Helpful Hints for Buying Mahogany Furniture

Add the Rich Look to Your Home

From LifeWire
Mahogany is a durable and expensive hardwood used to make fine furniture. This rare wood, known for its beautiful grain and deep, reddish-brown color, endows furniture with a timeless, traditional quality. Chairs, tables and other home furnishings crafted with mahogany will last a lifetime and should be considered an investment. The following hints will make buying mahogany furniture easier.

• What is Mahogany?Most mahogany furniture today is made from two varieties, African and South American. South American mahogany is used for fine furniture. Caribbean or West Indian mahogany, another variety, is rarer, because it has been overharvested. Mahogany is an excellent wood for carving and finishes beautifully. Cabinetmakers such as Chippendale and Sheraton have replaced walnut with mahogany for many of their furniture pieces.
• Why Buy Mahogany Furniture? Mahogany furniture is most often made in the traditional style, but these pieces can complement almost any decorating style. Its timeless beauty appeals to most consumers and furniture pieces lend an air of elegance and sophistication. Consider adding a few mahogany accent pieces, such as a sofa table or nightstands in mahogany if you have a limited budget or the rooms of your home are decorated with a different style. Mahogany furniture also is very durable. Dining room tables and armoires made of mahogany are excellent investments. These large pieces draw immediate attention. Ornate carvings in mahogany furniture add instant interest and drama.
• What to Look ForThere is controversy surrounding the harvesting of mahogany for purposes of crafting furniture. Overharvesting and illegal logging in parts of the Peruvian Amazon and elsewhere plague the industry. Some furniture manufacturers, such as IKEA, have chosen not to sell furniture made from mahogany for this very reason. Some furniture is made with mahogany veneers rather than solid mahogany. When in doubt, ask the salesperson. If you are buying antique furniture, look for a decal that denotes “genuine mahogany” issued by the Mahogany Association. The association, which operated in the early to mid 20th century, was created to help buyers distinguish between solid mahogany pieces and other woods stained to look like mahogany. Mahogany furniture marketed as Philippine mahogany is not true mahogany. It is actually luaun. The material comes from a family of plants, not mahogany trees.
• Getting a Good Price Mahogany furniture is very expensive. Consider purchasing it second-hand from an estate sale. Large estates will often auction off the furniture and will advertise the auction in the classified advertisement section of the newspaper or online. If you cannot find furniture at the auction, pay attention to whether there are businesses buying whole estates, and you may be able to strike a side deal with them on the mahogany furniture you like. Search for smaller furniture stores that specialize in fine furniture rather than large chains. Don’t be afraid to negotiate on price. Privately owned furniture stores are one place where you don’t always have to pay sticker price. Buying a floor sample will cost less than having the item made and delivered to your home.

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Taken from http://interiordec.about.com/