Today’s Amish communities are as entrepreneurial as the Shakers, helping to support and build their communities using their gifts as honest artisans. The world appreciates the unique custom designs that contrast so obviously from the mass produced disposable furniture offered in most showrooms today. These solid wood designs are premium heirlooms that showcase the integrity of a community very much like their brothers and sisters in the Shaker villages.

Like the Shakers the Amish live every part of their life based on religious principles. This includes the quality of their work, whether at home or in the workshop. Today the Amish wood worker in Northern Indiana crafts the same designs with the same quality of materials and skill as their ancestors. The same principles and beliefs held by the earliest Shaker furniture designer and builder are still honored by the Amish woodworker. With traditional designs like the traditional Burlington table or the neatly lined Bungalow chifferobe, chest, bed, dresser and nightstand you can bring the same warm style to your home.

The Shakers were always a small group whose self-imposed abstinence insured their demise. At their zenith the group held about 4000 members spread among nineteen self-sustaining communities. The Shakers lived the example set forth in the Holy Bible about living in the world without being a part of it. The community’s business sense was astonishing, especially for a small nineteenth century religious organization.

Although not part of the world it is obvious that Ann Lee, the group’s founder who had arrived the New World pre-American Revolution, was influenced by the Federal design style of that era. The Shakers had taken the Federal template and created a less formal and more rural design based on the needs and ideals of the farming communities they settled in. The influence of their religious beliefs and their country settings brought forth functional furniture with clean and simple lines. This was especially appealing to those who were suffocating under the opulence and gilding that was the Victorians.

The Shakers not only opened the door for the Arts and Crafts Movement in America but actually inspired some of its founders. The cousin of Arts and Crafts, American Mission and its father, Gustav Stickley, were quite possibly more warmly welcomed because of the influence of the Shaker ideals and products.

The years surrounding Civil War was not just a separation of tastes politically but one in interior décor. The last part of the 19^th 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 may have resulted from the easier access to more thanks to the Industrial Revolution. Machine made products kept products flowing at a much less expensive rate. Large scale manufacturers in Grand Rapids, Michigan were pumping out furniture to the common man at easy to pay for levels.

BRIEF INTERESTING FACTS FROM THE LATTER 19TH CENTURY ECLECTIC ERA-

• In rapid sequence designers birthed first Gothic then Elizabethan and finally rococo. While these co-existed in popularity in the mid-century they did not co-exist under the same roof. All three were used and admired but not blended.  
• The latter half of this century saw even more design styles, like the Renaissance style, emerge but none truly retire.
• This was the era of the kings; from France to England and from Louis to Henri.
• The big English furniture designers Chippendale, Sheraton and Hepplewhite shined brightly in the Victorian days. Colonial, Centennial Revival and Empire became common by the turn of the century.
• In large part thanks to William Morris and his Arts and Crafts philosophy and followers furniture was being influenced by far away lands like Turkey, Japan and Persia.
• Charles Eastlake agreed with Morris and Lewis Day on their discrimination against mass produced furniture and wrote a book touting the belief that home furnishings should be made by hand or machine workers that truly took artisan pride in their work.
• During these decades many felt a prejudice towards keeping it American and a cry went out to create a style distinctly American.
• Very distinct designs and designers emerged during this time and many published books that became hard and fast bibles used by designers, cabinetmakers and other furniture builders.
• Almost always if a design style became popular the wallpapers, rugs and accessories  appropriate to that style became available.
• No matter how modest the home it was believed that there should be a library, a sort of retreat for the family.

The 20^th century saw less desire for homes to be so eclectic. A yearning for something more simple in American homes was emerging. The birth of styles like Modernism had brought a sense of more efficient and less cluttered designs like the contemporary designs found from Amish-Furniture-Home.com.

THEMES- Some themed rooms do attempt to draft all the Disney characters in the attempt to get the flavor of the theme park all in one room. While this can work beautifully if thought out and not too cluttered with over a half a century of characters, more impact can be created by narrowing it to one character or movie.  There are inspirational themes for even the pickiest pre-teens, such as Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers.

WALL COLORS -Wall colors create a canvas to build your world on. For instance, the Disney princess world is in pastels such as  pale blue, yellow or pink. Most of the male oriented Disney themes are in bright primary colors such as the reds and oranges for pirates, Toy Story, CARS, etc. Painting each wall a different color can add interest or create a bold statement with one wall differing as a focal point.  

FURNITURE – The largest piece of furniture in a room is usually the bed and the Amish have crafted beds from twin to king, along with the amazing flexibility of the convertible cribs that will last a childhood or more. Themed bedding with pirate ships or race cars are available in every major store and will tie together any theme. Creating a mysterious tent by suspending gauze or fabric above the bed for a canopy is an inexpensive way to create the mood.  Solid wood cedar chests can be treasure chests while bookcases and shelving, custom stained to match your Amish heirloom furnishings, will hold all of your Disney collectibles.

FLOOR COVERS – Use oriental rugs as magic carpets from Aladdin or a canvas rug, painted with a race track for CARS and including Matchbox or Hot Wheels for interactive play. Princess Pocohantas loves faux animal skin rugs and a Mulan themed room is easily enhanced by choosing Bamboo rugs.

WINDOWS – Window treatments should be playful but functional. Think theatrical when cutting foam board to create portals on a pirate ship or placing shutters inside the windows to recreate the Old World styling of Beauty and the Beast. Alladdin themes are beautified by hanging an Indian inspired candle lantern, with its intricate cut-outs that silhouette in the dark in a window. This same simple candle lantern can just as easily become Tinkerbell’s home. A painted on Arabic arch or a deep sea theme surrounding the window frame is simple enough for even those artistically challenged parents.

Along with your child develop and an idea of what you want the room to be. Use that vision to trigger your inner child’s imagination. Use resources to inspire you and include your child in the creative process. Before you know it you will transport your child’s room into their own happiest place on earth.

You just have to believe!

As independent a creature as the domestic housecat, when a cat is ready to socialize with humans they love to play, cuddle and purr for no reason other than being near you. That alone is reason to own them…or, let them own you. Unfortunately, the thing they love even more than snuggling with you is to scratch. Cats are not particular about what they will scratch and quite often the target is the legs of your heirloom Amish table, your custom upholstered sofa, or your expensive carpeting.

Although many humans do not appreciate when their cat is scratching their personal possessions you have to know that kittens and cats do not scratch to destroy your investments, they have a natural need to scratch. Scratching is a behavior in domesticated felines and in the wild. Whether tame or wild cats scratch to signal their presence to other cats and to claim territory.

There are two target areas in the home, usually near important territorial areas like their sleeping area, litter tray, or play areas. Cats can also destroy doorways, trim, blinds, windows, and furniture.

HELPFUL TIPS TO SCRATCH-PROOFING YOUR HOME:

DECLAW- Controversy surrounds the idea of cat declawing, yet daily some people faced with cat scratching problems consider the declawing surgery. Many veterinarians believe declawing is a painful and unnecessary surgery and many refuse to perform it.

Trimming the nails regularly may help keep a cat from scratching the furniture, or at least reduce the damage done by its scratching. Start trimming your cat as a kitten in order to get the feline used to having its nails clipped while it is young.

FREEZONE – By providing multiple scratching opportunities you can hinder their desire to destroy the good stuff. Cats often like to scratch after they eat and sleep. A scratching post is a valuable investment for your cat and is now available in almost designer concepts, such as the cat tree. These posts provide scratching, stretching and exercise all at once.

CAMOUFLAGE & BOOBY TRAPS- Cats don’t like certain textures such as plastic or aluminum foil and double-sided tape. The noisy sound of foil and the fur sticking tape can cause a cat to think twice before ascending Mt. Expensive Sofa. Create booby traps with a soda can with pennies in it. Like a burglar alarm, the can clinks noisily as the cat scratches. Doorknob alarms can be used on your curtains. When attached to the drapes, the alarm will sound every time your cat tries to climb the window.

You can also tape inflated balloons to the areas. Theoretically the cat will avoid scratching there again when a balloon pops when clawed. Remember to only do this when you are present and pick up the balloon pieces before your cat tries to eat them.

EXERCISE – Keeping a cat mentally stimulated and physically exercised will create less opportunity for destruction in your home. A cat that is frustrated and bored may scratch your furniture or climb your drapes.

HOME THEATER FOR KITTY – Create a window perch for your feline friend that will give your cat hours of entertainment. Place a bird or squirrel feeder in the garden outside the window and remember to be sure the window is closed.

WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE – Try squirting the misbehaving cat with a water pistol or squirt bottle while using a firm ‘no’. This of course, only works when you are present.

STINKY – Use some sprays like bitter apple or actual orange peels as good deterrents.

Never use physical punishment or cause real fear by displaying aggression toward the cat.

REMEMBER – It does not matter which methods you will choose to prevent your precious Amish custom furniture from being destroyed, every cat owner mush know that it is impractical and unfair to expect cats to stop scratching entirely.

Whatever your obsession for collecting was routed into there may come a time to part from it. Even in the best of times life changes, money is tight, tastes change, space runs out, you marry someone who finds your beer bottles from around the world clashing with her doily collection…Whatever the reason, time may have come for you to lose the collection and gain the cash. Educating yourself away from the consumer thought process and towards the vendor end of the deal is wise.

The first step to selling your possessions is to determining your market. Ask yourself, where will you get the most money for your valuables? Today the availability of avenues to sell your collectibles is vast. From the old fashioned ads in your local paper to yard sales to online auctions, quite literally the world is your storefront. Decide what venue will give you the greatest access to the people who collect what you do? If you have in your collection any rare items the World Wide Web can pay off best. Bidding wars caused by auction frenzy and world wide monetary value differences can only benefit you the seller. A seller can only win when the world is your bidding audience. Include the auction fees when deciding whether to use an auction service.

A very specific target audience is the collector clubs. You may be able to buy and sell to members who obsess over what you have collected. Collector clubs can be reached through member specific publications or online sites and boards. True collectors are members who take the subject seriously. This is evidence of true passion and a truly passionate collector will come up with the cash if you have what they need to complete their collection.

Determine whether you want to offer the collection in bulk or individually. Ask yourself if selling as a whole or selling individually will bring the greatest yield. If you are in a hurry, selling as a whole is a quick route but, remember that selling separately or in smaller groupings can bring the highest amount. There is more time and effort in separating the collection. You also run the risk of being stuck with the less desirable pieces.

Showcase your collection in its best light, whether with pictures and description in print or online, or by insuring that it is in its best condition. Take the time to research your audience, pick the best marketing venue and display your valuables to your advantage. Caring for your treasures while you own them insures that their value is not diminished by improper storage. Investing in solid hardwood Amish designs like cedar chests, shelves, hutches and storage units not only create an amazing showcase but also help protect your investments.

The rich warmth of a traditional handmade rug adds depth and personality to any room. Hooked, needlepoint, latch, knitted, crocheted, woven, painted canvas floorcloths, braided or twisted from torn strips of discarded fabric a handmade rug is a one of a kind treasure. How you care for your handmade rugs will make an extreme difference in its lifespan. Because of varying content and techniques all handmade rugs, such as hook, require extraordinary caution and care to protect your asset as well as the artisan’s endeavors. Today’s rugs are not only utilitarian floor coverings but also an investment opportunity in craftsmanship and artistry.

1. Beater bars on vacuums are a big no-no on shags and on hand-made floor coverings.

2. Even though it is a popular misconception, beating a handmade rug is actually not good for it.

3. Unless the rug is heavily engrained with sands, etc. even shaking it out is not suggested.

4. A simple turning of braided rugs will help them to wear evenly and extricate any dirt lodged in the fibers.

5. If your rug is small enough to fit in a dryer, using the cool air settings only, you can give it a two minute turn to freshen it.

6. A once a year but thorough cleaning is fine for most rugs and floor coverings.

7. Remember: If your rug is worth investing in then so is the cleaning method. While there are home treatments it is best to leave high end carpets to the professionals that have the right tools and the room to allow the rug to dry properly. Be certain the cleaner you choose understands your type of rug and can insure proper cleaning methods.

8. After any cleaning it is wise to re-add any moth preventatives and stains repellents.

9. Remember that any new rug needs a “settling” period. Be diligent to allow it a week or two to flatten to its floor. Pile carpet can be rejuvenated every few days to prevent it from compressing too early.

10. Padding can not only add life to your rug but can prevent slippage. A simple rubberized pad or back can be added.