Archive for June, 2010

Tips on Decorating Using Cottage Style Furniture

June 17th, 2010

Cottage style furniture is no longer just limited to town and country houses anymore. This style has found its way in the houses of chic and hip city folks. Often referred to as the “shabby chic” this type of furnishings are fast becoming the new trend simply because of its vintage and nostalgic appeal. Many people who like the shabby chic look say that this type of home furnishings give their homes a little Parisian feel. Everything from drawers, cabinets, side tables, to chairs, book cases and beds that look like they came from a flea market somewhere in Europe. Another great thing about cottage style furniture is the romantic feel it lends to a place. They are also very classic pieces and would never go out of style.

Most of these “shabby chic” furnishings are either painted a nice white color or are distressed giving off that worn, aged feel. The style is also a little carefree, with a very light almost effervescent appeal to it which is perfect for people who are very easy going and laid back. So what makes something “shabby chic”? More often than not, it’s the use of light colors and comfortable as opposed to expensive fabrics that makes it “shabby chic”. Every piece of furnishing is easy on the eye and ignites a feeling of nostalgia, whether it is real vintage or just made to look like one.

Another appeal of having cottage style furniture is the fact that it doesn’t cost as much as more modern looking furnishings do. You can simply go to a local flea market or used furniture store and you can find some really good pieces. You can also refurbish your old furnishings to make them look “shabby chic”. For example, you can take an old side table that you haven’t used in a while and paint it in a nice white color afterwards, you can make it look distressed which is the look of the most shabby chic furnishings by using sandpaper on parts of it. As simple as that, you can make your own cottage style furniture without having to spend a penny. But if you aren’t handy with such things, there are many websites that specialize in this type of furniture and they offer good quality stuff. Most of the time, you will find new custom furnishings that were made to look vintage and then there are those which offer items that come from flea markets and were refurbished by the seller themselves. These items can sell at really good prices but the more antique ones might fetch a higher price tag.

So you want to decorate your house using cottage style furniture? Well here are some easy to do tips which you can incorporate to your renovation:

1. When you think of this type of furniture you immediately think of timeworn, old pieces that have that heirloom appeal. So why don’t you try looking at your current furnishings and see which one could be taken and worked on to get that sort of style. All you need are some paint and sanding tools.

2. Texture. Add small things like shells to your current fixtures and this would instantly add that cottage style appeal.

Home Office Furniture – Buy Oak Furniture Online For The Best Deals

June 16th, 2010

Home offices are very popular nowadays as more and more people set up small businesses or telecommute. Such a lifestyle offers many advantages, not least the time and expense saved in commuting. However, some people have trouble adapting to an independent lifestyle. One solution is to make your home office into a real place of work is to equip it with quality home office furniture. Nothing can transform you spare room into a place of business quite like a solid oak desk. And when you buy your furniture online, you’re also able to get the best choice and save money.

Of course you want your home office to look and feel good, too. Your work environment influences how you feel and so your creativity and productivity. This means you need to find attractive furniture that matches your decor.

Fortunately, oak comes to your rescue here. One of the great things about oak furniture is that it can fit into any type of room regardless of decor or colour. You also have a choice of tones for the wood. Some people love the traditional brown glow of standard oak. Others prefer a lighter wood. Oak can satisfy both tastes.

If you’d prefer your oak furniture with a lighter feel, you could opt for items made from Cambridge oak. They give a clean and contemporary look to any room.

Other than desks you can get filing cabinets, bookcases and coffee tables to grace your home office. The Cambridge oak range also includes a full range of standard furniture for the rest of your home including dining tables and sideboards.

Cambridge oak furniture is is produced from solid oak by skilled craftsmen employing traditional construction methods such as dovetail drawers, tongue and groove drawer bases and cabinet backs. Cambridge oak comes with a protective natural lacquer finish for protection and to keep that matchless sheen that oak has.

Now let’s look at the type of home office furniture you’ll need to get. As you’ll be spending a lot of time in your home office, choosing the right furniture is critical. Probably the first item on your agenda is a desk. This will be the focus of most of your workday for writing and organising files and papers.

You should get the largest desk your room can accommodate as this will make organising your work easier. You also need to consider the shape and style of your desk. You can get single and double oak desks and an interesting option is the Cambridge Oak corner desk which is shaped to fit into the corner of your room. This is useful is you have limited space. You should get a desk with at least two drawers.

Your desk must be solid and stable. This is where oak wins out every time. Buying an oak desk means you are getting an item that will give you a lifetime of solid use. And you won’t need to spend time pampering it. Just polish with a cloth every month and so and it will keep looking good for years. Just be sure to mop up any spills or stains as quickly as possible.

Consider the Brooklyn desk with 4 drawers and one Door. This blend of style and functionality brings a rustic feel to your home office. Crafted from reclaimed oak, it features a gorgeous deep patina finish complemented by the brass handles.

When buying your desk makes sure you get the right chair. You’re going to be spending a lot of time sitting on it so make sure it’s comfortable and the right height (or adjustable).

Next there’s the matter of storage. You’ll need to find a place to easily and securely store important documents, books and manuals. A bookcase and filing cabinet are both essential. These are also available in oak. You can get a three-drawer office cabinet in beautiful Cambridge oak that will grace any office and keep all your documents safe and secure. Shelves, bins and racks are other excellent storage options you might want to consider.

So if you’re setting up a home office, look into equipping it with oak home office furniture. And check out Cambridge oak furniture for that extra touch of style. Oak furniture is not the cheapest option but investing in quality will repay with you with decades of use and pleasure. Buy furniture online for the widest choice, the lowest prices and fastest delivery.