Kennett Square, PA (PRWEB) December 30, 2011

after the kitchen, the most popular room in most homes has to be the family room or great room. It has to function as a media room, a game room, a music room, a reading room—and often a homework area too. Because this room is so lived in, there are lots of family rooms that could use a serious makeover. but where to start?

“Start with design that reflects the interests of the family members, of course! Use photos, children’s artwork, mementos, maps, antiques and art collections to tell your family’s story in this room,” says Jan Jessup, director of communications for Calico Corners – Calico Home. “Think about having frames made that can open to switch out kids’ artwork or to showcase the latest photos from a family trip. those personal items may suggest colors or textures to incorporate.” Then consider how to make the room work on a practical level. Here are ten tips on how to create a family room that is both functional and great looking:

1. really comfortable seating is essential. Sofas, sectionals and chairs for a family room should be chosen for reading and viewing comfort. Do you like to nap on the sofa? Be sure it’s wide and deep enough–and that the arm is low enough to nestle your head. Do you like to read to children? Make sure they can fit around you. Do you prefer to sit cross-legged on the sofa? It should be deep enough to accommodate your folded legs. Chairs and sofas with an outside depth of 38 – 39 inches or more are ideal for both sitting and reclining.

2. Select furniture that’s the right scale for the room. if your great room is oversize, or has a cathedral ceiling, you probably need large-scale upholstered furniture that can stand up to the size of the room. Traditional sofas or settees 72 to 78-inches wide will look diminutive in a big room. look for large-scale sofas at least 88-92 inches wide with depth and height of about 38-39 inches for furniture with presence in a spacious room.

Many sofas have an inside width of 68-69 inches (as this is a common frame size), but could have an overall width of 78 – 89 inches due to large-scale padded arms. Compare outside dimensions to inside width. “You may not be getting more actual seating space with a longer length sofa,” advises Jessup. Shop with a measuring tape–make notes about the size and scale of the pieces that you find most comfortable. Sofas with an inside width (between the arms) of 72 to 75-inches will be long enough for 6-footers to nap stretched-out. Think about how you’ll really use your furniture, not just the aesthetics of the piece. Function must complement form.

“Older adults have an easier time getting up from chairs that are a little more upright and not too deep (such as wing chairs) or chairs with good arm leverage (such as English arm chairs),” adds Jessup.

3. Consider sectional seating for design flexibility. Sectional sofas with a variety of components are a good way to create more spacious seating that can be tailored to the size and shape of the room. “If you want to pack more people into a tight space, your best choice is a sectional sofa,” notes designer Suzanne Kasler in her book, Inspired Interiors. “The L-shape creates a very strong line and utilizes every square inch, even the corner.”

When upholstering a sectional, avoid large prints and plaids or the finished effect may be overpowering. An interesting texture, small menswear plaid, chevron, herringbone or basketweave pattern will be subtle and more interesting than a plain solid fabric–and will also hide wear and wrinkles. Remember that sectional components in an L-shaped unit will change direction at the corner–and so will the fabric they wear. Be sure you like the effect before making a final fabric selection.

4. Vary the scale and visual weight of the furniture in the room. For example, have large chairs, medium-size chairs and smaller slipper chairs. Incorporate ottomans and benches. Have firmer chair seats and cushier chair seats. Have a great reading chair or chaise. Be able to reconfigure the furniture and pull in extra seating for big family gatherings and parties. Furniture with a little variety creates a more interesting room than a matching suite that all appears to have come from the same source.

5. Consider skirted arm chairs with a swivel mechanism so that they can turn easily for conversation or movie watching. most fully upholstered skirted chairs can be ordered with a swivel, swivel-glider or swivel-rocker mechanism.

6. Ottomans are critical to reading and viewing comfort. Ottomans should pull up easily to chairs or sectional components to support your legs. will they be large enough for a long-legged spouse? or will two people want to share one ottoman? Shop accordingly. if an ottoman will serve as both footrest and coffee table, consider a large 36″ to 48″ rectangular or square ottoman to serve all needs.

Large upholstered cocktail ottomans with no sharp corners or hard edges are more kind to toddlers and small children on the run and can also serve as a coffee table. A pretty tray placed on the ottoman can contain books, magazines, accessories and remotes.

7. Find a fabric you love to pull out colors for pillows, window treatments, skirted tables and accessories. if you have little ones, consider a more colorful combo for a family room as brighter colors really speak to kids, advises Jessup. “Start with the fabric, because there a million shades of paint, and you can always find that later.”

8. Lots of pillows are great for lounging, movie watching or support while reading.

Have pillows made in a variety of sizes and shapes–lumbar pillows to cradle your back while reading, smaller pillows to tuck under an elbow, larger pillows for napping–and even floor pillows for kids who love to lounge on the carpet. “Square pillows at least 18″ to 22″ are good sizes for a sofa,” says Jessup. “They’re large enough to show off a fabric and make a design statement. Little bitty pillows just get in the way.” The Calico stores offer both feather/down and fiberfill pillow forms covered in a neutral solid fabric in a huge variety of sizes and shapes–even pillow balls and cubes. The Calico custom workrooms can transform any fabric into a pleasing pillow.

9. Use window treatments to control glare on a television screen. Light falling from a window onto a television screen creates sun glare–perhaps not a problem at night, but surely an issue for Saturday morning cartoons or a weekend football game. Window treatments that can be drawn, or shutters or shades that can be closed, will help to control glare–and add privacy.

10. Select carefree fabrics. Then relax, enjoy and live with your family in the family room. The Calico stores have a very large selection of high performance fabrics, including many Sunbrella jacquard and woven upholstery-weight fabrics. these are designed for furniture use and are easy to live with–spills can be cleaned up with a sponge and a little dish soap.

“No one will guess that these are stain-resistant, fade-resistant Sunbrella fabrics,” notes Jessup, “as they look like denim, duck, matelassé, damasks, heavy cottons or intricate jacquard designs.”

Calico Corners also recommends faux suedes for family room furniture, such as Sensuede or Flannelsuede that can be readily cleaned with soap and water. “They add a great texture to the mix of fabrics in a room—and come in dozens of rich colors,” says Jessup. Sensuede is also more resilient than Ultrasuede for upholstery use, she adds.

Tips on furniture arrangement for a family room:

• if the furniture floats in the room, consider the back and side profiles.

Freestanding furniture should be attractive from all sides. look for special shaping in backs, crowned cushions, dropped side rails and skirt treatments that create visual interest. if you don’t love the view of the back of your sofa as you walk into the room, add a console table there to display books, photos, a lamp and interesting accessories.

• Position the sofa to face the television. as designer Lyn Peterson notes in her book, Real Life Decorating, “The television is the hearth of the twenty-first century…it’s the information center where we find out what’s happening in the world.” and the television is increasingly becoming our movie screen and computer screen as well. Place the sofa in line with television screens for more comfortable viewing.
• Where to place the television is a matter of personal preference, but consider these suggestions: A television placed high on the wall may have everyone craning their necks to see the picture. A television placed over a fireplace may compete with a fire–and also be too high for easy viewing. to integrate the television screen with room decor, hang artwork on either side of the screen; it will also balance the black void of the screen when the TV is off.

about Calico Corners Calico Corners – Calico Home stores provide expert decorating advice and free in-home design consultation in more than 90 stores across the country. Consumers will find thousands of designer fabrics for the home at value prices; custom window treatments, blinds and shades; custom upholstered furniture, slipcovers, bedding and more. Thousands of fabrics are available online. For more information or to find the nearest store, visit CalicoCorners.com or call (800) 213-6366.

Read the full story at prweb.com/releases/2011/12/prweb9052195.htm

<a href="http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/535598tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/535598Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:04:21 GMT”>Tips on Designing a Great Family Room From The Experts at Calico Corners – Calico Home

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) January 01, 2012

FurnitureForPatio.com is bringing in the New Year with a sale that offers free shipping on all patio furniture. For one week only customer’s can save big with free shipping with any purchase. The beginning of a new year is a great time to buy patio furniture because manufacturers are releasing new collections and factories are in the off season. since the order volume is low, factories are able produce custom ordered furniture in 2-3 weeks. during peak ordering season’s custom patio furniture is usually delivered in 4-6 weeks. The quick turnaround times are an advantage to ordering early in the year, rather than waiting for the spring rush. FurnitureForPatio.com is excited to introduce new furniture and offer customer’s free shipping on all orders. The New Year Free Shipping Sale is available from January 1, 2012 until January 8, 2012.

FurnitureForPatio.com is constantly adding to their great collection of patio furniture and outdoor decorations for the home. Shopping and buying patio furniture has never been easier for customers at FurnitureForPatio.com. Today, patio furniture manufactures are offering their products with a variety of different personalization options. when shopping for patio furniture at FurnitureForPatio.com, customers can view and order from a variety of different frame and fabric options. For example, the Telescope Casual Momentum collection is available in 10 different powder coat frame options and 70+ different fabric options for the deep seating cushions.

Patio sectionals were a popular item for the 2011 season and will continue to into the 2012 season. Patio sectionals are now available in variety of different materials and styles. Wicker patio sectionals are a great option when choosing an outdoor sofa. Today’s outdoor wicker furniture is constructed with a resin material that is resistant to cracking, fading, and burring. Curved or crescent sectionals are a popular new piece of furniture that people are using for an outdoor living area. The deep seating cushions and contour of the sofa make them a great solution for outdoor seating around the fire pit. FurnitureForPatio.com offers one of the largest collections of patio sectionals that are available with free shipping during the New Year Sale.

Outdoor club chairs are another trend that manufacturers are targeting for the 2012 season. New 2012, outdoor club chairs compete with the quality and comfort of interior club chairs. Outdoor club chairs are great for creating a comfortable lounge area on any patio. The oversized frames and deep seating cushions allow for ultimate comfort while relaxing in a summer breeze. Custom ordered outdoor grade designer fabrics allow for customers to personalize the club chair, so that it can match the exterior décor of their home. Adding an ottoman to a club chair is a great idea to enhance the comfort and style of the chair. FurnitureForPatio.com offers club chairs available with wicker, resin, and cast frames.

FurnitureForPatio.com is a one stop shop for decorating the patio of your home. Customers can shop from patio sets, chairs, tables, sectionals, sofas, barstools, umbrellas and other outdoor decorations. The New Year Patio Furniture Sale allows consumers to save on popular outdoor furniture from brands like Lloyd Flanders, Telescope Casual, Polywood, North Cape, and Caluco. FurnitureForPatio.com is quickly becoming one of the most popular stores to buy patio furniture and outdoor decorations for your home. The store features an expansive collection of patio furniture that can be purchased online and delivered to anywhere in the USA.

Read the full story at prweb.com/releases/new-year-2012/patio-furniture-sale/prweb9071586.htm

<a href="http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/536023tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/536023Sun, 01 Jan 2012 12:09:36 GMT”>New Year Sale on All Patio Furniture

Largo, FL — (SBWIRE) — 10/21/2011 — Quality wicker and rattan manufacturer, Palm Springs Rattan and Garden Classics will open the fall 2011 High Point Market with an unprecedented number of new introductions and an expanded show floor. Palm Springs Rattan’s booth space at #1539 Showplace will encompass an additional 700 square feet and will include an expanded cast aluminum collection now with action seating, an extensive offering of embroidered outdoor pillows with a retail-friendly merchandising tower, new designs in three all-weather wicker collections, a full complement of indoor/outdoor accessories in Palm Springs’ Island Way accessory line and even more ground-breaking news for their umbrella line. “This is going to be an exciting market due to not only the expanded space; but also the immense number of new introductions we will debut for our retail partners and prospective retailers,” said Tami Newton, Sales Manager of Palm Springs Rattan and Garden Classics. “Each market, we strive to engage and respond to each segment of our retail base with new products and promotions; at this market we are confident our introductions will provide something new for everyone.” Palm Springs’ cast aluminum collection, Savannah will expand with the addition of action seating. The new introductions will focus on the growing popularity of motion furnishings. In the all-weather wicker segment, new designs have been added to the Kokomo, Bay Breeze and Cape Hatteras lines. Kokomo will now include dining, counter and bar bistro sets with a double leg under-weave on all back legs allowing pieces to withstand heavy weight and stress. Palm Springs also has responded to the need for storage and stack-ability with the three heights of Kokomo bistro style dining. For the Bay Breeze collection, an open, lighter look weave will be introduced while the latest additions to the Cape Hatteras Collection will now boast a more robust wicker motif. In response to retailer requests, additional embroidered pillow designs will be introduced as well as an eye-catching pillow tower display unit. A merchandising and product package will debut for customers interested in capturing the add-on sales potential of the expanding pillow line.One of the lines to see the greatest explosion in SKUs is Palm Springs’ Island Way accessory line. In High Point, the collection of indoor/outdoor decor items will debut not only additions to the popular topple-proof heavy resin lamps; but also tableware and a full complement of decorative accessories. For Palm Spring’s umbrella line, an all new UV protection rating will be introduced at the market. The line’s umbrellas will now boast a seal signifying a 50+UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor). through a certification process by the Australian government, the rating equates to 98% or a near total blockage of damaging UV rays. The company’s umbrellas also are the recipient of an excellent rating for UVA and UVB blocking.

<a href="http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-111855.htmtag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-111855.htmFri, 21 Oct 2011 19:22:36 GMT”>Palm Springs Rattan and Garden Classics Announces Unprecedented Roster of Introductions and an Expanded Showroom to be Unveiled During High Point Market

TOWNSEND — On Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 17 and 18, the air was brisk, the leaves had a hint of red and gold, and folks were buying homemade fudge, juicy burgers and handcrafted items, and art from the area’s talented crafters.

As a line formed at the food table, George McFarland of the Townsend Community Couples Club (TCCC) was working over a giant grill, happily flipping burgers, giant sausages — with a nearby frying pan of sautéed onions and peppers — and blistering hot dogs. “This is a lot of fun,” he said. “This year we thought we would take care of the food and partner with the Townsend Historical Society in this venture. As you can see from the bake sale table, the ladies have really produced some fantastic sweets.”

Stephen Cloutier was playing sous chef to George’s chef and they were filling orders as fast as they could. Everything smelled delicious. Everything tasted delicious, too, according to the Bell family from Leominster. “We were going to Nashua for a restaurant lunch, Lori Bell said between bites of her cheeseburger. “But we saw this and stopped here instead.” Nine-year old Spencer Bell chimed in: “I told my dad to forget the restaurant,” he exclaimed, while dad, Peter, smiled and said, “I’m glad we did.”

Cheryl Cloutier was working the bake-sale table along with Charlene McFarland, Sharon Cahill, Nancy Lee, and Melanie Quellette, and the fresh baked fragrance of key lime cupcakes, blond brownies, and Fannie Farmer pound cake filled the air.

“The TCCC has been around since 1947,” Cheryl explained, “And we do town projects and try to provide at least one $500 scholarship each year. This past year we all painted the gristmill at Townsend Harbor and recently cleaned all the memorials throughout the town. we have a great bunch of folks and always have a wonderful time.”

The fair attracted vendors from around the area, including southern new Hampshire. The talented Winchester siblings were there, and Stephen Winchester from Center Barnstead in new Hampshire held court from his handmade plank chair, surrounded by painstakingly created Adirondack styled mirrors, coat racks, tables and chairs. “I’ve been doing rustic furniture for about 20 years, he admitted,. “It’s a passion and pleasure to work with natural things.”

In the booth next door, Liz Winchester-Larson, from Keene, N.H., displayed her delicate drawings made with colored pencils. Children looked on as she sketched pale green leaves on her giant pad and their realistic shapes showcased her talent. next to her display was here sister, Harriet Winchester, from Nashua, who sat near her display of marvelous pastels and oil paintings, whose soft colors and realistic landscapes showed a lifetime of skill honed to a master’s level.

Birthday Adventures from Shrewsbury turned out to be a new venture of virtuoso costume makers Jenny Brown and Kim Friedman. Their creative costumes are designed for children’s birthday parties and of course Halloween. Their sewing and creative talents include costumes from the Wild Wild West, a Royal Affair for princesses, Safari expeditions, pirates, fairies and of course, superheroes. not only do these moms make the costumes to order (in the right size), they provide a completely themed birthday party package if desired. birthdayadventures.etsy.com

The Victorian Lady hails from Lunenburg and her giant wooden witch, pumpkins and colorful silk floral displays always bring her fans and customers to this event. Carol Koski-Krauss bills her shop as the most romantic shop in new England, so fall in love and contact her at 978-582-9404.

Ashley Gauffin teaches art in the Lexington school system, and this talented artist specializes in watercolors of nature. Her eye-catching booth drew people of every age and her paint-spattered apron provides the credibility of this hands-on passionate artist and educator. Contact her at .

Lunenburg’s Judy Hanks hand-carves amazing leather accessories, all available with initials or names. these are gifts to treasure for a lifetime. Contact her at 978-582-6903.

<a href="http://www.nashobapublishing.com/townsend_news/ci_19011280tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.nashobapublishing.com/townsend_news/ci_19011280Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:23:08 GMT”>Fair marks 30 years

Fairline Boats is launching the all-new Squadron 50 flybridge motor yacht at the PSP Southampton Boat show. With its cleverly designed interior layout arrangement, the three cabin, two en-suite Squadron 50 flybridge motor yacht provides an unsurpassed amount of living space in its class.The Fairline range is distributed in Ireland by BJ Marine.

Owners of the Squadron 50 will have a master cabin the size that would normally be expected on a yacht of 60ft plus. Panoramic hull windows and overhead glazing add natural light into the cabin, further contributing to the feeling of spaciousness. The two additional twin cabins comprise two beds which can be converted to doubles. an optional fourth-crew cabin with feature window is also available and is easily accessed from the cockpit, even when underway. Fairline’s design trend towards spacious and light-filled living areas continues into the large saloon with its huge panoramic windows, available with optional powered opening section. A first on a Fairline motor yacht, the galley is positioned aft in the saloon, allowing easy access for al fresco dining in the sociable cockpit area.

The glass patio door features an optional opening window ideal for serving guests in the cockpit. The class-leading flybridge is larger than previously seen on a boat of this size, providing plentiful areas for entertaining and relaxing, and the upper helm position has been located portside to enable an even clearer view of the rear platform when mooring. Other key features of the Squadron 50 include the innovative, patent-pending optional Fairline Tender Launch system at the stern platform for personal watercraft up to the size and weight of a Williams 285 Jet RIB. This revolutionary system will assist owners in launching and retrieving their boat in and out of the water.

When powered by 2 x Volvo Penta D9-575 EVC engines, the launch price of the Squadron 50 starts from £622,000 excluding local taxes. when powered by 2 x Volvo Penta D11-670 EVC engines, the launch price starts from £654,400 excluding local taxes. Visit the Fairline berth M172 to view the Squadron 50 on display at the PSP Southampton Boat show. The Targa 38, new Targa 38 GRAN TURISMO, Targa 44 OPEN, new Targa 50 GRAN TURISMO, Targa 58 GRAN TURISMO, Squadron 42, new Squadron 58, latest generation Squadron 65, and Squadron 78 CUSTOM are also on display. Fairline also enters the show with RINA Green plus Yacht Certification for its 2012 Targa express cruiser and Squadron flybridge motor yacht ranges. The certification recognises vessels with design solutions, equipment and operational procedures that help make improvements in environmental performance.

Exterior DetailsThe Squadron 50’s large open aft cockpit follows Fairline’s trend towards sociable layouts, with its seating area facing the saloon. The cockpit is teak-laid throughout and includes a storage locker underfloor and liferaft stowage. Lockers are also located at the foredeck. Connecting the cockpit to the saloon is a glass patio door, with optional opening window. Separate access hatches are provided to the engine room and optional fourth/crew cabin. Twin transom gates lead to the teak-laid bathing platform, which includes the patent-pending Fairline Tender Launch system (optional) for personal watercraft up to the size and weight of a Williams 285 Jet RIB. The bathing platform also includes a transom shower and swim ladder. From the cockpit, teak laid steps go up onto the large flybridge, featuring a large sunbed for two people and storage underneath, as well as dining seating with table that can be converted to a cushioned sunbathing area. A bar unit with sink and refrigerator allows for effortless entertaining. Drinks holders are located throughout the flybridge (and foredeck). The second helm position is located portside of the flybridge, allowing an even clearer view of the rear platform when manoeuvring. it includes full repeat flybridge engine instrumentation and autopilot control, helm and companion seating. A wind-deflecting screen with grab rail is positioned in a wrap-around style. The foredeck features a large self-draining area for coachroof cushions.

Interior DetailsPlentiful windows are featured aboard the Squadron 50 create naturally light-filled spaces. Huge panoramic windows in the saloon area are available with an optional powered opening section. Rich furnishings, finishes and the finest craftsmanship appear throughout the accommodation. The joinery is finished in oak satin or walnut satin with espresso gloss. Fairline’s in-house design department has specially selected a comprehensive choice of co-ordinated carpets and upholsteries. Air conditioning and heating systems can be fitted throughout the accommodation if required.

Saloon and galleyThe open-living style saloon features a dining area with fold-out table, and sideboard with a 22″ flatscreen television, which is next to the twin seating that has been positioned near the cockpit for sociable living. The sideboard also includes plentiful space for crockery. Additional storage space is placed under the seating. A chaise-longue is located adjacent to the main helm station. The galley, positioned aft of the saloon and its layout is perfect for serving guests either in the saloon or cockpit. Equipment includes an electric twin hob with extractor fan, combination microwave/oven, and refrigerator. The sink is positioned underneath the galley window. there are plentiful drawers and cupboard space, and a durable, white melamine Fairline Edition dinner service, which is perfect for alfresco dining. The main helm station has been elevated for maximum visibility and includes twin seats. there is an adjustable/tilt steering wheel. The full engine instrumentation includes tachometers, temperature gauges, audible alarms and engine hour meters. Other features include Garmin electronics package, night lighting and drinks holders. an opening window is located starboard side.

Cabin AccommodationThe three cabin layout provides luxurious accommodation for up to six people, plus two berths in the optional aft/crew cabin. The master cabin provides the size of accommodation that would normally be expected on a yacht of 60ft plus. The two twin cabins are convertible to double berths. Master cabinAs with the latest generation Squadron models, the ‘floating bed’ adds to the luxurious and spacious feel of the forward master cabin. A skylight (with blind) is located above the bed. Storage is provided by under-bed drawers, shelving unit, overhead lockers and wardrobe with mirrored doors. there is also a vanity unit with stool and reading lights. there is an option of a 22″ flatscreen television with video and iBoat dock. The connecting en-suite door leads to the Avonite® vanity unit and basin and electric silent-flush toilet. within the en-suite, a full-height shower cubicle with seat is positioned the other side of a glass door. Fittings include a shaving point, mirrored lockers with LED night light underneath, overhead lighting, extractor fan and towel rail. Port guest cabinThe port guest cabin includes twin full-length berths and bedside table, plus mid-level lockers and wardrobe with mirrored doors. Feature windows include a single opening porthole. The cabin has access to en-suite facilities. Starboard guest cabin

The starboard guest cabin includes twin full-length berths and bedside table. there is also underbed storage, mid-level lockers and a wardrobe with mirrored doors. Feature windows include a single opening porthole. The starboard en-suite includes an Avonite® vanity locker and basin, silent-flush toilet and shower. there are three large hull windows with a single opening porthole. Other features include a shaving point, extractor fan, towel rail and mirrored lockers. Fourth/crew cabin (optional)

The optional crew cabin features the signature Squadron aft window, letting light fill the cabin. The full-length berth slides out to reveal the basin and silent-flush toilet. there is also a shaving point, mid-level lockers, mirror and overhead lighting. Access is provided via the cockpit. Alternatively the space can be used as an aft utility room with wet hanging area.

<a href="http://afloat.ie/resources/afloat-new-design/item/16899-world-launch-of-the-all-new-fairline-squadron-50/tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://afloat.ie/resources/afloat-new-design/item/16899-world-launch-of-the-all-new-fairline-squadron-50/Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:41:39 GMT 00:00″>World Launch of the All-New Fairline Squadron 50