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The French Provincial Style – Elegance And Substance

admin — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

One of the most popular furniture styles today is the French Provincial Style – elegance and Substance characterize this well-known style. Its simple lines and adaptability to many different types of dcor make it one of the furniture styles that has retained its popularity over the years.

These simple and sturdy wood pieces lack the ornate carving and gilding that were popular in some earlier styles; however, this lack of excessive and intricate detailing is precisely what gives this furniture style its appeal. The simple elegance of French Provincial furniture is ideal for modest homes or country decors. This furniture is not totally without character or embellishment, in fact, most pieces will have some simple carvings depicting the things that were important in the country at that time. Sometimes shells were carved into the furniture as a representation for fertility. Other popular elements were grapes, coins or even wheat as symbols of prosperity.

This furniture style features lines and curves that make it ideal for painting. Often times French Provential furniture will be painted a simple whitewash or country white which gives it a very comfortable and welcoming look. This style is all about providing a relaxed and warm atmosphere; there is certainly nothing pretentious about this beautiful furniture.

Three Shaker Style Projects For You To Make

admin — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

There are many super Shaker style pieces available in the shops but its always fun to add your own touch to your home and these three projects are a fun and simple way to do that.
Try making stuffed fabric hearts which can be joined together to form a cute wall hanging or hung individually from door knobs. Choose scraps of fabric in natural materials and cut out heart shapes. Hem two hearts together, leaving a small gap so you can turn them inside out and stuff it. Embellish your hearts with other scraps of coordinating fabric or a little embroidery – remember the more ‘rustic’ the better!
Another great way to add Shaker style to your home is a customized tray. Plain wooden trays are available at craft stores. Start by finding a piece of Shaker style art you like. Paint the whole tray with a matt acrylic in a color that goes with your picture. Stick your picture in the center of the tray and cover the whole piece with several coats of clear varnish. Voila!
Craft stores also sell unfinished wooden boxes which I use for another Shaker craft. Paint your box navy blue then glue red gingham ribbon around the edge of the lid. Paint a garland of stylized flowers in off-white on the lid and add a cursive initial. Three unique and beautiful pieces to add country charm!

Setting Up Your Furniture Making Workshop

admin — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Furniture is valuable, often costing a few tens and sometimes selling for a few hundred. It is one of the few industrial processes that can still be pursued by the amateur or the artisan, and with the appropriate skill and equipment can be a profitable hobby.

Large factories have the advantage in terms of equipment and manpower; the amateur will never be able to turn the equivalent profit with the same amount of manpower. Some people love to cut and finish wood, however, and are proud to sell their handiwork. The minimum is skill; a person who knows what they are doing can turn excellent chairs and tables with hand tools.

For those willing to invest in large and high-powered equipment, they can accomplish more if they see their investment through. Setting up shop can be as simple as buying hand-held tools, but it is also possible to obtain large rotary saws and claps. What is most essential is a strong, central table. Bulky equipment, particularly the saw, must be riveted to the cutting table with bolts and nuts. Clamps can be independent or also bolted to the table, but are essential to holding wood and avoiding accidents. Make sure a large toolbox is in a convenient place, to store tools and keep them off the floor.

Caring for your antiques

admin — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

So you saw a show on Direct satellite about redoing your home and you went a little overboard. Now you’ve got seven antique wooden pieces you don’t know what to do with and they need some TLC. Take some advice from us on caring for your best new furniture
Wood likes oil – Don’t try to wash a stain out of wood, oil it instead. Old wood needs oiling and it will suspend the life of a piece by decades, not to mention improve your chances of not getting splinters every time you open a drawer.
New knobs work – Say you bought a great armoire but when you brought it in it looked more like it came from your grandma’s house than from an estate sale. Change out the knobs to something more contemporary for a cheap, modern fix.
Put glass over it – One surefire way to protect your newest wooden pieces is to have glass cut to go on top. Particularly for desks and dressers, this will ensure your piece will last until you want to pass it down.

Four Beautiful Projects For The Beginning Furniture Maker

admin — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Beginning furniture making can be a daunting task. It is best to start with several simple projects to build up both your skills at joinery and your familiarity with your tools. There is one style of furniture that is both simple yet still beautiful. Shaker style furniture is an American style of furniture making that incorporates simple construction and clean lines. It is the ideal style for beginners. Below are a few projects for the beginner furniture maker.
Shaker Step Stool
A step stool is often the first project a furniture maker takes on. It requires relatively few tools and is quickly put together,
Shaker Onion Cabinet
Like all shaker furniture an onion cabinet is practical with clean lines. Most onion cabinets are only 7 pieces, quickly put together and look great in the kitchen.
Shaker Clothes’ Hamper
Like the onion cabinet, this project has few pieces that when placed together render a beautiful and practical finished project. Now you have a place to throw all those dirty clothes you previously left on the floor.
Shaker Bench With Arch
Normally only five pieces, this style of bench allows for you to allow your creativity a little free reign with embellishments and arches.Keep looking, there’s more: Terrific Texture: 14 Woven Pieces for Your Home

Three Easy Mission Style Furniture Projects To Make

admin — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Mission Style Furniture originated in the San Francisco in the late 19th century. The style was first developed by A.J. Forbes around 1894 for San Francisco’s Swedenborgian Church, but it was popularized by Joseph P. McHugh. The Mission Style features long vertical and horizontal line with flat panels. The emphasis on the grain of the wood (normally oak) rather than carved embellishments make this an ideal style for the beginning furniture maker. Below are three projects that are well within beginner furniture maker’s skillset.
Mission Table
Everyone needs a large table for family gatherings and the Mission table can easily seat ten people with the addition of a center leaf. Utilizing mortise and tenon joinery it is a challenge for the beginner but not beyond their skill level.
Mission Chair
If you are going to make a table then you will need chairs. Making 4-10 chairs will allow you to become familiar with jigs and production runs. After making your table you should already be familiar with mortise and tenon joinery. This will further refine your skills.
Mission Bed
After all those chairs you might be running low on lumber. A perfect project for when you are light on resources is a Queen Sized bed. You need a place to sleep off all that food right?

5 Tips For Successful Furniture-Making Projects

admin — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

There is nothing like building something with your own two hands. Furniture making allows you that experience. The joy a person gets at taking a pile of wood and assembling it into a piece that is greater than the sum of its parts is hard to match. All the frustration, skinned knuckles, and aching muscles are quickly forgotten when the project is complete. Building furniture from scratch takes skill, but more than anything it requires patience, attention to detail, and preparation. There are a few things you can do to insure that your concentration is not broken. We will discuss them below.
1)Know the plan:
Make sure you have read and fully understand the plan you will be following for each piece.
2)Know your tools:
Make sure you are comfortable using every tool that is necessary to complete the project. If you are not familiar, take the time to familiarize yourself with the tool by practicing.
3)Know your materials:
Some woods react differently than others to heat and pressure. Make sure you are familiar with the properties of your wood
4)Everything to hand:
Prepare your work area. Make sure you have everything to hand that you will need to complete this project. When the mojo is really flowing you do not want to interrupt the flow by running to go find a tool you forgot.
5)Don’t overreach
Know what you are capable of and stay within your skill level or a little above it. Start small and simple and work on more difficult projects as you gain skill.

A Short History Of The Gothic Style In Furniture

admin — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The term Gothic conjures to mind gargoyles, towering cathedrals, and dark rainy days. When applied to gothic furniture many of those impressions carry over. Gothic furniture is characterized by dark heavy wood, ornate carvings, and dark stains. Typically this style of furniture is made from heavy hardwoods such as: oak, rosewood, or walnut. Notable furniture makers who used the gothic style are: Chippendale, Davis, and Pugin. This type of furniture can often be found available for purchase at antique store and auction houses. There are also several companies that make reproduction pieces.
Gothic Furniture was first introduced in the 19th century during the gothic revival. Unlike the first gothic period this style was not limited to churches and found its way into the individual homes. Like much formal furniture of the day, gothic style furniture was very large and ornate. Some caution should be used when attempting to place this style of furniture in your home as it can look out of place. Modern reproductions are normally smaller in scale and more easily incorporated into modern homes.
While this style of furniture is beautiful, one should take note of the stigma that can be attached to the gothic style. It is often used in films that incorporate the supernatural to denote an evil nature. Overusing gothic furniture in your home can make your home look like the set of a vampire movie.