Double Duty : Furniture that Knows How to Multi-task Works Twice

At this present time, the most common and most economical dwelling to date is a condo unit where there are two types in the market: a studio unit where there are no walls nor dividers to segregate the areas from one another such as the kitchen and the bedroom and one that has one or more separate rooms. If you happen to live in a condo unit, then, you would know that space matters very much and that you need to fill it with furniture, decorations and furnishings that would not take too much space and at the same time, create an illusion where your condo unit would appear bigger than it really is. Also, you need to design the interior part of your condo unit with furniture that would serve you in more ways than one.

One of the most economical and practical means to save room space is to get furniture that can multi-task. What that means is that it can take on more than one job so, you can use for different and multiple purposes. For instance, you can place an ottoman in your living room and at the same time, it pops out and reveals a storage room for your blankets. Another furniture that can multi-task is the Office-in-Bed that was displayed during the International Home Furnishings Market in North Carolina. This furniture, when it is not used as an office desk or a breakfast nook, just appears like a typical bed but what's strange about it is that it has oddly shaped headboard. Other than that, it has a shelf located at the foot of the bed as well as bookshelves connected to the platform base. When you need to use it as a desk, you just roll the raised shelf on a track back. Meanwhile, the headboard hides two huge storage containers where you can put your things. In addition, side tables appear when you slide the bookshelves from which end you want.

The furniture mentioned above are typically for everyday use. But what if there is a special occasion such as a dinner party, you need to consider re-arrange your furniture in order to have more space for your guests. You can set up the dining table and the chairs once you have the space ready. You can consider using folding tables and chairs so, you can tuck them away when you do not need them. And to add a more festive ambiance to your party space, place some colorful tablecloths on the tables and put some party decorations around it.

Now that you know about double duty furniture, think twice before decorating or re-decorating your condo unit. See how much more space there is when using such a furniture.

When Space is Tight, Suggestions on How to Store Things Vertically

Living in a limited space presents a difficult challenge for the home owner. When space is tight, it means that the home owner needs to make every single space on his apartment count to be able to use all the space provided. Doing this is not an easy task to do. You need to consider the different things that a person normally does at home such as working, sleeping, eating, and just hanging out. Creativity is needed when you want to integrating these functions into a tight space so that you will be able to do these activities comfortably without comprising the look of your apartment.

So what is the best suggestion to fit all these into your apartment then? Well, think vertical instead of horizontal. This means you need to present the image of the room vertically by storing things vertically as well as using visual manipulations to create this image.

There are many ways for you to store things vertically. For example, you can stack the shelves on the desk, store boxes beneath your bed, or even build a loft in your apartment to increase the amount of space. Closet organizers can also aid you in maximizing your space. For a more creative look, you can even string wires across your apartment ceiling and then hand colorful canvas baskets around it. It can create more space for you while looking like a great decoration at the same time. Another great suggestion on how you can store things vertically is to buy a tall bookcase. Fill the bookcase with books and plants so that it will give the room a comfortable feel.

In addition, it is also recommended for you to use long drapes on your windows to complement the room’s vertical feel. You can make use of area rugs also to create boundaries that will distinguish one room from another and make the room look wider and taller.

As you can see, storing things up vertically will really make the room look and feel bigger than it really is. You also get the benefit of maximizing your limited space while improving your apartment’s look. But even with the benefits of storing things up vertically, it is still important to remember that you should not put too many things in a limited space. It will only make the room feel crowded and unattractive no matter the kind of creativity or innovation you use.

Best Places to See and Learn about Modern Furniture

One of the must see places in the Southeast Asian region is the Philippines where there are lush beaches and great views. But other than the wonderful tourist spots that this country has to offer, the Philippines hosts numerous exhibits and fairs that is a delight to people all over the world. One of the exhibits that the Philippines would sponsor is the 2008 Cebu International Furniture and Furnishings Exhibition, which would start from March 6 and end on March 9, 2008, organized by Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation Inc., the governing body that represents Philippine furniture makers as well as exporters. On that year, the exhibit would be held at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino in Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City.

The 2008 Cebu International Furniture and Furnishings Exhibition would present a lot of innovation in the furniture industry such as new and important designs as well as new materials for furniture making. At the same time, a lot of new and young designers would participate in this event to show furniture designs that is not only creative but also harmless to the environment. Indeed, this would be an ideal venue to showcase different Philippine furnitures and furnishings that are best in the country.

Filipino furniture designers have been popularly known for their inventiveness, their awesome workmanship and their strong drive to continue in searching to respond and conform to the needs of the emerging markets through involvement in global fairs and exhibits.

Aside from the different furnitures and furnishings displayed during the exhibit, a new logo would be unveiled, which reflects the future – the opportunities that would come and the challenges that it reins in. The new Cebu X logo represents fresh vim and vigor as well as optimism. At the same time, the logo has two intersecting arrows that depict vitality and opposing views and even though these are conflicting, there is also a creation of equilibrium. Furthermore, the logo is meant to imbibe that rules in furniture design can be changed or broken, thus, designers would be able to employ their creativity and sense of style in creating and designing furnitures. For Philippine furniture designers and manufacturers, the exhibit serves as an important venue for innovation and a symbol of inspiration and expectancy.

For those who would like to attend the 2008 Cebu International Furniture and Furnishings Exhibition, tickets are sold at P100.00 or US$3.00 for each person and the show catalogues for P550.00 or US$10.00 each.

Caring for Your Furniture

Have you finally bought your dream furniture? Whether you have purchased a leather lazy boy chair, a wooden dining set or a upholstered sofa, you know that you need to lengthen the lifespan of the furniture in order to protect your investment. Here are some tips on taking care of for each kind of furniture:

Fabric Upholstered Furniture

Tip #1: Regularly vacuume or lightly brush the fabric of the furniture in order to eliminate the dirt or soil that can cause the furniture to wear out more quickly.

Tip #2: Turn the cushions of the furniture from time to time to lengthen its lifespan. It is best to do this once in a week.

Tip #3: Use fabric protection products to remove the dirt and stains from the furniture. Thus, it can be assured that the lifespan of the furniture would be prolonged.

Tip #4: Follow the specified instructions that come with the furniture in cleaning it so, that the furniture would not wear out quickly.

Leather Upholstered Furniture

Tip #1: Dust the leather furniture often. You may even use an art-gum eraser to eliminate common dirt.

Tip #2: For coated leather furniture, you can remove the stains by washing it with mild soap such as castile and water. Afterwards, rub the leather furniture with a slightly moistened cloth.

Tip # 3: Apply leather cream to the furniture once or twice a year.

Tip #4: Avoid applying oil, furniture polishes and varnishes to the furniture for these may have solvents that may make the leather gluey.

Wood Furniture

Tip #1: Avoid using cleaning aids that are not meant to clean wood furniture for these may cause damage to it.

Tip #2: Dust the wood furniture often with a duster. If you use wax or polish every time you clean the furniture, this would lead to an accumulation of dirt on the furniture as well as strip off its overall finish. Every month, apply a liquid wood polish to make your wood furniture sparkle.

Tip #3: If you want to apply polish or wax on your wood furniture, be sure to test it out so, you can be sure that it is the right cleaning aid to use. Else, there is a chance for your wood furniture to look weird after you have used polish or wax on it.

Tip # 4: If your wood furniture has drawers, get wax paper and rub it on the drawer slides to allow it to go in and out smoothly.

Be sure to take note of these cleaning tips closely and you can be sure that your furniture would look good for a very long time.

Creating a Fully Functional Office in a Small Space

In today's day and age, how much space you have is a large consideration in designing and decorating of let's say an office or any other kind of area for that matter. So, it is always a challenge to create a fully functional office area in a small space, especially when it would be located in a studio apartment, condo building or a small house. But you don't have to be confined to the space in order to set the style you want your office to have. You can always get creative and set up your dream office.

Here are some of the tips that you may take when you are creating an office for yourself but with limited space.

• First, you can include the basic essentials of an office area: work table where you can place your telephone and desk calendar, office chair and a cabinet to place your important documents and you can put your fax machine on top of the cabinet and a bookshelf to put your books, if needed.
  
• Second, to create an illusion of a spacious and cutting-edge office, you can paint the walls in neutral colors, place some artwork on one wall and install a hanging fluorescent lamp to make it look like a clean gallery impression.
  
• Third, you may also color the different areas of the working area in various hues or through installation of ventilated screen doors.
  
• Fourth, if you want to display knick knacks or your prized trophy collection in your office, you can put them on drifting shelves to add personality to your office area.
  
• Fifth, install shelves in your office area so, that you would be able to have a lot of space that can hold more books, doodads and the like.
  
• Sixth, make your office area versatile through installation of rolling furniture such as a side table, chair and others.
  
• Seventh, place the furniture in your work area in a way that would make you feel relaxed and open. It is not ideal to place the furniture side by side because it would just look cluttered.
  
• Lastly, add the finishing touches by placing a unique décor or something outrageous to make your office area reflect on your personality like your unique collection of funky jewelry so, that people would concentrate more on that instead of on the size of your space.

Now that you are finished designing your work area, it is sure that you are ready to move in and raring to start working in your dream office.

Choosing your “Dream” Couch

As everyone knows, the sofa, or commonly known as the couch, is a very important piece of furniture in the living room and it may even be deemed as the centerpiece of any living room. So, hunting for the perfect couch can be such a daunting task. But do not despair! We have lined up a few tips for you to take on your hunt for THE couch.

Tip #1: Before leaving the house, do not forget to measure the usable space in the room, so you would know the exact length and width of the couch you are going to put in that area.

Tip #2: The style of the sofa should fit the general theme of the room where it would be placed. For instance, there are different sofa arm styles to choose from such as English traditional that is fit for a straight-laced abode, the roll arm that is also traditional in nature and the straight or square arm that imbibes a contemporary aura. But if you do not have much space to put the couch, you can opt for a sofa that has no arms at all.

Tip #3: When you have selected the right shape for the couch, you can now move on to the fabric. What you need to pay attention to is the wear and tear quality of the cloth. Solid colors would fade quickly compared to patterned fabric such as stripes. On the other hand, it is always sound to choose a leather sofa since it does not wear out compared to fabric.

Tip #4: When you have decided on the look of the couch, you can proceed in considering the make of the sofa. The frame for the whole couch must be made of kiln-dried hardwood such as maple, poplar or oak.

Tip #5: Next, you should ensure that the sofa is durable. Here, you can opt for coils, which are tied together, or wire springs, which are less costly.

Tip #6: Check the cushions of the sofa since these are the ones that actually makes it comfy and cozy. If you want an inexpensive choice, then, go for foam that does not lose shape. If you want comfort and you are not too stingy, then, you can opt for an inner layer of foam covered in cotton batting and covered with goose down. But if you crave for luxury, go for a goose down filling.

Tip #7: Give a test run on the sofa of your choice to check out firsthand if it is really comfy and cozy.

Tip #8: Before leaving, measure the couch so, you would be sure that it would fit easily in your front door.

Now that you have selected your “dream” couch, it is time to sit back, relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

What is “Modern Furniture”?

Ever since furniture was first created, it has been a manifestation of our culture and civilization. From the ancient times to the contemporary era, furniture was been a reflection of how we view the world and how we think it should be changed, going away from it’s mere functional aspect. Furniture takes up space all around us, usually taken for granted, obscuring its real meaning most of the times

Meaning

The term “Modern Furniture” refers to the furniture created all through the 19^th century till today, inspired by the art movement called modernism. A huge departure from the furniture design before it, highly ornate and gilded pieces of wood and richly textured fabrics gave way to staggering simplicity and the aesthetic geometry of metal.

Chief Influences

Before the modernist movement began, great emphasis was laid on creating furniture which was highly ornate with intricate patterns and rich fabrics. Usually the time taken to create a piece was directly related to amount of desire for that particular piece. While the western or old school of thought laid emphasis on tradition and history, the modern movement looked for fresh newness, originality and innovation. The chief influences of Modernist design evolved out of a combination of various ideas: technically more advanced materials and manufacturing methods and the new thought of design from Werkbund and the Bauhaus School, from the exoticness of foreign influences, from Art Nouveau and from the tremendous amount of creativity of the various artists and designers of that era.

Icons of Modern Furniture

Elieen Grey’s side table created in 1972 created specially for her new home is one such great example of Modern Furniture. It’s unusual asymmetry and the non-conformist design style is a reflection of her own self. True to the Bauhaus school’s thought of usability the table can be adjusted such that breakfast can be eaten on it while one is in bed. The iconic Barcelon Chair on the other hand today represents the infamous Bauhaus design movement. Designed by Mies Van Der Rohe and Lilly Reich in 1929 for an international design fair in Barcelona, many consider this chair to be functional art instead of furniture. The Noguchi Coffee Table created by the noted sculptor, architect, furniture and landscape designer Isamu Nogichi still remains as landmark owing to its unique and unmistakable simplicity. Refined and at the same time very organic, this particular piece of design still remains as one of the most sough after pieces of furniture in the modern furniture movement.

When the going gets tough, the tough ‘Go Green’!

Vanity Fair is talking about it, a former US Vice President has been talking about it, and even the Academy of Motion Pictures is impressed with this Inconvenient Truth – ‘going green’ is going strong at the moment! The truth is that our home interior choices, big and small, have a lasting impact on the environment around us. Be it just changing the drapes or the paint of just discarding old and tired furniture, some products are more environment friendly than others. It is about time that we consider our ‘green’ choices and help preserve our planet. Here are some easy ways to make your furniture ‘green’, without compromising on even an inch of style:

Use Green: Use natural eco-friendly products to make your furniture. Consider using products such as Bamboo, which are a great combination of good looks and eco-friendliness. Being one of the fastest growing plants on earth, Bamboo is easy to cultivate, and its wood tones infuse interiors with natural warmth. And it also remains as one of the sturdiest natural material for furniture.

Paint it green: Most of the conventional paints used to paint furniture release highly volatile organic compounds (VOCs) - fumes and chemicals, which are not only bad for the environment but may also cause those fresh-paint headaches. Ask for Low- or no-VOC paint from your paint retailer as an environmentally safer option.

Cover it in Green: Look for natural fibre weaves as a natural alternative to upholster your furniture. Seagrass, sisal, coir, jute and rush are quite in demand right now and create a very definitive style statement. All these variety of materials vary widely in terms of their durability and stain resistance, so make sure you ask about their merits and limitations before purchasing.

What Are the Current Trends in Modern Furniture Design?

Eileen Gray’s Adjustable Table, Breuer Nesting’s table, Hoffman Kubus arm chair, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair – each one of these classic pieces of furniture have represented modernity. All of these designs are as vibrant and relevant today as they were decades ago - clean lines, functionality, simplicity and great design.

The current trends in modern furniture design are developing yet greater relations with the fashion world. Your personal space and the physical space around you are more in tune with your public persona. We’re more aware that anything in our home makes a statement about us. Design is more about re-enforcing individuality – no strict rules but one – Reflect your individuality.

Some of the recurrent hot favorite themes of modern furniture design are:

• Minimalism, harsh lines and a clinical ambience is replaced with a touch of old world warmth

• Colors are bold - pumpkin orange, bright red, yellow, gold, deep cinnamon, luxurious violets, turquoise and ofcourse pink - bright and daring

• Metal remains an extensively used feature of design

• Decoupage - very chic

Modern furniture design concepts give us the best of both worlds…old and new. Eclecticism is in. This is the time when that colonial/antique piece of furniture can be placed alongside your contemporary straight-line sofas, and not look out of place. Mix and match is the trend as aesthetic independence becomes more pronounced. Ornate fixtures and accessories alongside straight-line minimalist metal furniture would not be incongruous.