GreatPricedFurniture Blog

Kingstown Collection By Tommy Bahama

2008-08-11T14:17:00.008-04:00

This wonderful Kingstown Collection by Tommy Bahama Home captures your sense of discovery and adventure in a casual but dramatic setting.

Lush orchids twine through tropical fruits, scented candles evoke spices from distant lands, and adventures are told of the latest travels to far away destinations.

The Pembroke Dining Table commands attention with seating for ten and a refined style. The Bonaire Dining Table showcases a compass-point inlay inspired by journeys around the globe. Unusual touches include Nail head trim around the Sienna Table's plank top, and a stunning hammered and burnished copper inlay across the top of the Maldive Buffet.

Inspired by British Colonial style, with a hint of Campaign and a whisper of Safari, these evocative designs provide the sense of a well-traveled life and of items hand-selected during the journeys around the globe. With Kingstown, you can travel the world without ever leaving home.

Tropical Style Decorating

2007-07-15T20:54:00.000-04:00

There's more to tropical decor than a potted palm in a corner. Of course it is an integral part of the theme and can't be done without. There is however a wide variety to choose from, the most popular being the Kentia Palm, Bamboo Palm, and the Lady Palm, each contributing to a different look by itself and an amazing ambiance in a group.

A tropical decor would call for lush greens and earthy browns, with as many natural products as possible thrown in. There is a kind of sparseness in spite of all the lushness which is what has to be borne in mind throughout. To achieve this remove all rugs, carpets, and throws. The curtains could be replaced with rattan, sisal or bamboo blinds that tame the strong sunshine and lets it enter in muted shades.

Wicker is the furniture of choice, but teak and mahogany or anything that looks similar would do as well. Embellish side tables, sofa tables and occasional tables with baskets, bowls or other objects made of bamboo, sisal, mat, or grass. Artifacts made of copper, brass, and iron lend a touch of panache to an otherwise earthy ambiance. Wrought iron in the form of candle sticks, wall art, or small pieces of furniture works well with the palms gracing a corner.

A large stuffed animal may work for some folks while others may prefer their German shepherd lounging around, for a touch of the majestic. Various ethnic elephant statues in festival finery, cute monkeys, and other animal art is a great way to extend the tropical beyond the ordinary. Wall art could include straw hats, hand held fans of rattan or straw, framed batik prints of tropical flowers such as the hibiscus, or fabulous figures that complement the decor.

A bowl of fruit is a normal occurrence for any kitchen or dining table, but for a tropical look, fill it with a pineapple, pawpaw, and some bananas. If you can lay your hands on an old table fan, set it up on a corner table.

Try combining the tropical beach look with some nautical decor. Substitute the animal theme with the marine. Display a large conch shell or a collection of small shells. White wicker and large blue cushions spell nautical with a capital N. A sailor's cap or a life belt on the wall leaves no one in doubt as to your intentions. Another interesting display could be of empty liquor bottles of interesting shapes, sizes and colors. So just because you don't live in the tropics doesn't mean you have to do without it.

Hot Summer Decorating Ideas

2007-07-15T20:52:00.000-04:00

Old Jack Frost knows when he has outstayed his welcome and gracefully withdraws, leaving tiny blades of grass, shoots, and buds in his wake. And that signals the beginning of warm, sunny days and a new life. Dark, gloomy interiors barricaded against the cold in thick drapes and blankets, now beg for fresh air and bright colors. There is no need to spend a fortune to turn winter drab to summer chic. Here's how to do it in a few easy steps.

Flowers For You

The thick drapes go first and need to be replaced with pretty lace, gauzy chiffon, or anything sheer. Use bead chains instead of tie backs to give a jaunty look to the room. Coax the sunshine in with a big bunch of yellow blooms in an elegant vase, placed in a strategic spot that can be seen from at least three different locations. There are many ways to keep your blooms fresh longer as your florist would be happy to inform. Add a spoon full of sugar to help the flowers go on, and no, I didn't hear that from Mary Poppins.

Bursting With Color

It is really not necessary to repaint the walls or change sofas, unless they are due for a change anyway. Strew fluffy, light cushions and throw rugs around your living area to create a riot of yellow-white-orange, or green-blue-red color scheme that brings the interiors alive. Attractive wall hangings add to the ambiance but take care to stop short of the psychedelic.

Your Tropical Home

A majestic palm, a rustic coffee table, an ethnic lamp, a colorful rug with fat floor cushions, some wicker, and a basket of ferns is all you need to create your very own home tropical retreat. An indoor water feature that ripples quietly in a corner would make a great conversation piece and may even bring you good luck if placed as feng shui directs.

Don't Forget the Outdoors

Summer decorating does not have to remain indoors. Clean up patios and drag all garden furniture back into the garden. Touch up and repair or repaint as required, this might make a great project for older kids. Hang baskets of flowering plants and fern around the patio, and place a few indoor plants around. Spruce up the garden and if space permitting, hang up a hammock for some serious R & R, and soon the only frost that remains would be around a tall glass of icy drink.

Creating a Shabby Chic Look

2007-07-15T20:51:00.000-04:00

What is Shabby Chic?

Shabby chic is a decorating trend where you basically take something new and make it look old. Sanding and denting are some of the more common ways to achieve the look.

Finding Some Shabby Furniture

Light weight furniture collected from yard sales and dime stores could do very well here. Strip the paint off and give a coat of white paint so that tones of the old color and the wood are visible through the new coat. The corners and edges should be sanded to achieve a naturally worn out look. A very light beige tone or cream color would be ideal and this should be so for all pieces big and small. Strip the room bare of dark or bright colors and go for white washed walls with one feature wall in red or in various tones of red.

Arrange the freshly painted old furniture and decorate with old world cushions in clean, faded slips; doilies, throws, table runners, and lamp shades. The basic tones should be the same antique white mixed with tiny floral prints or pastel stripes that spell cozy comfort. Anything from an old tea pot to a paint tin can do duty as a flower vase filled with red and white blossoms, perched on an occasional table.

Throw in a Little Color

Spice up the bare white walls with a bold painting in red or related colors. The feature wall can be left alone as a background for the white sofa with a quilted throw draped across, or serve as a dramatic setting for framed black and white photographs. The end tables could become the center of attention with some antique candle sticks or a tea-set retired from the kitchen.

Shabby Chic Not Just Plain Shabby

The whole idea is to maintain a contrasting tension between the crisp, clean white elegance and the dull shabby red elements. The various pieces of furniture do not have to belong to the same set or even match, but a balance is maintained and held together by the rest of the decor. The end result is a hand made, handed down look that spells a great bond with the past while looking to the future.

Shabby chic stands for a clean, neatly preserved look and is not a tag to cover bad housekeeping gone to the dogs. The key word here is clean, squeaky clean to grandma standards.

Simple and Functional Kitchen Decorating Ideas

2007-07-15T20:49:00.000-04:00

The kitchen is supposed to be the heart of a home and there are so many things that can be done to keep it in tip-top condition. Though a modern kitchen is no longer used for heavy duty cooking, it still holds an undeniable importance.

Here are a few ideas that can both enhance the look of your kitchen and make grabbing things easy and convenient.

That Old Thing?

It does duty as a breakfast counter, coffee bar, and even hosts important family meetings. So a decor with all these various aspects in mind opens up possibilities that may not have been considered before.

Quite a few objects have been retired or replaced by modern gizmos and are no longer of any practical use. Kettles, water jugs, ceramic ware, metal troughs, orphaned tea cups, baskets, old china are all now valued for their aesthetic appeal. These are too dear to be discarded and can be used as decorative displays.

An Aromatic Herb Garden

An herb garden on the window sill is a thing of beauty that brings the outdoors to your kitchen as well as spices up the soup. An aloe vera plant with its distinctive looks is also great for minor burns and scratches. Mint, parsley, basil, and others can be planted in any old container and kept hidden in small wicker baskets. Those with brown thumbs could go for a bunch of flowers in an interesting little bucket or water jug instead.

Tomatoes, capsicums, chillies, and even egg plants are natural born performers who provide a bit of entertainment as well as nutrition. They can be displayed on counter tops in vegetable bowls of any kind. It may even get the kids to be more inclined to trying them out.

The Kids Art

A good old fashioned clock on the wall is practical as well as decorative. Big old ladles, copper pans and other such outdated utensils can go on the wall and add character. Give the refrigerator door a break and frame some kid art for the wall. See the little Picassos glow with pride at the promotion. This little idea will also help to eliminate the clutter look.

Handy Hand Towels

Color coordinated hand towels on the dishwasher, oven doors, and fridge handles lend uniformity, and just by changing the colors you can achieve a new look. Having the towels accessible in a couple locations will make convenient hand and dish dryers, pot holders and quick spill catchers any time and any where needed.

How to Shop for Furniture Online

2007-07-15T20:47:00.000-04:00

When it comes to online shopping, there are the obvious pitfalls; but it sure beats driving around mindlessly looking for a parking space. There is also the immense convenience of being able to check out a wider selection, compare prices, read reviews, and get bargain prices only available online.

In fact it seems so painless and hassle-free that it's a wonder why everyone doesn't do it. It seems most people don't know how to get started or don't realize the vast information available to them. To help, I thought I'd create a simple how-to guide for the beginner online furniture shopper.

Be Informed

Today, the higher quality online stores have websites that give a great deal of information including pictures and graphics of great detail. You will also find dimensions and materials used that sometimes isn't readily available at an offline store.

The first step to smart internet shopping would be to go through this information with a fine tooth comb; discarding the frills and gleaning genuine information. Treat it as you would a glib salesman. Look for real answers and make sure all your questions are answered before proceeding further.

When you have found exactly what you are looking for, compare prices with other similar websites to see if the price is right. A good shopping comparison website may come in handy here. Also, when comparing prices, make sure you include shipping in the cost. Some online furniture stores will say free shipping but the shipping cost is actually just added to the selling price.

Double check the actual dimensions of the product and make sure it is as tall or wide as the picture implies it is, and also that it will pass through all your doors comfortably to its final destination.

Gather as much information as you can about your furniture selections, and if you still have questions call up the store and clear all doubts. The most reputable online furniture stores will have a toll free number for you to call. If they don't or it's hard to get in touch with somebody, that's not a good sign and you should probably stay away from that website.

Store Policies

Determine if it's a secure site before typing in your credit card details. Don't be put off by the lengthy small print, most of it is there to protect you, the consumer. Look for things such as a the store's return policy. With these things in mind and a few clicks of the mouse, your furniture shopping is complete!

Delivery

If not provided to you, ask for a valid phone number and address to contact if the company that will be delivering your new furniture. You may need to work with the shipper on a time that is convenient for you since you'll need to be home to accept the delivery. Sometimes there is the option to track progressive stages of delivery online.

Find the policies and procedures section of the website for their policies regarding late delivery, damages, set up, and trash take-away. This way you will know exactly what to do in any situation that may arise.

Some Practical and Inexpensive Kitchen Decorating Ideas

2007-07-12T06:55:00.000-04:00

The heart of the home
The kitchen is supposed to be the heart of a home and there are so many things that can be done to keep it in tip-top condition. Though a modern kitchen is no longer used for heavy duty cooking, it still holds an undeniable importance. It does duty as a breakfast counter, coffee bar, and even hosts important family meetings. So a décor with all these various aspects in mind opens up possibilities that may not have been considered before.

Quite a few objects have been retired or replaced by modern gizmos and are no longer of any practical use. Kettles, water jugs, ceramic ware, metal troughs, orphaned tea cups, baskets, old china are all now valued for their aesthetic appeal. These are too dear to be discarded and can be used as strategic displays, flower vases, and craftwork.

An herb garden
An herb garden on the window sill is a thing of beauty that brings the outdoors to your kitchen as well as spices up the soup. An aloe vera plant with its distinctive looks is also great for minor burns and scratches. Mint, parsley, basil, and others can be planted in any old container and kept hidden in small wicker baskets. Those with brown thumbs could go for a bunch of flowers in an interesting little bucket or water jug instead.

Tomatoes, capsicums, chillies, and even egg plants are natural born performers who provide a bit of entertainment as well as nutrition. They can be displayed on counter tops in vegetable bowls of any kind. It may even get the kids to be more inclined to trying them out.

Kid art in the kitchen
A good old fashioned clock on the wall is practical as well as decorative. Big old ladles, copper pans and other such outdated utensils can go on the wall and add character. Give the refrigerator door a break and frame some kid art for the wall. See the little Picassos glow with pride at the promotion.

Color coordinated tea towels on the dish washer, oven doors, and fridge handles lend uniformity, and just by changing the colors you can achieve a new look.

Get the geometry right
Remember to keep the work triangle between the sink, the stove and the fridge unencumbered. Divert traffic around these areas rather than through to avoid mishaps. A cleverly placed island or kitchen table can help with this. This may help prevent your work triangle from turning into a disastrous Bermuda triangle.

How to shop for furniture online

2007-07-12T06:34:00.000-04:00

Online vs. in store
When it comes to online shopping, there are the obvious pitfalls; but it sure beats driving around mindlessly looking for a parking space. There is also the immense convenience of being able to check out a wider selection, compare prices, read reviews, and get bargain prices only available online; all without leaving home. In fact it is seems so painless and hassle-free that it's a wonder why everyone doesn't do it. Often it is the how to rather than the why not that stymies the decision.

Be Informed
All good furniture showrooms have websites that give a great deal of information with mind-blowing pictures and graphics meant to entice the potential customer. The first step to smart internet shopping would be to go through this information with a fine tooth comb—discarding the frills and gleaning genuine information. Treat it as you would a glib salesman. Look for real answers and make sure all your questions are answered before proceeding further.

Let the shopping begin
When you have found exactly what you are looking for, compare prices with other similar websites to see if the price is right. A good shopping search engine may come in handy here. Also, when comparing prices, make sure you include shipping in the cost. Some online furniture stores will say free shipping but the shipping cost is actually just added to the selling price.

Double check the actual dimensions of the product and make sure it is as tall or wide as the picture implies it is, and also that it will pass through all your doors comfortably to its final destination.

Gather as much information as you can about your product, and if you still have questions call up the store and clear all doubts. All reputable online furniture stores will have a toll free number for you to call. If they don't or it's hard to get in touch with somebody, that's not a good sign and you should probably stay away from that store.

A good delivery
Make sure they deliver to your area, and you have a valid phone number and address to contact if needed. Sometimes there is the option to track progressive stages of delivery online. Discuss with the store manager their policies regarding late delivery, damage in transit, help with setting up, and whether there is an extra payment for this service.

Happy shopping
Then onto the all important step of making the payment. This might call for lengthy filling up processes, but it has to be done. It is important to ascertain their Security as well as Privacy policies. Determine if it's a secure site before typing in your credit card details. Don't be put off by the lengthy small print, most of it is there to protect the consumer, such as a the store's refund policy. With these things in mind and a few clicks of the mouse, your furniture shopping is complete!

3 Simple Steps to Having an Amazing Fourth of July

2007-07-01T22:35:00.000-04:00

It's that time of the year again when red, white, and blue rule as far as the eye can see. You could still hang on to this color scheme as you jump outside the box and think a little harder. The choice here would be between the usual knick knacks for the sake of sticking to the tricolor décor, or a spirited endeavor that would go to make your Independence Day one to remember for a long time.

Colonial Decorating Ideas

After you have hung the flag and put up the traditional red, white, and blue accessories, raid the attic for any antique items that may resemble this period in history. Drag out old barnyard or wicker furniture from storage and arrange them on the patio from where you get a good view of Old Glory.

Find old objects such as pictures, frames, lamps, musical instruments, convex mirrors, candle holders, anything pewter, and any old thing which doesn't scream 21^st century.

You could also scout around in the flea markets, garage sales, and dime stores well in advance to make an amazing collection. Pictures of colonial themes or of your favorite founding father would take your room right back to the 18^th century.

Get Everyone Involved

Take it all back to when it really happened. You'll be doing the kids a huge favor as well as giving them a valuable lesson in history by re-creating the era of our Independence Day. The idea is to have fun and make history cool!

Deck the kids in period costumes; a huge frilly apron and a cute bonnet for the little girls, and perhaps breeches, a waistcoat and tricorn cap for the boys. Turn off all electronics, and light candles and lamps. You could, of course, leave the music on, but play music of the period, which you'll find at most music stores.

Party Like It's 1776

If you're having a party, let your guests know the dress code well in advance. Along with your regular party menu, serve some colonial fare such as chicken, mashed sweet potatoes and a stew that includes pork, sweet corn and cabbage, or other vegetables that are available. A suitable dinner table topic would be whether there really is a treasure map behind the Declaration of Independence. :o)

After the crowd is gone and the fireworks are over, curl up and watch an all-American period movie. Gone With The Wind, anyone?

This article has been provided by GreatPricedFurniture.com. Recently ranked among the top 500 websites by Internet Retailer 500, Great Priced Furniture has some of the most inspiring collections of wonderful furniture and carry only the very best manufacturers.

Ward Off The Winter Blues With Cottage-Style Decorating

2006-09-20T10:21:00.000-04:00

Similar in some respects to both country and coastal decor, cottage style decorating attempts to instill a strong sense of place in the home environment, with the inspiration drawn from the flower-filled lanes and cozy charm of a shady, off-the-beaten-path bungalow.

Instead of fussy floral prints and dim interiors, today’s reinterpretation of cottage-style decorating brings the outdoors inside in a distinctly feminine style. The overriding emphasis in today’s cottage-style decor is pairing crisp, clean backdrops with nature-inspired pastels.

White beadboard or paneling is a popular choice in cottage-inspired spaces. Once this aesthetic foundation is in place, a true cottage feel can easily be achieved by layering the room with furniture, art, accents, and accessories that coordinate harmoniously, but don’t match exactly.

The desired look is eclectic and dynamic, with visual interest sparked by color, texture, and interesting accents every where the eye is drawn. While a substantial amount of color is a defining characteristic of this look, the finishes are often muted or weathered, so bold, direct color statements that could be overwhelming are rare in a cottage-inspired space.

The furniture profiles and selections in cottage-style decorating are diverse and whimsical, with an emphasis on colorful, unique pieces that evoke the natural world and bear the marks of handmade craftsmanship.

Wicker and iron furniture, both evocative of garden seating, are frequently used as accents in cottage-style spaces. Needless to say, plenty of plants and flowers -- preferably potted in richly-textured woven baskets -- are an important finishing touch that can serve to unify and complete the cottage look.

Whether you are a gardening enthusiast with a green thumb or a city slicker who harbors secret dreams of shady flower beds and thrills at the idea of bringing a slice of nature into the living room, cottage-style decorating may be the style for you.

Adding an Extended Furniture Warranty

2006-08-18T17:33:00.000-04:00

We've just added another great option
to our furniture. We've just put the final touches on our new
Extended Warranty provided by Ultra Shield. This is on top of the 30
day money back guarantee we already offer. We know the kind of
commitment it takes to make a big purchase like furniture, and now
you can be sure that your covered should anything happen to your
furniture investment.

Leather Furniture Warranty

The leather furniture warranty covers
your leather upholstery for up to 10 years. There is even a leather
care and cleaning kit included with the warranty.

Wood Furniture Extended Warranty

A great warranty for all your solid
wood furniture. Provides protection for up to 7 years and also comes
with a wood furniture care/cleaning kit. Part of the kit is a
scratch guard and a dust off formula that repels dust so you won't
have to dust as often.

Extended Mattress Warranty

Your new mattress is warranted for a
full 15 years and comes with an Ultra Premium Mattress Pad with
Teflon Fabric protection. If you ever spill food or drink, get mold
or mildew, you're covered!

Get the full details here.

Floating Bed

2006-08-08T12:52:00.000-04:00

Ran across this floating bed and just had to share. It's definitely unique, I'd love to give it a try. The queen size has a 7'4" diameter, it may take up too much room inside to be practical.

With a pricetag of over $3000, style and comfort have to be a priority.

All Moved Into the New Warehouse

2006-08-07T15:52:00.000-04:00

A little over a month ago we bought an additional three acres to expand our operations a bit. This is going to help tremendously in streamlining the shipping end of business. Our old facility was extremely cramped and inefficient. It made keeping track of the inventory very tricky.

Now we're remodeled and just about all moved in. Wow, we have a lot of stuff!

I even got to get a little dirty, ok, a lot dirty with the CTO. We had to connect our two buildings with cables and wires so we could network them. You can see in the picture that the buildings are about 600 feet apart and the wires are going underground. We hired someone to come out and dig the trench for us so we didn't have to do that, except for in one spot where it wasn't quite deep enough.

Fun stuff, but I'll stick to working on a computer! :o)

We're all set up and everything is working! That was such a relief when we could hear someone on the other end of the phone. I guess that's kind of like what Alexander Graham Bell must have felt like.

The Flat Screen Furniture Revolution

2006-06-01T10:44:00.000-04:00

Televisions have been getting bigger over the last couple of decades. Remember those hulking TV sets from the 90's? Like this 50” Mitsubishi.

The new flat screen TVs, plasma, LCD or DLP, are becoming more and more affordable (not to mention lighter) and furniture manufacturers are taking notice.

Designer Plasma TV Entertainment Center

Entertainment centers and armoires are quickly adapting to incorporate the new widescreen
style television sets.

One of my favorites is this beautiful entertainment wall unit by Aico the Michael Amini Signature Series.

This has anything you could ever want in an entertainment center.

This is part of the Cortina Collection and it holds up to a 50” wide
television and also includes neat hideaway CD/DVD storage drawers.

Motorized Plasma TV Entertainment Centers

The pop-up plasma TV entertainment centers are very popular too. We saw lots of new styles at the High Point Furniture market. This pop up entertainment unit by Hooker keeps your TV out of sight until you're ready to watch it. With the push button ease of a remote control, the television literally pops up using a lift mechanism.

This center also comes with left and right units to hideaway speakers and components. Hooker had the brilliant idea of being able to customize the unit with either wood, glass, or the speaker inserts you see pictured.

Widescreen TV Armoire

The new style widescreen tv armoire armoires allow you to
hide the TV, like the pop-ups, when not in use. This widescreen
tv armoire also by Hooker will accommodate most 40”-50” wide sets.

About Last Week's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

2006-05-12T16:42:00.000-04:00

It was great to see our furniture in the Peters' home last Sunday on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. It felt great being able to help a family in need the way we, and all the other donors, did.

Here's some pics of what was donated:

High Point Furniture Market Recap

2006-05-04T11:30:00.000-04:00

Although we were only able to spend Saturday and Sunday at High Point, we left with a lot!

We did a considerable amount walking and, naturally, looked at tons of furniture. It was great to be able to physically touch and see so many different styles of furniture. I never knew there were so many different manufacturers out there.

Among some of our favorites were Aico with their very innovative and cool hideaways. They were among the best built and designed of all that we saw. The beautiful Bob Mackie and Jessica McClintock Collections of American Drew were absolutely stunning. A new Swirl Mahogany incorporated into the stain of one of American Drew's new collections, was very impressive as well.

Coaster had stylish and very competitively priced merchandise on display. A popular piece was the flip-top ottoman. Perfect hideaway storage.

We learned from Coaster that counter height dining is the latest thing in dining room furniture. They seemed to be everywhere we turned. Just about all the manufacturers we visited had their own version to capitalize on this new trend.

The CTO, James Fredley, considers Pennsylvania House the, “Creme de la crème.” And rightfully so. The care that went into the construction and design of this company's furniture was unmatched.

Every drawer was English Dove Tailed in both the front and back. The beds were so solidly constructed with special bolts and interlocking design, that they would not budge!

I guess when a company has been in the business for 120 years, they probably know what they're doing. :-)

Spring Cleaning Tips and Advice

2006-04-21T14:33:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again! Time to break out the cleaning supplies and trash bags. That yearly spring ritual is upon us. You hate to think of the time it is going to take you. You wonder if wasting a whole Saturday or even the whole weekend is worth it. We want everything done instantly, that's the fast paced world we are living in today.

We've got some spring cleaning tips and advice from the pros that will help you get done in record time. Professional home cleaners come prepared and they're not going to waste any time. If you can afford it, hire them! If you can't hire the professionals here's how to get it done just like you did.

How To Do Spring Cleaning The Right Way

Motivation is key to getting things done and getting them done fast. Motivate yourself and the family with a special outing when the project is complete. The professionals don't take TV or email breaks and you shouldn't either. The ultimate goal for professionals is to get in and get out, for you it's get done and move on!

Listen to some music that really gets you moving. You could even load an audio book onto your iPod and listen to that while you clean. That's multitasking at its best!

Don't forget that dirt and dust follow the laws of gravity. It falls just like everything else. So, start at the top and work your way down.

Spring Cleaning Safety Tips

Make sure you dress for the job. You want to be comfortable but functional. The clothes you wear should be loose but not so loose as to catch on corners, doorknobs, or anything that could spill.

If you're going to be on your knees a lot, look at investing in some knee pads. The professionals use them, and for good reason. You'll loose steam and motivation quickly if you start feeling uncomfortable.

Don't forget the gloves! These can keep the germs and chemicals off your skin. The regular yellow cleaning gloves you see at any grocery store will work fine.

Have a Plan!

Probably the most important thing you're going to want to do, before you even break out the mop, is have a plan! This alone can cut a major amount of time off your spring cleaning project. Instead of guessing what to do next, you'll have your plan of action right in front of you.

Top of the list: pick up the clutter.

You don't want to slide your junk from side to side or just clean under and around it. Doing this first will make your whole job easier.

2006 High Point Furniture Show Scheduled Events

2006-04-18T14:44:00.000-04:00

If you're not familiar with the High
Point International Home Furnishings Market, it's the largest trade
show in the US for furniture. The first furniture market was held in
1909 in High Point, North Carolina and was called the Southern
Furniture Market.

Today, the trade show is attended by people from all over the globe. It's held twice a year and you can learn about anything from home fashion and design to how to
effectively build your retail furniture business. You also get to see the new furniture trends and styles before they hit the market.

The dates for the upcoming Furniture Market will be April 27 to May 3. Here's a quick rundown of what you can expect at the approaching furniture show.

Day 1 – April 27:

Learn what industry experts are
doing to close their sales.
40% of your customers are checking
out your website before and after a purchase. Are you sending the right message?
How to tell fashion from fad.
Invest in the right thing.
Is your inventory lost? Learn
some great tips on inventory management.

Day 2 – April 28:

Don't miss Candice Olson, the host
of the popular HGTV show “Divine Design with Candice Olson,”
give some design solutions and tips.
Find out how adjusting your store
lighting can make a big difference in the presentation of your
furniture.
Do you advertise on TV or thinking
about it? Find out how to do it right.

Day 3 – April 29:

The Allure 2006 Fashion Show
hosted by Nancy Glass
Diversify yourself by retailing if
you're a designer or designing if you're a retailer. The session
shows you how to combine them both and help your bottom line.
Drive your sales. Learn how to
create that High Performance Sales Force.

Day 4 – April 30:

Ever wonder how you can compete
against the National Brands? This day has a session just for the
Independent Furniture Retailer.
Stay way ahead of the trends with
the “8 Incoming Looks for 2007.”
Find new ways to control your
delivery expenses.
How would you sell to your
Grandmother? This session titled, “Selling to Your
Grandmother” is about building trust and getting intimate with
your customers.

May 1-3 is all about shopping and networking. Look for
Great Priced Furniture and meet the
team.

Show to Air May 7th

2006-04-10T16:22:00.000-04:00

We've just received an update on the air time of the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition where our furniture will be displayed.

Sunday May 7th at 8:00PM is when it is supposed to air. Just to be sure it is recommended to check ABC.com. Obviously, we'll keep you up to speed as well!

He made it!

2006-04-07T16:02:00.000-04:00

I know, I know... I said Monday and here it is Friday. It's been busy here at the GPF headquarters. But we have great news!

Team GPF member Ivan made the journey and successfully delivered the furniture to the site! Thank You Ivan!!

We will keep you posted on airing times and other cool info we come upon.

Did he make it?

2006-03-31T16:50:00.000-05:00

Did Ivan make it to his destination? Find out Monday!

UPDATE

2006-03-31T16:49:00.000-05:00

It was a close one! Ivan had to make it to the pickup point by 3:00pm, but because of some holdups and wrong directions from MSN maps he missed it!

Thank goodness the people at the loading dock were nice enough to help him get there AND wait for him!

Extreme Makeover Home Edition Frenzy!

2006-03-31T16:27:00.000-05:00

This week has been especially hectic since EMHE had contacted us. We were mistakenly told that the furniture had to be on location by April 30th. After we got the OK, we found out that it was March 30th!! The actual end date is April 1st which allowed for a little more time, but not much!

With less than one week to get the furniture ordered, processed, loaded and shipped 600 miles wasn't easy. It wouldn't have happened without the help of Team GPF! A special thanks to Joy for pushing the order through so quickly and Ivan for volunteering to get the furniture from point A to point B.

Home decorating traditional kitchen

2006-03-14T11:21:00.000-05:00

Quick Tip – Home Decorating a Traditional Kitchen

Here's a couple of quick tips for you. When redecorating your kitchen don't forget about simple things that can make a big difference.

For example lighting can make a huge difference in the appearance of walls and appliances. A fresh coat of paint and simple wall décor can also go a long way in sprucing up your kitchen.

Some new hardware and molding can give you what you want without costing you a whole lot.

Here's a picture of one of our favorite traditional kitchen designs. The roosters on the tables, chairs, and hutch are all hand painted!

Announcing the release of the Great Priced Furniture Blog!

2006-03-07T16:17:00.000-05:00

Blogger is great, very easy to set up! We ran into just a couple of bumps trying to get our logo in the template, but nothing too bad.

The whole idea of our blog is to try to give a voice to GreatPricedFurniture.com. More importantly is to have the ability to interact with and receive feedback from our customers.