and is ideal for both keeping clutter at bay as well as for serving drinks from. The Baku three shelf display unit is another prime example of a stylish storage solution. Why not relax following your meal by reclining in the ultimate in style and class – a leather solid oak tub chair available in brown and made using top grade leather.

Take the dining experience to another level and make a statement with the ageless elegance and ensuring quality of solid wooden furniture. Put the specialness back in to dining at home. Happy dining!

March 3, 2009

Choosing The Right Bedroom Furniture

Article Category: Bedroom Furniture, Wardrobes — Tags: Bedroom Furniture, beds, bedside tables, chest of drawers, mirror, oak furniture, Wardrobes

It’s a known fact that on average we spend approximately a third of our life sleeping. Some may ask if it’s really necessary to waste all that time. Well, it really isn’t a waste. We lead such hectic and stressful lives these days that we need to get away from it all, making sleep essential. Many people loose out on sleep because of various forms of insomnia. This may seem like a medical condition, but it is often attributed to your surroundings. This means bedroom design is very likely to be directly related to peaceful sleep.

You also need to remember that we spend a significant amount of time in our bedrooms when we are awake. From getting dressed or putting makeup on, to watching TV or reading a book, we need the bedroom to be a tidy and relaxing place to be.

The centrepiece to any bedroom is the bed itself. This needs to be as big as can be, solidly built and comfortable. A magnificent mahogany sleigh bed, such as those in our Sleigh range of bedroom furniture is a particularly good example, bringing a sense of grandeur and sumptuousness. You will be able to get into it and loose yourself in luxury. Here at Oak Furniture Land we not only sell sleigh beds, but we also sell a complete matching Sleigh range including a wardrobe, bedside tables and chests of drawers, as well as furniture for the rest of the house.

You may currently have a bedroom suite that incorporates a metal bed. These can be very attractive, but they also have a propensity to be uncomfortable, and they age quickly due do to problems with the springs, corrosion, and poor fixings. For a truly relaxing night’s sleep it’s highly recommended that you choose a high quality wooden bed. Not only does solid oak bedroom furniture look the part, but it will last a lifetime. Additionally, the natural feel of unvarnished wood is both soothing and warm to the touch.

To see the whole range of Oak Furniture Land beds, please click here.

The bed, of course, is just one piece of bedroom furniture. To get the most out of your bedroom you should choose matching bedside tables, wardrobes, chests of drawers, etc.

Storage is a major factor in a bedroom. Many people don’t include enough storage in their bedroom. The last thing you want is piles of clothes, shoes and bedding all over the place. Some carefully selected chests of drawers and a wardrobe or two will mean that keeping your bedroom a nice tidy sanctuary is a doddle.

If there is still some room left, a great idea is to get a matching bookcase and put some personal artefacts on there. Photos of loved ones or pets, ornaments, or simply a vase of flowers will add to the relaxing atmosphere that is so essential.

If you’re furnishing a small room, then make sure you find a place for a mirror; it will give the impression of space and add to the character of the room.

To see all of our bedroom furniture please click here.

October 30, 2008

Choosing Oak Wardrobes

Article Category: Bedroom Furniture, Wardrobes — Tags: oak bedroom furniture, oak warbrobes

The warm appearance of oak makes it particularly pleasing to the eye as bedroom furniture.

When choosing items of oak furniture, there are a number of considerations to bear in mind. With regard to oak wardrobes, the size of the oak furniture should be carefully considered, and the customer needs to think about where in the bedroom it is going to be positioned, and whether or not there will be adequate space to accommodate it. Will the piece of oak furniture provide adequate storage space for the buyer’s needs? Is storage situated at the base or top of the oak wardrobe, or is it positioned to one side? Will it be easily accessible for the buyer? Is it supplied as open shelves or sliding drawers?

Another practicality to consider is the aspect of self-assembly. Our oak furniture is supplied to the customer in self-assembly form, but parts of it may be already assembled. For example, our solid oak wardrobes arrive in two or three parts (depending on the range) provided in separate boxes. These parts are fully assembled pieces that just need sitting on top of one another. The main part of the oak wardrobe will be the largest, so it’s also worth measuring your doors, as many older houses have non-standard frames.

The range of styles of oak wardrobes is considerable. All our oak furniture designs are modern to compliment today’s needs, but have a traditional feel. Our oak wardrobes enhance any bedroom, adding a sense of warmth and style and with a variety of wood tones will blend in well with any colour scheme. There is a choice of oak wardrobes to fit into single, double and even box bedrooms. These beautifully constructed pieces of furniture blend in well as part of a set of oak furniture or as a stand alone feature.

The term ‘oak furniture’ does not have the same meaning as ’solid oak furniture’, so beware! Oak furniture can be solid oak mixed with solid ash, or solid hardwood pieces glued together and finally finished with oak veneer, or chipboard or MDF with an oak veneer finish. This is not as good quality as solid oak furniture. All of our furniture is made from solid 100% hardwood, as advertised. A chipboard/ veneer finish piece of oak furniture will not have the same strength or durability.

View our complete selection of hardwood wardrobes. We are especially pleased with our new Tokyo furniture. The wardrobe can also be complimented by a whole range of matching items.

The Rivendell, Dakar, and Galway wardrobes are also popular choices.

All of our oak furniture, including the oak wardrobes, has a natural finish to enhance the distinctive oak grain. It is recommended that you treat your oak furniture with Danish oil every three or four months to maintain a beautiful finish and help to make keeping it clean a simpler task.

August 22, 2008

How a hall table says hello

Article Category: General — Tags: furniture, oak, quality

The hall, through history, has gone through many different incarnations. Coming from the Old Teutonic word Halla, it originally meant any large building, but it soon moved on to become a byword for any important building, city hall, town hall etc. Then it became, and continues to be, the name for university accommodation and is also used as we most commonly understand it today. That is, the name for the entrance corridor of your home, more often than not linked to the front door. In this way it is often the first place a person entering your home sees, and as such it is prudent if you want to give a welcoming atmosphere that this area be outfitted and decorated as such.

A hallway is often a relatively narrow room, and as such there is not a great scope for putting furniture in. However, a hall table can give a practical and welcoming ambience to your hallway.

Of course, size is always a concern, but nowadays you can find good furniture, such as hall tables, in all manner of sizes and styles. This article presumes oak furniture primarily as the qualities of oak, it’s strength and colouring as well as it’s more emblematic use as a symbol for strength and endurance, makes for excellent pieces of furniture.

There are many companies, online and otherwise, that produce and stock this type of oak furniture, hall tables in particular. However you should always, where you can, research prices and companies across the internet as you might find that some companies produce greater quality furniture for better value prices than others.

In any case, a small hall table can complement a hallway, and can be used practically, for the storage of keys and somewhere to base your telephone. Alternatively a hall table can be used in a more decorative way, such as having a welcoming vase of flowers on the table top.

Of course, this is just the beginning, and there are other types of oak furniture that can offer more practicality. Other, larger pieces boast a larger table top area, which could take advantage of any of the ideas above. Furthermore, the larger pieces of oak furniture often feature dovetailed, solid drawers, which can be used to store phonebooks or notepads for taking phone messages as just one example. In general larger table top pieces can help provide a basic but stylish storage option in your home.

The largest hall table pieces often seek to double their utility by including something extra in with their design that might come with other, standalone pieces of oak furniture. For instance, some designs often feature a large tabletop surface, but underneath there is shelving, which can be used to store books, CDs or DVDs, giving an elegant storage method. Along this line, some designs also feature special shelves that allow for baskets to be slid into, again offering a storage option for newspapers, magazines or anything else you need to store away.

Finally, it should be noted that a fine piece of oak furniture, purely by virtue of being well made and constructed from oak wood, is very easy on the eye and beautifies any space. This is a separate attribute that can be filed alongside the hall table’s utility. In short, oak furniture is a stylish way to accentuate your home, but ensure you check on companies and the quality of their product before you buy from them to avoid any disappointment.

How to spot a quality furniture retailer

Article Category: General — Tags: furniture, oak, quality

It is common knowledge that the purchase of your house will probably be the most expensive personal outlay of your entire life. It is also commonly accepted that it will be one of the most stressful, with mountains of paperwork and other distractions flying around. However, decorating your home can also be an utter chore, due to untrustworthy or incompetent workmen, or just because you find yourself ripped off with inferior furniture and fittings.

Now, buying furniture for your home, wood furniture in particular, will no doubt take up a lot of your time whilst decorating. With the advent of the internet, the amount of people wanting to sell you furniture has increased prodigiously. The problem with too much choice though is that there will always be inferior or unscrupulous companies doing their level best to part you with large amounts of money for frankly rubbish furniture. So, how can you attempt to sift through the chaff and find the wheat, how to spot a good furniture retailer from a bad one?

Well, like many things, a lot about picking a furniture retailer comes down to simple common sense. In many cases, if a price appears too good to be true, it often is. It is false economy to buy the cheapest when for shelling out a little more you could get a piece of furniture that endures.

Also, do your research! Jumping at the first option that appears good is a recipe for disaster. Browse websites, assess prices and take the opinion of families and friends. If they have furniture you consider to be well made and at a reasonable price, ask them where they got it, would they buy from there again, what was the service like? Word-of-mouth recommendations are often the most reliable indicators as to whether a retailer is genuinely worth considering or not.

Observing the furniture itself is also telling. Pine furniture, while cheap, is flimsy and will not take well to painting and staining. Also, chipboard and MDF constructs will often appear cheap, but will not endure for very long. On this point, oak furniture is often the way to go. Now, oak furniture is often more expensive than other woods, such as birch, but it’s sheer beauty, longevity and ease when staining or painting means it often makes sense to go with a piece of oak furniture if you want to save money in the long run.

Furthermore, workmanship is also often a good indicator of the quality of a retailer. If the piece seems ramshackle or thrown together, with a sub-par finish, it obviously does not reflect well. Conversely, the sale of oak furniture, as explained above, shows the company is aware of quality, but more than anything things like well dovetailed joints and good, smooth finishes shows a company that takes pride in its work.

In short, doing a bit of research and using common sense can make all the difference in getting a value-for-money, quality piece of furniture. If the price is right, oak furniture is always a good way to go.