A recent Graduate’s adventures into dining room furnishing

When I finished school the thought of moving back home and into my parent’s basement was not very enticing. Instead I scrolled the internet for the perfect pad to compliment my newly graduated status. The endless search resulted in a great place right in the heart of the city and I couldn’t have been any happier.

I took possession of the place half way through the month. The place was sparsely furnished with the previous tenants broken cast offs and panic set in. How was I going to afford to be able to furnish my place? How could the previous tenants have left all of this stuff behind? I pulled myself together, used some elbow grease and cleaned the place until everything sparkled.

Then I once again turned to the internet, I found myself a nice chair some couches and a table or two. Slowly the place was transforming into my home. I painted the walls a soft green, figuring, hey it’s a colour that is neutral enough so that if I did move out of my amazing new home I would be less likely to have to paint the walls back to white if I ever moved out.

Now that I had the living room organized, it was time to turn my attention to the dining room. I had a very specific vision for my dining table sets I wanted something solid, elegant and understated. That would compliment the nick knacks I had spread around my apartment, but wouldn’t overshadow everything else. I scrounged vintage stores, big furniture stores, and the trusty internet for my dining table. I eventually found the perfect table. Elated I spent even more time trying to find the perfect position for my brand new piece of furniture. Once in place I realized I hadn’t bought any chairs, but that’s a story for another day.

-RL

The Dining Library of Congress

One of my friends has a bookcase in her dining room. When she moved into the townhouse with her husband and two children, she had nowhere else to put it. It was stuffed full of books in no particular order; all jumbled together were nonfiction, fiction, magazines and miscellaneous items that were stuck on the shelves for want of a better home. It bothered her because the bookcase had a dark cherry finish while the dining table and chairs were a two-tone, country style dining set in white and light wood colors. The mismatched vibe she got whenever she sat at the table made her feel uncomfortable.

The casual dining table was actually a hand-me-down from her in-laws, and even though she ultimately wanted a dining room taken from the pages of Better Homes and Gardens, she was reluctant to replace the table until her children were old enough to do crafty things in their own rooms. In truth, she was quite proud of the historical record her dining tabletop documented, as her son and daughter grew past the finger painting, eating glue and dried-in-the-hair paper mache glob stages. But then something happened that changed the fate of her mismatched dining room forever.

Her mother was moving 400 miles away and wanted to know if she would like the formal dining room table that she had grown up with. Because her dining room was narrow and somewhat awkwardly shaped, she went to her mother’s place to measure the table and found that yes, it would indeed fit in their house.

Once the dining table and matching chairs had been arranged in their new home, my friend was very pleased with the result. It had a rich cherry finish that softly glowed in the light filtering through the window. The upholstered side dining chairs were covered in a neutral fabric that was relatively new, since her mother had had them redone recently. But there was still the matter of the pesky bookcase to deal with. It inspired her to wander into each room to search for a new place to put it. No such luck.

Resigned to having to live with the large bookcase in her (almost perfect) dining room, one day, after searching through cupboards and other stuff for a particular recipe in preparation for a special celebration with friends, she had a brilliant idea. Both made of darker woods, it occurred to her that the bookcase really complemented the dining table. Instead of fighting a losing battle, why not make it a focal point? She removed everything from the bookshelves and replaced them with her cookbooks – every single one she owned. The top two shelves of the center section were reserved for her collection of novelty milk jugs and creamers. Turning a liability into an asset, she had created a handy reference library that would save her a lot of time and frustration.

Dining with Hillsdale

With spring on the way, many manufacturers introduce new product lines at this time of year. Hillsdale is no exception. Their winter product lineup includes six exciting new dining sets that offer a little something for everyone. At Hillsdale Furniture Source, you will find a dining furniture that will breathe fresh life into your kitchen or dining room.

The Casa Blanca collection combines classic farmhouse profiles with transitional design elements for a truly warm and inviting appearance. It features a traditional ladder back chair and an oval table. The collection also includes a sideboard. The beautiful two-tone cherry/black finish gives these pieces a modern look and feel.

The Hermosa Heights collection by Hillsdale is definitely contemporary in style. The counter height gathering table is undeniably a space-saving work of art. Its design incorporates some innovative features such as display shelving, special compartments for wine bottles and an oak finish tabletop with a built-in lazy susan. Displaying an elegant transitional look, the Patterson collection also offers a counter height dining furniture with an adaptable style that fits a range of décors.

Transitional in style, Verona dining sets are available with a number of different seating options that allows you to choose the look that best expresses your personal taste. Parsons chairs with a square table? Slat chairs and a bench with a rectangle table? You decide.

If you’re looking for something that mixes it up a little, consider either the Hillsdale Monaco Dining Set or the Pacifico Dining Set. By pairing different materials together, such as wood, leather and marble in the case of the Monaco series, both collections are visually stunning in their own unique ways.

You will find plenty of reasons, not just for the kitchen or dining room, to give all the rooms of your home a fresh look for spring with innovative designs from Hillsdale Furniture.

Keeping Them Close By

It seemed that it was just yesterday when your mother was worrying about whether you had enough to eat for lunch or if you had packed your heavy sweater when off on an overnight camping trip with girlfriends. But now the shoe is on the other foot and you’re worrying about your aging parent and the challenges they face living on their own.

Many families are choosing accessory apartments as a viable answer. An accessory apartment is a self-contained unit built in an existing or new house. One specifically designed for a relative can have several nicknames including “granny flat” or “in-law suite.” But whatever you want to call it, for many families accessory apartments are the ideal way of helping an aging parent maintain their freedom and independence while keeping them nearby.

Since an accessory apartment is a fully operational living space with separate sleeping quarters, living room, kitchen and bathroom, it is subject to local building codes and bylaw restrictions. But once it has been built and is ready to be occupied, there are some things you can do to make the space safe, comfortable and convenient for the senior who will be moving in. In many cases, the mom, father or in-law moving in will bring along their own furniture, but if you need to furnish the accessory apartment in preparation for their arrival, here are some basic guidelines to keep in mind when creating the ideal age-proofed living area.

Because many accessory apartments will be in the basement, you can off-set their tendency to be smaller in size with less natural light by choosing lighter colors for furniture. Or if the elderly parent or relative prefers darker woods or finishes, paint the walls of the unit a lighter color to make the area appear more spacious. When selecting a dining table, end tables, a coffee table or nightstands, purchase ones with rounded corners.

Many manufacturers are producing furniture pieces smaller in scale, designed specifically for apartment living. Opting for two loveseats rather than one sofa can increase the seating options of the living area while taking into account less space to work with.

To make the most out of the available floor space, choose multi-functional pieces whenever possible. A coffee table with open shelving, an end table that includes a magazine rack or an ottoman that doubles as hidden storage are just a few of the many ways you can introduce multi-functional furnishings into an accessory apartment.

Of course, the right lighting is a very important concern when decorating an accessory apartment that will be occupied by an aging parent or in-law. Select lamps, wall sconces and other fixtures that can accommodate bulbs of higher wattage and have at least two bulbs. Old age can play havoc on the eyes, and using higher wattage light bulbs will shed more light, preventing unnecessary accidents. Choosing fixtures with two or more bulbs will make allowances; if one burns out at night, the lamp will still provide some light until the bulb can be replaced in daylight hours.

Having a separate place for an aging parent or in-law to live can provide the perfect balance between maintaining the senior’s independence, and a loved one’s concern for their safety and well-being. Good design and wise furniture choices can create an accessory apartment that is comfortable, practical and inviting.

What Did You Expect?

Anyone who’s ever been to an amusement park is likely familiar with the log ride. You know the one where you and 2 to 3 others sit in an imitation-log vessel and trolley up coaster tracks before plummeting down into the water below with a great splash. It’s like a watered-down (pun intended) roller coaster for those not so brave as to take on the Corkscrew et al.

Every time and each one I’ve been to has a sign, in plain view from the line-up, stating something along the lines of “Please understand use of this ride may result in your garments becoming wet to varying degrees. Remove hats, store cameras ... etc., etc.” in the simplest language possible. Not only that, but the splash zone is usually in full view of the cue and those waiting can see the aftermath of the landing as water explodes in every which direction.

Yet, there always seem to be one individual who has this purely mortified look on her face as the log approaches the dispatch area. As she steps from the log, she’s in a heated huff-n-puff exasperated state staring at her wet clothing in disbelief and erratically looking around for sympathy or an explanation.

I have to admit I find this no end of comical and entertaining. What on earth did you expect? The last time it happened the missus and I were visiting her folks in Seoul and we were at Everland, where I was taking video with my digital camera and captured the whole sequence on tape. Needless to say, it’s been quite a hit with friends and family here. At the end she proceeds to berate one of the ride attendants who you can tell is trying desperately not to laugh.

The terms inevitability or likelihood come to mind, much in the same way my dad used them when he explained the concept of inflation to me as a pre-teen. Fast forward a good twenty years where the cost of consumer goods is growing exponentially based on a number of factors, not the least of which is skyrocketing transport costs growing out of our addiction to oil, and many people are screaming blue murder. Again, however different the context and severity, I’m left wondering what exactly we expected based on the projections which started to surface as long ago as the 1980s.

The fact is that consumers now need to shop smarter, with a greater multi-tiered objectivity. The advent and growth of online shopping has been of considerable benefit to this end, and Cymax Stores is a perfect example of such a resource happily at the disposal of the people. Selection, quality and competitive pricing are values any individual can appreciate.

For those looking to add functional and sufficiently stylish bedroom storage on a budget, consider any one of the Prepac Dressers or Chest of Drawers which students and young adults will likely find hard to beat for the price. A young family may feel similarly enthused with the selection of affordable quality at www.morediningtables.com, a Cymax Stores subsidiary and an excellent source to fill all your dining area needs.

There just might be a few who’ll be pleased to know they don’t necessarily need to stand their TV on upturned milk crates after looking over the selection of Sauder TV stands at www.audio-video-furniture.com as rigid and stylish as they are light on the wallet.

Sometimes you just have to know it’s going to happen. How you respond is often all you have. Pack an extra t-shirt or make an e-stop by Cymax for reactionary measures alone.

I Think Therefore I am a Dining Chair

I'm blond, I'm beautiful and I'm young. I have a svelte figure that I’m particularly proud of and one that I like to show off as much as possible. I live with my mother, father, one sister and two brothers. Our cousin also lives with us. But he’s a dining table.

I don’t know what life is like for him, but for me life as a Pastel Dining Chair is pretty casual, comfortable and fun. I have plenty of style and I’m built to last. This is not surprising, since I started out as heavy duty steel tubing, constructed for durability. My rich finish is applied in five stages, which is hand-applied for a customized look. Meaning I’m unique, even though I might closely resemble my siblings.

But the final result—if I may say so—is simply stunning. I have shapely legs, a classic lattice-back, finials, cushy upholstery and a curved crestrail. My crestrail is made of wood, in a soft warm color, which adds distinction and lessens my strong metal look. It also allows me to blend seamlessly with my cousin, the table.

The best part of being a chair in a Pastel Dining Set is that we belong to a family of five. Instead of having to take time out of their busy day to go to a retail store, we were bought online through Cymax Stores. I was conveniently shipped straight from the warehouse to my new home in what seemed like no time at all.

Since they lead such busy lives, they don’t get a chance to sit down all together for a meal as often as I would like them to. But I’m more fortunate than my sister, who has no one sitting in her on a regular basis—she’s the spare chair for when there’s a guest. I belong to a teenager, who is very energetic and talks a lot. Mostly on her cell phone when she thinks her mother isn’t looking or is too busy talking to her younger brother. The smells from the kitchen are always delicious and everyone seems to be having a good time.

My least favorite part of being a Dining Chair is when they gather to celebrate a holiday. Because the dining room is filled to capacity with people and their laughter, that’s when all the strange looking, miss-matched ones show up. You know the ones I mean—the padded, red vinyl kitchen chair from the breakfast nook, the saddleback stool twins from the family room downstairs and even a computer desk chair with casters for goodness sake! She really doesn’t belong! It bothers me that they don’t match. But I suppose I shouldn’t mind—the more the merrier! And I have to admit, we all do have fun around the dining table, who just loves being the center of attention at a holiday gathering.

Even if I say so myself, a Pastel Dining Set from Cymas Stores is a good investment. Providing a place for loved ones to gather for holidays, other special occasions or “everyday” meals, your dining room furniture is an integral part of a lifetime of memories.

The Second Generation of Kitchen Therapy

I remember trying so hard to sit still and calm down in school when I knew that weekend we were having company. Both my parents have a lot of siblings who, much to my never ending joy, produced multiple children per family. As a result, I am one of dozens of cousins within a ten year span. Needless to say, I’ve had built in best friends my entire life. When one of those glorious weekends would roll around and I knew we’d be having guests, it was the happiest I could ever be. For once in my lazy childhood I’d pick up the vacuum hose and haphazardly scoot my toys into one corner of my room in preparation. My mother would be looking haggard, to be quite honest, from the never ending cooking and cleaning, and my dad would be licking his chops over a new bottle or two of scotch to share.

Those weekends would come and go so quickly. There would be harrowing tales of love unrequited or denied and, without a doubt, a squabble or two over whose turn it was in the bathroom. People camped out on sofas and floors on a makeshift bed, yet no one ever complained. And everyone would informally gather around the table in the kitchen. Sometimes in packs, sometimes in pairs - all in search of a snack and some answers. Both were always found.

Saying goodbye on the sidewalk as family after family pulled away filled our entire house with quiet. Dinner that night was leftovers – but no one ever really ate much. By Monday the feeling was completely gone and would only return once the photos were developed; sometimes that didn’t happen for weeks.

Over the years we’ve done a satisfactory job of staying in touch, but the weekends of noise and laughter have never returned like they once were. The kids who once spent hours trying on each other’s clothes have all grown up and undertaken grown up jobs; their own families now taking precedence over aunts, uncles and cousins.

But now, I get to play host. It’s on a much smaller scale – just two of my cousins, but it will be the first time I’ve ever had overnight guests over to my apartment. The food is all prepared and fresh towels are folded nicely in the cupboard, but my home is missing something.

Everyone can agree that the house revolves around the kitchen. It’s where a kitchen chair can magically transform into a therapeutic leather sofa and the never ending grazing manages to whet your appetite even more. There being just two in our home generally means we eat in front of the TV. This scenario isn’t really conducive to company, so a proper dining table must be purchased from Cymax.

It might be a bit touchy-feely of me, but I already anticipate the exchange of news and wine over a comfortable, stylish dining table that will, with any luck, house a new generation of memories. Perhaps next time there will be children of our own . . . or better yet, an extra bottle of wine.