| Get an Antique Look in Your Home without the | | | | 'antiquing' and 'distressing.' The terms are |
| Antique Price | | | | somewhat interchangeable depending on which |
| 07th April 2007 | | | | one a manufacturer chooses to use, but they |
| Author: J. Allen | | | | both imply that a piece has been altered or |
| With the exception of unfinished furniture, pretty | | | | treated to appear more aged and worn. Edges |
| much all of the solid wood and all-wood furniture | | | | and corners are often sanded and strategic nicks |
| on the market is treated or 'finished' in some way. | | | | and scratches are added to give the piece a |
| Most of the woods used to manufacture furniture | | | | well-worn or 'antique' look. Other techniques include |
| take stains and lacquers very well, meaning the | | | | cowtailing, which involves using a stiff-bristled |
| color and texture can be altered greatly in the | | | | paintbrush to leave random black marks, and |
| finishing process. The colors and tones described | | | | applying white or off-white paint over stained or |
| in our Wood Guide are rarely what you find on | | | | finished pieces to create a pickled finish. |
| the market. For example, it is very common to | | | | If you like the look of antique furniture, but get a |
| find an oak dresser with a dark cherry finish or a | | | | little faint at the sight of the price tags, consider |
| pine bed with a rich walnut finish. It is also | | | | new pieces that have undergone one of the |
| important to remember that these finishes can | | | | aforementioned processes. Contrary to what |
| vary greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer. | | | | some say, new furniture is built better than a lot |
| Company A's cherry finish might look like | | | | of antique pieces. Who knows, maybe the piece |
| company B's rosewood and company C's | | | | you buy today will be tomorrow's sought after |
| mahogany. Take the names of finishes for what | | | | antique. |
| they are-names, and use your judgment to | | | | For a HUGE selection of affordable platform beds |
| determine if the finish is right for you. | | | | and bedroom furniture visit the Eco-Furniture |
| A couple of terms that have become | | | | website today. |
| commonplace in the furniture industry are | | | | |