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Tuesday, September 6th, 2016
Hooker Furniture Home Office Ball Claw Desk 434-10-158 has a delicious wooden color that will surely invite attention.
There’s plenty of wood on the planet. It is warm, cozy, it is strong and durable, it can even last for hundreds if not thousands of years. Wood has many uses including the building of bridges, manufacturing paper, or heating homes. This is one of the most versatile materials in the world with thousands of practical uses. But what do you think makes wood great?
What Is Wood?
Wood is grown in trees. If you could take a part of the tree and peel off the bark, you would immediately realize that there are two kinds of woods. The first, closest to the edge, is a light, moist layer referred to as sapwood. This is filled with tubes referred to as the xylem.
Deeper and darker into the tree is what’s known as the heartwood. This, in essence, is already dead because the xylem tubes were blocked with gums or resins.
At the sapwood’s outer edge is a thin layer known as the cambium. This is where the tree grows outward to form those annual rings which can tell you how old the tree is. If you take the time to cut the trunk vertically, you would get into the grain. There are also occasional ovals that interrupt the grains. These are the knots. Knots are unique and attractive parts of the wood but they tend to weaken the structure.
Is It Hardwood or Softwood?
There are two distinct kinds of wood – hardwoods and softwoods. While the names may convey hardness or softness, these don’t always refer to the sturdiness or suppleness of the wood. Hardwoods are woods that come from deciduous trees (those that have broad leaves). Examples of hardwood are birch, beech, ash, maple, teak, oak, mahogany and walnut.
Softwoods, on the other hand, come from coniferous trees (those that have cones and needles). Examples are cypress, cedar, pine, fir, redwood and spruce.
Generally, though, hardwoods are harder when compared to softwoods. One of the most famous exceptions is the Balsa wood which is classified as a hardwood but is actually soft.
Hardwoods come with beautiful grains which is why they are often used in manufacturing fine furniture. Decorative woodwork also looks great when done with hardwood. Softwoods are most suitable for construction work (e.g. poles and planks) because they are tall and straight.
Wood’s Chemical Composition
If you can take a look at some freshly cut wood right under a microscope, you will see that it – just like any other plant – is composed of many cells. These cells are made up of three substances namely cellulose, hemi cellulose and lignin.
There are literally hundreds of wood species so it is difficult to make a general adjective that would describe the word wood. See, oak is different from balsa in so many ways. Physically, wood is stiff and strong but if you compare it to steel, it is, of course, flexible and light. Still compared to plastic, metal and ceramic, woods have a unique isotropic inner structure.
Wood Is Durable
One of the greatest things about wood is that it can last for a very long time. This is why wooden structures made thousands of years ago are still being unearthed by archeologists. This means that wood can easily outlast the person who invested in it.
Wood can rot when forces of nature get a hold of it. Organisms like insects and fungi can also nibble at the cellulose and lignin. If you want your wood furniture to last, make sure that you know how to care for it. Ask your furniture retailer about cleaning solutions that could help you maintain your furniture’s beauty.
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Thursday, June 30th, 2016
Universal Furniture Dining Room Uph Back Side Chair 016638-RTA elegantly fuses walnut, leather and fabric.
Do you agree that the furnishings you choose have a lot more impact compared to the accessories, textiles, window treatments and other interior design elements? Your furniture literally make or break the look that you have set up for your home. This is why one of the biggest decisions that you will be making is to find the right kind of furniture for your home.
There are many important features that call for a homeowner’s attention. And since furniture is especially important, you have to determine how durable it is, what makes it visually appealing, and what material it is actually made from.
When searching for long-lasting and beautiful furniture, there are but a few materials that you can trust. One of such materials is the walnut.
Most traditional furniture pieces are built using walnut. It is an excellent choice because it is a durable hardwood which can retain a beautiful finish for many, many years. This has also been part of many iconic designs in furniture history. There is no question as to why it is one of the most favored materials that are used in manufacturing furniture.
For many generations, walnut has been used by interior designers and master artisans. The only question left to ask now is this – which walnut furniture is right for you?
Walnut Is Hardwood
Walnut is a tree that loses its leaves during autumn and winter. The two most common walnut types used are black and English walnut. The cut wood has a grain that is often straight though it can become wavy the closer you get to the roots.
Walnut color can dramatically alter from light to dark brown. The middle part of the tree is able to produce dark wood while the outer layer produces the lighter colored wood.
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Choose Walnut
Walnut is durable and hard so it carves well. It can also hold its shape for many years. This is one of the best choices for ornate furniture requiring intricate woodworks. The headboard or mantelpiece would look great if carved in walnut.
Walnut furniture can easily become heirloom pieces. All that you need to do is to care for them properly.
Know What to Look For
Walnut comes with straight grain that will be beautifully accentuated by a coat of urethane. Be careful with stains, though, as they can make the beautiful grain less noticeable.
The finish that you choose is all a matter of taste. Wood furniture that comes with burly or wavy grains can be easily covered with walnut veneer if you want to make the appearance improve. Walnut furniture can also be covered with walnut veneer.
Solid walnut furniture naturally costs more. Decide whether appearance is more important for you than material or construction.
Restore or Discard?
Looking for ways to restore any walnut furniture that you might already have is wonderful idea. This is good way to revitalize the furniture piece. Restoration frightens a lot of people but it shouldn’t since the process is quite simple.
The easiest way to restore or fortify the look of walnut furniture is to merely reapply the wood’s existing finish.
Clean finishes are shellacs, lacquers and varnishes. Apply just a small amount of denatured alcohol to a small section of the finish and you should be able to determine what finish was used. Shellac is absorbed by denatured alcohol while varnish and lacquer tend to stay.
Natural wood finish comes with oils or waxes. They are rougher to your touch and do not have a glossy look. Natural finishes can be reapplied to restore the beauty of walnut. If the surface is damaged, though, the furniture piece might already require resurfacing.
If all else fails, it is best to invest in new walnut furniture.
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Saturday, April 30th, 2016
Fine Furniture Design Bedroom Riesling Double Dresser 320-142
Wood carvings are a natural part of many traditional homes. There are different kinds of wood carving, though. This can be anything from relief, chip, letter, to carving in the round.
Carving can only be done with the use of tools such as chisel, knives, mallets and gouges. Carving the round can be accomplished with the use of files and rasps.
Gouges come in different shapes and width. Short and long handles are also available.
Woodcarving History
If you love the look of carved wood in your home, then you should be prepared to learn about its rich history. This craft has been around for the longest time. For as long as man existed, wood has always been there in one form or another so there is no way of dating when woodcarving actually began. If you believe in the Bible, then it is probable that Adam could be the first woodcarver.
The Bible mentioned woodcarving in the Exodus, Chapter 35. The Dark Ages showed the ups and down of this work of art. European woodcarvers were mostly monks as this art was confined to the monasteries back in the day.
Wood is not one of those materials that can withstand elements for many years. This is why woodcarvings must be protected if you want them to endure. Unlike the stone carvings that can stay the same for thousands of years, woodcarving cannot withstand harsh conditions. Between insects and weather elements, woodcarvings should be protected in order for them to last.
Egypt is a rare country that offers favorable conditions for woodcarvings. In there, wood is able to survive for many years even minus the usual care.
Egyptian climate preserved 11 wooden panels under sands for approximately 4,000 years. It was only in 1860 when these were unearthed once more. Called relief carvings, these woodcarvings were found in Pharaon Hesy-Ra’s tomb.
The oldest churches in England feature decorative carvings to this day.
If you want your woodcarvings to last through time, you need to learn to take care of them. Woods come in different types so you need to know their individual characteristics so you would know how to keep them from being damaged.
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Softwoods vs. Hardwoods
The most common softwoods used in woodcarving are – basswood, cottonwood, and butternut. As for the hardwoods, the raw materials most often used are – walnut, mahogany, teak, rosewood and maple.
Basswood comes with little grain patterns that often appear bland which is why they are painted over. This is related to the European lime but the best basswood for carving comes from the northern states of Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Cottonwood’s bark is popular among those who carve wooden spirits. It has a tendency to split, though, but it is pretty when unpainted.
Butternut is quite difficult to find but it has a beautiful grain and color.
Walnut is a hardwood that is difficult to carve with the use of hand tools. The sharpest tools and a mallet are often used to produce the most beautiful carvings.
Mahogany, on the other hand, is reddish, lightweight and has a straight grain. This can be easily worked with power or hand tools though it has a tendency to split.
Woodcarvers who are just starting should seek out other raw materials first. He can only progress to harder pieces of wood once he experiences success in his first few carvings. Not all carvers show progress right away. Some slink away because of the lack of progress in their work. The wood that they are using could be too hard or too soft that they split.
Since woodcarving is difficult, you should have more appreciation for the master artisans that offer their skills in creating the furnishings that you have in your home.
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Thursday, January 28th, 2016
Biltmore desk from FFDM. It may be traditionally classy but it also comes with modern features to accommodate your gadget needs.
There is reason behind the liking for hardwood furniture among sophisticated homeowners. This kind of furniture can provide a different level of appeal in any home. While both softwood and hardwood materials are great for furniture creation, there are benefits and disadvantages for both.
Hardwoods come from angiosperm trees which produce covered seeds. This is a sturdy material that has been used for centuries in the manufacture of furniture and flooring, too. It is heavier, harder and classic looking when compared to many kinds of softwoods.
One of the best examples of a hardwood is the good, ol’ reliable oak. Oakwood is super solid and has been used in manufacturing heirloom furniture pieces. Oakwood bedroom furniture sets look elegant and will surely leave a lasting impression with anyone.
There are many styles of hardwood furniture that can be found in the market these days. If you want to use a classic, contemporary, traditional, periodic or rustic theme, then this is the material to acquire. All hardwoods are solid and long-lasting.
Biltmore pieces come with durable and beautiful hardwoods that will make your home stand out.
Hardwood Furniture Advantages
It may be tempting at times to just choose furniture made with inferior materials since they are cheaper. But that is all that they are – inferior. You will, eventually, spend more as you buy a replacement for the low quality furniture which you settled for.
So, to save yourself a lot of money and energy, even time, consider buying hardwood furniture in the first place. Hardwood furniture is an investment that can give you a lot of benefits. First on this list is its natural beauty.
Mahogany, oak, mango and acacia are all naturally beautiful. They automatically up the level of warmth and coziness in your home. Genuine pieces of hardwood furniture are not difficult to spot. Just run your hand through the surface of the wood and you would know that you are touching the right thing.
Another benefit that comes with hardwood furniture is its sturdiness. Invest in quality oak or mahogany furniture and this will surely become an antique years from now. Hardwood even improves with age and is even built to outlast the owners. This means that hardwood furniture is the perfect kind of heirloom piece that you can pass on to your posterity.
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Toughness also comes with all the other benefits of hardwood furniture. Of course, you already know that buying cheap flat-pack pieces can be easily damaged by children and pets. Traditional woods can withstand scratches and even bigger problems. They are repairable and can be polished to look new all the time – this you cannot expect with cheap furniture.
The classification of wood as to its hardness or softness comes down to its physical characteristics. While it is generally true that hardwoods are harder than softwoods, there are also exceptions like in the case of yew. This is classified as softwood yet it is relatively hard. Balsa, on the other hand, is a type of wood that is much softer than most softwood.
Hardwood vs. Softwood
Most hardwoods are used in the creation of sturdy desks, cabinets, flooring materials, and decks. Softwood is used in some building components although most are used in paper manufacturing and the creation of medium-density fiberboards.
Hardwood furniture pieces are also easy to clean. To maintain, all you would need is daily dusting and an occasional application of polish or cleaning with mild detergent.
Choosing hardwood furniture that can live for hundreds of years means investing in the toughest and densest materials; you will never be wrong to select hardwood furniture. It won’t just last for years, it is also stunning and classy, one that would elevate the way people see you.
Hooker Furniture Dining Room Vintage West 54in Round Dining Table with 20in leaf is hardwood furniture made with hardwood solids, resin, decorative nails and aluminum. This traditional dark wood comes with a dark charcoal finish, unsurpassed quality, and solid frame. This lovely piece will never contract or expand during extreme weather changes.
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