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Jul 31

Conversations on Rattan Furniture

Posted on Friday, July 31, 2009 in Rattan Furnitures

Rattan furniture can add a rather different feel to your entire house. Most people who are around rattan furniture claim that they feel more relaxed. As a result, they also tend to be in a better mood. In recent years, rattan furniture has been rising in popularity. That is because they are inexpensive, easy to maintain, and they can beautiful almost any home.

If you own rattan furniture, you may find yourself having endless conversations about the rattan furniture in your house. Family and friends who visit your house may show a strong interest in the rattan furniture. So be sure to brush up on your general knowledge so that you can keep the conversations interesting! Here are some suggestions that you may find helpful.

Talk about the source of the furniture.

Where did you buy the furniture from? Where does rattan furniture come from? These questions make juicy conversational topics. You can talk about the countries where the furniture come from (e.g. Indonesia). Raw materials are available in abundance in these countries, and it’s interesting to see how the natives make such good use of the materials to create practical and good looking rattan furniture.

Talk about the process of creating the furniture.

Rattan furniture is made from cane. The cane is very tough, and has to be heated with very high temperatures to make them soft. The cane then becomes flexible enough to be bent and weaved around steel frames. When cooled, the cane harden again, and the furniture is completed.

Talk about the numerous designs of rattan furniture.

Rattan furniture comes in many shapes and forms. You may be surprised by the wide range of rattan furniture that is available in the market. You can find sofa sets, coffee tables, arm chairs, bar seats, etc. They also come in many different types of designs. There are classic looks, contemporary looks, and so on. The choice of design depends on personal tastes.

The main reason why rattan furniture often attracts attention is because they look unique. So guests in your house are drawn to rattan furniture naturally. They may even sit in them without invitation as they are curious about how it feels like to be sitting on a piece of rattan furniture. Chances are, after trying out a few pieces, they may be interested in buying some for themselves. And that leads to the subject of price.

Rattan furniture is available at very reasonable prices. Compared to traditional furniture that is made from wood, plastic or metal, rattan furniture tend to cost a little bit less. To save more, you may even buy rattan furniture at wholesale prices.

Rattan furniture can be purchased in local furniture stores, major shopping malls, and online furniture malls. Keep a lookout for rattan furniture the next time you go shopping. For they make great topics for conversations.

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Jul 31

Rattan Furniture Natural Beauty and Simplicity

Posted on Friday, July 31, 2009 in Rattan Furnitures

Your home is a personal space you cherish. It is also a haven with the peace and purity you yearn for. Therefore, how you choose to decorate your home is an important question that everyone has to face. Furniture plays a primary role in the way you lay out your home.

Natural rattan is full of the beauty of nature. Rattan furniture reflects our concept of “the beautiful life”. With fresh rattan, your home will be bursting with natural appeal.Ever since it was first woven into the form of furniture, rattan has been the first choice of those who desire nobility and elegance. Sales of rattan furniture have been gradually increasing over recent years. What makes it such an important part of the furniture market?Above all, natural rattan brings the peace and harmony bestowed by nature to your home.

Natural rattan brings life back into the living room. It is beneficial for your physical and mental health and good for the environment as well. These unique properties mean that it is recommended by a number of specialists and designers. With rattan, excellent quality doesn’t necessarily mean a high price. It is not only for the rich and powerful. For those who know the value of quality in life, rattan furniture is readily available.

Rattan can last much longer than fabric and leather furniture. Usually, rattan furniture can be used for 15 to 25 years, while fabric furniture lasts only 2 to 3 years and leather furniture 5 to 7 years. In fact, if you make an effort to maintain it, rattan furniture can last over 50 years. In addition, although there are 24 to 25 procedures involved in making rattan furniture, you only have to wait about 26 days after making an order for a custom piece for delivery. The rattan in your furniture is imported from Indonesia, and it is painted with a hi-tech water based paint. The paint keeps the rattan furniture safe from pests and going moldy.

How long rattan furniture lasts depends on maintenance. Customers can follow these tips to keep their furniture in top condition. First of all, keep rattan furniture out of direct sunlight. Semitransparent chiffon curtains will do the job. Curtains add to the romantic atmosphere, and they protect the rattan furniture from fading. Secondly, remember that water does serious harm to rattan, so clean the furniture with great care. Use a vacuum cleaner, then wipe the rattan with a cloth dampened with salty water. Last but not least, you should remember to wipe it over with a clean, dry and soft cloth. Thirdly, the effort on maintenance should be maintained consistently. In terms of air humidity, rattan furniture maintenance seems to be more difficult in summer, compared with spring, autumn, and winter.

After buying a satisfying suite of rattan furniture, what we need to do is to select suitable ornaments to match them. Don’t neglect the decoration, it matters! Combined with the right ornaments, rattan furniture can seem like an artwork spread across your whole house. On the whole, if the rattan furniture is a golden brown, it’s better to buy decorations of the same color. Bright and vivid fabric decorations are also a sensible choice, to give your home that passionate southeast Asian flavor. If the rattan furniture is pale, white decorations will enhance its purity and simplicity. Natural and gentle rattan brings the peace and harmony of nature into our houses, as part of your balanced, holistic lifestyle.

More information can be gathered about rattan furniture by visiting chineserattan.com an accepted website for tips and advice on how to Choosing earth Friendly Furniture

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Jul 30

Teak Furniture – Ideal For Outdoors

Posted on Thursday, July 30, 2009 in Teak Furnitures

When it comes to wooden furniture, most people just classify them as hardwood furniture, or softwood furniture. Simple classifications do help to make buying decisions easier. However, in reality, even when wood belongs to the same category, they can have rather different characteristics.

For example, not all hardwood is suitable for the outdoors. That is because outdoor furniture has to be exposed to external elements such as weather, moisture, insects, weeds, etc. Furniture gets damaged very easily when left outdoors for prolonged periods of time.

Therefore, if you are considering buying furniture for the outdoors, you have to be extra careful about the raw materials that is used to create the furniture. Some homeowners may just jump to conclusion and write off wooden furniture, thinking that they may rot when left outdoors. Others may think that steel furniture sounds like a better option.

In general, if you buy furniture that is made from some kind of stainless steel, it’s a relatively safe choice. However, steel is still subject to rust and oxidation, which dulls the shiny appearance of the surface. Furthermore, steel can never achieve the same aesthetic effects of wood. If you still prefer wooden furniture, you may be comforted in knowing that there are certain types of wood that is suitable for the outdoors. Teak is one such example.

Unlike other types of timber, teak has got some unique characteristics, that may it extremely durable. In fact, teak is renowned for it’s ease of maintenance and durability. The wood contains high levels of resinous oils, which helps to keep out moisture, insects, and plant growth. You may be surprised to find that teak won’t rot even when left in the outdoors.

Teak does not grow in rain forests. It is a deciduous plant that grows in hilly areas. It is mostly found in South East Asia. But the highest quality teak comes from Indonesia. These are not carelessly harvested raw materials. The teak actually comes from specialized tree farms.

If you are looking for high quality teak furniture, be prepared to pay a premium price for the furniture. That is mainly because it takes several decades for teak trees to become mature. To get a better price for the furniture, you may wish to consider buying teak furniture at wholesale prices. The more you buy, the more discount you can ask for.

One would expect a wood that is as durable as teak to be hard to work with. Fortunately, that is not true at all. Many expert craftsmen find teak to be an easy wood to work with. In general, most teak are straight grained. You do occasionally find wavy grained teak though. For this reason, teak is a very popular material that is used to build decks, cabinets, etc. You even find it in expensive boats!

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Jul 30

Wicker Furniture – How to Buy at Cheaper Prices

Posted on Thursday, July 30, 2009 in Wicker Furnitures

It’s everywhere on the news – times and bad and people are losing their jobs. It’s clear that the economy is heading southwards. However, does that mean that you, as the homeowner, should put off refurnishing your own home? Perhaps you have already made plans for the refurnishing. Now, with the economic downturn, you are wavering. On the surface, it doesn’t look like a good time to be spending that money.

But before you junk your refurnishing plans, let’s consider your options. The economy downturn is here, and that is a fact. The economy will always go up and go down like a roller coaster. Even when it’s down, that doesn’t mean you should junk all your plans and don’t spend any money. You can still go ahead with your home improvement plans. Maybe all you need is some minor adjustments.

For example, you may have planned to refurnish your home with expensive hardwood furniture. Given such uncertain times, that may have to change. Instead of wood furniture, you may wish to consider cheaper options such as wicker furniture.

Wicker furniture is durable, pleasing to look at, and they are available in a wide range of modern designs. You are also more likely to get them at more affordable prices because cane is widely available. Most wicker furniture is imported from Asian countries like Indonesia. Because labor costs are lower in these countries, the cost of production is also lower. Hence, you get to save more.

To get an even lower price, here are some quick tips on how to buy wicker furniture at cheap prices.

Firstly, look out for the patterns of wicker furniture. Usually, the patterns are created by skilled workers. The more complicated the patterns, the more expensive the furniture will be. That’s because it takes the workers more time to create the patterns. Patterns that are simple are the most commonly seen. They are also the cheapest. If you really want to save money, try looking out wicker furniture with simple patterns.

Secondly, you can buy wicker furniture at wholesale prices instead of retail prices. When you buy at retail, you pay a markup over the wholesale price. That is the commission that the retailer is making for bringing in the furniture and selling it to you. However, you can go direct and deal with the wholesaler yourself. The only problem is, wholesaler usually deliver only bulk orders. So try to order several pieces at one go. If possible, get some friends involve so that everyone benefits. Your friends may even thank you for giving them the chance to get a piece of this great deal!

There is no need to junk your home refurnishing plans after all! All you need to do is to make some slight changes. For all you know, you may be very please with the new wicker furniture.

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Jul 30

Cane Furniture – Ideal For Conservatory

Posted on Thursday, July 30, 2009 in cane furniture

Cane furniture, otherwise known as rattan or wicker furniture, is known for its strength and durability. Cane itself, as a raw building material, is very tough and resistant to damage. Due to its toughness, it is impossible to work with cane when it is in its raw, unprocessed form. The cane needs to be treated with heat so that it will be soft enough for the workers to work with.

Cane processing is not a new discovery. Different species of cane are abundantly available mostly in Asian countries like Indonesia. Many years ago, the natives had already learned how to work with cane. They used cane to create all sorts of useful items – baskets, chairs, tables, etc. These techniques have been passed down from generation to generation, until the present day. In fact, present day cane manufacturing techniques have been refined with the introduction of modern technology. This greatly enhances the quality of the furniture.

Having years of experience in producing cane furniture is good, but no one would want furniture that looks old and ancient. Fortunately, cane is a very versatile material. Changes in consumer tastes mean that manufacturers must now modify the designs.

That means it is now possible to find affordable cane furniture with modern designs, that will last for many years to come. Even if the designs have changed, the basic characteristics of cane still remain unchanged. It is still tough and durable.

Unlike wood, which may rot or become damaged with plant growth, cane furniture can be left in highly challenging environments and remain undamaged. For many years now, homeowners have found cane furniture to be ideal for gardens and conservatories.

Usually, conservatories are constructed in such a way that the environment remains ideal for plants even when there are weather changes. For example, special glass panels may be installed to help trap heat when the weather is cold. When there are plants in a conservatory, the air will most likely be filled with moisture.

As you probably already know, moisture is never a good companion for wood. Wood tends to rot in a moist environment. You can lengthen the life span of wood furniture in a conservatory by applying some kind of protection. But this is only a temporary measure.

Steel is another material that don’t go well with moisture. Some types of steel may rust. There are, of course, stainless steel in the market. But usually, when exposed to water, the steel will soon lose its shine.

Cane furniture, on the other hand, does not rust or rot. In a moist environment, water droplets will just form on the surface of the furniture. All you have to do, is to clean away to water droplets with a dry cloth. Cane is a water resistant material by nature. So even if you fail to clean up the water, the furniture will still remain unfazed.

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Jul 30

Industri Furniture

Posted on Thursday, July 30, 2009 in Others

Furniture adalah istilah yang digunakan untuk perabot rumah tangga yang berfungsi sebagai tempat penyimpan barang, tempat duduk, tempat tidur, tempat mengerjakan sesuatu dalam bentuk meja atau tempat menaruh barang di permukaannya. Misalnya furniture sebagai tempat penyimpan biasanya dilengkapi dengan pintu, laci dan rak, contoh lemari pakaian, lemari buku dll. Furniture dapat terbuat dari kayu, bambu, logam, plastik dan lain sebagainya. Furniture sebagai produk artistik biasanya terbuat dari kayu pilihan dengan warna dan tekstur indah yang dikerjakan dengan penyelesaian akhir yang halus.

Sejauh ini industri furniture mebel Indonesia masih memiliki pamor bagus dalam perdagangan dunia. Pada ajang pameran tunggal bertajuk “Indonesia Paviliun” yang berlangsung selama 18-22 Maret 2007 di Shenzen – Cina, furniture asal Indonesia banyak diminati oleh para pembeli internasional. Terdapat sekitar 50 hingga 70 pembeli telah meminta pengusaha Indonesia untuk menjadi pemasok furniture dan kerajinanIndonesia dengan nilai transaksi mencapai sekitar US$ 100 juta .

Pemerintah juga telah mengupayakan untuk mengembangkan industri furniture. Terlebih sektor ini telah ditetapkan pemerintah sebagai salah satu dari 10 komoditas unggulan ekspor Tanah Air. Ini didukung baik oleh aspek kualitas dan desain produk yang diminati oleh konsumen luar negeri, ketersedian bahan baku maupun sumber daya manusia yang terampil.

Demikian juga dari sisi pangsa pasar nasional, industri mebel lokal masih menguasai 70% pasar mebel domestik. Tetapi pangsa pasar ini terancam oleh impor mebel asal China yang pertumbuhannya mencapai 200% per tahun dalam satu tahun terakhir. Peningkatan impor mebel asal China yang terjadi tiap tahun terutama untuk segmen mebel murah, untuk pasar menengah ke bawah.

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Jul 30

Furniture makers see robust sales

Posted on Thursday, July 30, 2009 in Others

Despite a global economic slowdown and skyrocketing fuel prices, the furniture ( indonesian furniture) and handicraft business is riding a wave of optimism, targeting 26 percent growth in exports this year. The Association of Furniture and Handicraft Industry (Asmindo) expects full-year exports to reach US$2.4 billion (around Rp 22 trillion), from $1.9 billion last year, said deputy director Basril Djabar.
As of the first half, it has already earned $1.2 billion. To ensure the remaining $1.2 billion, the association is working on promotional campaigns and on intensifying efforts to look for new markets such as the Middle East and eastern Europe. On average, the United States imports around 30 percent of Indonesia’s total furniture and handicraft production, according to the National Agency for Export Development (Nafed), with Japan being the second largest importer, with a share of 11 percent. The Netherlands and France are the third and fourth major buyers with 9 and 6 percent, respectively.

Basril said on Friday that frequent international furniture and handicraft exhibitions have helped keep Indonesia on the radar screen, with orders coming in. “A lot of domestic and foreign players have made use of these events to promote products and make orders,” he said, citing the example of the recent Indonesia International Furniture Fair that attracted foreign buyers. In October, for instance, the association will hold an export exhibition to further promote global interest in domestic products and then later join similar events in China and some European countries. The industry has seen steadily growing demand in the last three years, translated into an upward trend in export values. Asmindo data shows exports in 2005, 2006 and 2007 were valued at $1.79 billion, $1.81 billion and $1.96 billion, respectively.

The products include tables, chairs and filing cabinets made up from rattan, wood and bamboo. “Thus far, sales to eastern European countries are less than 10 percent of total exports. But we are upbeat that they can be promising markets within a few years,” he said, adding that the Middle East was just as attractive. Grabbing customers from those regions, he said, could significantly boost the performance of Indonesian products ( Indonesian furniture) in the international furniture market, led currently by China. Last year, China earned $17 billion, out of the $80 billion global trade in wooden furniture. Asmindo groups together over 2,000 members, most of them centralized in several regions, including Cirebon in West Java, and Jepara and Demak in Central Java. Raw materials, especially rattan, are supplied by farmers living outside Java, such as in Sulawesi, Sumatra and Kalimantan. Those regions are able to produce between 250,000 and 400,000 tons of rattan per year. (ewd)

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Jul 27

Munire Furniture and Cribs

Posted on Monday, July 27, 2009 in Home Furnitures

You really shouldn’t just buy a Munire crib. The company designs furniture that is to be used for a child’s lifetime. It specializes in making convertible cribs and nursery furniture that looks just as good in a child’s bedroom as it does in the nursery.

Munire is an independent manufacturer of nursery furniture and is based in New Jersey. The company has a reputation of producing finely crafted nursery furniture with elegant designs with special emphasis on detailing and finishes.

The company’s philosophy is that nursery furniture should serve not just your baby, but your child as it grows right through to adulthood. To this end, it only makes convertible cribs. The Munire collection of beautiful baby bedding can be converted from crib to toddler to day bed right through to full size bed.

The company’s excellence in both design and construction has ensured that many consumers’ reviews highly rate Munire cribs and furniture. Trade reviews also give the company glowing reviews. Munire is the only furniture manufacturer to receive “Best” ratings in both the crib and dresser categories in Baby Bargains (6th edition, Denise and Alan Fields, Windsor Peak Press).

If you’re looking to buy nursery furniture you should definitely take a look at what Munire has to offer. Pay special attention to the quality of the joinery used in the construction of its armoires, dressers and convertible cribs. All Munire furniture is made from hardwood, some with additional veneers. Also take a look at the extra detailing on its furniture; it takes time and money to go that little step further.

The current collection offers you nursery furniture with various themes. The Munire Antigua crib brings to mind hot afternoons in the Caribbean, with its use of woven rattan and sculptured moldings. The Munire Newport crib is a favorite. It has an elegant, gently curving rail with fluted legs. It comes in various finishes of cherry, espresso, classic chestnut, rubbed antique white and rubbed antique black. For a simple crib, take a look and the Essex. It is a plain, relaxed baby crib that could be used in both a traditional and contemporary nursery.

You should be aware that some of the company’s cribs and nursery furniture is now made overseas in the Far East. Recently there have been concerns about the levels of lead found in paint finishes on some children’s products made in the Far East. However, you can rest assured that this is not a problem with its furniture.

All Munire convertible cribs made in the Far East are made in Indonesia and are tested regularly by Intertek (testing lab for JPMA- Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association). In addition, Munire cribs and furniture have JPMA certification as well as meeting or exceeding the standards established by A.S.T.M (American Society for Testing and Materials) and the Federal Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Munire cribs and furniture aren’t going to be everyone’s choice. The company’s furniture is expensive and their designs lean heavily on older styles and may just be a little too decorative for the tastes of many. But, if you like craftsmanship that is still affordable, with intricate designs of times past, then a Munire crib and furniture set may be what you’re looking for.

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