Accessories
Monday, April 18th, 2011
iPads are quite prevalent in the furniture industry. Recently I attended the International Furniture Market in High Point, North Carolina, and iPads were everywhere. In a sales meeting a sales rep pointed out that he carries all of his product photos and order forms on on his iPad and can give a presentation to a furniture store owner seamlessly. Furniture factories are underwriting iPads for their salesforce because of all the money saved on photos. Some companies spend upwards of $25,000 annually on such photos.
Along those lines, a retail salesperson will be able to virtually carry every item in the store under their arm. All sofa fabrics will be current (no more reelections…). No more walking back to a catalog room and fumbling for the right catalog (probably missing anyway…). Also, a salesperson will be able search their iPad for a category and item, then check with supplier on availability.
So, thanks Apple for changing the way furniture is sold!
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Contemporary, Cottage Design, Country Design, Uncategorized | No Comments
Monday, April 11th, 2011
Well, it was that time again, where all of the furniture industry join together in High Point, North Carolina to view hot new furniture styles and colors! This year was no exception. In sofa fabrics we saw a lot of bright colors and bold reds. Leather is trending with button cushions. In bedroom furniture, the storage bed is still very popular, as is the marble top Louis Philippe. As for formal dining, that business is dropping because people are moving away from the formal dining room, but we did see some counter height formal dining which was eye catching. The mattress designs have not changed much but we are beginning to see a hint of color in what is normally an off-white world.
Large retail buyers were looking for exclusives and all buyers were looking for great values, which is tough to find right now as manufactures are forced to push through price increases during the coming months. Market attendance seems to be at an all time low due to retailers either not being able to afford to travel, or buyers are staying home to mind the store.
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating Tips, Design Trends, Dining Room Furniture, End Tables, Leather Furniture, Mattresses, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Royal Heritage Mattress, Uncategorized, Upholstery, living room, sofa | No Comments
Wednesday, December 8th, 2010
What a wonderful time of the year for furniture! Who doesn’t remember 
going down in the basement each year to bring up the many boxes of Christmas decorations for the tree, mantle and furniture? For most of us it is some of our earliest memories. The wonderful sights of the various holiday decorations along with the seasonal smells.
Furniture has always played a large roll in Christmas decorating. Where else but the living room end table would Mom put her favorite decoration of two elves helping Santa that she’s had since she was a child? And doesn’t the nativity scene look perfect on a server or sofa table? 
What end table doesn’t have a ceramic Christmas tree? And a coffee table just doesn’t look right without a beautiful arrangement of poinsettas.
Remember the old radio and TV consoles of the 50’s and 60’s? Those were always decorated for Christmas with candles and pine garland, or a couple of reindeer.
The dining room table is always a focal point for Christmas decorations. Most tables are decorated with a holiday runner and a beautiful centerpiece. Sofas, love seats and chairs are also the perfect place for holiday decorations. 
A festive Christmas pillow or beautiful holiday throw are a wonderful touch.
Isn’t it better to dream about visions of sugar plums while waiting for Santa Clause in our comfy bed covered in holiday sheets and comforter? Children would easily go off to bed when their beds are decorated with Christmas trees and holly!
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating Tips, Dining Room Furniture, End Tables, Leather Furniture, Mattresses, Recliner, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Royal Heritage Mattress, Upholstery, living room, loveseat, sleeper sofa, sofa | 2 Comments
Wednesday, September 29th, 2010
What!? Bed bugs have been found inside the Indiana University campus library? And inside the store “Niketown” in NYC? Bloomingdales NYC? How creepy can this get? What’s next, finding them inside the local country club?
What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are small little wingless insects that feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded mammals. Humans are the ideal host. They can be light tan or burnt orange in color. Just after molting most of them are plane white. Bed bugs have evolved over millions of years as nest parasites – inhabiting the nest of birds and bats for instance. Some of them have learned to adapt to the human environment and live in “our nest”.
They are called bed bugs because they prefer to live in our beds, mattresses, sofas and other soft furniture.
Bed bugs feed for about 5 minutes, then go into hiding for about 5 to 10 days then feed again. If there is no food readily available (human blood), bed bugs have been known to lie dormant for months waiting to feed again.
Are Bed Bugs Dangerous to Humans?
Not really. Other than a mosquito bite type look or a small rash, there is not much danger to bed bug bites and they are not known to carry any diseases. In extreme cases people can have an allergic reaction. Bed bugs bite by injecting a small amount of their saliva into the human host which results in a painless reaction. Quite often the bite does not manifest itself for an hour or two, maybe much longer. Therefore, sometimes it is hard to detect that you have bed bugs right away because you don’t have symptoms.
How do Bed Bugs Get in to Your Home?
Although studies have shown that bed bugs can travel in one’s luggage, the most common way to bring them into your home is via used furniture and mattresses.
How to Eliminate and Prevent Bed Bugs?
Once you detect that you have a bed bug problem you may want to call a pest removal professional first as they can help in the detection and recommend a removal process for your particular situation.
If you decide to do it yourself the first step would be to remove the coverings on any item of furniture or mattress that is infected. If you are able to wash the fabric in hot water do so, if not, wash normally but set the dryer on hot – at least 120º. If in the winter, you may take these coverings outside and leave in the freezing weather for 24 hours.
Then vacuum the mattress or sofa all over especially in the folds and cracks. Then use insecticides to kill the bugs.
Preventing Bed Bugs by Encasing Your Mattress and Box Spring.
You could encase both the mattress and box spring as a proactive measure. As soon as you put the encasement on your bed any bed bugs trapped inside will eventually die, provided you do not unzip shortly after putting them on. Some people encase their new beds as it prevents bugs from getting in and makes it easier to clean.
Bed bug covers can be purchased online and from most reputable retailers. Make sure you are buying “bed bug specific” and that you cover both the mattress and box.
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Mattresses, Nursery, Uncategorized | No Comments
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010
Whether it was a holiday spent at grandma’s house, or a family trip up north to the country, many of us have stayed at a country or cottage-styled home at one time in our very eventful lives. Country and cottage-styled homes are a staple of American design and can be a peaceful place to live or visit, and are a place where your problems seem to fade away.
But what exactly is meant when refereeing to a country or cottage-styled home?
Continuing with our design style theme, we will explore the different types of country and cottage designs, and how these styles are represented in homes across the U.S.
If you have ever visited a home on the Great Lakes, then you probably know what a Classic Costal design is. Designed to look like a beach house, homes that are designed with a Costal look will embrace a relaxed approach and display nautical themes.
However, there are different variations to a Costal theme. Gulf Coast styles bring together Art Deco and vibrant colors, with wicker and rattan, sending you back in time to the ‘50s. Done correctly, Gulf Coast styled homes can be a very cool place to live or visit. Pacific Coast designed homes tend to be influenced heavily by Asian influence, and will be decorated in deep finishes with very comfortable fabrics. Similar to the Classic Costal look, Atlantic Seaboard designed homes have louvers and shutters with a color palette similar to that of lighthouses.
Emphasized by natural woods with deep finishes, Americana style homes are very simple when it comes to ornamentation but tend to have a very patriotic feel. Fabrics are muted colors and are adorned with starts and stripes. This style of home can be a perfect place to spend a Fourth of July or other patriotic holiday.
On the other hand, a Cottage-styled home typically has lots of wicker or iron pieces of furniture and gets its style from the natural surroundings that encompasses it. Cotton and linen fabrics found in the home will have a floral or checkered pattern giving the home an almost country like feel.
Finally, Rustic and Lodge styled homes are designed with a rugged approach but still offer the advantage of relaxation. Earth tones are predominant here, while exposed wood in very light finishes are adorned with Native American artwork, wood carvings and natured inspired accessories. Fabrics that line the beds and couches will usually have a hand-woven feel.
Whether its Rustic, Classic Coastal, or Country styled homes, visit your local Royal Heritage Furnishings Retailer and shop their immense selection of cottage styled furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection and give your home the vacation style feel you have been looking for!
Tags: Bedroom, chairside tables, cottage, Cottage Design, Country Design, design, Dining Room, dining room table, fashion, furniture, living room, Royal Heritage, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, wood trimmed upholstery, youth bedroom
Posted in Accessories, Bedroom Furniture, Cottage Design, Country Design, Decorating Tips, Dining Room Furniture, End Tables, Home Office, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, living room | 1 Comment
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
“Should I go with fabric?…..What color do I need?….. will this even fit?….what style do I need?…… do I have enough money?!!”………
We’ve all been there before. Planning on buying a new piece of furniture can be a very stressful time, especially when there are so many factors to take into consideration. Take your time and don’t make a hurried decision, this will save you from detesting your furniture for years to come. In order to help you find the right piece of furniture, we have assembled a list of factors you need to take into consideration before you go shopping. Each recommendation will help you find that perfect item you will treasure for years.
- Measurements: You want to bring your furniture in your house, right?. Many people find the perfect piece, buy it, get it home and oops it doesn’t fit through the door. Keep in mind that some sofas are simply too big to bring into your home. In order to get the piece into the room, it has to first fit through the door. Measure all your furniture pieces already in the home. This will give you a solid base of measurements to look for in a piece of furniture. This will save you the stress on the way home about whether it will fit through the door.
- Space is key: How much space do you have to work with? This is the first question you need to ask yourself. It’s simple…regardless of what you want, if you don’t have the space, then don’t even consider it! The shape and size of your room will help you determine what to look for. For instance, if you’re looking for a living room sectional and don’t have a lot of room to work with, consider a loveseat over a sofa.
- Budget: It’s simple. Don’t buy what you can’t afford. Always plan around your budget. You shouldn’t burden yourself with the added stress that accompanies paying off home décor you can’t afford. Quality furniture costs more, but will last longer. Cheap furniture, while easy on the budget, doesn’t last long and you may find yourself buying furniture again in several years. Determine how long you want your home décor to last and shop for items that fit that time range, and most importantly your budget.
- What’s your lifestyle: What is your life like? Is it just you or are you a part of a large family? Will the piece you buy often have smaller children on it? Your lifestyle determines what type of piece you should buy. If you entertain guests regularly, consider a sturdy, comfortable couch. Buy pieces of furniture that will flow with your lifestyle and won’t leave you pulling your hair out every time you have guests over.
When following these steps for purchasing a piece of furniture, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their enormous selection of high quality furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection and leave in peace, knowing you got that perfect piece!
Tags: Bedroom, budget, choices, decisions, design, Dining Room, dining room table, furniture, lifestyle, living room, measurements, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, setting up, shopping, space
Posted in Accessories, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating Tips, Dining Room Furniture, End Tables, Entertainment Centers, Environment, Home Office, Leather Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Royal Heritage Mattress, Youth Bedroom Furniture, living room, loveseat, sleeper sofa, sofa | No Comments
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
Are you in style? Does your home have a look that would be considered cool by today’s standards? If so, then your home probably has a contemporary or modern look to it. But what does “contemporary” really mean?
Many times people classify contemporary as a distinct style that doesn’t encompass other design styles. Commonly, and un-knowingly, they think furniture considered contemporary is something they are most likely to find in an upscale art gallery in New York city. What they fail to realize is that the word contemporary simply means “of the present time,” and this can encompass a broad range of designs.
“Artsy” furniture, the most common label for contemporary furniture, is likely to be found in urban locations and lofts. This furniture often has flare and is extremely simple. Furniture pieces in this category are not always adorned with straight lines, but typically showcase curved lines to give them a unique look and shape. Leather and microfibers are usually the upholstery of choice in this case.
If you are looking to stay within the contemporary style but want more of a straight lined look, then look for pieces that are of Danish or Scandinavian design. Contemporary Scandinavian designers often use straight lines in their designs and leave their pieces unadorned and crafted of walnut and teak. Sometimes their pieces will have gentle curves, but these will not be at a premium.
Finally, minimalist styled furniture takes the contemporary look to the extreme and is known for its use of straight lines. The Minimalist approach was inspired by Bauhaus design and puts emphasis on free space, functionality, and economical design. You won’t find a lot of furniture in a minimalistic room. Instead, you will find one of two pieces accompanied by a lot of space.
Whether its straight lined or curvy lines, minimalistic or urban, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their massive selection of contemporary furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection and give your home the modern style you are looking for!
Tags: artsy, Bedroom, chic, Contemporary, design, Dining Room, dining room table, Entertaining, fashion, fashion trend, furniture, Leather Furniture, living room, modern, Royal Heritage, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, sofas, urban, youth bedroom
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Contemporary, Decorating Tips, Design Trends, Dining Room Furniture, End Tables, Entertainment Centers, Environment, Home Office, Leather Furniture, Nursery, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, living room, loveseat, sofa | 1 Comment
Thursday, July 15th, 2010
With styles changing what seems like daily, it’s hard to keep up with current furniture lingo thrown at you when you are shopping for furniture. Whether it’s contemporary, traditional, cottage, modern, or chic, these terms can encompass a broad range of styles that might leave you scratching your head. In the next few weeks I will review the most commonly used terms to discuss styles, and what exactly the definition of each is. This week we will look at traditional styles, and what it truly means to be a traditional looking piece of furniture.
Time honored, Colonial, European…these are just a few of the words you might hear when shopping for a traditionally styled piece of furniture. The main characteristic all these terms have in common is they have a century old look. These pieces will be reminiscent of furniture you might find in a royal mansion in Spain, or a President in Colonial times.
American styled pieces will have a look that was represented in the Colonial times. Painted finishes coupled with spindles – and finial – are very typical in this instance. However, they will be adapted to fit modern day uses.
If a piece has an European feel, it most likely means the wood will have a curvilinear design and commonlywill be constructed our of dark woods. Sofas and chairs will have an arched back giving them a more formal look and feel.
Tropical looks combined with British styles are what makes up the British Colonial and West Indies fashion. These pieces are most likely built with wicker, rattan, and other lighter woods but completed in deep dark finishes. The lines and edges of these items will be much cleaner and simpler when compared to the curvy lines of the European brand of style.
When looking to give your room a traditional look that will last for centuries, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their enormous selection of furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so your home can have the class and style it deserves!
Tags: Bedding, Bedroom, colonial, design, Dining Room, dining room table, european, fashion, fashion trend, furniture, living room, Royal Heritage, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, traditional, wood trimmed upholstery, youth bedroom
Posted in Accessories, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating Tips, Design Trends, Dining Room Furniture, Entertainment Centers, Environment, Home Office, Leather Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Royal Heritage Mattress, Upholstery, Youth Bedroom Furniture, living room, sleeper sofa, sofa | No Comments
Saturday, July 10th, 2010
Designing a nursery for your soon-to-be-newborn is a very special time for parents. You want the room to be perfectly safe; a beautiful living space for your new special treasure but free from any hazards. But how do you protect them from the hazards you can’t see? Here are some safe and healthy ways to create a living space for your little one.
Keep it clean and simple
Today’s current fad is a contemporary style. The modern-and-chic look is one of simplicity, where only a few items are used to bring life to the room. Use colors sparingly in this instance, and stay away from over-using pastels. Go with a calm color for the walls. This will allow for wall murals or cozy rugs to stand out more, adding style to the room.
Avoid hazards you can see
Keeping the room safe doesn’t just mean ensuring the edges of furniture pieces are rounded and protectors are in the plugs. You have to protect your little one from things that cannot be seen. This means staying away from synthetic materials that give off formaldehyde gas. Items like press board and plastics are the culprits in this case. Instead, choose furniture made out of natural wood that is not finished. It’s pretty much guaranteed that during your baby’s gumming stage, s/he will come in contact with the crib or other pieces of furniture. Be sure to stay away from painted or stained materials for their safety as well.
Natural Baby Bedding
Toxins can also be found in bedding. Your baby’s skin will be in contact with nursery bedding for many hours each day. A baby’s skin is very sensitive in the early years, so it’s important to keep their skin safe from substances that cause irritation. Choose natural fabrics like cotton instead of synthetics. This also goes for crib bumpers, pillow inserts, covers and changing pads.
Safe walls for little hands
On the theme of non-toxic products, it’s important that the walls of the room are safe from any artificial materials. If you’re choosing wallpaper for the room, look to have it professionally installed with non-toxic wallpaper paste. If you choose to paint, zero-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) is your best bet here and can be customized to match almost any color you need.
When designing a safe and hazard free nursery for your new arrival, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their massive selection of children furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so you know your baby’s nursery is a safe place to be!
Tags: baby bedding, baby room, Bedding, Bedroom, design, eco-friendly, fashion, fashion trend, furniture, Nursery, Prevention, protecting baby, protection, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Royal Heritage Mattress, safe bedroom, setting up, youth bedroom
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating Tips, Design Trends, Nursery, Prevention, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Royal Heritage Mattress, Youth Bedroom Furniture, eco-friendly | No Comments
Tuesday, July 6th, 2010
Your kids will always change their minds. Whether it’s within seconds, minutes, hours, or days, it’s inevitable that your child will at one point change their mind about their likes and interests. Seventeen years of these attitude changes can take its toll on any room, and can become very expensive. So how do you prepare for your child’s ever-changing tastes when designing their room?
Plan for the long term
Your focus when planning for longevity needs to be solely on the furniture pieces. This is where designing a room time-and-time again can become very costly. Kids are very hard on furniture. That’s a fact. Buying quality, well-built pieces is vital here. This doesn’t mean you have to break the bank and buy the absolute best. But look at the manufacturer’s warranty and take it into consideration when deciding what to buy. Also, heavier woods are sturdier and will last longer, but can be more expensive. Woods like pine are not as high quality, but will save you money.
Stay with the traditional
With the amount of TV and movies your children are exposed too, it’s hard to say what characters or themes they will like from one day to the next. So when your child decides it’s time for a new style in their room, simply change the wall hangings or the painting scheme. This is something that can be inexpensive and easy to change. Kids outgrow themes on a daily basis, so if you purchase a new bed with every theme, plan for a lot of spending.
The sooner, the better
When designing for a nursery, stay away from gender specific colors like pink for a girl and blue for a boy. Thinking long term means using neutral shades for paints, and then adding bolder colors to the accent pieces. Accent pieces can be changed down the road and are fairly inexpensive.
Wall stickers are also a great way to decorate. They peel off very easily and are inexpensive as well.
Finally, multi-stage pieces will also help when planning for the longevity of the room. For instance, cribs that convert into toddler beds will last for years and serve a multi-purpose. As will a six-drawer dresser with a changer on top instead of just a changing table.
When designing your child’s room for longevity, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their enormous selection of furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so you know your child’s furniture will last a lifetime!
Tags: Bedding, Bedroom, child bedroom, Children, children design, childrens bedroom, design, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, youth bedroom
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating Tips, Design Trends, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture | No Comments
