Furnish Green

When describing the furniture from our shop on our website, we try to remember to tell you, if we can, about the kind of wood that was used to make the piece, as well as a bit of information about the finish. We are often asked whether a particular piece is made with veneer, laminate, or if it is solid wood, and we have found that there are often misconceptions about the differences. Today, we will try to help to define and explain the practical applications of the three.

Veneer is technically a thin layer of hardwood, usually thinner than 1/8 of an inch. Typically, veneer is bonded, or glued with adhesive, to a cheaper surface that is hidden below. A less expensive wood or particle board can often be found underneath. This practice allows furniture makers to design and build beautiful pieces at a lower cost. At Furnish Green, we often find a lot of mid century pieces with dark walnut veneer and Danish modern pieces with teak veneer. Veneer can be sanded along the grain, painted and stained because it is real wood. When working with it though, you must be very careful not to overdo it, remembering that the layer is very thin and can quickly be worn down with a power sander.

Laminate is made with synthetic materials or very thinly sliced pieces of wood. In some cases, it is made to look like wood grain by using a method that is similar to printing. Laminate typically has a shiny finish and is known for being used in low-end furniture and pieces that need very durable surfaces. Of course, laminate is much cheaper than solid wood or veneer to produce and use. At Furnish Green, we try to stay away from carrying many pieces with laminate, but occasionally find a server or console that we think looks great and fits the bill. Laminate pieces are incredibly easy to clean and maintain, great for children’s rooms or any spot where it will get a lot of wear. Although it is not real wood, laminate can be painted by sanding the piece lightly to remove the glossy finish, primed, and then painted with thin layers of your favorite color.

Solid Wood is, well, solid wood. Furniture made with solid wood can be sanded, stained, varnished, treated and painted. Some woods are soft and show wear, such as worn corners and edges, after many years of use. Others are called hardwoods and have a more durable lifespan. Here in our store, we love the look of solid wood pieces, often finding them as rustic, farm style tables, bookshelves and cabinets.

So, next time you are perusing our just-in section, take note of our titles and descriptions to learn a bit more about the piece and the materials that were used to create it. Whether its veneer, laminate or solid wood, we will continue to strive to bring you the nicest, most intersting furniture we can find!

Next time you have a free day, do yourself a favor and head along the west bank of the Hudson River to Mountainville, New York. There you will find Storm King Art Center, a open-air museum that stretches across 500 acres of meadow and woodland. This museum, or sculpture park, was originally founded in 1960 by Ralph E. Ogden for Hudson Valley painters and has become an important landmark for major sculpture works by the “modern masters.”

Storm King closes for the winter on December 1st, so start making your plans soon. The entrance fee is only $12 and grants you access to the entire site for the day. You can easily walk the entire park to see the exhibitions but if you are a bit short on time or unable to make the trek, the center offers bicycle rentals which make the trip much easier. There is a cafe on the property which serves a surprisingly nice lunch and an abundance of tables and grassy areas if you’d like to bring your own picnic.

At Storm King, you find a host of impressive works by famous artists such as David Smith, Alexander Calder, Mark di Suvero, Henry Moore, Isamu Noguchi, Richard Serra and Louise Nevelson. There are many other contemporary artists who have sculptures on display though. My favorite installation is the Wavefield which was created by Maya Lin, the 9th photo listed below, which is an unusual and intriguing manipulation of the existing landscape into wave forms.

So, next time you find yourself looking for a disconnection from our hectic city, keep this place in mind. Storm King is a wonderful and inspiring place to spend your day.

photos courtesy of the bird to my bath

The definition of the bachelor’s chest has become somewhat skewed over time, so we at Furnish Green thought we would provide a bit of historical background for you to get a better grasp on this uniquely titled piece of furniture.

The bachelor’s chest is English in origin, and the first models date from the late 17th century. The chest was compact enough to fit neatly into the type of living accommodations that many young men, or bachelors, utilized when moving to the city and beginning a career. While small, the chest usually had plenty of room to store basic toiletry items, clean shirts, and other essentials that the unmarried male would need.

The bachelor’s chest is a small, shallow and relatively low chest, containing three to four drawers, usually graduated in size. In height, the typical bachelor’s chest will be no more than 36 inches. Historically, the top of the chest was hinged, and could fold out to become a writing surface, supported by runners. Later varieties, in the 18th century, had a brushing slide just underneath the top, which was a pull-out surface for writing or laying out clothing.

While bachelor’s chests are still produced today, they are now utilized more often as pieces that provide extra storage space rather than as a main source of storage. However, we all know that New York City living often calls for smaller furniture, and these can be very functional pieces in small apartment spaces.

The term bachelor’s chest has begun to be used more loosely, which is why you’ll see some discrepancy in our naming processes here at Furnish Green. We often give the name bachelor’s chest to a piece with drawers on the bottom and cabinet space on top. These pieces are also space savers, like the originals, and provide space for your “bachelor” to get himself ready for the day.

Do you like dining tables? Do you like bargains? Then you’ve come to the right place. Get the super cute Medium-Sized Dining Table with Two Leaves, now on sale for a measly $50! Yep, you read that right. Just 50 little dollars. This sweet deal is only available in-store or over the phone. So come on over to the Furnish Green showroom, or give us a ring at 917.583.9051.

Furnish Green highly recommends leaving the city for a day and taking a day trip to this amazing architectural masterpiece and landmark, Philip Johnson’s Glass House. All it takes is a mere train ride along the Metro North New Haven line with your destination choice fixed upon New Canaan, Connecticut.

Upon your arrival, pay $45, and in return, receive two hours of architectural bliss. A guided tour will allow you to experience the entire Philip Johnson estate, including the house, grounds, art gallery and sculpture gallery. Tour groups are limited to 13 people and the tour itself is a 3/4 mile walk around the estate.

The Glass House was designed as Philip Johnson’s own residence and is universally viewed as having been structurally derived from the Farnsworth House, designed by Miles van der Rohe. The building is an exposition in minimal structure, geometry, proportion, and the effects of transparency and reflection. The furniture present within the house was designed by Miles van der Rohe, while the lighting was designed by lighting consultant Richard Kelly.

The Philip Johnson Glass House is something to be seen! So, take a day trip and experience modern architecture at its finest!

photos courtesy of the bird to my bath