- Follow us:
Thursday, October 13th, 2016
FFDM Highlands Collection
Shopping for furniture can get tiresome and confusing. There is attractive furniture everywhere but you have to make a serious, contemplative decision before you take the step and begin shopping. Remember that furniture is supposed to last long, meaning, it should be around long enough for you to enjoy, or better yet, for your children and grandchildren to enjoy.
Family heirlooms are not accident pieces. These are intentionally durable and quality pieces that can be kept for heritage’s sake. Your objective in shopping for a would-be heirloom piece is to know what to look for.
Heirloom Must be Handcrafted
From beginning to end, handcrafted pieces are those that have been made solely by hand. These pieces are cut, sanded, fitted, carved, then joined by hand. You might see some flaws because these are handcrafted but these only point to the more desirable unique features that cannot be provided by any machine.
The farthest that you could allow should be woodworker’s glue but for the most of the furniture, these should be joined by equally durable wooden pieces.
Finding handcrafted pieces also means that you find a reputable furniture artisan. Noteworthy furniture designers should catch your attention. They are the ones that can provide the best tables, chairs, beds or lamps that you can hand over to your posterity with pride.
Heirloom Means Quality
There are two kinds of wood that can be used in the creation of quality furniture – softwoods and hardwoods. Common softwood species are pine, cypress, redwood and cedar. Hardwood trees, on the other hand, are cherry, ash, oak, maple, rosewood, poplar, walnut and teak.
Hardwood or softwood offers a different look, feel and hardness. The kind of wood that has been chosen will affect the quality and price of the piece. High quality spells top of the line pieces. The likes of solid Cherry, Oak, Mahogany or Maple are all wonderfully durable which is why these are also some of the most expensive pieces that one could own.
There are also pieces that come in combined woods. An example is when Cherry is used as an exterior piece and underneath it, there is a different kind of wood. When you encounter this kind of combined materials, take a step back and see if you can invest on a more expensive piece instead. Cherry finish is different from solid cherry furniture.
Remember that solid construction is no less than the highest quality of furniture creation. Whether you pick softwood or hardwood, what really counts is having a solid piece. Solid pieces are the most probable heirloom pieces because they are not engineered wood, plywood or particleboards.
Never settle for bargain pieces. Durability and quality come with firm, compact woods so look only for the latter.
Heirloom Means Quality Construction
Fine wood pieces always undergo proper construction. Poor construction undermines even the best of solid wood. Even if there are already technological advancements, the good, old-fashioned way of furniture construction is still considered best especially when you are considering a would-be heirloom piece.
Find joints that are wood-on-wood rather than those with metal or iron brackets. Ask about dovetails or mortise and tenon as these are the strongest joints that furniture manufacturers could use. Fitted joints significantly increase the contact area, hence, the furniture bonding strength becomes more substantial.
Heirloom Spells Superior Finish
Quality finish is essential in protecting your furniture piece and also in bringing out the beauty of the wooden furniture. Finishes provide varying degrees of furniture strength.
High quality finish might take a tad longer to create but they are definitely able to last longer and could provide more protection than other sorts of finishes.
Tags: age-proofing bathrooms, choosing heirloom pieces, fine furniture, furniture finish, heirloom furniture, heirloom pieces, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, quality furniture, shopping for heirloom furniture, tips, vintage, vintage design, vintage furniture, vintage interior design, vintage interiors
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101 | No Comments »
Sunday, March 27th, 2016
Maitland-Smith Bathroom Seahorse Tissue Holder 1253-462
People consider home remodeling as they grow older. When such projects happen, it is crucial to make plans in age-proofing the bathroom. While style and comfort are great factors to make plan for during your younger years, aging brings about a different kind of perspective.
If you are planning on growing old in your current home, then it is wise to have the bathroom renovated in a much more accessible design. Together with kitchens, the bathrooms in your home are some of the wettest, most used areas. These are also the areas where accidents such as falls and slips often happen. With these slip hazards, it then becomes doubly important to take note of safety features that could make a difference.
Here are some ideas that will make any bathroom safe for every age level –
Shower Case Essentials
Installing a shower bench becomes more and more of a necessity as the homeowners begin to grow old. Age-proofing that part of your bathroom means the one who bathes will spend less time in a standing position. This could remove a huge amount of strain on the body, thus, reducing falling and slipping.
Another thing that you would need to install is a double-duty grab bar. This will serve as a bar for you to hold on to as you enter or exit the shower. This will also ensure that you won’t slip as you shampoo your hair or cleanse your body with soap.
Have one installed outside of the shower case and also in every interior wall. This is so an elderly member of the family can easily navigate the whole space.
A grab bar is functional because they can double as a robe or towel rack.
Have an handheld shower head installed. Adjust the height and you’re good; just place it right next to your shower bench and you can already take a bath while seated.
Age-Proofing Means Thinking Ten Times about Glass
While glass doors will effectively open up any bathroom space, they won’t be as functional when you have elderly members in your family or if two retirees are living with no help from younger family members.
Glass is a lot more difficult to maintain and they can easily get streak marks. Since this is so, glass requires more frequent cleanups, something that the elderly won’t be able to do as actively as when they were still young.
Install Good Lighting
Proper illumination can also make a huge difference. Ensuring that the bathroom space is well-lit means having lights that won’t cause strain on your eyes. Proper lighting will also show any wet spot that could be hidden by some shadows.
Choose from recessed, vanity, natural or sconce lighting.
Choose Durable Materials
Another way to age-proof a bathroom is to use porcelain tiles on your walls and any kind of textured tile on your flooring. Porcelain will last a lifetime so there are very little chances that you’d need to replace them. A wet rag can also clean porcelain in just a few minutes so this is the most feasible material to use if you plan to grow old with your partner in your home.
High slip resistance should be the factor that you will consider the most when choosing a material for the bathroom flooring. The rule here is simple, the higher the texture of the tile, the higher also its slip resistance.
These tips are simple ways that you can make the bathrooms in your home a lot safer. It pays to fortify this room in your home while you are yet young. Accidents can happen to anyone at any age so it is best to be prepared.
Tags: age-proofing bathrooms, bathroom safety, guidelines, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tips
Posted in Apartment Living, Bathroom Design, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Follow us on our social media
© McCreery's Home Furnishings | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy
