Photo Credit: Apartment Therapy

Sometimes, it’s about doing more with less, so if you’re looking to update or change the look of your living space but don’t want to drop a lot of money right now, then it’s time for this handy Do-It-Yourself guide.  Refinishing used pieces is a great way to spruce up a room.

In our last post, “5 Vital Tips for Antique Shopping“, we discussed trying to find pieces that are well made and affordable.  Some of these pieces require a little love so that they can shine again.  The following DIY provides the needed steps to bring your newly acquired piece back to life with with some TLC.

Thankfully, this DIY project is so easy, its one that you could tackle this weekend.  You’ll be amazed how a little elbow grease and trip to the home improvement store can up the style in your home.

How To: Stain Your Furniture

Here’s how you knock this project out over the weekend:

1. Sanding: Put down a drop cloth to collect the sanding debris and protect the bottom of your furniture.  Work outside if possible or failing that, in a garage.  If you do this inside you’ll be finding dust for months!  Gently sand the surface of your furniture, using uniform pressure throughout until the old finish is gone.  If you’re dealing with something large like a hutch or table a power sander might be worth the investment.
2. Prepare for the Stain: You’re going to want to take your time and make sure all of the dust is gone.  Wipe it down with a moist rag that is lint free.  Let it dry and then wipe it again.  Then repeat the wipe down one more time with a dry cloth and let the piece sit for a bit.  Examine it after awhile and see if the wiping needs to be repeated.  Make sure your drop cloth is completely free of dust and then cover it with something absorbent like newspaper.  If the piece is large, prop it up with wood blocks so you can easily work on the bottom edges.
3. Staining: Mix the can of stain up vigorously to make sure the tint is uniform throughout.  You will need to mix the stain as you work a few times to make sure the tint doesn’t settle on the bottom of the can.  Work in sections, starting on the underside.  Stain a section and wipe off the excess so that the wood grain shows through.  Make sure to have plenty of lint free cloths ready to go for this section.  You can always add more stain later so don’t worry about wiping too much away.
4. Dry: The stain will take about a day to fully dry.  In the meantime put it somewhere dust and dirt free that is also blocked from the wind.  There is nothing like leaving your piece to dry somewhere and find a random leaf or something stuck to it the next day.  The weather also plays a role in drying; a lot of humidity in the air will slow the drying process.
5. Final Finish: Check for rough spots or areas that may need to be touched up.  Sand rough spots lightly and re-stain where necessary.  After you’re satisfied with the finished project, apply the sealant coat.  This is either made from wax or polyurethane.  This will protect your work for years to come, so it’s a very important step.

Knowing how to stain your own furniture pays off in spades over the years.  Quality furniture, like the pieces we sell here at Amish Tables, can be refinished again through the years.  This gives you a piece of quality furniture that you can change to match a new style or just freshen up to make it as good as new.

Photo Credit: Country Living

When it comes to buying new furniture, it sometimes seems as though your options are limited.  You can either buy a mass produced piece, which can be trendy and lack character or pay a lot more money for something made with some true craftsmanship.  If you refuse to go down the first road but don’t have enough money for the second option, then you need to check out antiquing.

Finding an older piece of furniture that was made with high quality materials and superior craftsmanship is a lot easier than you think.  It may not look the best on the outside, but like mom always said, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”  With some patience, a sharp eye and some elbow grease, you can turn a rough looking antique into a stylish piece of furniture that will last you years.

Sorting through garage sales, flea markets and even online auctions for antiques can be a blast, but if you don’t know what to look for you’re going to miss out or waste money on something that isn’t right for you and your home.  Follow these five simple tips and you can avoid a lot of headaches:

1) Proper Preparation

Making sure you are ready and have your “game face” on when you go antiquing makes things a whole lot easier.  First, get a general idea what you’re looking for.  Do you need certain piece or have to fill an empty space in your furniture lineup?  If so measure that space and know what will fit and what won’t.  If you’re just out browsing and aren’t sure what you’re after, take key measurements of your house: door widths and general room dimensions.

Visit a couple of auctions, flea markets and other antique sales to get a feeling for what things cost.  Online auctions are a great resource to find out about prices and help you know when a seller is asking for way too much.  Pick yourself up some antique pricing guides if you’re going to be doing a lot of this.  Having them handy in your car will help answer a lot of questions you might otherwise have to just guess on.

Make sure you come ready to buy and transport your find home.  That means bringing or borrowing a truck or something similar if you’re in the market for larger pieces.  Rope, blankets and padding will all come in useful too.  Don’t depend on the seller for any of this, as it may be used as a bargaining chip against you.

2) Inspect Intensely

When you come across something that looks interesting make sure you give it a thorough inspection.  Examine the piece for blemishes, cracks or any areas that may show signs of being repaired previously.  If possible, pick it up and look at the bottom of it as well as inside, on the top and any other area that may not be easily visible.  Try to identify anything that gives a hint to where and when it was made.

3) Arrive Early, Stay Late

Make sure you’re there when the festivities kick off so you get a feeling for all of the pieces available.  If you find something you just can’t live without, make sure you let the seller know you’re interested.  However, don’t expect to get a deal first thing in the morning.  With buyers all around, sellers might not feel like giving up too much.  This will change throughout the day though.  By sticking around until the later hours of the sale you can get some good deals.  Many sellers would rather sacrifice some of their profits then pack the pieces back up and cart them home.

4) Don’t Get Hung Up on Value

I know it sounds crazy because you’re here trying to get a deal on some furniture, but don’t get too obsessed with value.  Pay what you feel comfortable for a piece, factoring in the work and materials it will take to bring it back to its former glory.  If you love the piece and are comfortable with the price, then go for it.  Even though it may not be the greatest deal, the bigger part of this adventure is being happy with your find and the way it fits in your home!

5) Be Friendly

Yeah, it sounds like common sense but a lot of people let their manners fly out the window when they are negotiating with strangers.  The people selling their antiques are people too.  If they are owners like you would deal with at a garage sale, then they may have sentimental attachments to their pieces.  Marching up and declaring “it’s junk” and that “they are lucky you’re here to take it off their hands” is a quick way to get the cold shoulder.

Even if they are professional antiques dealers, you can still let them know you’re interested and want to negotiate without being rude.  Try these simple and polite ways to let them know you want to haggle:

• Is this the best possible price?
• I really like this piece but I only have X dollars, what can you do on the price?
• Is there any wiggle room on the price?
• I can see this piece needs to be fixed up a bit, considering that, would you accept X?

Follow these simple steps and you’ll be ready to buy antiques like a pro and get a great deal on quality furniture.  If you’re not the handiest person, check out our upcoming post on how to stain furniture.  We’ll walk you through what to do with that perfect piece that needs to be refinished.

Color Trends for 2011

So you have your paint brushes out, you’ve got the drop cloth on the floor, and you’re standing in front of the color swatches at the paint store trying to decide what color to choose. It’s not like you don’t have a bazillion options!

If you’re up to speed on the color trends for 2011, this is a much easier task.

For the new year, color favorites will run the gambit from cool and sophisticated to bold and BOHO. Each of the major paint companies have collections of colors that are hot for the new year and fall into about 4 categories… Pale neutrals….organic naturals….bold and bright….and ethnic and global.

Neutrals with a Touch of Glam

Gray, white and taupe step it up in 2011 with touches of metallics, shine and sparkle.

Muted purples in shades ranging from soft lavender to deeper wines have become neutrals this year when they are paired with gray, natural whites and creams and more intense browns.

And you thought that gold was gone! Well look again! It’s being used in large does to add some glamour to a space. Shimmering softly, there’s no brassiness to this gold tone….just soft and luscious. Use it with other neutrals or more bold and beautiful….It’s baaaaack……

Organic Naturals

Going green, both literally and figuratively, is a hallmark of interior design for the present and the future. The colors or 2011 carry the theme along and present with colors of nature…think vegetables from the farm, rocks in a natural spring and clear summer skies mixed with milky whites and creams.

Color Brights

Remember how you loved the 96 count box of Crayolas? It had the sharpener and it made you hot stuff in kindergarten. You won’t need quite so many colors with the resurgence of primary colors in the 2011 color palette.

When the economy goes down the colors go bright! Even with the recovery, we gravitate to colors that enliven us and and elevate our moods. Paint the walls, bring in pops of color in accessories and mix it with bright whites and clear neutrals.

You Go BoHo

Global influences and ethnic designs are a big influencer in colors for 2011. Rich, earthy, bright and clear, the tribal colors and patterns bring inspiration and imagination to our spaces. Ancient Suzani, Ikat, Dhurrie patterns bring a rich array of textures, colors and energy to spaces, and their influence will continue to be felt throughout 2011.

The colors for 2011 speak to every person and every mood. Color is always personal, and there is plenty of room for everyone’s personality to shine in these varied palettes. Most importantly, choose color based on how it makes YOU feel and what you love. When that’s your measuring stick, there will be a design and a color to fit it!

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.

You can continue gardening throughout the year with a little work and a minimal investment of time and equipment.  Imagine enjoying home grown herbs and tomatoes yearlong or simply adding some color and Mother Nature’s style to your home with plants and flowers.  You can enjoy all of the benefits of your garden year long by following these simple steps.

Photo Credit: The Green Life

Map it Out

Decide on how many plants you’re going to have, what kind and where they are going to go.  Pick plants that work with your space but do not make it feel crowded.  Remember that plants should be the accents to your interior, not the biggest element.

The easiest way to keep an inside garden is to maximize its exposure to sunlight, which means you have to plan accordingly.  Windowsills, entryways and kitchen counters that get a steady amount of sunlight work the best.  Generally speaking, a southward facing window delivers the most sunlight throughout the day.  Figure out how much space you have to work with and pick plants that will fit nicely.

Other Lighting Options

Depending on the extent of your garden, the room you have available and the plants you are planning on growing, you might want to consider artificial grow lights.  These come in a variety of kinds, sizes and intensities and can be used to replace or supplement natural sunlight to help you plant grow faster and bigger.

Make sure you do your research and find out what lights work best for the plants you are planning on growing.  You also want to make sure you keep them at the proper distance away from the plant so it doesn’t get too hot.

Photo Credit: Laure Joliet/Apartment Therapy

Set It Up

Now that you have your location, plant selection and lighting issues all sorted out, it’s time to put everything together.  Get pots that are the right size for your plant of choice and fill them with a mixture of 4 parts potting soil and 1 part compost.  You’re going to want to make sure your compost or organic fertilizer is odorless or a number of your friends may not want to come over for brunch.

After getting your plants potted make sure to put the pots on saucers to catch the water run off.  Most plants require frequent watering.  But some plants like aloe vera or succulents do better with less water.  Make sure you know what each of your plants requires; too little water and they will die and too much water causes their roots to rot.  Finally, keep an eye on your plants for any part that needs to be trimmed or removed.

It’s not that hard to enjoy your garden inside with a little planning and some basic upkeep.  Having living things inside your house will keep you well balanced, especially during long cold winter months.  Start planning your winter garden today, so you’re ready for the next deep freeze.

Happy Gardening!

Welcome to Amish Furniture Home’s Fourth Blog Carnival! We have collected posts from around the web that focus on updating one room of your home. With these simple steps, you could make over a room in a weekend! For this post we chose a guest room, but these steps could easily be applied to almost any room! If you choose to follow these steps, email us photos of your redesign and your design could be featured on our blog!

If you’d like to see one of your posts appear in next month’s Carnival, email us at marketing@amishtables.com or message us on Twitter. Remember, each article can be found by clicking the blue title before each summary.

Happy Re-Designing!

Ok, you have decided you are finally going to tackle that “catch-all” room. But where do you start? Blogger Janell Beals gives our readers some tips in this post.  In order to go through this too, we have picked an inspiration room, revealed next.

Here it is! This is the inspiration for the guest room, courtesy of Noir Blanc Interiors‘ Beach House Decor Blog!  You will see the photo of this guest room at the beginning of this post.  We love the relaxed colors and a little touch of the seaside. It is still summer after all!  We chose this as our inspiration room, because with some simple additions and a little planning, we felt this could be an easily attainable room for you our readers!

We love ceilings and like Barbara Miller we feel that they all too often get forgotten. We think her interesting paper technique could be a good addition to the guest room design we are working towards. If this is too daunting another idea would be to use a slightly darker shade on the ceiling, like a lovely warm gray!

How To: No Sew Faux Roman Shade

Working through our guest room re-design, we wanted to find a quick and easy curtain that we could make.  We found this great “How To” post from the blog High Heeled Foot in the Door. Of course making curtains yourself allows you the freedom to pick fabrics and colors that work with your scheme.  If you need more privacy, you could always add sheers behind the curtains or make them longer!

What bed is complete without some throw pillows? This handy “How To” from Fresh Nest Design is another perfect way to tie your scheme together, especially if you are also making your own Faux Roman Shade!  Instead of the rosettes, you could also use ribbon, buttons, or nothing at all depending on the type of fabric you are using.  If you don’t have time to do anything else, this is a great way to freshen up any room.  Think of new pillows on your sofa, instant pops of fresh color!

Now What? Hopefully this Carnival has inspired you to to bring life to an un-inspired room in your home; you have a decent arsenal of tools to get this job done in one weekend. But what next?

It is time to start pulling your design together, piece by piece.  In our strategy, we would purchase all our items to make sure we can get the complete look we are hoping for. Then comes the time to pick your weekend, prep, paint and reassemble the room! You can tackle the DIY projects in between paint coats or you could do them ahead of time, so there is less to do over the weekend.

We have pulled together a style guide (complete with shopping resources) based on the featured room inspiration. Its a little different, but we think the feel is similar. What do you think?

Style Guide – Resources

1) Monogrammed Sheets: Restoration Hardware

2) Duvet Cover: Potterybarn

3) Shell Print: Etsy

4) Vintage Shell Print: Etsy

5) Fossil Lamp: West Elm

6) Plain Tin Slate Wool Rug: Dash & Albert

7) Royal Master Sealight Floor Lamp: Restoration Hardware

Linen: Home Fabrics & Rugs

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!

These four rules of interior decoration will help you reinvent your living space and bring some style into your domicile.  While style and interior design are highly subjective, there are just some things that you should or shouldn’t do.  If you’re looking to spice things up inside but don’t want to commit any design faux pas, then you need to check out these easy to follow tips:

Source: Isabella & Max Rooms

1) Plan and Measure

A lot of people fall in love with a piece of furniture and figure they can just “make it work” in their living space. This is a big no-no!  We all know how people in clothes that don’t fit them look; that could be your living room.  Measure your room and make sure that large pieces fit properly.  Having something too big and placing it at weird angles will rob you of usable space and make your room look off.  Small pieces have the opposite effect, in that they make the room feel empty.  If you just end up buying more small pieces to fill the space, you will end up with a cluttered and thrown together room.

2) Use a Rug

Rugs come in a variety of shapes, colors and styles, so there is always one that is perfect for your room’s new look.  Rugs pull a room together and connect the individual elements.  Make sure the rug is tucked under the front of a piece of furniture like a chair, sofa or table.  Your rug needs to be physically and stylistically connected to the entire room.  Colour Me Happy has a great post on selecting the perfect rug for your space, check that out here.

3) Limit Collectibles

You’re going to want to cut down on the amount of collectibles you display.  Every one has their favorite knick-knack that they can’t get enough of, but too much of a good thing is bad.  Select your favorite piece or two and use them as accents or a focal piece on your mantel.  This highlights your collection, without cluttering the whole space with the entire deal.  The same goes for family heirlooms.  One or two is great but too many will hijack your room.

4) Function Over Fashion

At all costs make sure that your space is functional and above all comfortable.  There is nothing worse than a “perfectly decorated” room that can’t ever be used by people.  You’re not creating a Macy’s window display, you’re trying to make your living space lively and more livable.  Express your fashion sense and individuality but never at the expense of comfort and usability.  Sit in all of the chairs, try out the beds, use the towels and whatever else you have to do to fully test for comfort.  You, as well as your guests, will love it even more when the space you have created can actually be used.

Follow these simple rules and a well designed room is within your reach!  It’s a long road, but good style and design is a journey, not a destination.  Have fun, be yourself and try new things to find your unique look and style!

Style Guide

Lemon Orchard Serving Bowl and Platter – We liked this because of its relaxed and whimsical nature.

Amber Tumblers – A nod to the antique depression glass that reminds us of our grandmothers!

Rust Woven Placemat – We love to use placemats as runners down the middle of the table.  More cost effective than tablecloths and show off your beautiful table!

Banana Bark Napkin Ring – A natural material put to good use.  Improvise with twine or raffia for a similar look or for a party!

Paper Pretender Dishes – Echoing the fluted edges of paper plates, these dishes bring that picnic feel indoors.

Promenade Flatware – Simple and classic lines make this an ideal flatware pattern to compliment the more detailed items on the table.

]]> http://www.amish-furniture-home.com/blog/inspiration/the-summery-side-of-things/feed/ 0 http://www.amish-furniture-home.com/blog/design-style/the-universal-design-appeal-of-amish-furniture/ http://www.amish-furniture-home.com/blog/design-style/the-universal-design-appeal-of-amish-furniture/#comments Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:10:52 +0000 torie http://www.amish-furniture-home.com/blog/?p=1428 It’s a common misconception that just because the Amish ride around in horse drawn buggies and shun modern conveniences that their furniture is devoid of modern style. Nothing could be further from the truth!

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.