The word I have been reading over and over again in design and furniture catalogs and magazines is hand.

The finish is hand rubbed, the basket is hand woven and the edging on the sheet, hand crocheted. While this vibrant trend may seem to apply only to those who want the comfort and authenticity of the past, it is very much present in products that appeal to the most avant-garde.  Crafting in metal, stone, glass, and clay is being sought after for contemporary interiors. Wood has always been the number one material we rely on and covet and it is more prevalent than ever.

While we revere the progress that has been made in the production of goods and services, we are beginning to put an ever-higher premium on the craftsmanship of the past–and those who are determined to preserve it.

The operative trend [...]

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Tags: craft furniture, furniture design, history, Hooker Furniture, wood home office furniture

[Editor’s note: Designer Anne Smith makes accents, wreath and floral arrangements from her home studio near Cincinnati through her Everything Floral business. Here, she gives step by step instructions for creating your own wreath]

Ornaments are a hot Christmas design item this year- they’re showing up in all kinds of holiday décor. You’ll find them tucked into gorgeous centerpieces, filling up glass vases, even hanging from mantels with tiny chains. Stores are stacked with ornaments of all sizes and colors. You can pick from hand-blown, old world, modern, shiny or matte, sophisticated or juvenile, vintage, beaded or sparkly – the sky’s the limit when it comes to ornament design.

Here’s a fabulous way to display those wallflower ornaments. Design and create a unique ornament wreath for yourself with just a few materials. And what a super gift this would [...]

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Tags: budget decorating, craft furniture, design ideas, design trends, holiday decorating, interior design

At the beginning of my daughter’s junior year of high school, I decided to begin “telling the story” of all her special occasions in a scrapbook. Now the pages are full of colorful memories from homecoming court, her 17th birthday mountain weekend, Christmas, the arrival of our new puppy, dance recital and prom. Throughout the year, I have found myself looking forward to setting aside an afternoon devoted to creating new pages in her scrapbook.

If you are a scrapbooker or do any kind of handwork like gift wrapping, card-making, floral arranging or needlework, you probably relish the time you spend creating something worthwhile with your hands. And for good reason.  According to the Craft & Hobby Assn., the emotional, psychological and physical benefits of hand crafting include:

• Enhancement of [...]

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Tags: bedroom furniture, craft furniture, dining room collections, hobby station, scrapbooking furniture

[Editor’s note: As we launch our hobby cabinet giveaway contest, we asked Hooker Furniture’s Director of Marketing Resources, Marcia Miles, to write about how the hobby cabinet has enhanced her crafting projects. Marcia is an avid gift wrapper, and personally owns a hobby cabinet.]

As soon as I saw the Hobby Cabinet that Hooker introduced last fall, I knew that this piece of craft furniture would help me get organized, and it has! Not only is it a beautiful piece of furniture, it is a great organizer for all types of craft projects. 

When I wrap a gift, I hand tie all of my bows.  Many of my friends ask me to make bows for them during Christmas for their wreaths or their trees. Before I purchased the hobby cabinet, I had to set up “make shift” places to wrap gifts [...]

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Tags: budget decorating, craft furniture, design ideas, hobby station, storage furniture