Furniture Files

You can always find great prices on Bush Furniture at iFurn.com but now through June 30th save an additional 10% off of select products from Bush Furniture when using coupon code JNBUSH at checkout!  We have a variety of items with this incredible mark down, including brand new Bush computer desks, Bush lateral files, and Bush TV stands!  Pick the perfect accessories for your media room or home office with Bush Furniture! But hurry, sale ends soon!

The Millbrook Swing by Old Adirondack. Available at iFurn.com

With spring here and summer right on its heels, it’s the perfect time to think about outdoor and patio furniture. An emerging trend is turning a patio or yard into an extension of the home, creating a stylish outdoor living space for entertaining or family time. Today’s times have also seen Americans rediscovering the simpler things in life, like neighborhood potlucks around a picnic table or catching some R&R on a back porch lounge chair. Many families will be enjoying the great outdoors right in their own backyards this year instead of hitting the road. Outdoor furniture can play a big part in making these summer memories. Here are some tips for purchasing just the right furniture for your outdoor living space, neighborhood gathering or “staycation”:

1. Shop Smart, and Watch Out for Seasonal Pricing

Just like swimsuits and pool supplies, it might seem like the best time to get a great deal on outdoor furniture is at an end-of-season closeout sale. With some smart shopping, though, it’s possible to find budget-friendly prices on outdoor and patio furniture at the start of summer, when you need it. Many retailers roll out promotional offers to spark buyer interest, so keep an eye out for special deals and discounts. By the same token, keep a watchful eye for inflated seasonal pricing. Comparison shop to make sure that the price tag reflects the quality of product you’re getting.

2. Shop for Value, Not Just Price

Lightweight, inexpensive plastic patio furniture does have its purposes, for occasional use or for parties. If you’re wanting outdoor furniture to use year-round or for many years, though, you’ll definitely want to purchase something more lasting. Well-constructed, top quality outdoor furniture is built for the long haul and can be a real investment for your home. The best outdoor furniture can last for decades, and some brands have long-term guarantees or warranties to back up the claim. While quality outdoor furniture and patio furniture might be more expensive in the beginning (and sometimes not, compared to high seasonal priced items), you can save in the long run by not having to replace your outdoor furniture every few years.

3. Explore Different Styles

The only outdoor furniture pieces that many people see are the patio sets sitting outside the retail stores in

The Wave Chair by Uwharrie. Available at iFurn.com

summer or in the home improvement store. The truth is, though, that there is a much wider world of outdoor furniture out there. You can find outdoor furniture in styles, colors and materials to suit any taste and environment. This is where online shopping really comes in handy. Online stores can carry a greater selection than the average retail store, because they aren’t limited by floor space. Whether you want a classic Adirondack chair or snazzy contemporary patio table, it’s out there waiting for you.

4. Choose Furniture that is Made for the Outdoors

Not every metal table or wicker chair does well outdoors. Even in temperate climates, the elements are tough on furniture. Water damage, rot and insects can all take their toll. That’s why you need to choose furniture that is specifically designed to stand up to an outdoor environment. Consider whether the furniture will be out in the open in the yard or deck, or in a more sheltered area like a covered patio. Look for sturdy materials such as kiln-dried and treated solid woods, and welded, rust-resistant metal. Fabrics should be designated as

“outdoor” and be resistant to mildew. There has also been a strong movement towards natural, eco-friendly

materials like rattan, seagrass and bamboo in furniture construction. Outdoor furniture crafted from these materials does very well for a patio, porch or sun room. Though these pieces often appear more delicate than than their wood or metal counterparts, they are rugged and durable as well.

Contemporary Woven Chair by Pangaea. Available at iFurn.com

5. Consider the Maintenance Involved

Last but not least, you’ll want to consider the level of maintenance your outdoor furniture will require. Do you want outdoor furniture that can just be left out in all seasons for years, or are you willing to put in some extra TLC? Some patio furniture will need to be covered to help protect it against the elements. Some wooden outdoor furniture requires an annual application of a stain or sealer (much like you would do with a wooden deck) while some can be left to weather naturally if you prefer. Any upholstery should be easy to clean, since it doesn’t take long for outdoor fabrics to become soiled. Look for products with removable cushions or covers, or upholstery that can be wiped clean.

Put these outdoor furniture buying tips into action, and be you’ll be ready for all your restful afternoons, neighborhood parties and family adventures this summer!

The Lady Washington Under Sail. Photo by Thomas Hyde.

I don’t know how an old salt like me managed it, but somehow I got a lassie who adores everything sleek and minimalist.  Kind of hard to find when it comes to kids’ furniture. I almost fell out of my chair when, at seven years old, she blithely tossed off a comment about “navy and white would be pretty stark, mom.”

She’s going to start middle school in the fall, and we need to get her a new kid’s bed. For some time now she’s had a white-painted daybed, but she wants a “real bed” now. After much thought she defied convention and picked a captain’s bed with a bookcase headboard. It’s not girly—but it’s absolutely practical. We’re running tight quarters, so a bed that incorporates storage is the absolute best choice.

Sand Castle Captain's Bed by South Shore. Available at iFurn.com.

Captain’s beds are thought to originate from, you guessed it, the life of ships and the sea. Space is at a premium on board—a ship is an enclosed floating world. Most sailors of times gone by slept in hammocks,while men in charge got a bit more room and a stationary sleeping area. Since they were privileged with more possessions, they needed a place to put them—but even being in charge of a ship didn’t award you something that didn’t exist. So these unnamed designers of Better Decks and Rigging combined luxury and necessity together and came up with storage incorporated into the bed.

A low-profile bed appeals to my independent-minded missy because of the lack of frills and streamlined shape. (Once again, she’s chosen white for the finish.) Most people today don’t think of a captain’s bed as a luxury item—but to a parent who’s trying to get a pre-teen to keep her own cabin ship-shape and Bristol-fashion, it’s a treasure.

Newton Kids Bedroom Set by Southshore Furniture. Available at iFurn.com.

Topkapi Palace Harem - Photo by Svein-Magne Tunli at tunliweb

We’ve all heard those old truisms about how you’ll never get a second chance to make a first impression, and that said first impressions are the most important.  Most of us are careful about how we present ourselves—but what about our houses?

I’m not saying the right choice of entryway furniture can make or break a friendship or a business opportunity—but if you have some space between the threshold of your front door and your main living space, why not make the most of it?

It’s nice to have the room in which to place a console table or a hall tree.  Even an item as humble as an accent table comes in such a wide variety these days that you could find one for every room in the house and indicate something different with each choice.

Carefully displayed, pieces like those can have a great impact. But if you don’t have the room or a winning lottery ticket, don’t despair.

Take a look at the space immediately past your threshold. Do you live in a split level with one stairway leading up and another leading down? Is the space past your front door a tiled area, a closet, and a hallway? When you walk in the door, what do you see first?

Nile Vine Mirror from iFurn.com

If it’s nothing but a light and a wall, you’ve still got something to work with. Such seemingly small elements of an entryway can be orchestrated to impact your guests. Choice of light design, color, wall décor, even the plates for on/off switches can add up to more than the sum of their parts.

If you wish to make a dark hallway brighter, a well-placed mirror can open up the space and funnel light intothe area. Should you want to give your guests a bit of an introduction to your way of seeing the world, one specific piece of art can greet them. Or, should you wish to hint at the overall theme of your house, choose among the finishes or designs of light fixtures that echo other schemes found throughout your home.

Even though it’d be nice to have the room and the funds to turn your entryway into another Monticello or Topkapi Palace, the majority of us can’t quite manage that yet.

But a splendid first impression can be made with one really great choice. Whether it’s a coat rack or a clock is up to you.

Woodbury Mahogany Coat Rack from iFurn.com

For these and other entryway furniture choices, please visit us at ifurn.com.

Yves Saint-Laurent at Work. AP Photo.

The Yves Saint-Laurent auction held at the end of February in Paris certainly made news due to the unimaginable (well, for us regular folks) price tags. Yeah, we’ve heard about the Matisse that went for $46 million. Cai Mingchao’s refusal to pay the $40 million price tag for the two Chinese bronzes. (Have you seen them? I wouldn’t pay either.)

Never mind the money porn–I want the take-away message to be Art Deco.

Saint-Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge, in their 50 years of romantic and then business partnership, amassed a heck of a collection of Art Deco furniture. The Vice President of Christie’s America, Jonathan Rendell, said the Algerian-born designer and his civil-ceremony-spouse had accumulated “…the very best collection of Art Deco that I’ve seen come to sale.” Considering Mr. Rendell’s job description, that’s saying something.

A perusal of the furniture in the Christie’s catalog reveals pieces that don’t seem as if they were meant to be in a museum—but meant to be used, by human beings. Vivid, precise, graceful; yet with individual grace notes that lend a note of playfulness if not eccentricity.  Not dissimilar from the prêt-a-porter and haute couture lines designed by Saint-Laurent himself.

Chairs shaped like birds, ivory beds, occasional tables with silvered bronze sabots, consoles gleaming with lacquer, curule stools inspired by African sculpture—even among such fantasies there is a geometry that is both fluid and powerful.

It’s beautiful–but useful.  It’s meant to be a part of someone’s life. I hope that the designers of tomorrow were present at the auction, and that they went away with a lot to think about.

Dining Bench in Espresso and Ivory. Available at iFurn.com

Art Deco furniture has never really left us–we still see its influences here and there.

But isn’t it time for more than just ‘here and there?’

Here’s hoping that European Art Deco-inspired furniture is about to make a comeback.

You can view the Christie’s catalog with the furniture lots from the Yves Saint-Laurent auction here.

Learn more about the furniture pictured here and shop for other home furniture pieces at iFurn.com.

Inlaid Butterfly Accent Table, available at iFurn.com

Tiburon Bed by Hillsdale Furniture, only $219

Metal bed manufacturers came to the recent Las Vegas Market with a mix of new products and price points to offer retailers who want to attract the value-minded consumer. Hillsdale Furniture displayed 10 new metal beds which will retail from $199 to $499.  Fashion Bed Group showed 8 new metal beds priced at $299 to $599, with some styles aimed at attracting more male consumers.

Dover Metal Canopy Bed, only $259

With metal beds, you can get beautiful styles, including daybeds and canopy beds, at a fraction of the cost of wooden beds. Metal beds are also built to last, and should serve your needs well into the future.

Entertainment Wall Unit by Legacy Furniture

The conversion to digital television has been put off until June 12th by an act of Congress, and entertainment furniture manufacturers are hoping that the delay will provide a sales opportunity.

Flat Panel TV Stand by Bush Furniture

Consumers with older TV’s can prepare themselves for the switch by purchasing a new television with a digital tuner. And chances are, they will be buying a larger, flat panel television that won’t fit in their old entertainment center.

They’ll be looking for an entertainment center that can accomodate a flat panel television, like the beautiful Entertainment Wall Unit by Legacy Classic Furniture, or for a more modern look, an HDTV Stand, like this one from Bush Furniture.

For more information on the digital transition, go to http://dtv2009.gov

Contemporary Dining Set by Coaster Furniture

At February’s Las Vegas Market, a large percentage of the new dining furniture and bedroom furniture offerings were contemporary in style. With clean lines and a modern look, manufacturers are using contemporary furniture to tempt the younger demographic.

Check out the sleek, contemporary designs of the Deep Cappuccino 5 Piece Dining Set by Coaster Furniture, or the Chelsea Park Bedroom Set by Legacy, both available from iFurn Furniture.

Chelsea Park Contemporary Bedroom Set by Legacy Furniture

New Office Star Elliptical TV Stand

Office Star, a leading manufacturer of office chairs and home office furniture, launched a new line of entertainment furniture at the recent Las Vegas Market.

The contemporary flat panel TV stands are part of the Elliptical Collection, and feature a sleek, oval shaped design with shelves made of tinted, tempered glass.

The Desert Chair, by Orlandi

Home Theater Massage Chair by Repose

While I admit the chair on the left is innovative and artistic, it certainly doesn’t look very comfortable.

Personally, I am all about the comfort. I suppose the stone Desert Chair would look kind of neat as garden furniture, but when it comes to living room furniture, I want soft, plush, overstuffed decadence!

The ultimate in comfort? This Home Theater Massage Chair by Repose, with a built-in sound system and air-bag massage.