Tips to Care for Your Antique Furniture
Posted by: miyakayusheto on: July 5, 2009
Beautiful old furniture glows with a warmth that’s very special. The beauty of old-fashioned furniture that has been cleaned reflects loving care by its owners over the years. I provided these tips for keeping your antique furniture in the best possible qualify. Do not ever use anything that has a rough texture to it. This could scrape the furniture you’re trying to maintain. It means avoid feather dusters too. Broken feathers are like scratchy thing that will mark the furniture.
1. Avoid scratching furniture
Never slide anything like vase across a surface because it can scratch your furniture. A very light scratch can be treated with multi-purpose product scratch remover that you can purchase online. Deep scratches require the skill of paid restorers.
2. Using the paste wax
Wax with a quality paste wax that can be purchase in any hardware store. If you wax too much, it can dull the finish and attract dust. To polish off a waxy build up, put on varesol with a clean cotton fabric. Proper waxing will bring up the color and texture of the wood and protect it. Wipe a small amount on a soft cloth and apply it in circular motions and buff with the clean dry cloth.
3. Draw the drapes
Just as sun damage to the skin is permanent; its effects of damage on wood are just as destructive. Direct sunlight over a long period of time can be as harmful as direct sunlight through a short period of time. It can turn a clear finish yellowish but good news about sun damage is that it’s very simple to avoid. Some tips are, you can pull the blinds or have UV-protectors installed to your windows.
4. Use coasters
Keep in mind using coasters, mats and trivets and avoid placing hot or wet items directly on furniture to avoid great deal of damage and scratches.
5. Don’t disregard relative humidity
To hold safety against the fluctuations in relative humidity in your place, use a humidifier when the cold winter starts. Always think twice before putting a genuine piece of furniture in a basement, attic, or near heating vents like fireplace. Keep fresh atmosphere and air circulating. Maintaining a constant room temperature is also a best solution.
6. Remove liquid spills
Spilled water or any substance should be remove or wipe up instantly. Alcohol like alcohol, nail polish, nail polish remover or perfumes should be dabbed, not wiped because they can act like a furniture scratcher and can cause scratch. When removing candle wax, wait for the wax to cool then slightly loosen using your fingernail.
7. Don’t apply any aerosol sprays
Using aerosol spray polishes can contain silicone oil and other factors that can damage your furniture. For daily cleaning, you can use a clean cloth or a clean duster. Using Orange Oil is the best because it works well to clean and smoothen wood finishes.
Always think of whenever you consider an antique which keeps its original upholstery or a hand-made needlework seat, consider the value of the upholstery. Don’t be hurried to re-upholster, repair your old furniture. I have heard person damage a genuine antique beyond trying to repair their old furniture by their hand. Always put in mind that condition is key to value.
Are antique furniture good investments?
Posted by: miyakayusheto on: June 26, 2009
Recently antique furniture has been out of favor and many antique furniture stores are getting to discount their merchandise 50% or more to sell it. So, right now many people say that antique furniture is not a perfect investment because they believed that modern, sleek furniture is “in” now, but antiques could be fad in 10 years. Most people also can’t afford to purchase the pieces that are of worth collecting. The maintenance and upkeep of these “piece of gem” are also particularly tedious and you really have to know what you are doing as well, one mistake can completely break the value of the piece.
There are also pros and cons to both when investing antique furniture, so it really depends on your goal. If you are concerned about the environment, there’s nothing more “green” than re-using a old furniture. There are a number of ways to reinterpret older furniture using, wallpaper, guiding, stain, upholstery, etc. Older pieces are often very well built and typically richer than they appear.
For me, Not only does the antique furniture make for a great investment, but it serves as functional antique furniture, thus one gets to admire and expend their investment over time and if you really know what you’re doing for sure the item is worth to collect and you can profit from it in the end.
If you’re planning to collect and antique furniture, the old saying holds true: “Buy what you like and can live with, buy the very best you can afford, buy from reputable dealers with experience, and if you do all these things your investment will continue to appreciate.”
You can start by purchasing smaller pieces, gradually building up to larger more pricey –and thus more valuable –pieces as you expand your collection. Older (prior to 1830) pieces should be purchased with their original patina. However, Victorian is in demand when purchasing antique and later pieces with their finishes cleaned or restored. The Beidermeier style from Austria, actually increase in value once they are restored.
But most antique furniture collectors don’t buy on investment potential alone. Most pieces can still be used, so buying a piece of furniture that will not only match into your decor but will have some use adds to its enjoyment. And while a few collectors purchase furniture from a particular period, most mix styles and periods based on their personal interest.
Georgian Chippendale Furniture
Posted by: miyakayusheto on: June 19, 2009
The Georgian Antique Furniture was made sometime during 1714 through to the 1830s when four kings all called George in Great Britain. (George I, George II, George III and George IV). Although the styles were not indistinguishable throughout this time period and the personal preference and interests of these sovereigns were all not very similar, this fixtures made during this time period is referred to as Georgian Antique Furniture. Inspiration for features like columns and porticoes, came from the classical Greece and Rome, that originate the ideas about the symmetry. This style dates back to the late 18th century, and was predominantly made from mahogany. They are a slight elaboration from the Queen Anne style with more ornate carvings and features, many of which were quite bold. Many of these furniture themes were also used such as Chinese, Rococo, English, and Greek Classic. The chair backs were especially intricate.
There four types of Georgian antique furniture styles that became marked and in time became well-known took on the names of the artisans. That includes the Chippendale style antique furniture (1755-1790) with combination of Chinese motifs as well as Gothic arches. Some chairs and tables often bun feet or had claw. Georgian Adam was known for its straight lines. The one with straight, tapered legs are enhanced by Adam designs from the original design of Georgian Hepplewhite. Straighter detailing was also known as Georgian Sheraton. The periods that follow and have particular unique features include Regency, Victorian and Edwardian antiques that readily suites most of the latest and modern designed homes and home furniture. Most of the Georgian furniture was made from mahogany. As well as furnishings, fabrics became less dark and heavy when it was imitated the exotic style called chinoserie after china way back 18th century by century craftsmen in England and America. Rich brocades gave way to lighter silks. Linen and cotton soft furnishings could be plain, or decorative in restrained stripes or floral sprigs on a whitish background.
Identify Your Antique Wooden Furniture
Posted by: miyakayusheto on: May 25, 2009
Much antique wooden furniture you will encounter, most likely, will be either traditional English or American Colonial design.
Here are some lists of both popular types. These lists will assist and give you to determine if your old-fashioned home furniture is an English-made antique furniture. Antique furniture styles like Queen Anne, Georgian Chippendale, Georgian Adam, Georgian Hepplewhite, Georgian Sheraton, Regency, Victorian, Basic American Furniture Styles, Early Colonial, Late Colonial, Federal, Pennsylvania Dutch, and Shaker style are created within 17th century and 19 century.
My favourite is the Federal antique furniture because of such French influence and heavier versions of English styles, most of them are made of mahogany and cherry woods. Many of them are hand carvings of gathered wheat and acanthus leaves that make it every side to become a piece of gem. For me, it is an excellent design. Federal style then found in cities such as Wilmington, Charleston and Philadelphia. Simply as the United States was reinventing itself as a rising classical republic.
Federal style contains the neo-classic works of Hepplewhite and Sheraton including straight lines and delicate lines, inlay and contrasting wood facings. A feature of Federal style includes smaller legs, very delicate pattern, and balance. Many thresholds and entrances are often framed by columns and framing through the door.
Taking care of your antique furniture
Posted by: miyakayusheto on: May 17, 2009
Today furniture makers use variety of substance and hazardous chemicals while crafting furniture in order to create user-friendly furniture in regular use. The conservation for the historical and precious antique furniture needs extra effort and ways of care for such furniture is being changed accordingly. Lack of care in maintaining that furniture will effect on future value of such pieces.
There are some areas and tips to consider when caring for antiques such as proper cleaning, right protection and maintaining a proper environment. When it comes to giving care for antique furniture, dust, direct sunlight and wrong environment are furniture’s worst foes. These factors can certainly harm your furniture. Hence, you should protect your furniture from them. At some point I realize that one of the most harmful factors to which you can expose your antiquated furniture is ultra violet rays. To forfend a terrible thing that will happen to your antique furniture, it is better to place your furniture from where it has not been placed in direct sunlight.
If you love your antique furniture and take care properly of your so-called old-fashioned furniture, it’s very likely that you can prolong its lifespan another year or so and enjoy years of use and appeal from your furniture. In addition, there are numerous articles online that will provide you tips and hints on how and the proper way of taking care your furniture, not only for antique furniture but also for modern home furniture.
Antique Furniture For Modern Day
Posted by: miyakayusheto on: May 13, 2009
When buying new items or furniture for your home do you go for retro style, antique or are you a modernist who wants all the latest home furniture.
Well most of the people today would say modern because maybe they don’t like feeling like they are living in a museum or they don’t like having to be extra careful with the furniture they live with, like for example damaging or breaking a precious museum artifact. Most of the people today also love the furniture made up of leather and special fiber like sofa, loveseat, coffee and end tables, entertainment center as well, that make them very comfy and relaxing. But for me nothing’s beats antique furniture because antique furniture is proven fact that they last longer compare to modern furniture that isn’t very well made anymore. I have quite a bit of either real antique or antique-style furniture, much of it inherited. At my age, there have been quite a few family members pass things down to me on their demise.
Collecting antique pieces are considered as a most important investment and an excellent way of re- decorating houses. As such, many people have considered antique collection as one of the most satisfying activities that one can engage in. Though, the style of the antique furniture, originality and age of the furniture are the serious factor that antique furniture collector should take note when buying antique furniture.
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