Furniture Styles

Mango Hardy Dining Furniture

It seems furniture demand has evolved in recent years, as it always does and always will. Here in Columbus, Ohio furniture has moved more contemporary in the last decade and the country look isn’t as strong. There are still people who like the arrow-back chairs with a turned pedestal, but they are so much the minority that most stores have moved on to a more modern look. Yet, we find that there is a hybrid demand. Sets like the Hardy Dining Collection Mango, where you see contemporary style combined with Shaker looks. It’s more transitional and functional than going completely modern or completely country. The straight lines have taken the place of the bow-back colonial chair, yet this furniture still fits for most homes in our region.

Furniture Needs

How do you know what you need when picking out dinette sets, barstools, or entertainment centers? One thing is for sure, asking too many opinions can just confuse you. I've seen many instances where someone will poll every friend they have only to never make a decision. My suggestion, ask a few people who have good taste, then go with what you want. After all, you will be the one looking at your purchase every day:)

Update: All Four on the Floor!

Reposting as a favor to all of our friends at Chairs Quick (http://chairs-quick.com)

How many times have you heard it from mom when you're sitting at the kitchen table and you lean back in one of your chairs to have only two chair legs touching, and she says, "Four on the floor!" Well there is actually something to that old saying. Safety aside, some in the furniture industry estimate that you will lessen the life of that chair. Some estimate 50-75% of the life a chair is lost when you regularly lean back. Of course the heavier we Americans get the less likely our chairs will hold out like they did for grandma, especially when we jeopardize the structural integrity by leaning back on two legs.

Kitchen Tables That Give... Legs vs Pedestal

When shopping for kitchen tables or dining room sets you may notice a little wobble with tables that have a pedestal. A leg table will give you more stability on the corners, but will reduce the ability to put chairs at the corner when you have guests. A pedestal table will feel like it has give at the edges, but you will be able to seat more people around it. Of course you do lose a little leg room with a pedestal, but it also provides a foot rest for the kids.

Kitchen Tables and Dinettes

Have the use of dinettes and kitchen tables shifted in recent years? Traditionally, dinettes were used for eating meals and homework. In my home we use the kitchen table to sort the mail, use the laptop, read the newspaper, pay the bills and of course have dinner. Today's dinettes get a lot of use, and thus the importance of picking out kitchen table sets that will hold up under the daily grind in your kitchen. Here is an example of an inexpensive sold wood dinette.

Keep Those Legs Tight... Not Too Tight

I still remember putting together my first dinette as a kid. Growing up in a family business which sold dinettes, pretty much required me to learn this skill early on. Well I think it was a Ligo dinette, but my mistake was getting excited with the wrench. I overtightened the screw on one of the dinettes legs, when POP!, I split the wood. I learned the hard way that day, that you should only make it snug not super tight. Also, when you notice tables with legs that start to wobble, that means it needs a little tightening. This usually occurs during autumn when the wood begins to dry out.

The White Ring of Death

So you sit back after balancing your checkbook at the kitchen table, then you set your hot cup of coffee down for a few moments. The next day you notice a strange white ring on your table that can't be wiped off. Hello heat mark. It can occur from a hot drink, pizza box, or a pot. Mr. Know-it-all will tell you, "Shoulda used a coaster, I always do." No kidding? Well now how do you get rid of it? There are quite a few products out there that help. One that I've used with great success is Jasco White Ring Remover. It is usually sold at your local hardware store, and last I checked, they don't have a company website. It supposedly works on water marks too, although most new dinettes have a catalyzed or other finish that helps prevent that. Good luck!

Super Comfy Chairs

When you think of a tilt and swivel chair with casters, you may think of this. There are, however, a few other options if you're looking for a dinette with wheels. Here are a few things to consider when making this purchase. First, a chair that swivels will hit the edge of the table. That is why it is very rare to find a glass table with a swivel chair. Second, a chair with wheels should not be located next to stair. (This shouldn't need more explanation) Third, these chairs are usually very comfortable, so be ready to spend more time with your family in the kitchen.

Knots Landing... On My Table

I'm sure that you've noticed a time or two that the face of a cabinet shows few knots, and some table tops show the same. I remember from my days on the sales floor (2000 - 2004) that some customers wondered why their table had more knots (or less knots) than those on the showroom floor. The same question arose from customers interested in high-end granite table sets. The answer is simple. God made it that way. That's not sarcasm, that's reality. When stone is cut from a mountain in India that piece of stone is going to have different character than the one cut from the next mountain over. The same goes with a wood table. Each tree is a little different and the character is to be enjoyed as a part of creation. So if you are ready buy a real wood table or a granite dinette, be prepared to enjoy years of nature right there in your home.

What are dinettes anyway?

One thing I've found in recent years is that the word "dinette" is not used as often. Many young people think it's a room next to the kitchen or a 50's style restaurant table. The word "dinette" can be used to describe those things, but it is traditionally used to describe the table and chairs you would have in your kitchen area. Basically (dinette = kitchen table + chairs). Make sense? Many people over the age of 30 will find this a little redundant, but it's interesting how certain words change or are lost from generation to generation. Anyway, I'm rambling on, hop on over to Kitchen Tables and More and shop/learn how many "dinettes" are available.

My furniture... It's alive!

Your wood furniture may be a dead tree, but that doesn't mean that it can't still breath. Have you ever noticed that every once and a while your dinette doesn't always perfectly meet in the middle where the leaf goes? It will absorb the moisture in the air as well as let the moisture out when the air is dry. Nothing is wrong when it does this, it's supposed to. There are wood surfaces with baked on varnishes that protect against moisture damage but usually you will see that the underside is not baked on so that your furniture will stay healthily healthy and breathing.

Update: Cleaning My Wood Furniture

If you've been duped by Orange-Glo to clean wood products, you're not alone. Our friends Justin and Alecia found out the hard way when using this product to clean their coffee tables, hutch, and even their wood floor. As you can see in the pictures, it left a nice film all over the wood. Scrub away the filth... it magically comes back like Steve Carell's beard in Evan Almighty. To review if you missed my blog "Cleaning My Wood Furniture", here are the steps:
1. Damp cloth. (with mild dish soap if necessary)
2. Dry cloth.
Bada-bing. That's it.