The Autumnal Equinox: A Great time for Lighting Your Home

The Autumnal Equinox: A Great Time For Lighting Your Home

As you know, the autumnal equinox is an astronomical event that occurs once yearly in which the Earth orbits around the sun. At that moment, the sun crosses the celestial equator, in order to enter the sky’s northern hemisphere. It is said that after this event, days and nights are almost the same length. However, this also means that days are shorter than in periods of solstice, which in turn requires more lighting. Therefore, this is the perfect timing to ensure that your home is well-lit in the absence of daylight. Let’s take a closer look at some stylish and efficient light fixtures for your home:

1)      Floor lamps:

The floor standing lamp is a traditional fixture that comes in different shapes and designs. It is a great way to add style & ambiance to a room, since they do not cover as much ground. This fixture is perfect for a living room, as it can serve well for reading or lighting the room while enjoying your favorite tv shows.

2)      Pendant light:

A pendant light fixture is one that hangs from the ceiling by means of a cord, chain or rod. It usually includes one to several lightbulbs that are not combined into one single unit. The beauty of this fixture-type is that you can find many styles, colors, and even textures! From vintage-inspired glass, to industrial metal and a casual organic weave, a pendant light fixture will bring a unique accent to your room.

3)      Table lamps:

The table lamp is yet another classic. This lamp will ensure that any table in your home has perfect lighting. It is the ultimate measure to fine-tune your atmosphere in a room, whether you need extra lighting or want to dim the room. They come in a number of shapes, sizes and colors. From bold to muted, you will not have any difficulty finding your desired look.

Choosing a light fixture has become less mundane, as today’s wide selection will not only help you achieve a well-lit room, but also give you an abundance of style options.

Selecting Fall Colors

By Mikes Furniture

Selecting Fall Colors

How ahead of a time can you be? While you are enjoying this atypical summer; lying on your deckchair and planning all sort of things – nice little dishes, outdoors activities and not thinking about all the work you left behind…Let’s jump ahead into the next season to glimpse at the colors in vogue and give you some ideas to help you find the perfect trendy decoration for your house this coming fall!

What we like the most about the fall season is certainly the wide palette full of vibrant and warm colors, where leaves change from green to yellow, red, brown or orange! Just as designers get inspiration from the colorful scenery that fall season offers, so should we in our home.

Here is a sneak peak of the upcoming 2016 Fall palette:

According to Pantone’s fashion trends, the 2016 top fall colors offer a nice combination of strength, confidence and complexity! From the sky to the ground, these meaningful colors embody strong feelings and concepts that can be used to show your personality. Ashley Furniture and home accents have a nice touch of this color palette in its collections; so if you would like your home décor to be “a la mode”, then you have found the perfect brand! Let’s have a look at how these selected colors can find the right place in your home.

If you are keen about the sky and sea, here’s our selection: Blue hues – Riverside and Airy Blue which are the dominating colors in the 2016 fall trends. Blue represents consistency and confidence while gray gives a feeling of stability. 

Our suggestion: Add any vivid colors from this fall palette to make your room brighter and look astonishing with blue hues! Along with anchoring earth tones, exuberant vibrant colors will bring a certain dynamism and warmth in your home.

Are you tempted by a complete 2016 fall palette makeover? AshleyFurniture offers the perfect sets for your bedroom and dining room!

The pinkish purple and the spicy yellow suggest exotic notes that everyone needs in house!

Now that you have a glimpse of the fall colors, it’s time to take action!

Get Crafty: DIY Decor with Squash This Fall

By Mike's Furniture

Who said decorating your home for fall had to be expensive? Check out some thrifty DIY ideas with the use of squash to add a touch of autumn in your home. Time to roll up those sleeves!

Antique your butternut squash:

There is something about decorating a home with antiquities, as it adds instant history and soul. If you have a fondness for antiquities, then this is the project for you!

For a dark & rich aged-look, use dark wax. You can purchase some Minwax Stain at your local hardware store. Apply the stain to your squash and try not to spread it evenly, in order to achieve a distressed look. Make sure it dries in a well ventilated area, free of humidity or cold. Once it is dry, feel free to add some finishing touches like hemp string that you can tie to the stem. If the mood strikes, you can go a little wild and add some artificial leaves along with your string. Voilà : the perfect antiqued squash for your home. Fall, come on in.

Pumpkin vases for your table escape:

Here`s another idea to jazz up your home for fall; pumpkin vases! Make a beautiful, yet simple table escape that is not only quick, but easy on the budget. First, hollow-out your pumpkin. Do not carve a large piece off the top, but just enough to slide a tall glass inside the opening. Then, spray paint the pumpkin white to soften the look of its deep orange coloration. You can also choose another muted color such as a pale blue or mint.  The idea is to tone down the color of the vase and draw the attention to the bouquet.

Once the spray paint has dried thoroughly, slide the tall glass through the opening of atop the pumpkin. Add some water to the glass and put together a beautiful fresh arrangement with flowers of your choice. If you prefer a low maintenance vase, then synthetic flowers are your thing. Don`t be afraid to use multiple colors, as it will add more character. There you have it, your very own pumpkin vase!

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5 Trendy Materials For Fall 2015

By Mike's Furniture

Leaves are falling and nights are getting chilly; these are the cue to autumn! So it is time to invite fall indoors and create a warmth atmosphere at home while enjoying sunset hues from your windows. Certainly, we all have started to cozy up at home but how could we bring comfort into our house during this season?  With sensory and tactile materials that will make our house look trendy!

Here are our 5 trendy materials that can set up a perfect fall atmosphere in house:

1. Wood. Even If you do not have hardwood floor you can still add some rustic accents in your living room!

2. Wool. Worsted or knit, wool is a natural décor fabric for this sweater chilly season. Woolen rugs under a coffee table, throws or pillows can make a great difference on a couch.

3. Velvet fabrics. Have a craving touch for velvet!

4. Ceramics. Get pumpkin center table on your dining room to stay in the fall mood.

5. Our final trendy touchy material is animal fur leather!

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Tips To Help You Choose The Right Dining Table

By Mike's Furniture

The dining room is a great and memorable place in one’s home. No one can deny that the dining table is a meeting point, where friends and family come together over a bountiful meal to catch up, share stories and even jokes. So everyone needs a dining table in their house!

There are countless styles of dining tables; they come in many different shapes and sizes.  How do you choose the right one? Here are some tips to help you select the right one:

Space

You should choose a table that will fit your space and give you enough seating when hosting. Here are a few measurements guidelines to keep in mind before getting your table:

Allow 24″ between the table and the wall to let people easily sit down and get up from the table. Also, allocate 38″ if people are going to walk behind the table. 

When setting the table, outline 24″ for each place setting to let people sit comfortably without hitting elbows.

Size

Think about your crowd. You should consider with whom you will be using the table: small family or/and large guest groups. Although a small table saves some space, the larger it gets, the harder it becomes to reach for platters.  If you choose to go big on the table, then go small on the seating!

Most tables come with additional leaves that you add or take off as you wish. Therefore, you can even choose a small table and accommodate a larger group whenever you have guests coming.

When looking to take up less room in your dining space, a bench on one side of your table is also a great option, because you can place it under the table until the next time you entertain. 

Shape

Go Rectangular! Since most dining rooms are rectangular, there is no doubt that rectangular –shaped tables are the most common. It is also a great shape for big gatherings, as you can seat at least six people. 

The square table is useful in a small or medium room that enables you to sit 4 people. When it comes to special occasions with a bigger crowd, you can always place two tables together to make a rectangular one! 

Consider a round table for a small and cozy room. It is the best shape for a small group of 3-4 people or more.  Since it has no corners, you can usually fit more people around it, especially if it is a pedestal table which allows for more legroom.

An oval table is similar to a rectangular-shaped table in terms of seating arrangements. Yet, it takes less space visually because of the rounded corners. 

Remember the “3S” tips Space, Size and Shape when choosing your dining table!

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All You Should Know About Fall's Favorite Harvest Fruit!

by Mike's Furniture

Be it the shiny apple Mom routinely packed in your lunch box or fond memories of your great aunt’s famous apple pie, fall’s favorite fruit is a slice of nostalgia.

Simply delicious, apples offer a golden opportunity for culinary magic. Can you believe there are more than 7,500 apple varieties worldwide? Talk about mass appeal. With their cornucopia of color—from ruby red and mellow yellow to lime green—apples tempt with various tastes and textures, from crisp and tart, to subtle and sweet.

 Eye the Right Apple

Some apples are perfectly yummy right off the tree. Others hold up wonderfully in pies, crisps and baked goodies. A slice of advice from the experts:

Best for eating out of hand: Braeburn, Cameo, Cortland, Empire, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, McIntosh.

Best for apple pies, crisps, etc: Braeburn, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Gravenstein, Jonathan, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Newtown Pippin, Winesap

Tip: Pies and crisps, especially, call for sweet-tart, firmer apples that hold their shape and flavor in the oven. To mellow a tarter apple (e.g., Granny Smiths), try more than one apple variety in your pie.

Best for caramel apples: Tart Granny Smith apples have become the standard since they counter sweet caramel. Some folks find them a little too sour. Try the same apples recommended for pies for your caramel apples

Frown on Brown Apples 

Yes it’s true, brushing on lemon juice does keep sliced apples from browning, as do other citrus fruits such as lime, orange and pineapple. To avoid any hint of citrus taste, soak apple slices in apple juice until ready to serve. Another option: Mix two tablespoons honey and one cup water. Soak apple slices in mixture for 30 seconds.

Content provided by: +Tailbase & Ashley Furniture 

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Great Apple Recipes For This Fall

By Mike's Furniture

What a great season that is the fall! When the leaves turn into beautiful warm colors, it’s time for the last harvests and delicious fruits and veggies are ready to be picked. One of the most popular among them is the apple. It is highly unlikely that someone doesn’t like this crispy fruit! That’s why we propose 3 delicious apple recipes:

Old Fashioned Apple Pie:

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour

Pie Dough

12 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced

¾ cup of sugar (plus additional for pie top)

Zest and juice of 1 lemon

1 ½ teaspoons of cinnamon

½ teaspoon of nutmeg

Pinch ground cloves

2 tablespoons of unsalted butter

1 large egg, beaten

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Lightly flour the working surface.

Roll out pie dough into two 1/8-inch-thick circles (diameter should be slightly larger than that of an 11-inch plate).

Press one pastry circle into the pie plate. Place the other circle on waxed paper, and cover with plastic wrap. Put all pastry in the fridge until firm (about 30 minutes).

In a large bowl, combine apples, sugar, lemon zest and juice, spices, and flour.

Toss well. Spoon apples into pie pan. Dot with butter, and cover with remaining pastry circle.

Cut several steam vents (about 3 little holes) across top.

Seal by crimping edges as desired.

Brush with beaten egg, and sprinkle with additional sugar.

Bake until crust is brown and juices are bubbling (about 1 hour).

Let cool on wire rack before serving.

Apple Chips:

INGREDIENTS

4 Apples

2 tablespoons of sugar

½ tablespoon of Cinnamon

Preheat oven to 200 degrees.

Slice apples into ⅙" approximately (use a mandolin for better result).

Place apple slices in a single layer on a sheet pan fitted with parchment paper.

Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.

Bake in the oven for 1½ hours.

Flip them over to make the other side crispy as well.

Bake for 1 more hour

Turn oven off and leave the apple slices inside for a few more hours or overnight

When they are ready, if you didn’t eat them all, place the slices in a zip top bag

Raisin bread and apple grilled-cheese:

INGREDIENTS

½ cup of cream cheese

2 teaspoons of honey

4 tablespoons (½ stick) of butter (room temperature)

8 slices cinnamon raisin bread

1 Granny Smith or other firm apple, cored and thinly sliced

2 Tablespoons of brown sugar

In a small bowl, whip the cheese and honey together until it’s well combined and fluffy.

Heat the panini-press to medium-high heat.

Spread butter on two slices of bread to flavor the outside of the sandwich.

Flip over both slices of bread and spread 1 tablespoon sweetened cheese on each.

Top one slice of bread with a layer of apples and close the sandwich with the other slice, buttered side up. Sprinkle some brown sugar on top.

Grill two sandwiches at a time, with the lid closed, until the fillings are warmed and the bread is toasted, with a sweet crust (about 3 to 5 minutes).

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Bring A Fall Touch To Your Home With Great Aromatherapy Ideas!

by Mike's Furniture

Ahh, Fall! Who doesn’t love the sound of crisp leaves underfoot and the taste of pumpkin spice everything (especially lattes!)? One of our favorite ways to celebrate the season is by filling our homes with scrumptious scents. There’s just something about a cozy house filled with family, friends and delicious smells that lets us know our favorite season is finally here.

The Nose Knows

Looking for ways to cozy up your home for fall? Try these easy aromatherapy ideas:

Bake goodies. Fill your home with the scent of freshly baked pumpkin pie for an instant autumnal aroma. It doesn’t have to be made from scratch—even frozen pies smell fantastic while they bake. Premade sugar cookie dough also produces a heavenly scent. Nothing says “home” like the smell of vanilla!

Light a candle. Don’t want to go to the trouble of baking? Pick up a pumpkin spice- or sugar cookie-scented candle. Other scents that conjure fall include cranberry, sugar and spice, cinnamon and pear. Try burning different scented candles to create your own signature smell.

Create a stovetop simmer. Combine one sliced orange, a couple of cinnamon sticks and a few dried cloves in a saucepan. Add enough water to cover all ingredients and simmer on the stove. Check on your concoction periodically and add more water as needed. Your whole home will smell heavenly!

 What are your favorite scents for fall? If you have any easy aromatherapy tips, share them in the comments below! We’d love to hear your ideas.

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