What Type of Furniture Should I Buy?

What is Solid Wood Furniture?

Solid wood is wood that has been harvested and cut into solid slabs and fashioned into furniture. The common types used are Mahogany, Cherry, Oak, Maple, and Walnut. Our Custom Furniture and Imported Furniture is hand crafted using sustainable solid mahogany and other Grade A woods throughout, we do not use particle board or Medium Density Foam.

While it is cost-effective and other times practical to use veneers and other composite wood materials, the best choice for longevity is solid wood furniture. Furniture manufactured by MBW is built to last a lifetime. Each piece is hand crafted, resulting in truly unique characteristics.

Why should I buy solid furniture?

Appearance
Solid wood will have the most naturally beautiful wood grain.

Durability
Solid wood furniture is durable and with proper care, will last for generations. Unlike composite wood, solid wood will more resistance to water damage and not disintegrate.

Maintenance
Small nicks and scratches can be easily touched up. Also, the finish of the furniture can be changed more easily. Whether it is to refresh the piece repurpose an item to fit in another space, solid wood can be stained and re-stained time and time again.

Design
Wood allows for much more ease in carving intricate details and ornamentation. This is especially important in Antique reproductions and other furniture that require many curves in the wood.

Will Solid furniture cost more?
Wood furniture (solid) requires large sections of wood that are relatively free from defects, so the cost is higher than those made of composite wood and veneers. however, we are able to offer superior solid wood furniture for the most affordable prices. Be assured that you are getting an heirloom quality piece of furniture that, with appropriate care, will last for decades or generations.

What does it mean when the wood is Kiln Dried?
Kilns are large ovens in which wood is dried or cured through carefully controlled heat and humidity. Kiln drying removes about 93% of the moisture from wood. Our factories employ this method in order to guarantee that your custom furniture maintains its stability for years to come.

Kiln-dried wood advantages:

Wood that has been kiln dried resists warping splitting and cracking.

Less likelihood of stain or decay during transit, storage, and use.

Reduced susceptibility to insect damage.

Increased strength

Better "hold." Nails, screws, and glue hold better in seasoned wood.

Better finishing. Paints and finishes adhere better to seasoned wood.

Better preservation. Dry wood must be used when treating with most wood preservatives.

Wood placed in kiln to removes moisture content for maximum durability and stability

What is Teak?
Teak is a type of tropical hardwood, recognized for its durability and stability. Teak is more durable than any other hardwood and has unparalleled rich beauty. Teak can withstand all types of weather, making it the perfect choice for patio or deck furniture.

Why should I buy Teak Furniture?
Teak is very durable in all kinds of weather, rain or shine! Teak is a very dense grain hard wood that preserves its original form and is resistant to physical changes such as warping or termite attacks. As teak gets older, its appearance actually improves since it develops a silver grey patina that really adds that individual character to the furniture.

Does MBW offer Teak furniture?
We offer most designs to be built with solid Teak wood at the customer's request. Please see our collection of Teak Furniture.

ENGINEERED WOOD

What is Plywood?
Plywood is created by pressing several layers of wood together. In certain cases, plywood is used with a combination of veneers instead of solid wood because of its resistance to cracking, shrinkage, and twisting/warping, and its general high degree of strength. It has a similar look to wood, but its layered structure is visible on the ends. While plywood maybe used in back panels and other parts of furniture, it is no match for solid wood in terms of beauty or ease of carvings and ornamentation.

Plywood with veneer

What is MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard)?
MDF is an engineered wood product formed by breaking down solid wood into wood fibers, combining it with wax and a resin binder, and forming panels by applying high temperature and pressure. It is commonly used in budget-friendly furniture in combination with veneers and is not as durable or strong as solid wood.

Medium Density Fiberboard

What is MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard)?
MDF is an engineered wood product formed by breaking down solid wood into wood fibers, combining it with wax and a resin binder, and forming panels by applying high temperature and pressure. It is commonly used in budget-friendly furniture in combination with veneers and is not as durable or strong as solid wood.

Getting Organized With Wall Coat Racks

If you have children, you know how difficult it can be to keep your home organized. When children come home from school, books, backpacks, coats and jackets, all may be strewn throughout the house. Having a designated place to keep each persons belongings can help with this problem. This can help the frustration everyone feels when they need to find their belongings and can make for a more peaceful sendoff to school and work.

In order to create a place for items that make their way into the home a small space is needed. If you can find a bare wall anywhere in your home, you can make a dedicated place for organizing personal belongings. This place does not need to be in the entryway. A hallway, corner or back-porch area will work fine. Finding a wooden coat rack that is the size you need will be your first task. If you have the space a large coat rack is a good idea because items can quickly accumulate. A shelf that you can place underneath this rack, with room for baskets will make it possible for things to be neatly stored. You can find baskets at many department stores, and finding baskets that fit in your bookcase or shelf will not be hard. If each child has one or two baskets this should be sufficient. All of their school books, important papers and other school items can be left in these baskets.

A picture frame, painted in the same colors as your coat rack can be made in to the perfect bulletin board. You can create a bulletin board that does not use thumb tacks by using ribbon to hold your items. This will let you avoid the problem of having thumb tacks fall on the floor. Cover a piece of cardboard in a fabric that matches your decor. Next take ribbon and wrap it in a crisscross pattern across your new bulletin board. This will be placed in your frame for a great place for children to slip in school notices, pictures and other important items. This should be hung at a level where small hands can reach. Children can learn to place important items on this bulletin board. This will prevent misplacing letters, invitations, report cards and any other items that need to be seen by parents.

A large basket can be placed on the floor for shoes, sports equipment or other items that need a home of their own. When you make a dedicated place for things that are used daily, it will be easy to keep your home organized. It can also help everyone be ontime for school and work when everything is located in one place.

Summer Romance

There are many things to look forward to in the summer - the weather, the beach, vacation and of course, the possibility of falling in love. There is something about the summertime that makes people want to fall in love. Maybe it's because the warm weather keeps people out longer, inspires them to flirt or just generally makes them a bit sexier. Perhaps it's the tans, the liberating clothes, or the saltwater hair, whatever it is, it makes us all hopeless romantics.

Romantic summer must-haves:

White lace:

Fashion is as important to summer as anything else. From denim shorts to bright coloured maxi dresses, espadrilles to big beads, it's everything you need to be hot and gorgeous all summer long. There is something about white lace though that just feels so romantic. Perhaps it's the creaminess and the sandy colour it turns when dragging along the beach, but white lace is something every girl should have in her summer wardrobe.

Beach reads:

'Love and Summer' by William Trevor, 'Too Much Happiness' by Alice Monroe, 'Love' by Toni Morrison, these are all wonderful books to bring to the beach with you. They will suck you in and entertain you while you lay back and relax in the sun. They are wonderful love stories that will help you escape your world of singleness, if that's what you're looking for.

Somewhere to rest outside:

One of the nicest parts about summer is the ability to doze off outside in the middle of the afternoon. It's warm enough that you don't even need a blanket. Whether you're on a boat or in your garden you should have some sort of chaise lounge to take a little nap on. Collapse on an outdoor couch, love seat or hammock with your summer love and let the sun kiss your skin while the wind keeps you cool while you sleep.

A sense of adventure:

If you want to experience summer love you have to be open to it. Those who are in the mindset to go out and enjoy their summer, meet new people and try new things are the ones who will probably find love. Be a bit adventurous with your time this summer. Plan a camping trip with friends, take a road trip to the beach for a day or so, explore new parts of your city and take in a festival or two.

With the right environment and the right mindset, you may end up finding love this summer after all.