Posted on September 17, 2011
I'm sure you have in your attic or in your garage some old furniture, maybe a table, an armchair or a wardrobe. They look so pathetic, so you think it's time to throw them away. Don't do it. You don't have any idea how precious these can be if you know how to restore them.
In this article, we will give you some simple restoration techniques to revive your old wooden furniture.
For this job you need:
- Belt/disks sander
- Sandpaper
- Solvent
- Wood stain
- Lacquer
- Paintbrushes.
Let's say you have an old wooden table.
First step is to disassemble it in its parts.
Second step is to clean out the old coat of finish that covers the wood.
To take off the old finish coat we will use sandpaper. Sandpaper or glasspaper, is a heavy paper with abrasive material bonded to its surface. On the flat surfaces you can use the sander and for the corners or edges sheets of sandpaper.
Try to take off as much as possible of the old finish that covers the wood. Use for this rough sandpaper. When you think you have brought the wood to its natural condition, check if there are faults as scratches or cracks. Then, with fine sandpaper try to smooth the surfaces. To be sure there are no old spots, use solvent to degrease the wood.
Third step is to apply a coat of stain. It will protect the wood against the weather action and against the mold. The wood must be dry, clean and degrease. The wood stain must be applied in tow coats. Its drying time depends by wood's porosity, ambient temperature and humidity. It will highlight the natural beauty of the wood, it will give decorative finish and it will accentuate the texture of the wood.
After cleaning the old finish and applying the stain, the fourth step is to give the first coat of lacquer.
Some of you can use colored lacquer or transparent one.
Using a paintbrush, follow the wood fibers while applying the lacquer. Go on like this until you cover the entire surface. If you see that, after the drying, there are air bubbles, take fine sandpaper and smooth the surface. Apply another coat of lacquer following its instructions. When you think you have finished, check again if there are no scratches, cracks or air bubbles.
Now it's time to put all together-the fifth step of our job.
When you do any kind of wood works, it's better to do it in an open space because it's a dusty work.
The wood job it's done.
The last- the sixth step -is to restore the tabletop.
Making a mosaic onto it, it will highlight the whole piece of furniture.
For this job you need:
- Tile cutting machine
- Tiles
- Pliers
- Copy paper
- Scissors
- Adhesive
- Grout
- Fiberglass mesh
- Pattern.
Let's start with cleaning the surface.
Posted on September 5, 2011
The first and foremost thing which is noticeable after entering an office is the furniture. It must be impressive and stylish enough so that the onlookers will rave about it. Now-a-days instead of buying new office furniture, there is a trend to go with the used office furniture. One of the reasons to go with the pre-owned furniture is that they are cost-efficient and are also in excellent condition.
The hard earned money must be utilized in a very wise way. And to fulfill the same, it is advisable to go for an option in which things can be hired at cheap rates without compromising with the quality. While considering its cost-effectiveness, many companies are relying on used furniture while setting up their new offices.
There are different styles of used office furniture present in the market. Among those, the two main styles which are commonly used are bay-style and cubicle style, which can be installed accordingly as per the requirement. The only thing required is to stay alert for the right values for particular furniture.
Comparing the price is also very much important and those who are prudential at any point of time can understand this concept fully. Before going through any of the acquisition decision, there must be proper research work and evaluation of used and new furniture so that the product must be as per the expectations. Until getting the full confidence that the used office furniture is available at the best price, it must not be purchased.
Purchasing the used office furniture is a good attempt in order to keep the environment green. And as it is the foremost duty of citizens to keep their environment healthy, they will indirectly be taking part in keeping their environment safe. If there are upgradations in the office or even closing down of the business, there must be a proper approach so that the furniture can be sold out.
The used furniture is available in various styles like wooden furniture, plastic furniture and can be picked up as per the needs of the office. Customers can have them in versatile colors, designs, cloth etc by providing them multiple options. Maintenance is one more factor which is highly responsible for the long life of the furniture and will require least repairs if the furniture is handled carefully.
Posted on August 31, 2011
Living Room Furniture:
A living room is often the focal point of a home. This room contains the comfortable, relaxing furniture, the television and is where the family gathers after meals to relax. Therefore, you should choose the furniture carefully, taking into consideration comfort, upkeep and accommodation.
Consider size:
The larger the room, the larger and possibly more pieces of living room furniture you will need. The current trend is a corner sofa that lines the walls of your living room. This is comfortable and convenient; a person can lie down on it or it can seat many guests if you have a function in your home.
Many of these corner sofas come equipped with recliners on the ends and cup holders as well. Another popular choice is to combine sofas with individual recliners. This way, family members and guests can choose to sit together or space out. A good way to organize them is to have two sofas in an L-shape with a comfortable recliner between them.
Consider upkeep:
Do you have small children or pets in your home? If you do, try to purchase upholstered furniture as opposed to leather. Leather is harder to maintain and small rips and tears diminish the overall appearance of the furniture. Upholstered furniture, however, can easily be brushed and steam cleaned often to remove pet hair and other dirt and stains. Leather is also more expensive than upholstered furniture.
Consider comfort:
Your living room furniture should be very comfortable and tailored to your taste. Shop around and try out a variety of thicknesses and textures before making your purchase. Again, upholstered furniture tends to be more comfortable than leather, which tends to get hot and sticky in the summer and cold in the winter.
Consider style and colour:
Make sure to choose a colour that fits with the existing decor of your living room. Although living room furniture constitutes the main theme of your living room, make sure the colour also matches well with your carpeting and wall colours. A good idea might be to pair bright colours with neutrals. For example, if you have neutral walls and carpets, like beige, choose a colour for your furniture like olive green or maroon, depending on your taste.
Consider your budget:
Decide on a price range before you start shopping for your living room furniture. This will make it much easier to narrow down your choices, which can seem overwhelming. Also, be sure to shop around to find the best deals. Do not think that you have to restrict yourself to a high-end furniture showroom. Nowadays, you can shop online and find huge discounts.
Accentuate your furniture:
If you decide that you need other furniture, like a coffee table or end tables, be sure to shop for these too. You should invest in solid wood furniture that matches well with your existing decor. Choose light coloured wood, like oak, for an open, airy feel and darker wood, like cherry, for a more dramatic edgy feel.