Category Archives: Uncategorized

4 Benefits of Solid Wood Furniture

You might be ready to purchase some new furniture, and you’re not sure which material to choose. It is an important decision since you want the furniture to be around for a long time. There is a lot to be said about solid wood furniture and all the benefits it brings.

Durability

Solid wood, especially when taken care of, can last long enough to become a family heirloom. Other materials could be too flimsy to manage the wear and tear that comes from everyday use. Imagine having to move more than once with this piece of furniture; you want it to last through the moving process.

The reason that solid wood is so durable is that it has a strong tolerance for refinishing. It is a great medium to work with and responds very well to treatments. Along with physical durability, solid wood furniture tends to have timeless designs. Even when certain things go out of fashion and trends change, your solid wood furniture will still look amazing.

Easy Upkeep

Solid wood, especially those with treatments and sealants, are effortless to keep clean and looking like new. More often than not, all you have to do is wipe down the surface, and that will keep it looking fresh.

Unique Look

When you have furniture that is made of solid wood, every piece is going to look different because all wood furniture will have marks, rings, and grains that will make it look different than other wood pieces that exist. Even if some of the details are subtle, each piece of solid wood furniture that you get will be one of a kind.

Classic, Timeless Styles

Solid Wood is one of the most versatile materials to work with when purchasing a new piece of furniture. You can keep it a neutral color and add sealant to it, or you can have it stained. And as a bonus, wood is a material that is easy to customize and truly make it fit your vision. Over time, the look of wood furniture will always be a staple and something that will work well with other furniture you acquire.

At Emmor Works, you can not only purchase solid wood furniture, but you can have it customized, as well. The length, stain, color, and type of wood are all something you can fit your taste. Give us a call today if you’re ready to make a great investment!

The Environment and Your Wooden Furniture

When you purchase furniture, you want to make sure that your investment lasts for as long as possible. The more you take care of your furniture, the longer it is going to last and look brand new. Several things can affect the appearance and longevity of your furniture. Luckily, there are ways to limit the effect they have on your furniture.

Humidity and Solid Wood

Wood has a fickle relationship with moisture. If you were to keep it in damp areas (such as basements, attics, some garages), wood furniture can expand and break down. Which might begin to grow mold, which is a health hazard for you and your family. On the other hand, if there isn’t enough humidity, it can also cause your furniture to dry out, shrink, and crack. Humidity damage is harder to fix than most types of wood damage.

During the dry winter weather, it might be best to use a polish on your wood to refresh it and moisturize the surface. A humidifier with an automatic control system can help maintain a proper level of moisture in the air so that it isn’t too much or too little.

The optimal level to stick with is 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 50% humidity to keep your wood furniture looking its best.

Direct Sunlight on Wood

Sunlight and UV rays are something you might not think about when it comes to your indoor furniture. But how often do we have tables near the windows? Have skylights that shine directly on dining rooms? The placement of your furniture can make a difference as to the preservation of its original look.

Over time, direct sunlight can cause your table’s colors to warp and fade. UV-resistant coatings can help to slow down this process, but it will continue to happen just the same. That amount of direct sunlight can also cause intense heat and could cause your wood furniture to dry out. In more severe cases, this means the wood could physically split. This could lead to repairs or having to replace the furniture altogether.

To avoid a sunlight problem, there are a few fixes:

1)  Keep the table out of sunlight from the windows
2)  Install blinds/curtains to block out the sun
3)  Use window films to lessen the sun’s effect

Water and Wooden Furniture

It’s a pretty common occurrence to get water or some liquid on furniture. Whether you have a spill or a water ring from condensation, it can sometimes be hard to avoid. This tends to stain the wood and leave patterns behind where the water damage took place. Lighter stains mean that the liquids haven’t penetrated very far, but darker water stains are more worrisome.

If you find you require something new, check out our website to get a solid wood table that can be customized for size, style, and stains.

The beautiful imperfections of a natural wood dining table

“Art is the product of an imperfect world. In a perfect world, art would not exist.”

― Marty Rubin

Wormholes. Hairline cracks. Growth rings. These all sounds so lovely, don’t they?

The truth is, nothing makes your Farmhouse table stand out more than the imperfections in the wood which it’s crafted from. That’s because like a snowflake and fingerprint, no two boards of wood are the same, no matter what climate, forest, or tree they come from.

Each piece of wood has its own natural appeal and characteristics brought out by the grain, texture, and patterns. Its this special combination which makes your table uniquely beautiful.

Grain Beauty

When we talk about the grain in wood, we are actually talking about the way the wood cells are positioned. There are actually six variations of grain, all unique in their respective appearance.  These grain patterns accentuate the rustic look in your table and give it their one of a kind beauty.

Let’s look at them in greater detail.

  • A straight grain pattern means the fibrous components, as well as the cells, run parallel to the tree trunk vertical plane
  • Irregular wood grain mostly happens around knots, making the lines irregular and sporadic
  • Diagonal grain, usually the result from the inability of the straight-grained log to be sawn parallel to the vertical axis
  • Spiral grain which comes due to twisting of the fibers around the tree trunk
  • Interlocked grains occur when different layer of the wood are moving in different directions
  • A wavy grain will appear when happens when the direction of the fibers constantly change

Texture

The texture of wood also refers to the amount and variation in size of the cells in the wood.

If the cells are wide and large with many pores the texture is known as coarse-grained. If they are smaller cells with fewer pores, it’s known as fine-grained.

When a table is finished by the craftsman, they decide whether to fill in the pores or not.  Depending on how the table will be used, they may decide to keep it rough or open-grained, or more tight which is known as close-grained.

Figures, Patterns, and Character Marks

Different patterns occur when innate features of the wood interact. These include rays, irregular grain, growth rings, and color deposits. These patterns in turn result in what’s known as figures.

For example, irregular grain in burls and crotches cause either feather or plum-pudding figures. Interlocked grains cause Bird’s-eye and ribbon figures. Wavy grain creates tiger stripe or fiddleback figures which hold their own specific looks.

Character marks distinguish your table even further.  These include ingrown knots, tracks left by the insects that lived on the trees the wood was sourced from, as well as bird pecks.

When All Is Said and Done…

Imperfections are what bring out the inherent beauty in your real wood table.  These set your table apart from all the other cookie cutter choices out there, and will quickly become the most talked about piece of furniture in your home.

How to Take Care of Your Solid Wood Dining Table

Your farmhouse table is the show piece of your dining area.  And while a solid wood table is sturdy and durable, it still needs some love and attention (don’t we all?) in order to look its best while maintaining its rustic appearance and character.

The good news is even the most basic forms of regular care will have your table lasting years.  With just a little upkeep, your table will be the place family and friends gather to share meals and socialize for generations to come.

Here are a few tips and tricks to keep your table looking it best without much effort.

Start with prevention

The first thing to be mindful of is the room where your table will call its home.  If there are big swings in temperature and humidity, it could lead to the table warping, shrinking, splitting, or cracking. Keeping room temperature consistent is imperative to prevent the table from experiencing structural damage.

Avoid direct sunlight if possible. Drapery and shades will help mute the sunlight, just be sure there are no leaks where a sustained, direct beam hits the table for a prolonged period of time.

Also, keep your table away from direct heat sources such as radiators, wood stoves, or forced hot air vents.  This will go a long way in keeping excessive heat exposure away from your table.

Spills and Stains

Wood is absorptive, so therefore it is sensitive to many substances. Do you best to clean or blot all spills immediately as they can damage the finish if left to sit too long.

Here’s an article about removing stains if you don’t catch them quickly enough.

Don’t risk damage to your wood table by placing containers with chemicals like nail polish remover, paint thinner, or even an open paint can directly on the table.  Better yet, try to avoid it completely. It’s a dining table after all.

Using placemats for your place settings and silverware help prevent scratches and marks from the temperature of your dishes.  Place hot serving plates on trivets or potholders, never directly on the table.

Dusting

Routine dusting removes particles that settle on your table.  If this is let go for too long, a layer can build up leading to scratches on the surface. A clean, dry, soft cloth or feather duster can be effective as a first response against dust.

Best choices for dusting your rustic style wooden table include:

  • Feather duster – ostrich feather duster for delicate wooden surfaces.
  • Treated cloths – no scratch material that is treated to pick up and hold the dust.
  • Microfiber cloth – for a soft, even dusting (you can also polish with it).
  • Terry towel – remove moisture left if you use a wet cloth for dusting.
  • Lint free cotton – cloths like clean t-shirts and baby nappies.

Now that your table is dusted, it’s time to give it a good cleaning.  Here are five things you should not do when cleaning your solid wood table:

  1. Don’t use all-purpose cleaners as some contain bleach and other corrosive chemicals that corrode the solid wood stain finish.
  2. Don’t use too much water on the solid farmhouse table since it will soak in and damage the wood or at the least, leave a water stain.
  3. Don’t use a tough cloth or synthetic material that will grind the wood and cause small scratches.
  4. Don’t use a tough brush as this might scratch the table. A soft toothbrush can be used for hard to reach underside corners.
  5. Don’t lift the table on one side to reach the bottom as this weakens the base and leg joints.

Regular cleaning of your table will accentuate the wood’s look while protecting it from fading. To safely and caringly clean a solid wood table, follow these easy steps;

  • Treat sticky spots or congealed dirt with a mild soap and water solution.
  • Dampen a soft cloth in the soapy water and wring completely.
  • Wipe the areas softly allowing for the soap to loosen the dirty spot.
  • Rinse cloth in clean water and dry wipe the entire table.

Once your table is clean and dry, you can then proceed to polish it if you want. Pledge or Murphy’s Oil will be your best choices to get the job done right.

Just keep in mind, you don’t need to polish the table every time you clean it.

If your table isn’t used often (for example a dining room table only for holidays and family occasions) you may choose to just polish the table before get togethers. Even if it’s used more often, a quarterly polish may be all that’s needed.

Finally, waxing can be done once a year to provide a hard protective cover to the wood and keep it looking brand new.

Removing stains from your real wood Farmhouse table

Your dining table is a high traffic zone.  It’s the spot where the kids do their homework,  the family plays board games (and UNO), and friends and family spend time socializing.  And of course, it’s where tens of thousands of meals and snacks are eaten over its lifetime.

All this usage will boost the odds you’ll eventually have a stain, water ring, or burn mark to deal with. What are you going to do, replace your table every time it gets a stain?  Of course not.

Well now there’s no need to worry when you accidentally put a hot plate or sweaty glass down on your real wood table.  Below you’ll find a collection of tried and true ways to restore your table to its original awesomeness, even if the stains have been there for a while.

Let’s get started…

First, Try Baking Soda

Baking soda has been an effective all around stain remover for many decades, and should be the first thing you use when addressing burn marks and water rings on your solid wood table.

Make a thick paste by mixing the baking soda with water and then liberally rub it over the marks. The paste should not be too watery since this itself can lead to a water stain.

The grittiness of the baking soda will help remove the stain while leaving your table sparkling clean in the process.

Water and Vinegar

If there’s a greasy spot you just can’t clean up by wiping, make a 50-50 mix of water and vinegar. Start with a small amount on a nice soft cloth, but use the amount needed to get the job done.

Don’t forget to dry well, or risk having to deal with a water stain next.

White Cloth and Iron

You might think that re-applying heat to an area which already has a burn mark will only make matters worse.

Well, here’s the trick.

By spreading several layers of cloth over the heat spot and then moving a medium heated iron over it in 15 minutes intervals, you will gradually get rid of the spot. Be sure to regularly remove the cloths and wipe any existing moisture as you work through the process.

NOTE: This method should not be used if your farmhouse table has a shellac finish.

Hair Dryer

If you spill water on your Farmhouse table and it leads to a stain, blow-drying the water rings can be an effective way to get rid of them without leaving a mark. Be sure to make slow passes over the affected spot until it completely disappears. On average, this can take between 15 and 20 minutes depending on the amount, severity, and age of the spill.

Toothpaste

Toothpaste is for more than just making your teeth pearly white.  For stain removal, apply gentle pressure to the watermarks, allowing it to penetrate the surface. Then, simply wipe it off gently, repeating the process over again until the spot is entirely gone. As a bonus, your table will have fresh breath and no cavities!

P.S. Here are 43 other ways to use  toothpaste.

Mayonnaise

How about this slogan- Mayonnaise! Not just for sandwiches anymore! OK, maybe not.

There may come a time when you have to deal with a water stain you didn’t notice right away, rendering other techniques ineffective when it comes to removing them from your table.  Don’t give up all hope yet.  You’ll be surprised at how well mayonnaise works. Apply the mayo on the stain and give it time to penetrate through the affected spot.  Usually 30-45 minutes will do, but you can leave it on for a few hours if you wish.  Then, simply wipe it off and give the table a good polish.

Olive Oil and Salt

If your table is watching it’s cholesterol, an alternative to using mayonnaise to remedy burns and water spots is by making a thick paste of olive oil and salt and spreading it over the stain.  As with mayonnaise, give it a good 30 minutes minimum to penetrate the wood before removing it with a soft cloth.

Steel Wool and Paste Wax

Laying hot objects on top of furniture can lead to disfiguring marks and dull spots on an otherwise bright and shiny table. If these marks are deep and appear permanent, you could try to scrub them out using paste wax and steel wool. This needs to be done gently, or you’ll risk causing further damage to your table.  NOTE: This is a last resort and should only be done after more moderate methods have failed.

A Few Final Things To Consider

Stains and water marks on your farmhouse table may be unavoidable, but you don’t have to live with them. With some household items and a small amount of effort you can remove the stains and have your table looking its best in no time.

Of course, the best way to remove stains and water marks is to not get them in the first place.  Be mindful when placing glasses down to always use a coaster, and when putting hot dishes from the oven or microwave on your table be sure to use a trivet, oven mitt, or pot holder.

The second best way, at least for spills is to wipe it away as quickly as possible.  Many times if caught soon enough, it won’t have a chance to set in.

One last thing. Stains and burn marks can add personality and tell a story about your table.  You may not want to remove them at all, but rather welcome the added character and distinctiveness they bring with them.