Wednesday, June 4, 2008

History of the Adirondack Chair

If you were to travel to Blue Mountain Lake, New York, you would come across a very unique museum called the Adirondack Museum. According to experts that run this museum, the Adirondack chair originally went by a different name - Westport chair, which was after a small nearby town nestled in the Adirondack Mountains. Thomas Lee first created the design of the Adirondack chair in the early 1900s. Determined to develop a chair that would be appropriate for both indoor and outdoor use, as well as a chair that was highly comfortable, he started to work using standard boards and nails.

He completed his prototype, asking family and friends for their honest opinion. Although the design looked anything but comfortable, the consensus was that this chair was actually very comfortable. Today, the Adirondack chair is still one of the number one choices, often associated with beachfront property, seating around a swimming pool, or sprawling lawns. Regardless of where you place your Adirondack chair, you will not be disappointed with your choice.

While the Adirondack chair offers many wonderful qualities, the slated boards and big, wide armrest are what most people think of first. Take the armrest for example, which is especially nice with its wide, angled design. With this, you can easily set down a cup of coffee or glass of ice tea while sitting back to relax on a cool Sunday morning or hot Saturday afternoon. Because of the unique design, Thomas was able to secure a patent in 1904. For the next two decades, several variations of the Adirondack chair were created based on the original design.

Probably the greatest aspect of the Adirondack chair is that again, it is extremely comfortable. In addition, considering the high quality of the design and the overall efficiency, this chair is also very affordable. Typically, adirondack chairs are made from natural wood and then painted white. However, today you find many more exciting colors, perfect for enhancing any yard or home. Although the basic Adirondack chair is a favorite, you might also consider the Adirondack lounge chair, which reclines or perhaps a double Adirondack chair for cuddling.

If you enjoy spending time outdoors or indoors, the last thing you want is a hard, uncomfortable chair. However, with the Adirondack chair, you know with all certainly that you are getting the very best. Completely handcrafted, you will enjoy the country, nautical look. Keep in mind that the Adirondack chair looks great anywhere, adding a nice touch of class. The curved back and seat are truly amazing with a design that literally wraps around the body. No other chair can match the style and innovation found with the Adirondack chair. Best of all, when cared for properly, the Adirondack chair will last years and years.

Furniture Bench - The Many Varieties & Uses For One In Your Home

Furniture benches are benches that can be used indoors and for literally any room of the house. For example, a furniture bench would work perfect for entry ways or foyers. With this, people would have a comfortable place to sit while waiting, putting on shoes, and so on. For a child’s room, a furniture bench would be ideal for reading stories and if designed with a hinged lid, a place for storing toys. Below are a number of specific furniture benches and how they can enhance the look of your home while being functional.

Going back to the kid’s room, if you have a little girl then you could choose from a lovely white furniture bench with claw feet, beautiful molding, a crown designed top, and sloped skirt. With a pink or purple cushion seat on top, your little girl would love having this furniture bench to call her own. Perhaps she would want something with a little more character such as the “Dora the Explorer” furniture bench. With this, there is a colorful painted scene that brings life to your child’s room, allowing her imagination to run free.

For a little boy’s room, you will find a number of creative furniture benches that are replicas of ambulances, fire trucks, racecars, and more. These come in a number of wood choices and are wonderfully handcrafted with colorful detailing. Most of these furniture benches have a closing lid, great for keeping the room organized and neat. In addition, a furniture bench that looks just like daddy’s workbench is a perfect choice. You will find these with actual attached bags that hold toy tools!

For the adults, you have a huge selection of styles and uses. For instance, you could choose a beautiful furniture bench to keep by the back door that would hold all the dog’s supplies. These come in a number of sizes but a popular choice is one that measures 40 x 14 x 17.75 inches. Some of these include drawers that are great for brushes, nail clippers, leashes, and so on. Again, many of these have a cushioned seat, providing a place to sit while getting Fido ready for his walk.

Placing a furniture bench at the foot of the bed for added storage is also something seen in many bedrooms. Because these are available is so many styles, you can find a bench that fits in perfectly with any décor. Many times, these benches will be made from oak or mahogany and may or may not be adorned with brass accents. Again, this type of furniture bench also has storage where extra throws, sheets, pillows, or blankets can be stored.

If you want just a simple furniture bench for the telephone or display of fresh flowers, these too are available. The nice thing about this type of bench is that they are small so they fit well in any home and prices at around $30, anyone can afford one. The bottom line is to determine the best room and how a furniture bench can provide you with additional seating, storage, and room appeal.

Bar and Wine Cabinets - Entertain in Style

Do you love to entertain in your home? Do you want to treat your guests to a truly sophisticated and luxurious experience each time they attend one of your gatherings? If so, perhaps you should consider incorporating the use of a bar or wine cabinet into your home’s décor.

Far from being just ornamental furnishings, bar and wine cabinets are very practical when it comes to entertaining a large group of friends. No more would you have to serve drinks from a counter top or have to weave your way in and out of guests to get more glasses out of the kitchen cupboards. With bar and wine cabinets, everything is conveniently and beautifully organized right at your fingertips.

And bar wine and cabinets add a sense of sophistication and style that cannot be accomplished by other types of furnishings. Whether your home’s décor is formal, country or modern, there is a wine or bar cabinet that will perfectly complement your individual space, personality and sense of style.

Take for instance the Bealle Steet Oval bar and wine cabinet by Powell. This wine cabinet is breathtaking and is vintage-inspired with sophisticated, tropical Dutch West Indies detailing framed in woven rattan with faux leather accents crafted in select hardwoods covered a lightly distressed two tone "Bahama" finish. This luxurious wine cabinet features includes storage for 12 bottles, 2 drawers, 2 doors, 2 adjustable shelves and 4 unique rattan galleried storage shelves on either end.

If you want a lot of style from a bar cabinet but do not have a great deal of space to devote to one, perhaps the Mardi Gras bar and wine cabinet would be perfect for our space. This beverage cabinet is both elegant and functional and features beautiful hand painting over Black Analine finish. The top flips open and slides to a center position for twice the serving surface. Doors with Antique Pewter handles open to reveal enough storage space for up to 22 bottles and 14 glasses. This bar and wine cabinet also features drawers for added storage and keeps everything snugly nestled inside when not in use.

If you prefer something a little more casual, maybe you would enjoy the multi-functional Casual Bar Cabinet with Marble Top. This cabinet doubles as a kitchen cart and features a medium distressed oak finish with a green marble surface, two towel racks, a center drawer, a 4-bottle wine rack and two shelves for accessories or cookbooks.

And it does not take a great deal of money to upgrade your entertaining space with a bar or wine cabinet. You can take your space from ordinary to extraordinary for under $1000. Some bar cabinets can even be purchased for just a few hundred dollars depending on your tastes, needs and wants.

As you can see from these few examples, there is a large variety of wine and bar cabinets to choose from. So if you are looking to add that special something to your entertaining space, perhaps you should browse the large selection of wine and bar cabinets. You are bound to find something that is just perfect for you and something that will make your next gathering a phenomenal success.