Winging Their Way Back!

Originally created to protect royalty from drafts in those old stone castles, the wing chair is again falling into the "What's New for the Upcoming Year".

What I like about a wing chair is the comfort it provides for both reading and snoozing, add an ottoman and you’ve got an all out lounger! You can’t go wrong with purchasing a quality wing back chair. They will always be popular, whether they are at the top of the trend list or not.

Hans J. Wenger/Carl Hansen Wing Chair
In 1960, Danish designer Hans J. Wegner created an upholstered modern version of the wing back chair which saw only limited production. Now, Carl Hansen & Son, the Danish furniture maker, has dusted off the drawings to bring this contemporary classic back to life. With its calm, clean lines and exceptional comfort - hallmarks of Wegner's best work - the Wingchair's timeless appeal has won awards at IMM Cologne 2006 and at the Copenhagen International Furniture Fair.

Tom Dixon Wing Chair

Traditionally manufactured, fully upholstered high-back lounge chair.Solid wood frame with mohair velvet upholstery and solid turned leg with black lacquered or natural finish. Mohair velvet available in 15 colours.

Alexandra Angle's Wingback Chair

From Aqua Vitae Design - a modern take on the classic wingback chair. Available in available in different fabrics and sizes. Comfortable by design and a twist on the traditional style.

I will be taking the next two weeks off for Christmas break but will be back in 2009 with fresh ideas. All the best to you and your family this holiday season!

FRESH Ideas

“Going green”, “sustainable living”, “eco-friendly environment” to name just a few…. It seems every industry today has their buzz-word for how to be kind to the earth. The question is what will truly make a difference and what is just hype?

I just finished taking a Kitchen Series seminar for the past few weeks and one subject we discussed was how to work sustainable living into a kitchen renovation. It’s worth noting however, that many of these points apply to any kind of home renovation.

In order to help you remember each point try using the acronym F.R.E.S.H.

F is for Functional
If something isn’t functional, then it’s not worth the effort or price tag. It can be the trendiest appliance on the market and boast being a great energy saver, but if you aren’t going to find it useful in your environment then what is the point?

R is for Renewable
When practical, look to utilizing products that are grown, harvested and replanted on a relatively short rotational basis. For example; bamboo, grasses, cork, soy, hemp, cotton, etc. There have been some amazing advances in these areas of innovation. Check out www.dragonfly.com for some of the latest sources.

E is for Eco-Friendly
Do our part to leave the smallest footprint on the environment. We can do this by installing the minimum amount of product during a renovation. Ask yourself questions such as; Are we really making the best use of the space we already have? Do we really need both upper and lower kitchen cabinets? Could we just re-purpose our cabinet doors? How about open storage?

S is for Sustainability
This refers to meeting the needs of the present without compromising the future. By purchasing durable, quality products instead of throw away items we are reducing the amount of trash in our land-fills and ensuring products are lasting for years to come.

H is for Healthy
By keeping yourself informed on the latest in green products and technology you can take advantage of the zero or low VOC paints and water based stains and finishes. Try to choose cabinet interiors that do not off-gas VOC’s and utilize countertops such as quartz made with microban to inhibit bacteria growth.

By remembering the acronymn F.R.E.S.H. you can always be sure to take into consideration these points when undertaking any home renovation project.