eco-friendly


Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

“Bonded Leather”, A Good Thing!

In some ways explaining what bonded leather is can be the same as describing the difference between ground beef and a sirloin steak.  The food is all steak, only one is ground up and one is a whole piece.   sofaBonded leather is similar whereas you have bonded leather and a full grain leather hide.  Bonded leather is leather scraps that are “left over” on the factory floor.  These leather scraps are gathered and ground up, then pressed together with a bonding agent to form a “hide”.  Thus the name “bonded leather”.  Sometimes the process stops here and the bonded leather is 100% leather.  Other times the pressed hide is covered in polyurethane that is colored and textured to match a premium hide.  This bonded product has much better characteristics than vinyl.

The difference between bonded leather and genuine leather, in terms of quality and looks, can be hard to see. If it is done properly, the grains and textures of bonded leather should look very close to that of genuine leather.  In some cases, the only different may be that the texture of the bonded leather may not be quite as pronounced as that of natural-grained genuine leather. The function, smell, and overall appearance can remain much the same, however.

The other major difference with bonded leather is in the cost. It is often available at a substantial discount over genuine leather.  This is because the leather scraps, or leather fibers, would have no other value, or very little value, if not made into a bonded form.   Therefore, it is still considered a good deal for the manufacturer to sell it at a reduced cost.

One of the most common applications for bonded leather is in the covers for books, especially Bibles.  The leather for Bibles can be bonded and still very easily create the desired look and feel.  While full disclosure often means the words “bonded leather” appear somewhere on the cover, it would otherwise be hard to tell the difference.  It has become such a product of choice for Bibles that finding them in genuine leather is becoming more difficult.

Saturday, July 10th, 2010

Designing a safe nursery

designing a safe nurseryDesigning 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!

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

Bring the environment into your home

Environment ImageEveryone loves the environment and in some way wants to protect it. In today’s society, we are constantly made aware of mother earth’s deteriorating condition.  Taking care of the environment is essential for all industries and products.  For those of you looking to create an environmentally friendly home , here’s a list of home-beautifying trends and products in accordance with the ongoing ‘green’ movement.

Wabi-Sabi

Reclaimed wood is one of the most popular trends in green design.  The reshaping of recycled wood falls under the Japanese art form, Wabi-Sabi, an art devoted to finding beauty in imperfection.  This new spin on an old design philosophy presents both contemporary and traditional items that are sure to brighten any space.

Paint it “Green”

The green movement no longer only applies to the construction of furniture.  Now, the green movement extends from your floor to the ceiling, literally.  New chemical-free paints – which contain no volatile organic compounds – make spicing up your interior an eco-friendly exercise.  Today, chemical-free interior paint has expanded from only a few shades to the entire spectrum of the rainbow and beyond.  You can paint your rooms and feel good about your effort to reduce the damage inflicted on mother nature.

LED is a Y-E-S

While compact fluorescent lighting is a better choice for the environment than the old incandescent bulb, it gives off a drab, bluish glow.  Fluorescent bulbs used to be the only environmentally sound choice, but now a brighter option is in the making.  New LED bulbs, made in the same shape and size as incandescent bulbs, will soon hit the market.  They give off a brighter, more natural light than incandescent lights while offering much more durability than the older models.

When giving your room an eco-friendly boost, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and get those eco-friendly furniture pieces from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so you can enjoy the environment all the time.