- Follow us:
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.
Tags: benefits of using wood, hardwood, hardwood design, hardwood pieces, hardwood species, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, types of hardwood, wood, wood design element, wood elements, wood furniture, wood furniture benefits, wooden, wooden elements, wooden materials
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Monday, September 5th, 2016
1030_Highlands_Dining_Table
No homeowner buys furniture with the wish from the onset that this piece would someday fall apart or wobble after just a year or two. Of course, you also don’t want to have a chair that could turn into your embarrassment by having a guest crash to the floor once it is used. The determination of quality furniture can be tricky yet it would eventually pay to learn how to speak furniture. This all begins with learning the basic furniture categories.
Wood Veneer on Solid Wood
This kind of furniture has become renowned as of late because of the growing scarcity of hardwood. These come with veneers consisting of thin layers of decorative wood. If you are looking for high quality, hardwood furniture, then this isn’t the way to go. The veneer is actually prettier and more expensive wood placed atop a less expensive piece. This is an economical technique used by manufacturers to make furniture pieces that are affordable.
Buying veneer means you have to be extra careful. Feel the edges of the piece then make sure that they are tightly fused onto the subtrate. This is no indication of less quality but that you should just pay more attention to craftsmanship when buying veneer.
Solid Wood
This is a furniture piece that has zero wood fiber or particle board. This is the board milled coming from the tree. Nothing can be more natural than this.
Solid wood could be hard (e.g. walnut) or soft (e.g. fir or pine). More often than not, wood can be refinished and has a long lifespan. It is also possible if you want to keep it as an heirloom. Find wider boards that are matched in color and grain so that you achieve a consistent appearance.
Solid Wood Products
Watch out for this phrase when you are out shopping for the best furniture materials. This could become a trap that could lead you astray if you’re not careful enough. Solid wood product is indicative of particle board or MDF but never solid wood.
Solid Hardwood
This is the most durable wood furniture option. Since it is hardwood, you can be guaranteed that the furniture piece will last for hundreds of years especially when you take good care of it. Maple, cherry and oak are great examples of hardwood. Just run your hand through the surface, it should feel smooth to the touch.
Laminate
This can look like real wood or it could also come in different colors. This is a sturdy surface material that is commonly applied over a fiberboard or particle board. Wood grain laminate is a photo of wood grain applied to the base material before sealing.
Just like when you’re buying veneer, make sure that you check the smoothness of the laminate. It should also be well-attached to the base, if not, this could result in chipping or early wearing and tearing.
Hooker Furniture Bedroom Rhapsody King Tufted Bed
Wood Veneer on Medium-Density Fiberboard or Particle Board
This is less durable than sturdy wood because it is comprised of outer veneer or particle board as covering. This is often engineered so it is stable. It offers the look of wood but just don’t expect too much of it. What this is is just mid-range furniture so you may have it for a few years.
Upholstered Pieces
This is the term used on any kind of furniture with fabric or leather covers. It also has webbing, springs, and/or padding. Find quality pieces that are kiln-dried, hardwood furniture frames. These should be stapled or nailed. Check the joints and make sure that they are tight and well-fit.
Generally, take a very good look as you take a step back. The fabric patterns should be carefully matched. Always look for a consistent finish with zero imperfections.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tips, types of wood furniture, wood, wood design element, wood elements, wood furniture categories, wood furniture types, wooden, wooden furniture
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 17th, 2016
Hooker Furniture Bedroom Treviso Bureau
Wood carving has been around long enough to be considered as old as man. Man has always been fascinated in carving wood. There are records of wooden tools being used by some of the earliest known men.
Wood has been used as a walking stick and even as a club. A rock tied to a wooden stick can already be used as a hammer. Woodcarving probably began as a pastime and so the history of furniture woodcarving was finally born.
Woodcarving – A Glimpse at History
Wood is one of the materials that are guaranteed to withstand the test of time so long as you know how to take care of them. Woodcarvings should be protected if you want them to endure.
When compared with sculptures or stone carvings, woodcarvings need more protection and care. Wood must be protected against insects and the harsh elements. There are regions where conditions are more favorable to furniture with woodcarving. An example of this perfect weather condition is in Egypt.
Wood is plentiful in Egypt. Acacia and Sycamore were both scarcely available there yet the people used them for woodcarving. These two are the most suitable wood that they could use and are even considered sacred. Almost every nation in the world practices woodcarving yet the beauty of preserved carvings were explicitly preserved in Egypt.
The Bible – the most read book in the world – even records woodcarving in many of its accounts.
The Dark Ages recorded woodcarving being both popular and unpopular. European nations confined woodcarving to monasteries. It was believed that the monasteries were the only safe places to practice this work of art.
Barbaric acts have been widely practiced during these times. From 700-900 A.D., the creation of images were forbidden in a few parts of Europe. Such images included paintings and woodcarvings.
Woodcarving was done by artists who copied Roman pagan emblems, symbols and sculptures. Majority of these artists went to other parts of Europe so that they could be employed by monasteries that were looking for craftsmen.
Woodcarving done in monasteries composed of relief carvings found on wooden panels and doors. These were quite similar from one monastery to the next. This only means that the carvers traveled from one monastery to the next as they practiced their trade.
After the Dark Ages, thousands of artists were freed and they began to create more carvings. Woodcarvers were highly influenced by the stone carvings. This was also the case with English carvings though theirs were more on decorative carvings rather than statues. Carvings were also found in Norway and Denmark.
Hundreds of years later, Scandinavian woodcarving artists were also influenced by the stone carvings from England. Visit Old English churches and you would surely find carvings done between 1000-1200 A.D. The carvings were protected from harsh elements which was why they were able to survive to this day.
A lot of wood carvings have been destroyed because of neglect, some intentionally and some by acts against churches and wars. The replacement of old carvings eventually erased what were originally found in those chapels. These improvements now conceal the beauty of the original works.
Centuries have since passed and woodcarvings have undergone a lot of changes. Man is no longer just carving with a single knife but has full access to the best carving tools. While changes have occurred through the centuries, woodcarving hasn’t died. For as long as there is wood, there would always be wood carvings.
Many other records from different nations show how woodcarvings have developed through the years. Look around you; there are also woodcarvings in furniture. Bring home one today!
This lovely piece comes from FFDM’s Belvedere Collection.
Tags: carving, furniture woodcarving, history, history of wood carvings, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, wood, wood elements, woodcarving, woodcarving on furniture, wooden, wooden elements
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
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.
FFDM Vintage Classics Collection
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.
Tags: hardwood, hardwood design, hardwood furniture, hardwood pieces, hardwood species, McCreery's Furnishings, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, softwood, wood, wood carving, wood elements, wood furniture, woodcarving, wooden, wooden elements, wooden furniture
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 27th, 2016
Winners Only Dining Room Cottage Buffet And Hutch (Set Only) DC560BHHB.
Cottage style is one of those designs that fuse refined and rustic; perfection and imperfection; treasures and simple finds; aged and modern furniture. It is a welcoming aesthetic that is both cozy and unpretentious.
More than anything, cottage style is a state of mind rather than a design approach. Cottages are often humble homes but they are full of heart.
Cottage style is casual and comfy, it can also be personal. This is perfect for people from all walks of life. The fabrics used in this interior design theme can be unforgiving. The furnishings are so inviting that what you would want to do is to flop down and just relax.
There is much freedom for personal expression in this kind of style.
Love the Patina
Back in the day, cottage style was pretty much like shabby chic. The term seems stale now but the elements that make cottage style timeless are these – flowing fabrics, light colors, mismatched furniture, faded prints, peeling paint, rumpled fabrics, and the overall vintage beauty.
There is a very thin line between beat up furniture and the distressed ones. Be careful that you don’t cross that fine line. Be sure to balance the weathered pieces with the new ones. The color schemes need to be simple and soft. The furniture must be gracefully aged in a place that is updated. The window treatments and trim are streamlined but the pieces inside your home look elegantly old.
Everything Is Fresh
Cottage colors are clean and soft. If you are to think of a fabric to compare to it, then it is a cotton sheet – nothing can be fresher than that. There should be no shocking or bright colors inside a cottage style home.
Consider mixing ivory and white with cream. You can layer in the pale blues, pinks, washed-out colors, and the light greens. Don’t make the mistake of combining a lot of pastels, though. Use just one or two shades to achieve a cottage look.
If You Have To…
If you really can’t resist using bold colors, then use ‘em, but limit it to smaller furnishings and accessories. Use tone on tone such as the case with the turquoise pillow among some pale blue throws. Put in a chartreuse rug, paint the ceiling with light yellow, and you’re going towards the right direction.
FFDM Brentwood Collection
Defining Femininity
Fabrics have a great power to define cottage style. Use delicate florals, gingham, stripes, and eyelet. The use of linen and burlap, even cotton, is also acceptable. Use vintage-looking fabrics from the dishcloth to the hankies.
As for the quilts, pillows and chair seats, be sure to use sack-like fabrics. The curtains should be sheer so that the room stays breezy.
Do not overdo florals, though. You can mix and match this element but putting too many would render the place too saccharine sweet. Say no to lace also as the place could end up looking like a bridal shop when it is supposed to evoke a cottage feel.
The one thing that shouts cottage is beadboard. It is that grooved paneling which is the constant favorite among designers. This can add warmth and character to any cottage style home as it can make a boring cabinet, wall or ceiling more interesting.
Use the Power of Paint
The paintbrush can liven up any battered wrought-iron bed or table. You can use white paint to brighten dark wood or simply to unify various furniture pieces.
Don’t carry the mismatching too far as it can appear cheap. Painting is fuss-free and affordable.
Old Flooring
The classic cottage cannot be achieved with vinyl or wall-to-wall carpeting. Use rustic materials instead whether the wood you would use is pickled, painted, stained, stenciled or natural. Don’t use elaborate rugs, instead, look for braided cotton.
Tags: cottage design, cottage interior design, cottage interiors, cottage style, McCreery's Furnishings, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, rustic, rustic charm, rustic design, rustic elements, rustic home, rustic interiors, wood, wood elements, wooden, wooden elements, wooden furniture
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Thursday, April 21st, 2016
Whitewashed piece is from FFDM’s Campton Grove Collection
Antique finds and vintage pieces – the distressed, imperfect and cracked finishes, add the sparkling crystal chandeliers, old yet fresh-smelling linens, lots of white – yes, these describe the shabby chic style perfectly. This interior design theme is not for everyone, though. Shabby chic is luxurious yet still comfortable. This thrives in the spirit of seemingly old stuff yet new and clean.
This Style Ain’t Shabby
Don’t ever let the word shabby fool you into embracing the principles of this wonderful theme. It may seem unstructured to look at, at first, but the lack of formal rules is what makes this style timeless. It brings in an effortless sophistication into any home.
Don’t think of flea markets, though, or cheap retail shops or you would be disappointed with what you would find.
Say yes to handicrafts, vintage textiles , and white, distressed furniture. There is no need to search high and low for the best whitewashed furniture pieces, we have everything that you would need to set up your shabby chic home.
Get the look with these simple guidelines –
Universal Furniture Bedroom Storage Bed King 987260SB
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, neutral, neutral design, neutral palette, rustic, rustic charm, rustic home, rustic interior design, rustic interiors, rustic look, rustic style, shabby chic, shabby chic design, shabby chic interior design, shabby chic interiors, shabby chic style, vintage, vintage design, vintage furniture, vintage interior design, vintage interiors, white, white color palette, white color scheme, white furnishings, white interior design, white interiors, wood, wood design element, wood elements, wooden, wooden elements, wooden furniture
Posted in Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 9th, 2016
Scandinavian theme can be used as well in the kids’ bedroom (Winners Only Bedroom Del Mar White Twin Storage Bed BDP1001TS).
What do Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway have in common? All these countries showcase perfect homes. Spaces featuring Scandinavian design are super stylish but not in an ornate kind of way. Also known as the Nordic design, Scandinavian design is all about keeping most design elements subdued. More often than not, such homes sport a stark white backdrop which is the best canvas for anyone’s artistic flair.
Scandinavian Design: A History
Simplicity and function are the foremost design principles for all of Nordic Europe. The homes in these places are airy, bright, and mostly serene. Natural elements are effectively used, with neutral color palettes taking centerstage.
The world had its first glimpse of this style during the 1947 edition of a design exhibit in Milan. Triennale de Milano specifically featured home accessories and glassware coming from the Nordic nations. It was a rage and pretty soon, Canada and the U.S. capitalized on its popularity. The years 1954 through 1957 made Scandinavian design the star of the interior design industry. It was a timely break from the designs enjoyed by Europeans during that time. Europeans generally favored ornate designs and opulent settings. Nordic design changed all these.
Function over embellishments became the new trend.
The design’s popularity declined during the 80s but upped again in the next decade.
Artistica Dining Room Crystal Stone Round Dining Table 373-100.
The Scandinavian Textures
It is important to play with textures when you are designing your home with a bare white environment. The colors can still participate in the whole picture but they should be muted. Rich textures must be seen on the furniture pieces, lamps, the accent rug, textiles, the bed and the couch. The secret is to keep things exciting.
Mix rich textures with a little shimmer or a touch of nature (as simple as a flower arrangement inside the living room will do wonders). A bit of black will also look nice as it will provide a striking contrast to the white background.
Colors can be added one bit at a time. Abstract paintings are a nice addition; they will surely pop in a mainly neutral space.
The flooring does not have to be white, too. If you do not want the flooring to appear sterile or too cold, then you may install wooden flooring. If you love dark colors, then don’t worry. You can still use such colors without making the room look gloomier. Begin with an accent wall then work the rest of the design from there.
Scandinavian Furniture
Wood is a primary feature of many Scandinavian homes. Life in that region of the world has long winters and just a few hours of daylight. Since this is so, people often stayed indoors for a long stretch of the wintry season. Small houses featured wooden furniture pieces that were masterfully crafted by artistic hands.
The Hickory White Living Room Sofa 5104-05 has throws that make a colorful and interesting contrast to the all-white fabric.
Scandinavians love organic materials such as natural wood, metal, leather and natural textiles such as cotton and linen.
Statement pieces such as tables and chairs do not even have to match. You have the leeway to mix and match different pieces to make the dining space look more interesting. Natural materials like oak, suede, leather, linen and cotton comprise many Scandinavian furniture pieces.
Leather furniture is also welcome in a Scandinavian setting since it can effectively add warmth and texture. To complete the elegant look brought about by the wooden and leather furniture, see if you can have a fireplace in your living room. A column fireplace can be used as a focal point in a huge living room or in a family room. More often than not, the fireplace is just a bunch of columns located in a corner of the room.
Tags: leather, leather furniture, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, Nordic design, Nordic interior design, Nordic interiors, Scandinavian design, Scandinavian interior design, Scandinavian interiors, white, white color palette, white furnishings, white in interior design, white interior design, wooden, wooden furniture, wooden materials
Posted in Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Monday, January 11th, 2016
All the wood furniture pieces on this articles come from FFDM’s Vintage Classics Collection
If you have a passion for collecting World War I and post-World War II decor, then you are a vintage connoisseur. Being familiar with this interior design means you have the same taste as your parents or grandparents – and this is not a bad thing at all.
Anything vintage sparks nostalgic feelings, however, this style is not solely for reminiscence. It can offer a lot of style mixtures but, mostly, it is typified through wooden textures.
One surprising thing about vintage interiors is that it is never linear. Decor pieces can be from different places and times. Vintage is primarily about the creation of a comfortable and homey living area. Your creativity will surely be piqued as you find out what constitutes this style.
FFDM Vintage Classics Collection
Furniture – A Major Vintage Element
There are many elements in every vintage interior but the most important is the furniture. Furniture designs vary through cultures and periods. You might not be able to obtain the original period pieces but you can now easily look for pieces with classic designs.
Wood is a major material used in many of the most beautiful chairs, tables, drawers, cabinets, and desks. Come and visit our shop and you will never run out of choices as you set your eyes on various wooden pieces.
This lovely bedside from FFDM will look fabulous inside your vintage-themed bedroom. Bring the same charm to your dining area by investing in a glass-fronted display case, perfect for displaying your collectibles and tableware.
Chairs that are classic in form are welcome, just be sure to focus on your color choice. The goal is to remain muted (in terms of color) with a few flower variations to visually stimulate. Flowers should not be too bright that they already overpower the lovely furniture that you have devoted your time to setting up.
Vintage style is also great with patterned wallpapers and handmade fabrics. If you think these are a little too much for you, then fuse it with other modern appliances, even other designs. Some homeowners have experimented with contemporary laidback interiors and vintage decor and furniture. Wooden furniture may be paired with contemporary appliances, other colors and textures. While you do this, just allow memories and nostalgia to guide you so you get the right inspirations.
A Few Vintage Rules
While you are not limited with regard to your creativity, you must not forget that vintage is anything that looks and feels classic. There are still a few rules that need to be satisfied in order to stay within the bounds of this style –
Materials that you pick will decide the overall tone and mood of the room. Wicker baskets and wooden crates, for instance, would be perfect as storage containers.
Vintage remains to be one of the most admired interior designs in the world because there are simply people who do not appreciate the throw away culture. Mass production is not equal to legacy pieces. If you want to pass down furniture to your descendants, then you have to invest in sturdy, classic pieces.
Again, one can never say amply that you should veer away from anything made of plastic.
Tags: chair, chairs, classic, classic design, classic home, classic interiors, classic style, classicism, guidelines, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tips, vintage, vintage design, vintage furniture, vintage interior design, wood, wooden, wooden elements, wooden furniture, wooden materials
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Follow us on our social media
© McCreery's Home Furnishings | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy
