News

THE IMPORTANCE OF CERTIFIED WOOD
THE IMPORTANCE OF CERTIFIED WOOD Sustainability is defined as something that is able to be maintained at a certain rate or level - it is the capacity to endure.  In reference to ecology, it describes how biological systems remain diverse and productive over time. In our more recent years, more people are understanding that our very own forests require regulation as to how and how much we take from them.  It is a fairly simple concept that, without management, there may be no trees, plant life and biological ecosystems within... Read more...
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN SHOPPING FOR VINTAGE FURNITURE PIECES
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN SHOPPING FOR VINTAGE FURNITURE PIECES My husband and I are a huge fans of finding vintage home decor pieces and /or just finding a great deal.  There are many weekends that we finds ourselves on the hunt through various flea markets, fairs and antique shops.  We, incidentally, get a great deal of inspiration through these excursions for our own design business.  There are several tell-tale signs with wooden items, including furniture, to look for prior to lugging them into your home (and especially before taking... Read more...
WATER-BASED VS OIL-BASED FINISHES
WATER-BASED VS OIL-BASED FINISHES Water-based and oil-based wood finishes are both good choices for a finish and, in the end, depend simply on if you’d prefer an amber hue to whatever you are finishing.  Oil-based finishes will leave an amber coat to the wood and that can, sometimes, create a beautiful visual depth although it may alter the look of the original wood.  If you like the natural look of the wood then you would be more suited to go with a water-based finish. Water-based finishes are easier to work... Read more...
SHELLAC
  Shellac is an amber-colored resin, secreted by the lac bug, that is commonly used as a varnish to seal and protect wood furniture.  It is a natural bio-adhesive polymer that is chemically similar to synthetic polymers and is, in essence, a natural plastic. The female lac bug secretes this resin onto trees to make tunnels allowing for the bug to traverse between branches.  When the bark of the tree is scraped for the shellac, it contains bark shavings which are placed on a canvas that is heated over a... Read more...