Archive for May, 2009

May 31

Suggestions For Interior Designs of Minimalistic Homes

interior


Homes with a minimalistic look are basically a trend these days. Before, these types of homes were usually reserved for single people who entertained a lot in their homes and worked most of the day. The minimalistic look did not usually go well with children and a big family. These days, interior designs for families and the minimalistic look can go hand in hand. One of the main factors to achieving interior designs with a homey look for the minimalistic style is the kind of home furnishings that are used.

Home Furnishing For Minimalist Homes

Many people are under the impression that a minimalistic home is sparse and have so few home furnishings. The fact of the matter is that this perception s partially true. Interior designs for such homes may give the home owner a glimpse of a sparsely decorated room or living area but the minimalistic look can also be achieved with the right touches even with a lot of home furnishings. The key to achieving the minimalist look in spite of having a lot of things is to have simple home furnishings. Interior designs that feature a minimalist look usually have home furnishings that are unobtrusive and simple enough to be mistaken for a wall or a table.

Interior designs with the object of being minimalistic can benefit from single tone furnishing usually in sedate colors which do not stand out. White and black colors are the staple for home furnishing that wish to be unobtrusive and to give the impression of minimalism. Even the handles of drawers or the legs of tables and chairs should be kept simple to be in keeping with the minimalistic approach. Interior designs with minimal color schemes are ideal for the person or home owner who wants a minimalistic look. When the tables, chairs, bureaus and walls are the same color, the impression is usually that of being clean and simple. Sticking to a single color or shades of the same color will help to keep the ambience calm and simple. White, black, blue and green are ideal colors to use in interior designs aimed at minimalism.

Even the design of the home furnishings should be in keeping with the interior design which is minimalistic. Simple doors and table tops will not draw the eye to a particular object that will make things stand out. Interior designs which strive for minimalism should have similar looking home furnishings for a more fluid and well blended ambience. The home furnishings should come quite close to the interior designs of the architect or the designer to achieve a uniform look. A running theme for a connected area is a great idea for interior designs of the areas.

The numerous items and personal things of the home owner can be hidden inside cupboards or cabinets designed to hold the television and home theatre, books and other items. Picture frames on the tables can be kept to a minimum by employing a digital picture frame that can hold any number of pictures and video clips. These small, personal items can be integrated by the designer in the interior designs to be shown to the home owner. Other suggestions for home furnishings that can be used for interior designs featuring the minimalistic approach are chairs that are simple and straight forward, with no lumpy upholstery and tables with no fussy table cloths. Curtains can be kept to a minimum by using simple gauze or single toned drapes that reach the floor to maintain the impression of being a single entity with the room. Other interior designs ideas are to keep the room airy and clutter free as well as to have large windows.



May 31

More Than a Countertop: Today’s Furniture Made for the Kitchen

kitchen


In Colonial times, the kitchen was the gathering place of the home. Because of the warmth created by the kitchen’s cook fires, it was the best location in the house to spend time and be comfortable with friends and loved ones. As history advanced into the 20th century, new developments in heating meant that the kitchen became a room simply to cook in, and, at times, to eat in. Families began spending their time in living rooms instead, or became busy and spent more time individually than as a family. But in the 21st century, many families began to use their kitchens as a gathering place once more, as new home developers again designed larger spaces conducive to family gatherings.

Today, the furniture you select for your kitchen goes far and beyond faucets and countertops. Instead, there are many options in kitchen furniture that enable families to spend time together in one of the coziest rooms in the home. From decorative and useful kitchen tables to the perfect stools for countertops to workspace furniture, there are many different options in furniture made for today’s kitchens.

Many families choose to place tables in their kitchens. For some homes, this is the primary or only eating area. For others, it becomes a place to enjoy a fast breakfast or to gather for an after dinner dessert treat. Whether your kitchen is small or large, you can find the perfect furniture to allow your family to gather and eat in the highest levels of comfort. For smaller kitchens, consider collapsible tables. These tables have leaves that pull up to allow for families to gather and eat when it is meal times. But in between meals, the leaves collapse, making the table a perfect workspace or reducing its size to be moved out of the way until it is next needed.

Other kitchen tables that many people enjoy are corner tables. These tables are specifically designed to fit into any available corner of your kitchen, and often have either a booth seat that runs along the adjoining walls, or a table that butts into the wall and is surrounded by your favorite kitchen chairs. For some families that either have restricted space or have a large countertop that is begging to be utilized, bar stools are the perfect solutions to create a seating area in the kitchen. Kitchen stools come in a wide variety of designs, perfect for matching any theme that you might use. From simple wooden stools to more elaborate stools with backs or swivel options, you are sure to find a type that you find useful.

As families begin to outgrow their homes, they often struggle to find a place within their home to use as a workspace. Many families make the decision to give up office areas to create children’s bedrooms or rooms to be used for guests. As they do so, a lot of these families discover that unused wall space in their kitchens make the perfect solution to create space to work on computers, organize files or pay bills. Some kitchen designers now make workspace furniture specifically designed to match kitchen themes, as this concept continues to be popular.

If you do not have adequate counter space, one great type of kitchen furniture to consider is an island. Islands can serve three purposes. First, you can utilize their tops to prepare or cook food. Second, underneath the countertops, another storage opportunity awaits. And counter space can also be a great place to pull up a few stools, so that your family can enjoy eating together in the kitchen.

One should never forget the basics of kitchen furniture; however, even when special additions are made for eating or for utilizing a created workspace. Built-in furniture like countertops are vital for your productivity in the kitchen. Old and worn countertops can be difficult to work on or can become health or safety hazards. In addition, your countertops say a lot about the style of your kitchen, so using classy designs such as granite can paint a great picture of your cooking and eating spaces. Many times, kitchen countertops can be coordinated with new cabinets for your kitchen. Certain colors of granite match other wood grains perfectly and can help you to present a very classy and finished look.

Customized furniture and finishes are a great way to add value, style and comfort to your home. Families are spending more and more time in the kitchen, as it is a great place not just for cooking and eating, but also for homework, arts and crafts, home-based business, and more. When you have the right counter space and complementary kitchen furniture, there can be enough room for parents and children to work side by side. Many adults also like to entertain guests in the kitchen. With added furniture such as islands, bar stools, corner tables and cushioned seating, the possibilities are endless!



May 30

Furniture Storage

furniture


Furniture storage is a common request for many self storage companies and businesses. Why would someone need furniture storage? The reasons that you would need furniture storage are many and varied. When you are looking for storage for furniture you should first find a reputable self storage facility. The first reason that many people choose their self storage company is location. There might be a cheaper self storage place across town but convenience always rules out, even price.

Once you have established where you would like to have furniture storage, you will need to decide what size storage unit that will best suit your furniture needs. If you have no idea what size unit you will need, make a mental list or jot down all the pieces of furniture that you will be storing in your self storage unit. Then contact your self storage manager and ask their advice on what size unit they think you will need. Most all self storage companies have a storage guide to help them decide what size self storage unit they should recommend to the customer. The larger the unit size the more it costs, with the exception of any specials or deals a company might be running. Make sure that the height of the unit is taken in consideration when choosing a self storage unit size to store your furniture. The taller the unit means that you will be able to stack items and take advantage of the height rather that the floor dimensions only. The average small self storage unit usually runs about 5×5 and would not be good for storing any large pieces or quantity of furniture. The 5×10 unit could hold some small pieces while the 5×15 and up are better sized for storing your furniture.

Now the next question to ask your self storage facility manager is if you will need climate controlled storage for your furniture. If the self storage business you have chosen has both regular self storage and climate controlled self storage then they will be able to guide you in your decision. Sometimes self storage facilities that do not have climate control self storage will often tell people that they do not need it to store their furniture. They tell people this so that you will rent with them, so do some research and figure out if you will need climate controlled storage. Most of the time people need climate controlled storage for furniture is for antique pieces and leather furniture. The reason these two furniture items require climate controlled self storage is because of the range of temperature and humidity levels. Climate controlled furniture storage helps maintain a constant temperature year round with little or no humidity.

Now you are ready to rent furniture storage. Here are some common reasons why people call and ask for furniture storage.

1.Have extra pieces that you cannot part with but do not have room for at your home

2.Inherited furniture from a loved one Saving furniture for a college grad or newlyweds

3.Remodeling and need space to work Water or smoke damaged furniture waiting to be cleaned

4.Extra office furniture that needs to be kept off site from your business

5.New baby or kids off to college

6.Impending storm, flood or fire and need to evacuate 7.New home building goes over schedule and your deliveries are waiting

8.Your business rents chairs, tables or other pieces of furniture

9.Cleaning out your garage of collected furniture 10.You sell furniture on a popular Internet auction site

11.Getting ready for a yard, garage or estate sale 12.De-cluttering your home for an upcoming home sale

13.Staging your home with newer or updated pieces that fit the space better

14.Military or job transfer and need to place items away

15.Grown child or older parent needs to move back to your home

16.Eviction or foreclosure Tenant eviction

17.You are a pack rat

18.You found a furniture sale and could not pass up the deal

Whatever you reason for needing furniture self storage is, you should be able to find a local self storage business to help accommodate your storage needs. Here are some additional tips when storing furniture in a self storage unit; use old sheets and/or blankets to cover and protect furniture against scratches, stack pieces flat side to flat side to reduce scratching, take apart tables and other pieces that can be broken down to save on space, turn your couch on its end to save on floor space, spend the money on furniture cover and mattress covers to protect from dust and take out self storage insurance if available. You never know when you might need the coverage.

If you are looking to find furniture storage around your home you might want to reorganize your current floor plan to allow for those pieces you are trying to store. In the home office, try and use two small filing cabinets on either end of an old door or large square piece of wood, making your own desk. Utilize a small odd shaped dresser for an end table or media table. Many ottomans and benches now come with storage underneath the hinges; a great place for blankets, toys, magazines or other small items. Use an old table in the garage or craft room to have more counter and work space. Move older pieces to the basement and create a family room, play room or media room out of odds and ends. Have a large walk in closet? Put a tall dresser in there to help with items of clothing that can be put in drawers instead of hanging them up.

If your business is selling furniture then you probably store your furniture in some type of warehouse setting. The new furniture is wrapped to prevent dust and dirt from getting on the outside and to keep any unwanted critters out also. If there is any type of hardware, then those items are wrapped separately to avoid scratching and damaging the piece. Warehouses of furniture will utilize racks or stacks to store furniture and utilize the height of the warehouse. Furniture storage is a necessity for large furniture companies that carry a large inventory. Some pieces of furniture are unassembled and are boxed, saving the furniture company room in storage of bulky pieces.

So let us go over what we have learned. You probably already know the reason why you need furniture storage, now get it. Look for a convenient self storage business to store your furniture. Ask the self storage manager to assist with choosing a size to best fit your furniture needs. Ask the self storage manager if you will need climate controlled storage or regular storage for your furniture. Pack the self storage unit correctly to take advantage of the space. Safely pack your furniture in the self storage area so that items are secure and covered with blankets or sheets. Use mattress and couch covers and get the insurance if offered in your state. If you need to find furniture storage in your own home, look and see what if any pieces of furniture can be moved around or put into another room. There are many popular TV show about remodeling and decluttering to help you with ideas. Sometimes it takes a fresh eye to see your furniture in another place in your home, ask for help if needed.

Affordable furniture self storage is out there and these self storage businesses would love to have you as a renter. Most furniture self storage businesses will rent to you on a month to month basis so even if you only need furniture storage for a short time you will find a business that will work with you. If you know you are going to need furniture storage for a long or extended period of time, some self storage businesses will offer discounts for pre paying the months you will be there. Plus it never hurts to ask if the self storage facility you are calling offers any military, senior or student discounts to renters. Furniture storage can save you space in your home or office and should be a serious consideration if you cannot get rid of the pieces some other way. Call around, get the best price and make sure the place you want to store your furniture has good security. You will sleep better at night know that your treasured pieces of furniture are safe and secure and out of your home.



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