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Web Furniture Retailers Embracing Art Yet Another Reason to Shop Online

2006-02-22T13:34:00.000-08:00

It seems that once again, the virtual world has outperformed the real world. Online furniture retailers are offering canvas transfers and prints from respected artists alongside their furniture.

I have to confess, I am an avid online shopper. Being a New Yorker, there are two elements to the online shopping experience that make it so much better than going to a local retailer. The first, unquestionably, is convenience. Trying to get any item of substance around this town is nearly impossible. Delivery fees charged by New York retailers are notoriously murderous, so that usually removes most items out of the competitive range of what is offered online. Additionally, I often have to travel far to find what I'm looking for, and traveling here can be a nightmare. Many singular online retailers have an exceptional selection of goods that might take several trips to several different merchants here to purchase.

The second element that makes online shopping more feasible is price. Delivery fees aside, most online retailers are not paying for expensive Manhattan real estate. The products they offer are no different in many cases to what is being sold online, and yet I am expected to pay a premium for having it right now. Sorry, but I can wait for a few days to have the exact same (or often a better) item delivered. In fact,Ii can probably pay for the most expensive and fastest delivery method offered and still save money over buying locally.

I recently had a good experience that solidified my position on online shopping. I was recently shopping online for furniture when I noticed that a few of the online retailers were offering prints and canvas transfers alongside their furnishings. These were high quality, framed or un-framed artistic works by recognized artist and the prices were well below what I would be paying here. The selection of artist was incredible, from impressionist masters such as Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh to abstracts from Maitland and Li-Leger. I ended up ordering two prints and one canvas transfer, all framed, in addition to the furniture piece I was originally looking for.

I would have a hard time finding an art selection as nice as the one this online furniture retailer had anywhere in the city, and especially not at a furniture store. They even had a section with the works of new artists.

The bottom line is that as long as online retailers continue to offer superior convenience, pricing and selection, the number of people who shop online will continue to grow. The art I found at my favorite online furniture dealer is just one example of how online shopping is really starting to surpass the local buying experience.

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Hall Cabinets, Benches and Accent Chests Increasing in Popularity

2006-02-22T13:26:00.000-08:00

I remember the 70's very well. Hallways in houses and apartments were almost always decorated the same way. There were two options. Option one was no decoration at all, just barren hallway. Option two was a variation on the theme of family pictures cascading down a staircase wall in a forty-five degree line. You remember those houses, don't you? Like me, you may have even lived in one. A hallway, entry way or foyer decorated with family pictures. Wow, doesn't that take me back...

Nowadays, thankfully, family pictures are framed and sitting on tables in the "family room" or hanging on the walls in this most comfortable of family sanctuaries. No longer do people feel the need to assault visitors and guest with the grimacing mug of Uncle Charley as soon as they enter the house. The welcome replacements to family pictures have been hall cabinets, benches and accent chests.

Hall cabinets, benches and accent chests, whether alone or with a picture or mirror above, are an excellent way to decorate entry ways, foyers and hallways. From Bombay chest beauties to settees and chaise lounges, more people are starting to realize that having one piece of furniture in areas such as these makes a tasteful statement about a home's overall decor. Pieces such as these can set the mood for visitors and guests and often are a telling mark of the style and preferences of the owners. I have an accent chest in my home that sits in a smaller hallway connecting two rooms and a gorgeous, hand painted three door cabinet in my entryway, above which I have placed a framed print. I have had more compliments on these two pieces than any other, although I have been complimented on my overall style many times. Since these pieces are often the first that people see, the warming effects they lend to an area is especially appreciated.

Isn't it time you took that 8x10 of the most recent family reunion and placed something a little more elegant in your entryway? Pick put something that reflects your individual style and tastes, and put that picture somewhere where it will be seen often by those who can truly appreciate it.

To purchase a furniture visit http://www.ezbuyfurniture.com

To learn more about other types of furniture visit http://homeandofficefurniture.blogspot.com/

Bunk Bed Basics

2006-01-10T05:43:00.000-08:00

floor space of a shared room. There are now bunk beds available with storage drawers, roll out mattresses and even some that double as desks and workstations. All the additional amenities that bunk beds now offer are certainly something to be considered, but nothing is more important when purchasing a bunk bed than safety. Know what to look for and you will get a great looking bunk bed that serves its purpose. There are certain things an educated consumer should know to look out for, and it also goes without saying that not all bunk beds are created equal. There are several manufacturers of bunk beds who make quality furniture pieces, and armed with a little knowledge, you can purchase the right bed for your children.

All bunk beds should have rails for the top bunk. Without question, the number one cause of bunk bed related injuries stems from children falling out of the top bunk. A quality bunk bed will never lack rails for a bed so high off the floor. Additionally, parents should always make sure the rails are tight and secure after the bunk bed has been purchased or assembled.

Ladder placement is important. Ladders will either be on the sides or front of the bed. A good rule of thumb to follow is that bunk beds with four feet or four posts touching the ground should have the ladder in front, meaning on the long side of the bed that usually faces out from the wall (provided the bed is set against a wall). You should only see ladders on the short "ends" of the bunk bed if the bed has a solid foundation on both ends, meaning wood or metal all the way across the end that touches the floor. The reason for this is that front side ladders are at an angle while end ladders are straight up and down. If your child slips on a front sided ladder, which is always angled, he or she will not fall straight down, eliminating the possibility of landing on the bottom bunk rails or getting an appendage caught in the bed. This can happen with a verticle ladder, which is why they should only be placed on the ends of beds, preferably with "walled" or "semi-walled" ends that go all the way to the floor. This will prevent your child from getting an appendage caught on the bed should he or she fall on a verticle ladder.

Bunk bed construction, as one might imagine, is also very important. Wood has substantially less compression strength than metal, so while wooden bunk beds are certainly fine, be wary of those that don't weigh much more than their metal counterparts. Wood bunk beds are just as good as metal bunk beds, but should weigh considerably more.

Being an educated consumer will allow you to get the bunk bed you want while making sure that your children's safety needs are met.

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Game Tables have Come A Long Way

2006-01-10T05:29:00.000-08:00

When I was young, my family had a game table in our basement that my siblings and I all enjoyed. We played chess and checkers just about every night to amuse ourselves and I can still recall many fond memories of conversations we had while seated around that table. My mother would always want us to play upstairs where she could keep a better eye on us, but that would have meant bringing the game table upstairs as well. Unfortunately, that wasn't a possibility. You see, our game table was perfect for games, but horrible as a piece of furniture. Ugly doesn't begin to describe the aesthetics of our table. It wasn't that it once looked good and years of use had worn it unevenly. In fact, because we loved the table so much, we took great care of it. This table was never attractive to begin with, as gaming was its primary function. Luckily, things have changed.

I recently decided to buy a game table for my young brood. I was pleasantly surprised to find several gaming tables that were as elegant as even the nicest pieces in our home but that still retained a high level of functionality as a gaming device. From marble topped game tables to wood and veneer tables that hid the game board, the choices were almost endless. I found so many that I liked that I had a legitimately hard time choosing. We have four antique Moller chairs in Danish modern design that I wanted to use with the table, so that enabled me to narrow it down to a few choices. I have always liked the look of pedestal tables, so that further narrowed the field to two at the online furniture dealer I ended up buying from. I still couldn't decide, so I called in the experts (my children), and they unanimously voted between the two I had chosen. My wife and I are thrilled because we now have a beautiful piece of furniture that looks perfect in our family room and also helps keep the family together in one place. Our house doesn't have a basement, though we wouldn't even think of putting our game table anywhere but where it is even if we did.

I wonder what my mom would think of that.

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Bunk Beds Change, People Don't

2005-12-30T16:47:00.000-08:00

I remember vividly the day my family moved from Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Chicago. I was all of ten years old and like any child would be, excited to see the city. My father had received a promotion at the bank he had worked at since well before I was born and we were now leaving the relative comfort of our home for an apartment on Michigan Avenue. Driving into the city was almost surreal, and although sullen over leaving my friends behind, I was enthralled with the possibility of great opportunities that lay ahead. All the wonder and amazement I was experiencing after having traveled through the concrete canyons of the Windy City was soon overshadowed by the news that my father decided to impart to me the moment we entered our new domicile. I would be sharing a room with my younger brother.

I recall the feeling one might have if a death sentence were handed down to him over some petty offense. The fact that they wanted me, a sophisticated young lad who was sure than manhood was only weeks away (and had been for years), to share my personal space with this unworldly little snot-nosed brat was unbearable. Looking back, I now have a great appreciation for sharing a room with my brother and what I learned from the experience, but at the time, I would have preferred a root canal. Although we rarely got along, it didn't take long to get used to the situation. Still, I never got used to sleeping on our bunk bed. Of course, we fought tooth and nail over who would get the top bunk. Once I established dominance, I was free to climb the small metal ladder to my throne on high and become master of all I surveyed in my miniature kingdom below. Unfortunately, my throne left much comfort to be desired, and I was told on more than one occasion that my brother wasn't too happy with his vassel's parcel either. Although the bed was new, it creaked and swayed with the slightest movement and had mattresses that I was certain were made of stone. I became resigned to life with my brother, but neither of us could reconcile with that awful bed. To give you an idea of just how poorly constructed bunk beds were at that time, I left home (and the bunk bed) to join the military at eighteen and on my first night of basic training, felt that I was sleeping in the Lincoln Bedroom at the White House.

It's now a lifetime later and I have two boys of my own. My wife and I recently had a new addition, and she has taken one of their rooms, leaving them with one to share. Recalling with no particular fondness my bed of the past, I set out to find a bunk bed that would at least allow the boys some comfort during sleep. I was pleasantly surprised to find a manufacturer who makes nice beds that actually sleep like a bed should. When searching, I found beds that have storage, full sized mattresses and are solid and sturdy. After careful consideration, I purchased a nice model and brought it home. The minute I had it set up, the age old struggle for top bunk began and I stood there with a grin on my face while my sons argued over who would be king of the hill. While that matter has been settled, they still don't always get along. They do, however, get a good nights sleep. I'm glad bunk beds have changed, because boys haven't.

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My Jewelery Armoire

2005-12-24T08:13:00.000-08:00

The older I get, the harder I find it to throw things away. By far, clothes are the most difficult for me to get rid of as I keep thinking that I will have occasion to wear again what hasn't been worn in years. Despite my reluctance, I decided to go through my wardrobe and donate anything I hadn't put on in over a year. It wasn't easy to let go of some things, especially when I remembered how much I had paid for them and how little they had been used. After several hours, my closet was clean and my dresser drawers were all organized, save for one.

The drawer in question was one that held a lifetime worth of gifts from my husband, friends and family in the form of jewelery. I had accumulated enough that I started putting them in one of the top drawers of my dresser, which was starting to look like a pirates treasure chest. Not only did I store my jewelery away, I rarely wore it anymore as digging through that drawer for the right piece seemed more trouble than it was worth. I decided I needed to do something about that as well.

My first thought was to get a jewelery box (or three) to hold all his stuff. At least it would be out of the drawer and in a more appropriate place. I wasn't crazy about that idea so I asked a friend if she had any ideas. She suggested a jewelery armoire.

Thinking this seemed like a nice solution to my problem, I looked around online and found one that could hold all my jewelery and matched my existing bedroom furniture. It arrived on a Friday and I began what I thought would be the arduous task of organizing my jewelery. As it turns out, I had a lot of fun going through all the pieces and the memories that went with them. More importantly, the armoire displayed my jewelery beautifully, and I found myself taking great care to place each necklace, ring, earring and bracelet. I was very happy with my purchase, but the jewelery armoire did something even better for me. The following Monday before leaving for work, I remembered a pair of earrings I had placed in the armoire and decided to put them on. I hadn't worn earrings to work (or anywhere, for that matter) in quite a long time. That day, I received several compliments about my earrings. The next day, I found myself going back to the armoire to accessorize again.

It has now been several months since I purchased my jewelery armoire and picking out jewelery to wear has become a daily occurrence. I really enjoy having all my pieces on display to choose from and wearing my jewelery again has caused me to take a little more pride in my appearance. I am very happy that I can now appreciate and make use of my collection instead of banishing it to a dresser drawer. Sufficed to say, my jewelery armoire has made putting on jewelery fun again.

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