About.com Furniture

Happy Thanksgiving

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:35:36 +0000

This year Thanksgiving kind of sneaked up on me. I hope you were better prepared.

There is much to be thankful for if we just pause and pay attention. For example, just cast a look around your home at all the furniture that makes up the backdrop to your life. The fact that you don't notice it every day just goes to show how well it is doing its job.

And to all of you who come here to read, comment and participate, thank you, and have a great Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving originally appeared on About.com Furniture on Thursday, November 26th, 2009 at 15:35:36.

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Stork Craft Recalls More Than 2.1 Million Drop-Side Cribs

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:21:55 +0000

In one of the biggest recalls, CPSC and Stork Craft are advising owners of more than 2.1 million Stork Craft drop-side cribs, including about 147,000 Stork Craft drop-side cribs with the Fisher-Price logo, to immediately stop using the recalled cribs. Consumers are advised to wait for the free repair kit, and to not attempt to fix the cribs without the kit.

According to CPSC's press release, major retailers in the United States and Canada who sold the recalled cribs include BJ's Wholesale Club, J.C. Penney, Kmart, Meijer, Sears, USA Baby, and Wal-Mart stores and online at Amazon.com, Babiesrus.com, Costco.com, Target.com, and Walmart.com. The cribs were sold from January 1993 through October 2009 for between $100 and $400.

If you think you own one of the cribs described here, go to CPSC's site for this product for all information and instructions.

What is the CPSC?
Safety Tips for Baby Cribs

Stork Craft Recalls More Than 2.1 Million Drop-Side Cribs originally appeared on About.com Furniture on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 12:21:55.

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Taking Your Sofa on a Trip

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:22:35 +0000

Thinking of all the people that will be streaming through airports this week, I was reminded of the Suited Case by Erik De Nijs.

This luggage that also functions as furniture, was an entry in last month's Dutch Design Week 09 in Eindhoven. Erik De Nijs designed these suitcases that travelers can combine to form a sofa when needed.

Erik De Nijs was inspired by how sometimes people rest on their luggage when waiting. Then the concept was further developed from a research on nostalgia which showed that a familiar object from home can make you feel more at ease. From there it went to taking your sofa with you when you travel.

While the four padded pieces of luggage are covered in fabrics usually associated with sofas, they also have all the attributes of suitcases such as handles and zippers. I can imagine this being very comforting on long unscheduled waits in crowded airports.

Taking Your Sofa on a Trip originally appeared on About.com Furniture on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 21:22:35.

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Tools to Prevent Furniture Tip-Overs

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:28:34 +0000

If you have small children, you must have heard about the need to prevent furniture tip-overs. The number of injuries has crept up alarmingly year over year.

Since an update to a voluntary furniture tip-over safety standard for manufacturers, all new casegoods that comply with the new standard also carry warnings about tip over hazards and come with tip over restraints. But you have to be aware that not all pieces will have these tip restraints, and if you buy used furniture or even have have older pieces in your home, they might not be safe for young children.

A very simple antidote exists. Very inexpensive brackets and straps can be the first line of defense in preventing tip overs. Just make sure to install them according to the instructions, and remember that nothing takes the place of good ol' supervision.

Tools to Prevent Furniture Tip-Overs originally appeared on About.com Furniture on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 01:28:34.

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Black Friday Deals Are Coming, Will You Go?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:55:32 +0000

Who looks forward more to Black Friday, retailers or consumers? If you ask around you'll probably see them going head to head.

Retailers tend to pin their hopes on Black Friday, especially when times are tough and the Friday after Thanksgiving continues to be one of the biggest shopping days of the year.

And while consumers continue to be cautious, surveys do show that many are planning to shop this Black Friday. They have postponed buying to wait for just such a time when they can shop at sales to get the best value for their money.

So is there going to be a happy meeting place for both sides? Will retailers offer good enough deals, and will consumers reward that by showing up to shop?

And since we're asking questions, is it really true that you get the best deals on Black Friday? I don't think that is necessarily true for everything. By the way, a lot of furniture stores will be clearing out old inventory from this month to the beginning of the new year. So if you are looking to re-decorate, or even to begin decorating without spending huge amounts of money, this might be a good time to look around.

Black Friday Deals Are Coming, Will You Go? originally appeared on About.com Furniture on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 21:55:32.

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Follow Blu Dot's Real Good Chair Experiment

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:21:48 +0000

Do you know what curb-mining is? Maybe you've indulged in a little curb-mining of your own. If you have rescued furniture or other objects from the street and given them a second life in your home, you have been curb-mining. And if you are in New York City, your curb-mining may have got a little impetus, courtesy Blu Dot.

Blu Dot's little experiment consisted of dropping off 25 Real Good Chairs around the city. Some of these chairs are GPS enabled and you can follow their progress at Blu Dot's site. You can also follow updates on Twitter.

But it doesn't end here. Blu Dot will follow up with the new owners, who get a chance to discuss their chair related stories in a new documentary to be released in December to celebrate the first anniversary of Blu Dot's SoHo showroom.

Follow Blu Dot's Real Good Chair Experiment originally appeared on About.com Furniture on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 19:21:48.

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Trends � Technology Driven Home Furnishings

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:49:03 +0000

It is no secret that technology is now an important part of how we live and function. American Home Furnishings Alliance or AHFA's October 2009 national telephone survey shows that within the next year, one-third of those surveyed expect to purchase a piece of furniture to enhance the function or style of a new piece of home technology.

The most avid technology shoppers belong to the 18-34 year age group, followed by 35-44 year olds who have children living at home. These two consumer age groups are the ones that are most looking to buy furnishings that complement or support their technology.

While office furniture and entertainment centers have been complementing technology for a while, manufacturers have begun making allowances for that in bedroom furniture as well, such as Hooker's Envision series. Another collection offered earlier this year is Copeland's Catalina Collection.

Trends � Technology Driven Home Furnishings originally appeared on About.com Furniture on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 16:49:03.

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New Twists and Turns to the DWI Chair Story

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:03:05 +0000

You remember the crazy La-Z-Boy DWI Chair story we were following? Turns out it wasn't La-Z-Boy after all, and the La-Z-Boy people objected.

Trouble is, every recliner or lounger gets called a La-Z-Boy chair, and this one was no exception. When the La-Z-Boy people objected to Police Chief Walter Wobig, he agreed to take their name out of the listing and promised full disclosure to the bidders that this was not a La-Z-Boy chair.

The auction was supposed proceed, but without La-Z-Boy's name in it. According to Wired, Wobig had no problem with the request and immediately went on eBay to make the changes.

But then eBay wasn't satisfied and the new listing was pulled Monday night. When Wobig tried to get in touch with the decision makers at eBay he had no luck. So now a completely new listing has gone up again as DWI Chair, Motorized Chair, Racing Chair, but for that very reason, the bidding had to start anew and now stands at $6800 as opposed to the almost $45,000 earlier. The auction now ends November 5, 2009.

New Twists and Turns to the DWI Chair Story originally appeared on About.com Furniture on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 20:03:05.

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Reupholster Your Sofa, or Simply Cover it?

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:01:08 +0000

Recently a reader asked if she should reupholster her old sofa. She did not specify whether it was a particularly valuable antique or a family heirloom, so I was not able to give her a "yes" or "no" answer.

As a general rule, I wouldn't advise anyone to go the reupholstery route. It is almost as expensive as getting a new sofa. Sometimes it costs even more. In my book only antiques and furniture with great sentimental value qualify for it.

Slipcovers can do the job nicely if you are just tired of looking at the same fabric after years. They can also help if you want to re-do your color scheme. But even doing something as simple as changing out your throw pillows can take the attention away from the offending sofa.

Reupholster Your Sofa, or Simply Cover it? originally appeared on About.com Furniture on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 16:01:08.

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Remember to Set Your Clocks Back

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:41:29 +0000

After all the ghouls, ghosts and goblins have gone their merry way, and you get ready to call it a day, remember to set your clocks one hour back. Daylight Saving Time is over.

I realize these days not all clocks require adjustment, and I might be giving away my age here. But if you have retro or vintage clocks, you know what you have to do. The formula is Fall back and Spring forward. But between you and me, I'm never very happy doing the Spring forward thing.

Retro George Nelson Clocks

Remember to Set Your Clocks Back originally appeared on About.com Furniture on Saturday, October 31st, 2009 at 23:41:29.

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