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Furniture building has always been dependent on the use of sturdy materials that can be trusted to hold up under pressure tine and time again. Since the beginning of the furniture building business, the main ingredient in a well-formed piece was the wooden frame. Wooden frames were built to withstand the weight of people, food, or any heavy loads that were put upon them.

For comfort, the furniture frames were often left out completely in favour of an early version of the bean bag chair; cushions were low and stuffed with straw or other soft materials that were available in the region. As for dining seats, it was not unusual in ancient societies for the diners to be seated on the floor with food piled in front of them on low tables - the combination of hard and soft that initially eluded furniture makers was eventually perfected in classical furniture that is still found all over the world.

After the end of World War II, however, came the onslaught of contemporary furniture design. These designers saw the long history of furniture creation as something that was too focused on pure functionality; they sought to bring in a more aesthetic focus that coupled with functional purposes. To achieve this aim, contemporary furniture designers turned to the use of unorthodox materials, structures and shapes in the hopes that these pieces of furniture would be appreciated for their artistic vale as well as their usefulness in the home, workplace, or patio.

Man-made Fibre Enters the Art World

One of the most important materials to contemporary furniture designers is plastic; not only is this a very durable and versatile material but it can be created in virtually any colour and stretched into many different shapes that will maintain their integrity throughout a lifetime of use. Plastic has become a mainstay of so many different facets of society that its use in furniture design was all but destined; in fact this fact meshes perfectly with the entire view of contemporary art. Contemporary furniture designers generally subscribe to the idea that modern art should reflect the true reality of the times; therefore as the use of plastic exploded into society it was only natural that it should be used in furniture making.

Another triumphant material for contemporary furniture designers is fibreglass. This very durable material is very easy to shape into any design because of its initial flexibility; once the shape has been moulded properly a fixative is applied and the structure becomes very solid and endurable. Perhaps it is the flexibility of the materials and the endless number of shapes and structures that plastic and fibreglass can become that has really changed furniture design in the past several decades; whatever the reason it is interesting to see the new designs follow the societal evolution of various cultures around the world.

Evolution and Timing

Art has evolved in all its forms. New materials were a boon to contemporary furniture just as improved inks and paints were a boon to painters and artists. The fact that the materials came into existence at virtually the same time as the contemporary furniture movement leads us to believe in synchronicity and happy endings.

Stella Stevens is an expert in the modern and contemporary furniture industry. For more information, visit http://www.uk-contemporary-furniture.co.uk

Classic furniture has a very dignified, structured look and feel to it - think of the millions of dining chairs with the ubiquitous straight back, four straight legs and cushioned seat. These chairs are have dominated dining rooms all over world for decade upon decade, virtually undisturbed by modern notions of furniture design because of their sturdy structure and ability to stack away any extras for emergency use later on.

This is how families cope with extra holiday dinner guests, how they ensure that there is enough space in the dining room and essentially the standard that they based their entire home decoration scheme upon. Classic furniture has no inherent flaws, and this is why is perseveres to this day.

Contemporary design, which essentially means any furniture designs that have been created since the Second World War, is the modern take on a human necessity. Designers who followed the classic, traditional era of design are now and have been tempted to open up the drawing board to very new and different ideas. It is the natural progression of any professionals, particularly in the art and design world; contemporary furniture certainly has caused a great deal of debate and even though this is not always pleasant it has at least introduced artistic devotion to many households and individuals who may not have had such insight otherwise.

The real goal of contemporary furniture designers is to break down the structure that past designers had relied on for countless years. Instead of purely filling a functional purpose, modern designers realised that furniture pieces could not only be constructed as load-bearing structures, but as artistic, almost whimsical works that happened to serve a purpose but were perhaps thought-provoking as well.

Designers of contemporary furniture felt that their designs were more reflective of modern society than their outdated classical predecessors; for some people this held true however there are still plenty of classic furniture buyers who are loath to adopt newer models of their functional structures.

Those who have latched onto the idea of contemporary furniture are thought to generally be the sort of people who are also very interested in art and literature; while this is often true the fact is that many people have purchased contemporary furniture individually because a certain piece caught their eye. You can find swivel Egg Pod chairs or hand-shaped loveseats amidst classic furniture in many homes as people realise that there are contemporary furniture sometimes suits their personalities and surrounding decor.

The move from classic to contemporary furniture is perhaps not as swift as original designers might have wished, but the move is being made, often one chair or barstool at a time.

Stella Stevens is an expert in the modern and contemporary furniture industry. For more information, visit http://www.uk-contemporary-furniture.co.uk

Furniture design and the high arts may not be closely connected - if connected at all - in people’s minds, but the fact is that they are both parts of the same facet of society. Art, whether purely for art’s sake or functionality, is always art. Ancient societies all over the world brought artistic visions into their functional pieces; imagine Navajo blankets, Persian rugs, Chinese vases and pre-historic pottery pieces. Archaeologists actually rely on the artistic patterning and design of pottery so that they can identify different societal groups and tribes that lived either simultaneously or in different time periods. Art and humanity are virtually inextricable from one another.

Contemporary artists are mostly known for their expulsion of rigidity in paintings, sculptures, and even the form of art itself. Such artists may often decide to embrace an unorthodox form of expression to reach out to their audiences and viewers; art museums are becoming filled with electronic works, photograph montages, cardboard boxes, even light bulbs and short movie screening rooms. It has become the choice of modern artists to showcase their thoughts via non-structured forms of art that have often been untried by previous generations.

Design and Function Must Meet Art

In terms of furniture, designers have realised in the past several decades that their designs can be grouped into artistic prowess; despite a widespread opinion that for the most part divides art from utility contemporary furniture has embraced both sides of its existence. By no means has artistic value been completely removed from furniture design; it is simply that furniture is an industry that has thrived on such a removal via mass production, affordable pieces and easy storage. When you see stackable chairs, this is exactly the mentality that has caused furniture design to deviate from artistic prowess.

Utility aside, contemporary furniture has joined its cousin contemporary art to provide a new aesthetic and a more vital quality to its design. The initial reaction to these new designs - very seamless and seemingly natural in their construction - was not so much from the general public as it was from artists and the art world itself. Contemporary furniture found its way onto the big screen before it was seen in the average household. What then seemed like a breakthrough for contemporary furniture and art was merely the first major hurdle jumped.

Style and Success

Like contemporary art, contemporary furniture has had to work at building a good reputation as a viable option next to classicism. After a good sixty years, however, contemporary furniture has succeeded in not only claiming converts but in furnishing the bedrooms and eventually the entire homes of new generations of people who adore pieces like the swivel chair and the winged coffee table.

Perseverance can only get you so far; contemporary furniture designers have succeeded because of their love of aesthetic and form alongside function.

Stella Stevens is an expert in the modern and contemporary furniture industry. For more information, visit http://www.uk-contemporary-furniture.co.uk

In recent years, television programmes and lifestyle magazines have fed an enthusiasm for the past. They have not only increased our knowledge for art and antiques but also heightened our expectations of their value. The media has drawn attention to stories of people who find valuable antiques in their attic or in a junk shop.

But why buy antiques rather than newly manufactured pieces? Where furniture is concerned, there are numerous reasons why!

Firstly, antique furniture can give a room instant character and individuality. They give a sense that the space has been accumulated over time, a quality that distinguishes a home from a furniture showroom. Antiques are more unique than todays mass produced furniture, which adds to the rooms aura. Some antique items cannot be made in todays society due to time constraints, unavailability of materials and loss of the art.

Quality and workmanship is a factor not to be forgotten. Antique furniture proves it is of good quality as it has already stood the test of time. Its solid construction is unlike many of the mass-produced factory-made articles of today, which are usually sold in flat pack for easy transportation and reduced manufacturing costs.

Construction methods used in the previous century are not only more withstanding but require skill and fine workmanship. The traditional method of dovetail jointing, for example, is stronger than dowel joints used in the present day, and are certainly more impressive and aesthetically pleasing.

There is also a comparison to be made in the quality in the materials used; hardwood was favoured in producing furniture in the past but nowadays furniture is usually constructed using particleboard and veneers.

Antiques are also an investment to be passed down through the generations. A piece of furniture today could cost a similar figure at the offset but may not bring the rewards that an antique could. By purchasing a piece of antique furniture you are investing in an asset which will surely mature with a growing market value.

There is also the impact on the environment to be considered. Today, more and more of us are thinking green by recycling materials such as glass and plastic. Yet how many of us think about being eco-friendly when selecting a new sofa or table? Its difficult to imagine them as a threat to the environment but the truth is that furniture manufacturing is a fundamentally polluting business.

Companies often use pesticide-treated wood and apply paints and finishes that are harmful to the environment. Acres of rain forests are also destroyed in the demand for tropical woods such as mahogany and rosewood. By purchasing antique furniture you are being considerate to the environment as it is a form of recycling.

Lastly, buying antiques is a wonderful pastime. Hunting down a rare piece of furniture is by far more enjoyable than selecting an item from a store, or even a home-delivery catalogue. There is also the pride you feel when you see the piece in-situ in your own home.

John Mce writes on behalf of Westland London, antique dealers offering a vast collection of antique fireplaces, mantels and antique chimneypieces, antique panelling, antique fire grates, and antique lighting from their London gallery. Browse their stock online at http://www.westlandlondon.com.

Why do we need a digital kitchen scale in our kitchen? Is it there just for the fun of cooking or is it really essential for every cook out there?

For those who do not take cooking seriously or only cook for the sake of having something to eat, they might think that having a kitchen scale is just a waste of money. Subsequently, for most part of their cooking time, a digital kitchen scale is not needed at all.

Just imagine, if I am a university student having to go through my whole day attending lectures, finishing up my coursework and then not having enough time to do other things except study, do I really care about how many ounce of sugar do I add in my food? The answer is absolutely no. Time is so precious to me, and having to think about these little things that seem insignificant enough just to fill my stomach is a bit overkill.

The same goes for those who are too busy to cook. Normally they would rather go for instant food instead of cooking their own meal. You would not expect they would have a kitchen scale inside their kitchen cabinets, let alone a digital one.

A digital kitchen scale is one of the most important tools for those people that require precision in their cooking. For a baker, this is a must-have kitchen appliance. I like to bake, and for me, having a kitchen scale is a must since every single drop of flour or sugar counts and significant. A little less or a little too much can give a totally different outcome.

Normally and by large, people like to measure the ingredients using measuring cups and this can sometimes lead to inaccuracy. Others just use any cups that they have in their collection of tableware. This is another major pitfall as cups come in different sizes and shapes so a cup of flour that a person measures might not be the same quantity as that of others.

However, people might argue that once you got used to estimating all the measurements, a kitchen scale is practically not needed at all. In my opinion, repeatability and consistency are two other reasons why we need a kitchen scale for our cooking preparations.

We can be certain that by using a kitchen scale, the measurements are consistent everytime we want to cook the same meal repeatedly. A digital kitchen scale definitely gives an advantage as it can give more accurate measurements than a mechanical scale.

To me, there is no doubt that having a digital kitchen scale is important for serious cooks, and for those who are passionate about cooking. If you love spending time in the kitchen, and see cooking as an art, you definitely do not want to miss measuring your ingredients with a kitchen scale for your cooking pleasure. So save some money and treat yourself to a digital kitchen scale, it will surely become a useful tool that you can hardly live without.

Ahmad writes regularly on several websites including his Digital Kitchen Scale website. If you want to know more about kitchen scales, check out his site at http://digitalkitchenscaleguide.com

Hot tub covers age just like any product. They actually age quicker than most because they are subjected to harsh chemicals and the elements of snow, rain, and the sun.

If you own a hot tub, then you most likely received a cover when you bought it as part of the package. If you need a new hot tub cover, then you should definitely consider purchasing a good quality one that is custom made.

Some things you want to think about when considering your purchase of a new hot tub cover are the following.

You want to make sure the seal is very strong on the cover. Spa covers all have a foam core. The way a foam core works is the tiny spaces between the tiny foam pellets trap air. This air works to insulate the hot tub and keep the heat inside. As soon as water seeps into the core, you begin to lose the thermal protection and your cover gets heavy and will start to mold.

This is why a good strong seal is important.

You want to make sure your new cover is strong enough to withstand not only the elements of snow, water, and sun, but also the weight of a child or children. If you have children, it is more than likely that sometime or another they will climb on top of the hot tub cover while it is on the tub. You do not want there to be a chance that they will fall into the tub.

A good hot tub cover should be strong enough to keep out everything but the water that it is supposed to keep at a hot temperature. If you have a good cover, then your hot tub will be ready for you whenever you want to enjoy a good soak.

You will also save money in heating costs. And your maintenance costs will be less because your hot tub will not have to work as hard to keep the water at the temperature you set.

Do some research and see what hot tub cover works best for you. There are many places online to purchase a new cover, but the more research you do and the better informed you are, the better deal you will get.

The most important part of a Jacuzzi is the relaxation and fun of it. Get a good cover and enjoy yourself.

Chris runs a website all about hot tub covers. If you’re looking for a hot tub cover, find more information at http://hottubcovershome.com

Ok so why would you even contemplate eating a natural soy candle?; Well you probably wouldn’t, but it was a question put to me by a rather inquisitive 6 year old during the breakfast rush as he was handling one of the apple green decorative candles that we have lying around in droves. “Don’t be silly, its a candle, it’ll make you sick” I replied, without giving it too much thought, and left it at that.

Later I got to thinking about that question and picking up that particular candle I spotted a sticker upon it stating 100% Natural Soy Candle - Now I see why the question arose and maybe it was not such a silly question after all. Right then, in order to satisfy my child’s curiosity, and now mine, it was time to find out all I could on soy candles - “Natural soy candles”.

Traditional candles are mainly manufactured from paraffin wax, a distillation by-product of the petroleum processing industry. These candles are losing favor to modern green party ethics due to their fossil fuel ingredients and the possibility that when burning, they release similar carcinogenic compounds as that of burning diesel fuel.

Maybe you really don’t want to be burning too many of them around the home, although from what I could establish, most of the nasties are actually contained within the wick itself and have very little to do with the paraffin wax itself. Poor quality wicks are also responsible for sooting and the faint chemical smell that occurs during burning.

Soy wax candles are the “environmentally friendly” successor to the paraffin wax candles, and business is booming, especially when you take into consideration the global consumption we have for candle products. Whilst you and I probably use candles for a little mood lighting or the odd “aromatherapy” session, candles are used throughout the religious sector on a phenomenal scale.

So, what goes into a soy candle and maybe more importantly, what comes out of soy candles? - Back in the early 1990’s, a certain Michael Richards developed a process to refine soy bean oil into a suitable and economic candle fuel replacement. Soy bean products and derivatives are a natural factof life today - Take a look through your kitchen cupboard and refrigerator and see just how many products contain Soy derivatives.

The beauty about soy beans is that they are a wholesome natural product which can be produced very economically, on a huge scale and on hometurf, thereby supporting the US agricultural sector. The crop is sustainable and scalable to meet future demand and I for one will support that trend.

So, natural soy candles are indeed a 100% natural product and 100% biodegradable, but what else goes into them? Soy wax has a lower melting point than paraffin wax which makes it a little too soft at room temperatures, especially for the thinner soy pillar candles. To get around this soy wax candles generally contain a few other ingredients such as palm oil and beeswax which raises the melting point slightly and gives a firmer candle.

Another way around the problem has been the trend towards chunkier candles and container based candles, e.g. jar candles, votives and tea lights to name a few.(A votive candle is a small, typically white or yellow candle, originally intended to be burnt as a votive offering in a religious ceremony. It also refers to a standard size of candle 2 inches high by 1.5 inches diameter, of any color or scent.)

Soy chunk candles are currently all the rage and are one of my particular favorites. Basically they consist of coarse soy wax chunks or shapes placed into a mold or container which are then overfilled with melted soy wax, which seeps through the air pockets between the soy chunks and holds everything together. Using a soy wax of a different color produces some interesting design effects. I don’t know about you, but I tend to use a lot of these soy chunk candles as purely decorative items - they’re far too nice to burn!

Scented soy candles also contain natural fragrances “essential Oils” to add to their appeal. Natural soy wax candles burn at a lower temperature than traditional candles, which has the benefit of releasing the scent more slowly and less intensely, giving a more natural background fragrance. I can live with scented soy candles, the same can’t be said for traditional scented ones though - Their fragrance can be so overpowering as to cause one’s lungs to go into asthmatic collapse, well mine anyway, and I’m sure I’m not alone in this respect.

So in answer to the title of this article, “are natural soy candles good enough eat?”, well yes I guess they probably are - they contain 100% natural products, they’re good for the environment, sustain the US agricultural industry and burn very cleanly - but for heaven’s sake, please don’t! - Traditional food tastes a whole better and offers greater nutritional value - the question was hypothetical, enjoy your natural soy candles as an environment friendly mood light source or to add a delicate natural fragrance to your home, whilst at the same time, doing your bit to save the planet.

Rob Lee is a freelance content author and web graphics entrepreneur. You can find some further examples of Natural Soy Candles at http://candlebits.com