My fascination with the delightful piece of furniture called the chaise lounge began with its presence in the anteroom of my granny's boudoir where it used to be a permanent fixture beside the largish antique wall mirror behind the half moon table with a yellow lamp on it. The lush lounger was an ornate work of art with intricate carving on its feet and nailed trims that had silken tassels on the right side. In pearly lustrous brocade like upholstery it was really the stuff dreams are made of.

As a little girl of ten it was my favorite spot in her house that would find me curled with a book of poesy from her limited bookshelf. The lounger has been an article of nostalgia ever since and I have always retained one in its contemporary avatars wherever I have lived since then. This piece of furniture works really well for me as I love lounging on it. It really blends the fine line between a day bed and a chair on which I can do almost anything.

So intrigued have I been of this singular piece of furniture that I continually keep going back to study its hoary past to discover new facets all the time. I understand that the prototype of this kind of seating originated in ancient Egypt to become the basic design that has been used since then even centuries later. Several ancient Grecian artworks portray figures reclining on these early chaise lounges.

Even Africa has its own version that's carved out of wood as a pretty utilitarian and simplistic equipment. The Olmecs from ancient Mexico also had a Mexican version of this delightful piece of furniture that was deployed as a day bed. The term Chaise Lounge pronounced 'ShAz Loong' is of French origin that simply means long chair. Drawn by the versatility of the article it could only have been the French to have possibly been naturally drawn to this exquisite piece of furniture that they transformed completely.

It is true that the art movements of France have duly reflected the chaise lounge as a popular item in paintings of the Rococo period and validated the need to be artistically represented. Stylized architects of early 20th century also fell in love with the chaise lounge adoringly creating versions after versions that are still to be found in museums as popular displays. Actually initially creating chaise lounges was not an easy task nor was it affordable. This hand crafted item had to be bent by hand limiting its availability at large.

Thankfully as I was growing up my love for the article was easily catered to by modern machinery and engineering that allowed it to be constructed and made available for general use by enthusiasts of the furniture. Also with superior materials they began to be more comfortable. As I sit now on my patio reclining on the wicker chaise lounge I bought last summer I can't help but dream about the distinctive one in my granny's house of yore.

Source by Santosh SP Chhalotre

Napolite is a material that is similar to leather in its appearance and it is widely used in furniture products. More specifically, it is the material that covers the furniture. So in which products is Napolite leather used? Well, generally it is used to upholster dining chairs such as sleek modern dining furniture, seating chairs that are used as additions to lounge suites, and modern lounge suites.

It could be used in 4 piece lounge suites and in corner suites. Each part of the 4 piece lounge suite is upholstered with the Napolite leather. Each seating cushion has the Napolite material wrapped and stitched around it as does the seating couch. Each part of the couch is covered with the material and stitched with precision to ensure that it remains intact for a long time. Many modern designed lounge suites are made with this alternative leather product so provide home owners with affordable luxury.

Many modern dining room suites have the chairs upholstered in Napolite leather. A glass dining room table is well complemented with a set of six Napolite leather chairs with steel legs. It adds a stylish touch to your home.

Other furniture products that use Napolite leather include tub chairs that are stylish additions to any lounge suite, as well as single seater couches that add a touch of comfort plus additional seating space in your lounge. Ensure that you take proper care of your lounge suite so that it can last you a long time.

The Napolite gives the furniture a leather-like appearance but it costs a fraction of the price of genuine leather. Because genuine leather is a rare commodity and is in high demand, it automatically pushes the price up. For the everyday home owner, this may not be an option. With Napolite material, the average home owner can afford the alternative without compromising the style. That means that if you have a certain lounge suite in mind with a set budget, then you may be able to find it in Napolite leather. There are many furniture stores that offer Napolite leather products at a price that will suit your pocket.

With the prices of everything from food to clothing increasing every year, but our desires remaining the same, we all need more affordable options available to us. That is what Napolite leather products are able to do for the home owner. It is a modern material that allows you to have the leather-like furniture that you desire.

Source by Meghna Lalloo

High quality, handcrafted wooden patio furniture is great to begin with. Match that with the ease and elegance of a glider, and you’ve got the best of both worlds. Rocking chairs and porch swings are all right, but for the highest level of comfort, go with a glider or glider swing. They look beautiful and will support you when you most need it.

What’s a Glider?

If you haven’t had a chance to own or even sit in a glider, then you’ve been missing out. That’s because sitting on a glider is like sitting on a cloud. Better yet, it’s the most comfortable seat ever and it moves, lulling you into levels of relaxation you never thought possible. Gliders are modified rockers in that unlike a rocker which moves on a fulcrum arc via two base rockers, a glider has a fixed base unit, with a seat that moves back and forth on a hardware track. Because of this, they are less dangerous because no part of the chair’s base ever leaves the ground, while the movement of the rockers from a rocking chair can pinch toes and cat tails if you’re not careful. That also differentiates them from a glider swing, whose base is either fixed or never even touches the ground. Also, gliders operate with minimal movement of the legs, so there’s even less work for you.

But the advantages don’t end there. Gliders are manufactured for both indoor and outdoor use. Indoor gliders feature plush upholstery, often in ultra soft fabrics like micro-suede, and in a range of colors to choose from. Outdoor gliders can be just as comfortable and attractive though, carved out of beautifully finished woods like cedar and teak. You can also find reclining gliding chairs, and ones with matching ottomans. These matching ottomans are often themselves gliders, meaning your legs can be elevated and also glider in sync with the rest of your body, making for the smoothest ride possible.

Okay, but then what’s a Glider Swing?

To clarify, the term glider swing can be a little vague, and depending on whom you ask, can mean a few different things. First, there is the glider swing which basically resembles a cross between a regular outdoor glider and a bench. These are freestanding models, much like the normal glider, and it operates in exactly the same way. The only visible difference is that’s wider like a bench so as to seat two or three people at a time.

 The following type of glider swing is a little more complex in design. This variation offers two separate benches that face one another, but work on an attached track which connects the two at the base. There’s often a matching canopy, which not only shield riders from sun and rain, but also helps to stabilize the unit as a whole. These swings are great for social use, as it allows for four people to converse in a confined space and all contributing to the gliding motion.

The last variation on the glider swing is the least like a typical glider, but ironically the most like a swing.That’s because it resembles the second variation in appearance, but not in function. These swings also have a canopy, but a much more useful one that acts as a framework to connect the seats to the top by swinging beams. Once again, riders face one another, but the seats swing rather than glide and no part of them ever touches the ground. Choosing which type of glider swing is the right for you depends a little on space and budget, but mostly it’s a matter of personal taste. 

Source by Tonya Kerniva