You didn’t bring the outdoor furniture inside for the winter, or even cover it. Now, your chairs and patio table, even the umbrella, look plug ugly. No need to panic, though. Just give them a good cleaning, maybe even new paint, and they’ll look fresh as spring.

Whither the wicker? To clean woven furniture, you’ll need to get into and around those intricate weaves. And that requires a variety of brushes – a new, rather than used, toothbrush (stiffer bristles); a small paintbrush with bristles cut down by half, to make them stiffer but not sharper; and a bristle brush with medium bristles. Some experts recommend sharpening a dowel to pick out bits of dirt and debris, but the best tools are already sharpened – the wooden skewers used to make shish kabob. Read more »

Wickes Furniture Co., which is liquidating its business, has signed a deal with a joint venture that will pay at least $3.5 million for rights to the furniture company’s store leases.

The joint venture that will lead the bidding on the leases includes Retail Consulting Services Inc., Hudson Capital Partners LLC, Crystal Capital fund LP and Julius M. Feinblum Real Estate Inc., according to papers filed Wednesday in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del.

One of the country’s largest retailers, Wickes filed for Chapter 11 protection Feb. 3 and agreed to sell its assets quickly to cover debts. Rights to its store leases will be sold at a bankruptcy-court auction. Read more »

With a few simple steps, you can keep your outdoor furniture looking fresh and new for years. The American Home Furnishings Alliance offers these care and maintenance tips:

Aluminum frames.

Clean with mild soap and water. Occasionally spray oil lubricant on chair swivels or glides.

Tempered glass tabletops

Clean regularly with a soft cloth, a mild detergent and warm water. Buff dry with a clean, lint-free cloth. Read more »

With a few simple steps, you can keep your outdoor furniture looking fresh and new for many years. The American Home Furnishings Alliance offers the following care and maintenance tips:

Aluminum frames:

Clean with mild soap and water. For nontextured surfaces, apply an automotive wax every few months. On textured finishes, periodically apply baby or mineral oil. Occasionally spray oil lubricant on chair swivels or glides.

Tempered glass tabletops:

Clean regularly with a soft cloth, a mild detergent and warm water. Buff dry with a clean, lint-free cloth. Commercial glass cleaners also may be used. Read more »

Auction firms may not be associated exclusively with distressed property sales any more. But they aren’t exactly a sign of prosperity either.

This week, Oak Brook, IL-based Inland Real Estate Auctions, Inc. formed a venture with Alpha World Properties to promote auction sales of real estate assets associated with North Carolina’s furniture industry.

The firms said the newly-announced venture is intended to offer a prospective disposition option to owners of real estate facing vacancies as a consequence of the more challenging economic conditions facing furniture makers resulting from falling demand for furniture and more manufacturing business moving overseas. Read more »

CBS/Decaux, a 50/50 joint venture between CBS Outdoor and JCDecaux North America, announced Wednesday they have won the exclusive 10-year contract street furniture contract for the city of Glendale, Calif., a prominent part of the Los Angeles market. The contract expands the joint venture’s presence in West Hollywood and Los Angeles, where it also holds contracts.

Beginning early this year, CBS/Decaux plans to install new bus shelters and other street elements incorporating a minimum of 140 advertising panels. Read more »

Unique and creative furniture from Rajasthan is on show in the city. The Shekhawati antique furniture is on display at the Central Cottage Industries Emporium on Mahatma Gandhi Road till February 12.

There is said to be a lot workmanship that goes into making this furniture. The joints in the furniture are said to be almost invisible, giving the wood an unbroken look. And the drawers are designed not to jam. Accessories such as hinges, knobs and knocker-style handles are all in antique mould. Read more »

Wood furniture adds warmth and distinction to a room’s décor and helps you and your family enjoy the activities you love most, from watching a favorite movie to sharing a meal.

To make shopping for wood furniture easier, the American Home Furnishings Alliance offers guidelines for consumers who want to purchase the best quality within their price range. Read more »

Clear Channel Outdoor (NYSE:CCO), the largest outdoor advertising company worldwide, announced today that an exclusive, 10-year contract to operate billboards and street furniture advertising in Madrid, Spain, has been awarded to Clear Channel Outdoor and Cemusa, the Outdoor advertising division of the Spanish-based FCC Group. The contract includes an option to renew for four additional years. The contracting company will be a 50-50 joint venture formed by Clear Channel Outdoor and Cemusa.

Paul Meyer, Global President of Clear Channel Outdoor, stated, “Following our major street furniture contract wins in London, Rome and Dublin, we are on course to achieve our goal of capturing out-of-home contracts with key European cities, providing citizens with a unique urban landscape and advertisers with innovative solutions to reach their desired audience.” Read more »

Sunderland-based Furniture Express, runs 13 stores across Wearside, County Durham, Tyneside, Teesside and Cumbria.

An increasingly competitive market was blamed for the company’s second financial crisis in a year.

Administrators PriceWaterhouseCoopers say some stores are likely to close, with the loss of some of their 70 jobs. Read more »