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Why Antique Dining Tables?

Antique dining tables are one of the most popular pieces of furniture that antique hunters look for. There are many reasons for this, starting with the warm atmosphere a quality table brings to a home. Second, antique dining tables are commonly found for very reasonable prices in comparison to other furniture types, because a dining table in mint condition is almost unheard of. After all, this is one table that has likely seen a lot of use, heard a lot of stories, and watched several generations grow at it’s side.

Formal dining rooms are relatively new, and houses one hundred years ago had a table that was used for not only dining, but also many practical tasks as well. If you find an antique dining table that is quite large, it likely came from the home of wealthy owners who took pride in the status it brought. Because of this, these are the tables that survived the ages and can be found today.

Although some antique tables were constructed of wrought iron, the majority were made of wood. The most common woods used were mahogany, walnut and cherry for the highest quality tables, and pine, oak and cedar for more casual, rustic pieces. The oldest tables that can be found today are trestle tables, which were made of long planks of wood on top of trestles, and originated in the middle Ages. One feature of these tables was that they could be easily dismantled and moved to other places.

Although dining events in present times are enjoyed with everyone at one great table, it hasn’t always been that way. In medieval times, all the invited guests sat together in a large hall, while the host and hostess of the estate sat at a small raised table nearby. But during the 16th century, the host and his family had moved into a separate room! Here, fixed tables were built, and the term “refectory table” was born. These became popular throughout Europe. Dining tables during this period were often heavily carved and ornate.

A century later saw gate-legged tables emerge, where flaps that could be turned under when the table was not being used were designed. Originally, these tables were very large, but over time the size was reduced. As tables moved into the 18th century, they became more slender and refined, and lacked the carving of earlier years.

If you are looking at the rectangular top of an antique refectory table, you should see two to three planks of wood with a wonderful patina that is earned only through age and use. You will know it is a reproduction made of floor board planks if you see signs of filled-in holes. Also, if you see wood dowels, be sure they stand out from the table top surface, as they will not have shrunk as the table will. Also check the legs to note the wear that should be there, leaving edges that are smooth and rounded.

When antique dining tables were made and first used, nobody could have imagined what value they would bring in today’s market. The tables that survived and are enjoyed today were not saved for the investment value they held, but rather because they were useful, practical and represented a level of achievement for the family.…

The Round Extendable Dining Table: The Ideal Purchase For A Growing Family?

There is a common consensus that nothing is more frustrating to a home owner, than the immensely heavy handed task that is redecorating. As the average sized home is equipped with between seven to eight rooms and a reasonable sized hall area; redecorating is a highly time consuming task and can often cost a great deal more than a planned budget allows.

As part of redecorating; new furniture can be an immense strain and with so many longing to beautify their homes to a celebrity standard there comes no surprise as to why purchases are now made with the future in mind. There was once a time where the majority of home owners were more than happy to change their interior design once a year and purchase something new and aesthetically pleasing to improve the appeal of their home however as we now remain locked in a time of financial strain; furniture purchases are now becoming fewer and far between.

Following the 2008 economic decline and the onset of the double dip recession; financial authority figures across the nation have reiterated claims that home management is at breaking point and as costs rise on even the most basic of amenities; it has never been a more difficult time to be a home owner.

Queue the massive boost in flat pack furniture sales as home owners opt for cheap alternatives and sofas, beds and even dining sets are put through the cost efficient test. As every penny is now taken into consideration; family head are now left with no choice but to opt for low cost equipment and nothing is exempt from this and the once crucial dining sets that brought families together at meal times are now too compromised.

As a piece of furniture that caters to the needs of an entire family and can bring people together at meal times and during special occasions; the dining table is now often neglected however for growing families it is often suggested that home owners invest in one table that may cater to a growing family for many years.

A high quality, extendable dining table is considered a great investment and can be sold with minimal dining chairs or extra dining table chairs to cater for a large party. For a growing family; an extendable dining table is often deemed the ideal purchase which, if invested from the right furniture supplier can be a long lasting product that may cater to the needs of a family over many years.

Whether you are a small family with aspirations to grow or are happy with your current status yet love to entertain extended family members and friends; an extendable dining table can be the ultimate solution. Regarded as a nifty little gadget, that can fold over to fit a small area and be extended when needed; there is no reason why such a product can’t be one that stays with you for years and during a time of economic austerity it is safe to state that nobody will really wish to spend money purchasing extra space for a growing family or a particular event; so consider the extendable dining table the answer to all your prayers.…

How to Avoid Kitchen Mistakes

Whether you are planning a large kitchen renovation or a small one, you have to look at kitchen designs to get an idea of what can be done in order to avoid kitchen mistakes. A common kitchen mistake is not planning to have your appliances where they can be reached easily. Professional kitchen designers have found that the three major appliances used by the cook are the refrigerator, stove and sink. The cook moves from one to the other consistently. In fact, the people who professionally make kitchen designs call this the kitchen triangle and design kitchens accordingly. So, when you make your kitchen designs which you should prior to any renovation, do not ignore the kitchen triangle.

Some things in the kitchen we take for granted and forget to plan for them as the kitchen exhaust fan. Do not take for granted that they automatically come with the stove as they do not. Yet, the exhaust fan is important to not only keep the condensation over the stove light but it takes away unpleasant smells and lets in fresh air.

Plan your kitchen, no matter what size so that doorways are not obstructed and that you have a clear path to the dining area. You should place the dishwasher near the sink yet plan the space so that when you unload that dishwasher, you will have easy access to opening the door and putting things away. Your dish and flatware drawers should be near the dishwasher since you do not want to run all around the kitchen to put the dishes, pots and pans and flatware away.

When looking at kitchen designs, take a good hard look at the lighting. One of the most important elements of a good design is the lighting. The kitchen is not just where you will do the cooking but, if it is large enough, the kids will do their homework in the kitchen. You will want to organize things like your cook books and recipes as well as perhaps pay the household bills from the kitchen table and more. All of this requires good lighting. You may want to add track or spot lighting along with halogen and fluorescent lighting in your kitchen designs.

Perhaps one of the most overlooked items in kitchen designs are the outlets. There never seem to be enough or they are all in the wrong places. When you draw your kitchen designs and you know where your appliances will be, you want outlets there and you want outlets for things like the microwave, coffee pots, toasters, crock pots, and other stand alone appliances. Be sure you have enough outlets without overloading. Be sure to incorporate things like the material you want for your countertops, the height of your kitchen countertops, and most of all where will you store all the necessary things to make your kitchen neat. Keep all of the little things in mind when making up or looking at kitchen designs in order to avoid kitchen mistakes that are most common.…