Changing Trends in Patio Furniture

Furniture trends today are global, with influences from all around the world. Furniture today has an international language, from Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa, and America. The international trends express sophistication to tropical luxury. This extensive influence brings with it both flexibility and simplicity resulting in the modern and contemporary designs. Contemporary is now a commonly used word to convey simplicity of form. The new contemporary furniture designs are modern, minimal, smooth lines, uncluttered, un-fussy, light, and clean.

For patio or garden there are plenty of materials used but teak has always been related with patio furniture because of its unique qualities. Most of the garden or park furniture found in England is made of teak. Teak furniture has been the preferred choice as garden furniture since decades because of the unique characteristics of the teak wood.

Teak garden furniture blends the style and design of your patio or garden with the practical durability and resistance to the harsh weather conditions and nicely constructed teak furniture lasts for generations. The designs offered by teak furniture manufacturers were mostly English designs most often called classical designs. These classic designs somehow do not fit in modern contemporary homes. More and more people were getting bored with the teak patio furniture mostly because of its designs. This made teak furniture makers to follow the new demand and adjust itself to the changing trends in the market place.

The good news for teak furniture manufacturers was that there are no hard and fast rules that must be adhered to when it comes to the latest furniture styles. Modern teak furniture should have the ultimate expression of form and function. This made teak furniture makers to manufacture products, which are simple in form yet functional. These new products of teak furniture were welcomed warmly by almost all teak lovers who wanted to have modern designs, which fits with their other home furniture. This gave rise to huge demand for modern contemporary patio furniture.

The most recent trend is to use a diverse blend of designs, with a strong international influence of ideas and options sourced from all over the globe. One of these trends is products made of stainless steel and teak. Stainless steel like teakwood is a long-term investment, as it takes less upkeep and lasts longer. It is fairly lightweight for the amount of strength it provides and is very easy to clean. It is available in a number of shades and styles, making it an aesthetically pleasing option. And, because it is corrosion and rust resistant, it has a much longer lifespan. In addition, stainless steel is 100% recyclable. 50% of new stainless steel is made from recycled stainless steel. This makes it a very environmentally friendly material. It can also be resold as scrap metal, adding that benefit to the investment.

Other outdoor materials like wrought iron, aluminum, synthetic wicker, sling fabrics, marble and stone are also blended with teak. These products have given ultra contemporary look to the teak patio furniture. However the sleek, simple and contemporary designs out of solid teak are still preferred by lot of teak lovers.

It is very important to study carefully before purchasing any of these products because of the difference in materials used. There are hundreds of synthetic wicker producers but only few reliable, proven brands. The stainless steel should be of specific grade for outdoor use and always look for Grade 304 or 316. The anodized or power coated aluminum is the right option for outdoor and one should pay close attention to materials used in any of these products.

The Author operates a teak furniture business. The company produces teak garden furniture of traditional and modern contemporary patio furniture designs. In his free time he designs unique designs of indoor teak furniture

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Firdous_Bhat

Mission Style Furniture - Get this Classic Look in Your Home

If you like your furniture built solid and built to last with no frills or needless embellishment, then Mission Style furniture is what you're looking for. The Mission or Arts and Crafts Movement was a backlash against the extravagant, over-the-top designs of the Victorian era and also against the mass produced furniture emerging after the industrial revolution. In the late 1890s, craftsmen such as Gustav Stickley led the charge to incorporate clean, geometric lines and natural materials to produce structurally sound pieces that emphasized the originality of the craftsman and his handiwork.

Telltale signs of Mission Style furniture include visible joints, such as the mortise and tenon that was popular at the time and continues to serve furniture makers today, as well as quarter-sawn wood which gave the grain a beautiful look. Nails and rivets were often left exposed to add a gleaming contrast to the wood or upholstery. While the philosophy seems to set-up decades of fabulously boring furniture, it was anything but. Rather, Mission furniture was beautifully designed, with manufacturers relying on exquisite craftsmanship and finishing techniques to add serene elegance to an item.

The Mission Style has been revived recently with many furniture manufacturers producing sturdier, solid wood pieces built to be passed on from generation to generation. This philosophy has been extended to much of the aesthetic of contemporary furniture. Clean, sharp geometric lines and a lack of ornamentation along with a renewed sense of pride in craftsmanship are present in much of today's furniture.

If you're interested in getting the Mission look in your home search out solid, rustic-looking pieces that appear to have aged well or newer pieces that look like they can stand the test of time. Rich wood tones like mahogany and stained oak are the trademarks of classic Mission Style, but modern pieces can be found in a wide array of colors, wood types, and finishes. Good luck as you work toward creating a beautiful Mission look in your home.

For a HUGE selection of bedroom furniture including beautiful modern platform beds visit GREENCulture.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_T._Allen

Painted Adirondack Chairs : A Classic and Traditional Choice in Patio Furniture

Many people are becoming aware of the tranquilities of relaxing outside. To enhance your relaxation experience outside you need to have a comfortable chair to rest your bottom. This is absolutely essential to get full enjoyment and be completely refreshed. To add a little style to your outdoor seating area the Adirondack chair is the perfect choice for you.

These chairs are extremely well crafted and made to last not only to be comfortable. You will not be required to use any added effort in order to maintain their superb character and longevity. The Adirondack chair is built to last a lifetime and continue year after year to keep you comfortable and able to get the most out of your backyard experience.

Because the Adirondack chairs are widely available in a multitude of colors you can purchase the best one to beautifully accent your existing outdoor décor. There are different styles and sizes that are available at stores through out the United States. The hardest part about buying a painted Adirondack chair is picking out just one color that you like above all the other colors.

The best solution to this problem is to find a few locations in your yard if the size permits to put different quaint little seating areas. This can allow you to enjoy all of the beauty in your back yard from different point of view thus giving you full relaxation. Also having painted Adirondack chairs in different sections of your yard will be more inviting for quests at a cookout or family function to engage in more intimate one on one conversations. This can often lead to your backyard being the talk of the town!

It is very surprising and uplifting at the transformation that takes place in your backyard after adding painted Adirondack chairs. One can almost see the aura of the backyard change right before your eyes, as the painted Adirondack chairs bring life, charisma and a little personality to it. By adding a new seating area to your existing backyard you will be able to enjoy not only the relaxing sounds of your yard but also the pleasant company of others. People will enjoy sitting outside for lengthier spans of time because the conversation is interesting but more importantly the seating is comfortable. Comfortable seating is essential when entertaining.

Let’s face it, no one wants to sit on a chair that is falling apart, or even a rusty broken down chair. So why not get the better crafted, nicer looking and most comfortable outdoor seating available? Keep your friends and family coming back to your house for their outdoor entertaining, and give them the comfort that they will remember.

As an owner of numerous niche decor sites specializing in Adirondack and patio furniture, Jennifer Akre gives the consumer a chance to find elegant and classic Adirondack chairs or outdoor patio furniture. Learn how to decorate your patio and home decor in style-Click today: Adirondack Furniture.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Akre

Antique Furniture: Appealing to Your Aesthetic Tastes With Their Grandiose Designs

With the advent of the global economy, there has been a massive growth in the business of antique furniture and handicrafts in the export and domestic market. Thousands of antique collectible item providers worldwide claim to weave the architectural wonders of the classic ages with their extensive collection of classic furniture, classic antique lamps and antique chandeliers, antique accessories and other collectible items. While the serious antique collectors and museums have always been passionate about restoring heritage pieces and traditional architectural items encompassing history and classicism, the modern man has also been gradually conscious of the heritage of classic design furniture adapted to the needs of today. Therefore, the antique items today form part of his living room or dining hall, apart from being valued heritage items at museums worldwide.

The antique furniture items, including the classic English furniture, antique Continental furniture, antique Oriental furniture items (including the antique Chinese furniture, antique Japanese and antique Tibetan furniture), function as wonderful utility items as well as distinctive decorative pieces reflecting the art, culture and aesthetic flavor of the Medieval, Gothic and the Renaissance period. Antique furniture of the Gothic, Georgian, Medieval and Renaissance period generally comprises of a vast selection of cupboards, cabinets, tables, chairs, armoires, dressers, coffers and chests, benches, bookcases and mirrors. While the European, American and Continental antique furniture and collectibles characterize the western classic architectural essence, the antique Chinese furniture and antique Japanese furniture unfold the magic and charm of the mystic Oriental culture that is reflected in their intricate artistic carving and inlaid decoration.

While the antique lamps and chandeliers, with the vintage or figural hand-carved varieties used to be great sources of attraction and beauty in the mid eighteenth and nineteenth centuries all over Europe, the advent of electric lamps globally had ousted those and turned them to be mere museum pieces. Truly authentic antique electric lamps and chandeliers have very limited supply. Hundreds of antique providers today claim to supply beautiful hand cut European crystal lamps and chandeliers, which can complement any antique décor. You, however, have to be extremely prudent of your purchase of the authentic antique chandeliers and lamps from extremely reliable dealers and traders of antique lamp and chandeliers.

Today, the web world has come up with unique, innovative online storehouses, offering exclusive and exquisite inventory of antique furniture items, along with antique lamps and antique chandeliers. Many of these online antique furniture providers and dealers stock an inexhaustible selection of 18th and 19th century Country Furniture comprising of farmhouse tables in Oak and Fruitwoods and sets of Country Chairs such as Windsors, Ladders, Spindlebacks and so on. They claim to be online superstores of vast and diverse online antiques and collectibles encompassing a huge gamut of architecture, antique decorative items, antique paintings or fine arts collections, antique clocks, crockery, figurines, furniture, glassware and so on. No longer will you have to search frantically for reliable antique dealers, wholesalers and retailers for your purchase of rare antique English, antique French or antique Chinese furniture. With the click of the mouse, today you have a plethora of sites dealing with the online purchase of your favorite antique items through a vast and organized global network of antique dealers and suppliers that cater to the aesthetic tastes of diverse sections of the community.

Choose the most authentic antique site for the purchase of your favorite antique items. All of these sites will claim to provide you with the best deals. You, however, have to get armed with proper knowledge of the antiques before rushing for your purchase, as it is no trifle investment! Therefore, get your deals from only those antique dealers/providers on the net with adequate knowledge, expertize and experience in the arena of antique furniture and collectibles.

About the Author:

Lopa Bhattacharya (Banerjee) is a content writer/developer for overseas/Indian corporate website projects, CD-Rom presentations, brochures, flyers and other communication materials. Have worked on SEO copywriting projects on varied themes ranging from travel, hotel industry, photography, web design and software development to US-based clubs and network communities. Does freelance writing assignments for the print and web media featuring women, children, health, literature, art, and media.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lopa_Bhattacharya

Where To Find Affordable Contemporary Furniture

I have been interested in contemporary interior design practically since I moved out of my parents house at the age of 18. Of course, at that time, I had no choice. The only furniture that was in my price range was offered by target or IKEA. I chose the latter. The slick modern furniture really let me make my home look good for a reasonable price. When I graduated college and started to make a bit of money, however, my interest in affordable contemporary furniture did not wane. On the contrary, it began to be my lifes passion.

Making furniture was far from my area of expertise, but I resolved to try. I cut back on my hours and began to study with a local furniture maker. Affordable contemporary furniture was not his forte. On the contrary, he made very expensive furniture for quite exclusive clients. However, the techniques that I learned from him would be invaluable. He was one of those old craftsman that you are always hearing about. Affordable contemporary furniture was furthest from his mind, but he made his chairs and tables with an attentiveness that is rarely seen nowadays. Studying with this classic furniture artisan would teach me more about making furniture than anything else I could do.

When I was finally done studying with him, I began an affordable contemporary furniture business on my own. I would not make the cheapest style of furniture – that available at places like Target or IKEA. Instead, I would make mid-level furniture, priced within the range of your average middle-class person, but built to last for years and years. I loved nothing better than making this affordable contemporary furniture. My favorite part of it was making contemporary living room furniture. I loved to make the couch, the coffee table, and the chairs all fit together seamlessly. I loved to think about furniture as a set, as opposed to a number of individual pieces. Although I was making less money than at my previous job, I was much happier.

It was not too long before the affordable contemporary furniture business picked up. Once I had established a name for myself among local clientele, the business was booming. I simply could not make enough affordable contemporary furniture. Now, I am hiring an apprentice of my own. The demand is too great, and I need someone else to work with me.

Harry Henderson runs his own home decorating company and writes articles and reviews for several websites as well as his own Low Priced Furniture resources website. http://www.homes-interiors-and-gardens.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harry_Henderson

Antique Furniture: Appealing to Your Aesthetic Tastes With Their Grandiose Designs!

With the advent of the global economy, there has been a massive growth in the business of antique furniture and handicrafts in the export and domestic market. Thousands of antique collectible item providers worldwide claim to weave the architectural wonders of the classic ages with their extensive collection of classic furniture, classic antique lamps and antique chandeliers, antique accessories and other collectible items. While the serious antique collectors and museums have always been passionate about restoring heritage pieces and traditional architectural items encompassing history and classicism, the modern man has also been gradually conscious of the heritage of classic design furniture adapted to the needs of today. Therefore, the antique items today form part of his living room or dining hall, apart from being valued heritage items at museums worldwide.

The antique furniture items, including the classic English furniture, antique Continental furniture, antique Oriental furniture items (including the antique Chinese furniture, antique Japanese and antique Tibetan furniture), function as wonderful utility items as well as distinctive decorative pieces reflecting the art, culture and aesthetic flavor of the Medieval, Gothic and the Renaissance period. Antique furniture of the Gothic, Georgian, Medieval and Renaissance period generally comprises of a vast selection of cupboards, cabinets, tables, chairs, armoires, dressers, coffers and chests, benches, bookcases and mirrors. While the European, American and Continental antique furniture and collectibles characterize the western classic architectural essence, the antique Chinese furniture and antique Japanese furniture unfold the magic and charm of the mystic Oriental culture that is reflected in their intricate artistic carving and inlaid decoration.

While the antique lamps and chandeliers, with the vintage or figural hand-carved varieties used to be great sources of attraction and beauty in the mid eighteenth and nineteenth centuries all over Europe, the advent of electric lamps globally had ousted those and turned them to be mere museum pieces. Truly authentic antique electric lamps and chandeliers have very limited supply. Hundreds of antique providers today claim to supply beautiful hand cut European crystal lamps and chandeliers, which can complement any antique décor. You, however, have to be extremely prudent of your purchase of the authentic antique chandeliers and lamps from extremely reliable dealers and traders of antique lamp and chandeliers.

Today, the web world has come up with unique, innovative online storehouses, offering exclusive and exquisite inventory of antique furniture items, along with antique lamps and antique chandeliers. Many of these online antique furniture providers and dealers stock an inexhaustible selection of 18th and 19th century Country Furniture comprising of farmhouse tables in Oak and Fruitwoods and sets of Country Chairs such as Windsors, Ladders, Spindlebacks and so on. They claim to be online superstores of vast and diverse online antiques and collectibles encompassing a huge gamut of architecture, antique decorative items, antique paintings or fine arts collections, antique clocks, crockery, figurines, furniture, glassware and so on. No longer will you have to search frantically for reliable antique dealers, wholesalers and retailers for your purchase of rare antique English, antique French or antique Chinese furniture. With the click of the mouse, today you have a plethora of sites dealing with the online purchase of your favorite antique items through a vast and organized global network of antique dealers and suppliers that cater to the aesthetic tastes of diverse sections of the community.

Choose the most authentic antique site for the purchase of your favorite antique items. All of these sites will claim to provide you with the best deals. You, however, have to get armed with proper knowledge of the antiques before rushing for your purchase, as it is no trifle investment! Therefore, get your deals from only those antique dealers/providers on the net with adequate knowledge, expertize and experience in the arena of antique furniture and collectibles.

About the Author:
Lopa Bhattacharya (Banerjee) is a content writer/developer for overseas/Indian corporate website projects, CD-Rom presentations, brochures, flyers and other communication materials. Have worked on SEO copywriting projects on varied themes ranging from travel, hotel industry, photography, web design and software development to US-based clubs and network communities. Does freelance writing assignments for the print and web media featuring women, children, health, literature, art, and media.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lopa_Bhattacharya