Home and Gardening

In the midst of the great metal versus wood kitchen bar stool debate, the one material that often gets left out of the discussion is wicker. Even the lightest wooden bar stool can?t match the lithe nature of wicker, and even the most expensive wood or metal stool can?t match the sheer beauty of a well made and durable wicker bar stool. However, if you aren?t familiar with wicker, there are specific care instructions that you need to follow. Here are some can?t miss wicker bar stool care tips that can help you extend the life of your next bar stool purchase.

Believe it or not, but your vacuum is going to be your best friend when it comes to keeping wicker furniture looking its best. Assuming that your vacuum comes with a soft bristle attachment, you?ll want to use this brush on your kitchen bar stools, and the rest of the wicker furniture you have, on a weekly basis or whenever it gets dirty. If you have things like cat hair or outside debris that isn?t getting pulled out by your vacuum, go ahead and either use a pair of tweezers or even a dry paintbrush to loosen those hard to remove items. You can help to extend the life of your wicker furniture by using a humidifier or dehumidifier to always keep the humidity around your wicker items as steady as possible.

Next, you want to be careful when it comes to getting wicker furniture wet. Water can warp and significantly harm wicker, so if a wet spill happens, grab a clean cloth and use a mild detergent to clean up the mess. You can also substitute Murphy?s Oil Soap or a similar cleaner. Should you have a paper fibre wicker bar stool, be sure to dry any moisture off since it can ruin your bar stool. If you have a wicker bar stool made out of reeds, it can withstand being sprayed down with a hose, but you want to really make an effort to dry it off when you are done since it can lift the water resistant finish right off the wicker itself.

Finally, you can add significant life to any wicker item, including kitchen bar stools, by adding a cushion or pad so that people aren?t sitting directly on it. This will also help keep stains at bay, as well. If you are planning on using your wicker furniture outdoors and indoors, try to keep the stools out of direct sunlight and rain. Direct sunlight can fade and weaken stools if they get too much in the way of exposure. With these fail proof care tips, you can enjoy a lifetime of reliable and beautiful wicker furniture in your home and outside.

Kitchen bar stools made of wicker add a relaxed and almost tropical feel to any home, even if you happen to live somewhere where it snows. With proper care, your wicker bar stools can stand up to even the toughest tests now and into the future.

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Andrew Hampton is the marketing manager of Simply Bar Stools a leading supplier of Modern Bar Stools. Suitable for all types of Breakfast Bars, Cafe Bars or Kitchen Breakfast Bars. Visit our online store www.simplybarstools.co.uk

One of the most exciting things about decorating with bar stools is the fact that you can go in just about any direction in the world. You can choose a nice painted wood with a partially swivelling seat and red checkerboard upholstery for a rustic, country look or you can go in a completely different direction using steel, leather and a high back for a modern, minimalist look. Best of all, you don?t have to go to either extreme to find a look that will endure for years to come. Here are just a few of the important factors you need to keep in mind when it comes to finding the perfect bar stool material.

Match your d?cor

While metal and wood are the two most popular materials, you can find kitchen stools made out of almost anything, such as wicker, wrought iron and more. Every one of these materials is customizable enough to fit into any d?cor, such as metal bar stools in a traditional or conservative environment or wood stools in a modern d?cor. The important thing is to always have your d?cor in mind when shopping. Sometimes, people can get carried away when they see a look they like, only to realize that it doesn?t match anything in their home. A good tip is to carry around photographs of your home, especially the areas in which you are planning on using the stools, as a constant reminder of what your goals are.

Upholstery is important

When you consider what a small percentage of your kitchen stools are actually covered in upholstery, it is amazing to realize how big of an impact that small area has on the overall appearance. A simple switch from a modern, black leather covering to a textured white cotton covering can turn any look on its ear. Sometimes, folks who are looking to redo old bar stools will simply change the upholstery and not even bother to refinish or paint to obtain a whole new look. This is why it is so important that you not only love the material, shape, angle and height of your kitchen stools but also the fabric. You can also choose to not have any upholstery at all, but without upholstery, it can be difficult to have padding unless you choose to have one that ties onto the stool.

Fine Finishes

Finally, the finish on a kitchen stool can completely change the way it looks. Wooden stools that have no finish at all give off a rustic, hard working vibe, while white-painted steel stools are sleek, sophisticated and ready for formal occasions. Stain those wood bar stools a dark mahogany and they are suddenly ready for a black tie event, while unfinished metal stools look more at home in the garage or in the basement than they do at the dinner table. The finish you choose will make or break your stool, so don?t make this decision without thinking about it first.

All three of the vitally important points made above can influence how your stools look and perform, so be sure you give them a lot of thought before acting.

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Andrew Hampton is the marketing manager of Simply Bar Stools a leading supplier of Modern Bar Stools. Suitable for all types of Breakfast Bars, Cafe Bars or Kitchen Breakfast Bars. Visit our online store www.simplybarstools.co.uk

With more and more people moving from large, suburban homes to smaller, more urban locations, outdoor space is at an even higher premium than it was before. The English are world famous for taking postage stamp sized lawns and patios and turning them into veritable showplaces. If you are looking for the ultimate touch for any patio, balcony or outdoor space, you may want to consider the lasting quality of bar stools. Not only are they light and easy to move from outdoors to indoors, they are durable, beautiful and designed specifically for multi-location use. If you are in the market for outdoor bar stools, keep the following things in mind.

First, you want to make sure that your indoor/outdoor stools are light and easy to move. This is one of the major advantages that bar stools have over traditional kitchen or dining room chairs. No one would ever consider moving their dining room chairs out onto the patio, but the idea of shuttling bar stools back and forth seems perfectly logical. Many of today?s best models, including some of the most expensive designs on the market, are very light and can be moved one at a time or even two at a time by almost anyone. This is especially important when rain clouds suddenly open and you need to move things quickly.

Second, most people choose metal or wrought iron bar stools for their patios since they tend to stand up better to moisture and bugs than wooden stools, but there are many wooden models out there that work great in outdoor settings. Not only is there wrought iron and wood, but you can also choose from wicker and other materials that easily stand up to every day use. The key here is to choose a sturdy and attractive model that looks just as good at your dining room table as it does outdoors.

In cases where things might get a bit muddy, you want to chose a bar stool that has a small footprint so that clean up is a breeze. Most bar stools feature thin legs and very little in the way of extra material in the lower half of the stool, so you won?t have to eliminate many models from your search. Try and keep a container of moist tissues or simply a washcloth near your patio or just inside to wipe down the legs before you place the stools back in your home.

Finally, you want to choose stools that provide a high level of comfort. Since you will likely be using them inside and outside, you need to be sure that they are comfortable for long periods of time. You don?t want to buy a set that is beautiful and easy to clean only to find out later that you can?t stand sitting on them for more than 20 minutes. Pick a set that offers plush cushions, soft upholstery and one that appears welcoming. It is true, the right set of bar stools can make or break your garden. This is one decision you don?t want to rush.

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Andrew Hampton is the marketing manager of Simply Bar Stools a leading supplier of Modern Bar Stools. Suitable for all types of Breakfast Bars, Cafe Bars or Kitchen Breakfast Bars. Visit our online store www.simplybarstools.co.uk

For many families, the first interaction they have with kitchen stools in the home is on the patio. They may attend a party or a barbeque over at a friend?s home and use a stool outdoors and see for themselves how comfortable, how durable and how easy to take care of they are. If you are considering adding the beauty and practicality of garden bar stools to your home, there are a handful of things you need to keep in mind before you head out shopping, either at your favourite store or on the Internet.

Know your materials

When most people pick out the perfect outdoor kitchen stool, they choose either plastic, which is very easy to take care of and stands up to dirt like a champ or they choose metal, which is also easy to clean and adds an elegant and sophisticated atmosphere to any patio or balcony. However, there are quite a few wooden bar stools that work outside, as well. Of course, you wouldn?t want a heavy wood outdoors, so go with a pine, teek or even a cedar style stool. There are even a wide variety of wicker stools out there that are surprisingly stable and durable. Just remember, wood stools used outdoors do need a bit of extra care. Make sure you cover them when not in use and wipe them down when they get wet so the wood doesn?t warp.

Backs or no backs

The decision to purchase outdoor bar stools with backs or no backs depends on what you are using the stools for in the first place. If you are planning on having an outdoor tiki bar or an occasional gathering, you probably don?t need to pay the extra money for backs, but if you plan on holding larger or more frequent events or if you plan on having a television outdoors that people can watch the big game on, you likely need the comfort that a back provides. Even if you choose kitchen stools that don?t have any backs, they will likely have foot rests to improve the comfort of the user.

Save money with plastic

Plastic stools are the ones that most people think of when they conjure up images of sprawling patios and afternoon barbeques. Plastic is the cheapest way to go and if you are on a budget, they are better than nothing, but even in temperate climates, plastic outdoor furniture wears out very quickly and unless it is meticulously taken care of, it will likely need to be replaced every year or every two years. Also, plastic outdoor furniture is often less stable and more prone to falls and tips. You will be much better off investing a few extra dollars up front and purchasing some nice teek stools or some rugged but beautiful wrought iron or metal stools. This is one area where you don?t want to cut corners. We all only have a tiny piece of Mother Earth to call our own, make the most of it with the addition of outdoor kitchen stools on your patio or balcony.

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Andrew Hampton is the marketing manager of Simply Bar Stools a leading supplier of Modern Kitchen Bar stools. Suitable for all types of Breakfast Bars, Cafe Bars or Kitchen Breakfast Bars.

There is no denying that bar stools provide an incredible amount of versatility to any home, no matter what d?cor you have, but some situations are tailor made for stools. Nothing beats spending a few hours on a comfortable bar stool with full swivelling capabilities for the big game, and there is something special about waking up on a quiet Sunday morning and having an hour to yourself with the paper, a cup of coffee and your favourite bar stool. Here are three of the best known themes that bar stools are perfect for.

The big game

The bar in bar stool comes from the fact that these contraptions were once solely in the domain of your local pub or watering hole. Since many men still prefer to head down to the pub for the big match, the use of stools at home for the big game always feels natural. What makes the use of bar stools so much fun is that you can fit far more people into a room, with full view of the television, on stools than you ever could in chairs or recliners. Stools are easy to sit on and get off of and when you add swivelling, you increase the ability for everyone to communicate without having to walk around.

A quiet Sunday morning

As well as providing the perfect jumping off point for sport fan celebrations, a good set of bar stools can also provide that early morning hug all of us are looking for. Many of today?s top stools have a wrap around backing that, when pressed up against on a cold winter?s morning, gives a warm and welcoming sensation. Add in streaming morning light, a few cups of joe and the morning paper and you have the makings of a great weekend. Bar stools can?t promise that the paper won?t end up in the bushes or that you?ll have peace and quiet, but they can provide a sanctuary that you will love using each and every day. In fact, once you start waking up to your warm and inviting bar stool every morning, you may wonder what you did without one for so long.

A romantic dinner for two

Perhaps the most underrated use for stools is for romantic evenings at home. Light some candles, put out the good china and scoot those stools near each other and you have a surprisingly romantic night together. By using stools in a situation like this, you have more mobility to make direct eye contact together and even to reach over and touch your significant other than you would in static dining room chairs. Many of today?s best stools are elegant, beautiful and well made and work perfectly in any situation, even romantic ones or formal ones. You can turn any set of bar stools into the perfect romantic seating choice with the right light, the right mood and the right attitude. Try it today and see for yourself why so many people are choosing bar stools over dining room chairs.

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Andrew Hampton is the marketing manager of Simply Bar Stools a leading supplier of Modern Kitchen Bar stools. Suitable for all types of Breakfast Bars, Cafe Bars or Kitchen Breakfast Bars.

A Really Accomplished Shopkeeper

The last time you remember having a fantastic online shopping experience, what was it that made it stand out? Think about that for a second, because online shopping may be an analogy for brick-and-mortar shopping, but the two experiences are hardly alike in reality. In one case, the brick-and-mortar shop, you may have had a great clerk, found fantastic sales, or were somehow treated like a queen (or king) for the day. But online, what has been a great experience for you? Maybe nothing really stands out, but that’s not the same as saying it can’t happen. So, what does make an accomplished shopkeeper stand out from the rest of the crowd?

Honestly, the question may best be answered in the negative. In other words, we probably remember the bad shopping experience, the eshop we swore we’d never return to.

These experiences are thankfully few and far between, but if you’re thinking about opening up shop online, then you can’t forget the lesson learned. Instead of going that route, however, let’s keep it positive and think about what is it that makes us think, “Now, that was an accomplished shopkeeper!”

One thing that should grab your attention is the obvious, and that is the design and navigation of the site. Is the site easy to shop in? This has a little to do with style–we like to shop in pretty places, right?–but more to do with organization and layout. Think of a department store in the mall–everything has its place. The clothes are broken down into little niches we think make sense. No sense having to shop aisles of tools if what you need is a pair of socks! So, an accomplished shopkeeper will have everything neatly organized. Thankfully, shopping online doesn’t present the same challenges of out-of-order clothes racks and the like!

Another example of a shopkeeper worth his or her mettle is if the items are described well. Unlike a real-world store, you can’t touch the merchandise. More and more shops seem to be opening up graphic programs that allow for a closer inspection, with zoom capabilities and the like. Even if a shop doesn’t have this advantage, however, a clear image and well-written description goes a long way in helping the customer. Another feature of a smart shop is to have as many options in merchandise as you can. For instance, size differences in apparel, and an easy way to change your quantity.

The accomplished shopkeeper will also have thought of ways to make a swift return visit something the customer wants to do. At least insofar as this makes sense given the merchandise. You wouldn’t, for instance, want to keep returning to a shop that sells funeral supplies. That would be terrible news. What an accomplished store owner will do is put up promotional items per season (e.g.: back to school items, etc.), have a “clearance rack” so to speak, have BOGO sales (Buy One, Get One Free), affiliate and referral bonuses, even drawings for freebies. Making your customers feel as if they’re wanted, such as sending a birthday ecard, is a great touch that any shopkeeper worth his or her salt ought to consider.

Back of all of this is software that makes these things possible, a powerful shopkeeper package that allows for pages of content, personalized customer accounts, and friendly emails when promotions are coming up. These are all elements that can only be implemented with the right software powering the shop. Coupled with a smart business person at the helm, a really accomplished shopkeeper is in the making!

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Dan Marx is a writer, designer, marketer and co-founder of Dan Marx Creative Business Services. If you are interested in starting a business on the Internet, visit FREE Startups Ecourse to learn how to start a business, write copy and conduct internet marketing.

Our Perforated Metal Backless Bench is ideal for any location. Its simple but unique style lends it an unassuming character. It is a common addition to areas that wish to offer some temporary seating for visitors. They can be found in city parks, retail malls, schools, universities, transportation centers, and courtyards.

The Perforated Metal Backless Bench is constructed by welding a perforated metal seat to a sturdy frame with legs. There is no back or arms on the bench but the ends of the bench do have slightly elevated support handles. The seat is constructed from eleven gauge steel with 1/2 inch holes on staggered centers 1 inch apart. The bench is offered in three standard lengths of four feet, five feet and six feet. The four foot model weighs 155 pounds while the five foot model weighs 165 pounds. The six foot model weighs 175 pounds. A matching receptacle is available and sold separately.

The Perforated Metal Backless Bench has pre-drilled mounting holes and the final buyer has three basic mounting options. The simplest option is to place the bench in the desired location without any mounting or attachments. This option is called the portable mount because it is very easy to move the bench when needed. However, because the bench is not secured to the ground or surface, it can be easily stolen. The most common mounting option is the surface mount. Usually the bench is located on a hard, flat surface of tile or concrete and mounting holes are drilled in the concrete. Anchors are then inserted into the holes so the bench legs can be bolted to the anchors. The bench can be moved from its mounted location if it is unbolted. The final mounting option, in-ground mounting, is most common in outdoor locations where the bench will be located on grass or soil. This option requires that leg extensions be welded or bolted to the legs of the bench. These leg extensions are lowered into holes that have been dug into the ground. Then wet concrete is poured into the hole and the bench is permanently located at that position.

The Perforated Metal Backless Bench is covered with a thermoplastic coating. This coating, also referred to as powder coating, is the latest technology in protecting metal from corrosion and rust. It utilizes an electrical process whereby the dry powder coat and the metal object are given opposite electrical charges. When the dry powder is spraying onto the metal object it results in a very strong adhesion. The metal object is then ?baked? and the powder coat binds together and binds to the metal. The coating can be relatively thick and is usually between twenty-five and thirty millimeters in thickness. The final thermoplastic / plastic / plastic-epoxy coating is very durable as well as attractive. It will not crack or peel and can be easily repaired if cut or damaged. The application of heat with an industrial heat gun will allow the coating to melt slightly and rebind itself, thereby repairing the damaged area. In addition, the thermoplastic coating has UV inhibitors to resist fading. An added bonus is that spray paint has very poor adhesion to thermoplastic coatings. In the event that a bench is spray painted by vandals it can be easily cleaned with common cleaners.

The Perforated Metal Backless Bench, or benches, would be an attractive addition to any setting. There are sixteen standard colors to consider. The available colors are black, red, orange, yellow, green, bk-green, teal, blue, navy, purple, burgundy, brown, beige, sandstone, gray, and granite. This wide selection of colors will almost guarantee a complimentary color match for any environment.

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XPB Locker. Read more about perforated metal backless bench.