Modern Furniture is Identifiable through Several Distinctive Features and Designs Very often, when people refer to goods or products as either ‘old’ or ‘new’, their descriptions are based on their own age and/or their interpretation of elapsed time. For example, items made in the 1970s may seem almost ancient today to people born within the […]
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Art Deco Style Furniture: Distinguished Features, Vibrant Wood Finish, and Spirited Designs It is quite possible than many homeowners have heard and/or read the term Art Deco, used in reference to a certain style of architecture, furniture design, or fashion. It is also highly probable that a majority of these same individuals are unaware of […]
Read MoreCome See the Huge Selection at Our Fine Furniture Store in Toronto Do you like the art deco furniture style? Come see the amazing selection at our fine furniture store. A wide range of unique items will add flair and luxury to your home. If you are looking for specific items, our friendly and knowledgeable showroom staff will be happy to assist you. What is Art Deco Furniture? The term “Art Deco” is short for Arts Décoratifs and is derived from a 1925 Paris exhibition that showcased this new style to the world. Art deco furniture is characterized by symmetrical, clean, rectilinear lines. It combines traditional craftsmanship with modern machinery and materials. Its beauty lies in the use of rich, ...
Read MoreBring the Richness of Bold Design into Your Home The re-emergence of art deco is here to stay. The style itself is all about visual and influential arts that depict movement and culture. Art deco originally appeared in France after the First World War. Today it still features that iconic geometric pattern and vibrant colours that add charm and novelty to any home. Art Deco for Your Home Décor You would be surprised at just how easy it is to bring this feisty retro style into your home. After all, who does not love splashes of colour and unique patterns? Avoid cheap and cheesy and only buy your art deco pieces from a fine furniture store in Toronto. At Carrocel ...
Read MoreThe term “vintage” is thrown around too often by furniture stores and there are even modern furniture companies advertising their products as “vintage.” So, how do you know if you are purchasing a real or fake piece of vintage furniture for your home? At Carrocel fine furniture store, our team of furniture experts will tell you that there are some easy ways to differentiate fine furniture from mass-produced knock-offs. By doing so you can make sure that the piece you are purchasing is worth the investment. Tips for Spotting Real Versus Fake Vintage Furniture Next time you shop for vintage furniture in Toronto, use the following tips to help you differentiate between a true vintage piece and a recently ...
Read MoreAre you in the market to buy antique furniture? Do you know what to look for? If you are new to this, you could end up paying more than necessary or worse, buying a piece that is not authentic. In such cases, it is best to go to antique dealers you can trust. There are many who misrepresent new furniture as genuine antiques; to an untrained eye, it is hard to tell the difference. We have highlighted some important points to make note of while purchasing antique furniture. This is not a comprehensive guide but offers some hints to help steer you in the right direction. 10 Tips For A Quick Evaluation Of Antique Furniture: The dimensions of old furniture ...
Read MoreHow To Identify Different Styles Of Antique Furniture Need some help with identifying antique furniture? Here is a quick guide to help you distinguish between the different looks. It will also help you pick out the one that closely matches your décor and taste. Jacobean: English style (1640-1700), medieval in appearance with straight lines, rigid designs, sturdy construction, ornate carvings and a dark finish. Early American: Modelled after European furniture styles (1640-1700), particularly from England, France, the Netherlands, Scandinavia and Spain. Rudimentary utilitarian furniture made from local woods. William and Mary: Dutch and Chinese influences, characterized by trumpet turned legs terminating in a ball or Spanish foot, padded or caned chair seats, and Oriental lacquer-work. Named after William and Mary ...
Read MoreEuropean beech is a wonderful wood. All of our newly made chairs are made in Italy from European beech and so this makes it an important topic for us and our customers alike. For starters, it's necessary to make the distinction between North American and European beech as they are different despite originating from the same family. In fact, there are several differences between the two, however, for our purposes we'll simply focus on their properties and uses. They are both classified as hardwoods but their appearance and workability are not quite the same. For instance, North American beech is mostly a reddish brown and has a considerable colour variation between boards. The grain is usually very straight, closed, and much coarser ...
Read MoreToday and in the next coming days, we will be exploring the most commonly used woods in fine furniture. From dark to light woods, these posts will offer useful information on the origins, purposes, and characteristics of the woods used in fine furniture. So, let's begin. Mahogany Perhaps the most widely known wood for furniture, mahogany is our starting point. Even if you don't know much about wood furniture, chances are you've at least heard of mahogany. As previously blogged about, mahogany is part of the dark-coloured hardwood category of woods. True mahoganies belong to the genus Swietenia which are found in the Caribbean and in Central and South America. Mahogany also, however, can originate in Africa in which they belong to the genus ...
Read MoreWhen working with wood or buying wood furniture, it's best to know what you're working with or spending your money on. Understanding whether you are dealing with a hard or soft wood can dictate the wood's appropriate purpose, how they take to stain or lacquer, and how durable it is. Here I put together a brief explanation of wood basics. In the next post we will visit specific wood types and their roles in furniture. Hardwoods vs. Softwoods Solid woods fit into two categories: hardwood and softwood. A hardwood is extracted from a broad-leafed tree (i.e., no needles) and include mahogany, oak, teak, birch, walnut, ash, beech, poplar, rosewood, elm, etc. Not to get too scientific, but specifically hardwood trees are angiosperms (plants that ...
Read MoreFellow furniture enthusiasts visiting our Furniture store in Toronto here is a quick run-down of some furniture leg styles and their names. Always useful to know the name of the leg instead of saying... 'yeah, I like the piece with the thingamajiggy leg!'" [caption id="attachment_210" align="alignleft" width="300"] 1 - Bobbin 2 - Baluster 3 - Twist 4 - Cup and cover 5 - Flemish scroll 6 - 'Square' 7 - Louis XV 8 - Plain cabriole 9 - Carved cabriole 10 - Taper 11 - Chippendale straight 12 - Hepplewhite 13 - Hepplewhite decorated 14 - Adam 15 & 16 - Sabre 17 - Pre-Victorian 18 - American fancy 19 - Windsor 20-23 - Victorian 24 - Modern Cabriole[/caption]...
Read MoreArt Deco Art Deco furniture is characterized by the use of metals, dark and exotic woods (rosewood, ebony, mahogany). It was popularized in the 1920s in Europe and in the 1930s in the United States. It not only influenced furniture, but fine art, jewelry, and cinema. It has its roots in architecture and Deco furniture captures the same lines and curves. In many pieces, the darker aspects of the grain of the wood are highlighted to give the piece a certain striking appearance. In North America, Art Deco furniture and architecture were symbols of strength and optimist during the end of the War and the Great Depression. An example of this symbolism for hope is the sunburst motif often found in ...
Read MoreRegency Furniture This style of furniture is known for its simplicity and elegance. It was the last true furniture style that was readily identifiable before the excesses and incoherences of the Victorian era. Inspired by classical forms from Egypt and Greece, nearly all Regency furniture were veneered. Surfaces were kept plain and decoration was limited to turning and brass inlay in rosewood and other exotic timbers. ...
Read MoreAs my second blog post, I thought a good way to kick things off would be a short introduction of the various furniture styles that are out there. There are several different styles - some modern, some classic, and some that never go out of style. Whether you are interested in heavy carvings, light carvings, curves, cabriolet feet, or just plain and clean lines, there is a style out there for you. So, let's begin! Chippendale - Named after the English cabinetmaker, Thomas Chippendale, this style is characterized by the use of flowing lines, carvings in the form of C-scrolls, floral motifs, fret work and acanthus leaves. The carved cabriole leg ending in the ball & claw foot is another unmistakable ...
Read MoreFederal Style This design originated in America during the Federal age after the Revolution in the 18th century. The most important development was the sideboard while the dressing table and high chest disappeared. Duncan Phyfe was one of the most famous cabinet makers during this age. He used rich mahogany from Cuba and combined it with precision-cut veneered panels of satinwood and rosewood. Bellflower, geometric, and eagle shield inlays, decorative motifs and hardware were popularize during his age. For what it's worth, it's my favourite style of furniture! Here are some examples: [caption id="attachment_174" align="alignleft" width="244"] Antique Mahogany and Satinwood Federal Style Sideboard[/caption] Empire Style Like a lot of other styles, this 19th century design drew upon neoclassical views of Rome, ...
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