furniture
Thursday, July 29th, 2010
Whether it was a family trip up north to the country, or a holiday spent at grandma’s house, many of us have stayed at a country or cottage-styled home at one time in our very busy lives. Country and cottage-styled homes are a staple of American design and can be a peaceful place to live or visit, and are a place where your problems seem to fade away.
But what exactly is a country or cottage-styled home?
Continuing with our design style theme, we will explore the different types of country and cottage designs, and how these styles are represented in homes across the U.S.
Emphasized by natural woods with deep finishes, Americana style homes are very simple when it comes to ornamentation but tend to have a very patriotic feel. Fabrics are muted colors and are adorned with starts and stripes. This style of home can be a perfect place to spend a Fourth of July or other patriotic holiday.
On the other hand, a Cottage-styled home typically has lots of wicker or iron pieces of furniture and gets its style from the natural surroundings that encompasses it. Cotton and linen fabrics found in the home will have a floral or checkered pattern giving the home an almost country like feel.
If you have ever visited a home on the Great Lakes, then you probably know what a Classic Costal design is. Designed to look like a beach house, homes that are designed with a Costal look will embrace a relaxed approach and display nautical themes.
However, there are different variations to a Costal theme. Gulf Coast styles bring together Art Deco and vibrant colors, with wicker and rattan, sending you back in time to the ‘50s. Done correctly, Gulf Coast styled homes can be a very cool place to live or visit. Pacific Coast designed homes tend to be influenced heavily by Asian influence, and will be decorated in deep finishes with very comfortable fabrics. Similar to the Classic Costal look, Atlantic Seaboard designed homes have louvers and shutters with a color palette similar to that of lighthouses.
Finally, Rustic and Lodge styled homes are designed with a rugged approach but still offer the bonus of relaxation. Earth tones are prevalent here, while exposed wood in very light finishes are adorned with Native American artwork, wood carvings and natured inspired accessories. Fabrics that line the beds and couches will usually have a hand-woven feel.
Whether its Rustic, Classic Coastal, or Country styled homes, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their immense selection of cottage styled furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection and give your home the vacation style feel you have been looking for!
Tags: art deco, chairs, costal, cottage, country, Decorations, design, Dining Room, furniture, gulf coast design, living room, lodge, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, rustic, sofas, Youth Bedroom Furniture
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating, Dining Room, Dining Room Furniture, Kitchen, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture, bedroom | No Comments
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
“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!
Tags: Decorations, design, Dining Room, furniture, living room, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, royal heritage home furnishings bedding collection
Posted in Accessories, Contemporary, Decorating, Dining Room, Dining Room Furniture, End Tables, Entertaining, Home Office, Kitchen, Leather Furniture, Living Room Furniture, Mattresses, Nursery, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture, bedroom, living room | No Comments
Thursday, July 15th, 2010
Preparing a nursery for your soon-to-be-newborn is a very special time for parents. You want the room to be completely safe; a beautiful living space for your new special treasure but free from any hazards. But how do you protect them from the hazards you can’t see? Here are some safe and healthy ways to create a living space for your little one.
Avoid hazards you can’t see
Keeping the room safe doesn’t just mean ensuring the edges of furniture pieces are rounded and protectors are in the plugs. You have to protect your little one from things that cannot be seen. This means staying away from synthetic materials that give off formaldehyde gas. Items like press board and plastics are the culprits in this case. Instead, choose furniture made out of natural wood that is not finished. It’s pretty much guaranteed that during your baby’s gumming stage, s/he will come in contact with the crib or other pieces of furniture. Be sure to stay away from painted or stained materials for their safety as well.
Keep it simple and clean
Today’s current fashion is a contemporary style. The modern-and-chic look is one of simplicity, where only a few items are used to bring life to the room. Use colors sparingly is the key here, and stay away from over-using pastels. Go with a calm color for the walls. This will allow for wall murals or cozy rugs to stand out more, adding style to the room.
Safe walls for little hands
On the theme of non-toxic products, it’s important that the walls of the room are safe from any artificial materials. If you’re choosing wallpaper for the room, look to have it professionally installed with non-toxic wallpaper paste. If you choose to paint, zero-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) is your best bet here and can be customized to match almost any color you need.
Natural Baby Bedding
Toxins can also be found in bedding. Your baby’s skin will be in contact with nursery bedding for many hours each day. A baby’s skin is very sensitive in the early years, so it’s important to keep their skin safe from substances that cause irritation. Choose natural fabrics like cotton instead of synthetics. This also goes for crib bumpers, pillow inserts, covers and changing pads.
When designing a safe and hazard free nursery for your new baby, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their massive selection of children furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so you know your baby’s nursery is a safe place to be!
Tags: baby, baby bedding, baby room, crib, Decorations, design, furniture, hazards, infant room, Mattresses, Nursery, pillow protector, play room, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, royal heritage home furnishings bedding collection, royal heritage mattress protectors, royal heritage pillow protectors, setting up, toxins, Youth Bedroom Furniture
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating, Mattresses, Nursery, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture, bedroom | No Comments
Saturday, July 10th, 2010
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!
Tags: british fashion, colonial, design, Dining Room, European, fashion, furniture, Leather Furniture, living room, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, setting up, time-honored, traditional, traditional furniture, Youth Bedroom Furniture
Posted in Accessories, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating, Dining Room, Dining Room Furniture, End Tables, Entertaining, Home Office, Kitchen, Leather Furniture, Living Room Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture, bedroom, living room | 2 Comments
Wednesday, July 7th, 2010
It’s inevitable! Your kids are going to change their minds. Whether it’s within seconds, minutes, hours, or days, it’s a guaranteed fact that your child will at one point or another will change their mind about their likes and interests. Seventeen years of these interest changes can take its toll on any room and most importantly your budget. So how do you prepare for your child’s ever-changing tastes when designing their room?
Stay with the conventional
With the amount of TV and movies your children will watch, it’s hard to say what characters or themes they will like from one day to the next. So when your child decides it’s time for a new style in their room, simply change the wall hangings or the painting scheme. This is something that can be inexpensive and easy to change. Kids outgrow themes on a daily basis, so if you purchase a new bed with every theme, plan for a lot of spending.
Plan for the long haul
Your focus when planning for longevity needs to be solely on the furniture pieces. Kids are very hard on furniture. That’s a fact. Buying quality, well-built pieces is vital. This doesn’t mean you have to break the bank and buy the absolute best. But look at the manufacturer’s warranty and take it into consideration the quality of the pieces when deciding what to buy. Also, heavier woods are sturdier and will last longer, but can be more expensive. Woods like pine are not as high quality, but will save you money.
The sooner, the better
When designing for a nursery, stay away from gender specific colors like pink for a girl and blue for a boy. Thinking long term means using neutral shades for paints, and then adding bolder colors to the accent pieces. Accent pieces can be changed down the road and are fairly inexpensive. A very easy and inexpensive way to decorate a room are wall stickers. They peel off easily and can be replaced with the next fad.
Finally, multi-stage pieces will also help when planning for the longevity of the room. For instance, cribs that convert into toddler beds will last for years and serve a multi-purpose. As will a six-drawer dresser with a changer on top instead of just a changing table.
When designing your child’s room with the future in mind, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their massive selection of furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so you know your child’s furniture will last a lifetime!
Tags: Decorations, design, furniture, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, royal heritage home furnishings bedding collection, Sealy, setting up, Youth Bedroom Furniture
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture, bedroom | No Comments
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
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!
Tags: Decorating, Decorations, design, design follies, Dining Room, furniture, living room, painting, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, rugs, window treatments, Youth Bedroom Furniture
Posted in Accessories, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating, Dining Room, Dining Room Furniture, End Tables, Kitchen, Living Room Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, bedroom, living room | No Comments
Sunday, June 27th, 2010
Everyone wants a great bedroom. We dream of owning a spacious bedroom so much that the thought of it becoming cluttered is a mere afterthought. But what happens if unlimited space is not at luxury you have? Having a small bedroom is not something you should fear. These guidelines are suggestions for working with what you have to give your bedroom the gift of space!
- Maximize the sense of space by painting the room in a pale color. White, beige and cream are just a few examples.
- Use ceramic or wood flooring that runs in a diagonal pattern. Diagonal lines appear longer than lines running perpendicular or parallel.
- Get rid of the headboard and footboard. Headboards and footboards push the bed off the wall and take up space.
- Use a metal mattress frame and keep the bed close to the floor. Large frames give the sense of a large mass and appear bulky.
- Sleep sofas or a nice futon can be great for utilizing space. Couch during the day … bed at night.
- Don’t use too much furniture. Excess furniture can choke a room and its traffic pattern. A bed, nightstand and a dresser is all your room needs.
- Storage pieces that rise vertically, like a highboy, are better than pieces that jet out horizontally.
- Minimize the use of patterns in things such as rugs, curtains and wallpaper. Patterns such as polka dots, flowers, stripes and plaids can really fill up a room and take away the sense of space.
- Refrain from placing a large amount of pictures on the wall. Many designers state that one wall should be left bare to give the psyche a chance to relax.
Designing for a smaller bedroom can be very easy, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and get those ideal bedroom pieces from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection that will give your bedroom infinite space!
Tags: bedroom, bedroom decorations, bedroom design, design bedroom, furniture, limited bedroom space, limited space, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, royal heritage home furnishings bedding collection, Youth Bedroom Furniture
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture | No Comments
Saturday, June 12th, 2010
How many times have you awaken from a great night’s sleep only to have your morning ruined by the painful feeling of banging one of your toes or shins against a dresser or another piece of furniture?
It has happened to all of us at one time or another, but the great thing is it doesn’t have to anymore! Arranging the furniture in your bedroom can be tricky, especially when you are working with limited space. The following steps will help you not only add more comfort and style to your bedroom, but it will save you from mornings filled will toe throbbing pain:
1. Sketch the layout of your bedroom on a piece of paper. Include measurements and placement of all radiators, doors, and windows.
2. Get the measurements of all your furniture. You can either write it down or if you are creative enough, make cutouts of each furniture piece.
3. Place the cutouts on the paper and move them around until you get the desired layout you want. Make sure the spacing between furniture pieces is big enough, giving you the peace of mind knowing that you won’t be bumping into anything when you wake up.
4. Make sure your room is clutter free! Clearing out clutter from the corners of the room will give you better energy flow. Exposed electrical equipment emits electromagnetic waves, which can hinder a peaceful night of sleep. Instead, hide wires from electrical equipment in units with doors.
When designing the layout of your bedroom, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and get those perfect bedroom pieces from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so you can start your mornings off pain free!
Tags: arranging bedroom furniture, Bedroom Furniture, decorating bedroom, Decorations, furniture, Mattresses, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, royal heritage home furnishings bedding collection, stubbing toe
Posted in Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating, PMD Furniture Direct, Protecting Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture | No Comments
Tuesday, June 8th, 2010
Your dining room does not have to match!
The days of matching dining rooms are finished! Today’s furniture buyers want their dining rooms to reflect their families’ personalities by mixing and matching different pieces to create a only one of a kind dining experience. All the dining room furniture you buy from your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee should be something you love that is a reflection of your home and personality.
The table, the centerpiece of any eating experience, is the first thing you need to consider when combining different styles of furniture for your dining room. Because of this, the rest of the design will play off of this focal point. Tables with lighter finishes and glass or stone tops lend a casual feel while darker finishes tend to be used for formal settings. If you plan on using the dining room for every meal, a glass top table is also easy to clean and maintain.
Next, consider the chairs. Even in a formal dining room setting the chairs don’t have to be the same. Wood, upholstered, leather, and even metal are just a few of the different styles of chairs you can choose from. And even when mixed and matched, these varying choices can add a style all of their own to any dining room. Mix and match back styles, use different styles for the side and arm chairs, apply coordinating fabrics to add some excitement to your seating. Side chairs can also be placed throughout the dining room for a unique look.
Finally, the serving pieces can be constructed from different materials than your table and chairs. Painted sideboards, china cabinets, and buffet tables will give them an eccentric one-of-a-kind look and add an interesting style to your dining room. Finish the table off with a centerpiece that matches the color or style of your curtains and there you have it–a dining room that is a reflection of you.
When matching your dining room with your families personality, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and get those just right dining room pieces from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection and start enjoying your dining experiences today!
Tags: arm chairs, Buffet, chairs, Decorations, Dining Room, Entertaining, furniture, hutch, non matching dining room, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, side chairs
Posted in Accessories, Dining Room Furniture, Entertaining, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings | No Comments
Monday, June 7th, 2010
Spending the night in an unfamiliar room can be such a drag sometimes, especially when the sleeping conditions are reminiscent of sleeping in the great outdoors. So why would you want to put your guest through that same experience?
Take into consideration the things that make you feel at peace when staying in an unfamiliar place. This is the most important factor to make your guests feel right at home in a guest room. It will also give them a warm and cozy feeling knowing their comfort was thought of when you invited them into your home.
Follow these suggestions when shopping at your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee to create a comfortable, relaxing experience for your guests:
- Keep it clutter free. Remove any furniture that might give the room a cluttered feel. Guests will feel more at home if they have enough room to accommodate themselves.
- Don’t furnish with all your unwanted furniture. This too can make a room feel cluttered and hodge-podge.
- Give the bed all the comfort you would want if you were sleeping on it. Provide extra pillows and don’t skimp on the linens. A thick duvet isn’t a bad idea either.
- Provide a nightstand next to the bed. This could be a great place for a lamp for reading purposes.
- Place a bowl of candy, magazines, books or flowers in the room to make your guests feel welcomed.
- Hang a mirror on the wall so they have a place to freshen up.
- A clock radio, wastebasket, iron and ironing board, tissues and a bottle of water are nice personal touches.
When creating a comfortable guest room for your dearest friends, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee to find the perfect pieces of furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings® Collection that will give your guest a home away from home experience.
Tags: Decorations, Entertaining, furniture, guest room, Mattresses, nightstand, peaceful nights sleep, pillow protector, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, proctect mattress, room, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, royal heritage home furnishings bedding collection, royal heritage mattress protectors, royal heritage pillow protectors, setting up
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating, Mattresses, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture | No Comments
