Garden furniture has become more admired in recent years as more people have patios and decks. 

By the 1800s, furniture frequently was used in the garden. Large estates may have chairs or benches in distant spots on which guests can relax or gossip. This furniture was completed to blend in with the greenery. Pieces were frequently made from iron shaped like vines or branches.

Carved marble benches were used by the affluent, while rough log benches were used by others. Soon, potters started creation replicas of tree stumps or trimmed branches that can be used for seats. 

GRANITE FALLS, N.C. — Investigators are trying to conclude the cause of a fire that broke out Wednesday night at a Granite Falls furniture plant. 

The Carolina Classic furniture plant on Dry Ponds Road disintegrates into flames around 5 p.m. At least six fire departments responded to the fire. Seven people are out of work and one employee whose family lived in a neighboring apartment is now homeless. 

No injuries were reported but one firefighter was treated for warmth exhaustion. 

Taking small steps to correctly maintain your outdoor furniture would assist prolong its life and allow you to enjoy it year after year. Officials at Hampton Bay, a line of furniture from Home Depot, present tips on cleaning, defensive and maintaining:

• KEEP IT SIMPLE. For least maintenance, prefer furniture made of easy-to-clean materials. Wrought iron and aluminum are fine choices.

• GO LIGHT. Pastels and light colors tend to uphold their color enhanced than darker shades. If your furniture is not secluded by a roof or awning, select light fabric to minimize fading.

• PREVENT STAINS. Keep some aloofness between your furniture and nearby foliage and trees. The bark and oils from certain trees (oak, hickory and extra nut trees, for example) could stain. Using fade- and stain-resistant fabrics on chair cushions too helps.

• CLEAN CAREFULLY. Use a force washer (keep the setting low) to get rid of caked-on dirt on PVC or wrought-iron furniture; a damp cloth to wipe off legs and bases of metal chairs and tables; and a soft brush, with a combination of mild soap and warm water, to clean cushions and seating areas.

• PROVIDE COVER. Though outdoor furniture is designed to be showing to the elements, defend it during bad weather. In heavy storms, pull patio furniture into a enclosed area to prevent metal from rusting and defend wood and fabrics from drenching, dirt and mold. During winter, store furniture in a garage or basement.

• PROTECT. Wood furniture needs extra care. For teak furniture, apply oil designed for treating teak. For all other woods, use a polyurethane-based wax made particularly for outdoor durability. Protect metals from rising rust by polishing them with wax.

After facing stiff opposition from their Chinese counterparts, Ludhiana’s furniture producers are all place to bounce back, but lack of latest designs and good-looking finishing, and government lethargy are preventing them from achieving the kind of success they want.
 
Chinese furniture that conquered 50 per cent of the furniture market for the past five years has now become sluggish.Ludhiana’s furniture industry, with 500-odd developed units in and around the city, is the basis of livelihood for almost a thousand families here.
 
The industry that supplies furniture to Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, and Jammu and Kashmir, etc, comprises very little units and cannot live the rivalry without government help and protection.
 
Style Spa Furniture Ltd Branch Manager Kuldeep Aswal said though Chinese furniture had great design and finishing, its poor class had reduced its popularity. Besides, the Chinese furniture cannot be repaired.

Orders for residential furniture chop sharply in April, perhaps as a result of the move in dates for the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point that was held later in the month this year. 

The monthly Furniture Insights forecaster issued by the High Point accounting and consulting firm BDO Seidman, establish that furniture orders in April were down 13 percent compared to the same month last year, and off 26 percent as of March of this year. 

The study noted that this year’s spring market took place from April 27 to May 4, later than the April 14-21 dates in 2005. That meant that orders logged at the market most likely didn’t make it into the April figures this year. “We hope to see much improved May results,” the analysis said. 

A group of Park University Interior Design students participated in the fashion show “Color + Couture” hosted by the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), a expert organization for interior designers.

As part of the rules for the show, took part groups established product samples from suppliers to make costumes for the competition. Park students Michelle Batliner and Mary Carpenter paired up with the Illinois-based Brentano Fabrics. They worked with limited Brentano representative Connie Huffaker who is also a 1996 Park graduate.

Batliner and Carpenter shaped a costume from upholstery fabric samples called “Geisha Galactica.” Following the show, they modeled their making for Brentano executives at the recent NeoCon World Trade Fair in Chicago on June 12-14.

“It shows the creativity of our students,” said Kay Boehr, director of interior design. “They can design an interior space or a piece of clothing. They can take a product that is mostly for upholstery and make something to wear. It’s fun and creative.”

ROCKPORT (July 6): Exhibition dates: Monday July 10, 2006 - Thursday, September 7, 2006 

“New Work by Faculty,” a display of furniture, woodturnings, and carvings by coaches at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, opened this week at the Rockport School’s Messler Gallery. 

Peter Korn, the school’s director, explains the show as “luminous work from a cast of doubtful characters who happen to be some of the premium makers in the world,” The troupe comprises 24 woodworkers from as far a field as New Zealand, Australia, and England, and as close up to home as Union, Appleton, and Camden. 

“This is virtuoso woodworking,” commented Bruce Brown, curator of the nearby Center for Maine Contemporary Art, “equally at home in a museum or a living room.” In fact, a lot of of the makers on show have international reputations and their work is symbolize in major museum collections, such as those of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. 

The state fire marshal is investigating a massive fire that shattered a furniture store in Kissimmee, Fla., Tuesday night. 

Firefighters responded to reports of flames at the Furniture Landing store situated in the 2700 block of Orange Blossom Trial in Kissimmee at about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. 
Firefighters entered the building and tried to put out the fire but were forced to move away when the roof showed signs of collapsing.

“(The flames) were just shooting up,” witness Michael Hill said. “With the kids, they were like, ‘Oh my Gosh.’ They didn’t know what was going on.” The owner, David Fletcher, told Local 6 News he was scrutiny July Fourth fireworks when he conventional the call that the building was on fire.

Customers who had purchased furniture within the building are asked to return to the store site for information.An investigation into the cause of the fire continues.

According to the specialists at the National Home Show held earlier this year, homeowners innocently commit these mistakes when decorating their home. Here are the top design disasters, as they see them - and how to fix them:

- Purchase first - measure last. Do not order furniture based on a floor plan; exist in the space first.
- Is that a throw rug? Area rugs must have 12-16 inches of flooring around them. The furniture must sit on the rug. The carpet must not appear to float in the room.
- Pale wall colors. A big room needs depth, chiefly if you’re deciding a color to flow throughout the house. Pick a shade somewhat darker than you will normally choose for a small room.
- No headboard. The bed is the focal point; if you do not have a headboard to anchor it, hang artwork or paint the wall after the bed in a dramatic color to add interest.
- Don’t love it? Then leave it. Get rid of or refinish something you do not love. Don’t think you’ll grow to like it.

Here’s some suggestion on salvaging and repairing furniture WOOD PIECES White spots or a cloudy film might develop on furniture that has gotten damp. To take away the spots: If the whole surface is affected, rub with a damp cloth dipped in turpentine or even camphorated oil, or in a solution of one half cup household ammonia and one half cup water. Clean dry at once and polish with buff or furniture polish. If color is not restored, dip 3/0 steel wool in oil (boiled linseed, olive, mineral or lemon). Rub calmly with the wood grain. Wipe with a supple cloth and re-wax. VENEERED FURNITURE Wood veneered furniture is typically not worth the cost and attempt of repair, except it has great monetary or sentimental value. If veneer is loose in just a few places you might be able to repair it. Carefully rub glue under loose areas. Press veneer back in place. Place wax paper over pretentious area and heat with warm iron. Remove iron and put weights on area. If veneering doesn’t wait in place or is bubbled, cautiously slit the loose veneer with a shaver blade and apply good glue. Ask for counsel at the hardware store. Cover the glued spots with wax paper and then put something heavy over the area while the glue dries. WET FURNITURE If your insurance allows incomplete reimbursement for flood-damaged furniture, it may be valuable to relate the money to new furniture, rather than give for extensive repairs.