Rocking Chairs Central

Posted By Frank N. Brown on July 29, 2010

1	Stork Craft Hoop Glider and Ottoman Cushion in Cherry Wood and Beige Corduroy
	This is a wonderful glider. I assembled it in about 10 minutes and the ottoman was pre-assembled. My wife uses this with our six month old and it offers plenty of support and rocks/glides quietly. Another plus is that it is light enough for an adult to move around but not so light that our 5 and 2 year olds can push it around. All wood finishings arrived in perfect condition. The one negative about this chair is that it has a lot of moving parts that are in easy reach of little hands. Caution must be used around small children.
2	Stork Craft Tuscany Glider and Ottoman, Espresso/Beige
	I really prefer the gliders with a rounded back (vs. a square back), but Amazon had this on a spectacular sale and I couldn’t pass it up, especially since most of the reviews were positive. I’d prefer to sit in the chair before a purchase, but I took the risk, and I’m glad I did! The chair was VERY easy to put together – I was almost 6 months pregnant at the time and I carried the pieces upstairs and put it all together myself (I was too impatient to wait for DH to get home and help!). The ottoman comes already assembled (fabric and all), and so does the (rocking) bottom of the chair. You have to put on the back, arms, and then put all the glider fabric into place. It can be kind of difficult to wrap the armrest fabric around the arms (especially if you’re pregnant!) but a little tugging and stretching was pretty much all I needed. In hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have carried the ottoman and rocker bottom upstairs, just for pregnancy safety reasons (I have no idea how much they weigh), but in the end I had no problems other than getting a little winded. But of course, going up the stairs empty-handed leaves me winded at times!! I’m thrilled with the colors. We have a (Babies R Us) europa baby Palisades convertible crib in cherry, and the finish on the glider/ottoman matches perfectly with the rest of the furniture!! It is super comfortable, too! It glides easily and smoothly, no squeaks or creaks. The back is nice and high (to lean your head on), and there seems to be plenty of bottom support. Baby isn’t here yet so I’m just going to take a guess, based on just sitting in the chair to read and relax, that it will be just as comfortable for nursing. It is microfiber so it’s supposed to be good for spills, but because it’s microfiber you can’t wash the fabric parts (which does sort of seem a little counter-intuitive). There was a little dirt stain from shipping on the ottoman, but a little carpet cleaner got it out without a problem, leaving no marks or discolorations. Some reviews say the chair is too small, but I think that all depends on your individual size. I’m 5′5″ and pre-pregnancy weight was 135 (I wore a size 4-6). I’m now 7 months along and luckily my weight gain has pretty much been all in front. I have no problems sitting in the chair, and there’s plenty of room on either side of my (slowly expanding) hips. DH is 5′10″ and 175 and also fits easily in the chair. I’m very pleased with this purchase, and I love just sitting and relaxing in this chair! Great for reading!
3	Gift Mark Adult Rocking Chair, Cherry
	My mom is a short person, so her feet do not always touch the floor when she sets in a chair. This was the perfect size for her!
4	Graco Avalon Glider with Ottoman, Espresso
	We searched for a long time for a Glider, both on and off of amazon.com. We settled on this glider in part due to the reviews it received, the price for the glider, and the brand name. Amazon was stellar as usual with the shipping and handling of the glider. Putting the glider together was a very simple affair. The instructions are clear, and it took me approximately 20 minutes from unboxing the glider to having it fully assembled. It is a very comfortable glider, and the padding on the seat, backrest and arms rests are plush and soft. The gliding aspect of it is flawless, effortless to use, and works like a dream. The arm rests are a great height to rest your arms while holding a baby. The ottoman portion is good, albeit a little clunky to move around with a baby in your arms! The ottoman is not really needed all that much, probably only when you are in the glider for an extended period of time as the chair portion alone is plenty comfortable. I took one star off of the review because of this. Probably a little harsh, and would be better if i could have taken a half of a star away. In conclusion, a great buy from amazon.com for the price, and brand name. It is a solid unit that does what it says.
5	Carolina Cottage Hudson Rocker, Cherry
	Very nice rocker, very sturdy, exactly what was described! Was well-packaged and did not get harmed during the shipping process. Very nice!
6	Jack Post KN-22W Knollwood Classic Wood Rocking Chair, Gloss White
	VERY cheaply made and one of them was broken upon arriving. Not worth the money.
7	Teacher Rocking Chair
	The chair arrived packed poorly and with no assembly instructions except a single piece of paper with a few faded and incomprehensible diagrams on it. When I tried to put it together, the bolts did not fit the nuts that were provided and I finally had to give up. Very cheap looking material and certainly not worth the price.
8	Angel Line Country Adult Rocker
	I was reluctant to buy this rocking chair since it had no reviews. It was the best price for the look we wanted and took a chance. We were most pleasantly surprised. It is sturdy, well build and made out of a strong hardwood–my guess is oak. It was easy to assemble and I felt it necessary to share this with any rocker shoppers! Comfy large rocker with a nice finish and no creaks or squeaks! GREAT DEAL!
9	Gift Mark Adult Rocking Chair, Natural
	My mom is a short person, so her feet do not always touch the floor when she sets in a chair. This was the perfect size for her!
10	Gift Mark Upholstered Rocking Chair and Ottoman, Pink
	This chair is adorable and the perfect size for my 1 year old daughter. Of course her feet can’t quite reach the ottoman yet, but that will come with time. The ottoman is like an extra little seat for now! She loves her chair and climbs up on it by herself and rocks back and forth and dances and laughs. It’s the cutest thing! We decorated it with a little princess pillow and her pink blankie and put it next to the couch so she feels like a “big girl”. The description does not specify the type of fabric it is, and I’m not quite sure, but it feels like a soft rayon-like material and it’s a very pretty shade of bubble gum pink. It’s well made and seems durable. It’s small enough for her now but has plenty of room for her to grow into and she will be able to use it for a long time. Great purchase and we love it. The best part is that it was on sale for like $40 from $150 and free shipping! What a deal! Thanks Amazon!

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Tags: baby rocking chair, white rocking chair

Posted By Frank N. Brown on February 1, 2010

One of the interesting things about rocking chairs is that they have such a long tradition that no single brand has isolated or dominated the market for their production. Many, many rocking chair brands produce high quality, well made, and attractive rocking chairs that work in both traditional decors and modern design schemes as well.

Early rocking chairs were developed, supposedly, by Ben Franklin. They were then produced by cabinetmakers and other woodworkers. Because of this, and because many more people were skilled in the art of woodworking at that time, many people who made their own furniture also made their own rocking chairs. The art was widespread and very popular, as the rocking motion was soothing to young babies, but also to hardworking adults relaxing after a long day.

Today, it is not the rocking chair brand that matters so much as the design and construction of the chair itself. However, there are a few brands that have either focused their attention specifically on rocking chairs and other wooden crafts, or who have produced some unique rocking chairs that are somewhat individualistic compared to other chairs for sale.

• Stacks on Stacks offers one of the largest selections of traditionally-inspired wooden rocking chairs. From classic, brown, wooden, high-backed rocking chairs to more contemporary designs (such as a bright green, Adirondack backed rocking chair), these are almost all solid wood and represent a modern diversity of traditionally-grounded rocking chair styles.
• Shermag is quite different, as most of their rocking chairs are famous for being upholstered. Also called “gliders” because they don’t always rock, but often glide fore and aft, remaining level (rather than tipping), Shermag’s rocking chairs are stuffed thoroughly and are regularly marketed toward expecting parents to keep in the nursery, so the parent can stay comfortable while nursing or calming a newborn.
• Guidecraft has distinguished themselves by creating children’s rocking chairs. Rocking chairs for kids are, of course, much smaller than those for adults. Guidecraft’s chairs come in bright colors and patters, all painted carefully and thoroughly to create a very sturdy, yet very fun rocking chair for children to use.

Category: Articles | 2 Comments »
Tags: adult rocking chair, child rocking chair, child rocking chairs, childrens rocking chairs, glider rocking chair

Posted By Frank N. Brown on December 7, 2009

Wooden rocking chairs have a rich history in America. Not only do they date back to the time of Benjamin Franklin, (who is believed to have invented them in the first place), but they are still very popular today. People appreciate the craftsmanship and style of antique rocking chairs, but are equally drawn toward new designs with more contemporary sensibilities taken into account. From old to new, small to large, and homemade to designer-made, wooden rocking chairs are a large part of American tradition, and probably will be for a very long time.

The first wooden rocking chair is attributed to Benjamin Franklin (who also gets credit for public libraries, bifocal lenses, and much much more). Wanting a chair that could tip back more smoothly than a four-legged chair, he attached rockers to a straight-backed chair. Early wooden rocking chairs are actually regular chairs with rockers attached.

As time went on and the chairs became more popular, the cabinetmakers who made them started creating rocking chairs designed to be such from the beginning. Often now, the legs are slightly angled apart, to better balance the weight of the sitter against the wooden rockers.

For a long time, the basic design of wooden rocking chairs stayed the same. Chairs and chair plans were passed down from generation to generation, sometimes along with a house or property, and sometimes as a nostalgic belonging that traveled with families as successive generation moved across the country.

Today, many wooden rocking chairs are still in use. Some of them are antiques, and a surprising number are brand new. Yes, wooden rocking chairs are still being made. While some people opt for densely upholstered rocking chairs, or graphite or other materials, very high quality wooden rocking chairs are made by hand-crafted woodworkers and national furniture chains alike.

Of course, some of the designs have been updated a bit. Ben Franklin would probably not have expected to see bright green, Adirondack style rocking chairs, or kid-sized bright pink princess rocking chairs. But these both exist, along side some beautifully made, traditionally-styled wooden rocking chairs that will doubtless last many generations as well.

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Tags: kids rocking chair, wooden rocking chairs

Posted By Frank N. Brown on November 26, 2009

Today, just as for years and years, most rocking chairs are made of wood. But if for some reason, that’s not your style or you have some desire for a chair made of other materials, you are in luck. Plenty of modern non-wood rocking chairs are made, many by large companies with stores nationwide (and abroad). While wooden rocking chairs are by far more easier to find, and offer a greater amount of selection simply because they are the traditional style and have been made for years, there are still some very good non-wood rocking chair options to choose from.

By far the most popular type of non-wood rocking chair is the upholstered rocking chair. Upholstered rocking chairs often look much like regular upholstered chairs, and many even recline. They simply have rocking mechanisms inside, so they look like regular chairs but happen to rock as well.

Now, in many cases, there is still wood involved with upholstered rocking chairs, especially in the chair’s frame (even if the rocking components are not wooden rockers, but metal springs or gliders). The point is that wood is not the major visual element in upholstered gliders, nor is it the surface that you sit on. This is ideal both if you don’t like the look of wooden rocking chairs, or if you just want something a bit more comfortable.

If you want the simplicity of a wooden rocking chair, not the bulk of an upholstered rocking chair, yet wood doesn’t match your more modern décor, then there are a few options for you. Probably your best bet is still opting with a wooden chair, but one that has a more metallic-toned finish. For example, FY Bentwood makes a very contemporary rocking chair of solid wood, but the wood has a platinum-stain finish and the back and seat of the chair are covered in a minimalistic, very modern cloth.

Another option, especially if your rocking chair will be more decorative than functional, is a wrought iron chair. This is most likely to be used as a lawn decoration, as the weight and roughness of the material don’t lend it to indoor use, but do know that if you want a rocking chair and don’t want wood, there are several options available to you.

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Tags: bentwood rocking chair, indoor rocking chairs, modern rocking chair

Posted By Frank N. Brown on September 23, 2009

Do you love the look of a rocking chair, but you’re not sure if the style is right for your home décor? You’re not alone. Today, there are many different rocking chair styles avaialble. Here, we’ll look at both traditional and contemporary rocking chairs to note some of the differences, and some of the ways each can be best be incorporated into the interior design of a home.

Traditional Rocking Chairs

The traditional rocking chair is, in all likely hood, the first thing you picture when you summon up a rocking chair in your mind. These chairs have been made of wood for over 200 years, and their origin is believed to have come from the inventive mind of Benjamin Franklin himself. He wanted a chair in which he could lean and shift his weight without risk of tipping over, so he simply affixed a regular, wooden, straight-backed chair with wooden rockers.

Two hundred years alter, we’re still making wooden rocking chairs in much the same manner. The benefit of a traditional chair is that, depending on the style you get, it will go well with almost any décor, very much like retro dining chairs. Many different types of wood are made into these chairs, and it is now popular to paint or stain a finish onto the chair, so you can fine-tune its hue to your home. Traditional rocking chairs work well in a nursery, but are often found in sitting rooms as well.

Contemporary Rocking Chairs

The contemporary rocking chair takes the appeal of the soothing rocking motion, but updates the chair itself. Many of the most popular contemporary rocking chairs add padding or full upholstery. Often, a more metallic, modern finish is applied to the chair, and the design takes a more minimal style, with modern angles or curves rather than traditional, sometimes more ornate designs.

Also, contemporary rocking chairs often do not have actual rockers. They may instead be built as gliders, which do not tip over as easily and remain level rather than tilting as they move. Contemporary rocking chairs are also found in both nurseries and sitting rooms, but their style makes them suited to living rooms, year-round covered porches, and more.

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Tags: nursery rocking chair, rocking chair pads

Posted By Frank N. Brown on August 14, 2009

The rocking chair is one of the most well-known, iconic, and best loved pieces of furniture there is. Popular legend attributes the invention of the rocking chair to Benjamin Franklin. While there is no proof that he is the originator of this now classic American chair, it would be little surprise if the rumor were true; many of the things Franklin developed hundreds of years ago are still in use today. Just a few examples include bifocal lenses, the lightening rod, and even libraries.

Rocking chairs were first produced more numerously in the early 19th century, when they were made by cabinetmakers. Because cabinetmakers worked regularly with wood, it make sense for them to adapt regular chairs by adding two rockers, one to either side, thus converting the standard upright wooden chairs to rocking chairs.

The simplicity of the rocking chair (that it works by the sitter shifting his or her center of gravity) probably has much to do with why it was so successful to begin with, and also why it has remained popular.

Many traditional rocking chairs are still made today, and the simplistic wooden frame is the core of the most popular rocking chairs. However, their designs, wood types, and size have changed in some ways since those early chairs (many of which still exist as antique rocking chairs).

Modern rocking chairs are likely to have some sort of padding or upholstery. In some chairs, this is added after construction, as a detachable cushion on an otherwise freestanding wooden rocking chair. Yet other designs incorporate the padding more fully, with a fully upholstered plush chair that happens to have a rocking design.

Some modern rocking chairs are not even built on rockers, but rather on a strongly weighted swivel base that allows the sitter to change the direction. Still others are built on a sliding motion, where the chair slides fore and aft, remaining level (rather than tilting, as in the original rocking chair design). Often, these sliding rocking chairs are accompanied by a rocking footstool (also upholstered), allowing the person to reap the comfort of a recliner with the soothing motion of a rocking chair.

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Tags: rocking chair, rocking chair cushions, rocking chairs