Archive for the ‘Collectibles’ Category

From Coffee Tables to Coffee Tins : A Brief History of Collecting Coffee Memorabilia

Monday, September 21st, 2009

 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 [...]

Kovels say Yes to Furniture as Investments In a Slow Economy

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

 
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 [...]

Keeping The Faith in Furniture with the Shakers and the Amish- How Religion Influenced Designs in America (part 2)

Monday, July 27th, 2009

 The Amish arrived in America around 1730. A group of the descendants of the Anabaptists, which include Amish and Mennonites, settled near Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  William Penn had began a ‘holy experiment’ in religious tolerance and welcomed these European immigrants. Although the most popularized, the Pennsylvania Amish are not the largest group of U.S. In [...]

Keeping The Faith in Furniture with the Shakers and the Amish- How Religion Influenced Designs in America (part 1)

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

 Historians following the trends of the furniture industry can attest that furniture styles and their designers are virtual archives of an era. The economy of the time, the availability of supplies and tools and most surprising, the politics and religion of the time all influenced home décor. Religion and the organizations that formed around each [...]

A Brief History of 20th Century Depression Era Veneered Furniture- How a Bad Economy Influenced Design Styles

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

The furniture term Depression era has come to mean a piece dating from the ‘20s, ‘30s or early 1940s. The stock market crash that occurred on that black Tuesday, October 29, 1929, soon became better known as the Great Depression. The Depression was a rapidly spreading worldwide economic downturn that was not easily recovered from [...]

A Brief History of 19th Century Eclectic from the Civil War to Modernism

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

 
The years surrounding Civil War was not just a separation of tastes politically but one in interior décor. The last part of the 19th century in North America saw the blending of many very strong interior design tastes within one home. Many consider this to be the Eclectic period in American history. This eclectic collecting [...]

How To Protect Your Infant, Toddler and Child with an Easy Home Safety Checklist

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

 
 Sadly, the passing of Mike Tyson’s young daughter has brought to the forefront home safety issues.  Home can be one of the most dangerous places for a small child or infant and it is of major concern to safety and health officials. By following a few simple steps you can help to eliminate commonly overlooked [...]

Basic Decorating Tips For Your Custom Solid Wood Bookcases or Shelves

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

 

You have wisely invested in custom made and finished solid wood bookcases or shelves from Amish designers and craftsman – now what? You have items you love and that need homes, but how best to display them to not only showcase the collection but to not detract from your beautiful heirloom furniture.

First, realize what [...]

Purchasing and Displaying Your Collection: 5 Steps To Being A Confident and Successful Collector

Sunday, April 26th, 2009

 Amish solid wood bookcases, shelves, corner cabinets and hutches, that themselves are collectible, are the optimal organization center for any collection. Today’s collector knows that the best way to showcase your collection is in a central area, instead of spread throughout the home or office. Collecting is as old a desire as the hunting and [...]

A Brief History of Heywood-Wakefield: Why Going Blonde Wasn’t a Dumb Idea

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

 The Amish craft solid wood designs that often replicate the popular look of Heywood-Wakefield. Unless you have a love for solid wood furniture from the golden era of Modern design (circa 1936-1966) you may be unfamiliar with the name Heywood-Wakefield and the furniture associated. Among admirers and collectors of this company’s designs it is wildly [...]