Furniture stores are chock full of “hand made” and “American Made” goods. The spirited “Buy American” campaign has always been apart of the American retail market, spurring US shoppers to support the economy and their neighbors.

Due to a variety of patriotic issues in the past decade, the authenticity of “American-Made” claims were rarely questioned. However, that was before the cribs started breaking.

A Revelation in a Recall

The American furniture industry, along with the National Consumer Safety Commission, set rules and guidelines for manufacturing safe furniture products. Unfortunately, these are rules that other nations tend to forgo. Usually, costs and time constraints prevent routine checks and safety measures. This leads to shortcuts in manufacturing and eventually an injury or (God forbid) death from use of that product. It also reveals that the furniture pieces were not truly made in the U.S.

The Year the Cribs Started Breaking

The large crib recall of 2009 is an example of how the safety issues can lead to the unimaginable. A number of deaths resulted in a large-scale recall of the baby furniture. More than one U.S. company imported and sold cribs that were not made to our nation’s furniture industry standards. One problem was a gap between the mattress and the wooden rail on the side of the crib. It was large enough to injure the infant.

Crumbling Slats

The slats themselves were also an issue. They were made from materials that could not withstand the daily crib use. Many of the cribs suffered broken slats, another hazard for small children.

The slats on many of the cribs were also too far apart to meet the furniture industry standards. The baby could get his head through the gap and have severe difficulty getting out. The subsequent crib recall revealed that the cribs were really manufactured in China, contrary to what their advertisers would have you believe. These cribs, like many other recalled furniture pieces before them, came from a nation that did not adhere to the same set of furniture-making standards and regulations as all U.S. furniture companies would have.

Truly American Made

A true American Made product is manufactured here in the U.S., using materials from American farms, forests, rivers and other natural resources. The true companies also adhere to standards that have consumer safety and product quality in mind. Family owned businesses like Amish Tables, LLC augment each new standard to the workmanship that the company has used for decades. The result is a truly American Made, safe, and gorgeous crib for your baby.

The furniture trends for this year have arrived.  They tend to basic variations of 2009 trends. For example, the trend in family sofas for 2009 was brightly colored pillows and throw with neutral sofa. This year, the couches are brightly colored with neutral pillows and throws.

Trying to keep up with yearly trend changes can get expensive. It could also leave you with uncomfortable, useless furniture and unattractive pieces that are too fragile to have around children. Fortunately, there are other ways to keep up with the trend without breaking the bank, sacrificing comfort, or relegating the kids to their bedrooms until next year’s trend.

5 Ways to Go Trendy while Staying Family Friendly

1. Durability – You should begin any redecoration with quality furniture that can serve the family, and withstand it. Also look for storage — the necessity in family furniture. AmishFurnitureHome.com’s vast inventory of furniture provides tons of extra storage with additional (sometimes hidden) spaces. Amish craftsman build with sturdy woods, which are perfect for family use.
2. Slipcovers – This handy fashion accessory is your friend when trying to chase the trends. They can change the look of a sofa, loveseat, and even dining room chairs. Slipcovers are a fraction of the price of a new piece and they come in all colors and patterns. The slipcovers can be long or short, made of spandex, cotton, or fabric blends. You can easily argue that the best quality of the slipcovers is their durability. Spills are inevitable so why not make the cleanup easier?  Simply pull the cover off the furniture and toss it in the wash. Change them as often as you like without breaking the bank.
3. Pull the shades. A lampshade is another fix for a room. Change it as much as the slipcovers because they are similar in variety and pricing. The decorating possibilities are endless.
4. Stained Wood – Put a little hard work into the decorating by stripping and staining or reupholstering your furniture pieces. Stains can change the look in a matter of hours. Upholstery works in the same way. All it takes is the price of the stain, upholstery nails, fabric, and tools.
5. Covers – Cover up your table, cabinet and buffet tops for a different look. Take a trendy pattern and make it into a runner, tablecloth, throw or mat for a vase, decorative basket, candles or any other accessory. This is better than buying new furniture for a different look.

The Trendy Family Rooms

A family doesn’t have to relegate you to scuffed, scarred, mis-matched or damaged furniture. Pick your furniture today, knowing that, even on a whim, your family room could be transformed into Trendy, without losing the comfort and family friendly atmosphere.

Amish Furniture Home is excited to announce a new feature coming soon to our blog – on the third Wednesday of every month, we’ll be posting the Amish Furniture Home Interior Design & Decor Blog Carnival!

What’s a Blog Carnival?

A blog carnival is a type of blog event that is easily compared to print magazines (thanks Wikipedia!).  They’re published according to a regular schedule and revolve around a central topic with content coming from multiple sources.

Blog carnivals are a fun way for bloggers to provide their readers regular collections of recently published, high quality resources. With these blog carnivals, web communities can begin a discussion and get a high standard of information on a certain niche.

In addition to AFH’s carnival, you can find a wide range of carnivals, or even start your own, at BlogCarnival.

The Amish Furniture Home Carnival

Our Carnival will be posted every third Wednesday of the month.

If you’d like to submit your post for inclusion, entries will be due by the Sunday preceding the third Wednesday of each month. That means that submissions for next month are due by Sunday, February 14 (Happy Valentines Day!), with the first carnival going up on Wednesday, February 17.

Submissions can made in one of two ways:

1. Complete the form on our BlogCarnival page
2. Contact us directly at @amishhome on Twitter with the URL, title and a brief description of your post

Please only submit posts that fall within the following topics:

• Interior Design
• Amish Furniture
• Green Furniture
• Sustainable Living
• Bringing the Family Together
• Ann Arbor
• Michigan Furniture

The articles we accept will be rewarded with a do-follow link from our blog and will have the honor of being included with some of the best content on the net.

Please limit your submissions to two posts per month.

Thanks for reading and we look forward to your posts! Let’s have some fun, it’s a carnival after all!

A new decade brings a fresh outlook for Amish Tables here in Ann Arbor, MI. It’s been a year since we opened our showroom on Ann Arbor’s west side…and what a year’s it’s been. We’ve persevered through the economic difficulties and are committed to serving our community better. With that goal in mind, we have moved into a renovated public showroom, tripling our old space!

Feel the Quality

We have been servicing most of our customers through our family websites (AmishTables.com & Amish-Furniture-Home.com) over the past few years, but the showroom has bolstered our hometown affiliation. Customers are now able to feel the handcrafted, heirloom quality that characterizes Amish furniture. As you can see from the picture to the right, our showroom is perfect for hands-on testing.

The ability to experience Amish pieces in person is something we are very happy to provide store visitors. All the testimonials in the world can’t replicate the comfort of laying on one of our beds or sitting in our rocking chairs.

Open House: January 28!

As we kick off this new adventure, we invite you to join us in the official opening this Thursday, January 28. We’re holding an open house from 11:00am-7:00pm. All guests will take home a 5% discount coupon and a complimentary coffee mug. If free gifts and light refreshments aren’t enough to bring you in, how about a drawing for a gift of over $500?! It should be a great day and we look forward to a new era of Amish Tables in Ann Arbor, MI.M

In the News!

Amish Tables was in the news recently. Check out this wonderful article by Angela Smith of Ann Arbor.com: Amish Tables Celebrates Expanded Ann Arbor Showroom.

The green movement has taken over the furniture industry. It has come with a few misconceptions about what green furniture actually is. Most people are surprised to learn that green furniture can be made of wood. Sure, there is the recycled material made from bottles and cans. For those who love the look of real wood, there are two options: reclaimed or sustainable wood.

What is Reclaimed Wood?

Reclaimed wood is lumber from an existing structure that is made into a piece of furniture. This makes reclaimed wood a recycled product.  Any wood that is sturdy, but no longer needed in its original structure can be reclaimed. Many people love the character that the wood has, with its nail holes, nicks, and scuffs collected over time. Theses features are often the most charming and appealing to customers.  The eco-friendly quality is just a plus.

The Sustainable Wood Option

Another green, real wood furniture choice is sustainable wood. When loggers chop down trees for sustainable wood they plant more trees in its place.  This ensures that the forest will continue to thrive long after the loggers leave. Sustainable wood is also harvested using methods that are both eco-friendly and that will promote future tree growth.

You’ll know your furniture was made from sustainable wood with a certification of verification.  A certificate verifying that the wood was harvested in a sustainable manner accompanies the furniture.

Eco-Friendly Materials

In addition to real wood, eco-friendly furniture must be manufactured with green materials. This means:

• No petroleum based upholstery
• Use of non-toxic glue
• Finishing with water based paint or stain.

Come Back to Wood

Now you know that going green doesn’t mean giving up the durable handcrafted furniture that you love. Buying reclaimed or sustainable woods made of eco-friendly materials is a way to reduce your carbon footprint on the earth, while also remaining comfortable and fashionable.

The revolution has begun.  Organizations across the United States are encouraging their communities to “Think Local”.  As we heard numerous times in the past year, the economic recovery will come on Main Street, not Wall Street.  As such, local business leaders have taken up the banner in support of their locally-owned, independent businesses.  Many small, urban centers, such as those in Washtenaw County are dedicated to strengthening their local economy.

Think Local First – Washtenaw County

Our local advocate group is called, “Think Local First” and operates out of Ann Arbor, MI.  As the group tells us on their website, “Our mission is to support and cultivate locally-owned, independent businesses in Washtenaw County, Michigan that are committed to making our community a healthier and more vibrant place to live”.  Grand Rapids is also fortunate enough to be involved with a locally-sustainable organization called Local First Grand Rapids.  Given the state of Michigan’s marketplace, buying local has never been more important to a self-sustaining economy.

Local Purchases Are an Investment

The Stats

For those looking for reasons to shrug online purchases, we highly recommend Michael H.Shuman’s book Going Local. According to his calculations, when you spend $100 at local businesses, $73 stays within the local economy. Compare that to the $43 that remains if the original $100 is spent with a national chain and you see how quickly a vibrant community like Ann Arbor can become unstable.

Does It Help?

The Andersonville Study of Retail Economics produced by the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce concluded 4 critical points in 2004:

1. Local merchants generate substantially greater economic impact than chain firms.
2. Replacement of local businesses with chains will reduce the overall vigor of the local economy.
3. Changes in consumer spending habits can generate substantial local economic impact.
4. Great care must be taken to ensure that public policy decisions do not inadvertently disadvantage locally owned businesses.  Indeed, it may be in the best interests of communities to institute policies that directly protect them.

Without getting too technical, residents can easily understand how the “Think Local” movement can help their community.  By raising community awareness and encouraging shoppers to buy from their neighborhood shops, capital stays within the banks and businesses in their neighborhood.  Business owners then reinvest this capital in their operations and spend revenue at other local establishments.  Rather than a typical expenditure, thinking/buying local is an investment.

We’re in This Together

Think Local First of Washtenaw County began initial discussions in 2003 concerning the shared belief that strong communities begin with businesses that are a part of the fabric of our community.  Since 2006, this organization has been under its current label.

Amish Tables Growing in AA

Companies and businesses all over Ann Arbor are jumping aboard the Think Local Movement…and so are we!  We are dedicated to providing local customers the best shopping experience and results.  This mission has led to a brand new showroom opening at the end of the month.   Amish-Furniture-Home.com is just one of our family of sites that we at Amish Tables, LLC have put together to serve our customers more accurately. Please look for the Amish Tables showroom opening at 4844 Jackson Rd #100 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Like many businesses these days, we spurred initial success through a dedicated online presence.  As our family of sites continues to grow, we are bringing the success to the community. Rather than keep the business as electronic only, our new showroom is a commitment to the Washtenaw Community.

Small Steps, Big Solutions

The economic climate in our state is depressing; no doubt about that.  But in times of despair and gloom, groups like Think Local First are providing hope.  Like numerous clichés point out, big problems often take many small solutions.  Think Local First and the businesses of Washtenaw County must recognize the significance of a joint effort.  When money is tight, it’s easy to hunt for the lowest prices online or at the “big box” retailers.  But in the long term, a concerted effort to support our neighbors and independent businesses will benefit everyone.

The American parlor was once a staple in large homes. The room was used for visiting with guests, and for hosting funeral wakes (or viewings), weddings and receptions. Despite its various uses, the parlor became associated with death and mourning. The room’s formal décor only helped to perpetuate this pairing of parlors and death.

The Furniture

This formal room usually held the family piano, upright chairs to accommodate guests and sofas that matched the chairs. A table, small figurines or statues and a few works of art completed the room. The typical American parlor was the most elegant room in the house and usually held the most expensive furniture pieces.

The Rise of the Living Room

As the 19th century rolled into the 20th, many people could not afford the matching furniture, large piano or even a room that was used only for special occasions. There was an issue of waste in an era when luxuries were scarce (two world wars and The Great Depression). In addition, families began to turn away from the parlor’s associations with death.

The Parlor Transition

Sitting room furnishings were much less formal than those found in the parlor. They included sewing machine, fireplace and less elegant or expensive furnishings like the wooden rocking chair and upholstered chair or two, area rug for the children and a small table or two. The room also contained the family library in the form of a series of bookshelves or an actual bookcase. This facilitated the family’s gravitation toward the room.

The User-Friendly Living Room

The introduction of the television into the American household made the sitting room a place for the family to congregate more often. It became more convenient to let the children bring in their toys. Meals were even eaten in this room, like the TV dinner, smaller meals or snacks that were consumed in front of the television.

Furniture took on a more comfortable character. Fabrics became more durable to accommodate the increased use. Reclining chairs began to appear on the furniture scene. By the 1980’s, formality had been replaced by function. The sitting room had become the living room. Comfort had won out over formality.

A Resurrection?

The television shouldn’t bear the brunt of the blame for the death of the American parlor. The culprit isn’t even the funeral image of the early parlors. Instead, the desire for a parlor declined as convenience overcame formality in American society.

The idea of “wasted space” is an interior design concept that grew out of this move toward convenience or user-friendliness. It is used to describe rooms, and furnishings, that aren’t used by the home’s occupants and thus serve no purpose in the modern home. However, the parlor may stage a revival in the future as homeowners buy, and look to restore, old 19th century homes. The American parlor may rise from the dead in the long run.

Everything in your home has some sort of pattern or texture and is a color. The chances are high that you selected your custom Amish built furniture’s specifications based on what you liked about the color of the stain and the grain or pattern of the wood. These elements play together to give each piece, and then eventually each room, its overall appearance.

If you didn’t consider these elements when decorating your home, perhaps now is the time to take a moment to learn how important textures and colors are in building the environment you wish to live in. The impact of pattern, texture and color is enormous and can be used to play up a room’s best features, but when incorrectly used,they can accent a room’s flaws. Used skillfully, you can use these elements to fool the eye of the beholder.

Textures & Patterns

Color use is an easier skill to acquire than the knowledge of patterns and texture usage. A simple tip is the size of the pattern should match the size of the room. If you’re looking to be bold, mix patterns to add interest to your design. Textures can also create the perceived desire to touch and create a whole new dimension in your room.

The textures we choose also affect our perceptions of the color in the theme. Different textures reflect light differently and cause us to perceive color to be varying in shades because of light and shadows. It can actually add a new depth to your color scheme.

Color

Room Size

You can make a room appear bigger or smaller than it is by using proper color techniques. In the case of a small apartment, educating oneself on the tricks of color can help you to feel as if you have more space. Color is the most cost effective decorating tool in your bag of tricks. Color is associated with moods and can literally affect you psychologically. Remember that darker colors create warmth and coziness while light colors promote a breezier and open space.

Get Cozy

In a large room color can actually draw the room in, creating a cozier setting. A ceiling painted only a shade lighter than its walls and floor coverings creates the illusion of a much higher ceiling. To draw in a disproportionately high ceiling simply bring the ceiling’s color down to the picture level. This trick lengthens the walls and appears to bring the ceiling closer.

Decorate Boldly

Everything you do can be corrected or changed, so it is alright to be brave. However, keep in mind that your room is the backdrop for the things you love, such as your Amish solid wood heirloom designs. The colors and patterns should never overshadow the furniture or important collections in the home.

 Coffee tables are a common place piece of home furnishings in almost every established home today. Consumers never stop to think about why we buy them or when did home owners decide it was necessary to use a table for serving and enjoying coffee in the family common room. Obviously coffee furnishings did not come in to vogue until coffee did.

Long before the drink was popular in England and then in the New World it was highly regarded by the Ethiopians and the Muslims. Brought to Europe via Italy and then the East India Company, coffee initially was frowned upon by the church. Although the church prohibited it and in some countries women were banned from coffeehouses eventually coffee became a worldwide recognized beverage of choice for socializing. Along with the need for furniture other items came in to the marketplace for the making and serving of coffee, such as coffee sets, coffee makers and coffee tins.

Coffee tins are one of the prized possessions of collectors of coffee memorabilia, kitchen collectibles and advertising collectibles. There are over 1300 known designs; most chromolithographed. With the phenomenon of coffee houses and coffee shops the collectibility of coffee tins has also risen for businesses as well as home owners.

 Packaged tins of already roasted coffees became more popular as the the process became better in the late 1800’s. Still, coffee in tins could not be guaranteed to be fresh because they were not airtight. With the invention of vacuum packaging in 1903 by Hills Brothers. Coffee tins could now be trusted to be air tight and fresh for weeks. By 1920 even Folgers was using vacuum packing and the world was brewing a more convenient cup of coffee.

If you would like to stock your Amish built bookcases, shelves or hutches with your favorite coffee collectible here are a few tips:

Like any collectible, condition is key. Avoid rust, dents, scratches that are more than wear and tear.

• Paper labels that are not written on and intact are desired.
• Unopened cans are more desirable than opened ones but if it is opened be sure you have a matching lid.
• If you can choose then choose the cans with the best graphics. Chromolithographed, graphics with many colors, are more desired than tins with only one or two colors.
• With so many tins to choose from many collectors prefer to focus on one region to fill their custom shelves and cabinets with.

Can furniture be a wise investment? Even in a slow economy? According to the Kovels website data gatherers number three of the Top Twenty most sought after searches in July 2009 was indeed furniture. The Kovels are considered the leading expert in collectibles and antiques and not only publish the most sought after price guides but now, thanks to the internet, are able to accumulate data in real time based on the results of hundreds of thousands of searches that take place on its website daily.

Furniture has actually held in the top twenty all year while many other collectibles have fallen off drastically. While the small decorative items labeled Occupied Japan remain on top, people are still seeking to identify, find, purchase and sell large items like furniture. Summer time can cause decorators and collectors alike to seek out garden or rustic outdoor themed pieces. Pairing antiques and your Amish designs can give your home a whimsical garden theme.  Rustic furniture made of natural materials, native hardwoods and designed in organic shapes became popular in camps and gardens in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Amish builders craft hickory in to highly sought after furniture that brings the feeling of nature indoors.

Pieces featuring the organic look of log designs like the Lumberjack Hickory bed will remain a family heirloom. Benches, chairs and tables with accents reminding you of bent twigs and roots mimic the Adirondack themes of the Great Camps at the turn of the last century. Original bent twigs chairs sold at a recent Kamelot auction in Philadelphia for $1,230 but the Hickory King chair can be yours and usable for half that. This design theme has held its own for many decades and still remains a top searched furniture item on a top collector’s website, just as the Amish solid wood furniture at Amish-Furniture-Home.com is the number one custom furniture website on any search of fine heirlooms to invest in during any economy.