Many people picture outdoor lawn furniture with those plastic chairs and tables that are nowhere near comfortable. Yes, they may be very inexpensive and lightweight and can provide you with ample space for sitting, but the truth is, they can be pretty uncomfortable. This is especially true for those who simply love lazing around in the outdoors. But you do not have to put up with these pieces all the time. All you need do is to invest in a little time and effort to look for those perfect outdoor furniture pieces that go beyond the usual plastic tables and chairs. So read on and get some tips about outdoor furniture and what to pick and what not to pick during shopping.

The very first thing that you need to have is a change in heart. Patio furniture is not just about park benches and plastic chairs. Yes, there are plenty of park benches that have beautiful designs but most of these pieces have less to offer in terms of comfort and ease. And yes, you also have the option of renovating those pieces to make it more comfortable but that can become all too tedious and expensive. So even before you buy, make sure that those pieces are both stylish and comfortable so you’ll never have to worry about any of these issues later.

One of the best pieces that furniture experts recommend for outdoor lawn furniture is the hammock. One of the top reasons is because of the variety of designs that are available out there in the market – there are the modern stand alone designs and the more traditional tie-around pieces as well. They are without a doubt very comfortable to use and very easy to set-up.

But here is one thing that you need to keep in mind when shopping for hammocks though, make sure that they are as durable as they possibly can. You would not want to go falling on your backs unexpectedly just because of a bad quality piece. Make sure that the ends are easy to tie into knots as well for sure hold.

One other great patio furniture to pick is the lawn chairs. What you need to consider when looking for lawn chairs are comfort, style and of course, durability. Remember, these pieces will be at the mercy of the outdoor weather as well, so make sure that they are tough enough to last the vagaries of the weather as well. The best choices are the chaise lounge and the Adirondack chairs which are made especially for lounging. Most of the popular outdoor lawn furniture are those that are made of wood, with additional padding. They are perhaps the perfect mix of durability and comfort. Wood gives you just the right amount of support while the soft padding, comfort and ease.

While both indoor and outdoor furnishing serves the same purpose, there are differences between the two. For indoor furniture used in the living room or office, practicality and functionality are required as you tend to use them quite often. But when you are deciding on furniture for the outdoors, comfort and durability are important factors to look at since they are exposed to the elements of sun and rain. With the right outdoor lawn furniture, there is nothing as peaceful or enjoyable as relaxing in your own backyard dozing off or just watching the clouds float across the sky.

Source by Andrew Havana

One word defines Christmas. It is the word “merry.” I never tire of wishing people a Merry Christmas. Although, for some, it may not be politically correct, but for the rest of us who have at least two gray cells working, it is wonderful.

I was relaxing one afternoon this past week when the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage approached me with a request. It is very difficult for me to deny her request, even though it goes against my current energy status.

“Would you,” she said so very sweetly, “go to the mall and pick up a gift that I had ordered?”

Being married to GMP for more years than I can remember, is very difficult for me to say no. Actually, even when I do say no, someone on the other end of the conversation is not listening.

I should be rather grateful, because of all of the husbands she has, I am the only one she asks to do favors. Through the years, I have gathered that I must be her favorite husband. So, in a really grateful frame of mind, not to mention merry, I headed for the mall to get her purchase.

I am not sure if there is another place in the whole world that I hate worse than going to a shopping mall. If there is, I haven’t got there yet. Every time I walk into a shopping mall, I get nervous because everybody is looking at me, especially at my wallet. Even my wallet shivers when we walk through the opening door.

Just getting inside the shopping mall is a drain on my “merry” attitude. I figured before I really get started I should grab a cup of coffee and go sit down in a lounge chair.

There was a coffee shop in the mall and I got a $0.79 cup of coffee for $7.90. I guess where you put the decimal is really important. Personally, I would have enjoyed a $0.79 cup of coffee more.

I got my coffee, sat down in one of the lounge chairs, took a deep breath, a nice gentle sip of hot coffee and started to relax. Christmas music was being played in the background, which contributed to my relaxing attitude.

The mall was rather crowded, people were hurrying here and there, in the background Merry Christmas music was being played and I thought I would just take the time and enjoy the moment.

After I got through about half of my coffee, I happened to look around carefully watching the people coming and going. There was such a rat race going on that I could hardly believe it. I looked around trying to find some Merry Christmas faces. Unfortunately, there was not any in the direction I was looking.

“I hope they don’t run out of this before I get there,” I heard someone complaining.

“I hope I have enough money to cover this,” someone else complained.

“I hope I can get it in time to get to the party tonight,” complained another person.

I listen to all of this and was simply amazed. Where in the world was this merry spirit that Christmas is most noted for? Everybody was hoping for something, but their hope did not seem too realistic from my point of view.

At the merriest time of the year sitting in a place where people were buying Christmas presents, it was very disconcerting to realize there were not that many merry people in the mall. Everyone seemed to be under some kind of pressure and aggravation.

A thought began to jingle in my mind. What would it take for some people to really experience a Merry Christmas? What would make them merry?

Taking another sip of this expensive “Merry Christmas” coffee, I began to think about life in general. Am I really living a merry life? Or, am I all caught up with the holiday season?

Just because someone says, “Merry Christmas” does not mean in fact that they are experiencing anything quite near to merry.

Watching people scramble here and there in the shopping mall, I realized that merry had nothing to do with Christmas. For so many people, Christmas is a time when you are so busy trying to get things to make other people “merry” that the whole spirit escapes.

What we really need during this particular holiday season is what I call, The Merrification of Christmas. Christmas is what it is, but there is the possibility of really having a Merry Christmas if you understand what the attitude of merry is all about.

It is not about gifts, or parties, or traveling. It is something more substantial than that. In order for me to Merrificate my life, I need something more than just the holiday spirit.

Weaving through the crowd at the mall, I picked up the item my wife sent me to pick up and headed for the parking lot. As I was going, I realized why I really did not like the mall, especially during the holiday season. Too many people are struggling with anxiety and frustration in trying to keep up with the Christmas Joneses.

I thought of what Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

The key ingredient of “Merry” is rest and only Jesus can give the rest that creates a merry spirit.

Source by James Snyder

The Abids-Nampally station road has always been a busy thoroughfare in the metro. Reason – it is a haunt for furniture-shoppers who can make their choice from the large variety of domestically-made and imported furniture stocked by about 20 shops in that area.

These outlets stock various series of furniture ranging from the ones for the bedroom (cots, chests of drawers, dressing tables, wardrobes) and the computer table (computer cabinets and chests), to the entertainment series (TV wall units and chests) and the study table series.

They also have a wide range of products in the living room series comprising sofa sets (leather, wooden and wrought iron), rocking chairs, imported sofa-cum-beds, dining tables, corner sets, centre tables, side tables, diwans and folding chairs, available in different patterns and designs. The molded chairs, which are available in different hues, and the rocking chairs for toddlers are worth a buy.

Some of the prominent outlets in this area include Lepakshi Furnitures and Interiors, A P Furnitures, Sri Jayalaxmi Industries, R K Furniture, Balaji Modular Furniture, Gopathi Furniture and Interiors, Dilip Agencies, Sri Gopinath Agencies, Lifestyle Furnitures, Hyderabad Furnitures, Sri Hema Furnitures, Singh Enterprises and Kamdar Furniture.

The price range in these shops starts at Rs 650 for tea tables and goes up to Rs 2 lakh for a package item, which includes three or four products like tables, folding chairs, a single cot etc. The molded furniture from leading brands like Cello, Nilkamal, VIP, Chetan, Rosekamal and Rajkamal are priced between Rs 120 and Rs 400.

A significant number of products at most of the outlets have been designed domestically at Hyderabad, Pune and Chennai, though many claim to sell international ones as well. Either ways, if there is one area in the metro where you could buy economically-priced wide variety of furniture and interior décor items, it would be the Abids-Nampally station road.

Source by Shah Barkha

The Dutchmen 318 RKDS travel trailer is in a league of its own or should I say it used to be. As I stated in the summary Dutchmen RV no longer produces a travel trailer under the brand name Dutchmen. The units we now suggest in this floor plan is the Sunset Trail 300RK. This camper is a unit designed for those who no longer have a need for bunks in their recreational vehicle. This unit is for a couple who have raised their kids and are now ready for camper built just for them.

This double slide out unit is a rear kitchen floor plan. It has plenty of counter space and its location keeps other traffic from interfering. You will find a nice size pantry next to the 6 cubic feet refrigerator. One will also find a three burner range with a nice size oven. The sink is a double bowl with a high-rise faucet.

This mom-and-pop unit has an oversized U-shaped dinette and fold out sofa. So if by chance the kids or grandkids want to go, there is a place for them to sleep. This unit can sleep six people very comfortably.

In the living area along with the sofa one will find two swivel rockers. If one gets the optional TV, it will also have a DVD player. The comfort of the living room furniture will make TV viewing a real pleasure.

It has one of the largest side bathrooms in a travel trailer that I have ever seen. It has a neo-angle shower with a skylight above it. It has in the entry from the hallway or the master bedroom.

It has a Queen walk around bed with under storage, and pass-through storage across the entire front of the coach. You find additional storage in the sure closets and overhead cabinets.The Dutchmen 318RKS weighs 7358 pounds. It has a massive cargo capacity of 2322 pounds. It has an overall height including air-conditioner of 11 feet 4 inches. It is 8 feet wide. It has a freshwater capacity of 52 gallons. The black water tank can hold 42 gallons. The gray water tank can hold 42 gallons.

It has a 34,000 BTU automatic ignition furnace. It comes standard with air-conditioner, microwave, awning, tinted safety glass windows, 82 inch ceiling height, and many other features.

If it is time to leave the bunkhouse travel trailer genre behind and move to a mom-and-pop unit, this could be the unit for you. The 318 is an exciting and roomy floor plan. Do yourself a favor, and put this one on the list to check out. You will not be sorry.

Source by Roger Dale Lee

Visiting the Paxos Island for the first time will undoubtedly offer you the lifetime experience of going on a memorable vacation with your family. Well, there is not one reason behind this statement but there are lots of things which make this island a heaven for the peace lovers. Anyhow, before discussing the reasons that will make your holiday an unforgettable period of your life, or make the Paxos island different from others, let us talk about the Paxos Island.

Where is Paxos Island? As you know that the country of Greece is known for its beautiful islands, and surprisingly Paxos is one of them. Although the island is the smallest among all the islands located in the Greece, despite this it is visited by the huge crowd of visitors across the world, especially who are in search of some tranquil and romantic location for their holidays. The island is located in the arms of Ionian or Heptanese island and is at the distance of nine miles from the Corfu, which is its nearest city. The Greek mainland is located at the distance of ten miles from the Paxos. To reach the Paxos, you will have to hire a boat from the Corfu, because the island doesn’t have its own airport, and the only airport to reach there is located at Corful only.

But, surprisingly, the absence of an airport could not stop the nature and peace lovers from coming there. In fact, it would not be wrong to say that the absence of an airport has proved to be a boon for the Paxos as it has kept it unspoiled from any type of pollution that would have taken place due to the arrival of aircraft. The island is mainly covered with the olive groves, which is also is the main source of income for the natives, apart from fishing and small commercial activities.

The eastern coast of the island has pebbles, whereas the western coast has only rocks and limestone cliffs.

Hotels in Paxos Island: If you are concerned about your staying facilities at the island, then you should not think much about it. Because, like other developed cities, Paxos is also blessed with all those facilities and amenities that you have been finding in other cities, and therefore finding hotels in Paxos island is not an exception to it. However, these hotels are different from the regular hotels that you have been staying while visiting to someplace during the holidays.

The hotels of Greece are similar to your personal home, that offer you the facility to enjoy the same freedom that you have been enjoying at your home. As a general practice when you stay in some hotel you have to book your room before reaching there, although for staying in these hotels you need to book them prior to your arrival. But, here you will not have to follow the restrictions of living in a single or double room or eating the food provided by the hotel. On the contrary here you will large rooms with king size beds, a living room with sofa set and other furniture, facility of cooking your own food in the kitchen. One more thing which differs the hotels of Paxos from other hotels in the presence of balcony, swimming pool and terrace, which is not offered by the regular hotels.

All these three facilities offer you the privilege of viewing the iconic view of an island and the surrounding area from the balcony and terrace, whereas separate swimming pool offers you the facility of enjoying the swimming according to your mood. Whereas, when you stay in some hotel you will not find a balcony or terrace to view the surrounding areas, and swimming is also allowed during the specific hours of the day.

What activities you can enjoy at the Island: Although the island of Paxos is small as compared to other islands, still it has everything to offer the visitors coming there. Here you can enjoy the pleasure of playing different types of water sports, sailing to nearby towns, walk on the beaches, enjoy the mesmerizing view of fireflies in the evening, learn about the lifestyle of the natives, culture of Greece, and of course a romantic and peaceful vacation.

Source by Kamal Swami

Brides are always on the lookout for interesting and stylish ideas for their weddings. One of the latest trends to come around is the wine and cheese wedding reception. Learn more about how to use this chic and affordable concept to plan your own wine and cheese wedding.

If you are not planning to have a formal seated wedding reception dinner, you need a great alternative. A wine and cheese reception could be just perfect. Everyone loves wine after all, and of course cheese (along with other foods) is always a hit. This is a fresh twist on the cocktail receptions which have been popular in recent years, and it is a terrific option for a late afternoon wedding. A wine and cheese reception is also relatively budget-friendly, as you will not need to serve a full meal, nor hire a big band.

The ideal time of day for a wine and cheese wedding reception is late afternoon. The ceremony can be held in the venue of your choosing, followed by the reception starting no later than 5pm. Alternatively, you could start all of the festivities after dinner; just do not hold people captive over a meal time if you do not plan to feed them a full dinner. Let them know what to expect by noting “Please join us for wine and cheese after the ceremony”, so that guests understand to make their own dinner plans.

A great space for this type of wedding reception would be a wine bar. Many have private rooms, or you may even be able to rent the whole space, particularly for an afternoon reception. No wine bar in your town? No problem; a chic restaurant, loft, or gallery space would make a terrific alternative venue. The seating should be comfortable and casual. Modern lounge spaces with low slung couches would be great. You can mix in a few tall cocktail tables with barstools as well. Be sure that you provide enough coffee tables and side tables for your guests to set down their drinks and little plates of appetizers.

The style of a wine and cheese wedding celebration will tend to be chic in a low key way. The bride would be charming in a short white lace dress with pearl custom bridal jewelry for an afternoon reception. A long slender column gown worn with custom vintage inspired bridal jewelry would be fabulous for the bride who likes a bit more drama. In either case, a handsome suit will be ideal for the groom. If you have bridesmaids, avoid the temptation to dress them identically, which is too old-fashioned for this modern wedding style. Allow each woman to select a dress in a color family, rather than asking each bridesmaid to wear the same dress.

Of course, the centerpiece of the reception will be the food. Set up stations with knowledgeable sommeliers who can inform guests about the wine selections being offered. Plan to serve a nice variety of red, white, sparkling, and dessert wines. It would be nice to set up food stations near the wine stations which feature the little bites which best complement the wine varieties. In addition to a broad selection of cheeses (soft, hard, goat, artisan, etc.), round out the food offerings with fresh fruit, bread, small hot bites like tartlets, and some tapas. Play light music in the background for ambiance, and you will have a wine and cheese wedding reception that all of your guests are sure to enjoy.

Source by Bridget Mora

Furnishing our living space with wooden furniture has plenty of practical and stylish benefits. Wood is rarely beaten when it comes to all-round strength and appearance. It is a practical choice for both modern and traditional designs. Plus, it can be made into unique designs with the possibility to engrave it, bend it and carve it.

Here are five benefits of wooden furniture:

Durability

Wooden furniture has the ability to offer long-term durability and is made from hardwood or softwood. The hardwood is the most expensive and includes mahogany, rosewood, teak, cherry and oak. This type of wood has a rich, dark finish and has the potential to last for generations. Softwoods can include cedar and pine which are more susceptible to marking and scratches. But, this can add an extra layer of character to the furniture. The softwood is lighter in color, but is likely to take on a darker shade if left exposed to sunlight.

Sustainability

There are certain woods like mahogany that are being over harvested, which can have long-term consequences. For this reason, it makes sense to buy the item of furniture that relies on the sustainable wood. This is certain to appeal to those homeowners that are looking for an ecologically safe way to furnish the living room or dining room.

Easy to maintain

Wood is a material that is relatively easy to care for. A regular dusting session will keep the item of furniture clean. A natural wax polish is a practical choice to maintain the items with a polished finish. Any non-treated or treated furniture should not be cleaned with water. Wood is very absorbent and letting the furniture get wet often can cause long-term damage.

Great versatility

Wood is a higher versatile material and easily complements the rustic, modern or traditional home. Adding a few items of furniture in cherry wood to the dining room is a great way to create the traditional look, while pine is useful for the rustic inspired theme, and ash is favored for the modern kitchen. Also, it is possible to mix and match a few styles of wood to create a really eclectic room.

Great for outdoors

Wood with its natural strength and beauty is a favorite choice for garden furniture. While there are plenty of other options like rattan, metal and plastic, the wooden furniture is the most striking and is also relatively easy to maintain. This type of garden furniture only needs the occasion treatment to maintain its good looks for the long-term.

Source by Leo Eigenberg

Without regular staining, an unfinished Adirondack chair (and indeed all outdoor wood furniture) will soon turn gray and suffer wood rot. While some people prefer the coastal style of an unfinished Adirondack chair, most homeowners would much rather transform and protect their unfinished Adirondack chairs with a rich, weather-resistant stain. By following our staining tips below, you defend any unfinished Adirondack chair against the natural elements.

Step 1: Sand Your Way to Smoothness.

Older unfinished Adirondack chairs almost always have a few splinters. Even a totally new unfinished Adirondack chair might have a rough spot or two. Sandpaper is the solution for both situations. Begin with 150-grit sandpaper, and then switch to 220-grit sandpaper to create a velvety-smooth surface. Remove excess sawdust with a damp rag.

Step 2: Get Your Safety Equipment Ready.

Wear gloves and protective goggles. Be sure to stain in a location with excellent airflow, to protect your lungs. Lastly, because staining can be a messy job, you may want to protect the floor of your workspace with a tarp.

Step 3: Condition Wood.

Applying wood conditioner is a great way to avoid discoloration later on. Simply put down a thin layer of conditioner, and allow 15 minutes of drying time before brushing on stain.

Step 4: Select a Stain.

There are two main categories of wood stain: oil-based and water-based. (A few manufacturers do create oil/water hybrids.) Dyes, pigments, and mineral spirits combine to create oil-based stains. In general, oil-based stains need more drying time, since oil penetrates deeper into wood pulp than does water. This trait also results in a more even finish. If you plan on leaving your previously unfinished Adirondack chairs out in harsh weather, oil-based stains are the superior choice, since they are more durable than water-based stains. Those who live in moisture-prone locations should be sure to select oil-based stains with mildew inhibitors.

One advantage of water-based stains is that they exist in more colors than their oil-based cousins. Those with lung conditions should also choose water-based stains, since they don’t release noxious fumes. For the same reason, water-based stains are the more eco-friendly choice. Water-based stains dry faster, resist flames better, and are easier to clean up with soap and water. Don’t worry about looking for a mildew inhibitor; water-based stains resist mildew naturally.

Once you’ve selected a stain base, decide on a tone that will flatter your home’s exterior, as well as an opacity level. Opaque stains offer more protection, but more translucent stains better showcase wood’s natural beauty.

Step 5: Stain like a Pro.

Distribute color in the can with a thorough stirring. You can apply stain with a brush or a rag. Some people prefer disposable foam brushes when staining unfinished chairs. Saturate every inch of the unfinished Adirondack chair with stain. Leave the stain on to encourage a darker tone, or wipe away excess stain to achieve a lighter color. Promote penetration by wiping in the same direction as the wood grain.

Give the stain a day or so to dry. Apply another layer of stain if the color doesn’t strike you as quite bright enough.

Step 6: Apply a Protective Finish.

To make sure unfinished Adirondack chairs last a long time, it’s important to apply a protective finish. Oil-based finishes are best for patio furniture. Some time saving products contain both stain and finish.

Source by Ashley Burke

Present age is the age of development where everyone would like to try on new things to get more comfortable life. Every business needs some time to establish itself and employees are the main source behind the success. The new methods of office furniture have been introduced by keeping in mind the spirit of manpower where they spend half of the day in the office. They must be provided with useful environment because they consider office to be their second home.

The concerned companies are supposed to decide before what kind of furniture they would like for their office and to what extent it can be made useful for users. The size and area of an office does not matter unless it is equipped with best furniture. People can fall in love with the design, structure and color of various equipments in the office and it gives them inspiration to continue with their work. Office chairs are one such furniture for an office that can be very helpful for all employees.

These chairs need to be balanced with the requirement of users which can give them a chance to stretch their legs and relax in free time. People are supposed to work for a long time in this situation where there is an urgent need of the quality of the material and structure that can give them the benefit and provide them with strong environment full of vigor and not of fatigue. These days, office chairs are available in various designs and colors that people can select from wide variety of options regarding their usage.

Various companies and manufacturers have been able to make a strong impact in the market with the advancement if new techniques and more comfortable options. Wonderful implement of office furniture can change the whole outlook of an office. Users are even provided with best economical solution of buying furniture on various websites where you can select the desired furniture and compare it with others.

Same goes for office chairs where the selection matters a lot. This is one part of furniture that demands whole attention as it is supposed to be comfortable and people must be provided with soft material. Also, the support of handle in the chairs is very important that allows you to stand and sit. It should be decided after carefully going through all the details.

Source by Sophia Emma

Oak has all the characteristics required to make the finest furniture, and it is this that has led to its immense popularity for hundreds of years, and just as much so today. Oak trees are hardwoods which mean that they are strong and hard, yet easy to work with which makes it very useful for building and furniture making. There aren’t many other hardwoods that can compete with the flexibility that it has, and once dried out and weathered it has the ability to be used for everything from interior paneling and railroad ties to building boats and whiskey barrels.

A dense wood with a coarse, heavy grain, as it ages it slowly darkens to a rich honey brown. These characteristics make it not only suitable for furniture but also a preferred material for building fine pieces that will be appreciated for years to come.

American White Oak and Red Oak, and English Oak from the European variety are the most common types used in manufacturing furniture as its properties allow it to be flexible and molded into all kinds of shapes required in furniture design.

The great thing about this type of wood is that it can be manipulated into shapes and forms very easily which means it’s immensely popular with designers and can be found in all manner of furniture items. It makes first-rate legs and spindles for straight-backed dining chairs and wooden rocking chairs; it can also be steam-bent which is when steam is applied to enable it to be slowly bent into the required curved shape often used for oak barrels and kegs amongst other things.

In comparison to other types of wood oak is highly resistant to dents and marks and takes some force to actually damage it, and even if it does receive some due to general wear and tear it just improves the look! A hardwood, it can be difficult get nails into it so you’ll find that most solid oak furniture is secured with dowels and glue, wooden pegs, or pocketed wood screws, which are actually stronger than nails.

After it has been seasoned, dried, and smoothed, oak turns into an exceptionally strong material that would take a lot of effort to damage, break and mark unless a lot of force is used. Due to this it’s a fashionable preference for turning it into a number of objects and items from ornaments and decorative pieces to dressers and sideboards. It can also tolerate a heavy load without buckling or bending which makes it perfect not only for furniture but also bookshelves, and stair treads and wooden flooring in particular as it can cope with a lot of foot traffic.

Take notice to how the piece is assembled, a good quality solid oak furniture made by a skilled craftsman will have Dovetail joints on drawers and be made of solid wood all over. If you see a piece you like then always check it over carefully before making a purchase, ensure the back of the unit and the bottoms of the drawers are all solid too as these are the places manufacturers might try to save money by placing oak veneers instead in these areas.

Pull out the drawers and they should glide smoothly, ensure there are no gaps at the joins, and sets like dining room furniture with various parts to it should be stained in the same colour and match, once you start looking at a few pieces you’ll soon get to identify quality.

It can cost a lot of money to buy 100% high grade solid oak furniture but the look it can give a home is well worth the expense. Add to your collection an item at a time, for example dressers and buffet hutch, as quality is important and they make great family heirlooms so you want something that will be admired and is beautiful to look at. If you can afford it then think about getting a piece custom-made, take your time looking around for ideas before getting any estimates.

Source by David Bonning