http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/interior-design/inexpensive-bedroom-furniture-for-the-contemporary-look.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/interior-design/inexpensive-bedroom-furniture-for-the-contemporary-look.html Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Perhaps the main advantage RTA furniture has over solid wood furniture is that it is actually stronger. Particleboard with a thin veneer on each side can hold more weight and take more abuse than most solid wood boards. In addition, solid wood has the propensity to warp and crack over time due to changes in humidity and moisture entering small cracks and openings. Engineered wood is almost completely impenetrable and doesn't have the natural cracks and pores solid wood has. If taken care of, RTA furniture actually has properties that give it a longer life span than solid wood furniture.

If you're going for a contemporary look in your bedroom, RTA furniture is the ideal choice for you. Modern designs are simple and sleek, with solid tones that are often void of wood grains completely. Dark hues like espresso and jet black are very popular in contemporary bedroom furniture right now. What's the use of hiding a beautiful oak bedroom set under a coat of black paint? RTA furniture gives you the finish and look you want for a fraction of the price.

And of course, price is always a concern; at least it is for most of us. If taken care of properly, your RTA bedroom set can last for as long as you want it to. If you like to update the look in your bedroom every so often and prefer to keep up with trends, RTA furniture is perfect for you. You don't have to invest a huge chunk of money and pray you don't grow tired of it like you do with solid wood furniture. With the minimal cost of RTA furniture, updating your bedroom furniture every year or two is viable option.

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For a HUGE selection of bedroom furniture including beautiful platform beds visit the Eco-Furniture website today.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/interior-design/oriental-inspired-furniture-adds-style-and-sophistication.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/interior-design/oriental-inspired-furniture-adds-style-and-sophistication.html Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Lacquered surfaces are a key attribute of the Chinese furniture style, creating luxuriantly deep finishes that are paradoxically subtle and striking in their elegance. Comprised of ebony, teak and rosewood, Chinese furniture often bears an inlay of semi-precious materials like lapis lazuli, jade and mother-of-pearl. Symmetrical construction, miter joints and copper, brass or pewter brackets are often employed to create a clean profile that enhances a modern, cosmopolitan living space.

Space-saving savvy puts Japanese-inspired furniture high on the list of city dwellers and dorm room denizens alike. If you love your sleek, streamlined platform bed and couldn't live without your stowaway futon, you owe your admiration to the ingenuity of a culture that traditionally shuns large, overwrought furniture. Other recognizable items that hail from Japan include the stacked Tansu chests and Nagamochi trunks. Like Chinese furnishings, furniture influenced by Japanese design is defined by its joinery, with master artisans taking years to learn the construction of these complex, durable joints. Great pride is taken in the general lack of nails or glue that holds the structure together, and in the joint's shock absorbing properties.

Much contemporary furniture owes its inspiration to ancient Oriental designs. The beauty of a piece was found in its usefulness and construction. Simplicity of design was valued more than ostentatious and gaudy overindulgence. The same can be said for today's modern furniture, especially bedroom furniture, where sleek and simple equals stylish and sophisticated.

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For a HUGE selection of bedroom furniture including beautiful platform beds visit the Eco-Furniture website today.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/home-improvement/sofa-so-good-the-tale-of-an-underappreciated-piece-of-furniture.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/home-improvement/sofa-so-good-the-tale-of-an-underappreciated-piece-of-furniture.html Wed, 11 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Choosing a new sofa can be as agonizing as choosing a new car. What kind of upholstery do I want? What color? Any special features? Am I going to like it a year from now, how about five years? Once I'm brought home and put in my assigned place, though, I'm all but forgotten. I become a fixture in your living room almost instantaneously, effortlessly blending in with my surroundings like a chameleon. I can eventually become an unofficial member of a family, a step below the dog and cat, but definitely above the goldfish.

I silently and steadfastly endure a ton of abuse. From spills to crumbs to pet hair, and anything else you can imagine, I sit there and take it. Scotch Guard or no, I do my best to repel every wine and soda spill and of course, every leaky diaper. I'm also often vilified for doing nothing more than keeping valuables safe and sound. You accuse me of "eating" items such as earrings, loose change, and, of course, remote controls. This is a definite misnomer as I get plenty of nourishment from the aforementioned food and drink spills. What's happening here is I'm simply holding on to these items for you until you need them. Kind of like the safety deposit box you never knew about.

I require no thanks or fanfare for my loyalty and dependability. All I ask is that you try not to sit on my arms and that you please change any diapers on the carpet. You could probably mix in a salad and skip dessert every now and again too. That's just me looking out for your health, though. Also, please don't send me away to your teenager's apartment when you're done with me. I deserve a more dignified retirement than that; I'll take my chances at the Goodwill.

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For a HUGE selection of living room furniture and bedroom furniture, including sofas and affordable platform beds, visit the Eco-Furniture website today.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/interior-design/create-a-tropical-island-retreat-in-your-home.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/interior-design/create-a-tropical-island-retreat-in-your-home.html Tue, 10 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Be environmentally conscious and fashionable when purchasing your floor covering. Sisal and jute rugs woven from natural fibers keep the tropical look alive on the floor and provide textural interest against wood flooring.

A popular accessory for Tropical-style rooms is a wide-blade fan constructed from rattan or with palm paddles. Many of these fans today perform double-duty as light fixtures, with bulbs already attached at the base of the fan. This option keeps rooms bright and circulates air, making it a thoroughly modern, space-efficient design that nevertheless brings thoughts of the Tropics to mind.

While tropical woods like ebony, mahogany and teak are popular for attaining a tropical look, don't purchase them unless they are certified sustainable. Wood furniture can also achieve a tropical look with carvings; popular motifs include pineapples, palm leaves or trees and flowers. Bamboo and rattan furniture also go far to create your private paradise, are eco-friendly, and utterly picturesque.

Keep fabrics breezy and light, both in color and texture. Favorite tropical prints reflect native botanicals that provide splashes of color, like the hibiscus or Bird of Paradise. Use real plants to bring the lush beauty of the tropics indoors, or dot bare surfaces on walls with floral prints or indigenous art. For a fun and practical twist, place a travel trunk someplace that needs some tropical flavor, and use it to store linens and other items out of the away.

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For a HUGE selection of Tropical inspired furniture and lighting visit the GREENCulture websites today.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/interior-design/the-colonial-look-returns-you-to-a-simpler-time.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/interior-design/the-colonial-look-returns-you-to-a-simpler-time.html Tue, 10 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500
You have a bit of elbow room to play with when orchestrating your color scheme. Using distinctive colors like vermilion, indigo, and olive mimics the colors found in affluent homes of the time. Mellow, earthy hues like brown, yellow and green gives you a color palette used by modest families of the period.

Candles and lanterns were a signature lighting instrument during the Colonial era, and it's easy to get that same look today. Simulated tapers, with a tiny bulb replacing a flame, are a common design in today's lighting market. Find chandeliers and sconces that implement the same wrought iron or brass metal finishes that were found in the fixtures of the time. If you want a more opulent style, concentrate on glass chandeliers embellished with dangling crystals.

A colonial room mixes Queen Anne and Chippendale styles with classic American elements. Characteristics of Queen Anne furniture include the elegantly feminine cabriole leg that curves from chair to floor, and the "S" scrolls that shape the pieces. Besides chairs, select tables and chests that feature cabriole legs for a cohesive look that runs throughout the entire room. Chippendale chairs are another possibility, with straight front legs and bowed or pierced slat backs. To transition from English traditional to American Colonial, simply insert some American design staples like a secretary desk, a handsome and functional fixture that adds charm to living spaces. Chest-on-chests, dining tables with drop leaves, highboys and matching lowboys and Windsor chairs will also do nicely.

Dig out any heirloom samplers from your family attic and break out the silver or pewter service ware for display on your sideboard. Colonial style focuses on the hearth, so if you have one, make it the focus of your design and enhance it with molding and carved mantels. You can draw attention to your fireplace by hanging large paintings or prints over it if you don't have a mantel. Another signature accessory, the grandfather clock, complements dignified furniture like secretary desks, and varieties can be found with lacquers, broken pediments and finials. Lastly, tie in your windows with drapes them with festoon blind and French draw curtains.

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For a HUGE selection of bedroom furniture including beautiful platform beds visit the Eco-Furniture website today.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/interior-design/are-you-ready-for-a-new-bed.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/interior-design/are-you-ready-for-a-new-bed.html Tue, 10 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500
For those looking for some modern flair, a new platform bed is a stylish and inexpensive way to kick start your bedroom décor. Platform beds are often low profile and many exude an Asian-inspired aesthetic with clean lines and smooth, sleek finishes. The headboards of platform beds are much different than those of traditional and transitional beds. They are seldom ornately detailed and overbearingly bulky. Instead, they usually have an understated, slim design that melds effortlessly with the rest of the bed. Platform beds save money by not requiring a box spring. They instead use a series of slats that run across the width of the bed to support the mattress.

If you lean toward the more traditional styles, perhaps an exquisite new canopy bed is right for you. This classically inspired bed style was first used in Europe in the 15th century as a second line of defense against leaky thatch roofs. As time went on, they became more and more elaborate and decorative. Today's styles vary from ornate to simple, and everything in between. Models are available that include a top enclosure and often feature beautiful fabrics and materials.

Those who want something in the middle, need look no further than a new sleigh bed. While early versions of this Empire period creation were overwrought with detail and design, modern day sleigh beds feature toned-down foot and headboards with less defined scrolls. Today's sleigh beds are less sleigh and more bed, making them an ideal choice to match almost any bedroom décor.

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For a HUGE selection of affordable platform beds and bedroom furniture visit eco-furniture.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/sleep/your-mattress-and-bedding-may-be-keeping-you-up-at-night.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/sleep/your-mattress-and-bedding-may-be-keeping-you-up-at-night.html Tue, 10 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Organic cotton sheets and duvets that are either not dyed or have been dyed via natural means (vegetable, mineral dyes) are ideal for allergy sufferers or anyone who wants to sleep free of pesticides and harmful chemicals. Moreover, the filling of your duvet or comforter may be playing a role in your discomfort. Treated cotton, down, or synthetic fillers can all make excellent hosts for allergy-provoking dust mites. The ideal filling material is untreated, organic wool. Wool has naturally hypoallergenic properties and resists dust mites better than most materials. Wool also has thermal-regulating properties that allow it to adjust to your body temperature as you sleep, making it perfect for all seasons.

The cotton and synthetic materials in a standard innerspring mattress can also contribute to sleepless nights for allergy sufferers. The answer is a foam or latex mattress. Latex and foam can be up to 300% more resistant to dust mites than other materials. Latex mattresses are also hypoallergenic and work to dissipate heat and humidity while you sleep. Another benefit of foam and latex is they generally offer better support and can relieve pressure points and take stress off of your joints. Not only will you awake clear and free of congestion, but also ache and pain free.

Foam and latex mattresses can be expensive. If one of these godsends isn't in your budget, consider a mattress pad or topper to spruce up your existing mattress. These foam or latex toppers sit right atop your existing mattress, giving you a layer of protection and comfort, without the hefty price tag.

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For a HUGE selection of affordable platform beds and bedroom furniture visit eco-furniture.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/interior-design/quality-furniture-starts-at-the-joints.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/interior-design/quality-furniture-starts-at-the-joints.html Mon, 09 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Dovetail or English dovetail joints are widely considered the mark of quality drawer construction. When done properly, this joint "locks" drawer fronts in place, preventing loosening through many years of use.

Mortise-and-tenon joints are often used to join rails to side members in chests and dressers. This strong joint is also used to join key pieces of chair frames.

Dowel joints are very common in furniture construction. This joint involves gluing a dowel or peg, usually made of hardwood, into a pre-drilled hole to connect two pieces of wood.

Tongue-and-groove joints are often used to make a strong flat surface as well as to attach drawer fronts. When glued properly, these joints are very strong.

Corner blocks are used to help hold together joints at the greatest point of strain. An example of this is where seat rails of chairs join the posts.

Another important component in selecting case goods is what type of drawer slides or guides are used. While there are numerous variations and makers, it basically boils down to these two:

Wood-on-wood rails are the most basic type of drawer slide, consisting of either a single, center-mounted rail or two rails spaced toward the edges of the drawer. As the name implies, this slide works by wood-on-wood contact. These types of slides aren't the smoothest and usually don't age well. Unless you're buying an older or antique piece, avoid chests and drawers that use this method.

There are many variations of this next type of drawer slide, but it normally consists of side or under-mounted rails that employ a smooth ball-bearing or wheel action. This type of slide uses a 4-piece system, whereby a track is affixed to each side of the drawer opening and the corresponding guide attached to the outside of the drawer. This type of guide can be made of metal or plastic, or sometimes a combination of each. Many of these drawer slides are equipped with a stopping mechanism to prevent the drawer from coming completely out.

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For a HUGE selection of affordable platform beds and bedroom furniture visit the Eco-Furniture website today.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/home-improvement/bar-tables-and-stools-add-versatility-to-your-patio.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/home-improvement/bar-tables-and-stools-add-versatility-to-your-patio.html Mon, 09 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Whether your patio is small or large, balancing table space with standing or walking space can be a challenge. The goal should be to achieve a flow which allows for easy movement throughout the patio while still having the ability to seat a decent number of people. Bar sets give you this balance because of their tall, narrow design. Instead of plopping a large four or six seat patio table and chairs set in the middle of your patio, you can strategically place three or four small bar sets to achieve the same or greater number of seating while adding invaluable walking lanes to your outdoor space.

Outdoor gatherings usually lend themselves to having a number of guests seated while a number of people prefer to walk and mingle. Bar sets allow for this dichotomy more naturally by allowing for greater walking space and also by seating people higher than standard patio sets. The raised seat and table puts seated guests and those standing closer to eye level, so conversations and so forth can occur naturally between those who prefer to sit and those who would rather stand.

The flexibility of owning multiple bar sets as opposed to one large patio set is also an advantage. Being able to easily move and rearrange seating areas allows you to easily react to your guests tendencies and make the most of your allotted space. The smaller size also means bar sets can be stored more easily. Keeping them out of the rain and snow will add years to their life and allow them to retain their finish whether they're made of wood or synthetic materials.

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For a HUGE selection of bedroom furniture including platform beds, visit the Eco-Furniture website today.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/interior-design/create-a-tuscan-retreat-in-your-home.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/interior-design/create-a-tuscan-retreat-in-your-home.html Mon, 09 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500
The more rustic your flooring, the better. Terra-cotta and clay tiles are a phenomenal addition to any Tuscan room, as are distressed wooden plank and stone flooring. Mosaic patterns or pictures made of glass, marble or ceramic inlay can spruce up your tile floor if you want a more elegantly dazzling touch. If you want the luxury of carpet but the Tuscan style, purchase a Persian rug to get the best of both worlds.

For lighting, keep an eye out for wrought-iron fixtures with candelabra shapes or metallic leaves that bring to mind Italian vineyards and the bounty of Nature. These fixtures are ideal for creating your Tuscan getaway.

Think of simple country pleasures, including comfort, family and food when it comes to outfitting your room with furniture. Avoid furniture with formal profiles or that are too fussy-looking. Keep lines simple and clean, and look for pieces bearing the artful distressed finishes common in today's furniture market. It makes even new furniture look older and more charming. Armoires and cupboards, with doors open to stylishly display beautiful linens or tableware, are a key design component and can be placed along walls and keep the room's tone open and inviting.

Like the French Provencal style, Tuscan-inspired rooms rely on plastered walls and exposed wooden beams to highlight architectural lines and convey the idyllic beauty of a country home. Soft-hued murals on select textured walls can transport an admirer to vineyards, an enchanting hillside or make the wall look weathered for a quainter look. Use your copper pots for decorative purposes throughout the kitchen, and highlight counter space and bare areas with jars of distinct Italian ingredients like pasta, olives or garlic. Flowers work well throughout any room and bring to mind the Italian countryside.

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For a HUGE selection of bedroom furniture including platform beds, visit the Eco-Furniture website today.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>