It is officially summer and we have been inspired by the colors of the sea!  Here are some items to freshen up a living room or entry way!  The casual and relaxed colors are offset with a touch of glamour from the gilt mirror and mirrored vase; items which will also reflect the light and brighten your space!  The recycled glass candle holders have soft waves in the glass which echo the sea and it is sure to cause a beautiful reflection in a dimly lit room!  All together the look is calm yet colorful!

Reference the Style Guide below for resources!

Style Guide: {where to find the gotta-have pieces pictured above}

cobalt fabric : austin coffee table : antique mirrored vase : nest pillow : gilt mirror : wired basket : recycled glass candle holders :

In the last few decades the furniture industry has seen a shift towards big box behemoth chain stores. Customers in search of a bargain for a cheap furniture flock to these depots in order to furniture their house for as little as possible. As a consequence, the average American consumer really has no idea where their furniture comes from and the true effects of their purchasing decisions.

For most of the last century American furniture was made in Chicago and the South using American raw goods. As the EPA tightened pollution laws, many furniture manufacturers have found it much cheaper to move their factories overseas than to upgrade their American ones. Now, most furniture sold in the United States comes from China, Vietnam, Indonesia and many other similar countries.

While many people see this as just another aspect of the ever expanding process of globalization; the effects on our country, the environment, and work force are devastating. When you buy furniture you should consider more than just the sticker price!

The True Price of Cheap Furniture

Jobs

With many furniture factories closing down around the country and more furniture companies relying on imports, the domestic furniture job market has been decimated. Dozens of towns and communities that were centered around these furniture factories have been completely devastated. To make things worse, raw materials from around the world are sent to these overseas furniture factories completely bypassing the American logging industry and others.

The Environment

Furniture companies moved overseas to avoid compliance with the EPA’s tough emission and pollution restrictions. It’s simply cheaper for them to find a country with lax environmental laws and set up shop there. Many of these countries don’t care about the use of harmful chemicals or unsafe work conditions so large manufacturers can take the cheapest route possible to deliver that end table to Wal-Mart’s loading dock.

Furthermore, raw materials are being taken from delicate ecosystems like the Amazon’s rain forest and then shipped all around the world to the factories. After being constructed the final product is shipped around the world, only to be put on trucks and shipped even more. The effect of all of these greenhouse gas emissions expelled during the shipping process has a huge impact on our environment.

Made in America?

The Federal Trade Commission only mandates that U.S. content be disclosed for automobiles, textiles, wool and fur. If someone uses the “Made in America” tag it only has to be assembled here and have a certain percentage of the manufacturing costs spent in the U.S. This means a furniture company could have most of its product’s parts made in China, shipped here and slapped together before sale and still be considered “Made in America”.

The Solution? Buy Local

Once you factor in the environmental, economic, and human costs of that piece of cheap furniture it’s not really that great of a deal. The good news is that our country still has a thriving local furniture manufacturing industry. Some of the most notable furniture, in both quality and environmental friendliness, is made by the Amish.

These skilled craftsmen have been producing quality furniture from American wood and products for centuries and are the best examples of “Made in America” furniture you can find. Reasonably priced, these pieces will last you a lifetime instead of being landfill matter within a year or two like most big box store furniture.

We know that not everyone has easy access to Amish furniture, so that is why we work hard to bring you only the best pieces from the best craftsmen around the country. If you’re interested in buying furniture that is made from real wood, by true artisans and in an environmentally sound way then please take a look at our wide selection, here at Amish-Furniture-Home.com.

Not surprisingly, Amish furniture reflects influences from historically traditional styles. They all share the elements of simplicity and functionality. However, each style is distinct and can add a different feel to your home décor. The Shaker, Mission and Queen Ann are three basic styles that influence Amish furniture.

Bungalow Chest: a display of the Shaker style

Shaker

Shakers are known for their neatness and sense of order that permeates their art, work, and daily lives. This simplicity is found in their furniture style that the Amish borrow to make things like the Brookside Shaker Bed made by Amish Furniture Home.

Shaker furniture also has a functionality quality that requires every part to have a purpose. This means that there will be no faux drawers or decorative knobs on the piece. Just look at the Bungalow Chest; every door, drawer, and knob on the piece has a utility. There are no embellishments. Shaker furniture is simple, functional. This style is also known for the dovetail joinery technique, which can be seen here.

Mission/Arts and Crafts

The Mission Style can be traced back to the late 19th Century British Arts and Crafts Movement in England. This movement was a return to craftsmanship and artistry which developed as a rebellion against ornate Victorian design and mass production of the Industrial Age. The movement is characterized by simple lines, durable materials and the irreplaceable fine craftsmanship of the human hand.

American Mission Bed

The term ‘Mission’ to describe a rustic, clean-lined style of furniture began around 1895 and is attributed to Joseph McHugh, a furniture manufacturer from New York. The first design was for a straight lined, rush-seated chair which was influenced by and used in the Spanish missions of California.

Today the Mission Style is known for its simple, straight and solid design, emphasizing linear construction, exposed joinery, andmost of all craftsmanship. Look at the American Mission Bed for an example. There are no curved lines. Even the top of the posts are straight, cornered.

Queen Anne Bed: a tribute to classic Queen Anne style

Queen Anne

The Queen Anne style of furniture originated from Great Britain in the early 1700’s. It was revived in the late 1800’s and was a little more ornate than the Shaker and Mission styles, but more subtle than the Victorian style furniture. The subtle ornate look appeals to the Amish simplicity.

The cabriole legs characterize Queen Anne furniture, as well as the fiddle backed chairs and batwinged drawer knobs. The furniture utilizes curves, but keeps them clean. The Queen Anne Bed showcases this style of furniture perfectly.

When looking for your next Amish furniture piece, consider the influences that are at work in each piece and how they will work within the décor of your home. Built by craftsmen who pass on their trade from generation to generation, these artisans are building pieces the same way that furniture makers did over one hundred years ago. These pieces truly are heirloom quality!

The average size of the American home has grown tremendously over the past handful of decades. Homes which were once just over 1,000 square feet have swelled to 2,000 square feet and beyond. Despite this supersizing, there are plenty of Americans living in spaces that are less than 1,000 square feet. Many of these dwellings are apartments or condos, and some are the older smaller homes.

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.

Outfitting a child’s room with wood furniture doesn’t seem like a difficult endeavor at first. Aside from infant furniture, wood pieces are often design for the adult boudoir. However, with a little consideration, you can find furniture to outfit your child’s living space.

Safety
Safety is the foremost concern in looking for childrens’ furniture. Parents look for things that will be sturdy, and not harmful to the child’s health.

• Consider pieces made of real wood, with no ply-board pieces added.
• Also look at U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website to find any product recalls on wood furniture. This way, you will know what pieces to avoid during your search.
• When shopping, ask about the type of paints and finishes used on the furniture. Look at the furniture company websites to see what types of finishes and paints that they use. Stay away from chemicals that are toxic or that contain formaldehyde.

The right size furniture
Size is a great issue, because most wood furniture is constructed for infants or adults. Choose beds and bookcases that are easy for your little one to access. For example, the BonBelle Chest is a five drawer chest that a toddler can use, as well as a teen. Even baby furniture like the French Country Changer/Chest is one that the child can use at any age.

Heirloom Quality
That brings us to the next point, timeless furniture. Look for functional pieces that the child can use as he grows. Try not to outfit the room with pieces that will be irrelevant before the child is even old enough to use them. The real wood construction makes the pieces sturdy. Find a piece that isn’t too short or tall for the child and his room.

Color considerations
Parents are tempted to paint everything, even the furniture, a pastel color when planning the nursery. While this is fine for the walls (which can be repainted inexpensively), furniture is too expensive to replace in the two years it takes a child to leave the infant stage for toddlerhood. Furthermore, children like bold colors while teens tend toward darker contrasts. These preferences will result in several furniture changes.

Instead, look for real wood pieces in natural colors that will integrate well with pastels, bolds or neutrals. The Bow Mission Bed in hickory is an example. It is a color that will complement the pastels and not overshadow the bold toddler colors. It will stand against the dark teen years as well.

When picking out the furniture for your child’s room, whether it’s a new nursery or a teen’s room remodel, seek out real wood pieces like those from Amish Furniture Home. They are safe, sturdy products that can grow with your child and can be used at any age.

Are you not sure what to give Dad for Father’s Day?  We have the perfect gift that will make this Father’s Day one to remember!

Treat your Father to a Custom Plasma TV Unit

Dad has been there through the best and the worst, supportive and caring, ready to help and offer a hand; why not thank Dad with a Custom Plasma TV Unit?  We have a wide variety of styles that are sure to compliment any living room space.  Like all of our furniture, plasma TV units are built to order.  You can choose the wood type, stain and even special finishing techniques.  Place your Father’s day order by July 1 and he will have it in time for that Kickoff game this Fall!   See all the different options available here.

Dad not a TV guy? What about these ideas?

Of course if a plasma TV unit or entertainment unit is not what you are looking for, we have over 2000 products to choose from on our website.  Maybe a new coffee table like the Kenwood pictured to the right, or a pub table and bar stools.  The choices are endless!

Valuable Savings for you, Perfect Gifts for Dad

Looking for a great deal for Dad?  We have a variety of additional items available in our clearance area which will make Dad’s day and yours!  Visit our showroom to see the items in person or view our clearance section on our website at: www.amish-furniture-home.com

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!

Color Your Interior To Match Your Moods – 16 Million Of Them

As we have documented numerous times on this blog, the color of your walls plays a critical role in your interior design. This post from Inventor’s Spot highlights a neat idea to help you keep your interior design fresh, without all the paint brushes. With this Living Colors Lamp you can change the “mood” of any room to match your furniture or other lighting effects. Don’t let the color of your wall hold you back from refreshing your furniture palette either.

Bug Infested Wood Transformed into Sleek Modern Furniture

It’s not over ’til it’s over for furniture makers at Straight Line Designs. The effects of global warming have produced higher-than-normal levels of Pine Beetles living in woodland areas, which has led to a landscape of damaged wood. Whereas many woodworkers have thrown this wood to the curb, Straight Line has found ways to transform “garbage” wood into beautiful arrangements.

Family and Furniture Drive Yalie

Wood furniture evokes a passion and sentimentality unlike it’s metal and plastic siblings. At Amish Tables, we recognize that each piece of furniture has its own spirit and personality. This concept is shared by Kerry Triffin and his wife Elizabeth Orsini, co-owners of Fairhaven Furniture in Connecticut for the past 30 years. Kerry works with woodworkers from all over the country, specializing in quality and craftsmanship. This article explains how furniture is so special, it’s apart of you for life:

“There’s some furniture that’s like a wife or a husband: You’d like it to go down the stream of life with you”

We absolutely hold this belief and it’s apparent in all our lines of furniture, like the Batavia Bed that will last for generations.

How To Select Wall Decorations

Wall Decorations are a crucial element to any interior design plan. When you walk into a dining room or living room, the walls should complement the rest of the furniture in the room.  But what are your options when it comes to wall decor?  This post from TCN-Seven.com points out five brilliant methods to covering your walls with more than just dry wall.

Eco-designers Display Eco-friendly Furniture at Milan Expo

This post comes from GreenDiary.com and chronicles the highlights from the Milan International Furniture Fair in which designers created eco-friendly furniture. Some designers went the extra mile and crafted pieces in the shape of flowers, grass and leaves. Check out the post for some breathtaking pictures.

It’s Only Natural

In honor of Earth Day last week, this blogger collected furniture pieces from around the web and describes what each designer intended with their “Green” piece. Great ideas and a wonderful blog post.

That does it for this Blog Carnival! Thanks to all those that submitted and look forward to next month’s post. And remember to keep the discussion going on our Facebook page. We post daily and have a great group of followers that would love to hear from you! Talk to you soon!

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.

It’s important that your furniture be free of toxic stains and finishes. Many manufacturers use materials and chemicals that are less than eco-friendly. Some of these materials are often toxic to the family using the furniture every day. Yet, these materials are used in mass produced furniture lines that occupies most retail showrooms. There are many options when your family is shopping for new furniture, like Amish pieces or other natural hardwoods.

Formaldehyde

Pressed wood is used in many mass produced pieces. In addition to being a lower quality product, pressed wood contains urea-formaldehyde that is used in the adhesive. Pressed woods include particleboard, hardwood plywood used for panels and medium density fiberboard.

The formaldehyde is a gas that, when used throughout a home, can cause irritation in the eyes, nose, and throat as well as tiredness, asthma symptoms and rashes. People who are sensitive to the formaldehyde may experience more severe symptoms.

The concentration of the chemical in the home increases with the number of pressed board furniture pieces. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advises limiting the number of pressed board pieces in the home in order to reduce the risk of formaldehyde contamination.

Polyvinyl Chloride

A chemical used in many plastics is also used to coat many low quality wood furniture pieces. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is considered a serious threat to human health and the environment for several reasons.

• The material uses or produces chemicals like vinyl chloride that are linked to cancers.
• Production of the material leads to groundwater and air pollution.
• Additives like lead are used in production and can become a hazard to your home.

Polyvinyl chloride is found in furniture made of faux wood and/or faux leather. They are inexpensive pieces, which appeals to families on a budget. However, the PVC can cause health problems that far outweigh the furniture savings. Buying real wood furniture is the only way to avoid buying pieces made with PVC as it is difficult to determine if the piece has been coated with the material.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Identifiable by the strong “new furniture smell” volatile organic compounds or VOC’s are a category of chemicals that include formaldehyde and also acetaldehyde, benzene, xylene, toluene and isocyanates. These chemicals are found in the stains, paints and furniture of a lower quality than real wood. Although formaldehyde is the headlining carcinogen in the group, the other compounds also buildup in the home environment, leading to allergic reactions.

Toxic Free Living

Buying real wood from a company known for using quality products is the best way to keep your home environment free of these harmful chemicals.  Many Amish furniture outlets like Amish Tables support chemical free stains and adhesives, resulting in eco-freindly, toxic-free furniture.

From the aristocratic lounger to the American household staple, the couch has come a long way in it’s journey to King of the Living Room. This family room essential is basically a combination of a settee and a sofa, two very established furniture pieces. However, other couch-like pieces out there make choosing the right lounger for your family room a game of “Guess Who?”.

There are four basic pieces used for sitting in America. They are the couch, settee, loveseat and the sofa. Each has its own, distinct characteristics and role in furniture history.

Sofa

The sofa was the beginning of the couch’s evolutionary chain. It was a lounge that had one arm, a back. Sofas were fully cushioned and primarily intended as furniture on which ladies could lounge. Sofas were created around the 17th century for the aristocrat’s bedroom.  These bedrooms were even larger than today’s version of the Master Bedroom and had a great focus on relaxation.

The parlor was in fashion around this time and was primarily used for funerals and receiving guests. Surprisingly, comfort was rarely a point of concern as stiff chairs furnished the room. Comfort was reserved for bedrooms with plush bedding and the sofa lounge.

After the Industrial Revolution, large furnishings like the sofa were mass produced and thus cheaper. The lower classes could finally afford these comfortable pieces of furniture. However, the working family’s bedroom was very small.

Consequently, the sofa was placed in the largest room which came to be known as the Living Room. The sofa gained another arm and was upholstered across the entire back to accommodate the family. And once the television burst onto the scene in the 20th century, the sofa evolved again — this time it was longer and came to be known as the Couch.

Settee

A Settee is a formal version of the couches we use today. It had the high back, attached to the bench seat, with arms that are meant to be a supportive rest. Settees are upholstered but not designed for comfort. The Hilltop Settee in our showroom is an outdoor version of this furniture piece. Notice how the seat and back of the settee are upholstered.

The settee was actually two steps before the couch on the furniture evolution charts, although you still may hear couches referred to as settees. It was created to be a double chair. Furniture makers soon created a version that was slightly smaller than the normal settee. It was called a “courting seat” or a loveseat.

Loveseat

The loveseat was made specifically for lovers. It soon became cushioned for extra comfort. The upholstering was on the arms, seat and back. Loveseats like the Skyline Loveseat, can also be designed as recliners. This feature only enhances the comfort factor that the seats are known for.

Choices, Choices

Deciding on the right furniture piece for your family room often involves choosing the right colors and patterns. Knowing the origins of the piece you’re sitting on not only helps to narrow the field of choices. It can also become a great conversation starter.