What is the Difference Between Your Home Furniture and Commercial Furniture?

If you are to purchase furniture, you may want to consider the difference from the most popular types available in the market such as commercial furniture and home furniture. Many would say that furniture stays as it is and there is no difference to it, the truth is, there is.
Commercial grade furniture are made for longer use and are designed for easy maintenance. This type of furniture are mostly recommended for business use and mostly are sold in bulk because they are acquired for the reason that these furniture will be used by many people on a daily basis. And since these type of furniture is meant for daily use by various people, it must be made is to clean and maintain for less costs.
Commercial furniture compared to home furniture is more sturdy,because the materials used for this type of furniture are stronger than that those being used for residential furniture as well as other furniture available in the market. This just means that, if you have a business establishment and you expect to have a lot of visitors from time to time as well as clients, you will have to choose to make use of a sturdier type of furniture to make sure that they do not wear off that easily and they are durable enough to last for a longer period of time.
Let us say for instance you are to put up a food catering business, of course you will be needing furniture where your customers can sit and dine. If you are to make use of furniture which are made from lighter materials, can you assure yourself that this will last you for the years to come? That is why it is necessary that the furniture that you will acquire should be less expensive but at least sturdy and durable to last for years. In this case you will not have to worry about dissatisfied customers who rates your restaurant low because of their low satisfaction on such facilities, or future expenses because of furniture that has to be replaced from time to time.
You also have to keep in mind that finding the right commercial furniture supplier is essential. If you want more options, you may try searching online to get a list of online furniture shops. From there you can decide what type of furniture is best for your home or business establishment.

The Five Minute Guide to Kitchen Furniture

There are some rooms in the home that are more important than others. The kitchen stands out as just such an essential space, where a lot of time is spent and where the room itself is put to fairly rigorous use on a daily basis. With such constant use, everything from cleaning to cooking anything that can be done to improve the experience should be done.
It stands to reason a kitchen should be a nice space in which to work. The kitchen is one of those rooms that makes a big difference to how you feel about your home, if only because it is used so much. A nice kitchen, especially one that you can sit and relax in while eating breakfast or talking to your partner while he or she cooks dinner makes all the difference, not just in your home, but in your mood and even your energy levels.
Having kitchen furniture fully fitted, so that all the cabinets fit in like jigsaw pieces and are flush with the walls, is standard practice. It is the usual route taken when decorating a kitchen, though not the only possibility. Major benefits include the fact that the kitchen has more space opened up, more storage space, and of course has a tighter overall appearance.
Asides from the tightly packed fitted kitchen, there are also free standing kitchens. These use individual items of furniture and have the plus that they can be moved around. The downside to freestanding kitchens is that they waste a lot of space. In the olden days, all kitchens followed the freestanding furniture model, but as time progressed fitted kitchens became the standard. Certainly it can detract greatly from the value of your home if the kitchen isn’t fitted due to the way it’s seen by home buyers and agents as being a modern essential.
Being easy to assemble, factory produced kitchen furniture has become very common and can be installed very quickly by trained professionals. It is made from very ordinary materials, which reflects in the reasonable pricing. Usually MDF, dowels and furniture glue are the main components. These come together to form the necessary layout around which the fitted kitchen is based. Mass produced kitchen furniture is not only cheap, but due to being packed flat is easy to ship to location.
More pricey than regular fitted kitchen furniture are bespoke kitchens where a designer will tailor every aspect of the kitchen to the customer’s preference. The only down side to this service is the price.
No fitted kitchen is complete these days without a kitchen cart as a supplement to the more rigid design of the fitted units. Such a cart adds a great moveable feature to what is of course a very static thing.
Not every kitchen is able to accommodate one, but a kitchen island is a tremendously good way to enhance the kitchen, add extra worktop space, and add an ad-hoc dining area to boot. Many of these come with a bar area for people to sit at one side and cabinets on the other. Not to mention the benefits that extra worktop space create.
Kitchens are of course an important part of modern life. We have not yet transitioned beyond them in the imaginative ways envisioned in technology of the future shows circa the nineteen fifties, but instead of becoming obsolete, kitchens have become a more important part of our lives.

The Heard Museum – At Home in Phoenix For Over 75 Years

Built in 1929 to house the personal collections of Dwight and Maie Heard, the Heard Museum has been a landmark in Phoenix for over 75 years. Encompassing 130,000 square feet of classrooms, galleries and performance spaces, the Heard is a place where visitors from across the globe come to learn about the region’s Native cultures and art.
A little history: According to the museum’s website, in 1895, Dwight Bancroft Heard and his young bride, Maie Bartlett, moved from Chicago to call Phoenix home, hoping that the dryer climate would help Dwight with various health issues. The warm air definitely had a beneficial effect on this young go-getter, because he soon became one of the largest landowners in the Salt River Valley, and the Bartlett-Heard Land and Cattle Company raised cotton, alfalfa, citrus trees and prize cattle. Later, Dwight became president of the Arizona Cotton Growers’ Association and is widely credited with helping to make the Arizona cotton growers industry competitive internationally. He was also involved in publishing, investment lending and real estate development, and Maie actively founded or supported civic endeavors such as the YWCA, Camp Fire Girls, Boy Scouts and the Woman’s Club of Phoenix.
Maie Heard and other Bartlett family members donated land for the city’s first civic center, which was located at the corner of McDowell Road and Central Avenue. This site is also where the original Phoenix Library and Phoenix Art Museum were located, and is where the Phoenix Art Museum stands today. Nearby, Dwight and Maie built a beautiful 6,000-square-foot house called “Casa Blanca” in what was then considered north Phoenix. Designed around an open courtyard, the home featured Spanish-style architecture and lush landscaping, and in fact, the couple is responsible for the planting of hundreds of palm trees along four miles of roads in Los Olivos, the neighborhood surrounding their home. When you see palm trees around Phoenix, say a silent thanks to Dwight and Maie, because local historians often credit them with introducing the stately trees to Phoenix.
Casa Blanca became quite the social hub of the city, with the Heards hosting a variety of family and friends including Theodore Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, Marshall Field, Harvey S. Firestone and others. Over the years, they enjoyed collecting American Indian Art and began to acquire pieces that they exhibited in their home. As a result of their travels and contacts with trading posts and Indian arts dealers, their collection rapidly grew, and as time went on, it became evident that a space larger than their home should be dedicated to their acquisitions. Thus, the idea for building a museum was born.
Unfortunately, Dwight died of a heart attack several months before The Heard Museum opened in June 1929. Visitors frequently rang a doorbell of Casa Blanca so that Maie could show them the museum, but she didn’t seem to mind as she loved teaching visitors about the Native cultures that were dear to her heart.
After Maie’s death in 1951, the Board of Trustees worked to ensure the museum’s continuation by hiring several staff members and establishing a volunteer Museum Guild. Events featuring Native artists and food were created that still continue to this day, and major expansions occurred at regular intervals, with the most recent adding three new exhibit galleries, bringing to ten the number of galleries at the Heard. “HOME: Native People in the Southwest” is the museum’s 21,000-square-foot signature experience, housing almost 2,000 objects from the permanent collection.

The Home Furniture Buying Guide

When decorating or refurnishing your home, furniture is an often expensive purchase and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. There are several things to consider when buying furniture, besides the usual colors and types of fabric that would work best in your home. You’ll want to decide on a budget, take plenty of measurements of the rooms you are furnishing or replacing furniture in, and do some comparison shopping before deciding on where to spend your money.
Decide on a Budget
It’s always a good idea to have a set budget in mind before actually going to the furniture store or browsing the many sites online. This way you’ll be sure to get everything you need without spending too much on one or two particular items. Also take into consideration how often you’ll be replacing the new furniture, and whether or not the price you are paying now is actually worth the expense.
Plan Before You Shop
Break out the measuring tape and measure not once, but twice to get accurate numbers so you’ll know exactly what will fit where. Be flexible in your design plans so you’re prepared in the event you spot the absolute perfect piece of furniture, but find that it won’t fit in the place you planned on putting it. If possible, having two plans in mind of where you’ll put things definitely opens up more options.
For example, when furnishing a baby’s room, remember that the crib or bassinet will soon be replaced with a bed, so having large pieces of furniture now might work, but will need replaced again before too long. When buying furniture for smaller rooms, or those with little closet or storage space, plan on looking for pieces that do double duty, such as benches that open for storing items, or tables with plenty of drawers. There are also ottomans that serve as extra, hidden storage.
Consider Your Own Personal Style
In addition to the countless colors, fabrics, and patterns available for the home, furniture also comes in a wide array of finishes and types of wood. Some pieces are made from solid wood, while others merely have veneers or wood finishes on the surface designed to resemble wood, which does keep the cost down as opposed to solid pieces, although they aren’t as sturdy and might not last as long as their “real” counterparts.
Besides the type of wood, there are plenty of actual styles and designs of furniture to choose from. Here are just some of the popular styles that are available today:
– Casual
– Contemporary
– Country
– Eclectic
– Formal
– French Modern or Classic
– Modern
– Renaissance
– Retro
– Traditional
– Victorian
Do Your Research
When comparison shopping from home, many furniture stores have web sites that showcase all of their collections and pieces, as well as information about the company, the location of their independent dealers, and their various policies. Some stores may offer free delivery, while others charge for the service but may include set-up or removal of old furniture at no additional charge. The internet is excellent for comparing sales and deals of the numerous manufacturers and dealers, and also offers the perfect way to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth when buying furniture for the home.

Scrapbook Die Cuts and Die Cutting Machines Still Preferred Over Electronic Cutters

If you have been thinking about scrapbooking die cutting machines, you will be pleased to know that those who have taken the dive before you say they will never go back to drawing and cutting out manually. When scrapbooking die-cutting machines came on the market, a whole new dimension was brought to scrapbook pages with die cut templates that come in wonderful themed designs and can be cut with a personal easy to use machine. So if you are not ready to move into the digital revolution quite yet, there are many good scrapbooking die-cut systems available for you to use and affordable too. So although an electronic cutter might sound good and easy, manual die cutters are still preferred and have a large place in today’s scrapbook die cutting market due to the love of the hands on creative process. Sometimes the click of a button just does not cut it.
Scrapbook Die Cuts
Die cuts are shapes used to decorate your scrapbook layouts. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes for your scrapbook needs. The sizes are usually 1 inch to 4 inches in 1/2 inch increments, but this can vary from each supplier. Quickutz tends to provide a wide range of 2×2 inch dies, whereas Spellbinders Paper Arts sells a bit larger die cuts. The great thing about dies is that they can be reused again and again, making them more economical than consumables such as stickers or rub-ons. Die-cuts are an easy way to make your pages standout and look fabulous and are extremely versatile in paper crafting.
Scrapbook Die Cutting Machines
These scrapbooking machines create designs by pressing a shape or die into paper, cutting it into precise shapes or letters. The machines can give you precise cuts on many different sizes and shapes depending on the opening of the die cutter. So before you begin a comparison or ask about comparing machines, you need to ask yourself what is it that your are looking for in a system. Will you be cutting other materials other than paper with your die cut machine such as cork, vellum, felt, chip board, magnet, certain types of metal? Will you be crafting just from home or do you need a portable die cutter? These are just two questions, but I found Die-Cuts.com to be a great resource if you are a beginner and would like to know more about the different scrapbook die-cutting machines and die cuts on the market. Some of the best manual cutting machines available right now, would have to be the Sizzix Big Shot, Provo Craft Cuttlebug, Spellbinders Wizard, and the Quickutz Epic Six. These are all leading brands of machines with similar universal features. All cutting systems listed here will do both cutting and embossing.
Although the electronic cutters sound fantastic, manual die cutters are still very popular and still have preference in today’s’ scrapbooking market. There is no need for the fancy electronic machines, when you can let those creative juices flow with a die cutting machine. These cutting and embossing machines are very simple to use, and much less hassle than tracing and cutting by hand and more creative than the click of a mouse. They are not only for the serious scrapbookers, but for all women who enjoy crafting.

Exotic Home Furniture

Looking beyond the standard home furniture
Some people go for the exotic items such as the alligator lawn ornaments in order to add a different dimension to their home or garden. These are items that we associate with a fearsome creature that is primarily found on the American continent. The creature has been in existence for a significant period of time but we also have the nomenclature dominated by the American language. As the creative spirit of the manufacturers grows they will come up with ideas that challenge our opinions. For example the alligator lawn ornaments represent something that is frightening in real life yet people put it in their gardens where young children play. The imagery that is involved is not meant to frighten but to fascinate and entertain.
The work that goes into the alligator lawn ornaments is based on an understanding of human nature. Often the things that we fear most are the ones that we want to see. That is why young children are taken to the zoo and to watch horror movies. It might seem a bit strange to think of people deriving entertainment from the fear that they experience when they visit these places. The reality is that they are tapping into their deepest recess. The alligator lawn ornaments are just representatives of that fear and yet they are used in a place of entertainment. The contradictions in that arrangement are not lost on the mind but we have to think of it as a short term solution to the problem of decoration.
This article is not meant to go into a deep analysis of the psychological reasons as to why people decide to buy alligator lawn ornaments. From a practical point of view these things look nice in the garden and therefore it makes sense that the general public would want to buy them. Of course for some people they are the height of tastelessness. They would rather be somewhere else than spend their money on the items. It all depends on how the perceive the representations that are made on these items. It is not a problem if you buy some alligator lawn ornaments. However you cannot really expect that some people will not take offence to them.
The garden is supposed to be an area of relaxation in the modern times. People are living such stressful lives that they need a place to relax and the home can give them that place. If it appears that the alligator lawn ornaments improve that living space then they will go on and make the purchase. It is possible to be too grandiose in the way that the garden is decorated. However a few choice items will do no harm. We also tend to indulge our passions when it comes to home decorations. You might have a particular penchant for alligator lawn ornaments. This means that you are in a position to indulge this penchant without worrying about the millions of social conventions that you are breaking.

The Glass Look In Home Furniture

Glass top dining table with chairs can be bought at just about any furniture shop. Home furniture which has this type of dining set turns out to be extremely versatile in function and gives a great look to the overall decor. When glass dining sets or any other home furniture is used in a home they have the unique quality to blend with just about any kind of décor theme that may be there in a particular room.
A black glass dining table and chairs is one such choice that will allow you to have great amount of flexibility. Such home furniture can be a great gift to a person whose house you may not have even seen once. The way they merge in to the existing décor is quite admirable. When you wonder about all the different furniture available in the stores, the upsurge of glass furniture has been comparatively new. Home furniture made from glass reflects the customers’ personality.
A person generally considers several factors before purchasing glass furniture such as its affordability, the capacity it can take, its dimensions (length, width, weight and so on) the level of workmanship of the furniture, its durability and finally its reliability. A person needs to consider buying that particular piece of home furniture only if he or she is convinced of its quality and has accurate understanding about the room in the house that needs that piece of furniture. Glass furniture as a home furniture is usually selected as decorative piece in the house rather that a utility piece. For instance, glass furniture cannot be bought for a study table in study room.
Glass tables are a great add on to the living room or even the dining room, but it can become difficult to maintain in the same neat and clean condition. Few people choose 4 seated dining tables while others choose larger 6 or 8 seated dining tables for the dining section in the house. Maintenance holds great importance with home furniture made in glass.
Tempered glass is a kind of safety glass that is regularly used in home furniture. This is because Tempered glass is better in terms of durability where standard glass can pose a potential danger of breaking in pieces. Tempered glass is 4 to 5 times stronger than the usual glass and does not burst open in to sharp pieces when it breaks or falls. Tempered glass is produced using a process that involves extreme heating and extreme cooling, making it more solidified compared to the normal glass.
The nature of tempered glass is such that it shatters into tiny oval-shaped pebble like shapes when broken. This rules out the possibility of pricking someone. Glass home furniture is a great choice for homes that are bigger. They look more graceful and some colors can also be incorporated in to home furniture made from glass. Glass furniture is also found in a variety of shapes such as oval, round, rectangular and square. Several curved glass furniture is also becoming popular day by day as it enhances the look of the house very naturally.

Interior Wall Design – Three of the Latest Ideas in Wall Trends

When you are in the process of decorating your home the topic of Interior Wall Design will leave many stumped. Walls today no longer have to have a smooth finish with standard paint. Paints and materials are available to perform literal miracles with walls, even covering the most noticeable blemishes. There is no need to hire a professional, just tune up your imagination a little and you will create your own masterpiece. Even better news is that many of these designs can be done on a budget too.
It is pretty easy to look online and see the tons of designs that are available. There are many ideas to help with any interior wall design. Whether you are looking for something like a mural, a decorative wall painting, fabric walls, or wallpaper, it is all available online. There are ways to make small walls look bigger and also ways to liven up a rather plain room. Take your time and look everything over before making a final decision.
· If you have a really big wall that needs some help, examine your options. If you put a painting on it, it will have to be pretty big or the wall will just swallow it up and to get a painting suitable can be quite expensive. You could pretty much go out of budget buying just one painting. Some alternatives that will stay within budget include heading to your local fabric store and buying enough fabric in the colors that you want and need. This can be framed and make quite a nice and affordable way to fancy up any wall.
· Depending on what room you are focusing on you could consider decals. These are used more for kid’s rooms or play rooms but there are many available and made especially for Interior Wall Design. By adding some of these decals to your walls and furniture you can give any room a whole new look. The decals also come in smaller sizes so they can be a great added touch used as accents throughout the room. The other thing that is nice about these is that when you no longer want them, simply peel them off and you will never even be able to tell they were there.
· The worst mistake that anyone can make is to take an empty wall and just start adding things to it to take up space. Rather, find the main focal point and add a grouping, making sure to stay within only that boundary. This gives a much nicer look than scattering things about. Remember this though, hanging bigger items will give a room the effect that it is larger. So, hang something big and then add stuff around it but stay in those boundaries.
There is much to learn and understand about interior wall design. The above tips are a great start in building a foundation to learning the elements and concepts behind interior design.

Oak Furniture – An Excellent Home Furniture That You Should Consider

If you love wood and would like to add an exquisite style in decorating your home, why not opt to obtain oak furniture instead? The good news is that you will be able to obtain such furniture in a very affordable price. At the same time, you will not only bring style to your home but you will definitely benefit from the durability of furniture made from oak wood.
Now, if you intend to use this type of furniture at home to make an investment you will be able to get the right value that is practical with your own budget. The furniture can compliment your garden so you don’t have to focus on just styling indoors but you can also use oak furniture to make your yard or your garden look a little more authentic.
Probably you are wondering why invest on wooden furniture instead? Aside from oak being known for its affordability, one may also look into its other features that can bring advantage for your very own home like for instance its durability and its capability to serve you its purpose for a longer period of time. If you are to purchase furniture for your home, isn’t it that you would like to be able to make use of it at the longest time possible or even last from one generation to another?
You may be thinking if it is more of an advantage for you to choose purchasing furniture made from aluminum and glass because they may come cheaper than that of oak wood but the question here is, how long will you be able to use them and keep them for the next generation of your family members to use?
With oak furniture, you can guarantee yourself that what you will be using to style your premises can withstand wear, tear or even decay. You can also assure yourself that the material the furniture is made from a strong material which have been preserved for years and years. If you are searching for furniture that is worth the money you will spend then you should opt to check out these wooden options. No doubt you will never go out of fashion with wooden furniture.

Home Furniture – What Do You Need to Consider?

Any home isn’t a home until you have personalized it, until you put your unique stamp on your home, it is essentially a box with four walls and a roof. Now that doesn’t sound very enticing or inviting does it? How do you go about choosing home furniture to make your mark and turn your house into a home? There are several routes to take when making your choices of furniture. Much of your choice will come down to a few critical facts such as budget and the size of your home.
The first thing you need to have is time, there is no reason to rush into making your home furniture purchases. In fact if you do rush your choice your likely to end up with pieces your really don’t want to live with. Home furniture is too important to make mistakes with; any mistake could be very costly. In making your selection of furniture you need to consider what your family needs are. If you have very young children at home then that may well dictate some of the items you choose for your home.
Look at the composition of your family, how big should the sofas be to accommodate all of you comfortably? Yes, that cream leather suite may look gorgeous, but how practical will it be if you have children with crayons and pens that could mark it permanently. What about family and friends outside of the home, do you entertain regularly? If you often have dinner parties then essential in your home furniture selection would be a dining table and chairs. If you don’t do diner parties but do have friends round you may need to look at a second reception room rather than a dining room, and that will dictate the furniture you choose.
Examine what you want from your home furniture, do you want cheap, cheerful and virtually disposable or would you prefer solid, long lasting pieces of furniture. Therefore, you need to look at every aspect of your home and family life when you are making your furniture selections. Even if you do want modern furniture that you are likely to change regularly, it’s still worth considering some key pieces of home furniture you can keep in your home. You can mix and match modern with more traditional and give your home a very eclectic feel.
Maybe something to consider is do you have pets? A cat or dog can do untold damage to some home furniture items. Therefore, if you have either of these pets then you need to choose furniture that can take the wear and tear from the animal’s claws, paws and sleeping habits! Cats love to curl up on furniture and if that beautiful sofa has dry clean only covers then it could prove costly to maintain. Dogs do damage with their claws to wood and soft furnishings so that is something you may need to consider when making your choice of home furniture.