IKEA Trending 2013 capsule collection of limited edition products

Fans of IKEA will have something to look forward to in September when the largest furniture retailer in the world launches a capsule collection of limited edition furniture and houseware products rolling out starting September 27.

The collection under the name, Trendig 2013, unites Asian cultural influences with the best of Scandinavian design.  This is the first time IKEA launches such a capsule collection of limited edition furniture and houseware products.

The limited edition collection will include crockery, furniture, textiles and table accessories including but not limited to trays and placemats.

By the way, ever wondered what does the name IKEA stand for?

The acronym IKEA is made up of the initials of the founder's name (Ingvar Kamprad) plus those of Elmtaryd, the family farm where he was born, and the nearby village Agunnaryd.

Ingvar Kamprad was only 17 when he founded the company in 1943 in Sweden. He is listed as one of the world's richest people in 2013.


Sources:
- The Star
- Wikipedia

Wicker furniture for all weather

Experts say women spend more time looking over products in a store than do men. This is attributed to each gender being wired differently thus both genders may do things directly opposite of each other. Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus? Indeed.

..which brings me to shopping and talking about shopping, have you been to IKEA Damansara? They are having their March Sale at the moment but not many days left as it ends on March 24.

Image source: homeandpatiodecorcenter

Furniture became the topic of discussion this morning after someone brought up that she is looking to replace her sofa set.

Her husband is looking at wicker furniture this time around and found some really nice ones online. I have to agree that online furniture stores do have a huge selection of furniture and needless to say the best Whitecraft All Weather Wicker Montecito Collection if you are looking to buy wicker furniture.  They come with colour consistency, durability and strength.

These wicker sets are not only beautiful, they are also maintenance-free, easy to clean, hygienic, safe and sanitary. When it says all-weather, the material used is weather-resistant and will not rot, fade, crack or split. It is UV-protected, and cannot be damaged by rain, sun or salt water thus they make great patio or poolside furniture.

Shopping for a TV stand

Buying a tv stand can be quite a challenging affair for the first-timer as you don't have a previous experience to benchmark.

For starters, you would need to consider the style you are looking for in addition to the size that is ideal for your tv and the material you would prefer.

It you prefer a modern design, a flat screen stand made of metal and glass would be up your alley. Glass TV stands add functionality to a stand yet take up very little visual space. If it's a traditional look is what you are after, a wood TV stand might be just the right stand for your setting. There is a wide range of TV stands available online. Nowadays, shopping is never easier. It can be done right in the comfort of your home and at your convenience.

What's the Colour of Your Sofa?

Recently, a girlfriend got tired of her sofa set and decided to make a change. She gave away her peach-colored sofa set (which I thought was rather pretty and bright) and replaced it with a darkish green almost black set. Colourful cushions provide the pleasant contrast.

Imagine if we are still in the dark ages where dye leather hasn't been created yet, our living rooms would all be so brown and drab in natural leather, don't you think? Thanks to coloured dyes, we can now choose a settee or couch of any shade that takes our fancy. Choice of colour is such an individual thing. Another girlfriend has a teal sofa set in her new apartment while a colleague has a bright red set. What's the colour of your sofa?

Observing Good posture at the Computer desk

How many of us are suffering or have suffered from shoulder aches due to working long and hard at the computer either at home or in the office?

Ergonomics is defined as the study of designing equipment and devices that fit the human body, its movements and its cognitive abilities. If ergonomic principles are observed, the practice will help in reducing risk of developing a repetitive strain injury and other stress-related injuries.

There is a lot more to ergonomics. The Internet is a wonderful resource for more information. Suffice to say that the right type of computer desks with regard to height and so forth, could help in complying with the principles of ergonomics in turn preventing physical stress to the body.

The image above is an all-too-familiar illustration of the ideal posture when working at a computer desk. Image courtesy of Wikieducator.com

Beautiful Sunday

Beautiful weather today, though slightly hazy and could be a pleasant Sunday for an outing or spending quality time with the family or friends out on the patio.

Speaking of the patio, did you know there are cushions for outdoor too? I came across a foam factory site that not only has mattresses for sale, the site also stocks foams for outdoor cushions.

Image source: foambymail.com

Dryfast foams as they are called are suited for outdoor use where moisture and precipitation like rain is prevalent, such as in patio furniture or in marine cushioning on personal watercraft.

The large, open cells of the Dryfast foam provide airflow not present in other foams, allowing it to dry quickly, even after complete saturation.

There is more. Not only is this particular foam anti-microbial, it also helps suppress microorganism growth, common in damp areas. So, the next time you are looking for an outdoor cushion or two or more to furnish your patio or any outdoor environment, this is what you could be looking for.

Replacing her TV Stand

A colleague recently moved into her new home, a corner lot with a big garden. She bought it second-hand. No renovation needed as it has all the necessary cabinets and stuff in place. Nothing major needs replacing except for a few minor things including the tv stand. She prefers one made of solid wood. She is now checking out tv stands around town as well as online. So far, she thinks there are a lot more choices online, including colours and shades. I'm sure she'll find one in time for her house-warming party.

Cane and rattan furniture and products

I have seen cane and rattan furniture being done, personally created with care by the artisans (yes, I call it an artform). Each piece of these furniture is really a work of art, from a simple rattan stool to a cane furniture living room set, and everything in-between.

Unfortunately, the trade of making cane and rattan furniture is disappearing fast as making cane and rattan furniture is a time-consuming and laborious process. Nowadays, mass produced furniture has taken over.

Looking for cane or rattan furniture or products? If you are in Kuala Lumpur or in the Klang Valley, here is where you can find some readily available, probably cheaper cane and rattan furniture.


Image source: The Star

Peter Schmeichel, the Great Dane of MUFC in Kuala Lumpur today

I should have posted this earlier but if you are a fan of Manchester United Football Club and/or a fan of the Great Dane, the club's former goalkeeping great Peter Schmeichel, plus you have a free afternoon today, you may want to pop over to the branch of Courts Malaysia at Setapak, Jalan Genting Klang.

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

Peter Schmeichel will be there today for his inaugural tour as the official ambassador for Courts Malaysia, the country’s largest consumer electronics and furniture retailer.

Courts recently announced the appointment of Schmeichel as their new ambassador.

In conjunction with Schmeichel’s visit here, Courts is arranging a meet-and-greet and autograph session with the player at their Setapak outlet planned for today from 2pm.

Spend RM50 at the store to obtain the exclusive meet-and-greet pass for an up-close-and-personal photograph and autograph session with the Great Dane.

Have fun if you are going!

Of Garden Parties and Freezing Winter in Europe

Some of us may incessantly be complaining about our hot and humid weather here in Malaysia, but at least we can hold garden parties or poolside parties any time of the year and can probably show off our modern outdoor seating furniture?

Just as heat kills, freeze can also kill. 89 people have died from the extreme cold in Eastern Europe.

According to The Star/Reuters, in Ukraine, 43 people have died in the past five days. This winter has been reported to be the coldest winter in six years.

Overnight temperatures sank as low as minus 33 degrees Celsius (minus 27 Fahrenheit) and hundreds of heated tents have been put up to shelter the homeless.

A woman protects her face from frost as she walks in Minsk, February 1, 2012. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko/The Star

Getting a good night's sleep

Back in the days when firecrackers were allowed to be fired during Chinese New Year, firecracker noise would be the order of the day any time of the day and night! It certainly had its downside!

Nowadays, Chinese New Year is a lot peaceful and quieter without all that din and excitement. Families with young children and babies would have a hard time ensuring they were not given to shocks. Now that those days are gone, the nights are certainly more conducive for sleep and rest after a hard day of entertaining and visiting.

Festival or not, a restful sleep is what everyone needs be it on a bed from log bedroom furniture or from a waterbed collection. I wonder if it's true about getting rheumatism from prolonged sleep on a waterbed, you know the belief that too much exposure to the dampness of water is bad for the body and that sort of thing..

Any idea?


Image source: logfurnitureplace.com

Looking for Outdoor Furniture?

Over here in Malaysia, shopping for furniture is not a problem as there are many furniture stores available. However, sometimes getting the piece that meets with your specific requirement may not be so easy.

That is where online shopping comes in. Shopping online offers more choices be it for outdoor furniture, patio furniture or garden furniture. Even garden structures such as gazebos or even greenhouses are available online.

Steel storage cabinets from Durham Manufacturing

Looking for a fire-resistant non-flammable storage cabinet? You have come to the right place. Durham Manufacturing manufactures top quality metal cabinets, steel storage cabinets, industrial storage products, shelving and racks, industrial workbenches, plastic products used in packaging, and more.

Their new non-flammable storage cabinets are sturdy all welded double wall steel construction. You have a choice of 10 cabinets of 5 manual closing, 5 self closing with 60- & 90- gallon models having internal 16 gauge reinforcements. They have 2” wide louvers support shelves, adjustable on 4” centers. They all come with an improved security feature of recessed lockable paddle latch and 3-point locking system. These are just a few of the strong features of their new non-flammable storage cabinets. Check out their website for the rest.

Durham Manufacturing has a wide selection of industrial storage products including industrial-duty 16-gauge metal cabinets, heavy-duty 14-gauge steel cabinets and extra-heavy-duty 12-gauge steel storage cabinets; all with high security locking provisions.

Durham Manufacturing also produces heavy-duty pegboard steel cabinets, janitorial metal storage cabinets, and heavy-duty extra-wide bin cabinets. They also produce complementary components such as bins, drawer cabinets, drawer cabinet systems, rotary shelving, bulk storage cabinets, and mobile cabinets.

Nothing beats metal cabinets for durability, versatility and general usefulness. When you purchase a cabinet from Durham, you know you have the best product in the market. Established in 1922, Durham Manufacturing is synonymous with top quality.

How to optimize space in apartment-living

Noticed the drawers under the bed in the picture above? That is a sample of what a colleague intends to get for her new apartment.

It is a king size platform bed which is just what she and her future-husband are looking for. The bed, besides being able to fit the six-footer, her man, the storage space would come in handy in apartment-living. They are still looking and checking out other space-saving and storage options. Setting up home is so exciting, don't you think?

Adirondack chair, butcher block countertop and memories..

Doesn't this pretty chair look just the perfect chair for the front porch? This is an adirondack chair or rather a bench seat rocking chair that is designed with love in mind, and an extra long seat offers plenty of room for two. Adirondack chairs combine solid construction with classic American style and are hand-crafted with the finest wood from plantation grown southern yellow pine, a renewable resource that resists insects and rot.

In every home, there is bound to be an item or two of furniture that stand out among the rest. I used to visit a schoolmate's home after school and I remember I was very impressed with their butcher block countertop in the kitchen. I was amazed when my schoolmate told me that it was her father's idea though he wasn't the cook at home. How fascinating! I was also fascinated by their stainless steel kitchen sink which was sparkling and huge or so I thought at that time. Strange how we perceive things differently as adults. Exposure makes all the difference, I guess.

Log beds and pretty quilts

The other day, Jules, a girlfriend, and I dropped by a quilt shop.  Jules was looking for a quilt for her niece, her sister's daughter.  They have just moved into their new home and Jules wanted to get her niece this lovely quilt she saw on her previous visit to the quilt shop.

I couldn't help admiring all the quilts there because they were all so pretty.  I thought some of them would be just right for log beds giving them that rustic charm.


Image source: logfurnitureplace.com

Ergonomics and Office Furniture

Ergonomics is a key factor to consider when buying office furniture. Fortunately, these days, most furniture pieces are designed with the user's comfort and convenience in mind. Still, it is beneficial for us, as consumers, to be aware of the do's and don'ts, for example, the right way we place the computer monitor or the right way we sit working at the computer. All these good habits will ensure we don't sustain injury in the long run.

Let's just look at the Correct Sitting position. Many of us think that sitting upright is ideal actually we should sit back in the chair between 100° & 110°, (Not 90° or straight upright), with thighs parallel to the floor. Place your feet firmly and evenly on the floor and slightly in front of you (the knee joint is at an open angle).

Following these steps will reduce disc pressure and muscle tension significantly as this position places less stress on the joints of the lower extremities and distributes body weight properly to avoid pressure points.

Making Contemporary Furniture work for you

Antique furniture may be nice, some of them at least, but my choice is still contemporary furniture.

These days, emphasis is given to multitasking and multifunctional furniture in the modern home. They prove to be more useful especially when furnishing a compact space. Welcoming multitasking pieces of furniture into your home will optimise space and give you more options making your task of decorating simpler to accomplish.

Coffee tables that can be used for storage, dining and working are the ultimate examples of multi-functionality. Built-in storage hides remote controls, magazines and all other living room essentials. I'm sure you may already have some of these contemporary furniture at home.

Lockers are Useful Storage Places

A locker is a great place to store one's belongings in a public domain such as a waterpark, a shopping mall, a train station, the gym even a bowling alley. Rental of lockers is inexpensive and it offers safe-keeping of your personal effects besides leaving you free of any baggage albeit for a short while.

For durability, school lockers and gym lockers are usually made of metal but there are wood lockers as well as plastic lockers available. If you are looking to buy lockers, Morelockers.com has a wide selection of all types of lockers to suit every need. As a matter of fact, they have discount lockers for sale at this moment. Do check them out for your locker requirement.

How to Choose the Right Office Chair

If you have a say in choosing office furniture, what single piece of furniture would you pay most attention to? I hope you're going to answer 'the chair'. Why?, you may ask.

You don't have to believe this but according to a Feng Shui article I read on Lilian Too's website, it says that the chair you sit on at work does have a bearing on how well you do in your career. Chairs should be designed to minimise aches and strains, allowing you to sit at length without getting tired or uncomfortable.

The article goes on to say that chairs meant for visitors on the other hand do not need to be overly comfy, lest they overstay their welcome! When picking sofa sets and settees for meeting areas, go with something not too comfy, for the same reasons. Harder sofa sets also generate a more dynamic type of chi energy more suited to the workplace.

Now you know, so choose the right chair for yourself.