Montgomery Decor

Family is one of the core elements of Amish culture. Amish families generally have seven to ten children and sometimes have elderly members living with them as well—therefore, mealtimes can be quite lively. As fathers and older sons come in from the fields or workshops and mothers and older daughters put aside their household chores, the entire family is able to gather together for daily meals. For the Amish, this is a treasured time of family bonding rarely see in our busy world. Close ties extend beyond the immediate family, and extended family and members of the local settlement community often visit during meals. The family dining table also plays a central part in weekly church gathering that are hosted by alternating families, as well as in the large wedding celebrations held by the Amish.

Amish woodworkers labor painstakingly in the woodshop to create high quality and enduring furniture for their families, communities, and the “English” around them. But each craftsman finds great satisfaction in creating heirloom pieces that reflect Amish values of utility, simplicity, and excellence. Built from the finest wood in the Amish tradition, these superior pieces complement the family meal-time tradition. Before that they live with the bride’s family and it is during this time that they seek out foundational pieces for their home, including a dining table. They know that as their family grows, that dining table will prove its worth over and over again in promoting family bonding, and will become a treasured, long-lasting heirloom.

American culture has always embraced large family gatherings to celebrate special events and holidays. Now many in our modern society have rediscovered the importance of regular family meal times. Many families now actively strive to reinstate this crucial time of family bonding in their busy routines. Following this growing trend, many families are choosing to add significance to traditional meals and special family gatherings with a durable Amish-made dining set or oak dining room tables.

Although farming has historically been the mainstay of the Amish economy, high land prices and a growing population have led more and more men to pursue a craft such a furniture building. Outbuildings are converted to woodshops or new buildings are built to house their woodworking businesses. Thus the market for handcrafted Amish furniture has thrived. These days, a wide variety of furniture is available in many styles due to the growing number of woodworking shops. Furniture can even be custom-ordered according to wood type, leg style, skirting, dimensions, and finish. Amish craftsman typically sell their creations directly from their own shops, but many have partnered with local “English” businessmen to distribute their goods in nearby stores or over the Internet.

Wood dining furniture styles include the familiar Mission style, as well as Shaker, Windsor, Queen Anne, French Country, Hoosier, sheaf-backed, Franklin, Malibu, Portland, and other more contemporary styles. The Amish use only the highest quality woods—no imitations or laminates. One can choose from oak, cherry, walnut, maple, or pine, among others. When choosing a dining table, an important detail to consider is the leg supports, which might be a set of basic four legs, trestle, or pedestal. Table tops are available in a wide variety of designs, including circular, oval, square, rectangular, and octagonal. Leaf styles can be side drop, separate center, or stowleaf.

Low quality wood file cabinets are normally made to be self assembled by the purchaser.  Assembling these filing cabinets are often more difficult than expected because they use “cam” assembly hardware.  When looking for a file cabinet you should avoid buying one that is made from particleboard.  While the description on the package may say it’s made of wood, you need to use caution.  The Furniture Manufacturers Association has declared that the description “solid wood” includes particleboard.  You should look for a file cabinet that is made from solid wood like pine, cherry, or oak.

Another thing to consider that a file cabinet needs glue, screws, and clamps in order to hold a lot of weight.  It is doubtful that cam locks in particleboard will hold up to regular use.

The next thing you need to know is the difference between solid wood (not particleboard), genuine wood veneer, and printed grain.  The simplest way to determine whether a piece of furniture is made from solid wood or not, is to look at the grain.  If the end grain runs perpendicular to the rest of the grain, it is very likely veneer.  This is not to say that you should not purchase furniture made with veneer, but you should know exactly what you are purchasing.

An oak filing cabinet that has wood drawers that are made with English Dovetailed joints is the best.  If the drawers are put together with cams, they won’t stay together.  A drawer that is glued and stapled may be acceptable as long as the staples are only used to hold the drawer together as the glue dries.

Another thing to look at is the hardware that is used to open the file cabinet drawers.  Look at the runner system and make sure that it opens evenly and smoothly.  Look at how the tracking system works.  If the file drawer pulls out less than 90% you will have a hard time retrieving documents from the back of the drawer.  If the drawer doesn’t pull out all the way you will lose valuable storage space.  File cabinets made with Euro type rollers are not acceptable under any circumstances.  This roller system has two interlocking wheels on a spindle and is not able to take the heavy weight of a file drawer.  This type of roller system won’t last long at all.

An acceptable file cabinet glide system would be a full extension, full ball bearing slide system that has a minimum rating of 100 pounds.

You should also decide whether or not you will want to lock the individual file cabinet drawers.  The best way to lock a drawer and keep it safe from prying eyes is to install a lock on each individual drawer.  You can also lock all the drawers by using a key on just the top drawer that controls a mechanism that locks all the drawers in the file cabinet.  Sometimes these interlocking systems on quality wood file cabinets can be expensive and can sometimes create access problems if they hang-up.

A conscientious consumer will take all of these tips into consideration when choosing a file cabinet.  By sticking to solid wood file cabinets with quality glides and steering clear of those that require assembly, you will have a quality file cabinet that provides good access to your files that will last for years.

Phillip Gasvar has worked in the interior decorating and home furnishings business for 10 years. He writes for a landmark furniture store in Los Angeles. They offer American made Arts & Crafts and Mission style bedroom, living room and oak office furniture for your home or office. Thy take pride in offering furniture that’s built to last for generations. You’ll find everything you need within one roof.

A totally new look for your bedroom doesn’t A little creativity can go a long way, whether it’s an afternoon project or just adding a few accessories. This is what you’ll need to get start: Pillows, pillows, pillows. Get a few of them, the $10 kind, in whole new color palette. Creating a monochromatic look is as simple as getting several pillows in the same color but using different textures like silk or chenille. Try a romantic look with layers of pillows — large ones in the back and smaller ones up front.

A fresh coat of paint can make a huge difference in the look of room and its fairly inexpensive to do. Remember, you don’t have to repaint your entire room; you can focus on a particular area that needs renovating. Older closet doors, the ones that usually have more detail can easily be improved and given texture by painting the frame in natural color and the inset in a darker color. A little creative paining of your furniture can make your entire room come to life. Try sponge-painting a chest or giving a cabinet a faux antique finish.

A brand new headboard can be costly. Try creative, inexpensive ideas such as using a section of a wrought iron or picket fence bought at a flea market. Want something that’s inexpensive and will make your bed look soft and sophisticated? Then try decorating with bed skirts. They can be found in a plethora of colors, textures and patterns. By using a soft and neutral color you can get the most in both beauty and versatility. You do not want it to be the center of attention, but you do want it to accent your bed.

Window treatments are simpler than people think. A swag at the top of the window is inexpensive (depending on your fabric choice) and not too dramatic. It will really add a feminine touch to the room. You can use plant or bicycle hooks hanging from the ceiling. Or opt for just a blind and an inexpensive garland or floral accent at the top of the window. We also adore the simple look of pre-made drapes and a basic rod with funky finials. Pottery Barn, JCPenny, Target and Bed Bath and Beyond offer a wide selection of all these items.

Do have a canopy or four-poster bed that could use a little sprucing up? Create a beautiful “puddle” or “pond” affect by draping fabric over the poles and letting it fall to the floor. To create this effect, just add an extra 20 inches to the fabric before it is cut. Candles are a perfect decorative item that many people tend to forget. While most people go with white candles, since they’re the most sophisticated, consider clustering colored candles to create a focal point on a night stand or dresser. Group candles in odd numbers — even amounts tend to be boring. Try different heights and gather them as an altar on a shelf.

Hanging framed artwork and posters or mirrors is inexpensive and can go a long way in changing the look of room, but make sure it doesn’t clash with your current décor. Stick with neutral-colored frames — gold, silver, white, black or wood tone. Wall shelves are perfect for a quick decorating touch. Collections are perfect for displaying on a wall shelf, but try to stay away from small items. Placing a lot of tiny accessories will leave the shelf looking cramped and cluttered. You can place a framed painting or pictures on the shelf or even try something minimalist like fresh flowers in simple glass bottles.

About the Author…

Sue Vorgan has  20 years of experience in the home furnishings and interior decorating industry. She owns and manages a large furniture showroom in Los Angeles. They specialize in Mission style and Arts & Crafts bedroom, living room and oak dining room sets. Her store takes pride in offering furniture that’s built to last for generations. It doesn’t matter if your looking for an American made wood beds or oak dining room chairs, they carry only the best in American made quality furniture at everyday affordable prices.

Most of us have some upholstered furniture, but not all of it is the same. You need to understand the basics of fabric care and how to clean it. This can also help before the fact, as you consider how easy it is going to be to take care of furniture before you actually buy it.

Vacuuming Upholstery
Furnishings turn a room into a comfortable place to relax. If you take care of them properly, you’ll also keep furnishings looking good while they contribute to your enjoyment. If your house has very young children or pets, it may be an extra chore to maintain upholstered furniture, but it would be well worth your effort to do so carefully.

It’s pretty simple to avoid some types of damage to your upholstered furniture. For example, to avoid fading fabrics, don’t “let the sunshine in” — at least when it comes to direct exposure for your upholstery. Indirect sunlight is best in this case, and you can control the light with curtains, blinds, drapes or shades. For quick cleanup, keep moist wipes close by to deal with spills as soon as they happen.

Vacuuming
The best way to keep your upholstery clean over the long term is to vacuum frequently. This will help prevent dirt, dust and stains from becoming embedded in your upholstery fibers and helps keep them looking new.

Here are some quick tips on vacuuming:

• Before you start, check for worn spots in the fabric, debris they could clog your vacuum, and loose buttons and threads.

• Tighten or repair buttons before you vacuum, and clip loose threads.

• If your vacuum has a soft brush attachment come use it. Keep this attachment free of oily residue and clean in general. You can also buy two of these attachments and use one just for your upholstery. A crevice tool will also help you clean a tight spots in corners.

Cleaning Upholstery

Crucial tip: Always make sure to follow cleaning label and furniture manufacturer instructions before you apply any product to your upholstery.

Deep clean: Depending on how soiled you furniture gats and its color and pattern, deep clean your furniture every year or two. You can do this with do-it-yourself cleaners, commercial cleaning, or phone cleaners.
Avoid soaking the fabric or furniture structure with upholstery cleaner.
Rinse well to get rid of all soap residue so that dirt is not attracted to your now clean upholstery.

You should use a cleaning product that has a soil retardants so that future stains are somewhat prevented. If you’re not sure, check the directions on the label or talk with a professional cleaner about the effectiveness and use of soil retardants. If you have a problem with frequent soiling, a soil retardant that is in spray silicone form can prevent stains and dirt from setting. If this type of treatment was done by the manufacturer prior to your purchase, such as with ScotchguarI, make sure you use compatible cleaning products whenever you clean your piece of furniture.

It’s inevitable that you’re going to get spills, especially if you have small children. To keep your furniture clean, look at the care instructions or keep the instructions handy in a household notebook. Test your cleaning method first on the spot that’s not easily seen, and if there’s still a ring around the stain after you clean it come you’ll need to deep clean the entire cushion or piece of furniture.

Blot spills to get them up, and don’t rub them. Do this as quickly as you can with a white or light colored rag, or with a white paper towel. Don’t use colored towels or paper towels with print on them because this could transfer dye or ink to the piece of furniture.
If you’ve had a particularly large spill, remove as much of the spill before you clean with a clean rag, piece of toweling, etc., then blot the rest up and treat the stain the remains.

Remove slipcovers to spot clean, so that you know that the upholstery under the slip cover is not soiled. You can also place a clean folded towel under the slipcover to protect the upholstery while you spot clean the slipcover on the furniture.

Removing pet hair
You can remove pet hair quite easily with a clothes brush that has either a napped fabric head or a bristle head to collect pet hair. You can also look for a brush like this to be sold in pet stores. If you have nothing else in the house and you really need to pick up pet hair, it’s pretty easy. Just wrap masking tape around your hand, with the sticky side out, and brush along the furniture to pick up loose hair and lint.

The Basics of Fabric
Cotton fabrics are often used for upholstery, but how durable they are depends on their finish and weave. If the cotton fabric has been prewashed, as is often true of slipcovers, you should be able to clean it with soap and water. Check the manufacturer’s recommended cleaning method before you clean anything, though. Cotton fabrics will fade if you leave them in direct sunlight.

Cotton blends are a great choice for families, because their kid friendly and sturdy. Apply a stain resistant finish to make them easier to clean.

Canvas is a good choice for family room furniture or other furniture that’s going to get lots of rough-and-tumble use because it’s really durable. It does show grime and hold onto dirt particles, however, so vacuum frequently. If it’s prewashed, you can probably pop smaller slipcovers into the washing machine instead of trying to spot clean them.

If your covering is damask, this is a formal choice and should be vacuumed gently and brushed without breaking threads.

Microfibers are a great new addition to home furnishings, with a large color range and a soft and pleasant feel. They also are stain resistant and can usually be cleaned quite easily with soap and water. This is a good choice if you have children.

Wool and wool blends are durable and sturdy, and are good to use on chairs and sofas. Blends are pretty easy to spot clean, but you should check your manufacturer’s recommended cleaning method before you clean.

Silk is very delicate and only suitable for areas used by adults, such as formal living rooms. If it gets soiled, it has to be professionally cleaned. Keep it out of direct sunlight to avoid fading.

Sunbrella fabrics are superior for stain resistance, and can be used either indoors or out. They’re also sturdy and stand well against fading. They’re a great choice for busy families.

Leather furniture can be a good choice; damp wipe or vacuum as you need to, using very little water. If it needs to be cleaned, use saddle soap or leather conditioner, buffing thoroughly after you clean to remove any residue.

Suede furniture can be vacuumed with a soft brush attachment. Only clean with leather cleaners specifically made for suede. You can remove small spots with art gum erasers, but do not clean with water.

About the Author…
Leon Tuberman has been in the furniture and home decorating business for almost 40 years. He operates a popular home furniture store and showroom in the San Fernando Valley. They offer American made Arts & Crafts and Mission style bedroom, dining furniture and mission office furniture for your home or office. His store takes pride in offering furniture that’s built to last for generations. It doesn’t matter if your looking for oak bookcases or American made wood desks, they carry only the best in American made quality furniture at everyday affordable prices.