November 28, 2007 by admin.

Dear valued clients and friends please join us for an evening of inspired design and splendor on Tuesday, December 18th, from 6-9 pm in our new 12,000 sqft. Sacramento Showroom.  Please stroll our Italian Showroom of fine contemporary furniture and reminisce about your last visit to Italy.  For your enjoyment we will have for you food, wine, champagne and espresso inspired from different regions in Italy.  Gain Inspiration from the innovation, craftsmanship, quality and pure beauty of our classically modern showroom.  Be romanced by music from the Sacramento Opera House and our fine Italian furniture brought straight to you from Italy.  Imagine what it would be like to have a permanent piece of  Italy in your home.  Whether it be a sleek new leather sofa from Nicoletti, an exquisite bedroom from Excelsior Designs Italia or a timeless and fashionable dining room collection from Nicole Miller, we at Furnitalia will meet and exceed your expectations.

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June 9, 2007 by admin.

In the ongoing battle between solid wood versus veneers, there is actually a place for both. Having made that statement, most of my friends in the unfinished furniture industry will probably want to hang me out to dry. This article aims to educate customers on the differences between solid wood and veneers. It used to be quite easy to tell the difference between the two because veneers typically were not done very well. Over the years, it has become much more difficult to distinguish between the two because manufacturers have developed the art of veneering. It often takes a trained eye to see the difference between solid wood and veneers. 

SOLID WOOD 

There are three different ways solid wood can be assembled to make furniture – plank, laminated or butcher block. IF the furniture uses solid wood boards glued together at random widths for the full-length of the top, then it is called a plank. Laminated solid wood has boards that are the full-length with similar widths. Butcher block is when the solid wood has similar widths and shorter lengths. With solid wood, you will always be able to see the end grain and the grains will match in width with the top. 

VENEERS If there is a very wide width on the furniture, like a table top, and it has a painted edge, a veneer edge banding, or a solid wood piece going in an opposite direction of the grain, then it is most likely a veneer. Also, anytime you see book-matched pieces or a sunburst patter, it is a veneer. 

Veneers have been around for hundreds of years. They have been used in some of the most exquisite antiques you will find in museums, but problems can arise if they are used in the wrong type of situation with furniture. They depend on substrate material and certain types of joinery. The best use of veneers is on large surfaces that will not get much heavy use or require substantial tensile strength. 

They lay nicely over particleboard or MDF. Also when veneers are used around solid wood as edging, it can help protect the item against damage. 

PROBLEMS WITH VENEERS AND SOLID WOOD One of the main areas where veneers, and the materials they are used to cover, run into problems is with fasteners. Screws, staples and most other fasteners do not hold well in particleboard or MDF. If you are putting screws into particleboard where the joinery must be able to move or hold a lot of weight, the screws can work loose. If a piece of furniture requires movement or heavy weight, solid wood should be used since the screws will hold much better. 

Of course, solid wood also has its problems and difficulties. While it will hold screws and other fasteners much better than items made with veneers, solid wood boards may move or warp due to changes in the temperature and humidity levels. When solid boards are cut from trees, they usually contain about 85 percent water and need to be dried to contain about 6 percent water for furniture manufacturing. If this is not done properly the wood will continue to dry, causing it to warp or split as it shrinks. 

As mentioned earlier, manufacturers have made it much more difficult to tell if an item is a veneer or solid wood, so it is important to learn the differences and inform your customers if they ask. To identify solid wood remember to look for the end grain to show at the end of the boards and count the number of boards that are glued together to make the top. Finally, pay attention to the price. Solid wood is more expensive than most veneers; therefore, many inexpensive furniture pieces will be made using veneers with finishes that look like wood. Remember knowledge and education is the key to satisfied customers.

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May 22, 2007 by admin.

Reprinted with permission from Excelsior Designs. Furnitalia (www.furnitalia.com) is the only authorized retailer of Excelsior Designs and Nicole Miller Furnishings in Northern California.

Whether your getaway is a second residence or the bedroom down the hall, you can break free of the decorating doldrums.
The hot news on the home front these days is that everybody wants seconds. In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors(NAR), second homes accounted for four out of every ten residences sold last year.
Not surprisingly, affluent baby boomers are dominating the market. “Boomers believe in diversifying their assets, and most second-home owners see their purchase as being a better investment than stocks,” notes David Lereah, NAR’s chief economist.
Even so, the purchase of a second home, whether as a vacation getaway or an inestment property, is a big move for most. Among the many questions that need to be addressed before making the leap: Will the home be used a few times a year and rented out to others the rest of the time? Will it be used occasionally for business? Will you have time for routine upkeep? Do you plan to retire to the home someday? And, once all of these questions have been answered, and the second home is purchased, it’s time for yet another really big decision: just how will you decorate it?

For many people, a second home represents a second chance, and they tend to shape the new residence by a wish list of things they don’t have in their primary home. Still others see a second home as an opportunity to simplify busy, everyday routines. In search of peace and relaxation, they want to throw off the bonds of heavy fabrics, trims, details, fussiness, and the traditional decor of their “formal” residence in favor of clean-lined, contemporary, and low-maintenance surroundings.
Whichever description is more apt,  the important thing to remember is that a second home is your opportunity to experiment and have fun. It’s a chance to express yourself via decor in ways that may be completely different from your everyday environment. It is, after all, an escape.
If a vacation home is not in the cards, or you’d prefer to retreat on a more regular basis, it’s possible to create a haven right down the hall.

Given its orle as a private space far away from the maddening crowd, a bedroom is ideal for self-expression; a place to spread one’s decorating winds, so to speak. And the calming effect of streamlined, contemporary furnishings can be the perfect antidote to busy, over-programmed lives.
Redecorating may actually be good for your health, particularly if you’re among the millions of Americans suffering from insomnia. If you’re lacking shut-eye, experts suggest taking a good look at your sleep environment.
While it may seem obvious, those who study sleep for a living say it’s important to ensure your bedroom is, first and foremost, a place to sleep. This means anything that dows not promote sleep and relaxation needs to be banished from the room. Clutter is a no-no, but so is taking your work to bed. Relocate the bills, desks, laptops, and baskets full of correspondence.

Than, have at it. Opt for the highest thread count linens you can find, simple, but beautiful fabrics, and clean-lined pieces with a modern, minimalist sensibility and enough storage options to keep surfaces clear. Just as in a vacation home, the idea is to make maintenance a snap, so make “less is more” your manta!

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January 6, 2007 by admin.

3. MEASURE UP.
Measure the room where your new furniture will be placed. Draw a simple diagram of your room and remember to include window and door placements as well as any permanent fixtures, such as built-in bookcases, fireplaces, etc. Note the location of heat and air registers, as well as electrical outlets. Ceiling heights are important if your shopping list includes entertainment centers, armoires or china cabinets.

4. SAY CHEESE!
Take pictures of your room, from various angles and views, to use as an easy reference when you’re in the furniture store. Later on, they could also become a great addition to your “before and after” album.

5. JEEPERS - KEEPERS!
For any pieces you plan to keep, gather swatches and finish panels (or small drawers) to take with you - having something in-hand will help when deciding if the “old” will work with the “new”.

6. TRY IT ON.
There are lots of websites with free Interactive Room Planners that allow you to create custom room layouts. This gives you the opportunity to try out several looks without lifting a finger!

7. SHOP!
Gather all the information you’ve collected, don some confortable shoes, and then shop with ease and confidence…you’ll be organized and well-prepared to find those furniture treasures that will make your “Dream Home” a reality. Happy hunting!

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December 22, 2006 by admin.

Beautiful homes don’t happen by accident. Representing a significant portion of any redecorating budget, furniture is the anchor of every “dream” room. Purchasing new furniture can be an exciting - and overwhelming! - experience. But, by donig a bit of homework and with some basic preparation, your search will be much less daunting and far more enjoyable. Let’s get started with creating your “Dream Home” tote bag. You will need the following items.
A roomy and attractive tote bag
Note pad, pen, and pencil
A file folder for each project or room
Tape measure
Camera

1. MAKE A LIST OF WHAT YOU WANT.
Notice I said, “want” and not “need”. Home furnishings should reflect your personality and make you feel good each time you enter a room. You may “need” a dining table and chairs for eating, but you “want” a gathering place for memory-making with family and friends. As you walk through your home, jot down your “wants”.

2. WHAT’S YOUR STYLE?
Pick up some home design and decorating magazines and tear out the things you like, whether it’s colors, shapes or styles. Notice if an underlying theme or pattern emerges from your selections. Let your imagination run wild…if you are drawn to the picture, add it to your collection of tear sheets. If multiple projects are in the works simultaneously, stay organized by setting up a folder for each.

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