Marks of Quality Leather

Leather is the fastest growing upholstery material in the United States. Leather has an average life span four times greater than fabric coverings.

Top Grain vs. Full Grain: “Top Grain” leather is the top 3/64” of a hide. Because of its strength and beauty, this supple layer is the standard of upholstery leather.

Occassionally, top grain leathers are buffed or sanded to remove excess markings. This process also removes the beautiful natural graining found in leather.

Oh the other hand, “full grain” leather is a top grain hide which has not been buffed or sanded. The grain and natural markings, which many consider the hallmarks of fine leather, remain. Because it is the most beautiful and sensuous of all top grain leathers, “full grain” leather is the premier leather grade.

Cattle Lead an Unsheltered Life: Cattle encounter a variety of nature’s elements in their search for food. Grazing often brings the animals in contact with trees, bushes and barbed wire which can leave scratches and scars on the hide.

With the economy in its current state, the public has become very cautious about spending. So in some ways it is not surprising to hear some of the color predictions for the year of 2010.  With people wanting to stay home more, their desire to select more uplifting, pulsating colors has increased.

So what are some of the colors that are hot for this year? Teal, Peacock, and Royal blue are on the palette. With people trying to spend wisely they are purchasing furniture that is timeless and in neutral colors. However an inexpensive way to brighten a space at a lower cost is through bright colors in paint and accessories. These blues were predicted for this year because of the way in which the blues compliment the oranges of 2009. The economy and our spirits may be down, however selecting bright colors tends to lend peace and happiness into our hectic lives.

If blue isn’t your scene there are a few more color palettes that might interest you more. Another surprising color is Purple/Lavender. It is suggested that layering purple, lavender and maroon creates a great contrast. Then to accessorize with metallics such as throws, tabletop pieces, or artwork will create a new visual vibe with purple. And if purple just isn’t quite you-for the romantics pink is also a hot color for the year. Deep pinks layered with pastel pinks can create a very warm sophisticated space. Looking for accessories with metallics and furniture pieces with sharp edges and smooth lines will compliment the pinks.

For those that still want to keep on the safe side with neutral hues, soft greens are a great way to go. Reminiscent of the environmental greens, soft diluted greens with similar value soft yellows create a serene environment. To add a little spice to the space, add a pastel turquoise or robin egg blue to the mix to give you a layered palette to work with. Furniture, accessories, art or lighting are all items that can be used for layering. Accessorizing with muted brushed metallics, deep woods and wrought iron complete the natural looking space.

We have some links that may help in your color selection.

http://www.benjaminmoore.com

Upload your own pics and see how Sherwin-Williams colors will look in your space!

http://www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/paint_colors/visualizer/

Pantone provides tips according to the mood you are interested in conveying in your space.

http://www.pantone.com

With home entertainment, there is an emphasis on the want for a unit that displays all of the electronic components in a stylish and attractive way. We have some tips that might help in the planning and shopping experience for a home entertainment unit.

The first step is to take a good look at all of the electronics and items that compose your home entertainment system. Make sure you note the width of your television and the base that it rests on. You definitely want a unit that is as wide or wider than your television. Also keep in mind that most TVs weigh 75-150 pounds while receivers and multi-disc changers can weigh up to 40 pounds. Look for furniture that includes structural supports and that all glass is tempered. Make a list of all of the items that will be housed in the unit. For example, DVD, CD player, cable box, DVR, gaming console, center-channel speaker, sound bar, subwoofer, or media storage, just to name a few. Also keep in mind room for additional spots as your system may grow.

When shopping for your design style, natural wood finishes fit well with traditional and contemporary styles. Steel, glass, and gloss finishes provide a contemporary look for a space. The home theater furniture can be one of the biggest pieces of furniture in the room and often times can set the tone of the space.

Another feature to keep in mind is whether you want your system closed or open. Open shelving will put your theater system on display giving a contemporary appearance and allowing easy access to the front components. An enclosed cabinet allows the system to stay cleaner but make sure there is plenty of room for the pieces to stay ventilated as they create a lot of heat. The enclosed cabinet also allows the TV to be the star of the space.

Keep in mind where you want the unit to be placed in the room before shopping. Corner TV cabinets or models that swivel make a smart use of space. Think about how the TV will be viewed, whether it is from a sofa, desk, or in the bedroom. When positioning the TV, make sure it is at eye level to minimize neck strain. Most sofas sit people 18-22 inches off of the floor, placing the eye level at 40-48 inches. In the bedroom or office, the TV should be higher to raise it for a seated position or to be viewed above the foot of the bed.

When searching for features, look for adjustable shelves so that your unit can change over time as necessary. Always have easy access to the rear of your components and connections. Also keep a look out for wheels for easy movement and/or removable back panels to help with maintenance.

The best home theater management system has an integrated wire management system that allows you to interconnect your components while keeping the cables controlled and out of site. And don’t forget a glass front on the unit so that you can close the doors and still use your remote control.

Hopefully some of these suggestions will better help you in your search for your home entertainment system. One of our companies that we have always been very happy with has some tools online that can be really helpful in your search. Visit http://www.bdiusa.com/compare/search.php and it will help you select models that would fit your needs.

Is the thought of selecting lighting overwhelming and unappealing? We have a few tips that could make the process a little bit easier.

When looking for lighting you need to decide what type of lighting will best serve the space. Is the lighting for ambience (mood lighting), task (such as reading or computer work), direct lighting for highlighting an art piece, or general lighting?

The next step before purchasing lighting is understanding the terminology when it comes to A19, CFL, fluorescent, incandescent and LED. Understanding these terms will help in the decision process in cost, convenience and color of light. The lighting company Sylvania has a great website to review some of these tips. www.sylvania.com

To begin the lighting palette it is good to start with ambient lighting. This is your general lighting. It is the overall light that illuminates the space. This is composed of  recessed, table and floor lamps. The type of bulb that is selected determines the mood of the space.

Incandescent lighting-best described as the standard-A19 lamps, creates a warm glow in a space. LEDs (light emitting diode) and CFL’s (compact fluroescents) are great alternatives for the A19. They can be used in a variety of fixtures such as chandeliers, ceiling fans, recessed lights and bathroom vanities. They work will with dimmer switches and 3-ways lamps which are a great way to cut back on energy usage and cost. CFL’s also create a warm, white light for any space. I have used CFLs at home in table lamps and outdoor lighting and they have lasted for a year. Below are some additional benefits to CFLs.

CFL’s:

• Provide the same amount of light as an ordinary bulb, but uses about 75 percent less energy
• Generate approximately 75 percent less heat, cutting home cooling costs
• Last up to 10 times longer than a standard incandescent bulb
• Saves about $30 in energy costs over each bulb’s lifetime.
• (Source: ENERGY STAR®)

According to the website www.greenfeet.com, one 20 Watt CFL (replaces a 75 Watt incandescent bulb) will save you $66 dollars over the life of  the bulb (based on $.12 KWH). Replace one 100 Watt incandescent bulb with a 25 Watt CFL and save a whopping $74 dollars over the life of the bulb (hey – that’s 21 extra Mocha Latte’s).

LEDs can also be a cost effective and earth friendly alternative as well. LEDs run on an electronic chip. They are energy efficient because they consume less power by reducing the load on the electrical system. They are a low voltage light however they are rated for 100,000 hours. Incandescent lights are rated for only 3,000 hrs. LEDs are also attractive because they produce little, if any heat and can be left on for hours.

Fluorescent lights illuminate larger areas because they can achieve a higher illumination level than incandescent. Fluorescents also last 6 times longer than incandescent (A19) lamps. Fluorescent lighting does not give off heat which could help with heat savings. The only downside to fluorscent lighting is that they do flicker at times and create a low humming noise.

There are alot of options to consider when looking at lamps and what effect they have on a space. However, the more you become familiar with lamps and the type of light they emit , the more likely you are to find the pieces that will give you the desired effect you want and need.

Task lighting is as it states, it is used for a specific purpose to get a job done. A desk lamp is a perfect example of task lighting.

Direct lighting is what is selected to highlight artwork or items in the home creating a centralized focus on the pieces.

Houseworks has a large selection of unique lighting that meets todays aesthetic and energy efficient needs. Our sales people will be glad to answer any questions you may have and help you in making the decisions you need for your space.

If you are like most people, your vision of a home office is quite different then what currently resides at your residence. Piles of bills sprinkled amongst more piles of “I’ll get to that later” papers. The thought of looking for something on your desk is enough to give you a migraine and the hopes that the maid will magically appear and organize your collection.

Although we cannot claim to change habits, we may be able to help with some ideas for home offices. What is amazing about the pieces that we carry is the ability to customize them to fit your specific needs.

The Sequel Desk is comfortable & inviting. Designed with an emphasis on ergonomics and organization, Sequel Office is a versatile and beautiful component collection offering the ultimate in style, function and flexibility for any home or small office application.

• Magnetically attached panels conceal power cords and cables, yet flip down for easy access
• The Return ships with a front panel only, however the Desk also includes a back panel that may be used with either the Desk or Return
• Desk drawer combines a full featured keyboard tray w/ a unique deeper compartment engineered for charging cell phones, cameras, & other personal electronics.
• Cables are kept organized with Sequel’s innovative wire management.
• Drawer bottom & keyboard tray lined with black, non-slip neoprene that also functions as a mouse pad.

Custom Features without Custom Prices!

	Desks are available in small, medium, large and extra large.
	A wide selection of shapes fit any room.
	Made with real wood veneer and solid wood edging.
	Recessed modesty panel.
	Choice of base including metal legs or wood panels.
	Wire management solutions.
	Accessories include keyboard holder.

It is interesting to watch shopping trends and how they fluctuate from the types of stores that people enjoy. We have spent many years shopping at the large chain stores. In this everyone has the same look as their neighbor. However the trend has started to change back where people are shopping at local specialty stores.

The items carried at the specialty stores are unique from the rest. Each piece in the store is custom selected by the owner or a small group of people who have come to know their customers and the styles that are the most popular. This gives the customer the opportunity to select what they want with being able to customize their home with different upholstery options, accessories, and lighting that you will not find at the chain stores.

Another great trait about shopping local is the value of putting money back into the local economy.

Shopping Locally has several benefits:

• For every $1 spent, 45 cents is put back into your local economy
• (non-local purchases only contribute fifteen cents to your local community)

• Helps keep more jobs in the community

• Helps keep prices lower in the area

• Develop a working relationship with the same staff that greet you by name and remember your styles and tastes=better value

• More tax dollars are used for schools and roads in your community

• Cause you to travel less and spend less money

• Continues to maintain and/or create a distinctiveness to your town/community

• There is a good reason that Houseworks has been in business for 25 years because it continues to provide Quality, Style and Service that customers appreciate and value

Source:  http://www.thinkshopbuylocal.com/

When looking for furniture the ultimate question appears when deciding on the upholstery, leather or fabric? There is a lot to be said about leather and its qualities. Leather has always held the status of being more expensive and creates the worry of whether it will withstand the test of children and pets. We may have some tips that would set these myths at ease.

One of the outstanding lines of leather furniture that is offered at Houseworks is American Leather. With a diverse selection of colors and grades of leather you are bound to find a combination of these factors that fit your wallet and taste.

Busting the myths about Leather

• Leather is a low maintenance product

• Under normal usage/conditions, regular dry-cloth dusting and vacuum cleaning in crevices or along the bottom is all that is necessary to clean your furniture.

• The use of a good leather conditioner is recommended every 6-12 months.

• Protect your furniture from sun and direct light. Like any upholstery material, leather can fade to some degree if exposed to the sun.

• Although it is a mixed opinion on whether Leather is a green product new methods are in place in how leather is manufactured.

• Leather is a sustainable product-it is biodegradable and is not processed with any chemicals that are harmful to the earth

• Leather beauty increases with age

• Leather lasts four times longer than fabric

• It is a natural, breathable material, making it cool in the summer and warm in the cool months

• Distinctive marks on the leather are natural markings and show character-these do not indicate flaws in the product-Rather highlighting the integrity and beauty of a natural product

• American Leather offers two types of Eco Leather
  • Elmo Soft-Swedish full top grain, know for its supple hand and no visible natural markings. With an even heavier protection, this leather has an organic, contract-grade finish that withstands heat and fire testing
  • Eco-taken from Northern European hides, uses a chrome-free process for a soft, natural feel, free of chemicals. Eco leathers are best know for their use in cars such as Bentley and Ferrari-Vroooom!

  

Everyone has heard about green-so much to the point it makes you green in the face. However, Green is here to stay and for many good reasons. As a consumer, it is very important to understand the meaning of Green washing. Each individual plays an important role in every purchase that they make. There are some companies that are taking advantage of this responsibility. Many companies use tactics such as environmental images and phrases on their packaging to make the consumer think they are doing something great for the environment. However it is knowing the correct facts about how the product was produced and its long term affects on human health that are important.

When looking for furniture-these same green washing tactics are used. It is the responsibility of the consumer to ask questions to make sure they are making the right decisions. Our physical well-being is affected by the finishes and furnishes that we select for our homes.

According to Furniture World magazine, Furniture is the third largest user of wood products. The carbon emissions that are produced for these woods to be deforested cause 25% of carbon pollutants. It is very important to look for furniture that has the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) stamped on the wood used. This indicates that there was responsible use of forest resources used for the furniture.

Another barrier in the furniture buying process is looking at the finishes on the furniture pieces. Varnish, lacquers and shellac are listed as natural finishes however they contain thinners with Volatile Organic Compounds. These are the compounds that are being lowered and removed from paint because of the off gassing into the air that we breathe in our homes and work. Looking for finishes that have a water base contain fewer harmful solvents and reduce your exposure to harmful vapors.

When looking for products that you can trust in sustainable practices Houseworks suggests Copeland. We have included a video that really describes the heart of the company and why it is a trusted company in the industry. Stop in our store and experience yourself as well.

Copeland Furniture

There are several companies that Houseworks is proud to carry in the store.  Ecofoam is a brand of mattress that we carry that is made from bamboo. Bamboo is a sustainable product. When the ecofoam mattress is made it produces no carbon emissions and it is biodegradable. It is packaged using minimalist practices to help keep the waste factor down. Our customers have compared the ecofoam mattress to other large, major brands and said that Ecofoam far surpasses competitors promoted benefits. The comfort of the mattresses from Ecofoam is beyond belief! Below are some comments from our customers who have purchased the ecofoam mattress.

“Hi David,

I have to say- I love this mattress!! Since I bought this bed, I have slept like a baby every night!! I no longer have pain and numbness in my arms as I did before I purchased this bed. I really am very pleased with it. Thanks again for your superb service!”

-Lisa R.

“FYI – we LOVE our new mattress.  Sorry that we’ve not called back about it, but you have two VERY happy customers! Thank you for helping us with our purchase.  We’ve been telling everyone we know about how lovely you were to work with, David.

Thank you, again!”

-Tia A.

You can read more about the Ecofoam mattress on our website at http://houseworks.biz/products.php?subid=38&page=1&prodid=1380