For example, we know that leather is a product of the cow, as natural an animal as any other. Yet, we might expect our leather couch to be smooth, clean, and free of any blemishes. The first two are a given, but the third – in a word, isn’t. True, natural leather is going to have some markings and characteristics, regardless of how carefully it has been cured. It is simply unavoidable.

Some things you may come across: 

Graining: Looks like human fingerprints, and like fingerprints are very unique and will vary from cow to cow. 

Branding marks: Brand marks are not just a thing of cowboys; the technique is still used for identification purposes. Although, it is unlikely that you will find these marks on a finished leather good. 

Stretch marks and healed scars: Stretch marks occur during the birthing process, on human and cow alike, as do scars. Both are permanent and perfectly natural. 

Neck wrinkles: Very fine lines caused by the loose skin around the neck of the cow, needed for grazing. 

Backbone markings: Furrows which appear on the back of the cowhide. 

Urine burns: Urine is an acidic substance which actually causes markings on the inner legs and thighs of the cow. 

Caring for your leather product: 

Leather is a sturdy substance, which is why it’s great for making long-lasting and durable items. Leather is an investment, one that is capable of sticking with you for a large portion of your life. So you want to treat it right. 

Dust gently and regularly with a sponge or soft brush. Stains and spills will happen regardless of how much care is taken. However, be sure to wipe them up immediately with a soft damp cloth. Never rub or scrub. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Do not use any products like saddle soap or cleaning solvents. Only clean with lukewarm water and let air dry naturally. And be sure to train pets to stay away.

See our large collection of leather products.

Yet at this same time, specifically in 2001, China became the most important source of wood furniture imports to the U.S. Vietnam, not surprisingly, is a close second. So this means we are sending wood overseas where they make it into furniture; then, we pay to import the finished product. Sounds like a lot of traveling expenses, not to mention consumption of resources. 

This change of the wind was not without impact on the American furniture industry, particularly small dealers. In 1999, employment in furniture-making and related industries was 537,000 workers. By 2010, this number had dropped to 210,000. Slashed by half in little more than a decade. While it is true that interest in fields of trade also declined in this era, it is pretty clear that, based on the other factors, there was a marked decrease in the need for skilled carpenters (and their products) at the time. The smaller businesses suffered more because they were less prepared to bear the brunt of the impact. 

There is hope, however. Just like trends, economics, and life in general, business has a good share of ups and downs. New generations sweep in and do things differently. The teenagers of the year 2000 are all grown up, buying their own style of furniture today. There is a much higher demand now for artisanal, hand-made furniture than there was even just a few years ago. It’s the type of furniture that has character and personality. We are also seeing a resurgence of support for local companies and communities. The numbers will sway the other way with time. We only have to wait for it.

We are happy to help our clients with high-quality furniture.

Different types of finishes have varying ingredients and different degrees of drying time. Some smell stronger than others. As long as you bring a steady hand to the table (pun intended), you shouldn’t have too much difficulty with any of them, but there are personal and situational preferences to consider. 

Linseed oil and tung oil are most often used in finishing. They are derived from natural ingredients—tung oil is made from nuts of trees found in parts of Asia. Both are easy to obtain and relatively inexpensive. They are called penetrating finishes because they penetrate the fibers of the wood, causing it to harden. These oils are also considered easiest to apply as the method is hard to mess up. Rub on, allow to penetrate, and wipe excess off with a rag. 

Varnish is made from synthetic resin modified with drying oils. Varnish is more durable than linseed or tung oil and can be easily applied—typically by brush—by the average woodworker. It is highly resistant to water, heat, and solvents. Then there are oil and varnish blends. These hybridizations give the best of both worlds: easy application yet highly protective qualities. They dry a bit harder than the oils. 

Shellac is made from a natural resin secreted by bugs found in India and Thailand. It comes in a premixed version, which contains wax, or in flake form. It is more like a paint and generally available in a variety of colors. Finally, lacquer is often considered the best finish for wood as it dries fast, has a moderate durability, but adds depth and richness to the finished piece. 

Choosing a finish that is right for you takes some consideration regarding your time limits, skill set, and desired look. Always remember to wear the proper safety equipment and make sure your workspace is well-ventilated. Always follow the manufacturer’s product instructions, plus some useful tips you may find on the web, and you have yourself a fun afternoon project!

See how we can help with your furniture purchases at lasides.com!

Custom furniture caters to the uniqueness of the individual. No cookie cutter molds here, or one size fits all. For one thing, custom pieces can be designed and built for the space they will be filling. Make the furniture fit the room, not the other way around. Have you ever visited someone’s home and the dining room table just takes over the whole room? Or on the other hand, there are odd pockets of empty space? These are not just interior decorating errors; it’s hard to work with whatever is available in a store at the time. 

Since custom furniture is made to fit your needs, you have command over every aspect of how the finished product comes out. The stain, the accessories, any decorative moldings can be arranged any way you like. It not only suits the room it is made for, it can be tailored to your personality as well. 

Think of it as a work of art if you like. Just like a painting or a sculpture, making furniture requires an act of creation. Along with precise measuring and woodworking skill. In fact, sculpting and painting are part of the furniture-making process. Ultimately, you end up with a hand-crafted functional art artifact. A piece of furniture that has a history. 

This is even more the case when custom furniture is made from reclaimed wood. It’s a process which involves repurposing wood from older structures that have become damaged or otherwise defunct. Plus, it’s better for the environment as materials are not going to waste, a small part in a more sustainable world. Custom furniture has an imperfect character that tends to last longer. It tells a story, and like all great stories, it is a unique aspect of culture that can be handed down through time and generations.

IF you are interested in custom furniture, please contact us and we will be happy to provide you with a quote.

Because it has proven to be so harmful, lead has been banned from household paints on a federal level since 1978; some states banned it prior to that. Before its toxicity was known, it was widely used, and actually preferred by builders and homeowners because it was durable and washable. Millions of homes still contain lead paint, though it may be hidden under layers of new color. According to the EPA 87% of homes built before 1940, 69% of homes built between 1940 and 1959, and 24% of homes built between 1960 and 1977 still have it embedded in their walls. 

As long as those homes are still standing, there will be many people living with lead paint. The only thing we all can arm ourselves with is awareness. Knowledge is power, after all. The EPA provides guidelines for the families living in older homes and the contractors who take on projects to renovate them. 

Homeowners, or prospective buyers, can have the house checked through a paint inspection or risk assessment. A paint inspection tests the lead content on various surfaces while a risk assessment sheds light on how to deal with hazards such as peeling paint or lead dust. Both need to be carried out by a certified professional. The rest is a matter of upkeep: regularly checking for chips and peels, and cleaning to control any dust. 

Home renovators need to take particular caution because they are essentially stirring a hornet’s nest while they work. Each firm must be certified to handle lead paint, all employees must be trained, and all must follow guidelines to working safely and minimizing dust. Proper cleanup of the jobsite is also essential to avoiding any risks. 

Lead most certainly is a dangerous substance, and it is particularly insidious when it has been used in building our most intimate areas—our homes. But, there is no beast we cannot battle once we understand its true nature. With help from organizations like the EPA, taking the proper precautions is the best that we can do.

We provide our furniture products free of lead and other harmful chemicals. Call us at 310-253-9994 to ask about our products and how they are built.

In the modern era, dining rooms are usually located next to the living room and still have an air of the formal occasion. Many homes have an area that is adjacent to, or actually a part of, the kitchen which is designated for daily meals. The dining room is generally reserved for when we open our homes for the holidays or otherwise need to accommodate a larger number of dinner guests. 

Because it must remain functional, it is difficult and rather counterproductive to get too creative with the design of a dining room. The table is always in the middle with chairs around it, and there is usually a hutch, or other cabinet, to store the china and silver. There are various ways to decorate using color and accessories, but when it comes to furnishing the room, there are only two things you need to focus on: space and materials. 

In general, harder woods are better for tables because they do need to stand up to a certain degree of abuse. Pine, for instance, is too soft. Oak, ash, and cherry are harder woods that will prove to be more durable. Alternatively, if you are interested in reclaimed wood or repurposing, some folks have some interesting finds. It is not uncommon to see a table fashioned out of wood from an old barn, but one D.C. home actually sports a breakfast table made from an old Italian military bed frame. 

If you find yourself strapped for space, you may want to consider a dining table with a drop leaf, which is like a choose-you-own-size version. If the room is square, a round table will work best. A small home in Austin actually utilizes a hallway for their dining room and a narrow, French tailor’s table from the 1840s serves as the furniture. If the dining room truly represents the heart of the house, they can be as uniquely unusual as the people who gather in them.

See how we can help your dining room chairs and dining tables.

Colonial kitchens are traditional in every sense. A simple, utilitarian design defined by clean lines and finishes. Colonial cabinets are sometimes just painted, rather than stained, and many times the color is white. This is also highly functional, as whitewashing is a much cheaper method. Sometimes the cabinets sport legs or feet on the bottom, enhancing that furniture look. The term “cupboard” comes to mind. A simple inlay gives just a hint of design. 

If you’re planning on decorating your kitchen in the colonial fashion, it is important to remember three things: function, function, and function. Make use of the space that you have. This sometimes mean doubling up your purposes, like inserting a wine rack into an island. It’s also important to keep things looking natural inside and out. Absolutely no formica or corian countertops. Granite is okay; a nice butcher block top is better. You can get a little fancy with the hardware. Antique pewter, brushed nickel, and wrought iron are all very nice, but it’s best to avoid brass. External hinges can give your cabinets a more defined look, if that’s your thing.

Once you’ve selected the “furniture,” it’s time to think about appliances. Remember, the time period you are replicating was pre-Industrial Revolution and stainless steel did not yet exist. (Nor did appliances themselves for that matter.) Martha Stewart suggests choosing black appliances for a colonial kitchen as they blend in better with the surroundings. The next step is to accessorize. You can even do a little repurposing here. For example, the use of an old table as an island or extra countertop space. A wrought iron pot rack will look lovely and save on valuable real estate inside the cabinets. You may even be able to drum up an old butter churn or milk pail. The key to Colonial Kitchen design is to remain authentic without going overboard.

You can buy colonial cabinets and other styles at our cabinet store.

While an archeologist digs up bones and fossils, we dig around for wood that would otherwise go to waste. This usually takes the form of the demolition of an old structure—a barn with fire damage perhaps, or beams from a building that has fallen into disrepair. Railroad ties and wooden fences have also been used. As long as the wood isn’t rotting, it can be reclaimed. Deconstruction specialists go through it piece by piece to determine what can be saved. The selected pieces are then re-milled into new boards, which can then be used to make headboards, tables, dressers, or bookshelves—pretty much anything that can be made from wood. 

All reclaimed wood must be kiln-dried. This is required in order to kill any insects or other micro-organisms that may be living on the lumber. There is also a 6-8% moisture content in almost all reclaimed wood. Before it can be used for anything else, it must be dried completely in an airtight space. Any shrinkage will take place at this point, so you never have to worry about the wood contracting or expanding after it’s already been remade into a new item. 

The first step in our process is to get to know what we are working with. Different types of wood are better-suited for different styles of furniture. Maple, Beech, and Walnut are often used for Contemporary furniture, while Oak, Poplar, and Cherry are better for attaining a more rustic look. Then, we take our wood and go over it with a metal detector. We remove nails so that they don’t cause any damage to our machinery, or unexpected injury while handling. 

Once we cut the pieces of reclaimed wood to our needed specifications for size, the rest of the furniture making is the same as when we use boards of freshly cut wood. The finished piece may have scratches, burns, or other blemishes. Reclaimed wood does have a past and it is not the point of our efforts to sand over everything to make a perfect piece. This type of furniture has a history and a character which will add a unique and interesting presence to your home. 

Reclaimed wood furniture has become quite fashionable. It does have a sense of style in its own right, and it is also better for the environment. According to a study performed by the Global Forest Resources Assessment in 2005, forests are reduced by 60,000 square kilometers per year. Based on tree density, that means three to six billion trees are killed each year. Of course, they aren’t all being used to make furniture. But by the same logic of recycling our paper goods, and even plastic bottles, we reclaim and repurpose wood for our industry for the same reasons—to do our part in providing a more sustainable future.

Unfortunately, in a budget-driven economy this poses some inconvenience, and perhaps even awkwardness, for buyers. On the one hand, not knowing the prices will lead you to a piece of furniture that is truly “you.” On the other, learning the price later on could leave you with a sense of disappointment, or worse, a big hole in your wallet. 

If you want to be sure you get the best bang for your buck, or that you can trust the furniture dealer with your custom project, there are some things you can be aware of while perusing the store. First of all, do not be afraid to test the pieces out. Chairs and sofas, especially, should be given at least 15 minutes of your time. 

One well-known furniture maker offers some tactile tips. If you pick a piece up and it feels light to you, don’t buy it. Make sure the furniture has dowels, and never glue. Avoid chairs with staples and gauze. Check to ensure that all seams on upholstered pieces are straight, and well-executed. Sofa cushions should have some “give.” This means they are made with webbing, which will increase life. Solid foam will settle over time. And finally, run your hand over anything wood to make sure it is smooth. 

Remember, the pieces in a custom furniture showroom are examples of the best efforts on the part of the makers. They should serve as a testament to true craftsmanship. If anything looks or feels amiss to you, keep shopping. When you find pieces that are solidly built and executed impeccably, it will be obvious. Whatever price tag that furniture bears will be well worth it.

Let this article guide you to making a good decision. Furniture is built, just like a house. So begin by testing the raw materials. High-end furniture is made of solid wood or furniture-grade plywood. They are distinguishable by the edge of the piece. If it is solid wood, there is a continuity of the grain, while a veneer dead ends. If you are considering a plywood piece, make sure it is at least nine layers. But remember, if you purchase something with a veneer, it limits the number of times you can refinish it. 

Next, examine how the furniture is constructed, particularly at the joints. Anything held together with staples, nails, or glue is cheaply made and should be avoided. The best pieces are constructed with real carpentry joints such as mortise and tenon, dovetail and dado. These construction methods give all the components of the furniture strength and longevity and can have the added  benefit if making the items look even more interesting.

The same methods can apply to sofas and chairs. These may appear harder to test if they are upholstered, but there are ways. David Jordan, of Jordan’s Furniture, advises that better sofas have hardwood frames. Chair legs should be screwed or pinned, and also glued. He also advises testing for misalignments by picking up one end. If it comes square off the floor, it’s good. If it feels flimsy or flops all over the place, it is a no-go. 

Buying high quality furniture is a good idea if you are looking for pieces that will last a long time, even a lifetime. Should you find yourself in the market for high-end quality, let your eyes and hands guide you to finding the best pieces. 

At Upstairs Downstairs, we pride ourselves on our high-quality wood and craftsmanship. Give us a call at 310-253-9994 or go to our homepage, www.lasides.com and take a look at all of our offerings.