roomplanners magazine - nov/dec '11

www.roomplanners.com

roomplanners NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2011

issue

the furniture

sneak

your ultimate guide to buying

furniture

peak! what the hottest rooms will be wearing in 2012!

8

Not sure which of our nine style types you are? Take our Environmental Personality Profile survey.

on the cover

New for Spring 2012, this stunning chest by Habersham

was inspired by the curves and lines of fjords, cliffs and beaches along the coastline of the North

Sea. The best of 2012 home

furnishings promise to be as

beautiful as they are unique . More starting on p. 4.

All written information herein is copyright ©2011 Room Planners Incorporated. All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by this copyright may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means without written permission from Room Planners Incorporated.

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Editor-in-Chief Loreen Epp

Food writer Wendi Hiebert

Contributing writers Dominique Waters Gail Talbot

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3

SNEAK PEAK 2012 See some of the hottest home fashion trends from the recent High Point Furniture Market, categorized into our nine Environmental-Personality types:

MODERN . . . . . . 4

ELEGANT . . . . . . 6

CHIC . . . . . . . . 8

VINTAGE . . . . . . 10

TRADITIONAL . . . 12

RUSTIC . . . . . . . 14

GLOBAL . . . . . . . 16

CLASSIC . . . . . . 18

ORGANIC . . . . . 20 22 BUYING FURNITURE Confused by too many furniture choices? Make sense of furniture

quality and prices with our ultimate furniture buying guide.

this month...

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Wonder what the hottest new rooms will be wearing next year?

Wonder no more.

sneak peak Our favorite products from the

recent furniture market in

North Carolina are so new

they’re not even in stores yet!

But they will be soon… and

just in time to inspire some

stylish spring makeovers!

2012!

furniture

4

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2011 www.roomplanners.com

1 modern.

Smaller homes, a growing love of white and the desire for simpler, daylight-infused rooms) makes modern design a smart choice for 2012. Look for more Scandinavian influences, natural textures and bright splashes of color.

Faux Bois Headboard Building Block Side Table Global Views

Niagra Counter Table Gus Design Group

Gruppo Tomasella


17323—354 Arteriors Home

James Lounge Gus Design Group

Origami Lounge Chair Thayer Coggin

John Mascheroni American Leather

Simon Swivel Chair C. R. Laine


2 Glam’d up elegant styles for 2012 look suitably French! Look for the signature shapely lines and dressy textures, enhanced with soft whites and pinks, pierced, trellis-style patterns and plenty of silver!

elegant. 6599 Arteriors Home

60-0315 Christopher Guy

Promenade Magnussen Home

DR 2037 Lisa Luby Ryan Arteriors

60—0324 Christopher Guy

Sophie Bedding Angelo Home

Gabriella Storage Mirror Universal Furniture

Gabriella Armoire Universal Furniture

www.roomplanners.com OCTOBER 2011 7

Gabriella, Smartstuff™ Universal Furniture


3 Like a black tie party, chic rooms are as much about color as style! Look for extreme dark--light, or black-white, color schemes to stay strong in 2012 (they’re still the easiest way to add urban style!), along with more tone-on-tone textures and more gray! But then again, chic style always did have a thing for gray...

76-0182 Christopher Guy

Parisian Panache Chair Pearson Furniture

LeeLee Side Chair Hickory Chair Furniture

Jeanette Bed Magnussen Home

Libby Langdon for Braxton Culler

Modern Gathering Table Stanley Furniture

chic. 7900—20S Henredon

ABOVE. A mix of furniture styles are tied together

with a soft color palette and nail-head trim.

BELOW. A chestnut wood finish on the table and

cabinet complement chairs in antique linen.

www.roomplanners.com OCTOBER 2011 7

North Sea Chest, American Treasures Collection Habersham


4 vintage.

Look for a sophisticated cottage vibe in 2012 vintage styles, with heavily white-washed or worn finishes, hand-painted floral or printed document patterns, dressmaker skirts and one-of-a-kind accents.

Club Chair Hotel Maison

Napoleon Upholstered Bench French Heritage

Floral Fabric Accent Chest Hooker Furniture

DR 2041 Lisa Luby Ryan Arteriors

Marine-life artwork. Karen Robertson Collection

DR 2050, Lisa Luby Ryan Arteriors

ABOVE. A mix of furniture styles are tied together

with a soft color palette and nail-head trim.

BELOW. A chestnut wood finish on the table and

cabinet complement chairs in antique linen.

www.roomplanners.co m NO-

Essential Console Hutch aspenhome Furniture

Primrose Hill Hooker Furniture

Tribeca American Treasures Habersham


5 traditional.

Old-world and Tudor styles for 2012 haven’t lost their hearty, intellectual quality. Nor have they lost their appeal; nail-head trim and a weighty stretcher or two is as hot as ever. But look for traditional styles to simplify and diversity a little with men-swear patterns, tailored lines and British Colonial influences.

The Sterling Wesley Hall

Commonwealth Bernhardt Furniture Bunching Curios & Desk

Artisan Dining Table Hickory Chair Company

E2 Desk, aspenhome Furniture


Archipelago Stanley Furniture

Libby Langdon for Braxton Culler


Caches Linden Desk Kincaid Furniture

Homecoming, Linville Bed Kincaid Furniture

Artisan, Stanley Furniture.

46639 Arteriors Home 6

Finnean Occasional Table SitCom Furniture

rustic.

Rustic may mean unpretentious or simple. But for 2012, it doesn’t have to mean rural! Look for an infusion of industrial chic; a retro, factory-inspired style that mixes aged metal with worn woods and old French-laundry textures.

Marlee Dining Room, SitCom Furniture

Tuba Swivel Table Palacek

DR 6010

Lisa Luby Ryan Arteriors

Tuba Chair Palacek

Industry Lamp Palacek

6011

Lisa Luby Ryan Arteriors Home

Kaitlyn Bedroom SitCom Furniture

Artisan Stanley Furniture


7 global.

If an exotic vacation not in the budget next year, take heart. It’s never been easier to bring your favorite destination home. Look for unique, travel-inspired furnishings in 2012, with hand-crafted textures, exotic materials and zesty global colors inspiring fascinating, eclectic rooms!

Road to Canberra, Tommy Bahama Home Lexington Furniture.

Ellerston Sofa, Wickham Chair, Cape York Cocktail Table

Road to Canberra, Tommy Bahama Home Lexington Furniture Byron Bay Chair, Duntroon Hall Table

17340-469 Arteriors Home

Martinique Console Table Hickory Chair Company

Higgins Chair C. R. Laine

17340—469 Arteriors Home

Style 832 Kincaid Furniture

7577 Teak Chair Lee Industries

Archipelago Stanley Furniture

Brenden Taylor King



8 Today’s trend to pare-back and simplify our rooms proves once again how lasting classic design is! For 2012, this time-less style is inspiring looks that won’t look dated any time soon! Look for the signature symmetry, x-shapes and saber legs.

classic.

Mirage, Lexington Furniture. Lamour Buffet, Fontaine Mirror

Monaco Etagere Kincaid Furniture

Gustav Metal Chair Bernhardt Interiors

Olympia Chaise DPS Studio USA

Artisan Dining Table Hickory Chair Furniture

Montpelier Console Hickory Chair Furniture


Mirage, Lexington Furniture. Audrey Sofa, Loren Cocktail Table, Garland Dresser

H1166-C Henredon

Daybed 2392 Pearson Company

9 We want to feel greener these days, and it helps being near worn woods, washed fabrics and woven grasses. Look for organic looks in 2012 that aren’t just for the granola belt! Complex neutral colors and high-touch natural materials look inspired by relaxed, zen-like spas and coastal resorts.

organic.

Elements Poster Bed Bernhardt Furniture

Sidney Chest & Hutch A Studio

6600 Arteriors Home

The Wyatt Wesley Hall Archipelago

Stanley Furniture

Suede. Brian Gluckstein for Broyhill Furniture


Hampton, Brian Gluckstein for Broyhill Furniture

Elements Bookcase Desk Bernhardt Furniture

Hida Bedroom. Sitcom Furniture


TEST YOUR FURNITURE

1. Hardwoods and softwoods are both popular

choices for furniture. True OR False

2. Where furniture is made is one of the best

indicators of its overall quality. True OR False

3. Contemporary furniture tends to be lower-priced

because it’s simpler to make. True OR False

4. A table with a mahogany finish is made with at least some mahogany, though it may be difficult to

tell how much. True OR False

5. It’s not important to recognize the wood species

used to make furniture. True OR False

6. How a drawer is made is more important than

what it’s made of. True OR False

7. Solid wood is the best choice for furniture; the finest quality 18th century furniture was made with

it. True OR False

8. Glossy or polished wood finishes are easiest to

keep clean. True OR False

9. A ‘bonded leather’ chair or headboard is made

with genuine leather. True OR False

Answers and explanations on page 27.

Confused by too many furniture

choices? Not sure when, or why, to

pay more?

Read on to clear up the confusion

and make furniture buying

easier!

(See how much

you already know by

taking our quick

Furniture IQ test!)

furniture how to buy


IQ

COMPLIMENTS OF

signs of quality

10

Buying new furniture (or replacing the old) is an exciting way to

update your home. But unlike a car, you can’t look under the

hood or check mileage stats!

Check out these 10 ways to gauge how well your furniture was made and how

long it will last.

why pay more:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

QUALITY MATERIALS A hearty wood species, strong metals, marble, top-grain leather or solid wood details are indicators of quality furniture. Care taken on the outside usually means care was taken on the inside.

MULTI-STEP FINISHING The depth of a wood’s finish, or stain, distinguishes it from promotional furniture. Multiple layers of stains, or a hand-applied

stain, simulates rich antique furniture.

DOVETAIL JOINS Interlocking joins literally ‘lock’ drawer sides together at a 90 degree angle. Look for English or French dovetail joins, recalling two of the longest and finest furniture-making traditions.

FULL-EXTENSION DRAWER GLIDES Modeled after office filing-cabinet drawers, full-extension metal drawer glides pull all the way out, making it easier to see and to reach the back of the drawer. They tend to be very strong.

DUST-PROOFING This method of encasing drawers in a closed compartment ensures

your clothing will stay clean and dust-free, even if a piece of clothing falls behind a drawer.

FINISHED DRAWER INTERIORS Whether cedar-lined, felt-lined or just finished to match the exterior of the case, well-finished drawer interiors ensure clothing won’t snag or fingers get slivers. They also look good when open!

METAL REINFORCEMENTS Superior door hinges that operate quietly, smoothly and with a wide radius are a sign of quality. So are back panels that are screwed into the case, rather than just nailed to it.

EASY-CARE FINISHES Strong topical treatments, such as MarGuard, help prevent the surfaces of heavily-used tables and desks from premature wear or scratches.

HIGH-FUNCTION FEATURES Furniture with built-in features, such as wire management, plug-ins, moisture-resistant tops and places to store awkward or easily-lost items, avoids makeshift or unattractive situations at home.

WARRANTY Manufacturers that back their work with a warranty longer than a year or two will be there when you need them. They’ve built a product that will hold up well... and they don’t expect you’ll call!


the tell-all:

drawer construction Our eyes may be the mirror to our soul, but our dresser drawers reflect the quality of our furniture. Examine a drawer’s blocks, joins, glides and stops; these four tell-tale signs reflect how well your furniture is made.

How the corners of a drawer are joined together indicates how sturdy that

drawer will feel, and how long it will last. Strong, interlocking joins, such as English

dovetail

joins, are considered the most durable.

joins

The unsung heroes, corner blocks are tightly-fitted triangular wood pieces placed under the corners of the drawer to keep it square and strong. On extra-long drawers, look for extra wood reinforcements

in the center to support extra corner blocks.

blocks

This important safety feature ensures drawers won’t pull all the way out while being

used or moved.

The best quality

drawer stops are integrated into the glide

rather than simply attached to the back of the drawer.

stops

Drawer

glides determine how quickly and how

easily a drawer will open and close.

The most efficient drawers operate on metal glides… and side glides, rather than center glides. (Side glides keep a wide drawer operating evenly on both sides). Full-extension glides let you access the back of the drawer.

glides


COMPLIMENTS OF ASPENHOME FURNITURE

Is it sturdy? Stand directly in front of a drawer chest and shake it a little; it shouldn’t rack (wobble) from side to side. Also see if the back panel is screwed in place, rather than nailed.

Do drawers and doors open and close smoothly? Check for even spacing between the drawers or doors and the cabinet, strong hinges, adequate corner blocks and quality joins, glides and stops on drawers.

Is your mirror image clear? Stand back 15 feet from the mirror above a dresser or server to make sure your reflection isn’t distorted.

Do panels match? While wood grain variations are a natural feature of wood furniture, check that wood color stains match between drawer, door, front and side panels.

Does the store’s furniture sample look good? Furniture gets a lot of wear and tear in a furniture store. If it’s holding up well there, it’s more likely to hold up well in your home.

Is it tip-resistant? Try pulling out all the drawers in a dresser or drawer chest at the same time. If it starts to tip toward you, you’ll need to secure the furniture to the wall in your home.

What does the warranty cover, and for how long? Beware of short warranties or no warranty at all. Look for comprehensive and lengthy coverage.

Who makes it? Find out who manufacturers your

furniture, not just who sells it. You’ll be able to research the company’s reputation or values.

Are there instructions on how to maintain it? Find out maintenance tips, care instructions, recommended cleaning products or warnings ahead of time; it’ll avoid premature wear.

They’re ranked the most confusing (and misleading) words when shopping for furniture, so we’re tackling them head on!

finish An oak finish sounds a lot like oak furniture. But is it? No. A finish is a color, not a material. A cherry finish, for example, doesn’t necessarily get you cherry furniture!

all wood An all-wood dresser sounds a lot like solid wood. But is it? Maybe. This too-broad term could suggest anything from solid wood to wood-chip particle-board.

bonded leather A bonded leather headboard or chair may look and feel like leather. But is it? Yes… and no. Bonded leather is not 100% leather but it does contain some; anywhere from 15-20% is typical.

beware buyer

quality checklist

furniture

Inspecting furniture from all angles will help you find the best value for your budget. Use this checklist to make sure your new furniture holds up over the years...


Are you already worried about the first

scratch? Buy furniture with a pre-distressed finish;

future wear will be less noticeable, and will even add to the vintage look!

Do you dislike seeing fingerprints on

furniture? Avoid glossy or polished finishes; they’re

easy to clean, but require frequent cleaning.

Do you avoid… or put off housecleaning as

long as possible? Opt for patterned or textured

fabrics on chairs, avoid extremely light or dark fabrics and opt out of furniture designs with deep

crevices that will require frequent dusting, or worse, cleaning with a toothbrush!

Do you own a cat with front claws? Forego

furniture with wicker insets or loose fabric weaves. It’ll be an instant scratching post.

Do you already know your furniture will suffer

above-average wear and tear? Inquire about an

extended warranty or special cleaning products.

Does your furniture fit your room? A room with

too-much or too-big furniture will look small and feel

cramped. Furniture shouldn’t fill more than 60% of the floor area.

Do you use a flight of stairs, short hall or

narrow doorway to get home? Compare their

dimensions to the widest dimension of your new furniture. Or inquire if furniture can be taken apart, or its legs removed, before moving.

Do you know what to expect from the store’s

delivery drivers? Check ahead if they will deliver

furniture to the room where it belongs, set it up, remove packaging or take your old furniture away.

How did you fare on our Furniture IQ test? Find explanations to the correct answers here!

1. True. While hardwoods (such as oak

and cherry) are stronger than softwoods (such as pine and cedar), the choice of wood species is best based on style and lifestyle preferences.

2. False. Low quality and high quality

furniture can be made anywhere.

3. False. While contemporary styles are

cleaner and simpler, they actually require more precise construction...there are no carvings to hide imperfections!

4. False. A finish refers to a color or stain,

not to the type of wood used. A mahogany finish will make furniture look like mahogany, but it may be applied over another wood species.

5. True. Wood species that aren’t native to

Europe and America may be as beautiful, as hard-wearing or even more sustainable than the ones we’re familiar with.

6. True. Drawer construction is critical to

the quality and durability of furniture, whatever wood species or metal is used.

7. False. Most fine furniture is, and was,

made with wood veneer rather than solid wood. It enables more design styles and compensates for wood’s tendency to warp.

8. False. Well, party true. Glossy or

polished wood finishes are easy to clean, but can be difficult to keep clean. Finger-

prints are less visible on grainy or matte or wood finishes.

9. True. Bonded leather contains leather,

though it may not be much. Leather is cut from a cowhide, while bonded leather is mixed and mulched with other fabrics, rolled into a bolt and cut like fabric.

furniture IQ test: answers

suitability checklist

furniture

Identifying the way you live will help you chose the

best furniture for your lifestyle. Use this checklist

to make sure your new furniture fits into your

home and lifestyle...


COMPLIMENTS OF ASPENHOME FURNITURE

roomplanners magazine - nov/dec '11

Documents

furniture peak

buying furniture

ultimate furniture

furniture choices

recent furniture market

smartstuff universal

sense of furniture quality

home furnishings