Friday, April 9, 2010

MATERIALS, SUSTAINABILITY & FURNITURE SAFETY STANDARDS

Sustainable living

Taking more from the environment that can be natually replenished.Furniture which is sustainable will contribute to neither pollution nor excessive deforestation. Product materials are given thoughtful consideration, are manufacturing methods and processes.


Green Building

A green building focuses on increasing the efficiency of resource use - energy, water, and materials - while reducing building impact on human health and the environment during the building's lifecycle, through better sitting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal.


Green Furniture















Cardboard shelving


















Cardboard furnitures

Thursday, April 8, 2010

BALI + INDIAN INFLUENCE - ASIAN FURNITURE

BALINESE FURNITURE





Woodcarving: A Balinese tradition

The people from Bali, Indonesia, are known for their exquisite woodworking and handcrafted art work. Balinese culture has been represented in the detail carving, including the mythological Balinese phoenix and blooming lotus flowers. Balinese Furniture is well known worldwide as one of the best available furniture. Not just for it's artistic designs but also it's quality.




INDIAN FURNITURE








Indian furniture is a craft engaged for antique reproduction furniture, shisham furniture, Boxes, Almirahs, Doors & Windows, Tables and Accessories. Indian antique furniture is among the world's finest, and its use of elegant brass and iron hardware fittings is one of the features that makes it so popular.
                                                      

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

MODERN MALAY + CHINESE INFLUENCE FURNITURE

MALAY FURNITURE PRODUCTS



Malay Coffee Table

The perfect companion for the Malay Futon Frame and Malay Side Table.

Features a intricate rattan details

Hardwood construction






Malay Side Table




The Malay two-seater bench

Outdoor seating



















Raffles chair



















CHINESE HARDWOOD FURNITURE


Joinery & Construction


Frame-and-panel construction
More efficient use of materials, and is typical of most panels in Chinese furniture,whether tabletop, door, or cabinet panel.

Recessed-leg construction
The practical and minimalistic 'recessed-leg' form was established by the Song dinasty and continued to be reproduced throughout the Ming and Qing dinasties. This basic construction system was commonly applied to the creation of stools, chairs, tables, and cabinets.

Corner Leg Construction
Can be divided into 'waisted' and 'simianping' styles.
Simianping forms likely developed from early box-style constructions, whose use as tables and platforms are evident in Tang period paintings.
Furniture of 'waisted' style retains architectural characteristics of the classical Greek pedestal, which migrated eastward to Gandhara where, as a dignified support, it became associated with the seat of Buddha.

Bamboo-style construction

'Bamboo-style' furniture employs rounded, bamboo like members that are configured to stimulate the wrap-around and layered construction techniques of furniture made from real bamboo.

INTRO: WHY LEARN FURNITURE? HISTORICAL OVERVIEWS

FURNITURE HISTORY

From the earliest of times, man has sought to invent things to make his life easier. From the dawn of recorded history, man has built and used furniture. Furniture was first used in the middle-east and Mediterranean areas.

The Egyptians produce fine furniture, created some of the world first functional furniture. Crude by today standards this furniture was designed to make life easier and it was quite successful.


MODERN FURNITURE



Modern furniture design began in the technology revolution of the 20th century. Although there are several styles of modern furniture, such as art deco, mid-century or industrial, all modern furnitures shares certain characerisctics. Function, simplicity, originality, longevity, beauty, and quality are the similarity of each and other modern furniture.


CHINESE


Many items of ancient Chinese furniture have also been preserved, since Chinese civilization has continued uninterrupted for thousand of years, and works of art have been treasured through the centuries.


EGYPTIAN & GRAECO ROMAN



Although surviving Egyptian furniture, Greek furniture and Roman furniture is rare, a lot of information is available regarding the ancient design of homes and furniture in these cultures. Ancient Egyptian art, Greek art, and ancient Roman art, artifacts and literature are plentiful.


CLASSICAL REVIVAL



Greek, Roman and Egyptian decor was the inspiration for the neoclassical furniture styles popular in Europe and America in the 18th and 19th centuries particularly the neoclassical furniture of the late Georgian era in England.


ASIAN FURNITURE HISTORY



Traditional Japanese Furniture is well known for its minimalist style, extensive use of wood, high quality craftmanship and reliance on the wood grain instead of paintng or thick lacquer.



Chinese furniture is traditionally better known for more ornate pieces. The use of uncarved wood and bamboo and the use of heavy lacquers are well known Chinese styles.





EGYPT FURNITURE



Egyptians used headrests made of stone, ivory or wood, instead of pillows for sleeping on. They were at times decorated with images of Bes and other gods, seemingly in an attempt to protect the sleeper from evil.

Houses were mostly sparsely furnished. Egyptian home decor was very elaborate. Colored ceilings, wall paintings, carvings, hangings, inscrptions and tiled floors were the background to ornate furniture and ornaments. Gold, blue, black, red and orange were popular colors in Egyptian room decor.


GREEK FURNITURE OVERVIEW


Early Greek furniture was largely influenced from furniture crafted by the Egyptians. Paintings created during that era depict furniture as unbending and rectangular.

Furniture found during the classical Greek era differed little from that of early Greek furniture. There were however some slight changes as the wealthier tried to outdo one another by creating more decorated and fancier Thronos.


ROMAN FURNITURE WAS INFLUENCED BY GTREEK FURNITURE


The styles and types of furniture created by the Romans were similar to those developed by the Greeks. However, the Romans made greater use of bronze, silver, gold, and marble when constructing their furniture. The Roman designs also tended to be more complex and practical.


RENAISSANCE FURNITURE INFORMATION


Furniture started to have fewer jewels or stones embedded into its borders. Rather banding, paneling, and carving were the primary forms of ornamentation. The people of this period created beautiful furniture using an artistic approach that was not explorwd by past generations.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Indonesian Furniture


Jepara is the center of wooden Indonesian carving furniture in Central Java. It is filled with mostly small workshops, which usually are the craftsman homes, but there are also some larger manufacturers. You can find an endless variety of good Indonesian furniture produced in Jepara, in different styles and different qualities, from reproduction of antiques to garden furniture, and you can even order your custom built furniture. Some are produced manually, using the same methods and processes used in the past; and in larger manufacturers some are produced by machine. Most of the furniture sold in Java and Bali come from Jepara.


When you plan to shop at small workshops, it is recommended to bring along someone who has good knowledge in Indonesian wooden furniture, so you can get good quality furniture at the most suitable price. And with the opportunity to see the craftsman at work, you can also check the quality of their work. At larger manufacturers, the wooden products are classified in different grades, grade A is for the best quality and the most expensive.

There are various ways to go to Jepara. You can go by train or by bus from Jakarta. Another way is to take a flight to Semarang, there are more than 100 flights per week from Jakarta to Semarang. And from Semarang airport you can take a taxi to Jepara, the trip takes approximately 2 hours.

For business or pleasure, a visit to Jepara is definitely worth it, and you will have the opportunity to expand your knowledge in wooden Indonesian furniture.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Indonesian Centre for the Arts

YT Centre for the Arts is a place with unlimited possibilities, where the creativity becomes the appointment we allow ourselves to keep…the appointment to show up and be present, focused and dedicated.
I happened across the centre by chance almost three years ago when invited to a dinner with the artist, Yaari and his partner, Toya, a fashion designer and interior consultant, both now firm friends of mine. I was in awe of their creative values, their warm hospitality and the diversity of the people gathered around the sumptuous seafood buffet prepared by Toya.
Now I can be found at the centre most days, painting with Yaari, connecting with the many ‘drop-ins’ (always welcome), laughing, dancing, body painting or simply hanging out.
YT Centre for the arts is an environment that inspires unlimited thought, theatrics, entertainment and fun, fun, fun (rule number one). It allows us all the gift of art and I feel very privileged to be involved. I see very clearly my own evolvement during my years at the centre, both spiritually, personally and artistically as I gradually allowed myself the freedom of unlimited thought. As Yaari puts it: “free two birds with a kiss instead of killing them with a stone.”
Art speaks in every way here – impressionism, symbolism, digital art, abstract forms using mixed media, home furnishings and fashion abound in original form. Wild textures and colors proliferate on canvas, walls, floors and fabrics. Here the theatre of life is manifested. The YT Centre for the Arts is a foundation of creativity open to all. Come, participate and be present.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Indonesia Design Lio Collection


Lio Collection’, an internationally branded network of outlets showcasing a diverse collection of fine furniture, designed and created by the Company’s factory in Java, Indonesia, and complemented by Indonesia-sourced artwork and homewares.

Headquartered on the Indonesia Design tropical paradise island of Bali, the company has 13 gallery showrooms conveniently located within the Kerobokan, Seminyak, Oberoi, Jimbaran, Tuban, Ubud and Ngurah Rai By Pass districts.

There is also an outlet in Medan on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, as well as representation overseas with family owned and franchised enterprises in Denmark, Germany, Australia, Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Mauritius, and the USA, and others anticipated in Iran and Dubai.



Lio Collection’s all weather furniture provides: Indonesia chair,Indonesia table,Indonesia sofa and elegant alternative for those wanting a different look for alfresco living. Our extensive range of outdoor synthetic rattan products are made from top quality, high density polyethylene (synthetic rattan furniture), expertly woven over a sturdy aluminium frame. The furniture is extremely strong and durable( garden flooring) and can be left outside all year around. It is washable and waterproof, environmentally friendly, tear proof, colourfast, and resistant to UV light, chemicals and suntan lotion.

It has a good tensile strength and is designed to withstand the harshest elements of nature from torrential rain to scorching sun or freezing snow. It is equally suitable for interior use, while our choice of contemporary styles and colours will enhance any conservatory, terrace, patio, garden or pool deck setting. The product requires very little maintenance, and can be hosed down or wiped with a damp cloth to clean. The flat weave is soft to the touch and the furniture is very attractive to look at and comfortable, even without a cushion. Each frame is painted with powder coating, which ensures that it is fully protected against corrosion and rust, and it becomes virtually invisible once it has been woven over. Furthermore, because the frames are made from aluminium, the furniture is lightweight, making it very easy to lift up and move around.



One of our most stunning pieces of all weather furniture is the Niki Daybed Pentagon, in which craftsmanship and innovative design come together to deliver the perfect balance of form and function. This exclusive and luxurious double daybed features a deep base, a substantial mattress, Sunbrella cushions, and a retractable canopy to provide shade and shelter from the sun and wind.



Please browse our catalogue and choose dining tables, chairs or lounge suites. Mix and match these items with our range of stools, sunloungers and daybeds to complete your outdoor garden furniture ensemble. All designs are available in standard sizes in various colours or can be custom made to your specifications.