Invites

While it may be a little too late to send paper invitations, its not to late to send a digital invite.  After all, receiving an invitation to an event is always welcome and sets the tone of the event for your guests. There are many ways to send digital invitations.  A couple of our favorites are online services: Paperless Post and Punchbowl.  Both sites are free to use and offer a variety of services: from tracking responses, party planning and more.

Table Settings

Many of us do not set formal dinner tables on a daily basis, so a little refresher may be helpful.  Martha Stewart provides a step by step setting here. You may not use every setting depending on the meal you are serving.  But as she says, “if you learn the essentials of a well-set table, you can apply them or break them with confidence.” (MS)

Image Credit: Martha Stewart

The Final Touches

In addition to invites and setting the table, the other details that go into a hostessing a special event is the decor.  Centerpieces on the table, a welcoming wreath at the door, lit candles can all add to the celebratory atmosphere.  We gathered some ideas to help make your Thanksgiving celebration a beautiful one.  Find links, how to’s  and even more ideas in our Fall Collection on Pinterest.

A well set table {and home} not only looks beautiful, but conveys a warm welcome to your guests and makes them feel special.  It is well worth the effort.

This customer had relocated and moved into a new home.  Instead of moving with their old dining set, they chose to order a new set from us.  While they awaited the new furniture, they used a folding table.  Needless to say, once the new furniture arrived it brought the room to life.  Don’t you think it is a beautiful transformation?

Photo Credit: Scott Phillips {Fine Cooking}

Cooler temperatures, Sunday football games, Chili and Pie.  All of these things have been on our mind as the warm summer sun has been replaced by the cool, crisp air that signals fall’s impending arrival.  Today’s post is inspired by two of our favorite fall foods: Chili and Pie.  We put together some decor pieces that we think pair well with the food!  Kind of a backwards look at entertaining!  Wouldn’t it be great if you could change your furniture scheme based on what you were serving?  The two recipes pictured above are also featured below so you can give them a try this season!

Style Guide

Camden Table -  Eddison Bar Stool -  Vintage Chili Bowls -  Monogrammed Pilsner Glasses -  Cloth Napkins

Recipes

Beef & Black Bean Chili -  Sweet Potato Pie

What did you think of the pairings? Did you try the recipes?  Let us know!  We would love to hear from you!

The Nest.com

Living Room

You can dramatically change the look of your living room no matter how small your budget may be. A great place to start is by painting an accent wall a shade or two darker than your existing color. Another budget friendly option is to add new throw pillows in a variety of prints, colors, and textures. A new area rug or slipcovers on your existing furniture can make a big difference as well.

Bedroom

Does the look of your bedroom need waking up? Why not give it a fresh coat of paint? While you are at it, add some molding to give it a nice finished look. If you are not interested in painting the whole room, consider painting just the furniture. You could also try dressing up your bed by making a fabric slip cover for your headboard or by adding new pillows and linens.

Bathroom

Photo Credit: Real Simple

Who doesn’t like to go to the spa? You can give your drab bathroom a spa-like feel by painting the walls a soft, relaxing color. Instead of buying expensive artwork, try buying scrapbooking paper and framing it. Plants and aromatic candles are also affordable accessories that can change the appearance of any bathroom. For a real spa-like feel indulge in new towels. Setting a basket full of rolled towels near the bathtub can not only be stylish but also a storage solution.

Kitchen

Kitchen redesigns always improve the overall look of a home and don’t have to cost a fortune. Almost everything in your kitchen can be repainted, refinished, or renewed; you can repaint your walls, cabinets, or even your appliances. If painting sounds like too much work, updating your cabinetry hardware can be a refreshing change. Another economical choice would be to replace old rugs, dish rags, and towels with new ones. New curtains, updated plumbing fixtures, shiny counter top appliances, and a fresh bowl of fruit can also have impact when trying to give a kitchen a fresh look.

Photo Credit: Real Simple

Dining Room

Dining rooms tend to be forgotten about when doing home makeovers but there are many ways to refresh this room too. Everything in your dining room can be painted. If you don’t want to paint your table and chairs but want to give them a new look, try reupholstering your chairs. This is much easier than it sounds, all you need is about a 1/2 yard of fabric, a heavy duty stapler, and the ability to wrap a present. Other low-cost decorating options include a new mirror, wall hangings, window coverings, and a fresh and pretty centerpiece.

Guest post from Bailey Harris. Bailey writes for Area Rugs, a retail site that sells brand name area rugs.

Photo: freshome.com

If you’re looking to upgrade or just want to change from a tired and worn out look, you need to consider a lot of different factors before buying one on a whim because it looks good in the store display.  Let’s run through them:

Size

The first thing you need to consider is the space you have available for your sofa.  Buying one that is too big will make your living space feel crowded, while getting one that is too small will make the room feel barren.  Make sure to take measurements of the room you’re planning to put the couch in and know all of your placement options.  You’ll need to take into consideration how the couch will be placed in relation to other pieces of furniture and electronics.

With many larger televisions you need a certain amount of space between it and you to get an optimal viewing experience.  This measurement depends on the kind of TV you have and can be found in your user guide or online.  You’ll also want to have a decent amount of space to walk by or in between your couch and other pieces of furniture.  There is nothing worse than having an awesome couch that makes your room feel small and cramped.

Function

When deciding on a couch you’ll need to consider what you’re going to be using it for.  Some questions you might want to ask yourself:

• Are you looking for maximum comfort because you’ll be watching a lot of TV or reading in it?
• Will this couch be placed in a formal living room meant for entertaining?
• How many people do you want this couch to sit?
• What kind of back angle are you comfortable with considering your plans for it?

Style

The style of your couch really depends on your own taste and look of your space.  Often the style is subordinate to the function the couch will serve.  There many styles of couches but here are the most common you’ll have to choose from:

• Lawson:  One of the most popular styles of couches.  The high back and low arms are built for comfort and lounging.
• Tuxedo:  Don’t expect lounging or a lot of comfort from this one.  Usually works best in formal settings or as a center piece for interior design.
• Chippendale:  More formal with definite old world touches.
• Chesterfield:  These elegant couches will take you back to 19th century drawing rooms.
• Sectional:  Super comfortable and versatile, these couches work well in big spaces.
• Slipper:  With no arms and high back this is style of couch is strictly for entertaining or business.
• Bridgewater:  Made for comfort, if you’re looking t relax you can’t go wrong with this style of couch.

Material

After you have decided where your couch is going to go, what you can fit, what its purpose is and what style you like, you’re going to need to pick a fabric.  Not all styles of couches are made in all fabrics, so you’ll need to balance your stylistic needs with the practical realities of what your couch will endure.

If you have dogs, kids or love to eat on your sofa then you need to pass on anything suede.  If this couch is in a high traffic area and is going to be used a lot, you need to make sure you’re using a durable material like leather or a micro fiber.  These are easy to clean and maintain and will last you years.  Definitely consider fabric that is treated with a stain protector as this will keep your sofa looking like new, no matter what you dish out to it!

Choosing a couch is a big decision and like anything else you’ll need to balance your needs, wants, and budget to find the right one for you.  At the end of the day, make sure you have something that fits your lifestyle and room and you’ll enjoy it for years to come.

Image: Elements of Style Blog

If finding a balance makes you feel like an oak table next to a termite mound, relax and take a deep breath; we’re going to walk you through this.  Decorating with color can be fun, bold and not as risky as you think.  Hey, the worse case scenario is that you paint over it, right?  Follow these simple steps and you’ll be living in colorful surroundings in no time!

Baby Steps

If you have a need for a splash of new color in your living space, then start small.  Find a color that you love, or an inspiration piece in your existing space that you would like to highlight and choose color off of that.  Something as simple as a few throw pillows, a new rug, tablecloth & napkins, or window treatments can introduce color to your home in a safe and fun way.  Try out some bolder choices that you like and see how it jives with your furniture and the rest of your house.

If these colors don’t work, return the goods and try something else.  If you like them, leave them be for the time being.  If a few weeks from now you still like them, then maybe it’s time to expand your use of that color.

Before you go out and buy enough paint to cover your entire house, warm up a bit first.  Try painting a small room that isn’t in the main living area like a bathroom, laundry room or utility space.  If you hate it, there is no rush to paint over it because chances are not a lot of people see those spaces compared to others in your house.  If you like it then maybe paint one of your walls in a main living area like a living room or bedroom.  This accent wall will bring plenty of color to the space and let you further evaluate what you think about your color choice.

Use these smaller spaces to get a feeling for how artificial and natural light make the color look.  You can also use these test spaces to see what other potential color choices will work with them, what your furniture looks like with them and so on.   Remember, there is no need to rush into anything here.

Mind the Flow

Once you have decided to expand your color usage throughout the house or into larger living areas, make sure you keep a sense of flow or connectedness through out the entire space.  Rooms that can be seen from others (no doors in between them) should have the same color schemes running through them.  Even if it’s just a trim color, similar hues or the same colors used in alternating dominate and accent ways, there needs to be some connection between the rooms.

Rooms that can’t be seen from one another can be decorated with a little more liberty, but you should still strive to keep similar tones and hues working throughout the house.  One green room and one pink room will make the house feel disjointed.

Color is fun!  Don’t forget that when you’re about to stress out over your selections.  Try new things, find examples of what you like elsewhere and don’t be afraid to break the mold.  Remember that this season’s “hot color” will be next season’s old thing, so find something you like for the long run.  Experiment and find your own perfect color balance!

Resources

Home Depot’s Room Visualization Tool: This allows you to try out similar looks with existing colors, fixtures, flooring, etc.
Paint Samples: Now available at most home improvement stores, you can purchase 8 oz containers of paint to apply to a part of a wall or board. Look at the paint throughout the day and night, in different lighting and with your existing home goods. If you don’t like you are only out about $3. Pick a new color and try again!

When discussing Amish furniture, you aren’t talking about the style of the piece but rather its origins and level of quality. The Amish use the best materials and techniques handed down for generations to make high quality heirloom furniture that will last decades longer than big-box furniture store stuff.

Amish furniture is extremely popular around the country and the world. The Amish are very careful to listen to the merchants that sell their furniture, so they make products that are not only of the highest quality but also popular amongst customers. It makes no sense to only restrict your furniture making to one or two styles, especially when your customer base demands a variety.

Funtional & Beautiful

Amish furniture is influenced heavily by classic styles like Queen Anne, Shaker and Mission. Their tie to the past is evident but that does not mean these pieces don’t have a place in a contemporary home. Amish furniture exemplifies functional, clean lined furniture. You won’t find any extraneous or overly ornate designs or elements on these pieces. Every drawer opens and every knob is attached to something that needs a knob! This simplicity gives them a universal appeal that will work perfectly with any interior design look you have adopted. Look at this Empire Chifferobe for example.

The materials used in creating this furniture have a huge impact on the overall style and look of the pieces. High quality wood and non-synthetic materials combine to create that clean line look that makes Amish furniture so universal in a design sense. The natural wood and stains are easy to match with other pieces and design elements. Putting together a room has never been easier when you’re dealing with Amish furniture!

Furniture That Will Last

The longevity of these pieces is one of their best qualities. Why spend money on something that is going to be land fill fodder in a few years? The Amish produce heirloom quality furniture that will last you decades. Its universal appeal will allow you to use it in many different design settings. As your tastes change and you redecorate you will always find a place for your Amish made pieces. The best thing is that these high quality pieces are made of all natural materials, so if you want to have them refinished or touched up you won’t have any trouble.

No matter how you have decorated your abode, you will enjoy using Amish made furniture to fill in that missing element. Quality is never out of style and with a wide variety of looks and pieces you’ll be sure to find something that goes perfectly in your current design scheme.

Decorating these places becomes a challenge because most mainstream furniture makers design their pieces to fit the larger homes. Just because you have a small space, does not mean you have to forego the wood furniture. With these helpful hints, you can choose pieces that will not only fit but maximize your space.

Tips for Furnishing a Small Space

• Look for multifunction pieces. In a small space, storage is at a premium. Look for furniture that serves a dual purpose, like Amish Furniture Home’s Amies Coffee Table that has drawers and cabinets for storage.  Another option would be the Modesto Lift Top Coffee Table, which has easily accessible space to store TV remotes, magazines, laptops, and other items.  In small bedrooms, with little to no space for additional dressers, the Platform Bed allows for needed storage with drawers that line the base of the bed.
• Consider wall units. Instead of trying to fit multiple pieces in one room, look for a taller and wider case piece that can house your entertainment pieces, books, DVDs and CDs.   This entertainment unit maximizes storage while saving on floor space.
• Utilize corners or hallways.  Choose pieces like the Legacy Corner Cabinet, which will create space out of a difficult to use corner.  Utilizing a wider hallway or entry way for a bookcase or even a sofa table can also provide a place for keys, purses and other items needed on a daily basis.
• Living area turned bedroom space. Futons like the McIntosh Mission not only provide stylish seating space but also a comfortable bed for visiting friends or family members.
• Customize. Most of Amish Furniture Home’s pieces can be customized to fit your space.  This can go a long way in providing the exact amount of storage you need and to fit the space you have.

Once you have picked those specific pieces to furnish your space, another way to keep it looking great is to eliminate any clutter. Clear off flat surfaces and use that extra storage to “find a place for everything”.  The extra effort to put “everything in its place” will go a long way in maintaining the look of your small, but expertly furnished space.

Redecorating for the new wood furniture purchases is not necessary. However, if you plan to change your wall color palette after buying new wood furniture, finding the right color can be a challenge. The real wood pieces often had tones and hues that go unnoticed until a conflicting or complimentary color is nearby.

Wood pieces also change color a bit. Called a patina, the color tends to deepen with age. This can further disrupt your color scheme. Fortunately, there are some key things that you should know when trying to match wall color to the uniqueness of real wood pieces.

Three Tips for Wood Color Matching

Try some contrast

The best way to compliment your wood piece is to contrast the wood’s hue with the wall color. Cherry wood pieces like the Brookline Corner Cabinet and Bay Hill Dining Nook are dark hued pieces. To compliment or enhance these pieces, light wall colors are appropriate. Try the light color of your choice. Whatever it is, the light wall hue will sharply contrast with the cherry wood, making a bold statement in the dining room area.

Do the same with light wood pieces like the Alpine Hutch in Sawn White Oak will contrast nicely with darker wall colors. The lighter piece will still be the standout.

Look At the Tone

Another way to color-match the wood and the walls is to think of color combinations. Woods have orange, yellow, brown and even red tones that can be enhanced with the right color.

• The orange in the cherry and maple furniture (depending on the stain) is best enhanced using yellows, soft orange colors and even vibrant blues if you like the contrast.
• Yellow in the oaks and honey stained pieces is enhanced by soft greens like mint, yellows and pale green.
• Bring out the red in mahogany stained pieces and cherry with rich green and red or bluish green colors.
• Let the browns rule out with khaki, taupe, grayish tans and pale brown colors.

Consider Patina

Older pieces have a richer color that you must consider when choosing your paint color. The reds and orange in the cherry and red oak woods will deepen. The honey and yellow in lighter woods like white oak will become more golden, toasty. Try to choose colors on the wheel that will match these dominant hues and the walls will only enhance the piece as it ages.

Don’t forget to do the research before settling on a paint color. Snap a picture of your pieces and take with you paint shopping. Test the color on the wall before buying a batch. When you are finished, the new piece should look like it was made for the room.

Here at Amish Tables, we believe embrace everything about Amish Furniture. That includes the it’s timeless quality and amazing craftsmanship, but also the lesser known eco-friendly, sustainability factors of Amish furniture. There’s also the amazing creativity that goes into interior designs integrating Amish pieces.

For this, our second Blog Carnival, we have collected posts from around the web that reflect the many aspects and elements that make Amish furniture beloved by so many.If you’d like to see one of your posts appear in next month’s Carnival, email us at casey@amishtables.com or ping us on Twitter. Remember, each article can be found by clicking the red title before each summary.

Enjoy the Carnival!

How to Choose a Wall Color to go With Your Furniture

Choosing the ideal room color for your new interior design project is never easy. Whether you’re decorating a new house, or just giving your living room a makeover, it’s difficult to imagine the final product.

This article from eHow.com points your interior decorating ship in the right direction with some tips to get you started. More often than not, choosing a wall color that goes with your furniture is personal preference, but there are a few rules you should abide to. Neutral colors are good if your furniture pops, but you can also use a color wheel to provide your furniture with complementary backgrounds. For instance, if you’re outfitting your bedroom with the deep browns of Amish frames and cabinets, you should paint your walls with a deep blue. More tips in the article.

Eco-Friendly Furniture Benefits both You and the Environment

We’re very proud to be a part of the “Eco-friendly Furniture” movement with our Amish products satisfying the terms of Green furniture. Amish craftsman avoid harmful stains and materials in favor of all-natural woods and procedures.

If you are looking to “Green-ify” your home with eco-friendly furniture, this article has tips and advice for finding your perfect couch or dresser. By going green you are reducing extraneous waste and saving the environment. Some manufactures even fight deforestation and global warming by donating portions of their sales to environmentalist campaigns and initiatives.

Two Similar Chairs, Two Different Price Points

At Amish Tables, we take pride in each piece of furniture that goes out our showroom door, and each piece that is sold through our website. As our testimonials point out, all of our customers have a deep appreciation for the heirloom quality and craftsmanship that make Amish furniture so special. Although many of our pieces are more expensive than dressers and bed-frames you’ll find at iKea or Target, it’s the details that make our pieces so loved around the world.

Which of these Adirondack Chairs do you think came from our showroom?

A recent post by Abbey Koplovitz on her blog, On Interior Design points out how two similar looking furniture pieces, like a chair from an Amish craftsman and a chair from a retailer can be priced differently. Abbey encourages a 360 degree analysis of furniture pieces and their ornateness to witness the beauty a higher price can bring.

Weatherproofing Your Outdoor Furniture

Spring is (almost) in full bloom here in Michigan and it’s the perfect time to start preparing for outdoor gatherings. Whether you’ve just purchased some new patio furniture, or you’re ready to shield your old furniture from this summer’s weather conditions, it’s important to protect your investment… especially if you just picked up your new outdoor Amish furniture.

The bloggers at Decorating Knowledge have put together their Spring guide to furniture weather-proofing in a recent blog post. Wicker, Wood, Metal and Upholstered pieces can all benefit from their tips.

Reused Wood in Eco Interior Design

It’s been shown that synthetic carpets are very damaging to the environment, both in production and elimination. These unnatural fibers leave their mark on nature for years and years. So why not just avoid these unfriendly fibers and go with the hardwoods look?

As Green Home and Design points out, the hardwood look is both sleek and sustainable. You can go one step further and use reclaimed wood pieces to refurbish your hardwood floors. These woods should be protected, but again, keep Green strategies in place and pick up some eco-friendly stains, varnishes or mattes.

This Years Bedroom Trends – Part 3 – Natural Materials

As a few posts in this Carnival point out, it’s important to consider your carbon footprint when shopping for furniture these days. You have the ability to make a big difference when you buy dressers or tables made of wood from well managed forests with replanting schemes. This post from Terry’s Fabric’s in the UK provides tips for finding the right tones to make your next interior design both homey and eco-friendly.

“Don’t Call it Brown” Furniture Makes a Comeback

Despite our sputtering economy, furniture sales are picking up according to those in attendance at Antiques in Charlottesville, a furniture show held in January. Antiques and fine furniture isn’t the draw it once was, but handcrafted, American-made wood furniture still has a quality beloved by many.

That’s all for now. Stay tuned for some excellent posts coming up this week and we look forward to bringing you next month’s Blog Carnival on everything Amish Furniture has to offer!