Timber & Textiles » Dining Room

Dining Room Table Pads For You

Paul Michaels — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 16:53:36 +0000

When you invest in a beautiful, expensive, or antique dining room table, one of the main stressors may be how to maintain the beautiful appearance and protect your table from damage. Dining room table pads are the answer. Whatever size, shape, or style your table is, you can buy standard or custom dining room table pads that will be a perfect fit. This way, your table will live years without getting scratched, stained, dented, or heat damaged.

There are so many ways a tabletop can get damaged, inadvertently or carelessly. The finish on a wooden tabletop fades over time under sunlight. The fresh sun shining through your bay windows, so beautiful, may actually harm your table. Scratches from silverware, keys, pencils, book corners can cause permanent damage. Dents from heavy objects are also a concern. When placing a hot dish on the table, you’d like to enjoy; not worry about the condition of you table. All of these can be solved simply with dining room table protective pads.

Another benefit of table pads is their sound absorption. The normal clinking, clanging, and bumping of a large dinner party easily takes over conversation. With a table pad, these sound are muted. Company can be enjoyed.

Table pads for dining room tables can be elegantly attractive as well as functional. Companies offer high class leather wood grain or leather toned surfaces, in a detailed rainbow of wood and leather colors. It won’t be necessary to always cover your pad with a tablecloth. Laundry loads don’t have to increase. Less expensive pads can also be beautiful, and are offered anywhere from black, to burgundy, to tan.

In search for your table pad, there are certain essential qualities that you’ll want to be certain the one you choose can boast. First, you want serious moisture resistance, both to protect your table and so that the pad itself won’t warp. Warping should be ensured against even standing in storage. Second, a cushioned bottom so that the pad itself won’t hard your tabletop. The cushion should be slip proof, as well. The top of the pad should be heavy duty, and provide heat protection anywhere from 350 to 550 degrees. Make sure it’s easy to clean, will hold a tablecloth without slipping, and folds for convenient storage.

And with that, your table can look as beautiful as the day you bought it, for its entire lifetime.

The Bistro Table In Your Dining Area

Mitch Gimber — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 10:28:54 +0000

Dining is small spaces can be a nightmare without the proper dining furniture. Don’t try to fit in furniture that is too large for your dining room or kitchenette merely because it looks pretty. Consider a bistro table! Bistro is a French word that originally referred to small, casual, Parisian restaurants… and the furnishings used there, of course, were bistro tables.

A bistro table set can come in cast aluminum, wrought iron, even wicker and woods, fit for all weather. Though officially for casual dining, bistro tables and chairs are now available in highly decorative styles, traditional or contemporary. Simple styles, ornate details… Your bistro table and chairs will be the perfect dining addition for your space.

Here are some styles of bistro table sets that are particularly popular.

Bistro dining table: These are indoor table sets that are generally large enough to seat four. Solid wood sets may also have a leaf in order to extend. The bistro dining table can come in any material, and is available in all styles to complement your dining area. Aluminum or wicker with glass tops, solid wood or wood with stone tops, cottage styles or regal ornate designs.

Outdoor bistro table: Perfect for your patio or deck! Often smaller, the outdoor bistro tables will be made fit for all weather; wrought iron, stainless steel, or special wickers and woods. These bistro table and chairs set will often include only two chairs. But the designs are delightful! Glass tops, ornate bases, delicate accents. Be sure to look for a mosaic bistro table, or one with a ceramic tile or granite top. These designs have great character. Look at your surroundings; in the garden, head for the delicate metals or wicker and wood. Steel and stone might be more appropriate for a poolside bistro table, as wood the wrought iron bistro table.

Folding bistro table: By far the most casual form of bistro tables, the folding bistro table can be for indoors or outdoors. It will be simple, small, and straightforward, with minimal decorativeness and standard legs. Often, but not solely, found in wood, the folding bistro table is convenient as a side table, kitchenette table or lightweight decorative patio piece.

Consider your space, number you need to seat, décor in place, and the environment you’re creating. Skim through furniture magazines, websites, or even window shop until you’ve found the perfect bistro table. It is out there.

The Zest Of A Zebra Rug

Maya Tan — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 10:10:09 +0000

Your bedroom has been feeling a little drab. Your patio feels empty and lifeless. The cat has ruined your living room area rug. For all these problems, I can offer you one tremendous and exciting solution: a zebra rug.

Zebra rugs have personality, funk, character, life, and beauty. No matter where you put them, guests will comment on the flair. Day in and day out, you’ll appreciate the zest. It’s almost hard not to walk and talk without some spunk in your step around a zebra print rug. So if your room has fairly simple décor, a scheme of primary colors, or hardly any distinct color at all, you can definitely flaunt some a zebra area rug. The other option, of course, is to fully redecorate. Make your zebra skin rug the focal point. Build from there for a enlivened, modern look you can’t regret.

You will have to decide how much you can spend on one of these beauties, of course. Real zebra hide rugs can be quite an expense. Especially for a large space. Smaller skins will be slightly more affordable, but still not within everyone’s budget. The real thing also requires extra care and maintenance.

The best way to go for cheap zebra rugs are the faux zebra rugs. They are a fraction of the price, and a fraction of the maintenance. You can easily find a great looking faux zebra rug in nearly any shape and size, even in some hot colors. On eBay, you’ll find great prices on a pink zebra rug. A local discount vendor will offer you some mind-blowing deal on a brown zebra rug. When you realize this, all it takes is a little research in order to make both the sophisticated great aunt and the wild teenager happy on their upcoming birthdays.

If you go with the faux, even your bathroom and patio can enjoy zebra print rugs without you having to worry about rain, sun, or bathtub overspill. Buy a machine washable or zebra outdoor rug, and throw those worries out the window. This fun style should be a thrill, from beginning to end. The one thing I do have to say, however, is that you shouldn’t take all the advice I’ve given. Using zebra area rugs in your living room, bedroom, bathroom, and patio might be a little overwhelming for some guests. Limit your zebra décor to one or two areas. That way, you’ll achieve real style.

Shopping for an Oak China Cabinet

GuestPoster — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:31:04 +0000

The market is full of oak china display cabinets to consider but you will need to carefully consider a few characteristics before you buy. To begin with, you want to consider the size carefully because a cabinet that is too large will appear bare if you don’t have enough items to display. On the other hand, a cabinet that is too small will appear cluttered if you fill it with too much stuff. Once you decide on the right size, you can then begin to narrow down the options in style or design. Some oak china cabinet units contain shelves that are covered with glass doors while others offer a combination of open and closed shelving, cabinetry, and even drawers for storage. It is a good idea to take inventory of the items you wish to store in the unit before you begin making style considerations.

The color or finish of an oak china display cabinet will also require a bit of considering on your part. You will want a stain or paint color that is consistent with other furniture pieces in the room. For example, if your dining room furniture set, which typically includes the dining table and chairs, contain a dark oak stain then you should definitely try to find a cabinet that is similar in appearance. You may also want to consider a corner china cabinet because corners are hard to fill and in most case, the space goes to waste when not utilized. Corner china cabinets also work best in small dining room where more room for maneuvering is welcome.

You can find an oak china display cabinet in just about any furniture store or online. Corner units are bit more unique and may require a little more research time to find especially if you are looking for a local store that carries it. When shopping online, it is definitely in your best interest to search for stores that are currently offering free shipping for their products. This will enable you to shop around for the best prices and products without having to worry about exponential shipping costs. You should always read the customer comments or reviews and more importantly, all of the product details prior to purchase. Online shopping is risky but you can greatly reduce the chances of being disappointed with your purchase by taking your time to see what is available and narrowing down the choices carefully.

Sideboard Furniture: Why You Need More Than Just One

GuestPoster — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 21:48:05 +0000

a guest post by Marianne Chapa

If you are in the market for a piece of sideboard furniture, you should think hard about whether it might just make sense for you to get two rather than one. Now you might ask, why would I need more than one sideboard when I can’t fit more than that in my dining room? Well, the answer lies in the many other uses for this furniture there are besides in the dining room.

If you look around the homes of family and friends, you just might notice that a popular trend is to use things for uses other than those for which they were originally intended. This is true of other types of furniture, but it is especially true of sideboards. The reason is because this class of furniture offers many different storage configurations along with the fact that it is usually very stylish.

So what else can you do with sideboards? Have you thought about using one for a television stand in your living room? If you think about it, it makes perfect sense. After all the height is perfect for the large screen televisions that most people seem to have these days. The fact that this furniture has internal storage that can hold your cable and dvd boxes as well as all those dvds you own makes it seem like a perfect choice. Have you ever been to a home that is laid out in a very stylish manner, except you can see cable television wires and power cords running down the walls? Sideboards can fix all that.

The next biggest use for this furniture is in place of a hall table. This only works well in a home with good sized hallways. If you place the sideboard halfway down the hall, and mount a mirror on the wall above it, you have created a perfect little stopping off station when coming to and from the main entertaining areas of the home. The sideboard itself is a perfect place to store anything from extra linens to any small items that just seem to always be laying around.

As you can see, this kind of furniture can be used in a lot of different ways. If you have a storage need in any room, but you need for it to be good looking storage, think about a sideboard to fill the need and you almost cannot go wrong.

Character In A Karastan Carpet

Paul Michaels — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 23:52:12 +0000

Karastan is a superior carpet and area rugs manufacturer, with quality products and a strong role in sustaining our environment. Karastan carpets are woven to recover from footprints, spills, and other stains beautifully. Their guaranteed durability, softness, and easy maintenance mean that Karastan carpeting will last longer. This means less waste. Additionally, their products are woven. Woven carpets and rugs last twice as long as their tufted carpets, so the weave is an essential step in supporting environmental concerns. The Karastan wool carpet and polymer carpet are both produced from renewable or sustainable resources, a further statement towards environmental safety.

Karastan carpet reviews rave beautifully about this company’s products. The consumer comments further attest to Karastan durability, lushness, and beautiful dyes. Karastan truly has engraved its name into the eyes and minds of interior designers. Karastan has unique styles, designs, and color trends that are said to alter the entire atmosphere of a room. As with any product you buy, one imperative thing to understand before complaining is what your product warranty actually means. Understanding things like “limited lifetime” and “stain resistance” might solve some problems before they arise. For example, “resistant” doesn’t proof against all stains.

Homeowner’s guides say that carpeting is the third most expensive purchase you will make in home décor. Karastan carpet prices certainly make no exception. Some people insist that you’re paying for a name, while others swear that Karastan is worth every penny. One way to lower the expense is to look for discount Karastan carpet dealers. Discount dealers don’t have to pay overhead for being on a main thoroughfare, or upkeep and design in showrooms, etc. They primarily sell to other Karastan carpet dealers. If you shop from online discount stores, you may find incredible deals. The caution to take is always ask and ask again about the carpet fibers, care, durability, warranty fine print, and what their costs include. But finding a beautiful Karastan carpet wholesale might truly make your day. Another option is to wait for a local carpet dealer’s Karastan carpet sale. The shop’s attempt to move in new stock may empty a gorgeous rug into your home.

Originally a carpet and rug manufacturer for residential needs, Karastan commercial carpet is also now on the market. Karastan contract carpet retains the same beautiful reviews for looks and durability. Their innovative design and production technology over the past 80 years have truly impacted the carpet industry.

Set Yourself Up With Swivel Bar Stools

Linda Harris — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:06:06 +0000

It’s virtually undebatable. Swivel bar stools are basically the most fun, convenient, practical, and entertaining seating design ever created. All bar stools are great for their slim fitting, convenient height, and cool style. As soon as you add in the swivel feature, all competition is lost. Aside from, perhaps, the beanbag chair. They function beautifully in almost any room of the house, too. Here’s what you may not have thought of…

The Office: Leather swivel bar stools might be perfect in your home office or at the teenager’s work desk. Many bar stools are height adjustable, so whether that desk is standard table height or a stylish counter height, use a swivel bar stool as an inexpensive rendition of the office chair. It will offer a cool, slim look that your kids can’t resist. Even a leather upholstered one will cost a fraction of a leather office chair.

The Garage: Buy yourself a pair of oak swivel bar stools for the garage workspace. Comfortable and convenient for any handyman work that needs some sit down attention, with the flexibility to turn right or left without having to reach too far. Oak, or any wood, will add a natural crafty flair to that garage décor. If you have garage décor, that is.

The Bathroom Vanity: Some ladies insist on elegantly upholstered wingback chairs for their makeup vanity. Others don’t. Especially if the vanity table and mirror are in a bathroom, fancy fabric recliners simply don’t make sense. Go for metal swivel bar stools instead. It’s a contemporary look that a modern era movie star might find herself in. There’s an inherent taste of youth there. At a high vanity table, the swivel bar design will work perfectly.

And these ideas are all aside from more typical ideas. Backless swivel bar stools in the rec room or in the basement sports bar are obvious choices. Aside from swiveling, the guys can throw their legs over the chair in every direction. Talk about casual. Wicker outdoor swivel bar stools with some floral seat cushions make lounging at a bar table incredibly enjoyable. On wrought iron swivel bar stools, elegant cocktail parties will be a blast. For the kitchen counter, chrome swivel bar stools with black leather seats send you right into a 60’s diner. Some red table accents, and the look will be complete. There really is not a room or space of your home that couldn’t benefit from the fun practicality of such chairs. What are you waiting for?

Wouldn’t You Love Wood Bar Stools

Ryan Hawkins — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:01:40 +0000

Any carpenter will tell you that bar stools are fairly easy to build. The various designs are relatively simple and you always come out with a fun product. If you’re not up for building from scratch, however, but you would like to invest at least some of your creativity into the extra seating at home, then it’s time to seek out unfinished wood bar stools. Unfinished furniture gives you complete discretion to choose stains, finishes, and polishes that will fit your fancy. And your home.

Think about it. You can buy a set of wooden bar stools all of one finish. That’s six stools that fit one room’s décor. But your kitchen can only house four. The other two stools don’t suit your rec room, and now… you’re left with extra stools, useless until a chair breaks. What if you finish them yourself? You can have two finished in walnut for the patio, one painted onyx for the basement sports bar, and three cherry wood bar stools perfect at that kitchen counter. The versatility is yours.

Even if you do want a full set of identical stools, not all the dealers will carry the design you love in the finish you dream about. Go to the unfinished furniture, and choose swivel wood bar stools precisely to your taste. Then, make your way to the wood finishes and, again, precisely to your taste. This is especially relevant when looking for specific wood and metal bar stools; such designs are often only available in light wood finishes like oak or maple. Buy them unfinished. Broaden the possibilities.

Unfinished furniture may also often be less expensive. Since the factory did less work, you pay less. Buying the finish yourself can be a minimal cost, as well. Even if you pay for a professional to do the finishing job, you may pay no more than you would have for finished stools…that you didn’t even like. Search out vendors online or look up a dealer in your local phonebook. Get an idea of the selection readily available, and confirm quality pieces.

Now the doors are wide open. Select any size, height, and style of bar stool you can imagine. Western backless wood bar stools, in any finish you’d like. Rustic wood bar stools in the color you couldn’t find anywhere. Even those contemporary wood bar stools can be had in sophisticated, elegant wood finishes that nobody thought of. And every moment of it is your pure creativity. Your style, your taste, your home. What more could anyone ask for?

Upside Down Christmas Trees

Alyssa Peters — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:50:38 +0000

If you think you’re one of the trend setters for using upside down Christmas trees in your living room this holiday season, think again. It seems that the upside down Christmas tree is actually the originally tradition. The people who instituted a Christmas tree at all wanted it to be clear that it was for the celebration, not just a floral home décor addition. Now, the original tradition has become a fad. You’re joining the oldies!

Even if you aren’t one of the first to hang the tree from your ceiling, you can enjoy the tradition tremendously. Since today it’s not the norm, you’ll be adding a level of fun and excitement to your holiday festivities. Decorating an upside down tree can be tricky, though. Make sure your lights and ornaments will stay on once the tree is hung. Or, better yet, hang it first and then add the glamour. That’s really the best way to have successful decorated upside down Christmas trees.

Another pointer is not to buy just any tree. Look specifically for upside down Christmas trees for sale. These trees will usually come with the stand or base that will more easily install at your ceiling. Most people also prefer upside down artificial Christmas trees. Think of the mess. With an artificial tree, needles won’t shed and drift into your holiday soup or eggnog. Neither will your presents get showered with detaching pine sprigs. An upside down artificial Christmas tree should also be lighter than a real one, making hanging it much more practical.

Speaking of which, before you decide to go with the upside down thing, make sure your living room ceiling will handle the attachment. To get a good idea, check out some pictures of upside down Christmas trees that detail how to hang a tree this way. You’ll want to be sure.

Black Christmas Tree Style

Maya Tan — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:10:07 +0000

It’s incredible how far from tradition we will go to entertain a spice of style and striking home décor. As people feel more comfortable moving away from “how grampa did it,” more and more colors and styles of Christmas trees make it on the market. Or perhaps it comes from a need to “self express” on this festive holiday. In any case, the artificial black Christmas tree is outselling traditional green ones on some tree lots across the globe. Bare branched trees, pink trees, and white trees are not doing too badly either. It might frighten your grandmother, but the holiday parties seem to love it!

Black Christmas trees have taken such hit because of their dramatic character. Whether your holiday décor is sophisticated or funky, black deepens the effect. Both multicolor and white lights look great on the black. In fact, all black Christmas tree decorations seem to come more alive on the dark backdrop. Green is softer, more natural and subdued. Black makes a statement.

For that elegant holiday cocktail party, you will most definitely need a striking centerpiece. A tall, slim black Christmas tree surrounded with mock gifts and lit with elegant lights, stars, and ornaments will fill the position beautifully. Your guests will be proud to strut their evening dress in its presence. Perhaps you can even buy a pre lit black Christmas tree, minimize your work load, and still have a stunning visual focus for the occasion.

If your Christmas bash is for the young and daring, you can make use of black artificial Christmas trees just as easily. Their drama can go elegant or funky. Decorate it with large, colorful black Christmas tree ornaments and strobe like lighting for a miniature light show right on the party dance floor. The night will be unforgettable.

Even when your main living room Christmas tree is the traditional green, these trees can take backstage positions. For the tabletop, you can buy a very small black Christmas tree. Place it on the piano, perhaps, or in your entryway. Strategically rested on a buffet table or reflected in a hallway mirror. You can use it as a delicate patio tree. Your home will come alive with Christmas charm.

Don’t let tradition get in the way of the total Christmas spirit. As a main centerpiece, or secondary décor, find a way to bring the black Christmas tree into your home. These onyx treasures deserve to play at least a small role in your holiday decorating plan.