Give Thanks! All at ONE Table

Can your family all fit at one dining table? Do you have memories of being in that awkward teen phase where you didn’t want to hang with the little cousins anymore but then you got stuck at the kid table at Thanksgiving? Or possibly you’re now the frazzled parent trying to feed the toddler from the other table which requires getting up no less than 32 times.

Eliminate the “kid table” phenomenon by taking advantage of the many new options for tables with leaves.

Now these are not your grandma’s table that required you to go find the leaf under the coach or in the back of the closet. These tables have several options such as self-storing or butterfly leaves. Instead of a separate piece, the leaves run on tracks and either nestle under one another, or fold in half to nestle under the main body.

Toluca table with self-storing leaves by A America {source}


Butterfly leaf

Many of these tables also come in sets with a ton of chairs so you don’t have guests getting stuck in folding chairs.

Toluca 13 Piece Set with Slat Back Chairs by A America {source}

Now that you can fit all the cousins around the table, check out our Thanksgiving table setting ideas on Pinterest. Happy Thanksgiving!

Bring farmhouse furniture into your house

When someone talks about a country kitchen tables and accessories, one thinks of weathervane roosters and kitschy cow cookie jars, but a farmhouse kitchen brings images of rustic wood, white baseboards - light and airy comfort.

The centerpiece of any farmhouse kitchen is the table. Sturdy and time weathered wood are hallmarks of a classic farmhouse kitchen table. Thanks to recent trends using reclaimed wood, these tables are not hard to find.

Reclaimed Table, Palettes by Winesburg {source}

Farmhouse style is known for a white palette, but too much white can end up looking sterile. Opt for warm white hues - think vanilla, praline, linen, and cream.

Willow and praline table, Canadel Furniture {source}

Amaretto and biscotti table, Canadel Furniture {source}

If you like the farmhouse look, but lean towards a more contemporary style, select a pedestal table with angular lines paired with more traditional chairs.

Champlain yellow and oak table, Canadel Furniture {source}

For a small kitchen, consider a double-duty kitchen table and island combo. Or, a drop leaf table set.

Farmhouse center island table, Liberty Furniture {source}

Low Country drop leaf table, Liberty {source}

However you choose to bring the farmhouse into your house, this easy, relaxed style will help to bring peace to an often hurried and hectic space.

For more farmhouse inspiration, check out our farmhouse kitchen pinboard.

Universal Furniture

Universal Furniture Great Rooms Collection

Universal Furniture has spent the several years now updating and improving their image. NO longer are they fighting for the customer wallets with Coaster, Ashley and other importers.  Universal now has several casual dining collections with Brentwood Court, Great Rooms and Main Street. Of course they feature several formal dining collections: Artisan Oak, Bolero, Casa Verona,Classics Today, Contessa, Cross Town,Forecast, Governor’s Place, Hilltop Terrace, Kentwood, Main Street, Modern Outlook, New Lou, Pacifica, Paula Deen Home, Rough Luxe, Summer Hill, Summerglen Drive, True Vintage and Villa Cortina.

If you are looking for a unique step up without getting gouged price-wise you may want to check out Universal and see what they might offer for your home.  Make sure you shop around, many local retailers will try to sell you on a "sale" when in reality you can still buy the furniture less elsewhere. Tricky, Tricky.

Arlington Dining Collection by Intercon Furniture

One of the hottest trends in furniture right now is the two-tone finish. Consumers love the two-tone look for many reasons, one being the dual finish helps to break up the sometimes overpowering appearance of solid color tables. Many people love the idea of integrating bold colors like black or white into their homes, but are afraid large pieces in these solid colors would be too overwhelming or stark. Enter the two-tone finish. Adding a different shade to the tops of tables and seats of chairs immediately warms up and tones down stronger colors to allow for smooth blending of colors in your space. Additionally, a two-tone finish adds more versatility to the furniture by allowing pieces to coordinate with twice as many furnishings and areas of the home. The two-tone finish also alleviates the need for furniture pieces to match exactly to flooring, cabinets, etc. The dual colors pull in different tones from the surrounding area without making your space look like everything was supposed to match, but missed.
Two-tone finish options range from easy-to-find Cherry/Black and Oak/Nutmeg to more uncommon shades like Oak/White or Chestnut/Espresso. And with custom order companies, the possible combinations are endless. While two-tone finishes became popular as a trend, this is a look that I’m sure is here to stay.
There are literally thousands of furniture options available in two-tone finishes. One is the Arlington Dining Collection by Intercon Furniture. The collection is available in both hand rubbed Black and Java or White and Java finishes. Not only can you choose your finish, but the Arlington also offers two chair options, Slat Back or Lattice Back. The result is a myriad of options that allow the Arlington to be fit exactly what is needed for a variety of spaces.
Versatility is huge this collection. The transitional styling allows the Arlington to fit in homes with contemporary styling, but at the same time complement more traditional decorating schemes. Tables are available in regular dining height, counter height (36″ high) and pub height (42″ high). Table sizes range from a small 42″ round dropleaf for tight apartment eating spaces, to a rectangle dining table that extends to 78″ long and can comfortably seat 8. This collection even features a counter height table with storage in the base. The multifaceted Arlington has one more piece that more and more consumers are seeking out in their search for a kitchen or dining set: a bench! Arlington’s bench offers the choice of the Black/Java and White/Java finish and is available in both the Slat Back and Lattice Back options.
An important feature of the Arlington collection that should not be overlooked is the quality. Every piece in the collection is constructed from solid Rubberwood with a high quality lacquer finish. Avoiding a solid black or white finish on the top of the table (the part of any set that takes the heaviest beating) will ensure that the pieces look great for years to come. The backs & seats of chairs and barstools in the Arlington collection are ergonomically designed to provide utmost comfort and support. Together with sturdy box frame construction, stretcher bars afford a durable design on chairs and barstools.
If this collection isn’t for you, fear not! There is a two-tone finish set out there to fit everyone’s needs. However, if you are already creating a mental picture of how great the Arlington Collection will look in your space, I hear Kitchen Tables & More in Columbus, Ohio, is due to have a set from this line on their showroom floor soon!
Guest Author Janae

Canadel Furniture vs Bermex... FIGHT!

Canadel vs Bermex

Canadel Furniture and Bermex Dining are two competing dining furniture lines.  They are both made in Canada and they both have nice products.  If you are in the market and can’t decide which of these manufactures fit your needs best, maybe I can help.
Quality of Finish: Both companies have a Catalyzed finish. Bermex features a catalyzed varnish where Canadel has a catalyzed lacquer.  Most experts will tell you that a varnish is better, but it is usually thinner than the lacquer. Bermex +1

Quality of Table Construction: Both companies use a high-quality birch.  However, Canadel uses anti-warp boards on the underside of the table top. Canadel +1
Quality of Chair Construction: This one is a wash in my opinion.  You can expect the chair to last a lifetime (if not abused) from either manufacture.  EVEN
Fabric Options: Canadel-over 300   Bermex-186 Canadel +.5

Wood Finish Options: Candel-120   Bermex-114 EVEN
Shipping Time: This varies quite a bit.  Depending on the time of year you may wait 3 weeks or over 2 months.  Canada has a mandatory shut down for the factories every summer, and the timing depends on where your custom set is in the production cycle. EVEN
Style Options: Both factories have several options on table shape, table size, chairs, buffets and hutches.  I side with Canadel on this one because of their Udesign software that lets you create your combination and it displays it to you on their website. Canadel +1
Price: Both companies are pricey, but well worth the value.  This furniture, if cared for, will last for generations.  Canadel in general is a little less expensive, but they also have a Champlain collection that is higher than Bermex.  Canadel +.5
So, according to my formula here Canadel wins by 2. So, why do I have a Bermex table, chairs and buffet in my dining room at home? Because they had the look that I wanted.  You can look for opinions of everyone you know and it won’t matter.  Go with the set and manufacture that you like best and you’ll be happy with it, after all you’re the one that get to eat there.

Ashley Furniture: 4 Things You Should Know

Ashley Furniture North Shore Dining

Ashley Furniture is the most recognized name in dining furniture right now. From Price is Right to the commercials seen for your local Ashley Homestore, it seems hard to miss the orange Ashley Logo. They have a recipe that few manufacturers have replicated in the furniture industry that have helped create a trusted brand. Here are a few things that you should know:
1. Shop Around for the Best Price. One thing that most shoppers don’t understand is that you cannot buy Ashley Furinture “factory direct.” All Ashley Furniture has a middleman with a markup. You actually have a decent chance of saving money at a retailer who carries Ashley Furniture along with other manufacturers.
2. Ashley Furniture is priced well. You get a lot of look for what you’re paying and the quality is decent.
3. It is imported. Like most furniture these days, Ashley Furniture is made in Asia. Don’t let that scare you away too much. The only things you’ll find made in the USA is very pricey.
4. Ashley knows how to flow goods. They have their own freight lines so they can ship to the retailer in a decent amount of time. They also typically have a large amount of their inventory stocked which helps speed up the shipping process.
Ashley Furniture is altogether a great company. They are not the highest quality out there, but they sure know how to make your home look nice on a reasonable budget. You can shop for them at your local store to see how it looks in person, but don’t be afraid to order online from a reputable retailer. A retailer who has a brick and mortar store and an e-store will likely have the ability to cut the price and ship it right to your front door.

Amisco Furniture

Amisco Furniture Stools

Amisco Furniture is a Canadian company, specializes in contemporary barstools, counterstools and kitchen tables. Their modern and contemporary styles are not only for the edgy designs, they also have styles that are more transitional.

While most furniture manufactures only give a 1-year warranty, Amisco comes with a free 10-year warranty on all welding.  This is a nice feature since the welded joints are the one place that is most likely to cause problems over time on metal furniture.

The other benefit that you get with Amisco is the custom options.  You can choose from several finishes of metal and you can choose from several nice fabric options.
It does take a few weeks to get this brand of furniture once ordered.  It can vary from 3-9 weeks depending on the time of year.