Well, it was that time again, where all of the furniture industry join together in High Point, North Carolina to view hot new furniture styles and colors! This year was no exception. In sofa fabrics we saw a lot of bright colors and bold reds. Leather is trending with button cushions. In bedroom furniture, the storage bed is still very popular, as is the marble top Louis Philippe. As for formal dining, that business is dropping because people are moving away from the formal dining room, but we did see some counter height formal dining which was eye catching. The mattress designs have not changed much but we are beginning to see a hint of color in what is normally an off-white world.
End Tables
Monday, April 11th, 2011
Spring Furniture Market
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
What is contemporary style?
Are you “in style”? Does your home have a look that would be considered cool by today’s standards? If so, then your home probably has been designed and decorated with a contemporary look. But what does “contemporary” really mean?
Many times contemporary style is classified as a distinct style and doesn’t encompass other design styles. Commonly, and un-knowingly, people think furniture considered contemporary is something they are most likely to find in an upscale art gallery in New York city. What they fail to realize is that the word contemporary simply means “of the present time,” and this can encompass a broad range of designs.
If you are looking for a more straight line look and want to stay within the contemporary design, then look for pieces that are of Danish or Scandinavian design. Contemporary Scandinavian designers often use straight lines in their designs and leave their pieces unadorned and crafted of walnut and teak. Sometimes their pieces will have gentle curves, but these will not be at a premium.
The most common label for contemporary furniture is “Artsy” and is likely to be found in urban locations and lofts. This furniture often has flare and is extremely simple. Furniture pieces in this category are not always adorned with straight lines, but typically showcase curved lines to give them a unique look and shape. Leather and microfibers are usually the upholstery of choice in this case.
Finally, minimalist styled furniture takes the contemporary look to the extreme and is known for its use of straight lines. The Minimalist approach was inspired by Bauhaus design and puts emphasis on free space, functionality, and economical design. You won’t find a lot of furniture in a minimalistic room. Instead, you will find one of two pieces accompanied by a lot of space.
Whether its curvy lines or straight lined, urban or minimalistic, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their immense selection of contemporary furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection and give your home the fresh style you are looking for!
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
Things to pay attention to when shopping for the perfect piece of furniture.
“What color do I need?…..should I go with fabric?…..what style do I need?……will this even fit?….do I have enough money?!!”………
We have all been there before. Picking out a new piece of furniture can be a very stressful time, especially when there are so many factors to take into consideration. Take your time and don’t make a hasty decision, this will save you from hating your furniture for years to come. In order to help you find the right piece of furniture, we have compiled a list of factors you need to think about before you go shopping. Each recommendation will help you find that perfect item you will treasure for years.
- Space is key: How much space do you have to work with? This is the first question you need to ask yourself. It’s simple…regardless of what you want, if you don’t have the space, then don’t even consider it! The shape and size of your room will help you determine what to look for. For instance, if you’re looking for a living room sectional and don’t have a lot of room to work with, consider a loveseat over a sofa.
- Measurements: You want to bring your furniture in your house, right?. Many people find the perfect piece, buy it, get it home and oops it doesn’t fit through the door. Keep in mind that some sofas are simply too big to bring into your home. In order to get the piece into the room, it has to first fit through the door. Measure all your furniture pieces already in the home. This will give you a solid base of measurements to look for in a piece of furniture. This will save you the stress on the way home about whether it will fit through the door.
- What’s your lifestyle: What is your life like? Is it just you or are you a part of a large family? Will the piece you buy often have smaller children on it? Your lifestyle determines what type of piece you should buy. If you entertain guests regularly, consider a sturdy, comfortable couch. Buy pieces of furniture that will flow with your lifestyle and won’t leave you pulling your hair out every time you have guests over.
- Budget: It’s simple. Don’t buy what you can’t afford. Always plan around your budget. You shouldn’t burden yourself with the added stress that accompanies paying off home décor you can’t afford. Quality furniture costs more, but will last longer. Cheap furniture, while easy on the budget, doesn’t last long and you may find yourself buying furniture again in several years. Determine how long you want your home décor to last and shop for items that fit that time range, and most importantly your budget.
When following these steps for buying a piece of furniture, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their massive selection of high quality furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection and leave in peace, knowing you got that perfect piece!
Saturday, July 10th, 2010
Keeping up with furniture lingo
With styles changing almost daily, it’s hard to keep up with current furniture lingo thrown at you while shopping for furniture. Whether it’s traditional, contemporary, modern, cottage, or chic, these terms can encompass a broad range of styles that might leave you scratching your head. In the next few weeks I will review the most commonly used terms to discuss styles, and what exactly they mean. This week we will look at traditional styles, and what it truly means to be a traditional looking piece of furniture.
Time honored, European, Colonial…these are just a few of the words you might hear when shopping for a traditionally styled piece. The main characteristic all these terms have in common is they have a look dating hundreds of years back. These pieces will be reminiscent of furniture you might find in a royal mansion in Spain, or a President in Colonial times.
If a piece has an European feel, it most likely means the wood will have a curvilinear design and commonly will be constructed our of dark woods. Sofas and chairs will have an arched back giving them a more formal look and feel.
American styled pieces will have a look that was represented in the Colonial times. Painted finishes coupled with spindles – and finial – are very typical in this instance. However, they will be adapted to fit modern day uses.
Tropical looks combined with British styles are what makes up the British Colonial and West Indies fashion. These pieces are most likely constructed with wicker, rattan, and other lighter woods but completed with deep dark finishes. The lines and edges of these items will be much cleaner and simpler when compared to the curvy lines of the European brand of style.
When looking to give your room a traditional look and feel, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their enormous selection of furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so your home can have the class and style it deserves!
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
Avoiding common design follies
When it comes to designing the look of your home, we focus too much on what we SHOULD do with the design scheme of the interior. Instead, we NEED to pay more attention to what should NOT be done when decorating. These are the most frequent mistakes that are made when designing, and the ways to avoid them before they destroy your decor.
Avoiding Color
Don’t be afraid to experiment when painting your walls. Use colors that thoroughly express your tastes and personality instead of slapping on a coat of beige to “make the room look bigger.”
If you are reluctant to paint your rooms in bright colors, just try the accent effect where you only make one or two of the walls stand out while keeping the others more conservative.
Weak Windows
Window treatments are an easy, cost-efficient way to really put a good touch on a room, but many times, the curtain frame is hung too low or the curtains do not fit the window. This either makes the ceiling look low or the curtains appear cheap.
The best range to hang your curtains is six inches to one foot above the window molding. This allows more light into the room and it makes ceilings look taller. Also, curtains should hang from the curtain rod to the floor.
Floating Rugs
A rug should either be large enough to provide a surface for all of the furniture to rest on or the right size for the furniture to perfectly frame it. Rugs that are too small for a room end up creating an island that really breaks up the design and the scheme of the furniture.
Accessory Overload
Accessories should be nothing more than small additions. They are not meant to control their settings. Crowding your tables with frames, candles, and vases is overkill.
Instead display your accessories so that your favorite pieces receive the most attention from visitors. You can even keep these items in a rotation so that you can always add something new to the room.
Poor-Fitting Furniture
There should be three feet, if not more, separating larger pieces like sofas from the rest of the furniture so that people can easily pass through the room. On top of that, try not to fill big spaces with little pieces since it really disturbs the flow of your décor.
When defending yourself against design follies, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their enormous selection of furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so you can have the ultimate decor for your home!
Friday, May 28th, 2010
Protecting wood furniture from mold
Accompanying the hot summer months are mold, mildews and fungus that thrive in warm, moist environments. Regular cleaning of your Royal Heritage Home Furnishings® natural wood furniture from your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee should be enough to prevent mildew that thrives on organic materials like paper, leather, and wood. Cooled, dehumidified and circulated indoor air is good for your health and that of your furniture. If, however, you find mold damage, follow these few steps:
- Remove mold immediately as it can cause sickness, respiratory problems and have an odor.
- Wring out a cloth soaked in a solution of three parts water and one part mild detergent.
- Wipe surface of the furniture with the solution to remove the mold.
- Wipe one small area at a time, followed by a cloth dipped in plain water.
- Dry all areas thoroughly.
- Clean greasy or filmy substances off your furniture with furniture cleaner, which is different than furniture polish. Wax buildup can harbor mold.
- Scrub stubborn spots with a brush dipped in a solution of five parts water and one part chlorine bleach. Test an inconspicuous area first to test colorfastness. Rinse the area thoroughly with plain water and then dry.
- Weather permitting, place the furniture outside in the sun to dry. Sunlight aids in oxidation and will be a huge factor in the fight against mold and mildew.
Following these steps will ensure that your beautiful natural wood furniture from your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee will give you years of enjoyable use.
Sunday, May 9th, 2010
Using bright colors to spice up your home
Say goodbye to the days of pale sea blues and aqua’s. Sprint 2010 is here and with that comes a forecast of bright and vibrant colors! Strong intense blues like peacock, teal, and royal are making their ways into homes across America. However, the color of choice of this very bright season is turquoise. Moods are known to be stimulated by bright colors and can be greatly affected by them. Blues are known for providing tranquility and freshness, giving any room a sense of well being. Bright blues will just emphasize those feelings making your room a place everyone will want to be.
We tend to lean to the safe side when purchasing larger ticket items, like a sofa or dining table, from your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee. This means browns and beiges will most likely be the color of your furniture purchases. These neutral colors can be given some spirit by accenting them with bright colors. A turquoise throw pillow or lamp will add style and energy to the room.
Bright colored accent pieces can also be easy on your budget and be easily replaced in the changing seasons. You probably will not want bright turquoise colored throw pillows during Christmas time, so going bright on small accent pieces can give you the luxury of changing the style of your room easily and affordably.
Visit your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee to shop our vast selection of affordable, durable and beautiful furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings® Collection.
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010
Accent your living room with end tables
End tables are the perfect accent piece for finishing off the beautiful look of your living room!
Used for lamps, extra storage for remotes and magazines, and a place to put keys or even a cup, end tables serve many proposes but most of all add style to your room.
When deciding on what end table to buy from your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee, the single most important factor you need to consider is the scale of furniture you will place it next too. Small tables with short legs will look awkward when located next to larger couches with lots of volume. Your end tables need to be proportionate in size to the couches, sofas, and chairs by which they are placed.
End tables should measure about three inches above or below the arm of the piece they will be next too. This will allow them to be reachable when you are sitting. Nothing is more frustrating than going to place a drink down and having to either stand or reach way over the arm of the chair to set it down.
The design of the end tables should match the style of the room they are located in. That does not necessarily mean they should match the other furniture pieces exactly, but should overall match the design of the room. End tables are meant to stick out and be noticeable. Stay away from purchasing ones that have the same exact design of your couch they will be placed next too. Be creative.
Finally, the construction and materials they are created with should be both sturdy and durable. End tables are meant to get a lot of use and have things placed on them . Over a period of time the wear and tear can have a damaging effect to them so make sure they are well-built. Metal frames are the most sturdy but if you are looking for wood end tables, make sure they are made of real wood material. Tables made of press wood are more likely to get damaged if they get wet.
Visit your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee to shop our vast selection of affordable, durable and beautiful furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings® Collection.
