The Evolution of English Furniture From Antique to Modern Furniture

The two main influences on the development of furniture were the materials available and customer demand for ever-changing fashion.

16th Century Furniture – If you visit any antique shop or auction, a large quantity of surviving antiques are furnishings. Furniture made even 500 years ago is very durable, and often has a distinct style about it. Fine craftsmanship was always admired and in demand, so furniture began to pass through the generations accruing in value right up to the present day.

Originally oak was the main timber used in Elizabethan times. Furniture was heavy and serviceable, with bulbous legs, and chairs were either turned or wainscoted. Benches were very common at refectory-style tables. The beds were 4-poster beds with heavy drapes to keep out the draughts, with a canopy and carved posts.

17th and 18th Century Progress – Later, in the 17th century, the ornamentation became flatter, and as the bustles of ladies’ dresses appeared, so chairs changed to accommodate them too. Chests gave way to chests of drawers and furniture became more gracious, refined and decorative.

As Charles II ascended the English throne he wanted his court to emulate the fine furnishings that were in vogue in France and Holland. Talented craftsmen produced ornate furniture to please the extravagant taste of Louis XIV and his successors. Typically the furniture had gilded mounts and was beautifully decorated with carving and small moldings. Even today, the French influence is very obvious in furniture. Generally French-style cabinets are curved in shape and beautifully decorated with carved moldings and trims along the front, and down the elegant S-shaped legs.

These distinct styles and skills were copied and honed back in England. Rooms were smaller, so the furniture was scaled down, and as Queen Anne came to the throne in the early 1700’s the Queen Anne chair was developed. With curving lines and comfortable upholstery, this chair style is still popular today.

20th Century onwards (modern furniture) – As time passed finer woods were found and used – walnut with its whorled patterns; mahogany with its red-brown colour; cherry; and rosewood with its distinctive dark streaks. In the later 20th century, teak and pine gave way to different materials, which brought new possibilities to challenge traditional designs.

Chrome, PVC, plastic and glass are some of the exciting materials used in many colours to create modern bar stools, kitchen furniture, shelving and modern office furniture. Laminating steam-bent timber brought costs down and raised new designs in chairs and tables. The armchairs and chaises-lounge of the past became sprung sofas with padded cushioning in a range of textiles that were unthinkable before.

Progress has brought change, but newest and boldest does not suit every home. There is still a place in the Victorian properties, which many of us call home, to furnish in the grander styles of yesteryear.

By: Gill Crawley

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It’s very possible to provide your little girl with her very own Disney Princess Bed Canopy to snuggle up in at night time. There is a vast range of superb bedding range in all types of colors, designs, patterns and prices available to create the perfect haven for your little girl. In other words, you can transform a seemingly ordinary bed into a spectacular Disney Princess bed.

All children tend to imagine themselves somehow associated with their favourite characters. This is why a Disney Princess bed canopy is a wonderful choice for any little girl who likes to dream of being a little Princess. Such products come in all varieties, sizes and prices. For example, it’s possible to get a spectacular four poster bed canopy that lights up. Wow, that sounds like an amazing fairy tale!

It’s also possible to purchase a Disney Princess bed canopy that depicts an exciting carriage with patterns and designs of the Disney Princesses adorning it.

The type of canopy you choose is determined by the type of design and preference you desire in a product. Regardless of this, you can be sure that it is possible to purchase a Disney Princess Canopy that is affordable and pleasing to any little girl.

Whatever type of bedding product you choose, you can be sure there are plenty of choices on offer with great ideas to accompany them. However, choosing a Disney Princess Bed Canopy is probably the ultimate choice when deciding to purchase a product to capture the enchanting environment of a Disney Princess.

By: Andrea Scott

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When you think of romance in the home, there is no better room to bring this to life than through bedroom furniture. After all, the bedroom is supposed to the most romantic room in the house. How you decorate your bedroom can take the romance to the next level.

Many romantic legends harken back to early Rome. Women wore flowing outfits with flowers woven into their hair. The architecture was beautiful and clean; white marble pillars, handsome flowers and vines growing out of urns. Why not turn your bedroom into a Roman escape so you not only take a step into the boudoir but also a step back in time.

The centerpiece of any bedroom furniture set is the bed. When creating an early Roman theme you will need to make sure to put a bed in place that captures the essence of this place in time. The headboard should look as if it were carved in marble. While there are marble headboards out there they are expensive and heavy, so a little faux painting can reach the same effect. Additionally, you should consider a four-poster bed that replaces the posts with pillars. When it comes to the bedding you are going to choose for the bed, think crisp colors. Often white is chosen as the color of choice to make the bed look even cleaner. The other option is to choose something that has a more flowered appearance. When done right, the bed will look like it came right out of an ancient Roman palace.

When it comes to the rest of your bedroom furniture, the selection for the bed should be a guide. Often, distressed white woods are chosen, or again, pieces that look as if they could have been made of marble.

Next are the accents. Many people get lost when it comes time to accent bedroom furniture. They think, this is supposed to be a traditional space, how do you accent it well? Start simple. In this case, think of those pillars around the bed. They can be easily dressed up with sheer canopies draped between them. While you have that sheer material out, put some of it over your windows, creating wispy curtains.

Next, don’t forget Rome appreciated the beauty of nature. Bring some of that inside. No, we are not talking about putting a garden in your bedroom, but instead, some fake ivy creeping down the pillars around the bed, or other pieces of bedroom furniture, or out of the corner of the room. Maybe you can find some urns that would look as if they could have carried water in Roman times. These could be a beautiful accent piece in one corner, with vines crawling out of them as well. You may even be able to find a statue of a Roman goddess or two to bring into the mix.

Next, appreciate your walls. Paintings of ancient Rome, flowers and the like will make a great addition and help to complete the look of your room.

While your project is underway, remember to have fun. That’s what it’s all about. This is supposed to be a space that has some of your personality and life in it. Enjoy the creative process.

By: Jennifer Akre

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Children’s beds are an important part of your child’s room. Furniture gets to be of high significance when it comes to decorate a child’s room because it has not only style but it should be comfort as well. Beds are very important in this regard. These furniture items should be wisely selected if you ant to make your children happy about the way their room looks. There are certain types of beds which can be looked for while going to buy a bed for your child’s room. You child is going to spend the whole span of night on this very piece of furniture, so it needs to be comfortable and stylish both.

While going to buy a bed for your child, the very first step that you should take is to ask for the interests of your child if she or he is old enough to want things the way he or she likes. On the behalf of the younger ones, you can take the decision on your own but those who are sensible enough to know what they like and how should their room look like are to be asked before you set out to buy a child bed. You can take that child with you as well so that he or she can choose according to his or her own personal liking.

Beds that are meant for a child’s room tend to be of different types. It can be the Bunk Bed that is known for creating a spacious view of the room. Many such parents, who have two children usually, tend to go for bunk beds because these are two beds being placed vertically. It takes far less space than the twin beds. In case you have one child, bunk beds still be very useful as these can be used to a guest child as well. There are different types of bunk beds like double bed below a single bed or an L shaped bunk bed.

Stacker beds are another preferred type of children beds. These beds are two single beds that get to be stacked together effectively on the top of each other. Trundle beds are those which come with elaborated four posters under which, there is a low wooden bed. These types of beds tend to be very helpful if you are looking for a spare bed for children’s guests. Cabin beds are also a famous type of bed being selected for a child’s bedroom. These are like a wooden bed frame being on the top of a set of four drawers or chests. You can keep your child’s stuff in those drawers and chests. Loft beds are also very famous as they get to be raised from the ground and the space left below can be used for string your child’s toys, books etc.

Children beds come in different types and these different types of children beds are to be selected in accordance with the demand of the room, your child’s interest and requirement.

By: Hamza Ejaz

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Your little baby is growing up fast! It seems just like yesterday you were putting together a crib. Now, your child is ready for the next stage of life. You should consider purchasing a bunk bed. With a little research, a quality bed can last your child all the way through college. Plus, as everyone knows, they’re a great space-saver. With so many design options, it’s easy way to maximize the space you have, while making everyone in your family happy.

If you do consider purchasing a bunk bed, you will want to consider the future uses for your child. Is this just a short-term purchase? Are you planning on having more children? Are you looking to sell the beds in a few years? No matter what, there are many quality choices available. Like all types of furniture, they are available in a wide variety of prices and styles. Your most important feature when shopping should be safety, not cost.

Since bunk beds can be used immediately after a child outgrows a crib, you may wish to separate them first, and then stack them later. Plan to spend at least $350 for a safe, sturdy bed. Remember, this is an investment that could be used throughout your child’s life. The main difference between a cheap bunk bed and an expensive one is the amount of detail and materials used in the main safety features: the guardrails and the ladder.

There are industry standards for bunk beds. For instance, the top bunk must have two guardrails; your online dealer can advise you of other industry requirements. Bring your child along if you are shopping in a showroom, your dealer usually will have a “test” set up so you can see if your child can navigate the ladder safely. Most kids, after a little coaching, do just fine.

The safety issue surrounding bunk beds cannot be stressed enough. Although many children each year receive medical treatment from injuries sustained from misuse, most could have been avoided through better supervision and communication. There is something so enticing about being in the top bunk, but please remember to let your children know the safety risks of jumping.

If you don’t think your child is ready for the stacked bunk beds, you could always separate the beds until you feel they are ready. Later, when your circumstances change, you can separate the beds again.

By: Don Vanpelt

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The introduction of the memory foam mattress in the 1990s has been the biggest revolution in bedding in over 50 years. The Tempur-Pedic mattress was the original and is still the best. However, some customers have some issues with this new type of bed mattress. Here are some of the main problems and how they can be rectified.

First off, what is a memory foam mattress? It’s a bed mattress that’s made using special material called viscoelastic foam. It differs significantly from ordinary polyurethane foam. The cell structure in viscoelastic is open, which means air can pass from one air bubble to the next. So, rather than the air being squashed down and compressed when pressure is applied, air is squeezed out into adjoining air bubbles. Also, viscoelastic is temperature sensitive; the warmer it is the more it yields. The open cell structure and its ability to react to body temperature is what makes it special; because it conforms to the exact shape of the sleeper it distributes weight evenly and prevents pressure points.

The Tempur-Pedic mattress was the first such mattress. It’s the market leader and sets the standard that other manufacturers try to emulate. Not all memory foam is equal. Each manufacturer has its own ’secret recipe’ but no other company has yet produced a mattress that matches Tempur-Pedic, in terms of support, comfort and durability.

However, there are some issues with its mattress – to be fair, these issues relate to all memory foam mattresses, no matter who makes them.

Many complain that the mattress is firmer than they thought it would be. Oftentimes, a customer will try it out in the store, like it but then find when they sleep on it at home, it feels firmer. This is because the mattress in the store has been ‘broken in’ from many customers trying it out. Within a few weeks of sleeping on one at home the mattress will soften. One tip is to unzip the cover and sleep directly on the mattress; this will help speed up the softening process.

Another complaint is that there is an unpleasant odor. All polyurethane based mattresses emit some odor when new. The odor will subside after a few weeks.

There’s much talk of memory foam mattresses ‘cooking’ the sleeper. While it may sleep warmer than a traditional innerspring mattress, it sleeps cooler than conventional foam. Many manufacturers, including Tempur-Pedic, have now introduced a layer of convoluted high-density foam in the mattress to help increase air circulation and to ‘whisk away’ heat. If you still feel too warm, simply changing the bedding can make all the difference. Also, taking off the mattress cover can help – the cover contains a moisture barrier membrane that can block heat escape.

Talking of temperature, many who sleep in colder rooms have reported that the mattress doesn’t soften up enough. It’s certainly true that if room temperature goes below about 68 degrees, the mattress can remain somewhat firm. If you do like to sleep in a cold room, the use of an electric heating blanket before getting into bed will soften it up.

Finally, if you’re still unsure about buying a Tempur-Pedic mattress, it may help you to know that the company has one of the best returns policies of any manufacturer; its trial period is lengthy and the return charges are very reasonable.

However, there’s only one way to know if it’s the best bed mattress for you and that’s to go to a store and try it out. Also, if you can, compare it against another brand of memory foam mattress.

By: Robin Cassidy

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Bunk beds are a great way to open up a room and give it more space. Because the beds are stacked, it makes sharing a room with siblings more comfortable, and children enjoy the fun of sleeping and playing on them too. Whether you’re buying bunkbeds for boys, girls, or both, you’ll have a lot of fun shopping for the them, as there are so many different bed styles to choose from.

In this article, we’ll discuss the various types of bunk bed styles and types. This helpful guide will help you select the right bed for your home.

Themed bunk beds are a fun way to liven up any child’s room. There’s a themed bed for just about any bedroom theme. Girls would enjoy sleeping on a Princess themed bunk bed, or one designed to resemble a cottage home. Boys would have fun with a military themed bed with full on camouflage, or a space ship themed bed for the little astronaut in your life!

Metal bunk beds are available in a variety of colors that will coordinate with any bedroom style. Some metal beds are even manufactured to accommodate two different sized mattresses. An older child can have a full or double bed on the bottom, while a smaller child can sleep on the twin mattress up top. A ladder is molded right into the metal, making it a permanent fixture to the bed.

Triple bunk beds are a very unique way of freeing up space in a room. Like a traditional bunk bed, they are stacked on top of one another, and are the perfect solution for a crowded bedroom. Triple bunkbeds are typically made of wood, and have the ladder stretching up the side of the bed to make entrance easy for all sleepers.

Loft bunk beds are lifted up off the ground and are designed to provide a space underneath where a desk, dresser, or play things can be placed. Children enjoy having a small space they can call their own, and the area underneath a loft bed is perfect for this purpose.

L-shaped bunk beds are unlike any other, because the bed frames are not connected. One bed can slide freely, in and out of the space below, while another bed is stacked on top, built on a frame to sit above ground. This type of bunk bed will still provide plenty of space in the bedroom, but offers a unique way to enjoy a traditional bunk bed.

Modern and wacky style bunk beds are a lot of fun, and will turn any bedroom into a play room. Select from amusing styles such as adventure playground bed, medieval castle, regal four poster with canopies and much more.

By: Delma Stewart

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Christmas is coming and for many pet owners, they are tired of buying doggie treats as pet gifts and wrapping them for Christmas…

What about treating them to some beautiful log furniture that will not only give them the style they deserve but will also give you as the owner, something beautiful as rustic room decor!

Who thought only humans deserve to sleep in style and comfort?

No wonder our pets want to jump into bed with us all the time. We have these beautiful rustic log beds ( or ANY style bed for that matter) and expect our most trusted friends to sleep on a mat on the floor.

It is time to give them the dignity they deserve, whether they are a small half pounder or weigh over a hundred pounds. Doesn’t matter because with most rustic log stuff , it is sturdy and well built.

It doesn’t have to be log, either… but that just happens to be some of the most sturdy pet beds around and they are rustic so they compliment almost any style of home furnishings.

So… how about it? Can’t wait till Christmas to give it to them. Don’t worry, they don’t know what the calendar says – all they know is that the month they get all those fancy doggie treats and pet gifts ends with ‘er’…

I think you can actually get a pet water dish and food dish set made out of logs as well….so there you go.

You just saved yourself a trip to Petco!

By: Viola Bontrager

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Shopping for a new bedroom set can be a very time consuming process, considering you have to travel from store to store to compare prices and view inventories. However, shopping from a quality online merchant specializing in bedrooms allows customers to view full inventories and offered products, read detailed descriptions about each set and compare prices. Another added benefit when purchasing a bed online is the ability to shop in a hassle-free environment. There are no salesmen trying to persuade you to purchase something you are not interested in and online merchants do not work for commissions.

The first step toward purchasing a new bedroom set is to inventory your lifestyle and see what you require. Does your bedroom have a limited amount of closet space? If so, perhaps a bedroom set that includes a bed with storage drawers is a good choice. Likewise, if your room is smaller, having tall, narrow furniture items can help solve storage needs. Smaller rooms require minimally-sized furniture, so tall, four poster beds and large chests may not be an optimal fit.

Another choice online shoppers have to make relates to bed styles. When inventorying your room, does it have a certain style or theme you would like to keep? For example, rooms with country-themed décor would coordinate well with wooden beds in pine finishes. Other décor suggestions include incorporating sleigh beds in lodge-themed rooms, adding a leather bed into a masculine-themed room, and including a wrought-iron style bed into an antique-filled room. Carefully examine your overall decorating tastes to ensure your bed complements, and does not compete with, your desired décor.

A bedroom set can also be customized to include mix and match pieces. Start with a bed and then add a mattress and individual furniture pieces like armoires, nightstands and vanities. Complete the look with comforter sets and artwork. Because each set is unique, twin full, queen, king and California king beds can replicate a room’s desired look at any sized scale. Bedroom sets – whether sold as complete packages or separate pieces – provide design, storage and sizing options perfect for everyone’s needs.

After finding the perfect bedroom set, one of the best benefits associated with online purchases is the ability to find hidden discounts. Sometimes, merchants advertise online only specials on their websites. These can include special closeout pricing on select furniture items and online coupon codes. Even better, many offer free standard shipping with every order. Delivery options vary from company to company, but one of the best delivery services buyers should look for is known as White Glove Delivery. This service includes room placement, furniture setup and removal of delivery boxes.

Paying for a new bedroom set should be an easy task. Getting discounts, free shipping and everyday low prices is helpful, and when it comes to checkout, having a variety of payment options makes furniture purchases less stressful. While many retailers accept major credit cards, customer-focused sites go one step further and accept PayPal. This allows shoppers to pay with credit cards, PayPal balances or bank withdrawals/PayPal transfers. Moreover, if after completing a purchase a shopper finds a lower price for the exact same item in new condition, a quality site will offer a price match guarantee.

Investing in a bedroom set is a major purchase designed to last many years. Be sure to inventory your needs, available room space and furniture options before making a final decision. From sets designed to coordinate with your decorating tastes to functional storage pieces, purchasing a bedroom set online is the perfect stress-free way to create or remodel any bedroom.

By: Andy West

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You can look forward to first class services in London’s four star hotels. From tasty cafes to trendy bedrooms and plush spas, a day or two in a 4 star hotel is a fabulous way to spoil yourself in London.

The Crowne Plaza London is a fabulous four star hotel in the middle of London’s trendy Shoreditch. With today’s styling al through its one-hundred and ninety-six luxurious rooms, the hotel also has its very own fitness club and sauna. If you’re visiting London on work, the hotel’s 4 star amenities consist of conference rooms and it is to be found right next to the City of London.

In the centre of one of London’s trendiest villages, Cannizaro House is a charming house on Wimbledon Common. With a well-merited 4 star rating, the hotel makes for a spectacular stay in London.

Situated in South London on the bank of the River Thames, Riverbank Park Plaza is a 4 star hotel with 5 star views! The hotel looks out over some of London’s most prominent landmarks, for instance Big Ben and the River Thames. Business travellers are well catered for with several of the most astonishing conference rooms in the City.

With its incredible central London location, The Cavendish London is a luxurious 4 star hotel that is ideal for theatre admirers. Right in the heart of London’s West End, you can watch a show prior to dining at the hotels prize-winning restaurant.

A favourite hangout of London’s visiting celebs, the 4 star K West Hotel & Spa has its very own gymnasium, bar and indulgent health spa. Just a few minutes walk from the stylish stores and bars of Kensington High Street, this central hotel merges four star luxuries with convenience, so it is the perfect way to experience London.

Step back in time with a trip to the four star Richmond Gate Hotel, a number of elegant 18th century buildings at the top of Richmond Hill. The hotel has marvelous views over London and is the height of 4 star luxury, with 4-poster beds in some rooms and top-notch restaurant.

By: Danilo Sigillo

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