Furniture
PLEDGE: Furniture
Buy second hand, its cheaper, usually made more hardier than modern furniture, and to use a trendy word, its retro. Be it from the 50's, 60's or 70's - does it matter? You can always reuse old fabrics and recover. Try a bit of DIY upholstering. Amazing what you can make. Have a go at making your own furntiure too, using recycled woods, older furniture, anything really. Create new looks. Go for it, theres no comparison to real style when the latest fashion changes often, and there you are with your own distinctive style. Cool!
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90% old furniture here :D
Almost all our furniture, everything except our bedroom suite, are old hand me downs from family :D This used to bother me, but now I'm proud of the fact (and I don't have to worry too much about my toddler messing them up).
Too right
Hey good on you! I used to feel like that but now I love my furniture, and really really have to be squeezed to buy something. We have recently bought a set of draws(trademe purchase), and we only had to travel to the next small town. It was an old piece of furniture, our first purchase in over 5 years. My hubby is an upholsterer, and he picks up old fabrics that will be discarded making great couch covers.. (not that any of our bits are upholstered.. lol "cobblers shoes are never mended"). But hey great Kimber, old furniture is great, and if you add it to a bigger purpose, it feels good doesnt it!
No nasty chemicals either
The other reason to buy second hand furniture is to avoid having nasty chemicals (that are in lots of new furniture) leach into your home. A lot of new furniture is treated with nasty chemicals eg flame retardants, formaldehyde, benzene and other harmful chemicals used in paints, sealants and other treatments given to furniture.
Once furniture has reached a certain age a lot of the chemicals have already gone or at least become less harmful.
Furniture can make you sick - read this story written by Arlene Blum about her cat's ongoing hyperthyroidism illness cause by her couch!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arlene-blum/killer-couch-chemicals_b_60754.html
For NZ info check out the info on the smarter homes website
http://www.smarterhomes.org.nz/materials/furniture-and-textiles/
furniture
For $45 each I bought 6 front car seats. Drivers' seats are best as they have more adjustments. It took me three days each to glue together rigid bases on skids with arm rests, made with timber (kauri, oak, rimu) from furniture tossed out in inorganic collections, then varnish and clean. They are handsome, easily moved for vacuming, easily superior in comfort, retaining all adjustments, to any furniture I've experienced in other peoples lounges, and use less floor space than most. My back is the judge.
Noel
Sophward - good reminder
Sophward - good reminder about why not to buy new furniture. Will read article about cat soon! Poor cat!
Noel - great resourcefulness (if thats a word), that does sound comfy indeed. Its great to hear new ideas and the re-inventing of every day goods. Cheers!