With the trend moving to cheaper and faster, it is nice to see real quality at a reasonable price. The Modern line made right here in the good old USA, is a very well made product with an outstanding, clean look. The constantly growing line specializes in mostly heavy gauge steel with wood accents, both of which are available in several finishes. You can see the products currently in production at My personal favorite is the Tangent dining series which can fill most size requirement and color schemes. The table is available in round, square and rectangular. There are several chair options which can also be matched with height adjustable barstools and occasional table groups for a complete look.They even offer a bench for a unique dining look. Other accent items like buffet tables and a great line of bars will add a modern look that will be timeless, not trendy.

On the construction side, the products are heavy welded steel for ultimate durability. Combined with a selection of cleanable micro fibers the Elite Modern line is virtually care free and a great value. Compared to some costly modern Italia designs, I highly recommend their entire line of furniture. They can even help you find a dealer near you.

A contemporary take on seating, with a curvaceous silhouette. Upholstered in smooth, supple top-grain leather or durable, stain-resistant soft velvet fabric. Detailed with subtle button tufting.

• 21″w x 21.5″d x 36″h; 19″h seat

• Durable wood construction

• Padded sloped arms

• Solid wood legs with a chocolate stain

• Spot clean

• Simple assembly

• Imported

CONSTRUCTION

Top grain leather is light corrected oil-pull up leather in which the color is first dyed to the raw hides, once this occurs the hides go through a dry milling and buffing process and are then finally sprayed with pigment/finished to create a tonal effect.

CARE: Velvet

Dust and vacuum often.

CARE: Leather

Weekly: use a clean, soft, lint free cloth slightly dampened with distilled water, wipe area gently.

Streamlined design meets contemporary proportions in our versatile, expandable dining table.

• Solid hardwood/wood construction.

• Seats 6; when extended, seats 8.

• Expands on a smooth gliding system.

• 72″w x 38″d x 30″h; extends to 96″w.

• Assembly required.

• Spot clean.

• Imported.

CARE

Spot clean with a damp cloth. Hardware may loosen over time. Periodically check that all connections are tight.

Sometimes, a single long table really is the best option for a particular room. But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with matching chairs.

“In one dining room we did,” says New York-based interior designer Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz . “the owner had a very long dining table. Having 14 chairs around it made the room too busy with legs. Our solution was to select four high back chairs that divide the table in two sections, and then to design a banquette that was repeated four times. The host and hostess sit in the middle chairs, so that they have access to all guests.”

If you’d like to re-create this look on a modest budget, you needn’t have benches and chairs custom made. Many furniture stores sell settees that could work quite nicely at a table; just make sure you select pieces that coordinate well with the upholstered chairs so the arrangement looks thought-out, not thrown-together.

If you have a screened-in porch or sunroom, consider using it for casual dining. To make this windowed room meal-ready, designer April Sheldon placed antique Chinese scholar benches on either side of a table made from an ironwood platform from India. The backless benches are surprisingly comfortable, she says — and they are easier to get in and out of than benches with high backs. And because there is no upholstery, spills are never a concern.

You could create a similar feeling in an indoor dining room, too, says Sheldon; just make sure the furniture is not only beautiful, but comfortable, as well. “People really like to linger at the table,” she says. “It’s all about feeling good, relaxing and enjoying good food.”

Close your eyes and picture a Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving: Grandpa carving the turkey at one end of the long wooden table, Grandma at the other end, seated on one of 10 matching chairs. For a long time, that set-up was synonymous with “dining room.” But the American family has changed since Rockwell last put down his paintbrush — and American dining rooms are changing, too. “People are entertaining in a much more informal and creative way today,” says San Francisco-based designer April Sheldon. “They’re mixing different patterns in their dishes and putting branches and shells on their dining tables. The traditional mahogany table just isn’t working with that lifestyle.”

So, what is working in today’s dining rooms? Mixable, matchable furniture in unusual materials and unexpected finishes, making a style statement by breaking all the rules.

Like many busy people today, designer Raji Radhakrishnan and her family usually eat dinner in the kitchen. “I almost never use my dining room for sit-down meals,” says Radhakrishnan, owner of Raji RM Design  in Brambleton, Virginia. “We’re much more likely to use our dining room for high tea or cocktail parties, so I have set the space up for that. The table is fairly small, and has a sofa behind it, with two antique Bergeres with caned seats facing it. There are some small end tables and I bring in other small tables when I want to.”

While wooden tables are still the most readily available, tables in more unusual materials are increasingly popular — and can really set the tone for a dramatic dining space. For this dining room in Woodstock, New York, designer April Sheldon  set a round Calacatta Oro marble tabletop on a base of bleached, rift-cut white oak. The table is surrounded by clear, modern chairs by Philippe Starck — for a look that’s fresh and sexy.

“The key to this kind of look,” says Sheldon, “is to start with a great table and then find the chairs that play off the material or attitude of the table.” And once you’ve spent the time to select a table in an unusual material, be sure to show it off: “There are so many beautiful place mats available today,” Sheldon says. “And you can also place the dishes right down on the table. There’s no reason to cover a beautiful table with a tablecloth.”

Furniture (probably from the French ‘fournir’ — to provide) is the mass noun for the movable objects (‘mobile’ in Latin languages) intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things. Storage furniture such as a nightstand often makes use of doors, drawers, shelves and locks to contain, organize or secure smaller objects such as clothes, tools, books, and household goods.

Furniture can be a product of design and is considered a form of decorative art. In addition to furniture’s functional role, it can serve a symbolic or religious purpose. Domestic furniture works to create, in conjunction with furnishings such as clocks and lighting, comfortable and convenient interior spaces. Furniture can be made from many materials, including metal, plastic, and wood. Furniture can be made using a variety of woodworking joints which often reflect the local culture.

Hand crafted from solid acacia wood with a beautiful warm, ruddy sheen the Kubus Dining Collection features fly through jointing and cracked beam legs producing a striking dining experience. The Kubus Storage Collection comprises delightful statement pieces with subtle Asian influence and styling. This collection offers practical modern day storage solutions. As with all hand crafted, solid timber furniture, sizes can vary slightly, and some movement should be allowed for; this should not be seen as a fault.

This style of the dining room feels more luxury!

Wood dining table that looks fantastic in dining room. You picture a dining table fashioned from gleaming wood with sturdy legs and an expansive surface and fold out leaves if necessary to add more guests to your setting. You envision a large hutch against the wall, filled with your best china, crystal, silver and linens to set exactly the right mood for your meal. Your dining chairs are both comfortable and solid, giving your guests the ability to relax a little longer in their seats as you talk the night away over dessert.Cool and unique perfectly describes the hand crafted Bowery X-leg dining table. Bold Indonesian oak construction base and smooth, expansive table-top offer seating for six with chairs, more with benches. Perfect for a dining room with limited space. Features rich dark wood frame with thick sturdy legs – the Bowery is always stable, never wobbly. Available in wenge wood finish. Indonesian oak construction.

The large Hudson square table provides a perfect blend of modern style and simple living. The Hudson features thick table top, with routed edge and matching thick legs in a wenge finish. Table measures an impressive 59 in. L x 59 in. W x 30 in. H, comfortably seating eight people – a perfect table for an intimate dinner party. Handcrafted, solid Malaysian oak construction. Simple assembly. Imported.

The Hills of Tuscany offers a comfortable, welcoming approach to luxurious style. Here, the richness of Italian culture meets the natural majesty and relaxed character of Big Sur. Richly finished furnishings for bedroom, dining and living include a carefully edited mix of classic motifs, graceful lines and captivating textures. Upscale, but never pretentious.

Today’s fresh take on luxury living seamlessly blends the richness of the past with the relaxed sophistication and adventurous attitude of the present. It’s not about provenance and perfect pitch, but about the life facilitated by the home you shape; an environment defined not by location, but by state of mind. Begin with a carefully edited mix of classic motifs, graceful lines, captivating inlays, and rich textures. The Hills of Tuscany – a comfortable, welcoming approach to luxurious style, a reassuring springboard to living life to its fullest.

Continue reading “Traditional Furniture Collections by Cheung  King” »

Posted by Will, in Traditional Furniture.

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Traditional Upholstered Furniture Cheung king
In a contantly changing furniture market where cheaper and faster seem to be the plan of the times, it is refreshing to see such commitment to detail and quality from the Henredon company.Their collection of products are very diverse with something to offer for every design oriented decorator.The beauty and diversity of enduring upholstery design. Lawsons, tuxedos; multi-pillow and tight backs; complemented by correlating chairs, ottomans and studio-size sofas; dressed in an array of fashion-fresh fabrics that bring modern flair to the classics.Perfectly beautiful sofas, loveseats, chairs, sectionals; richly dressed in an array of designer fabrics and leathers in a sweeping range of colors, patterns and textures. Designs sophisticated; relaxed; contemporary; traditional; exhibiting a level of materials and craftsmanship to which others can only aspire.

Posted by Will, in Traditional Furniture.

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Cheung King Furniture’s use of inlay and marquetry

The inspiration for  Cheung King Furniture was started in Michigan by a Dutch immigrant craftsman, named Siebe Baker. Hollis Baker continued the furniture craftsman tradition forming the beginnings of the company in the 1920′s. Even dating that far back in history, the same hallmark theme has transcended the company which is construction of fine quality furniture made with high end woods.

An often seen sign with Baker is the technique of inlay and marquetry.The technique of marquetry is to decorate a piece where elaborate patterns are formed by the insertion of pieces of material (such as wood, shell, or ivory) into a wood veneer that is then applied to a surface. Baker has fine examples using this technique to enhance the style of a piece.Great traditional wooden pieces abound throughout the Baker collection. These pieces are built to last a lifetime. Though the prices may be higher than other lines on the market, Baker’s pieces should remain in style long into the future.

Posted by John, in Traditional Furniture.

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South Barstow Dining by Ashley

In today’s furniture market the age old saying, you get what you pay for has a definite ring of truth. One company that still focuses on making quality furniture with great design is Ashley. I especially like the depth of options they offer. From bar room to bed room, Ashley has something for every space in your home. Within each category, a wide selection makes it simple to create an outstanding décor. The line is mostly traditional however many of the items have a transitional look touching on contemporary.

The “South Barstow” dining room collection takes the idea of contemporary styling one step further. Using embossed faux laminate with cherry stained accents, your dining room can be transformed into an exceptional dining experience. Featuring bowed panels and a float glass table top, the “South Barstow” dining room collection embraces the unique contemporary style for your personal home environment.

Posted by Will, in Dining Room Furniture.

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Isamu Noguchi’s influence on Modern Furniture

Furniture influence by Isamu Noguchi is still seen in today’s products. Born in Los Angeles in 1904, Noguchi spent the majority of his life in America and Japan. An early life experience which later lead to sculpture and furniture design began in Chigasaki, Japan in 1913 where he began an apprenticeship as a carpenter’s aid. At the early age of almost nine he began working with his hands to create things.In the summer of 1922 Isamu began an apprenticeship with sculptor Gutzon Borglum in Connecticut. In 1924 he took evening classes in sculpture at the Leonardo Da Vanci Art School. His talent was recognized early and in 1927 he won the John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship which allowed him to travel to Paris and Europe and further refine his skills.

There were first conceived as a chair for both domestic living areas as well as public spaces where visual restraint is of prime importance, such as museums. Discussion with architects, dealers and other users, however, revealed many other additional uses. They can be stacked inconspicuously and quite naturally in an office, ready for an improvised meeting, and many architects now see them as a comfortable alternative to the classics for use in cafes, halls or waiting areas.

The designer has always produced creations of exemplary purity and clarity, and in partnership with a manufacturer for the first time, he was able to combine this style with a multitude of factors, including ergonomics, safety, and the heavy demands of the public. The moment you sit down 0n, you realise the technical refinement. The rigidly designed shell ‘gives’ comfortably in the seat and back areas, and moulds the contours of the body. When you lean backwards, the top part of the back section yields to match your body, and the built-in spring mechanism provides counter-pressure, allowing the backrest to return to the original position. With its apparently simple design and styling, this chair is the epitome of the “less is more” concept.

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