The chair is man’s most diversely styled furntire item, with only one basic proviso: that it gives someone a place to sit – usually on one’s derriere. If you lie it’s a bed, if you can share it, it’s a sofa or couch, if you can slump sideways it’s a chaise longue, if it has no back it’s a stool. Ergonomic chairs give the sitter an opportunity to “sit” on the lower shins as well as the bottom. What is amazing about the chair is that it is a more or less completely modern invention. Before 18th Century in the west, people did sit, but they sat on benches, mats, cushions, stools, logs, chests or the floor. The earliest chairs were only for high-status people, tribal leaders, the religious elite and of course royalty on elaborate, rarely-used chairs called thrones. Today the leader of a group undertaking a discussion of some formality is called “the chair”. In the orient, notably the cultures of China and Japan the chair is distincly foreign construct, more or less unknown before the 20th Century.

In the new field of modern design, the simple seat has a totemic status. The history of 20th-century design can be charted by looking at the development of the chair. With the rise of new materials, the advances in engineering and mass production techniques and consciousness of ergonomics, the chair as artefact has been highly amenable to changing aesthetics: from austere to flamboyant, whimsical to functional, with many of the modern era’s greatest design brains choosing to test their mettle in creating the ultimate, iconic chair.

Some of the great names who have tried, and tried successfully to design a chair that really moved things forward, and became an icon:

Marcel Breuer - The Wassily chair.
Made of leather and tubular steel, this unmistakable chair was an instant classic when it appeared, years before its time in the mid 1920s. Still manufactured. Breuer was one of the most prolific members of the Bauhaus the art and design school, later movement of Weimar, and a protégé of its director Walter Gropius. After an unsatisfying stint working in Paris, Breuer went back to the Bauhaus, where one of his first projects was the 1926 steel club armchair (later renamed the Wassily, after the Bauhaus teacher Wassily Kandinsky) made from extruded nickel-plated tubular steel. Unusually light and easy to assemble from ready-made steel tubes, the chair was the result of Breuer’s years of experiments with bending steel. It was immediately recognised as an important breakthrough in furniture design.

Olivier Mourgue - the Djinn Chair Used in the film 2001 A Space Odyssey, in the oribiting hotel Olivier Morgue:. The chairs (in the orbiting Hilton Hotel) were designed independently of the movie by French designer Olivier Mourgue. They were produced beginning in 1965, and called the "Djinn". There was a chair (with and without arms), a two seater sofa, a chaise-lounge, and a stool. I don’t know if they are still in production. The series was made by the French company Airborne International.

Francois Lefranc - Indulgence Chair - lounge chair (2001)Compressed polyurethane foam. Lefranc is a designer-maker who is also a successful architect with a global reach, including France, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands and the Dominican Republic. This lounge chair, made of attractive candy-stripes went into mass production for the supply of seating for the Las Vegas convention centre.

Substitute Worlds

Daisy Evans is a writer and editor living and working in London

Contemporary furniture is characterized by sleek lines, understated color, and clutter-free space. A contemporary room draws its energy and atmosphere from neutral shades, simple coloring schemes, and a minimalist décor. Contemporary furniture can be spoiled if added to a room that is over furnished. Sleek lines can really be appreciated in a room that has space and subtle tones. Here are seven ideas to keep in mind when choosing contemporary furniture.

1. Always choose contemporary furniture that is simple in design, construction and materials.

2. Keep your contemporary furniture choices to a bare minimum. Purchase items that you really need, but leave out the side tables, footstools, magazine racks, etc.

3. Choose a sofa that is sleek, simple and plain in color and design. Don’t add extra pillows. Just complement with a plain wooden, glass or stone-top coffee table. Keep magazines, books and other items in tidy piles and to a minimum.

4. Your walls should be painted with a single neutral color. Contemporary furniture and contemporary style is lost in too much bold color.

5. The floor should be a simple hard floor, of wood or stone, not wall-to-wall carpet. For winter warmth, simply add a neutral rug.

6. In a contemporary-styled room, lighting works best when it isn’t obvious. Use indirect lighting to add ambience and to enhance the sleek design of your contemporary furniture. Choose plain fixtures, lamps, and bases of ceramic or wrought iron.

7. The same minimal philosophy applies to window furnishing. Bare windows are best as they allow natural, unadulterated light into a room. If you must cover them, again do so with the simplest curtains. Tab-tops are better than pleats and ruffles. And if you’ve bought wrought iron lamps or light fixtures, then complement them with wrought iron curtain rods.

Dylan Miles, journalist, and website builder, lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.discountedfurniture.info on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

Are you tired of the look of your furniture? Do you fancy changing the appearance of your room, but don’t want the cost and hassle of buying a whole new suite? Well, the good news is that giving your home a makeover can be as simple as adding some furniture slipcovers. If you have some pieces of furniture with mismatching upholstery or you simply want a change, then some new slipcovers could work wonders.

So, what exactly are furniture slipcovers? They are a cheaper alternative to re-upholstering your furniture. Re-upholstery can be an expensive option depending on the amount of work needed to make your furniture look as good as new. It can involve replacing the existing fabric, replacing worn out cushions and in some cases fixing the frame and springs. It depends on the value of the furniture as to whether it is worth the effort and expense. Furniture slip covers on the other hand are basically fabric covers that can easily be fitted over existing upholstery.

There are many benefits of using fitted slipcovers over re-upholstery, not least the lower costs. Sofa slipcovers are an excellent way to disguise unattractive upholstery on your existing sofa as well as transforming the look and color scheme of a whole room. You can use sofa slipcovers to create a completely different feel. For example, careful choice of the right slipcover patterns can help add a welcoming atmosphere of warmth to a room. Or maybe you want to create the illusion of space in a small room by adding some lighter colored sofa slip covers.

Another advantage of furniture slipcovers is that they can protect your existing fabric from becoming dirty or worn, prolonging the life of your furniture. Whether you have pets or small children or just want to prevent damage caused by accidental spills, slipcovers are an ideal solution. Slipcovers are made from durable, hardwearing materials. Cotton fabrics are common, but all sorts of other fabrics are popular too such as leather, suede, corduroy and velvet. They are designed to be easy to remove and clean, which means they can be changed as often as you like. Many are fully machine washable.

These days furniture slipcovers come in a huge variety of designs and colors. Many people like the ease with which slipcovers allow them to change their décor with the seasons or just whenever they fancy a change. And slipcovers can be found for furniture of all shapes and sizes. There are slipcovers for sofas, wing chairs, recliner chairs and ottomans. In addition, you can find fitted slipcovers for kitchen and dining room chairs, futons and loveseats. So, when home decorating, rather than rushing out to buy brand new furniture, consider slipcovers as an effective and inexpensive way to give your room a facelift.

Caroline Smith is a successful freelance writer who has written many articles for http://www.best-slipcovers.com your one stop source for finding the best deals on furniture slipcovers, sofa slipcovers, recliner slipcovers and much much more!

A sofa slip cover may be just what you need to add some life to that old, tired looking couch of your. There are many advantages to owning a sofa slip cover. One is that you can easily change the cover of your sofa without the expenses of a re-upholsterer. Sectional sofa slip covers come in many different attractive designs and can be changed in a matter of seconds. Another advantage is the fact that it is very simple to replace a sofa slip cover. If you have children, pets, or any other potential cause of mess in your house, you can keep your sofa clean for guests by keeping a stock of sofa slip covers on hand, ready to interchange.

Besides protecting your furniture, sofa slip covers have another important use: They can make your old furniture seem new again, for a very low price. Many people would like to get new furniture, but are turned away by the high prices. However, if you want to make your furniture look like new, try using a sofa slip cover. While some are more expensive than others, there are many high quality cheap sofa slip covers available. Simply be on the look out for discount sofa slip covers.

You may worry that you won’t be able to find a sofa slip cover that would match the rest of your house. However, there is no need to worry. Slip covers come in all sizes for your futon chair, futon sofa, throw pillow, bolster pillow, or whatever piece of furniture you need to add a slip to. However, it is important to make sure that you are purchasing the right sofa slip cover. Since not all furniture is made alike, companies offer a variety of styles to fit all furniture models. You may also be able to purchase extra fabric to cover items in your living room to match your furniture.

About The Author

Mike Yeager
Publisher
http://www.a1-furniture-4u.com/

Choosing home furnishings for any room is a major piece for the primary activity of the room, which must be considered first, the sofa in the living room, the bed in the bedroom, the desk in the office. This piece in most cases should face the focal point of the room. A long empty wall can be made into a focal point by grouping pictures over a long narrow table.

Large pieces of furniture should be evenly distributed so as not to put the room off balance. Leave room around them for the best affect. In selecting home furnishing pieces, keep the architectural shapes in the room in mind. Try to balance pieces opposite one another.

Be conscious of the light in the room when selecting and placing your home furnishings. A dark cabinet may disappear in a dimly lighted alcove. Bright pieces may seem garish under a picture window. Break up the horizontal lines of the room by mixing in taller items.

Think about the use of the room as you place the home furnishings. If you typically eat or drink there, is there a place to set your cup or plate down? Is there enough storage for books or CDs? Mix hard and soft surfaces by adding rugs or fabric- covered tables to a room otherwise filled with wood, metal and stone.

Once you have decided on a color scheme, bring your samples home. Look at them at different times of the day, and in both natural and incandescent light. Keep in mind that darker colors will tend to fade over time more than lighter ones. Be sure to take into consideration any existing home furnishings pieces that will remain in the room as well as the various wood finishes present.

About The Author:

Roger King is a successful author and publisher of http://www.1st-home-decor.com Home furnishings and ideas to showcase your homes.

Over the past several months I have been actively working with Amish Americans. The Amish have a unique culture, and are often called the “Simple People.” Amish appear to be caught in a time warp dating back to the early 1800’s. A time when horse power was a term counting the actual number of horses, and instead of E-mail snail mail is the normal means of sending someone a letter. Yes this lifestyle does appear slower, simpler, and not as efficient to the novice eye, however I have found that we should examine the finer points of their simple but industrious culture.

I am Proud to be an American, and so these next few comments hurt me dearly. Americans have lost the war for quality; we all but conceded it to the German’s and Japanese. Americans have lost the war for value, our labor costs, quality of goods, and timely service rates are among the worst in the world. As a result of these great losses American industry has moved overseas and across the boarder. We have come to the point as a labor force where we no longer want to give the best to receive the best. Our own American companies don’t dare ask American employees for what they need to survive; they just close the doors and pack up for some other more profitable location. There are, however, Americans that provide a manufactured product of the highest quality and the best value.

We need to learn from the Amish, particularly Amish Furniture Craftsmen. Their simple lives are a model of efficiency. They set their workshops up to be man by small teams of family members. Each area flows to the next point in the assembly. Their time is seldom idol; they work on the project at hand until it is done. They don’t just do the work they live the work. They put themselves in to each piece of Furniture, Quilt, or Cheese, they make. They have pride in their products, something long lost by regular Americans.

Amish value, you can’t beat it. Ask a furniture shopper “Would you like a piece of Amish Furniture?” Nine out of ten times the answer is always yes. Their products last for generations and are built reliably. Their pricing is fair and honest, no hidden schemes to get you to buy more. They take pride in having you as a customer.

The Simple People have the answer to the current American problem. That answer is “Pride!!!” What happened to “Made in America”, those proud add campaigns from the eighties. What happened to the country that saved the world sixty some years ago, not by might or fear, but through determination, ambition, and pride. The problem is not just with the guy punching the time clock, or with the guy signing the checks. The problem lies on both sides of the labor and management divide. Look at the Amish, the Simple People. Learn what they know; see their pride. Maybe then working together we can make America great again. Buy a Piece of American Pride, a piece of real Amish Furniture at www.stoveramishfurniture.com.

John Stover is just a simple guy.

If your furniture could do with a new look, then you may be interested in some custom slipcovers. Unlike re-upholstery, a slipcover can be easily replaced whenever you feel like a change and can be removed when it needs cleaning. Custom slipcovers are a great idea if your furniture is in good condition, but you just fancy a change of appearance, or if you want to protect the existing fabric from wear and tear.

A fitted slipcover can be made to measure to fit your particular furniture exactly. Because they are custom made these sort of slipcovers fit very snuggly, a bit like a second skin. There is no need for elastic or ties, as there is with ready made slipcovers. Fitted slipcovers can look very smart and stylish, but of course they do cost more than standard one-size-fits-all slipcovers.

The price really depends on your particular requirements, such as how big your furniture is and how much fabric you need. The quality of the fabric will also affect the price. Be wary of very cheap fabrics as you may be getting an inferior product that will not last long after the first wash. Good quality slipcovers can last for years. Other costs involved include the personal service you will receive, such as house calls to take measurements of your furniture.

Custom slipcovers can totally transform the appearance of your furniture, not just be changing the fabric, but by altering the design as well. For example, custom slipcovers can have covered welt accents or decorative skirts if you choose. So you have the option of hiding the legs of your furniture or putting them on display. You can get a brand new look for your room without having to replace your furniture.

So, if you think it’s time for a change, why not consider some custom slipcovers for your home?

Caroline Smith is a successful freelance writer who has written many articles for http://www.best-slipcovers.com,your one stop source for finding the best deals on furniture slipcovers, sofa slipcovers, recliner slipcovers and much, much more. Shop online and save!

In general, many furniture purchases are stimulated by some form of life changing experience. This could be:

- Buying or selling a home
- weddings
- job promotions
- births
- deaths
- holidays
- moving and
- college are just a few of these events.

The key to saving money and maximizing your furniture dollars will rest in your ability to plan and anticipate these major purchases. The purpose of this page is to help you understand when to buy. When the purchase can be planned and those times when you must react in a quicker fashion. The furniture industry is laced with a multitude of retailers with a plethora of selling strategies. The advertising is intense and the promotions can sometimes be overwhelming.

Do certain product categories offer better values at different times of the year? What about those heavily advertised holiday sales? When are the best clearance periods of the year? Do tent sales offer any value? Is the end of the month the best time to buy?

For the honest answers to these questions please read on.

DO CERTAIN PRODUCT CATEGORIES OFFER BETTER VALUES AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE YEAR?

LIVING ROOM FURNITURE is generally a staple of most furniture stores. Sofas and loveseats are usually promoted on a consistent basis with no relative regard to the time of the year. However, look for your best values in sleeper sofas in the fall when you are preparing for those guests.

DINING ROOM FURNITURE becomes extremely visible and highly promoted around the late October and early November. The much anticipated holiday season will bring sales and promotions on dining rooms and dinettes. Most retailers will begin to build inventory early in the spring. Look for advertising which promotes complete sets and free extras such as arm chairs, servers, and china cabinets.

OFFICE FURNITURE will make a very obvious and prevalent debut around tax time and back to school. However, with the continuing growth of home based business and the strong growth of the internet, it is not uncommon for retailers to use this category to bring traffic in to the stores. Office furniture takes a great deal of wear and use so be careful of those to good to be true advertised specials.

RECLINERS AND CHAIRS will see significant activity in May and June. The advent of Mothers day and Fathers day will bring a flurry of advertising. These products in general serve as tools to generate traffic into furniture stores. Legitimate values will abound for the savvy shopper.

BEDROOM FURNITURE is generally one of the last categories people add to their home. The more visible areas of the home usually get priority attention. This same quality carries through with the furniture stores. If you are dealing with a specialty bedroom store then you can expect strong values and promotions around holidays.

MATTRESSES AND BOX SPRINGS become highly promoted from late May to the early fall. Most retailers gain significant support from the mattress manufacturers in the form of advertising and special offers. This product category is a quick turn item with low inventory costs. A keen eye coupled with good research of brand names will provide great opportunity to secure a good buy.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE HEAVILY ADVERTISED HOLIDAY SALES? Most retailers have steadily altered their promotion and advertising schedule to fit the needs of the consumer. Holidays now represent the shrinking time that people have to get out and shop. The competition between retailers of all types is intense. Holiday periods are some of the best times to shop. Memorial Day, Labor Day, July 4th, and New Years Day are usually the best. Are the best values out there at Thanksgiving and Christmas? In most cases these are not the very best. These periods are times when the retailer has the public as a captive audience and the consumer is pre-disposed to spending.

WHAT ARE THE BEST CLEARANCE TIMES OF THE YEAR? January and July are the best clearance times of the year to buy furniture. These time periods are extensions of the furniture industry in general. The primary Furniture Market Trade Shows are held in High Point, North Carolina in April and October. Similar to the automobile business when new models come out and clearance events begin. Though not as structured and refined as the car industry, the furniture stores want to clear out the old and look to bring in the new and supposedly fresher items. This provides some great clearance opportunities for you the consumer.

Michael Domeck is a trainer and a mentor working with students from all walks of life. As a Mentor he has become very astute with many different Niches as he has helped his students. As a trainer he has worked with 100’s of students helping them to acheive their dreams. One of his many websites is http://www.homefurnishingsforless.com where you will find more information like this.

Are you looking for that special something to turn your kitchen into a room that dreams are made of? Are you tired of the everyday hum drum, and envision a gourmet kitchen that can be enjoyed by everyone in the family? If so, you can make your dreams come true with Powell furniture.

The Powell brand name of furnishings is one of the most sought after brand of furnishings in the United States. Known for their superior quality and unsurpassed beauty, each piece of Powell furniture brings a little special something to the homes they grace.

First established in 1968, the Powell furniture company has grown to become the country’s leader of home accent furniture. In fact, Powell furniture can be found in 95% of the top 100 furniture retailers’ showrooms.

Powell furniture’s commitment to the stay in pace with the changing lifestyles of customers and continued commitment to customer satisfaction has led to the development of new and innovative products to meet the desire and needs of every customer.

Whether your home is grand and formal or a small country cottage, you are guaranteed to find Powell furnishing that will turn your everyday kitchen into your own little piece of heaven. Spice up your kitchen with Powell bakers racks, kitchen islands, wine cabinets, dining tables and pot racks. Turn that everyday kitchen into the favorite room of the house.

Some of the best selling gourmet Powell kitchen furnishings include styles from all over the spectrum. For instance, the Sierra baker’s rack with hutch is one of Powell furniture’s top sellers. This honey finished rack features beautiful, elegant metalwork finished with a bronze leather glaze, a wine rack, shelves and drawer and cabinet space. It even comes equipped with a special place to store your wineglasses. The professional copper pot rack is also a favorite among consumers. Made with high polished solid copper, this rack is the perfect compliment to any gourmet kitchen.

You can also choose several different pieces from the same collection such as the Provence collection. This collection mirrors the country Mediterranean French style and is breathtaking in its beauty. Finished in antique white, the pieces feature hand distressing and intricately hand carved acanthus leaf designs. You can choose from pieces including dinette sets, center islands, bar stools and counter stools. Any one of these pieces can stand on their own and become an extraordinarily beautiful addition to your space, but when all of the elements are put together, a true gourmet masterpiece is created.

And Powell furniture is affordable. With Powell furniture, don’t expect to pay any more than what you would for fine furnishings of an equal caliber. Depending on your tastes, wants and needs, individual pieces of Powell furniture can start at a few hundred dollars. Of course, higher end and specialty items can be considerably more.

So if you are looking to revamp your entire kitchen décor, or you are just looking for that special piece to tie everything together, Powell furniture may have exactly what you are looking for.

Jennifer Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites such as http://www.GourmetDecorStore.com and http://www.SimplyBenches.com. Her sites offer product and information about furniture and decor for your home and garden.

Parsons chairs are commonly seen in homes around the dining room, adding a simplistic type of elegance. The great thing about using parsons chairs is that their design blends in with just about any home décor. This piece of furniture is considered “transitional” since the elements of its design covers a number or periods to include Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Mission.

Although you will find parsons chairs on the market today made from many different materials, the construction method and design remains much the same – honest and simple while offering charm and sophistication. The other fascinating aspect of parsons chairs is that because it has transitioned down through the years, you will find different elements that capture each period. For example, some parsons chairs have the richness of the Mission period, incorporating an emphasis of line in the design. Then, for the Art Nouveau period, the parsons chairs have more fluidity, a scroll back and a unique quality.

With the Art Deco parsons chairs, these tend to be more ornate and detailed. The materials used are colorful, bold, and often exotic. In fact, some of the more expensive Art Deco parsons chairs will be made from leopard skin and black ebony wood. Keep in mind that while there is a full array of Art Deco chairs, when shopping around for a “true” parsons chair, it will generally include just one small element of the Art Deco period.

As you shop around for parsons chairs, you will be focusing your attention on three elements – the back, legs, and arms. With this type of chair, the back is designed in a number of styles, which includes straight, scrolled, or camel backed. Typically, the straight back falls more in the Arts and Crafts period while the scrolled and camel back go with the Art Nouveau period. For the legs of the parsons chair, these too are seen in a number of designs. As an example, it is common to see the legs turned, tapered, fluted, upholstered, Chippendale, and cabriole. Most of the styles lean toward the Art Nouveau period with the exception of the fluted and Chippendale, falling within the Arts and Crafts.

Finally, the arms on the parsons chair are also unique. Now, keep in mind that there are some of these chairs that have no arms but most do. For those with arms, they would be scrolled, upholstered, or simply plain with exposed wood. Again, most arms come from the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods except the armless chair that goes along with Arts and Crafts.

The thing about the parsons chair is that the design is so varied while still being labeled the same type of chair. For this reason, the parsons chair fits so nicely with any décor. If you love the Mediterranean or French look, the turned or scrolled legs, straight back, and exposed arms works great. If you prefer a more contemporary look, you could have a parsons chair upholstered in leather with fluted legs and no arms. However, if country is your preferred look, then the camel back is perfect. Because of the diversity of the parsons chair, people around the country have incorporated them into their dining room design.

Jennifer Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites such as http://www.GourmetDecorStore.com. Her sites offer product and information about parsons chairs and other furniture and decor for your home or garden.