The Ciseal Journal

Whether it’s for a tiny New York City studio apartment or a 4,000 square foot McMansion in the far off suburbs, everybody needs furniture in their home.  Purchasing furniture is a rite of passage for every adult.  Today, the majority of us - at least in America - buy furniture from massive chain stores.  It's quick, easy, and they always have something that will work, right?  But when's the last time you stopped to think about where that fast and cheap furniture comes from?  How is it made, by whom, and from what materials?  These are questions the slow food movement has urged us to ask about the food we eat.  Isn't it time we give the same consideration to the objects that make our house a home?

If your space has the clean lines and plenty of natural light to pull it off, we think the exposed plywood look can be gorgeous!  Here are some ideas for how to make plywood look great.

If you haven’t noticed, plywood is kind of our favorite material.  One reason we love it is for it’s efficient use of the trees it is made out of.  Between hardwood and plywood, plywood is by far the more sustainable option because It’s the most efficient use of the tree.  Plywood utilizes the entire tree trunk with no off cuts and very, very little waste.  You can’t get much more efficient!

We had an absolutely lovely time at this past weekend’s Renegade Craft Fair at Detroit’s Eastern Market.  It was a rare sunny and hot September weekend in Detroit, and the crowds were happy to soak up the sun while perusing the handmade goods.  From the unique, handmade vendors to the delicious food trucks and the super amazing DJ, the fair was a wonderful time!

Pet-proofing your space can be exciting and fun. There are several things you might want to consider to protect your belongings and furniture as you step into pet ownership.

The most common objection I hear about modern design is that it’s too sterile, cold, and soul-less.  It breaks my heart because that couldn’t be further from the truth.  The feel of a modern room that’s done right is relaxed, refreshing, and welcoming.  To achieve that easy, livable feel, check out these tips for creating a welcoming modern space.

We love seeing our stuff out in the wild!

Eero Saarinen is one of the most well known mid century designers - and for good reason.  The Finnish-born Saarinen is regarded as one of the masters of American 20th century furniture design as well as architecture.  He’s best known for his neofuturistic style, and his designs feature beautiful, bold curves and a pioneering use of materials.

It seems like wide open floor plans are everywhere you look these days.  They’re perfect for entertaining and keeping an eye on the family, right?  But what about those of us who can’t simply take a sledgehammer to our walls and create a wide open spacious living space?  Here are 5 tips to make your small space feel grand.

Here at Ciseal, we are constantly inspired by Mid Century design.  Each product we design and make has a Midcentury bent to it because we’re huge fans of the clean lines, natural materials, and useful elegance of so many of the classic Midcentury designs.  The best part is when we hear from customers that they’re going to pair one of our products with one of their cherished mid century pieces.  Here are some combos our customers have created that perfectly pair Ciseal products with classic Mid Mod pieces.

Sunken living rooms are a classic midcentury home feature that create a naturally cozy conversation area.  Back in the day, they were where the adults enjoyed a pre-dinner cocktail and caught up on life and where the kids enjoyed story time before bed.  When you’re in one of these conversation pits, it feels like an intimate, secluded space inside an otherwise wide open layout.  But what can you do if your home doesn’t have a sunken living room?  We’ve put together 5 tips for styling your living room to create the feel of an atomic ranch conversation pit - whether your home has a sunken living room or not.

The car culture is certainly strong in the Motor City, and sprawl is just one way that’s manifested in Southeastern Michigan.  But where can the nature lover go when the endless miles of city and suburb get to be too much?  Here are some of the best parks and trails in the Detroit area for when your need for nature beckons.