Wicker Furniture - How to Restore the Appearance

Do you own a piece of wicker furniture in your home? Perhaps it's sitting around in the corner, looking all old and dirty, and you are considering whether you should throw it away or not. If you find yourself in a similar position, don't throw away the wicker furniture just yet. This article will show you how to restore your wicker furniture so that it will look as good as new. All you need is some time, and a few simple tools.

Assessing your wicker furniture.

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First, perform a quick assessment of your wicker furniture. Your primary goal here is to find how what exactly do you need to do to restore the condition of the furniture. To achieve this goal, you need only to know two things. One, does the furniture need a new coat of paint? Two, does it require extensive cleaning? If your answer is yes to both of these questions, read on...

Stage 1: Cleaning the furniture.

Whether your wicker furniture needs a new coat of paint or not, you first need to clean it. Otherwise, the paint will not go well on the materials. Cleaning wicker furniture is a simple task. All you need is a wet cloth, and some kind of brush that has bristles that are hard enough to penetrate the gaps. If you can't find such a brush, just find a normal paint brush and cut the hair into half. The remaining bristles will work well enough.

Use the brush to clean off dirt and grime that has gotten stuck between the gaps. Use the wet cloth to clean the surface of the wicker furniture.

If you still find the furniture to be dirty even after brushing, you may need to loosen the cane. This may take you more time, but you can clean better. However, it is a very rare situation.

Stage 2: Adding color and paints to the wicker furniture.

Sometimes, just after a couple of hours of cleaning, a certain level of shine would return to the furniture. That's because the dirt has been removed from the surface. If that's good enough for you, you may not even have to add a new layer of paint.

However, in the event that the surface still appears old and worn out after extensive cleaning, you may wish to refurbish the furniture by giving it a new layer of paint. That's another good thing about cane furniture. Cane takes ordinary paint quite well. So you can choose the color you want, and use spray paint to add color to your wicker furniture.

If you have removed or loosened the cane, spray paint it first before tightening the cane again. Otherwise, you may just spray paint over the entire chair. The wet paint will seep into the gaps and cover up the entire chair nicely.

Wicker Furniture - How to Restore the Appearance

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Used Furniture Stores

The notion that used furniture is for the poor consumer no longer holds ground. Used antique, and vintage furniture can be affordable collectible items for collectors, or those looking to furnish weekend cottages and vacation homes. They are an inexpensive option for those considering a complete revamp of their home furnishings, or new homemakers aspiring for dream décor without drilling a hole in their pocket. Used and secondhand furniture is a smart option for students and home office makers for whom the functional aspect of furniture is more important than its aesthetic appeal. The market has geared up to meet the consumers' demands. There are many stores that enable an individual to pickup good quality used furniture with style, aesthetic appeal and good design.

A hunt for used furniture need not be tedious if you know where to look. For those who reside in cities, embassy sales are a very viable option, with majestic Victorian style collectibles, lamps, rugs and mattresses, and much more put up for sale. Garage sales, secondhand stores, auctions, flea markets, antique fairs and charity shops are other fertile grounds to look for good used furniture. Clearance sales and sales of damaged furniture at stores can also be an alternative.

Furnishings

While looking for used furniture, one should look for quality and overall style. Every city has its own community thrift store that provides a haven for used furniture hunters. Good quality furniture with insignificant damage like a scratch or small stain should not be discarded as potential purchase items.

Most can be refurbished by removing the stains, changing the upholstery or restoring a small missing part. It has to be determined if refurbishing will be expensive or cheap for any particular item. The first day of a flea market is for those who desire the best in the market, while the last day is the when the best bargain can be grabbed.

The online furniture market doesn't lag behind in catering to the demand for used products. Many refurbished and remodeled furniture pieces can be found. Ebay is the largest dealer in such products. Auction sites like Overstock.com provide inexpensive and cheap discounted home furniture. Sell.com operates as an online market for such furniture. There are numerous sites providing remodeled used furniture for offices, too.

Used Furniture Stores

Furniture Stores provides detailed information on Furniture Stores, Online Furniture Stores, Discount Furniture Stores, Used Furniture Stores and more. Furniture Stores is affiliated with Furniture Rental Stores.

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Window Tinting Review - The Truth

The whole truth is Window Tinting Films do not know the difference between the summer sun and winter sun. The window tinting you use on your windows will help to reflect the infrared rays that are given off inside the building as well as outside. People as well as objects can reflect infrared rays. When considering the warmth inside on a cold winter day, this helps much more than you realize.

The house that has dual pane glass on the windows should be treated with extreme caution before adding window film. This should not be attempted by an amateur. The best way to go about this is to have an installer with a professional background to come and give you an idea of whether there is a coating on your windows that could cause the window tint to heat the glass.

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This could cause the window to break and this is why many window manufacturers will not honor a warranty on glass that has been covered with a window film. However, most window film manufacturers will warranty their product against windows breaking due to the film as well as seal damage. This is covered as long as you have allowed a professional to help you select the film that is needed.

When it comes to the safety and durability of Window Tinting the use of the window films of today are made much better than the ones even ten or fifteen years ago. There are some concerns when it comes to scratching but that is not a problem. The use of acrylic today is beneficial in keeping the windows from being scratched. The only thing you should not use on the windows is ammonia because this will damage the acrylic.

Nothing is more pleasant than entering a room in the middle of summer when the temperature is soaring outside and finding a cool oasis. This can be made possible in part by the window tinting you have on your windows. This one minor change can help keep the temperature much lower in your home. By reflecting the heat or absorbing it the window tinting helps your air conditioner to keep your home cool even in the hottest conditions.

The other benefit is helping to keep your home furnishings from becoming faded and having to be replaced. The sun can damage many items in the home including your furniture, floors, carpet and drapes. They will end up with faded areas that ruin your interior furnishings. If it is carpet, there is no need to replace it for the same thing to happen. So what are you left to do but put something over that spot to hide it from view?

The drapes would have to be replaced as well but until you do something about it new ones will end up faded as well. This really only leaves one option. And that is to choose the right Window Tinting to protect your home furnishings. This will save money in more ways than one. You will not have to replace and repair your home due to sun damage and the interior of your home will be cooler or warmer depending on the season.

The bottom line is that window film is vital today to save energy, reduce the damage caused by the sun and save you money by reducing the heat entering your home or business, reducing wear and tear on your cooling system and prolonging the life out of your structures interior.

Window Tinting Review - The Truth

Mario Kotik is the owner of the website GreenGlassSolutions.com Our Window Tinting website puts customers and Huper Optik Window Film dealers in contact with eachother anywhere in the country. We have over 350 dealers nationwide to help you. For more information and to visit our website click here: Window Tinting

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Knowing Which Furniture Looks Best In Sunroom Plans

Furniture and accents play a vital role in sunroom, without any you would just have an empty space, depending on what elements your sun porch will endure, will dictate what furniture you should use in your sunroom. Sun parlors are not only a big investment, but are also an attractive asset as well. Sunrooms are used for a variety of functions, but generally providing you with a place to relax and enjoy the outdoors from the comfort of your home. In order to even think about relaxing, or entertaining you need to have the right sun porch furniture. This article will discuss methods in choosing the right furniture, for you new solarium and help you create an idea on how you would like to decorate your new area.

Choosing the Right Solarium Furniture

Furniture

Your new sunroom furniture should make the room feel enjoyable and give it an environment that says,"Relaxing." Once you get an idea of how you are going to decorate your sunroom, you need to take into consideration that your sunroom will endure all four-seasons. The furniture that you chose to design your room in must be able to endure, "mother nature" and all of her seasons. To give you a creative nudge, wicker is commonly used in solarium and patio room additions. Wicker is creative looking, and well put together, from its sturdy construction to its lightweight. Wicker comes in many different forms, for example: tables, chairs, bookcases, lamp bases, and much more. On the down side to wicker, in the cold months the wicker may and begin to become moldy, and may require a substantial amount of cleaning. This may not be the type of furniture to use in your sun parlor. Best to way to make your sunroom more attractive to follow the a solarium plan.

A more all seasoned and longer lasting furniture choice is metal; it is good source of furniture if you live in a geographical area where winter always seems to outweigh summer, because it can be coated with such materials as PVC, and weather coating for better durability. Another long lasting type of material commonly used is Teak wood, due to its cost friendly attitude and it's virtually maintenance free attire, it requires little to know keep up.

Another positive side to using wood furnishings, it allows you to give your sunroom more of a "welcome home" feel, adding a touch of warmth each time you use your sunroom. Al in all sun parlors come in many shapes, sizes, and styles and decorating will take some thought and effort on your part so do some research and plan a room that fits you and your homes personality and lifestyles.

Knowing Which Furniture Looks Best In Sunroom Plans

You can also find more info on decorating sunroom and choose sunroom design. Sunroomkitsreview.com is a comprehensive resource to improve your home environment.

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How to Distress Furniture - Step by Step Guide

For a unique look, many homeowners are mixing distressed furniture with current modern styles.

Before you go throwing away your old dining room or bedroom sets, reconsider by refinishing it. Distressed furniture can be very expensive to buy so why not create it yourself with a little imagination and some TLC. This step by step guide will give you some helpful tips that the pros use when distressing furniture.

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1. Sand: Sand down the finish on your piece so the primer/paint has something to adhere to. Use medium/fine grit sandpaper for this.

2. Rough up surface: Take a few tools (hammer, screw driver, chain, etc.) and rough up the surface of the piece. This is left up to your discretion of how distressed you want to make the furniture. The more you rough up the surface the more aged the piece appears.

3.Prime: Use a good quality white primer and give the piece of furniture a thin coat. After the piece has dried, follow up with a light sanding.

4. Top coat: Pick a top coat that complements the room. If you want to stay neutral, then go with whites/off whites. Apply two even coats of this top coat. Sometimes, homeowners will request a crackle finish in which the top coat appears as if the paint has dried and is starting to chip away. For a crackle finish read the steps below:

a. Follow steps 1-3.

b. Optional Base coat: Get Creative!! If you do not want the piece to show white crackle from primer coat, then now is the time to be creative. You can apply a different base coat which will show behind the top coat when the crackle takes effect.

c. Apply crackle glaze where you want the top coat to crackle. Allow to dry according to directions on package. This is usually a clear glaze sold at your local home center.

d. Top Coat: Apply top coat evenly (try not to over brush which may cause paint to drag). This top coat should be a different shade then the primer/base coat to make the crackle stand out.

e. Continue the follow steps below.

5. Optional Glaze coat: After the piece has thoroughly dried, apply a glaze over the entire piece. This step is optional but recommended. This glaze (usually dark brown/grey) when applied, highlights all of the roughed up areas (step 2) and really brings out the details in the piece. The best way to apply the glaze, is with a brush and then wipe off the excess with a rag. Wipe with even pressure (in one direction).

6. Apply a seal coat: Water based Poly works good for this. Apply 2-3 thin coats of this product according to the manufacturer's recommendation and do not forget to sand in between coats. This step will protect all of your hard work.

Now step back and enjoy your newly antiqued furniture. You will be amazed at the results and how quick and easy you have changed the look of your room. Take your time & most importantly be creative with this!!

How to Distress Furniture - Step by Step Guide

For more helpful tips, Be sure to visit us online at http://www.travisrobertrenovations.com For some examples of distressed furniture that we have completed, visit [http://www.travisrobertrenovations.com/photos]

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Bookcase Plans - How to Build a Bookcase With 3 Tools

Before committing myself to a set of bookcase plans, I first decided to shop around for a pre-fab bookshelf, both online and at a few discount furniture stores in town. My plan was to look at a wide range of styles and prices before deciding what to buy. It didn't take me long to discover that I really had only two choices in the matter; buy somewhat expensive crappy particle board bookcases with fake wood laminate, or buy very expensive wood bookcases that will stay in my family for the next 100 years. The good stuff would be nice, but since I can't afford to spend 0 at Ethan Allen right now, I'm really left with just one option: the somewhat expensive crappy bookcases. It's disappointing to think this is my only choice.

So now I'm looking at some bookcase plans, which means I'd have to take on the job of building something from scratch. I'm starting to like the idea, though. First, it's the only other option I can find to buying expensive crappy bookcases, and second, I like the idea of deciding for myself what level of quality (and expense) I want to put into the project. I don't want a bookcase made from the cheapest materials around, but I don't need the most expensive either. Building my own bookcase will let me create something between these two extremes.

Furnishings

I've done a fair amount of researching on the Web, and I've come up with some pretty simple guidelines for approaching this kind of wood project. Overall, the good news is that you don't have to be a hard-core woodworker to pull this thing off. In fact, a bookcase is a perfect starter project for someone just getting into building stuff from wood. Maybe it's a little more challenging than making a sawhorse (which is also a good plan to start with), but I think it's important for beginners to make something they can be excited about when it's all said and done. So let's get started with some of the basics of building a bookcase.

Three Tools - I assume that most people attempting their first bookcase project will not have a complete set of woodworking power tools in their shop - things like a table saw, drill press, router table, planer, and all that. What I do think first-time builders might (and should) have is a circular saw, a router, and a power drill. It's pretty amazing what you can build with just a few reasonably-priced tools.

#1 Circular Saw - A circular saw will cut just about anything you can throw at it, and with a few accessories, some fairly complicated joinery. Even if you decide later to upgrade to more expensive tools, your circular saw will always get used in the shop. For a simple bookcase, you'll be using the circular saw to cut all the boards to length, and to help make the dado cuts that hold your bookcase shelves. You'll also use the saw to cut down a 4x8 sheet of plywood for the bookcase back.

#2 Router - I'm sure there are plenty of wood projects being built without the help of a router, but my question is, why go to the trouble? Sometimes you can pick up a decent router for under 0, and considering the extra work you'll save yourself in the long run, that's a good investment. A router will make easy work of cutting the dadoes for your bookcase shelves, and with a few accessories, let you try out a whole load of professional-style woodworking techniques.

#3 Power Drill - Everybody has a power drill of some sort sitting around in the basement or garage. You already know how much use (and abuse) this tool gets for literally hundreds of jobs around the house. Although it's possible to build a simple bookcase without ever picking up a power drill, the no-screws approach to building a bookcase requires that you own an insanely large number of clamps to hold everything together while the glue dries. Really, we're talking about 20 clamps or more at about each. Ouch. At a fraction of the cost, you can unleash the same clamping power on wood joints by using wood screws (or even nails) to hold pieces together while the glue sets up. Of course, you'll have holes all over everywhere, but most people just fill them in with putty and they look fine.

Plywood vs Solid Wood Shelves - Choosing the right wood for a bookcase plan can be a big topic to get your arms around, especially if you start reading the zillions of articles online about wood species and wood grades, plywood construction, shelving span calculators, etc., etc. This is all good stuff, but for now, let me narrow down the choices for a first-time bookcase project.

Hold off on plywood shelves...this time around - Sure, plywood is nice for bookcase shelves because it doesn't have the warping problems that plague solid wood. But plywood comes in 4x8 sheets, which means you'll be doing a LOT of cutting to make all the pieces for a simple bookcase. For experienced woodworkers, this isn't really a problem. They'll first cut down the sheet into more manageable pieces (usually with a circular saw) and then head over to an 0 table saw to get things perfectly square and perfectly sized for the bookcase plan they're following. Not that you can't do all this with another tool (like a circular saw or jigsaw), but at some point it just becomes too much work to make a zillion cuts in plywood without the bigger, beefy tools.

Solid Pine Shelves - For first-time projects, I like to use off-the-shelf dimensional lumber from the big box stores like Home Depot. Pine is relatively cheap (compared to hardwood) and is precut to standard-size widths and lengths. That means a LOT less cutting for me to get the basic pieces of my bookcase ready for assembly. Woodworkers might point out that dimensional lumber is inconsistent in width and thickness, which makes less-than-perfect woodworking joints without first planning and/or squaring the boards on a table saw. They're right. Dimensional lumber is not perfectly square and consistent from one board to the next. But that doesn't mean you can't build a decent-looking bookcase otherwise. Sure, you might have some small gaps in the joinery, and maybe the case isn't absolutely square and plumb. But more often than not, you'll be the only one who knows any different. Save the more exacting work for nicer bookcase you'll build next year.

Setting up to Cut Boards - It's a little frightening to think about how precarious and unorganized a workspace can be when we start cutting boards. No one wants to spend time moving around tables, setting up sawhorses, adjusting work clamps...just to cut off the end of a board. Unfortunately, any less preparation than what I just mentioned will put you in a dangerous situation. Power tools can be evil...and I mean really evil. And it's not about how much experience you have. Go online and search woodworking accidents. The most horrific stuff happens to people who have been building for 20-30 years without a scratch. Then out of nowhere things suddenly go wrong...boards go flying across the room, arms and fingers get cut, and worse.

Cutting Dadoes for Bookcase Shelves - By far the trickiest step in following bookcase plans is cutting the dadoes (that hold the book shelf ends). No need to be intimidated with this part of the project, though. If you're really careful about setting up for the cut (that means using the right clamps and cutting guides for your router) this can be the most fun you'll have with bookcase plans. I like to cut my dadoes assembly-line style. That is, I clamp down both sides of the bookcase side by side...so that each pass with my circular saw (and router) cuts both boards at the same time. This not only saves you tons of time and headache, it also makes sure that your shelves are perfectly aligned when you glue everything together.

Bookcase Plans - How to Build a Bookcase With 3 Tools

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Are You Looking For Aspen Home Furniture?

Aspen home furniture is universally known as one of the best home furniture manufacturers the world over. The company develops high quality wood products and furniture specially built to provide maximum comfort. They create a variety of products classified according to name selection.

One popular line is the Barolo Collection, which features an exquisitely colored collection of fixtures rooted in Celtic styles. The furniture, consisting of bedroom sets, dining tables, entertainment centers, and more, surely offers a complement to any household. The Centennial Collection has a classic European design and embraces the colors and tones of yesteryear. Many consider this one of the more versatile furniture lines. Another option is the Chambord Collection. This line of Aspen home furniture utilizes classic French design, and provides its line of furniture with a warm cherry finish. Inspiration for the Chateau de Vin Collection lies in the French Louis Philippe style, while the Napa Collection owes much to the Napa wine country's distinctive looks and tones. The Potomac Collection consists of period piece furniture with urban and rural sensibility, while the Seasons Country Cottage Collection is inspired by seaside living. The Weekender Collection is reminiscent of mountain turf and the Young Classics has an unmistakable American flavor.

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A great place to find Aspen home furniture is on the Internet. Key Home Furnishings, headquartered in Oregon, is one of the largest distributors of Aspen products. It offers high-quality customer service, 24-hour service, long warranty coverage, and the lowest prices available online. Most furniture ships free with a purchase of over 9. If you are looking for the best in sofas, sectionals, chairs, or entertainment centers then visit Key Home Furnishings at their official website, KeyHomeFurnishings.com

Are You Looking For Aspen Home Furniture?

Key Home Furnishings is a large, online furniture store. It carries a great deal of high quality Aspen home furniture [http://www.keyhomefurnishings.com/catalog.php?homeinclude=catalog&category_id=16&parent_id=16]. To see the different Aspen products available, visit http://www.keyhomefurnishings.com/.

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Taking Care Of The Kitchen Cabinet Door - 3 Tips

As you may know, the kitchen cabinet door is the most prominent part of this common household furnishing. This is because a lot of people tend to see the door as the "face" of the kitchen cabinet. Any sort of damage to the kitchen cabinet door is actually quickly noticed by people. It is because of this that taking care of the kitchen cabinet door should be prioritized. Here are some tips to follow:

1. Maintain a boundary

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The most common damage that a kitchen cabinet door can sustain comes from accidental kicks or bumps from heavy objects. In order to prevent this sort of damage from happening to your kitchen cabinet door, you might want to establish some boundaries. This way, you will have some sort of warning if you're getting close enough to damage the kitchen cabinet door.

Placing a rug or two in front of the kitchen cabinet allows you to know when you are getting too close to the door. These rugs can also serve a dual purpose as most spills occur in the vicinity of the kitchen cabinet.

By maintaining a proper boundary, you will be sticking to that old adage which declares prevention to be better than cure.

2. Use anti-pest precautions

Most kitchen cabinet doors are made of wood, so right away, you know that you are facing the potential problem of termites. A way to prevent this would be to get kitchen cabinet doors which are made of a special type of wood being manufactured today which are resistant to termites.

3. Repaint

Paint does so much more than make your kitchen cabinet door look pretty. Actually, paint prevents the actual material of the kitchen cabinet door from being damaged. When you check, you will see that most of the scratches that the common kitchen cabinet door sustains are quite superficial, damaging only the paint. This means that a fresh coat of paint could be the entire repair that you will need.

Repainting also allows you to continually renew and improve the look of your kitchen cabinet door. This will help you make sure that your kitchen cabinet door always looks brand new. In fact, doing this will actually help you constantly renew the look of your entire kitchen.

By following these few tips, you should be able to make sure that your kitchen cabinet doors will look great for a long time.

Taking Care Of The Kitchen Cabinet Door - 3 Tips

For tips on choosing kitchen cabinets, visit http://www.kitchencabinets101.com

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Sunroom Furniture Ideas - Decorating Sunrooms with Indoor Rattan Wicker

Sunrooms have become one of the most sought after rooms to have in a home. They are a great area for entertaining, relaxing, and enjoying the outdoors from the inside of your house. But what is the best way to decorate a sunroom, screened porch, or solarium? Here are some great sunroom furniture ideas.

Indoor sunroom furniture does not have quite the durability that patio furniture has. This is because it is not meant to be exposed to the weather like furnishings that are on a porch. With that being said, however, certain types of outdoor seating options are great for decorating sunrooms.

Furniture

Although sunrooms are indoors, an outdoor theme is among the top ideas for decor. Wicker rattan furniture is one type that works well as indoor sunroom furniture because it has a natural yet cozy look and feel. There are many pieces available including chairs, sofas, loveseats, coffee tables and side tables. You can purchase an entire set that matches, or choose pieces that contrast. Add a few plants, some great cushions, and a few other decorative nature accessories and your room will look great.

Another approach is to use more traditional styles of decorating, such as Ashley furniture and wood tables. Many people prefer this type of atmosphere because the furniture is softer and the room feels more like a typical living room. As far as style goes, this may not look as good as rattan furniture, but it may be more comfortable to some.

Whether you choose patio furniture or a more traditional indoor style, there are many different shapes, sizes, and variations available for sunrooms. These are just a few of many ideas that are out there to help you with decorating your home.

Sunroom Furniture Ideas - Decorating Sunrooms with Indoor Rattan Wicker

Don't miss out on finding the perfect sunroom furniture for your home. Go to http://www.need-info.com/sunroom/Sunroom_Furniture.html today to learn more about the different types of sunroom furniture including rattan wicker and other popular styles.

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