Through the Years: Picking Potential Heirloom Pieces

Harbor Springs Collection by FFDM presents this would-be heirloom piece, the Port Panel King Bed.

Are you at a stage in your life when you are considering passing on your favorite furniture pieces to your loved ones? But how sure are you that the ones you have now would last enough for your loved ones to enjoy? Picking potential heirloom pieces is not an easy task. There are some things that you need to keep in mind.

Not All Amish

Amish furniture are wonderful heirloom pieces but these are not the only pieces that you can pick from. There are many other styles and pieces that you can choose from, what you just need to do is to know what features to look for.

Wood is one material that is often considered when buying potential heirloom pieces. Each type of wood has its own awesome characteristics. Back in the day, the only types of wood furniture are made from cherry, oak, rustic cherry, white oak and brown maple.

Nowadays, there are so much more. Pick from the different stains and wood types. A formal, classic look means investing in a cherry wood piece with a beautiful cherry stain.

If you’re feeling a little artsy, then go for quarter sawn white oak. Whichever style you would settle for, just make sure that it defines you.

There are two types of solid woods – softwood and hardwood. The former comes from evergreen trees like spruce, pine, cedar, fir and redwood. Those that are made from birch, oak, maple or walnut, even exotic woods such as elm, cherry and rosewood are all categorized as hardwoods.

The latter are more appropriate for cabinetry while softwoods are often used in the creation of fine furniture. If you have to know, the most coveted piece of hardwood furniture is the one that’s made with rosewood. As for softwoods, the furniture would have to be made with cedar.

Timeless Color

If you would like to have an heirloom piece, then see how the pieces you would invest in would match the theme that you have in your home. Check out how well the wall paint would match the furniture pieces that you would choose. Rustic pieces are as timeless as timelessness could get.

Consider Other Materials

Wood is beautiful, no doubt about this, but there are also other materials that can provide the heirloom piece that you need.

Think of glass top tables, ceramic benches, mirrored chests and such. These man-made materials can also make you fall in love. Just check the overall construction of every furniture piece so that it is sure to last for a long time.

Visit Our Showroom

Our craftsmen produced the most beautiful pieces that we would like you to see and feel. These pieces come with the best wood types, construction and finishes. You will surely appreciate the furniture more if you can visually check what you’re about to buy.

Pay attention to the types of wood used, the construction as well as the fabrics. Find which pieces will not dent, rip, or damage easily. Look at the joint construction. Those that were manufactured with nails, glue, or staples are far from sturdy so stay away from such pieces.

Look for dowels or the wooden pegs used as screws between two opposing holes as well as dovetails. Mortise-and-tenon as well as corners must be checked as well.

Take a careful look at the wood composition, then try sitting in a couch or chair. This piece should not squeak.

Commit to Clean

When you’re bent on owning an heirloom piece, then be sure to sign up for proper maintenance – years and years of them. Use a damp cloth in cleaning valuable pieces. Never use silicone-based polishes since these will damage the furniture finish over time.

Tags: heirloom, heirloom furniture, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, potential heirloom, potential heirloom pieces, shopping for heirloom

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 12th, 2017 at 3:55 pm and is filed under Furniture, Interior Design 101. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.