Welcome to Inspirations

Because Houzz.com knows the truth of it!

Another great article from Houzz.com!  This is advice that we’ve been giving our customers for more than 40 years. Here are a couple of excerpts from the article, click below to view the whole post.

• “Buy the best sofa you can afford,” advises Juestel. Try to sit or lie on the piece before you buy, and if you can afford it,upgrade your cushions from solid foam to foam wrapped in down. If you do most of your sitting in the family room rather than the living room, spend the money on those pieces, instead of on pieces that’ll never get used.
• ... stick to furniture stores. Caccoma is not a fan of buying furniture from department stores, she says, because furniture is not their primary business, so the quality varies and the styles might not be current. Also, avoid fly-by-night operations. “Buy things from places where if there’s a problem, you know they’ll stand behind their product,” she advises.
• When shopping for cabinets, look for drawers with dovetail joints in the corners.

And the useful tips keep coming… http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/29590561/list/decorating-101-how-to-shop-for-furniture

'A'll about that space…

Start by defining what you want from your room.  Which functions will take place there? Bedrooms aren’t just for sleeping: does the space need a dressing area or a place for homework?  Will your family room be for watching TV and/or entertaining?  Should your great room include a dining area?  Be as specific as possible so that you will know exactly what furniture pieces you need.

'B'e realistic…

“Measure twice, cut once” as the old saying goes.  Accurate measurements of your room and its features (windows, fireplace, entrance, etc.) are the best way to determine how much will truly fit into the space.  Be sure to leave space for traffic: You and your family should be able to move about freely through the room.  Dining chairs should be allowed about 3 feet from the wall so that your guests don’t feel “closed in” while at the table. In larger rooms, use area rugs to anchor groupings and define areas.

'C'reate…

Your home should reflect your personality and that of your family.  Use colors to set a mood for the room. Display personal and sentimental items so that you can enjoy them on a daily basis.  An effective designer trick: Select a focal point for your room (it can be a window with a beautiful view, a fireplace, a piece of art) and arrange furniture to take advantage.  Pulling sofas and chairs away from the walls or placing furniture at attractive angles can give your room a professional look.

Redecorating can be a daunting task and our in-house designers can help.  There are numerous techniques that interior designers use to beautify rooms and maximize space.  Bring your ideas into our store and let us help!

Everyone knows that HGTV is the go-to network for decorating inspiration, and at Charlton Furniture we LOVE color.  So we are always excited by their new ideas.

Interesting color combinations can make your home feel more personal so keep an open mind when decorating.  We have so many beautiful fabrics to choose from that sofas, chairs and upholstered headboards can be true works of art.  Have you considered painted-finish accent pieces?  They are a great way to add a pop of color! Come and visit with our designers for even more inspiration…

From HGTV.com:

10 Of-the-Moment Fall Color Palettes to Try

Silver? Black? Powder blue? They may not seem like traditional fall colors, but when we pair them with cranberry tones and deep shades of green, they shine throughout the season. Take a look at our top 10 palette picks for fall.

http://www.hgtv.com/design/make-and-celebrate/entertaining/unexpected-fall-color-palettes-pictures

We were thrilled to learn that The Publick House in Sturbridge was renovating and expanding.  Charlton Furniture has been a part of this community for more than 40 years (a mere “baby” compared to the 245 years of Publick House) so we are honored to be a part of this exciting time for them.  Our delivery crew has been hard at work bringing in the beautiful new furniture for the recently renovated rooms.

If you are not familiar with The Publick House, here is a little bit about their history (from www.publickhouse.com)

The Publick House Historic Inn in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, where good food comes out of our Yankee ovens and warm hospitality greets every guest.

Ebenezer Crafts opened the Inn in 1771 as a gathering place for citizens of Sturbridge and weary travelers along the Boston Post Road. In 1923, the property was purchased as a boarding house for women and renamed The Elms. During the 1940's, then owner, Richard Paige, leased the property to the US Army as a post for soldiers en route for training. The Publick House, during this time, moved across the common to a large white house. Not one day has been missed in providing good hospitality in over 230 years.

Since 1771, Publick House Inn has been the lodging and dining hub for esteemed visitors, from George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and General Lafayette to present day travelers, such as actors Bill Murray, Susan St. James and John Travolta. Today, the old world spirit continues welcoming guests with open hearths and Yankee hospitality. The dining room features an indulging array of duck, lamb, lobster, and other specialty meat and seafood dishes, including a traditional Thanksgiving fare available all year long.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

As the summer winds down, Pantone reminds us that it’s not over just yet with their Color of the Day: Aqua.  Cool and beachy, Aqua evokes images of sunny skies over clear water.  How will you use this refreshing hue to brighten your home?

Here at Charlton Furniture, we love wood!  Bedroom, dining room, media centers, end and cocktail tables (known as “case goods”) come in a prism of beautiful finishes and can last a lifetime or longer when cared for properly.

Here’s how:

• Try to maintain a room temperature between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep furniture away from direct sunlight, which can cause finishes to fade or even crack. Don’t ever store furniture in damp conditions.
• Dust furniture regularly and wipe moisture away with a clean cloth. When necessary, dampen cloth with a solution of mild soap and water, then dry thoroughly. We also carry several wood care products that we have found effective -ask your sales consultant!
• However, NO cleaning products should be used on wood within the first 6 months of ownership!!! This allows the finish to fully cure and will help it look beautiful longer.
• Use coasters for both hot and cold beverages. Tablecloths and placemats are a great way to add color and texture to your dining room while protecting your table top. ALWAYS use a trivet or thick cloth under hot serving dishes!
• Don’t lean back in chairs or use tables as footrests. (Your mother was right!)
• Let wood surfaces breathe: Rotate accessories – especially within the first 3 month (see manufacturer specifications) Don’t cover or expose furniture to plastic or leather for extended periods of time.
• Place felt pads under lamps and accessories and at the contact points for electronics or anything that sits on a wood surface.
• Avoid contact with anything that may stain, imprint or damage wood. Nail polish and markers are obvious culprits, but scented oils are a secret enemy; spraying air freshener over your wood surface can cause tiny discolored dots. Spilling of candle wax or plug-in air fresheners will cause difficult-to-repair damage.
• Be sure to lift, not drag your furniture when moving items around the room. (Be nice to your floors, too!)
• If you are unsure about a stain or damage, seek professional help.

All pictures for this blog post are from Harden Furniture.

My husband and my dog have a “love/hate” relationship.  As affectionate as they are with each other, they seem to enjoy harassing each other even more.  The other night, while watching TV, Zoie, our 8 year old Keeshond, was barking furiously at my husband and we couldn’t figure out what she wanted.  He invited her to sit on our Bradington Young Yorba sofa with him but she declined and continued to disrupt his TV show.  (Ours is dark brown, not red like in the stock photo)Finally, he relented and got down onto the floor to play with her.  Instantly, she jumped onto the sofa and lay down to make herself comfortable (in the spot where he had been sitting!) Apparently, even dogs prefer American-made construction with glove soft leather and down cushions!

Hancock & Moore is unleashing their inner rock star.  They recently released new metallic leathers in edgy colors. Up your heavy metal factor with stainless steel accents.  Quality, American made furniture in leathers that would make Eddie Van Halen proud!

Be sure to check out their rocking promotional video here:  http://hancockandmoore.com/Soul_video.asp