Considerations When Purchasing Your Entertainment Center

For most people, the television plays an important part of their living room, which is why selecting the right entertainment center is so important. Not only does the entertainment center need to be functional, it also must be aesthetically pleasing.

When selecting an entertainment center, the first thing to consider is how large the unit needs to be. A good rule of thumb is to select a base that is at least 1 foot longer than the diagonal width of your television.

You can also ask your salesperson to provide you with the product specifications for the piece you are interested in. The specification sheets often list the size television that the piece will accommodate.

Pisa Entertainment Center

The next important consideration is whether to select a free-standing base or select a piece that has multiple components. The Capri Entertainment Center includes not only a functional base but also a shelving unit which houses the television quite stylishly. There’s even additional room for books and décor.

For the television purist, free-standing bases allow the television to be the focus of the room while still providing ample storage for additional media components.  The Eva entertainment center is generously sized to accommodate a 60” television while providing concealed storage.

Eva TV Base

Coordinating media towers can also be added to your entertainment base for maximum flexibility and storage capacity. The Memphis collection from ALF offers incredible flexibility with options including a free-standing base, a base with library towers, or a complete entertainment system.

Memphis Entertainment Unit Base    

Memphis Entertainment Unit Base       

Library components allow you the flexibility of additional concealed storage in the tower bases as well as open shelving to display books and décor. The larger dimensions of this type of configuration work best in a generously-sized room.

Memphis Entertainment Center and Library

Memphis Entertainment Center and Library

A complete entertainment unit includes a coordinating wooden back which is pre-drilled to hold the cords. This type of configuration provides maximum storage and a seamless look.

Memphis Entertainment Complete

Memphis Entertainment Center Complete

Once you’ve decided what type of configuration best suits your needs, you need to decide what style of entertainment center to select. Finishes range from high-gloss enamel to sleek, inlayed wood and everything in between. With so many configuration options and styles available, you’re certain to find a system that meets your needs.

 

 

A Relaxing Guide to Choosing a Recliner

It’s one of the ironies of life that shopping for a comfortable recliner is so stressful. Theoretically, it should be a calm, Zen-like experience wherein you spend time nestling into chairs that hug you, transporting you to an oasis of relaxation. The harsh reality, however, is more like struggling to escape overstuffed monstrosities that threaten to swallow you whole!

 

Here at Rosner, we believe you should begin your recliner shopping experience with the tools for success. We’ve put together a guide to help you determine what features will suit your desires so there’s no need to waste precious relaxation time trying out chairs that don’t suit you. So read, relax, and enjoy!

 

Size

When selecting a recliner, size definitely matters. A chair that comfortably seats a 6’2” gentleman is not ideal for a petite, 5’2” lady. Fortunately, most of our chairs come in two sizes, so each person’s needs can be easily accommodated. If only one chair is being purchased, it should meet the needs of the primary user. Take into account such features as adjustable head and neck support and footrest position – an over-or-under reach at either end may indicate the need for a different size chair.

 

Comfort & Longevity

Sturdy construction of the chair is of primary consideration. Look for a strong, stable base, as in our Relaxer series, which provides a firm MDF foundation, or the stylishly contemporary Space collection, with its secure, five-point metal base. Solid hardwood and metal in the chair frame will provide years of durability.

 

Next, look for body correct support. Ergonomically correct positioning is essential for the chair’s padding, and we believe that is best achieved with cold-cure molded foam. This space age material is featured in the IMG of Norway series of chairs available through Rosner Home. The steel frame and springs are encased in cold-cure molded foam, thus ensuring correct back and lumbar support, as well as comfort throughout all areas of the chair.

Style Preference

Long gone are the days when style was sacrificed for comfort. Today’s recliners run the gamut from traditional to contemporary styling, and colours that range from chili to chocolate, pebble to tuxedo. Many are available with wood or chrome accents, to harmonize with existing furnishings or complement a suite of new purchases.

Monza

Monza

Features

This may be the most difficult set of choices. Consider:

Motion – rocking, gliding, 360° swivel – some models perform all these functions in addition to reclining

Foot stool – integrated or free-standing

Head & neck support – fixed or adjustable, heavily or lightly padded

Motor – assisted lift functions raise and lower the seat and back, and allow selective lift, recline, and return to start positioning. Some have an optional battery back-up system. Handheld controls with oversize buttons make operation effortless.

 

Considering these factors before venturing into a showroom will save you hours of aggravation, and will help the sales associates provide better service by understanding your needs. After that it’s simply a matter of waiting (patiently) for delivery of your new recliner chair!

Buying Quality Furniture

The benefits of purchasing furniture from a quality manufacturer like the ALF Group are significant. You can be assured the pieces you select will last for many years while maintaining their beauty. Making the investment to purchase furniture crafted using time-honored methods paired with modern technology gives consumers piece of mind. They know that their purchase will be one that provides comfort, incredible style, and lasting quality from a company that has been creating modern Italian furniture since the 1950s.

Since their beginnings, the ALF Group has been committed to producing furniture using innovative technology. This commitment ensures the consumer will not only enjoy a beautiful piece of furniture, but will also have pieces created using the most innovative processes. These innovations give the consumer confidence that the production methods used to create their furnishings are technically sound.

Accademia Vanity

Accademia Vanity

The Academia collection vanity is just one example of the combination of style and technology that consumers can expect from ALF furniture. Concealed hinges, thoughtfully appointed interior linings, and lighting systems set this vanity apart from other products.

The collections offered by ALFa include modular systems that rely on these innovations to give the consumer maximum flexibility in both configuration and performance. Lasting mechanisms and quality production methods ensure all pieces will function smoothly and seamlessly together. The office groups and entertainment groups offered by ALFa shows their commitment to providing consumers with stylish and functional systems.

Canova 1 Door Curio

Browse Canova Entertainment Units

In addition to using innovative technology in its production processes, the ALF Group is meticulous about selecting the finest raw materials to create their furniture. By sourcing the best woods and lacquers from Italy and throughout Europe, the ALF Group maintains its high level of quality-control while creating pieces that have lasting beauty. The walnut finish of the exquisite Garda dining group truly shows the type of beauty and quality consumers can expect from the ALF Group.

Garda Dining Room Shot

Garda Dining Room

The ALF Group also keeps up with the current trends in design to ensure their furniture is current, stylish, and modern. While the company is always looking forward, they still honour the craftsmanship of the past and create fine Italian furniture that will stand the test of time. By making an ongoing effort to stay abreast of trends and understand the contemporary lifestyle of today’s consumer, the ALF Group continues to bring the latest in innovative and stylish furniture to the market.

 

Entertainment Center vs. TV Base

The time has come, you realize your current entertainment center is dated and old. You want something to expresses your personality and works with your lifestyle. Something clean and modern, something with flair, and dare we say it – STYLE.  YES, you cry, yes, that’s what I want! But, how do I get it? Where do I start? Fear not, we are here to offer guidance in choosing the perfect media unit for you. We will take you step-by-step through the process of selecting a functional entertainment piece that not only meets your needs, but also expresses your personal style.

Let’s start with the basic differences between a TV stand and an entertainment center.

A TV stand is usually a single piece of furniture, built for a one purpose – to support a television set. It may include shelves to accommodate components such as cable boxes, DVD players, etc. Many TV stands also include drawers for storage. For the most part, however, TV stands are utilitarian, and not meant to be a focal point in terms of a room’s design. These compact pieces fit well in smaller rooms.

Versilia TV Base

Versilia TV Base

An entertainment center (also called a wall unit) is usually a large piece of furniture (or several pieces of furniture that integrate into a single unit) designed to create a focal point in the room.  Entertainment centers are frequently equipped with shelves, cabinets, and drawers for storage. They are intended to showcase the television and its companion components, including cable boxes, DVD players, home theater systems, speakers, etc. Typically the entertainment center is also used to display other decorative pieces, such as framed photos and family mementos. Many entertainment centers feature crown molding, glass-front doors, and integrated lighting that simulate the look of a built-in piece. These larger systems are meant for wide or open areas, or can be fitted into an existing media niche, which are commonly found in contemporary homes.

Tivoli Entertainment Center with Curio

Tivoli Entertainment Center

Ready to start shopping? Not so fast. Have you measured yet?

Measuring is a critical step in selecting the appropriate unit. And there are several areas that need to be measured. Grab a tape measure, pencil, and paper and get busy.

The first thing to consider is placement. Specifically look at the area where you want to locate the piece. Take into account any windows, doors, air registers, radiators, and electrical outlets. Sketch a rough diagram of the area, noting the locations of these obstacles. Consider the location of the cable outlet if necessary, and make sure the cable is long enough to reach the proposed location. If you can avoid it, don’t place the TV in front of a window. Not only will it block the natural light coming into the room, but the backlight will make it difficult to see the screen.

Once you have determined the best location, measure from the wall to your seating. Optimum viewing distances depend upon the size of your TV, and these ratios have a direct impact upon your viewing experience – too close and the images will be in-your-face uncomfortable; too far and you will be squinting to see the screen. Follow these guidelines for optimum viewing distances:

If your TV measurement is:                                                 your viewing distance should be:

29” or less                                                                                     3 – 4 feet

39”                                                                                                    4 – 5 feet

46”                                                                                                    5 – 6 feet

50” or larger                                                                                7 – 8 feet

 

A note about seating: For comfortable television viewing, the bottom half of the screen should be level with your line of sight when seated. The bottom edge of the screen should be no lower than 12” below that measurement.

Measuring the TV

In order to select the best unit to fit your needs, you will need several measurements of the TV. You will need the screen size (the measurement featured on the box). This number denotes the diagonal corner-to-corner measurement, which will be helpful when shopping, as most units will note the size of TV that can be accommodated.

 

Next, you will need the physical height and width. If you plan to mount the TV to the wall (or to a panel of the entertainment center) you will need to measure the actual dimensions of the device. You can’t rely on the screen size, because manufacturers utilize different frame sizes, so not all 50” TVs are the same physical size. The frame that encloses the screen is called the bezel, and you will need to measure both the height and width of the bezel and write it down. If you plan to utilize the TV base instead of mounting the device, you will need to measure from the bottom of the base to the top of the TV bezel.

 

If you have a flat screen TV, the depth is negligible, as these devices fit almost any TV unit. However, if you have a traditional CRT TV, you will also need to measure the depth to make sure the furniture you select will accommodate the TV with no overhang. Having a significant portion of the TV over hanging the front of the unit poses a serious safety hazard, and should be avoided.

Style

 

For some home decorators, this is the fun part. For others, choosing a suitable style is pure agony. Here at Rosner Home, we specialize in sophisticated, modern, contemporary furniture.  What that means for you is a wide array of colours and finishes, all featuring fine Italian craftsmanship. No matter what you choose, it will be sturdy and beautiful, with clean lines and innate style. Our selection includes twenty complete collections, so you have the flexibility of choosing just one piece, or an entire suite of coordinating furnishings. Additionally, many of the TV units can be customized with a variety of components, so you get exactly what you need. And if your needs change in the future, you have the option to build out your unit to satisfy your requirements. Our associates will be happy to help you select the appropriate styles and finishes for your specific needs.

Selecting the appropriate media center for your home is not difficult; it’s simply a matter of understanding your needs, and taking the correct measurements. By investing the time to measure, you will guarantee that the unit you select will not overwhelm your space. In addition, if you follow the viewing guidelines, the result will be a very enjoyable viewing experience. Couple this small amount of pre-planning with the beautiful Italian finishes in our collections, and you will derive maximum pleasure from your furniture for many years to come.

Manufacturer Profile: ALF Group

The ALF Group has been creating contemporary Italian furniture for over 50 years and offers consumers an unparalleled combination of value, quality, and style. Rosner Home is pleased to offer the ALF Group furnishings to discerning customers who value excellence, craftsmanship, and beauty.
Contemporary furniture blends seamlessly with numerous décor styles due to its clean lines and quality materials. The woods used in the collections are carefully selected to provide both beauty and timeless appeal to each piece, like in the Pisa bedroom collection.

Pisa Bed

Pisa Bed

Fine walnut Canaletto-Zebrano wood in a high gloss finish makes the Pisa bed a stunning addition to any bedroom. The collection includes a bed, dresser, mirror, chest, and nightstand to outfit your entire bedroom in contemporary Italian style.

Pisa Dresser

Pisa Dresser

ALF also manufacturers entertainment unit components that blend seamlessly with many styles and offer the quality and functionality that consumers expect and deserve. Like the other collections offered by the ALF Group, entertainment units are available in numerous finishes and styles to suit all tastes.

The Eva entertainment unit comes in a mink birch high gloss finish with chrome accents, giving the piece a contemporary sensibility that balances well with the organic finish of the wood.

Eva Entertainment Base

For those desiring a more modern look that blends well with different colours, the Mont Blanc television base comes in a high gloss koto finish in white.

Mont Blanc Entertainment Unit

Mont Blanc TV Base

All entertainment collections have numerous pieces within each collection to allow complete flexibility to meet consumer storage needs. Media towers, shelves, and coordinating pieces allow the consumer complete freedom to build a collection that suits both their needs and tastes.

The contemporary collections of the ALF Group are available in a wide range of styles and finishes to suit many styles. In addition to the pieces seen here, ALF also offers dining sets and office furniture in the same contemporary Italian style. The clean lines and quality finishes means the pieces in all of the collections have a timeless appeal.

How to Choose the Right Furniture for Your Living Room

The living room is the most important space in any house. It represents a house and the people living in it. Living room is the place where all the family members spend most of their time together, and where you host your guests. A well-decorated and thoughtfully furnished living room enhances your cherished times. Therefore, it is important to design your living space in a way that suits all your family needs. Choosing the right furniture for your living room can make it more inviting and comfortable. The following tips can help you choose your living room furniture smartly:

Know Your Living Room

Before going out to purchase furniture for your living room, you need to know what exactly you are looking for. You have to have a theme in mind. Modern contemporary furniture works well for sleek and minimalistic living room. If your focus is luxury and opulence, more traditionally designed furniture can accomplish the purpose. You need to keep the purpose and utility in mind as well. If your kids like to spend most of their time in the living room, the furniture needs to be sturdy and easy to clean.

Tivoli-Entertainment

Tivoli Entertainment Unit

Do Not Compromise On Quality

You are not going to buy new furniture every day. It is a good idea to look for investment pieces. A few well-constructed pieces that can stand the test of time are much better than less expensive glossy furniture. Furniture made from high-quality materials, like leather and wood, with masterful craftsmanship, never goes out of style. Italian furniture can be a good choice as it offers unparalleled style and staying power.

Do Not Forget To Entertain

Every living room needs a focal point. A good modern entertainment unit can be a perfect centerpiece for your living room. An entertainment unit that has the capacity to house all your favorite entertainment devices, like TV, DVR, DVD player, laptop as well as speakers, is the perfect family-friendly fixture that every living room needs. It is always a good idea to look for luxury with utility.

Mont Blanc Entertainment

Mont Blanc Entertainment Center

Go For Chairs

Every living room needs some basics, which include sofa sets, ottomans, side tables and coffee tables. A design idea that is becoming increasingly popular is swapping sofas with armchairs. Especially if you have limited space in your living room, well-constructed, stylish and comfortable chairs can prove a good seating option. Super-deluxe chairs with armrests and leg-rests can add some personality to your living room.

Monza Lift

Monza Lift

We hope you will keep these tips in mind when choosing the furniture for your living room.

How To Make Your Dining Room Stand Out

No other room better encapsulates the soul of a home than the dining room. It is a place of family bonding and feasting. It is a place full of life where the entire family gets together to dine and celebrate. It is an ideal room to entertain guests and hold lively parties. The way you design and decorate your dining room says a lot about your aesthetic sense as well as your hosting prowess. Whether you are designing a dining room in your new house or revamping your old one, keeping the following things in mind can help your dining room stand out:

Focus on Lights and Paints

Lighting and vibrant paint colors can help you bring to life the theme you have in mind for your dining room. If you are going for a rustic design, warm lights with shades of orange and red on the walls can create a welcoming living room. Modern and minimalistic look can be obtained through bright lights and neutral wall-paint. If you are hoping to achieve a luxurious feel, opulent light fixtures, like chandeliers, can help immensely.

Get Quality Furniture

Depending on your desired theme, the needs of your family and the space available in your dining room, you need to choose your focal point, which is the dining table, wisely. Modern dining tables come in various shapes and sizes. Small round tables can give you plenty of room to work with, while elongated rectangular tables can have a dramatic impact. The size and number of modern chairs should also complement your overall theme.

Memphis Dining Table

Memphis Dining Table

Extra Storage

A dining room does not only need dining table and chairs. Supplementary furniture, like curios, buffets and open cabinets add extra personality and provide the much needed storage space. You can use these useful pieces of furniture to display your plates and dishes as well as to serve food. In order to ensure cohesiveness, it is better to purchase complete dining room sets with the necessary supplementary furniture.

Tivoli Buffet

Tivoli Buffet

Placement

In order to make the most of your dining room, you should pay attention to where you place the furniture. The dining table is the focal point, but it does not have to be in the centre of the room to attract attention. The dining room should have an easy and natural flow to it. The furniture should be arranged in a manner that makes it easy for everyone to move around.

Pleasing Decorations

Candles, flowers and other decoration pieces, placed on the dining table as well as on the buffets and credenzas can elevate the mood of the room. Inspirational artwork or a well placed mirror can do wonders to make your dining room look more sophisticated. Floor length curtains in a colour that goes well with your theme, can also enhance the overall feel.

 

Heritage Dining Mirror

Heritage Dining Room Mirror

You can make your dining room stand out by following the above-mentioned tips.

Why Go Italian with Your Bedroom Décor

A bedroom is the most intimate and personal room of any house. A well-designed and smartly decorated bedroom serves as a dreamy retreat and a recluse. A modern bedroom lets you dwell in luxury and forget about all the worldly worries. It is important to decorate your bedroom in a way that offers plenty of comfort without compromising sleekness and style. Italian décor is known for just that.

Embellished yet elegant, Italian furniture can bring life and liveliness to your bedroom. Italian décor is simple, comfortable, luxurious and elegantly grand, a perfect marriage of sophistication and opulence. With a personality-rich bed as a centerpiece, and fashionably placed chest, dresser, mirror and a nightstand, a bedroom decorated with Italian sensibility is luxurious without getting stuffy. Italian is the way to go when it comes to bedroom décor.

Function and Style

The Italian concept of a beautiful piece of furniture is one that is marvelously designed and offers utmost utility. You can infuse your bedroom with this perfect marriage of functionality and style by getting lavishly embellished Italian beds with hidden storage as well as the sleek chests and dressers with spacious drawers. Creative lighting of the bedroom and ingenious interior design can add to the functionality and charm of the furniture pieces.

Minerva Bed Storage

Minerva Bed with Storage

Highest Quality Furnishings

Whether you want to give your bedroom a rustic and traditional look or a minimalistic modern look, Italian furniture offers many choices. With good quality Italian furniture, you are guaranteed well-crafted furnishings, as it is the result of the hard work of detail oriented connoisseur artisans. Be it Leather or Walnut Canaletto wood, every material is treated to give an unmatched quality to furniture.

Tradition and Modernity

The modern contemporary furniture with a perfect infusion of traditional design nuances, promise to take your bedroom décor to another level. Regardless of your sensibility and taste, you are sure to find something that inspires you in Italian décor. You can choose from glossy wooden finishes and solid and modernistic features. Beds with lavishly padded and upholstered headboards combined with streamlined support furniture offers inspiring juxtaposition.

Mont Blanc Bed

Mont Blanc with Upholstered Headboard

Layered Décor

Italian décor encompasses all the different elements of design. It suits people with different style needs and outlooks. Great textures and masterful detailing is the hallmark of Italian design. Yet the modern contemporary furniture adds minimalistic flair to it. Whether traditional or modern, Italian furniture is never short on personality. Decorating your bedroom with it can inspire you to create a truly comfortable and personal space for your precious snooze.

It is obvious that if you are decorating your bedroom, Italian décor is the only way to ensure you are doing it right!