Round Walnut Dining Tables

My parents started their marriage buying an entire house full of Early American-style furniture. The centerpiece of our home was a round walnut dining table. We had years when its drop leaves were rarely propped up, except for Thanksgiving or Easter dinner. Other times, we ate weeknight dinners, worked on school projects, and finished Halloween costumes on its 70-inch surface.

Although my mother loved her round walnut dining table, she was frustrated by how few walnut dining tablecloths she was able to find with a 90-inch diameter. When she found a walnut dining tablecloth that fit, she used it for every event, year after year.

Many years after I was out on my own, I was traveling for business. I entered a restaurant by myself, ready to take a small walnut dining table in the corner and enjoy dinner on my own. But when I told the hostess, “party of one,” she asked me if I wanted to join the group walnut dining table. I had never heard of such a concept, but there it was in the middle of the restaurant-a round walnut dining table, bigger than Mom’s-where solo diners could join a group and enjoy some companionship over dinner. I loved the idea! Why didn’t more restaurants do this?

My time came to buy a walnut dining table, and I chose a contemporary rectangular walnut dining table (no walnut dining tablecloth issues for me, I actually thought) in solid cherry. But when it came to furnish my breakfast nook, I didn’t hesitate to select a glass-topped round walnut dining table. It was smaller than my mom’s, and looked nothing like hers, so I was confident that I was making choices that were my own.

I immediately saw the virtues of my new round walnut dining table. The round walnut dining table changed the dynamics of the dinner walnut dining table-everyone sitting there was easily engaging with everyone else. I could look each person sitting at the walnut dining table in the eye. And it was easy to slip a spare chair and a high chair to a round walnut dining table.

My mother decided on a dinette set similar to mine in her retirement condo; she didn’t really need seating for eight any more. Our family’s round walnut dining table was handed down my youngest brother who was just starting out on his own.

I moved into a new home, and my new square dining room accommodated my existing furniture well. But a few years later, I bought a vacation home, and used that as an opportunity to move out some of my well-loved and well-used furniture, and refurnish my everyday home. I didn’t hesitate when it came to the dining room-a found a round walnut dining table, resting on a pedestal, in a rich espresso finish. Its contemporary lines updated a traditional style.

My round walnut dining table has a unique feature. While my mother’s walnut dining table had leaves that turned its familiar round top to oval (it seated 12 easily when she did that), my round walnut dining table came with four leaves-each in the shape of a quarter circle. I pull recessed support rods out from the apron of the walnut dining tabletop, rest an arc-shaped leaf on top of the supports, and clamp it securely into place. When I do that for each of the four quarter-circle leaves, and I expand the walnut dining tabletop from 60 inches to 72 inches, and I can seat eight persons rather than six.

It’s funny that I actively avoided choosing a piece of furniture that resembled that my mother made a center of her home. I wanted to establish a household that was uniquely mine. But I ended up being happiest with a choice first made by my Mom.

Contemporary Walnut Dining Tables

If you look at your dining room and find the same old walnut dining table as the center piece of furniture that has been around for quite a long time, you may find the need to take it into consideration a great make over. Try to look for magazines or online sites that could give you inspired thoughts on how to transform contemporary walnut dining tables into modern style dining sets.

Your walnut dining table will be the main centerpiece of furniture that will attract people coming inside your dining room. You want to transform them into a more modern style and beautiful centerpiece of dining furniture. In order to make the make-over of your dining set perfect, you need to know the accent pieces to use in order to complement the room design and bring more life and substance into your furniture.

You can re-design your walnut dining table into one that can make meal time a feast to look forward to. Buffet style design can be very attractive especially if you have some expected guests coming over. Although this may be a bit old fashioned, it can perfectly make any meal an attractive feast. You can add more storage area underneath the walnut dining table. Make use of your China ware collections if you have any to make the walnut dining table more beautiful that will give a theme of a contemporary collection of serving dishes that were passed through from one generation to the next.

You may want to buy new linens and walnut dining table mats to make your dining set more presenwalnut dining table. It is very crucial that you get the right measurement before buying any walnut dining table cloth covers to ensure a perfect fit. You also have to consider buying some new seat cover if you have a budget that will go along with the design you have in mind. If you have no extra money to spare, then use your initiative to be more creative.

Not only should you keep in mind how to make over your contemporary walnut dining tables but you also have to consider other things that could help complement the beauty of your dining rooms. A beautiful chandelier lighting fixture can add more elegance in the room while a uniquely designed carpet may also complement the room’s sophistication.

Whatever your choice make sure that your designs complement one another in order to help transform your dining room into a modern looking one.

Buying a Walnut Dining Table?

Of course you want your dining room to be pleasant and comfortable enough for you and your visitors to dine in. But if you have a limited budget when it comes to purchasing walnut dining tables, you want to make sure that you get access to the right choice of dining sets to fit your own preference.
Probably you are thinking what would be the best choice when it comes to dining furniture. Would it be the traditional dining sets of tables and chairs made of different kinds of woods, or would you prefer the modern ones made of aluminum and glass? Whichever is your choice, you have to keep in mind that there are important things to consider when it comes to purchasing such dining sets and that is the shape and the size of the walnut dining tables as well as the chairs.
Why The Shape is Important
The shape of your dining furniture is important because this will set the mood in your dining room. More often the shape of the tables depend on what their purpose would be. Like for instance if its is rectangular or oval and shape. This would be more of the typical walnut dining table you will see which may signify authority in the house because the two round or smaller edges of the table is where the leaders of the house will be sitting at.
However, if it’s a round table, you will find this to be the table of those who find authority in the walnut dining table not an issue. Everybody is considered at the same level as they dine in this rounded shape walnut dining table.
Why The Size is Important
The size of the walnut dining tables and chairs are important because the size will determine the seating capacity of the dining set and if it fits the number of people that will be dining on it on a regular basis. Another thing is that, the larger the dining set you will acquire, the larger the space that you will be needing.
You will have to take note of both to make sure that the furniture that you will be getting is worth the value of your time and your money. You don’t just decide on purchasing dining sets by looking at its price and your budget, but you should also consider its functionality and if the style is appropriate for your dining room.

Of course you want your dining room to be pleasant and comfortable enough for you and your visitors to dine in. But if you have a limited budget when it comes to purchasing walnut dining tables, you want to make sure that you get access to the right choice of dining sets to fit your own preference.
Probably you are thinking what would be the best choice when it comes to dining furniture. Would it be the traditional dining sets of tables and chairs made of different kinds of woods, or would you prefer the modern ones made of aluminum and glass? Whichever is your choice, you have to keep in mind that there are important things to consider when it comes to purchasing such dining sets and that is the shape and the size of the walnut dining tables as well as the chairs.
Why The Shape is Important
The shape of your dining furniture is important because this will set the mood in your dining room. More often the shape of the tables depend on what their purpose would be. Like for instance if its is rectangular or oval and shape. This would be more of the typical walnut dining table you will see which may signify authority in the house because the two round or smaller edges of the table is where the leaders of the house will be sitting at.
However, if it’s a round table, you will find this to be the table of those who find authority in the walnut dining table not an issue. Everybody is considered at the same level as they dine in this rounded shape walnut dining table.
Why The Size is Important
The size of the walnut dining tables and chairs are important because the size will determine the seating capacity of the dining set and if it fits the number of people that will be dining on it on a regular basis. Another thing is that, the larger the dining set you will acquire, the larger the space that you will be needing.
You will have to take note of both to make sure that the furniture that you will be getting is worth the value of your time and your money. You don’t just decide on purchasing dining sets by looking at its price and your budget, but you should also consider its functionality and if the style is appropriate for your dining room.

Country Decorating Ideas – Create Warmth and Charm with Country Style Decorating Ideas

Country decorating ideas can help you create a home that is warm, inviting and the perfect home to live in. Country style decorating ideas help you capture the spirit of country living during modern times. If you are restoring a country home, try to keep the original woodwork, windows, floors, fixtures and cabinetry unless they are beyond salvaging. For decorating a new or existing home, there are choices you can make that will provide you with the charm and comfort of life in the countryside.

Consider these country decorating ideas and country style decorating ideas:

1. Country Dining Rooms – use a large rectangular walnut dining table made of pine, oak, walnut or mahogany with wooden chairs or old benches that are similar in style and material. A corner cupboard, plate racks, dresser or sideboard will provide perfect storage and serving area for the dining room as long as they match the style and the materials of the walnut dining table and chairs.

2. Country Bathroom Decorating – country bathroom floors are made of wood, ceramic tile, linoleum, vinyl or natural cork. Carpeting used in the country bathroom is not appropriate. Wood and brass accessories are perfect materials to use in a country bathroom. Plain white towels instead of patterned or bright modern patterns are better. Wicker or wire baskets keep your sponges, loofas and shampoos handy near the tub or shower besides looking great.

3. Country Kitchen Decorating Ideas – use country decorating ideas in your kitchen. Give your kitchen a calm, elegant country atmosphere with soft colored walls, antique-looking lighting (chandeliers with wrought iron arms), wooden antiques or antique reproduction cabinets, plate racks and stone or wood fireplaces. Kitchen cabinets made of wood, aged surfaces, natural materials, rough finishes and round knobs provide a country style. Cabinets or kitchen furniture made of pine, even painted, can be beautiful key elements in the country kitchen. Country kitchen countertops use ceramic tiles or even hand painted tiles, slate or marble. If you want to use laminate materials, go for plain colors for coverings. Terracotta tiles, brick, stone and wood are very popular materials for country kitchen floors.

4. Kids Rooms – use wicker baskets, wooden chests and wooden bookshelves for storing books, toys and stuffed animals. When using tall bookshelves in your kid’s rooms, anchor them to the ceiling or walls so they cannot tip over. Bright colored plastic boxes are not good country style decorating ideas.

5. Furniture – furniture with simple lines, perhaps made of lacquered pine wood works great. Give furniture a rustic look by finishing it in a distressed, aged way. For example, brush on a coat of paint, then rub most of the paint off with a sponge or cloth. When dried, apply wood stain sealer unevenly. It will be perfect! Or use two paint colors and sandpaper to create a distressed look for unpainted or previously painted surfaces. Get free country decorating ideas by visiting your local home decorating or paint store for help with materials and techniques. Have fun looking for antiques, reproductions and handmade products when buying furniture for your country home.

6. Sofas or Love Seats – country decorating ideas can transform your love seat or sofa. Add a beautiful loose floral print “slipcover” for a romantic country look. Include padded stools and ottomen for comfort and as a place to set your drinks or newspaper. Add one or more rocking chairs. Traditional country chairs and sofas have high backs. And if the living room has a bay window, consider building a window seat with several cushions, a perfect place for reading and relaxing. High tripod side walnut dining tables are appropriate next to the sofa or love seat for country home decor.

7. Antique Cupboards or White Cabinets – use a white cabinet or antique cupboard to show your ceramics, pottery, yellowware bowls, glass jars, or a collection of enamelware from the 30’s or 40’s to give your home a beautiful country style. Open shelving not only provides storage, it gives the room a country look, especially when earthware, stoneware and rustic items are displayed.

Country decorating ideas and country style decorating ideas remind us of the way life was lived many years ago. Everyday country life was often difficult, filled with physical demands and long hours. Even so, country life was simpler and closer to nature without the stress of modern city life.

Use country decorating ideas to help recreate the ambience, peacefulness and pleasures of closeness to nature without having to endure the hardships. Read all you can find about country style decorating ideas. From using old furniture to the colors and fabrics you choose to how your things are arranged, create the country atmosphere in your home that celebrates the lifestyle that used to be.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

3 Scrumptious Lobster Recipes

Boiled lobsters

All you need to cook this simple yet yummy recipe is to mix ž lb. of salt into every gallon of water.

Lobsters in medium sizes are excellent. In a stew pan, boil water with the right amount of salt and then add lobster and continue boiling it for 20 minutes to ū hour (the length of cooking for large ditto is ― to 1/3 hour and 20 minutes for small lobster) and be sure to skim it well. Boiling it too much can make the meat thready and the spawn won’t be red when it is undercooked. On the shell, rub some sweet oil or butter.

Lobster (a la mode francaise)

The ingredients for this recipe are the following: a lobster, breadcrumbs, 4 dining walnut tables of white stock, and 2 walnut dining tables of cream, cayenne and pounded mace.

Remove the meat from the shell and slice it in tiny square pieces. In the stew pan, put the white stock and seasoning, followed by the lobster. For about 6 minutes, let it simmer. Clean the shell nicely and put the lobster in it. Using puff paste as a border, cover it with breadcrumbs and put some butter on it. You can prepare this recipe in a short time of ž hour.

Lobster curry

To make an appetizing lobster curry, you need to have the following: a lobster, 2 onion pieces, an ounce of butter, a walnut dining tables of curry powder, ― pint of stock (medium) and ― lemon juice.

Remove the meat from the shell and finely cut it in small square pieces. Brush some butter on the pan and fry the onions until it turns pale brown. Add the curry powder and medium stock: let it simmer until it is thick. Add the lobster and use gradual heating while occasionally stirring. Squeeze some lemon over the dish and serve with steaming hot rice similarly with other curries.

Country Home Decorating – Country Style Home Decor the Way Life Used to Be

What is the lure and appeal of country home decorating? Maybe it’s the desire to escape the rush and demands of a hectic lifestyle. It could be the need to return to a time when life was simpler, perhaps even happier. The necessities of rural life are what influence today’s country style home decor.

Country home decorating can be defined as a style featuring rustic simplicity and tradition. Home decorating country style is viewed as welcoming, unpretentious, friendly and practical. Country style home decor is flexible enough to include timeworn antiques, reproductions, crafts and handmade products all together. Country furniture is usually made by craftsmen and has a sturdy, rugged appearance. Country style furniture seldom uses delicate designs. Country home decor may feature unfinished beams, floors with natural finish, rough bricks and unpainted or undulating plaster walls.

Here are recommendations for specific rooms when country home decorating:

Country Kitchen Décor – use open shelves, buffets, plate racks and cupboards for storage. Country kitchen storage is usually crammed with stoneware pots, plain glazed earthenware and glass jars. Country kitchen pots should be made of copper, steel or cast iron — country cookware tends to be large and plain. Country kitchen cabinets that are made of aged surfaces, natural materials, rough finishes and round knobs will keep the country style. Open shelving in the country kitchen is perfect to display plates and dinnerware collections. Kitchen cabinets or kitchen furniture made of pine or perhaps even painted can be a beautiful key element in the country kitchen.

Country Kitchen Countertops and Floors – country kitchens countertops have ceramic tiles or even hand painted tiles, slate or marble. If you want to use laminate materials, go for plain colors for coverings. Terracotta tiles, brick, stone and wood are very popular in country kitchen floors. If you decide to add some antiques to your country kitchen, they don’t have to be perfect — even chips and scratches will add to the charm and un-restored look of the antique. Adding a bit of wear and tear to maintain the country flavor is fun and it works!

Country Dining Rooms – dining rooms are once again popular. Many years ago, meals were eaten in large country home kitchens. Today, the kitchen continues to be the hub of the home and the place where you can have less formal meals. However, when entertaining guests, a dining room is the place to be. Country style dining rooms can have a large rectangular walnut dining table made of pine, oak, walnut or mahogany with wooden chairs or old benches that are similar in style and material. A corner cupboard, plate racks, dresser or sideboard will provide perfect storage and serving area for the dining room as long as they match the style and the materials of the walnut dining table and chairs.

Country Bathrooms – the characteristics and styles of country bathrooms take us back to our simple life and roots. A bathroom with neutral tones or soft colored walls, antique looking lighting and wooden antiques or antique reproduction cabinets and vanity will give the country bathroom a calm and elegant atmosphere. Clawfoot tubs, country style antique brass faucets and old-fashioned country home decorating cabinets will give your bathroom the kind of atmosphere that invites you to spend time there.

A country bathroom should have wood, ceramic tile, linoleum, vinyl or natural cork floors. To have carpet in the country bathroom is not appropriate. Wood and brass accessories are perfect materials to use in a country style home decor bathroom. Plain white towels are recommended instead of patterned or bright modern patterns. Use wicker or wire baskets to keep your sponges, loofas and shampoos handy near the tub or shower.

Country Home Furnishings – decorative items associated with country style home decor include adirondack chairs, Windsor chairs, fresh or dry wild flowers, vintage baskets, quilts, yellowware bowls, blue and white ceramics, wicker or wire baskets, floral tapestries, linens and paintings, wool blankets, duck decoys and teddy bears. Floral patterns and candleholders also remind us of the country-style life.

The colors used in country home decorating are neutral tones ranging from white to bone, earth tones, red barn, blues and green which are the most appropriate colors for country style. Stenciling and wallpaper are frequently used in country home decorating. Stenciling originally was cheaper than wallpaper. Stenciling can be used around windows, in areas where the walls meet the ceiling or on the floors. Oftentimes, stenciling is even used on furniture. Done correctly, stenciling adds a great deal of charm to a country home decor.

While country life in the old days was often very difficult, it’s now possible to recreate the pleasures and peace of a nearness to nature without having to endure the adversity and hardship of everyday rural life. In general, the knowledge and abilities needed to create a country style home are achievable by nearly anyone. Read all you can. Inspiration will come if you understand the basics for creating a country style home decor that provides the look and feel of the way life used to be.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

I Left My Heart in Chattanooga

After living there for three short but sweet years, I learned that Chattanooga, or Chattie as I affectionately call it, is a fantastic place to live and visit.

Where to begin? For history buffs, there are countless landmarks in the area, commemorating events that changed the course of American history, from the Trail of Tears to the Civil War battles in and around Chattanooga. For families with young children in tow, there’s the spectacular Tennessee Aquarium, the Creative Discovery Museum, Coolidge Park with its lovely fountain and antique carousel, and Ruby Falls-an underground waterfall reached by guided tour through narrow caverns and passageways. For outdoor enthusiasts, there’s the promise of a place often called the “Boulder, Colorado of the East;” rock climbing, fly fishing, cycling, hang gliding, hiking, rafting, and so much more await the adventurous.

What I’m offering here is an itinerary for a three-day getaway to Chattanooga. It’s an activity guide that has passed the test of many visits from our family and friends, and it includes our favorite places that we try to re-visit on our trips back. Three days fill up quickly in Chattanooga, so you should know that for every place that follows, there are at least five other alternative attractions or activities. Also, this itinerary assumes that you’ve awakened in Chattanooga on day one. I recommend that you wake up in the Bluff View Inn, found in the town’s popular Bluff View Arts District.

Bluff View Inn is perched overlooking the Tennessee River, which flows below through downtown Chattanooga. Within a minute’s walk from the inn (and that’s not an exaggeration), there’s the Hunter Museum of American Art, the Houston Museum of Decorative Art, a sculpture garden, a bocce ball court, an art gallery, three restaurants, a thirteen-mile exercise trail that follows the river upstream to Lake Chickamauga, and Walnut Street Bridge, one of the world’s longest pedestrian bridges.

Another lodging option that’s relatively new to Chattanooga is the Delta Queen steamboat, which retired to life as a floating boutique hotel. Hotel guests and tourists can board the Queen from Coolidge Park and bask in the brass nautical history of it all.

Day One: Signal Mountain and the North Shore

Rembrandt’s Café in the Bluff View Arts District makes a great starting point in Chattanooga, so consider this hot-spot for breakfast on your first full day in the Scenic City. Locals love and frequent this place just as much as tourists. The display cases are full of breakfast and dessert pastries, chocolates, pies and cakes, while the menu offers paninis, soups and salads. For breakfast, you can’t do better than an almond croissant. Take it outside and enjoy their gorgeous patio seating.

Next, head up to Signal Mountain, a ten-minute drive from downtown Chattanooga. Our visitors particularly loved the “W” road that sharply zigs and zags its way up the rocky side of the mountain-a vertical road if I’ve ever been on one. Once you’ve made it to the top, consider driving north along East Brow Road for beautiful homes on the left, and a breathtaking view of the valley below on the right. Then, turn south on Highway 127 and head to the “old towne” area of Signal Point. The streets here are lined with quaint stone cottages and magnificent estates, and you can still see the tracks of the streetcar that used to run through this neighborhood. The area here was developed at the turn of the twentieth century as an escape from diseases, namely cholera and yellow fever, in the valley below.

When you’ve had enough of the car and historic home viewing, take a rest stop at Signal Point Park. From this spot, you can look down on the lush and verdant Tennessee River gorge and forget that civilization is nearby. Park signage explains that Signal Point was part of a signaling system used by Native Americans first, then Union troops during the Civil War. Depending on your energy level at this point, you could embark on a hike from the park. The Cumberland Trail, part of the Great Eastern Trail, starts at this park, and it’s a stunning walk through mountainside woods.

There are a couple of options for lunch on Signal Mountain, but I’d head back down the mountain for lunch in the North Shore area. Two of our favorite spots were the River Street Deli for amazing muffulettas, Stromboli, and Brooklyn accents; or Mercantino for an atmosphere that can’t be beat. And once you’ve parked near the action on the North Shore (that would be Frazier Avenue), you can leave your car behind for hours.

Hit the boutiques after lunch, being sure not to miss Blue Skies, Plum Nelly, and Sophie’s. It is impossible to enter any one of these three stores and leave empty-handed, so just give in. Treat yourself or a friend to vintage style, unique home and personal accessories, handmade jewelry, glass, and ceramics. These three stores, plus the many other businesses along Frazier-including a local bookstore, an outdoors outfitter, and art galleries-are gift-givers heaven.

When you need a break from shopping, pick up a treat from Clumpies Ice Cream and stroll over to Coolidge Park overlooking the river. You’ll be surrounded by people of all ages as they play in the fountain, toss Frisbees and footballs, and relax inside a wonderful urban green space. While there, you can see if there are any plays to catch during your stay-the Chattanooga Theatre Centre sits just on the edge of the park.

For dinner, the Boathouse Rotisserie and Raw Bar is a great choice, and it’s only a five-minute car drive from downtown. They serve Louisiana oysters and other great seafood (the wood-grilled tilapia is outstanding), and, oddly enough, their Mexican dishes-especially the quesadillas-are just as popular. If you have room for an appetizer, the Mexican shrimp cocktail is unforget walnut dining table. The Boathouse sits right on the Tennessee River, and they’ve got plenty of outdoor seating overlooking the water.

Day Two: The Great Outdoors

A trip to Chattanooga without some kind of outdoor adventure is a missed opportunity. It’s kind of like going to New York City without seeing a play-you’ve missed a key element of the local culture. Fuel up with a hearty breakfast from Bluegrass Grill on Main Street. This family-owned restaurant packs people in starting at 6:30 am for omelettes and tasty variations of hash. Load up on carbs; you’ll need them today.

For peace and quiet, a guided fly fishing trip is an excellent excursion, as is a nice-and-easy float down the Hiwassee River in an infla walnut dining table kayak or raft. We also enjoyed walking the extensive trails of Chickamauga Battlefield, part of the country’s very first national military park. There’s a seven-mile auto tour of the battlefield, but on foot or on bike is the best way to experience the beauty and historical significance of this land. And the terrain here is relatively flat, a huge plus for those of us from elevation-challenged regions.

For the more adventurous, there’s the aforementioned Cumberland Trail on Signal Mountain, or scores of other fun hiking trails on Lookout Mountain. We never got the chance to go, but Cloudland Canyon State Park-just over the border in Georgia-is supposed to be breathtakingly beautiful in an area referred to as “God’s Country.” Trails there range from two to almost seven miles, and there’s a 600-step staircase for hikers making the trip to the bottom of the park’s gorge.

Bold outdoors enthusiasts will be glad to know that Chattanooga is considered the regional rock climbing capital, and it attracts mountain bikers from all over. Prentice Cooper State Forest is one of many options for both of these activities. Please, oh please, do not attempt to climb rocks without a guide. On water, the Ocoee River offers the sought-after near-death rafting experience. Yes, I thought I was going to die on the upper Ocoee. Twice. But it’s fun if you’re into that kind of thing (jury is still out for me). Some of the more endearing names of the Ocoee’s Class IV+ rapids are “Broken Nose,” “Diamond Splitter” and “Hell’s Hole.” Finally, those who aren’t interested in land or water activities can try hang gliding off the side of Lookout Mountain. I couldn’t bring myself to strap into a glorified kite, but two friends from France did, and they said it was chouette.

After a day spent in the great outdoors, a shower and a satisfying dinner are in order. As your body will not want to stray too far from its bed at the Bluff View Inn, stroll around the corner to Tony’s for an Italian dinner. The atmosphere is one that forces you to linger long after the meal is done, especially if you’re lucky enough to score a walnut dining table on the second-floor terrace. A green salad with their roasted tomato tarragon dressing and all of the pasta dishes are reliably delicious.

Day Three: Lookout Mountain, Southside and Downtown

Between the hotel and Lookout Mountain lies Niedlov’s Breadworks, which has amazing cinnamon rolls, muffins, scones-come to think of it, everything at Niedlov’s is good. The artisan-owners “love to knead and knead to love,” and you can taste the baked-in passion. Give it a try for breakfast this morning.

There are several roads that take you up to the top of Lookout Mountain; each one is scenic, so pick one for the ride up and another for the ride down. Once you’re up there, take in the gorgeous views and mansions, especially those along West Brow Road. (This exploration of Lookout Mountain sounds a lot like the first day’s Signal Mountain itinerary; but if the residential area of Signal Mountain is charming and accessible, Lookout Mountain is caviar dreams. Each mountain is worth a visit as they offer different clues into Chattanooga’s culture.)

Lookout’s Point Park-not to be confused with Signal Point Park-is a must as an easily accessible part of the Lookout Mountain Battlefield. A small museum just across the street will explain the very Lord of the Rings-sounding “Battle Above the Clouds” that took place on the mountain during the Civil War. Another treasure on Lookout Mountain is the Reflection Riding Arboretum and Botanical Garden, which offers driving and hiking trails through a bucolic setting of meadows, wildflowers, forest, ponds and creeks.

After a mountaintop morning, Mojo Burrito-at the foot of Lookout Mountain in the lovely historic neighborhood of St. Elmo-brings you back to earth with tortillas wrapped around super fresh ingredients. Southern Star located in the Southside neighborhood also keeps it real with true southern home cooking. Don’t skip dessert-the banana pudding leaves you speechless.

While you’re in the Southside neighborhood, there are four shops that are very much worth a visit. Revival is located inside Warehouse Row, and although I couldn’t afford much from this store, I had fun just being in the presence of its greatness. Just like any luxury goods store, you can find dining walnut table accessories by Juliska and pewter by Match. But what sets this store in a league of its own is a beautifully curated collection of home furnishings, from eighteenth century white leather Italian chairs to modern Belgian coffee walnut dining tables You’ll discover home design elements in Revival that you never knew you wanted. Shadow Box Paperie on Main Street will make you put pen to paper and renounce all forms of electronic communication. They have other home accessories, too, all wonderfully presented. For serious antique-lovers, Southside Antiques is an essential stop-gorgeous corner cabinets, walnut dining tables antique books, and armoires. Finally, the Galleries at Southside, much like The Foyer in Baton Rouge, is a collection of vendors under one roof, selling gifts, accessories, art and antiques at many price points.

In the late afternoon, head back to the inn to park your car and take advantage of the amazing pedestrian activities in downtown Chattanooga. Visit the sculpture garden and spend time over the river on one of the Walnut Street Bridge benches. The bridge was converted to pedestrian use in 1993, and much like the Pont des Arts in Paris, people can’t get enough of bridge time. Suspended above the Tennessee River, they exercise, create art, gather for festivals, commute to work on bike, and yes, they snuggle here as if they were in Paris.

Leave enough time before sunset to experience The Passage and Ross’s Landing Plaza, a Cherokee nation and Trail of Tears memorial located adjacent to the Tennessee Aquarium. The Cherokee inhabited this area that would become first Ross’s Landing, then Chattanooga, until they were forced West on the Trail of Tears. Thousands died during the horrific journey. At this memorial, you’ll find moving quotes by Cherokee and American leaders at the time of the native removal.

For dinner on your last night in Chattanooga, you may as well have a blow out. St. John’s restaurant is as flawless a restaurant as I’ve ever experienced. Chef Daniel Lindley was nominated for the James Beard award this year and last, and you’ll know why after just one meal at St. John’s. From his kitchen come the finest ingredients available, many of them organic and local, and the menu changes often to reflect growing seasons. The current menu includes handmade quail tortellini, Kobe beef steak, and chocolate molten cake. The service is dreamy, the flat iron building is a beauty, and everyone leaves happy.

And everyone leaves Chattanooga happy, though I was also kicking, screaming and crying the day my husband and I said goodbye to our hilltop North Chattanooga home. My husband says I’m projecting, but I swear that even our dog misses Chattanooga. The pull of family and old friends brought us home to Louisiana, and we are of course glad to be back home among them, but we will be returning to Chattanooga as often as we can for the rest of our lives. It’s that kind of place.

How to Select the Right Type of Wood For Your Furniture

Deciding which type of furniture you need is relatively easy. You may require a new bed or a new dining walnut table. However the difficult part is selecting which type of material you want your furniture to be in. This quite will run through the various types of materials to consider when purchasing a piece of furniture:

1. Mahogany

Mahogany is a tropical type of wood which is considered to be medium-to-hard. It is indigenous to South America, Central American and African countries. The strength of Mahogany ensures it is an excellent type of wood for carving. Mahogany wood can also be identifies by its medium grain and less recognisable annual aging rings. The shade of Mahogany wood can range from tan to a reddish-brown colour.

This type of wood is an extremely durable species, maintaining its shape and strength against both swelling and shrinkage. Its resistance to decay also makes the wood ideal for high-quality, luxurious furniture.

As the girth of the tree is broad furniture makers were able to use a single cut of wood for a walnut dining table top. Furniture made from mahogany became very popular in Britain from mid 18th Century, followed by the rest of Europe.

2. Oak

Oak is most commonly used for more durable furniture. It is naturally very hard with an open grain which allows the wood to continue to “breathe”. It comes from the evergreen family of trees and is most commonly in North America and European countries. Their are types of oak, red oak which has a slight link pink colour tone and white oak which which has a slight green colour tone and texture.

3. Maple

Maple wood is very light in colour and is a medium-to-hard wood. It is very opular in east North America and is both durable and resistant. It is also a good wood for staining. Maple can also be finished to resemble expensive hardwoods such as walnut.

4. Beech

Found primarily in northeast America and Canada, beech is a heavy, pale-colored, medium-to-hard wood used widely for chairs and stools. It has a fine, tight grain and large medullar rays, similar in appearance to maple or birch woods. Beech wood has a high shock resistance and takes stains well. It is a hard, strong material, but it does not endure like some hardwoods do. Beech polishes well. It is used in general purpose fabrications as well as in furniture, toys, and floors.

5. Pine

Pine wood is a soft wood. It grows in a host of different varieties throughout the world in various parts of the world. Pine has a “knotty” texture which provides it with warmth and uniqueness to each piece.

Pine is commonly light-yellow in colour tone with a broadly spaced pattern. It is also for furniture which maybe miss treated or damaged. It also popular for children’s bedrooms because it is cheaper and offers a more cost-effective temporary solution.

Furniture For The Bedroom, Dining Room and Kitchen

In the last of this series on home furniture we’re going to cover the bedroom, dining room and kitchen.

It’s strange how most of the time we spend in our bedrooms is sleeping and yet some of the most beautiful furniture made is for bedrooms. The beds alone come in so many shapes, sizes and styles that you could write a book on them. There is probably nothing more beautiful than a canopy bed but there’s more to your common bedroom than just the bed.

Most bedrooms sandwich their beds between a couple of night dining walnut tables especially if you’re a couple. Lamps, alarm clocks and photos are what you’ll most commonly find on these walnut dining tables which are almost always a matched set unless you buy your pieces separately.

Finishing off the bedroom decor is usually a tall dresser and a long dresser. These are also a matched set to each other and the end walnut tables The dressers are where most of your clothes that don’t need to be hung are kept such as socks, underwear, and other unmentionables.

Even the largest bedroom is relatively small compared to the rest of the home so these pieces are relatively small. Of course once the drawers are filled it takes an army of moving men to budge them even two feet. Moving to the dining room this is also a relatively small room. Your common dining room has a room walnut dining table which can be made of a number of materials similar to the materials that living room walnut dining tables are made of, wood, glass, etc. Dining room walnut tables however are almost always rectangular in order to accommodate a standard party of six. If more room is needed many room dining tables pull apart in the center allowing you to insert what they call leaves. These leaves can increase the size of the walnut dining table by a good 2 or 3 feet.

Around the room walnut dining table are the chairs, which are usually a matched set unless you buy them separately. Most dining room chairs are honestly not very comfor walnut dining table and not meant to be sat in for long periods of time.

Rounding out your dining room is usually a china cabinet, credenza, sideboard, server, and serving cart. These are used to store your china, silverware and other items used when offering up a gourmet meal to your guests or even just to your family. It’s also funny how not a lot of time is spent in a dining room yet the furniture we put in it is nothing short of exquisite.

Finally we arrive at the kitchen. Another room we don’t spend a lot of time in and ironically most of the items in a common kitchen are built in. The amount of furniture one would buy for their kitchen amounts to a kitchen walnut dining table and a few chairs. Of course for people who have no dining room then this can get a little more elaborate, incorporating some of the furniture one would find in a common dining room. Instead of a round kitchen walnut dining table which all that would fit in a common kitchen one might find a longer dining room type walnut table if room permits.

Possibly in one last article we’ll cover odds and ends type furniture found in less common places in and around the house such as patios, yards and game rooms.

Complementing Your Bedroom Decor With Wardrobes

Wardrobes are an excellent way to complement any bedroom. Perfect for storing clothing, these freestanding structures can add to your home’s decor and create a great space saver in your bedroom. Also called armoires, these free-standing closets usually feature a hanging bar as well as shelving or drawers for clothing storage. Wardrobes can function not only for clothing storage, but for decorative purposes as well. However, choosing the right wardrobe finish for your bedroom can be tricky if you’re not sure of what to look for.

Birch

The natural birch colour wood gives a blond, natural look. Some people choose to stain their birch furniture other colours, while others leave it as it is for an outdoorsy and rustic look. The birch wardrobe looks best when complementing a woodsy decor. Use it in your seaside location or in a room with exposed natural beams.

Beech

Beech is a medium coloured wood which is beige to brown in colour. Choose a beech wardrobe to accent a neutral decor. Use with forest green or brown furniture. Add a flowing green plant to the top of your wardrobe for a natural-themed accent.

Cherry

Cherry wardrobes are a darker and richer in colour. This deep brown wood almost appears reddish at first glance. The cherry wardrobe goes perfectly with a similarly coloured sleigh bed. Cherry wood gives off an antique look, so adding in a few accent items such as banker’s lamps or stained glass mirrors make an excellent effect. The cherry wood darkens the room, so be sure to let in plenty of light from windows and doors.

Walnut

Walnut wardrobes complement just about any decor, but are used most often in contemporary design. Pair your walnut coloured wardrobes with platform beds for an edgy feel. Use your walnut wardrobe along with recessed lighting. Add in silver accents such as lamps, vases and picture frames to complete the look.

White

If you add white coloured wardrobes to a room it gives it a romantic and classy feel. Perfect for the shabby chic look or a little girls bedroom, white wardrobes are versatile as well as stylish. The white wardrobe is a canvas for the imagination, and can be painted or designed with stencils for a custom look.