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.

 Renting furniture seems like a viable option in a bad economy that is suffering from a credit crisis. In fact renting home furnishings is usually a losing investment in most circumstances and not an answer to no or bad credit. Investing in high end, solidly built heirloom quality furniture, if only a piece at a time, is a more stable financial decision. In some short term cases renting furniture instead of investing in permanent goods may make sense. Keep in mind this is renting with the intention of it being short term and not rent-to-own. For instance, your company has moved you to a job for a year. Even renting for home staging to sell or events can be financially sound. Instead of buying furniture that expensive movers will haul away in a few months, it very well might make more sense to rent. Mass produced furniture depreciates, while moving, packing and storage expenses keep going up. These situations are not common but do exist so here are a few tips to help educate you on renting vs. owning.

QUALITY VS. AFFORDABLE –

Even in temporary situations you don’t want to buy anything that falls apart. Rental centers are not apt to carry a handcrafted heavy duty finely built maple dining room set but are sure to have press board with photo-finish. Test out the furniture before you rent it. If it feels weak or uncomfortable in the store it will in your home.

BE A SMART CONSUMER -

When renting furniture you are entering in to a contract that is binding. Quite simply, you need to read it and understand it BEFORE you sign it. The details can haunt you and your check book for many months. How much do they require down? What is the agreed upon conditions of returning the furniture? Is there a hidden delivery fee? What is normal wear and tear? Are the items you are receiving pre-rented or new?

Even at a rental store you should be asking what the country of origin the furniture maker is located. Also ask for guarantees and return policies.

WHAT IS THE ACTUAL COSTS? –

Doe sit make more sense to buy used furniture for your short term use than to invest in renting? How many months are you staying in this situation? How much to buy a couch or dining room set? Divide it by the months you are staying and if renting is more then buy. This of course is under the condition that you can pay cash and not have to finance furniture, adding on interest. Consider even buying one good investment piece and supplementing with rental items. You will have something that is yours that makes you feel like your home.

Whatever you decide, whether it is to go all rental, all used or to supplement with one or two pieces of quality furnishings like the Amish create, stay away from rent-to-own centers. The interest rates are exorbitant but are hidden in months of payments that cause the final price to be triple its value. By the time you are done paying these mass produced items are no longer in existence. Also, if you are an apartment or house renter remember that you will be spending a great deal of income on a home and its furnishings that will not be yours. Renting may not be the answer to credit when it comes to furniture

George Hepplewhite (abt. 1727 – June 21, 1786)

The late 1700s saw England and France changing, causing a drastic change in American furniture tastes. George Hepplewhite, a London cabinetmaker and chair maker, began designing pieces that became very popular in not only Europe but in America. Hepplewhite style is characterized by straight leg forms, refined curves and painting and high quality inlay work. While the richness of mahogany woods is most associated with Hepplewhite designs he also used rosewood, satinwood, and tulipwood on the inlays. Dining room furniture began seeing sideboards and is associated with Hepplewhite furniture. Hepplewhite chairs often sport a shield shaped back. Pieces that were upholstered featured fabrics in designs like small birds and floral that carried down over the entire frame. The upholstery fabric was then finished with ornamental upholstery tacks.

Featuring many similarities, it is often hard to quickly discern Hepplewhite from Sheraton styles. To make matters more complicated there were no exclusive copyrights or patents in America at that time so wood workers could freely use each other’s design ideas, especially if they were marketable. There are no pieces of furniture made by Hepplewhite or his firm known to exist and some critiques and historians question the existence of George Hepplewhite. His style took hold posthumously, and not until after his wife Alice published design books she insisted were drafted by her late husband.

Thomas Sheraton (1750-1806)

British born Sheraton, like most furniture makers of his time was another cabinetmaker. Thomas Sheraton also stood out because he was a publisher and preacher. His furniture designs were widely popular and greatly influenced American furniture. Sheraton was well thought of as a superb draftsman and many of the designs are based on classical architecture. Sadly, although he wore many hats, was overworked and highly acclaimed he was barely able to earn a living, dying destitute.

Sheraton style is square, straight lined, solidly constructed furniture with slender legs that were either round or square and tapered toward the foot. His chair backs were square and often had a central panel above the top rail with high “S” shaped arms. Like other designers of his time, Sheraton used mahogany as the preferred wood. As Sheraton’s career was winding down the French Empire style became popular in Europe and he tried his hand in it. Sheraton found God was in the details and usually decorated his furniture wherever possible. His heavy embellishments of carving, inlay, and painting left few plain surfaces. A piece designed in the style of Sheraton will be adorned with urns, fan shapes, leaves, stars along with brass hardware and round glass knobs.

Thomas Chippendale (June 5 1718 – November 1779)

Chippendale was the first style of furniture in England that was named after the designer and not after a ruling monarch. Chippendale had something in his background that the other two great British designers did not. Thomas Chippendale was much more than just a cabinet maker, he was an interior designer. Like the other two, Chippendale was a published and popular author of furniture design. Working with the upholsterer James Rannie and later with Rannie’s assistant, Thomas Haig, Chippendale maintained artistic control of his well-appointed furnishings.

Not to veer from the popular, the finest Chippendale style pieces were usually crafted from mahogany but walnut, cherry and maple were used for less expensive versions. Many Chippendale pieces have cabriole legs and have a shell motif. American cabinetmakers often incorporated the claw-and-ball foot into their versions of Chippendale designs. The style of claw-and-ball feet was already passé with English furniture craftsmen but in America the feet were still being used.

Unlike Hepplewhite who has no surviving pieces, Chippendale has twenty-six documented commissions in estates, castles and in the original aristocratic houses for which they were created. The workshop the elder began was continued by his son, Thomas Chippendale, the younger (1749-1822). Young Chippendale was fond of working in the later Neoclassical and Regency styles.

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.

ANALYZE YOUR ENVIRONMENT- By reviewing your space and determining what design style and function you need for each room of the home you have begun your plan. Take in to consideration each member, including pets, guests both long term and short, along with future addition to your family when determining best usage and style for your space.

Ask yourself honest questions about yourself and fellow house mates. Are you really going to need a formal living room or is your lifestyle more of comfortable casualness? Are you private sort and creating a very personal home environment or are you a social family creating a home theater and game center for friends to pop in and relax? By asking these questions you can develop an accurate plan for investing in your personal atmosphere.

INVENTORY YOURSELF- While buying furnishings and accessories will be necessary, one cost effective tool is working with what you may already have, or what friends or family may be willing to donate to your home. By carefully documenting every piece of furniture and accessories you have to work with you have effectively warehoused your collection like a designer inventorying their stock for the client.

INVENTORY YOUR WANTS- Next list the reasonable wants that fit in to your newly analyzed design plan. While many people believe they must buy more furniture for cheaper prices, in fact the opposite is true. The bulk of your furniture should be considered an investment. Are you investing in furniture that can grow and change with your life? A well furnished home is one that can grow and change as you and the family do.

Remember that wise home design means choosing a few high quality pieces that will last rather than disposable furnishings that must be replaced in a few years. By carefully choosing pieces that you can live with and that will last your investment will pay for itself. Quite simply, as your tastes change over the years you can change out paint schemes, accessories, rugs, art, lamps, etc and effectively and inexpensively create an entirely new back drop to your high end investments like hand crafted Amish furniture.

New Year’s Eve parties bring together the old and the new to be celebrated and memorialized by one and all. The ritual of good food, great memories and celebratory toasts all mark the end of the old year and the beginning of a new and promise filled year. Unfortunately, some of those toasts are memorable for the wrong reasons. Wine stains and drink rings are often the markings left behind of a good time and not something you will enjoy seeing on New Year’s Day. Although your solidly designed Amish hardwoods and upholstered pieces are protected by ARESITOVAR and hopefully custom made elite table pads, the occasional mishap occurs. Here are some tips from the experts on salvaging your good New Year’s memories and furniture.

RED WINE- While ARESISTOVAR has a tested tolerance to alcohol spills your upholstery and carpets may not have that window of resistance. Wine, especially red wine and even non-alcohol grape juices, must be taken care of right away

REMEMBER- Heed any special care instructions that may have came from the manufacturer. Safe home remedies are best to try before turning to harsh chemicals or paying for a professional fabric cleaning. Whether it is carpet or upholstered furniture, these tips apply.

Some other remedies that many wine drinkers swear by are a simple application of carbonated soda water. This can lift wine stains and other food stains, like barbeque sauce, out of the carpets and fabrics. Another wine connoisseur tip is to deal with red wine spills by using white wine. Odd as it may seem, if you spill red wine you can then pour a glass of white over the stain. The white wine supposedly neutralizes the red wine and the stain seems to disappear before your eyes.

As always, use common sense and care when using any products on your custom upholstered Amish furniture, sofas, arm chairs and ottomans.

Living room seating has changed gradually over the centuries. Words and language evolve just like furniture styles and designs. Throughout the centuries home furnishings have came a very long way from their beginnings and so has the verbiage we use to describe or name the furnishings. Here are a few that you may or may not remember:

SETTEE: The settee was sometimes an upholstered piece and sometimes more like a bench. It had low open arms, a high back and was twice the width of a chair. Almost all great designers of the 17^th and 18^th century, such as Thomas Sheraton, had one in their collections.

LOVE SEAT: An upholstered seat meant only for two, in some periods it was known as a courting chair. The size of a double chair or a miniature sofa it was first seen during the Queen Anne period and is still popular today as either supplemental seating with a living room set or as an option for small spaces.

DIVAN: From the Turkish culture this was a long, low, backless sofa that usually held a row of pillows placed against a wall. The divan originating out of the Turkish custom of piling up a high stack of rugs to use for seating or resting. This was popular as a sort of day bed.

CHESTERFIELD: The Chesterfield was an overstuffed couch or sofa whose ends were upholstered. The Chesterfield was supposedly named for the 19th-century Earl of Chesterfield. The use of the name Chesterfield to describe a sofa or couch is still popular in Canada.

DAVENPORT: The name Davenport is the name of a series of sofas manufactured by A.H. Davenport Company. Many people began calling all sofas a Davenport due to that brands popularity. Just like many words it was regionally used and most popular in the Midwestern United States and in Northern New York State.

SOFA: A long upholstered seat usually with stuffed back and arms. In 1625 the term came into use from Turkey. In Turkey it meant a “raised section of a floor, covered with carpets and cushions,” In Arabic suffah meant “bench.” By the early 1700’s it was in use in the English language to describe long seating for a living room.

COUCH: The word couch has been used for thousands of years but did not come to mean the seating in the living room until the last few centuries. In ancient Rome the couch was a grouping that would be arranged around a low table. Here men, not women, could recline to eat. By 1340 a couche was “a bed, lair,” from coucher “to lie down.” The traditional couch had the head end raised with only half a back. This was in comparison to a sofa that had both ends raised and a full back.