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A chair with a comfortable soft backrest has been used by people for centuries. Centuries have changed and changing fashion has brought its touches to the appearance of furniture. The chair has changed most of all in the twentieth century. The modern product has many different modifications, which you will learn about in this article.

Designers of upholstered furniture spend a lot of time to create new forms and improve the functionality of mechanisms. We will tell you about different parameters and basic modifications of chairs.

Seat Modifications

In the last century, the notion of “ergonomics” first appeared. This term is one of the parameters of furniture and indicates its conformity with human anatomy. The backrests and armrests of upholstered furniture have been modified to adapt to our posture. External appeal has been combined with functionality and practicality.

The first chair representatives had a rectangular design. They had a straight and soft backrest as well as wide armrests. Over the years, this design has remained the same. In today’s world, everything has changed.

Style solutions coincide with well-known design solutions. Armchairs are made in such styles as:

• modern style;
• classics;
• high-tech;
• provanza;
• minimalism;
• constructivism;
• eclecticism.

Recliners with a soft backrest

The main distinguishing feature of this piece of furniture is a soft and comfortable backrest. It can be in different shapes: curved, straight, low, high – there are many options. The most popular of them are:

• a comfortable and soft backrest – this chair should make you feel comfortable. Great attention is paid to the upholstery material and filler. The backrest is usually of medium size. The furniture has massive armrests;
• armchair-bathroom – the structure has an original look and is an armrest that fits smoothly into the low backrest. The legs of the chair are deep under the seat. The upholstery material is leather or textiles;
• high backrest – a product with a high backrest has a small seat area. What armrests will be like – depends on the specific model. They can be both hard and soft. Usually, such models are placed in cabinets and libraries;
• low backrest – in most cases these products have rigid armrests, which are made of bent plywood. Such furniture is often placed in interiors in the art nouveau style;
• winged chair – the backrest of such chairs is high, the armrests have a curved shape, the front legs are twisted. It has a decorative accent – the buttons, buried in the upholstery.

It should also be noted designer furniture, which is made by famous designers of Europe. Among them are Robert Caner, Milo Boman, Hans Wegner, and others. These people have made a huge contribution to the development of furniture that decorates modern interiors.

Making conclusions, you can notice that the range of furniture has undergone major changes over the past twenty years. A lot of new models and interesting designs have appeared. In today’s market there are many manufacturers from different countries, and domestic craftsmen have joined them.

Browned pieces of shish kebab, juicy steaks, baked vegetables and fried fish with a slight “smoke” flavor can delight even the most sophisticated gourmet. Without these dishes it is difficult to imagine a trip to a country house, a picnic in the countryside or a holiday in a country house. But to please guests with perfectly cooked food, you will need a reliable helper – coal grill.

Advantages and disadvantages of grilling on coals

The charcoal grill, as the name implies, heats up and functions like a regular grill – thanks to the hot coals that give the heat. But that’s where the similarities come to an end. Unlike the charcoal grill, it has a lid that drastically changes its characteristics. So, for example, the charcoal grill allows:

• to cook in any weather;
• to use some of them as a stove;
• smoke food;
• maintain a high temperature for many hours and save coal;
• grill any food evenly and quickly, reducing the usual cooking time by two to three times.

If we are talking about grills, we must not forget that there are other types – electric and gas. Why did we choose coal? Unlike the electric “brother”, it does not require a power supply, which means it can be used anywhere. As for the gas analogue, coal grill is much more compact as it does not need fuel cylinders.

The gas grill is easy to prepare: just a few minutes and the device is completely ready to roast any dish – coal requires ignition and heating for 20-25 minutes. But this does not scare off fans of traditional grilling on coals, because its main advantage is the unique smell of smoke in the food cooked on “live” fire.

Cleaning the charcoal grill is a bit more difficult than other types of grill, but you won’t feel this flaw if you choose a quality device, such as a ceramic one, which does not burn the leftovers of food. The use of special Kamado charcoal eliminates problems with ash, as it burns almost completely without contaminating the device.

Cooking food on coals is known to be one of the oldest ways to get tasty and nutritious food. The closest “relative” of the modern charcoal grill is not the usual for Russians charcoal grill, but Japanese kamado clay oven, which has existed for several millennia.

How to choose a charcoal grill?

There is no universal recipe for the perfect charcoal grill – it’s important to find the one that’s right for you. But what is worth paying attention to and what parameters do I have to decide to buy a charcoal grill?

Size

Would you like to open your own restaurant and offer you charcoal dishes? Or maybe you regularly gather a large group of friends at your cottage or at home? Large charcoal grills allow you to easily cook impressive amounts of food, which will be enough to treat 15-30 people. For a family of two or four, you can limit yourself to a medium sized unit, especially if you don’t have enough room for a large one. The smallest models are designed for one or two delicious meals and can be placed on a small area near a townhouse, veranda or even on a balcony. They are also often bought for travel and outings, as they are compact and easy to put in the trunk and carry in your bag.

Shape

The shape of the device can be very different: ovoid, like the legendary Big Green Egg, or innovative ceramic – Kamado Joe, rounded, like the classic American coal “grill barbecue” Weber, or ordinary rectangular. The first two variants are more popular, because they are much more economical and compact. These charcoal grills can be used as a smokehouse and oven: they retain heat much longer. You can cook in them over direct and indirect heat and not only excellent steaks, but also poultry, vegetable stew, pizza and all kinds of baking. In case of Kamado Joe you can cook several dishes thanks to the “Divide and conquer” culinary system.

Thermal mode

To cook different dishes you need different temperatures: to fry sausages or vegetables is enough and 180°C, and to get a juicy and rougeful kebab you need a much higher “degree”. The temperature changes as in the oven by adjusting the airflow. In some grills it is also possible to adjust the grid height above the coals, which allows you to cook different foods at different temperatures at the same time (vegetables and steaks, for example). The boiler itself must keep warm for a long time – this is necessary for baking bread, cooking pilaf or boiled borscht with “smoke”. A heat-reflecting lid is another important advantage.

The convenience of ignition.

It is important that your unit has easy access to the coal tank and an adjustable air supply for convenient ignition, so choose a grill with controlled ventilation. For added convenience, you should use special ignition briquettes.

Boiler material and grilles

Traditionally, there are two types of grills on coals: steel and ceramic. And among the fans of the latter are not only fans of outdoor barbecues, but also famous chefs, for example, Alexei Zimin – editor-in-chief of the magazine “Eda”. Ceramic appliances keep heat better than metal ones. Grill grids are made of steel (the best are made of stainless steel) and cast iron. Their choice depends on the needs of the griller.

Note: This post is written with a help of Chris Cosentino. Chris is a professional chef and blogger at GrillFAQ.com website. You can follow him on Twitter @offalchris.

Kitchen furnishing is one of the most expensive parts of the repair. We suggest items that you can save on and things that are not exactly worth it.

Choose facades from chipboard and MDF

Natural materials are good but expensive. Budget substitutes often look just as good. Thus, MDF in veneer coating is quite suitable for classic kitchen or country style, and lacquered chipboard will fit into the minimalistic interior.

Make facades without glazing

Of course, doors with glazing and built-in lighting inside cabinets add coziness to the kitchen, make it easier, but to create a budget project will have to love the “deaf” facades. To avoid sacrificing style, give preference to light facades (for small kitchens) and glossy coverings that help make the room visually lighter.

Adjust to standard sizes

Any special tasks for assemblers and manufacturers will increase the price of the headset. You will have to give up trimming of corners, non-standard cabinet widths and try to make rational use of existing modules. To simplify your task, create a visual project in any simulation program. One of the simplest is SketchUp, and you can design your future kitchen with IKEA directly on the website.

Love the open shelves and order

Upper open shelves instead of blind cabinets are another way to a budget project. One nuance – to make them look beautiful, keep order and take care of storage, for example, buy the same cans for bulk products. You can also decorate open shelves with photos and flowers.

Look for a competent collector.

Try the next trick. Go to an expensive kitchen salon and draw a dream kitchen together with designers. Come on weekdays at lunchtime, usually when they have the least work to do.

Then go to the mass market with a printout of the project and a smile and look for the one you like most in the expensive salon. Make a project in a budget store. You will most likely be told that some items are not feasible, but the project can still be implemented with changes.

And then – look for an experienced assembler, preferably with recommendations. He will help you combine both projects where you need to – save money. Thus, retractable corner cabinets in budget kitchens (they are called magic corners) are often not made at all, and in an expensive salon, their cost with all the fittings is tens of thousands of rubles (full price of some kitchens). Make a wardrobe to order – will come out cheaper, and fit it into a budget kitchen just to help a competent collector.

Give up on the built-in appliances

It is believed that by removing the built-in appliances, you will make the kitchen less comfortable. We don’t think so. A hob is a maximum worth going for in the fight for budget and style at the same time. The built-in fridge will already lead to the cost of the kitchen in times, and if there is also a microwave and other small appliances – even in 2-3 hundred thousand will be difficult to fit.

You can make a compromise if you have a competent collector. Budget kitchens do not have a stove and microwave at eye level, but you can separately order the frame, doors, cut off unnecessary centimeters and embed appliances.

Choose wood or plastic worktops

Natural stone is expensive, quality quartz agglomerates and artificial acrylic stones too, and work on them is more expensive even with natural materials.

You’ll have to save money and choose. The chipboard worktops can last a long time if they are primed and the joints are sealed. Wood is not an option for the lazy. It will have to be periodically soaked in oil, but as a reward, it will last longer and maintain its aesthetic appearance.