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Good Furniture: Quality Construction Defined

Tuesday, June 20th, 2017

Protege Collection: Left Sofa Sectional

A home that has amazing furnishings is truly a wonder to look at. The well-designed rooms with the right pieces of furniture will surely give an awesome visual impression to guests. There are specific qualities that characterize quality furniture. Just look and feel its fabric, color, and framework and you’ll know what quality really means.

Timelessness

The simplicity or modesty of certain furniture can be easily spotted out. In terms of design, it should not be gaudy neither dull. Yet simplicity is an ambiguous term as this can mean different things to different people.

To many individuals, it could be that center table that seamlessly beautifies the room along with other wooden pieces. On some occasions, it could be the way that a piece of furniture could enhance the light in the room, making the place a lot more charming.

Generally, it is not easy to define simplicity. It can be felt and sometimes seen but to

an accurate look for it, well, it’s just too difficult.

Efficiency

A piece of furniture that’s easy to use is always a good thing. This is particularly true if that furniture is used by people from all walks of life and on a frequent basis. It must also be safe as this is a leading concern in buying quality furniture.

Bear in mind that you are buying furniture for you and your family so it has to be structurally sound to begin with.

Designed to be Tough              

Furniture is created according to needs – whether you’d use them indoors or outdoors. One other important factor to consider is its size. You have to realize that its size must be relative to the user’s size and which room it is going to be used in.

Be sure to buy furniture that promotes and supports comfort. Don’t look for pieces that cause neck, legs or back strains.

The furniture’s sturdiness does contribute to its quality. In fact, this is the leading factor that can make you consider furniture to be of high quality.

The users can be assured of safety when they have sturdy furniture in their home. Ultimately, the durable pieces can even help you save money as it can be used throughout the years.

Cynthia Rowley Swell King Shelter Upholstered Bed

Buying Tips

Instead of defaulting to cheap and new furniture and end up being disappointed in the end, why not shop for durable, stylish investments?

In buying wood furniture (nothing beats wood when it comes to timelessness), be sure to check both exposed and concealed surfaces. An exposed surface must be scratch-resistant. Test this by drawing a thin line using your fingernail. If you created a dent just by running your finger lightly, then it’s time to run to the other direction.

Solid wood must have zero knots. Knots can lead to cracks and you don’t want that.

Check also the joint construction. Look for dowels (wooden pegs that are as good if not better than screws), dovetail (interlocked square teeth), mortise-and-tenon (a narrow end inserted to another piece with a hole).

If you’re shopping for upholstered furniture, then take a look inside (this is if you can unzip the seat cover). If you see a foam block that’s wrapped in cotton, Dacron or high end down, then you’re good.

Foam only cushions are less durable and are also going to be less comfortable in the end. Ask about the density rating of the foam. Settle for 1.8 pounds or higher.

Check also for even resistance to the pressure that you subject the foam to. Be sure to squeeze the back and the arms, too. Ideally, you must not be able to feel the framework through the thick padding.

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Choosing Would-Be Heirloom Pieces

Thursday, October 13th, 2016

FFDM Highlands Collection

FFDM Highlands Collection

Shopping for furniture can get tiresome and confusing. There is attractive furniture everywhere but you have to make a serious, contemplative decision before you take the step and begin shopping. Remember that furniture is supposed to last long, meaning, it should be around long enough for you to enjoy, or better yet, for your children and grandchildren to enjoy.

Family heirlooms are not accident pieces. These are intentionally durable and quality pieces that can be kept for heritage’s sake. Your objective in shopping for a would-be heirloom piece is to know what to look for.

Heirloom Must be Handcrafted

From beginning to end, handcrafted pieces are those that have been made solely by hand. These pieces are cut, sanded, fitted, carved, then joined by hand. You might see some flaws because these are handcrafted but these only point to the more desirable unique features that cannot be provided by any machine.

The farthest that you could allow should be woodworker’s glue but for the most of the furniture, these should be joined by equally durable wooden pieces.

Finding handcrafted pieces also means that you find a reputable furniture artisan. Noteworthy furniture designers should catch your attention. They are the ones that can provide the best tables, chairs, beds or lamps that you can hand over to your posterity with pride.

Heirloom Means Quality

There are two kinds of wood that can be used in the creation of quality furniture – softwoods and hardwoods. Common softwood species are pine, cypress, redwood and cedar. Hardwood trees, on the other hand, are cherry, ash, oak, maple, rosewood, poplar, walnut and teak.

Hardwood or softwood offers a different look, feel and hardness. The kind of wood that has been chosen will affect the quality and price of the piece. High quality spells top of the line pieces. The likes of solid Cherry, Oak, Mahogany or Maple are all wonderfully durable which is why these are also some of the most expensive pieces that one could own.

There are also pieces that come in combined woods. An example is when Cherry is used as an exterior piece and underneath it, there is a different kind of wood. When you encounter this kind of combined materials, take a step back and see if you can invest on a more expensive piece instead. Cherry finish is different from solid cherry furniture.

Remember that solid construction is no less than the highest quality of furniture creation. Whether you pick softwood or hardwood, what really counts is having a solid piece. Solid pieces are the most probable heirloom pieces because they are not engineered wood, plywood or particleboards.

Never settle for bargain pieces. Durability and quality come with firm, compact woods so look only for the latter.

Heirloom Means Quality Construction

Fine wood pieces always undergo proper construction. Poor construction undermines even the best of solid wood. Even if there are already technological advancements, the good, old-fashioned way of furniture construction is still considered best especially when you are considering a would-be heirloom piece.

Find joints that are wood-on-wood rather than those with metal or iron brackets. Ask about dovetails or mortise and tenon as these are the strongest joints that furniture manufacturers could use. Fitted joints significantly increase the contact area, hence, the furniture bonding strength becomes more substantial.

Heirloom Spells Superior Finish

Quality finish is essential in protecting your furniture piece and also in bringing out the beauty of the wooden furniture. Finishes provide varying degrees of furniture strength.

High quality finish might take a tad longer to create but they are definitely able to last longer and could provide more protection than other sorts of finishes.

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Quality Furniture Defined

Monday, September 5th, 2016

FFDM Vintage Classics is a collection of quality wood furniture for people with impeccable taste.

FFDM Vintage Classics is a collection of quality wood furniture for people with impeccable taste.

If you’re out to purchase furniture today, it pays if you know what quality furniture really is. Don’t just drive around not knowing what pieces should go with your chosen theme and what materials should comprise the pieces that you take home. It is also important that you get your money’s worth whether this is a replacement or you’re out to buy your first sets of furniture.

Characteristics of Quality Furniture

The most basic approach in seeing the difference between quality and low quality pieces is to take a closer look at both old and new furniture. Take note that even furniture that was considered junk back in the 20th century had dovetailed joints inside drawers. All were made of solid wood back then.

Lesser pieces were often veneered on top of solid wood. Don’t think of veneer as an indication of poor quality, though. This is just a wood crafting technique used for many centuries which actually allows furniture craftsmen to beautifully design patterns as well as inlays which cannot be done in any other way.

Finer furniture pieces were often custom-built by the best cabinet makers and master joiners. These were fashioned out of kiln-dried, hardwood boards. The surviving pieces today are a testament to the master artisans’ quality of work.

Hooker Furniture Dining Room Manhattan - Transitional Barstool features the unique fusion of quality leather and wood.

Hooker Furniture Dining Room Manhattan – Transitional Barstool features the unique fusion of quality leather and wood.

Wood Quality

Going back on getting the most out of your money, there are certain things that you need to look for. When it comes to construction, you have to search doweling, mortise and tenon, dovetails, mitering, tongue in groove, and the glued and screwed frames.

As for the materials, ask for the kiln-dried types as these are the ones in which moisture have been removed. Kiln-drying can take months depending on the kind of wood being dried.

Look also for the wood’s matching grain and color. The frames should be constructed using stable woods such as poplar, oak, solid cherry, or maple.

Going down to the wood furniture’s performance and overall looks, make sure that it feels solid to the touch. Don’t be afraid to rock or jostle the pieces that are presented to you. You must not hear any creaking sound.

As for the parts that are unexposed, make sure that they have been well-fitted and smooth. Only the best pieces in the world are able to perfect these characteristics.

If you happen to be buying drawers, then be sure to check that the drawers are sliding smoothly. The doors of cabinets should be closing neatly.

The quality of furniture that you choose depends on how much you are also willing to spend. Other factors are how you are going to use the piece and whether you would like to keep the piece your entire life.

It makes sense, in the long run, that you buy pricier furniture rather than to keep recycling it when it begins to fall apart. Go for trendy or traditional, it really doesn’t matter. What truly matters is that you can use the piece for a very long time.

A good piece that can promise you all these things are hardwood pieces which are often used in quality furniture. To make sure that these pieces come from sustainable and environment-friendly areas, make sure that you do your research before you buy. Ask about construction methods, overall performance and materials, even business practices.

Always remember that the most important part of furnishing your home is that you get to find pieces that you love and enjoy for the longest time possible.

Don’t resort to thrift shops and antique stores if you are looking for quality furniture. Check our lineup of quality hardwood pieces instead and you would soon wonder at how exquisite each piece is.

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