By: Paul Graham
A home just like any other building is a physical structure where one may work or rest in. It is place that one can be alone with people he or she is comfortable with. A home is made of many things. It has a kitchen where one cooks food, a bedroom where one can rest, a living room where one can watch TV or read a magazine but the most important pieces that make it all possible is the furniture that is used to make that dream come to life. A very good example of furniture that adds both style and comfort to one’s home is a chaise lounge. A chaise lounge is an upholstered reclining chair that has legs that are outstretched so one will be able not just to sit on the chair but also lie down on it to take a short nap.
1. Just Like Freud
This kind of furniture similar is very similar to a sofa and the nice thing about this chair compared to the normal chair is that it can seat 3 people at a given time unlike the regular chair where it can only seat one. The chaise lounge is usually seen in a psychiatrist’s office where a patient lies down and discusses his or her innermost thoughts with the doctor as the patient is being evaluated. At home, one can also use it to think about things that are on the persons mind.
2. Truly Great Relaxation
For those who want to get a tan or just read a book and watch the day go by, another ideal spot where one can use it in the home is in the patio or by the pool. The chaise lounge as pointed out can be used either indoor or outdoor. This has been used in a variety of places both private and public like the local country club or resort. Through the years, the chaise lounge has evolved. Some models are not upholstered anymore and are made of wood, steel and plastic. For mobility, wheels have been added on certain models that make it easy to transport or relocate. Since it is a reclining chair, one can now adjust the angle of how inclined one wants it to be.
3. Leather, Plastic, Wood?
Before one will go out and choose the right chaise lounge, one must ask if the chair one chooses to buy will require low or high maintenance. As mentioned earlier, such models are no longer just made out of wood. Plastic chairs require low maintenance. If it gets dirty, one can simply wash off the dirt and wipe it clean. Wood on the other hand would require a bit of maintenance since it takes a little work to keep the varnish intact and sparkling. This will require one to buy a spray and cloth to keep it in good condition. Steel chairs even those made out of aluminum could rust and requires high maintenance. If one should decide on an aluminum chair, one must make sure this model is be rust-proofed and kept out of the rain.
4. Budget
There are pros and cons in choosing what type of material one wants to buy a chaise lounge. Each has its own characteristic benefits and features at the same time have its own drawbacks. The last thing one needs to consider before buying is to check if it is within the person’s budget. The price of the material used dictates the price of the kind of chaise lounge one can afford to buy. If one has a limited budget, one won’t be able to buy one with the best material since it is expensive. However if one is rich and money is not a problem, one will be able to buy the best quality-made steel, wood or plastic chair available. The chaise lounge is available in the local furniture store. If one is lazy to go out, one can just log on the web since there are a lot of retailers who offer the same items online with prices and discounts that are both reasonable and competitive.
About the Author:
For more great chaise lounge related articles and resources check out http://www.domain.com
Read more articles by: Paul Graham
Article Source: www.iSnare.com
9/07/2007
Why Is Log Furniture So Popular?
By: Tom Heatherington
Can anyone explain what makes a simple log table more appealing to many of us than a finely carved mahogany table? Is it merely a matter of style or taste? To be certain, some log or rustic furniture pieces do not blend well with every decorating theme, and few of us would place an Adirondack chair with a Chippendale kneehole desk, but in many settings log furniture has no equal.
In the traditional sense, most furniture is made from wood (which is nothing more than logs that have been "tamed"). However, log furniture is the antithesis of most conventional furniture. Traditional furniture makers favor pristine wood planks without knots or blemishes, while log furniture builders emphasize knots, diseased patches and even tree bark.
Oftentimes conventional furniture will feature graceful lines and delicate legs, while log designs boast thick, powerful verticals and cross members. Log furniture makers often rely on hand tools more than machines. The drawknife and spokeshave are essential tools used to peel logs and make tenons. Handsaws, chisels, hatchets and other hand tools are found in every log furniture crafter's workshop.
Log furniture is practical and it stirs our appreciation of human genius and resourcefulness. Unlike conventional mass-produced furniture, log furniture is particularly distinctive in that no two pieces look the same. The uniqueness of the logs and slabs ensure that every piece presents a singular appearance. Log furniture is a form of natural, hand-made freeform art.
It is this author's opinion that it is the bold and unique character of log furniture that speaks to us so intimately. Log furniture has a soul that whispers to us about our past when people produced furniture from the raw materials nature provided. Early pioneers built log furniture out of necessity, and it retains a romantic charm that inspires thoughts as daring as that Westward expansion. Log furniture is bold and gutsy - yet warm and inviting. It can be massive, yet graceful and it offers us a way to introduce nature into our homes.
The numerous answers to "why log furniture is popular" are as varied as the craftsman who produce these works. Simplicity, elegance, boldness, history, natural beauty... there is a difference between style and character. And that's the reason log furniture is so popular.
About the Author:
Tom Heatherington is an author, Internet consultant & co-founder of the Webunet Group. He is founder & editor of the "Log Furniture Directory" (http://www.logfurnituredirectory.com) and the "Log Cabin Directory" (http://www.logcabindirectory.com) To learn more about log furniture and rustic decorating, visit the Log Furniture Directory at: http://www.logfurnituredirectory.com
Read more articles by: Tom Heatherington
Article Source: www.iSnare.com
Can anyone explain what makes a simple log table more appealing to many of us than a finely carved mahogany table? Is it merely a matter of style or taste? To be certain, some log or rustic furniture pieces do not blend well with every decorating theme, and few of us would place an Adirondack chair with a Chippendale kneehole desk, but in many settings log furniture has no equal.
In the traditional sense, most furniture is made from wood (which is nothing more than logs that have been "tamed"). However, log furniture is the antithesis of most conventional furniture. Traditional furniture makers favor pristine wood planks without knots or blemishes, while log furniture builders emphasize knots, diseased patches and even tree bark.
Oftentimes conventional furniture will feature graceful lines and delicate legs, while log designs boast thick, powerful verticals and cross members. Log furniture makers often rely on hand tools more than machines. The drawknife and spokeshave are essential tools used to peel logs and make tenons. Handsaws, chisels, hatchets and other hand tools are found in every log furniture crafter's workshop.
Log furniture is practical and it stirs our appreciation of human genius and resourcefulness. Unlike conventional mass-produced furniture, log furniture is particularly distinctive in that no two pieces look the same. The uniqueness of the logs and slabs ensure that every piece presents a singular appearance. Log furniture is a form of natural, hand-made freeform art.
It is this author's opinion that it is the bold and unique character of log furniture that speaks to us so intimately. Log furniture has a soul that whispers to us about our past when people produced furniture from the raw materials nature provided. Early pioneers built log furniture out of necessity, and it retains a romantic charm that inspires thoughts as daring as that Westward expansion. Log furniture is bold and gutsy - yet warm and inviting. It can be massive, yet graceful and it offers us a way to introduce nature into our homes.
The numerous answers to "why log furniture is popular" are as varied as the craftsman who produce these works. Simplicity, elegance, boldness, history, natural beauty... there is a difference between style and character. And that's the reason log furniture is so popular.
About the Author:
Tom Heatherington is an author, Internet consultant & co-founder of the Webunet Group. He is founder & editor of the "Log Furniture Directory" (http://www.logfurnituredirectory.com) and the "Log Cabin Directory" (http://www.logcabindirectory.com) To learn more about log furniture and rustic decorating, visit the Log Furniture Directory at: http://www.logfurnituredirectory.com
Read more articles by: Tom Heatherington
Article Source: www.iSnare.com
3 Kinds Of Wood Used In Real Wood Furniture
By: Samantha Birch
Real wood furniture is the most popular furniture in existence. It's been around for hundreds of years and probably existed when the cave people got tired of squatting on the dirt floor of their caves and looked around for a better way.
The woods that are fashioned into furniture fall into three categories:
1. Hardwoods
2. Softwoods
3. Composites
Even the term 'hardwood' or 'softwood' is deceptive. Hardwoods aren't necessarily harder, denser material. For example, balsa wood is one of the lightest, least dense woods there is, and it's considered a hardwood. Technically, lumber is classified based on how the tree reproduces. As a general rule, though, softwood trees are evergreen year round while the hardwoods create the gorgeous autumn foliage that we all love so much.
Hardwoods are considered the highest quality and are the most expensive. Their natural colors vary from the darkest woods to the lightest ones and and they can be stained or painted for even more variety. Hardwood furniture is least likely to warp or bend and is prized in all high quality homes. The five woods most commonly used in furniture production are cherry, walnut, oak, maple and mahogany.
Softwoods are less expensive than hardwoods, but they require extra care. Because they are less durable, it's much easier to scratch or dent softwood furniture. In addition, they often don't have the beautiful grains of a hardwood, and therefore don't stain as beautifully.
Pine is an example of a softwood that is commonly used for furniture. These woods are often used in construction as well so the choicest pieces are reserved for furniture. In construction, knots and splits are common. Lots of construction lumber will not accept paint and this kind of wood is used for shelves or packing crates.
The softwood used in furniture is designated as "Appearance" lumber and includes most softwood lumber that has been custom milled to a pattern or otherwise surfaced on all four sides.
Composites are the cheapest form of wood and are literally manufactured, rather than grown.
1. Plywood: multiple layers of thin wooden sheets are glued together and pressed. Plywood is strong and resists swelling, shrinking and warping. There is some furniture made directly from plywood, but generally it is only used as a support when incorporated into furniture.
2. Particle board: sawdust and small wood chips are mixed with glue or resin which is then shaped and pressure treated. When used for inexpensive furniture, particle board is usually covered with laminate or veneer. This is necessary because particle board splits easily and the laminate prevents splitting. However, the downside is that the laminate may separate from the wood because the particle board responds to temperature and pressure changes by swelling and shrinking.
3. Hardboard: is made like particle board but it's placed under higher pressure so it's stronger.
4. MDF or Medium Density Fiberboard: wood particles are bonded with resin and compressed. It is harder than particle board or hardboard, and can be cut like plywood although it isn't as strong as plywood. Some MDF is covered with melamine which is a durable plastic in a variety of colors. The exposed edges of MDF are rough and need covering with molding or some other decorative material.
Technically, furniture made from all of these wood products is "real" wood furniture, even the composites. Prices and quality range from the hardwoods down to the composites. The higher you go up the spectrum, the more you can expect to pay for your wood furniture. The good part, of course, is that with proper care hardwood furniture will last for decades or even generations. If you can afford it, always choose hardwood furniture.
About the Author:
Read dozens of articles & constant new information on home decorating, furniture, unique home decor, home interiors & gifts, including a home blog, books on decorating and weekly specials. http://online-home-shop.com
Read more articles by: Samantha Birch
Article Source: www.iSnare.com
Real wood furniture is the most popular furniture in existence. It's been around for hundreds of years and probably existed when the cave people got tired of squatting on the dirt floor of their caves and looked around for a better way.
The woods that are fashioned into furniture fall into three categories:
1. Hardwoods
2. Softwoods
3. Composites
Even the term 'hardwood' or 'softwood' is deceptive. Hardwoods aren't necessarily harder, denser material. For example, balsa wood is one of the lightest, least dense woods there is, and it's considered a hardwood. Technically, lumber is classified based on how the tree reproduces. As a general rule, though, softwood trees are evergreen year round while the hardwoods create the gorgeous autumn foliage that we all love so much.
Hardwoods are considered the highest quality and are the most expensive. Their natural colors vary from the darkest woods to the lightest ones and and they can be stained or painted for even more variety. Hardwood furniture is least likely to warp or bend and is prized in all high quality homes. The five woods most commonly used in furniture production are cherry, walnut, oak, maple and mahogany.
Softwoods are less expensive than hardwoods, but they require extra care. Because they are less durable, it's much easier to scratch or dent softwood furniture. In addition, they often don't have the beautiful grains of a hardwood, and therefore don't stain as beautifully.
Pine is an example of a softwood that is commonly used for furniture. These woods are often used in construction as well so the choicest pieces are reserved for furniture. In construction, knots and splits are common. Lots of construction lumber will not accept paint and this kind of wood is used for shelves or packing crates.
The softwood used in furniture is designated as "Appearance" lumber and includes most softwood lumber that has been custom milled to a pattern or otherwise surfaced on all four sides.
Composites are the cheapest form of wood and are literally manufactured, rather than grown.
1. Plywood: multiple layers of thin wooden sheets are glued together and pressed. Plywood is strong and resists swelling, shrinking and warping. There is some furniture made directly from plywood, but generally it is only used as a support when incorporated into furniture.
2. Particle board: sawdust and small wood chips are mixed with glue or resin which is then shaped and pressure treated. When used for inexpensive furniture, particle board is usually covered with laminate or veneer. This is necessary because particle board splits easily and the laminate prevents splitting. However, the downside is that the laminate may separate from the wood because the particle board responds to temperature and pressure changes by swelling and shrinking.
3. Hardboard: is made like particle board but it's placed under higher pressure so it's stronger.
4. MDF or Medium Density Fiberboard: wood particles are bonded with resin and compressed. It is harder than particle board or hardboard, and can be cut like plywood although it isn't as strong as plywood. Some MDF is covered with melamine which is a durable plastic in a variety of colors. The exposed edges of MDF are rough and need covering with molding or some other decorative material.
Technically, furniture made from all of these wood products is "real" wood furniture, even the composites. Prices and quality range from the hardwoods down to the composites. The higher you go up the spectrum, the more you can expect to pay for your wood furniture. The good part, of course, is that with proper care hardwood furniture will last for decades or even generations. If you can afford it, always choose hardwood furniture.
About the Author:
Read dozens of articles & constant new information on home decorating, furniture, unique home decor, home interiors & gifts, including a home blog, books on decorating and weekly specials. http://online-home-shop.com
Read more articles by: Samantha Birch
Article Source: www.iSnare.com
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