Rumpus Rules: Deciding between One Cushion or More?

There are so many things to think about when it comes to upholstery and one of them is the number of seat cushions to order for a sofa.

• Does the size of the rump or rumpus activity that the sofa will be exposed to matter? 
• Is the sofa for looks or for serious lounging? 
• Will one person tend to "claim" the sofa or will it be most often shared by several? 

I kid you not, all of these things are valid to consider when trying to decide on going from one to two or three cushions to a long single cushion.

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The Pro's:

• A single cushion is great for sleeping on because there won't be any cording or gaps between cushions to cause discomfort. Let's face it, if your goal is to purchase a sofa - or create a window seat - for lounging and napping, the one-cushion route just may be your preferred option.

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• It just looks nice! On many styles - a camel back sofa, for example - it is often just more aesthetically pleasing with one cushion.Clients sometimes get stuck on thinking that the number of back cushions must equal the number of seat cushions. You can see here, that is not the case.

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The Con's:

• Sometimes a foam cushion, depending on the density and amount of regular use it gets, has a tendency to wear more quickly in the center, causing the ends to pop up a bit on a long cushion. Consider the type of use your sofa will get. If you have this concern, there is always the option of clips to secure cushions to main body of sofa.

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• The most critical, in our mind, is the activity level of the household. There is a possibility the cushion may get soiled. With multiple cushions, you can replace just one. On a large cushion, if there is a damage or soil, the entire piece will need to be replaced.

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So what is your position on this? What will work better for you, single or multiple cushions?

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Is this to much to think about to go it alone? If you are in the market for a sofa, Storibook Designs can help you. In addition to upholstery services, we offer custom-made furniture to your specifications. And yes, in case you haven't figured it out by the photos that have been shared, Pearson is one of our preferred vendors. Their furniture styling, quality and fabric offerings make choosing them a no-brainer. Take a peek at the range of amazing fabrics your furniture can be created in!

If you are ready to forge ahead on your own, you may also find our previous posts on what to look for when purchasing a sofa here and here quite helpful. If it's pure eye-candy inspiration you want; hop on over to our curated sofa board on Pinterest.

Finally, we also provide shopping services so you can hire us to shop for a sofa with you, so no matter where your at in the hunt for your new furniture, we've got you covered! Get in touch!

We always love to hear your feedback. If you appreciated this post, please leave a comment below!

Thanks so much!

Extreme Makeover: Upholstery Edition

Oh yeah, this chair was far past a race against time. Let's just say that time whooped this chairs'....well, you know.. *&^!

Let me ask, would you give this old beauty a second glance? Would you see the there existed a once-lovely heirloom beyond that tragically abused frame? 

Obviously left in the elements, this poor gal was destroyed by sun, water and temperature. The wood was totalled, paticularly along the framed trim that so beautifully lined the outer edge. 

So happy my client had vision!  She had this gorgeous fabric and all she could see was how fantastic this chair would be newly-dressed in Kravet's Tilbury from Laura Ashley. 

Having trouble seeing it?......

Does this help?
 

I could see it too and was pretty pumped to bring this beauty back to life.

I admit though that I wasn't so sure the wood along the outer edge could be salvaged. That was my only hesitation. I was sure the legs and base could be revived. On with it, I'd deal with the edging as we got to it.

So it began... Extreme Makeover: Upholstery Edition!

We dug right in, tearing off the old fabric and removing the mildew infested layers of batting.  Yeah, it was pretty nasty!

Clearly it had been quite some time since someone lost their penny. 

No, I didn't keep it.

The beauty of this chair was not just in its shape but moreso, in the intricate detailing of the base and legs.  Refinishing the wood was something I was really looking forward to.

This front detailing was so great...you just don't see this anymore!

The wood is finally stripped! Next, is the additional clean up in the scrolled. fluted and floral areas. 

and some fine sanding and the new finish can be applied.

Finally, the chair is ready to be rebuilt: springs retied, corner joints tightened, wood filled,final finish, all new padding/batting and then finally the new "dress"!



Voila!!! It was time to bring her back home. Don't you love it?

And take a look at the wood edging.... faaabulous!!  A little patience, a little love, and this old beauty is back!

We're happy, the chair is happy, the client is happy.  Welcome Home, old beauty, welcome home!

Blog Bites: Getting Tuft with Your Upholstery?

Need we talk about the sophistication and elegance tufted furniture can bring? This classic, tailored, and certainly timeless look adds polish to any room. Read on about this week's three featured blog posts and let us know which pieces you love!

Upholstery is a large part of my business and re-designing, shopping for or viewing furniture that has been built utilizing the finest in upholstery craftsmanship is just as exciting to me as shopping for shoes is for many women.  In upholstery, one of the hallmarks of a master craftsman or woman is their ability to produce fine tufting.  That being said, blog posts that focus on the art and beauty of tufting definitely catch my eye... and so the three posts I'm about to share certainly have! 

Florida interior designer, Jade, of Jade N. Timmerman Interiors, featured a great post, Tufted Love, on her blog, Flip Flops & Pearls Design, earlier this month. Here are a few gems from her post.

Done in leather or done with out the tufting, this would come across as a very masculine piece.  The all white body, nail-head trim and tufted back however give it refined elegance. It becomes a take-me-anywhere sofa that can be dressed up or dressed down. Imagine how fantastic this would look in a sitting room with boldly painted or papered walls?

Photo: Hickory Chair

And who wouldn't love to have a seat at this elegant dining table? I much prefer upholstered over wood chairs for elegant dining and these absolutely fit the bill! Don't they look so comfortable and inviting?  Take to the sofa after Thanksgiving dinner?  No need, with these chairs there is no desire or need to get up!

I love this eclectic corner! It brings great energy in what might otherwise have been a cold or secluded spot. A few pops of color is all it required to draw your eye to the coziness of that tufted settee.

Photos: Flip Flops and Pearls 

The very talented and dear, Wanda S. Horton, a North Carolina designer I have been blessed to get to know through our social media connections, was inspired to feature tufted furniture in her post, "A Little Imagination Goes a Long Way" after checking out the Horchow website. I love her borrowed quote from Horchow: "tuft love -- with more dimples than a roomful of toddlers." How fitting is that?

What is especially brilliant about this post is that Wanda featured the same tufted frames upholstered in alternate fabrics - utilizing different accents and in different spaces, illustrating just how unique a piece of furniture can look according to individual taste and selection. Wanda says it best: "...the same upholstery frame, treated with different fabrics and room settings, can spin you into so many design directions."

While both of these pieces exude an air of sophistication, this first creates a more stately (and as Wanda notes, "perhaps expected") feel and the second oozes modern sleekness.

Photos: Interior Concepts by Wanda

What to say about this next one, but "Wow!" Gorgeous leather, amazing detail. Tradition tells me I should sit up straight in these rooms, but the sofa makes me want to put my feet up and lie down!

Photos: Interior Concepts by Wanda

Wanda promises we'll hear more from her about tufted furniture, so keep your eye out for that. She's a lady of great style herself and always showcases the most gorgeous in design!

The third post comes from Tracery Interiors. This headboard, a custom piece in linen designed for an Alabama home, was inspired by a page the client tore from Southern Accents. Comfortable and sophisticated! See -- tufting doesn't have to mean stuffy.

Photo by Colleen Duffley

Original inspiration:

Photo by Tria Giovan for Southern Accents

Tracery Interiors used this chair from Lee Industries (upholstered in white sailcloth) in a little girl's room. Divine! What a special place for her to sit and read or snuggle with mom or dad.

Photo by Lee Industries

Ever considered a tufted ottoman? This one says "sophisticated casual" and offers fantastic extra seating or space for playing games or serving cocktails and apps. I love the versatility of a piece like this! And I recently had a reader who commented on another post with a question on what to do about lack of table space in her living room.  I had suggested ditching the side tables and opting for one large table that could serve as both a coffee table and ottoman. This is exactly what I had in mind!

Photos: Tracery Interiors

So tell me, what do you love about tufted pieces? What are some of your favorite ways to add tufted furniture to spaces? At Storibook Designs, we love the timelessness of tufting. Because when you adore a piece for years to come, isn't it worth every penny?

A CHANCE FOR YOU TO WIN BIG IN MY BLOG COMMENTING CONTEST: $200 Prize!!

Would you like an extra $200 in your pocket?  I'm offering a fantastic contest and wanted you all to have an opportunity to win!

THE RULES OF THE GAME:

The Prize:  $200 Visa Gift Card (value = $200 USD)

Entry Requirements:  Leave a minimum of 5 unique (can not be the same on each posting) comments on 5 different blog posts, listed  and linked to at the bottom of this note. Additional details about commenting are marked with an * below.

Start/End Date:   10.23.10 thru 10.29.10 at 8PM (Eastern Standard Time)

Qualifications: Entrants must be in the United States or Canada. We are unable to include entrants from other countries.

Winner: The winner will be selected using an electronic random generator, however, I have also included a special caveat.  Please note that I will select one comment that I consider to be the "best" and that persons name will be entered 5 additional times, thereby increasing their odds at winning.

How to Play:

1. Read some of the posts from the list below.
2. Comment on a minimum of 5 different posts, individually.
3. Complete by October 29th. All who have commented on atleast 5 of the blog posts listed below, between NOW and Friday at 8PM, will have their name entered in to the drawing.
4. *Comments MUST relate to the post, be more than a few words, and at the very least a sentence. Comments should obviously be reflective of the content of the post, show value, offer varying viewpoints and/or simply speak to what was of interest to the reader*
5. To emphasize point #4 even further, I will be selecting a "best" comment and the author of that comment will have their name entered an additional 5 times. ("Best" does not necessarily translate to flattery.  To be considered "best" I will be looking for comments that offer additional value and viewpoint to the topic).
6. Winner will be chosen and announced by 5PM on Halloween.   [Please see very bottom for the not-so-fun legal notice pertaining to this contest]

Everyone can find something fun to do with a $200 Visa Gift Card! Enter the contest today and start thinking about the ways you will spend that money!! Be sure to leave your email address (it is not published) that is best to reach you at so that if you are the WINNING NAME I can notify you on Halloween!!

Thank you and good luck!! ~ Sarah

LIST AND LINKS TO BLOG POSTS
Organizing Inspirations: The First Step in Designing Mama's Home (Guest Post)

log Bites: Have You Noticed the Turquoise Trail?

Tuesday's Tips: Party Planning

Blog Bites: Autumn Tablescapes

Interior Inspirations from My Web Favs: Material Girls

Making the Bed: A Guide to the Basics of a Comfortable Rest

Your Guide to Decorating without Color: All-White, Done Right!

Bringing Harmony Into Your Home

Shed-tastic! Your Great Escape is ...where?

Let's Talk: Cash or Credit?

Get In Gear...Or At Least Get It Organized

Interior Inspirations from My Web Favs: Apartment Therapy

Entertaining Alfresco, Part II: Functional Elements

Dining Alfresco in Your Own Backyard

Interior Inspirations from My Web Favs, Part 1: Houzz

The Essential Elements of Spa-tacular Bathrooms

Designer Nurseries Shift Into High Gear by Going Neutral

Finding Your Perfect Mate Part 2: The Styles of Sofas

Chairity: Give them a Second-Chance!

Pride in your Picasso: Decorating with Kids’ Art

Finding Your Perfect Mate Part 1: The Sofa Basics

Add Wow To Your Walls: A Guide to Art Work and Photographs

The Secret To Getting What You Want: A Guide to Buying Carpet

Too Many Toys? Tips for Getting Your Child's Play Space Under Control

Six Ways to Feng Shui in the Kitchen

Make Your Entryway Inviting

Feng Shui in the Bedroom: A Room to Restore You

Go Green with Fabrics!

Slipping into Slipcovers

Refresh, Revitalize, Renew: Upholstery

Sitting Pretty- Outdoors!

Adding Playfulness to Your Room Design

What Does it Mean to be Green?

Jackie Blue Home

LEGAL NOTICE:
Winner will be notified on October 30th, 2010 and has until November 7, 2010 to claim their prize. If winner does not claim prize, a new winner will be selected on November 8, 2010.

We reserve the right to pull comments that we feel are inappropriate, malicious, contain profanities, deemed as spam or are meant in any way to cause harm to the sponsor.

By submitting an entry or accepting a prize, here permitted by law, each winner grants Storibook Designs, and those acting pursuant to the authority of Storibook Designs, the irrevocable right to print, publish, broadcast, distribute, and use, in any media the entry and winner’s name as news, publicity or information and for trade, advertising, public relations and promotional purposes.

Finding Your Perfect Mate Part 2: The Styles of Sofas

In our previous post, "Finding the Perfect Mate", we brushed up on the basics of sofa construction - ins and outs of what to look for and know before buying.  As a review of those points, I found a perfect illustration from C.R. Laine, detailing the anatomy of what goes into a fine quality piece of furniture:

Photo: C.R. Laine

But I know, what you really want to do now is start shopping!! You know what you need to look for structurally, now your challenge will be to decide on the style that will look and function best for you and your home.

Things you need to think about: back cushions, arm height and size, seat styles and base.... do you want a skirt? Decorative legs? These elements, along with fabric selection, alter the "feel" of a piece, taking it from a contemporary, edgy piece to one that may be more traditional or tailored.

Variations in the shape of the back of the sofa change both the style appeal as well as comfort.

• A tight back is an upholstered back without removable cushions. It can provide an elegant, tailored or formal look to the sofa. It is often used for modern and contemporary pieces.
• Pillow-back sofas have cushions that are detached or semi-attached, creating a soft, casual look. This type of back is comfortable and great for areas of high-use and relaxed entertaining.
• A tufted back offers added elegance, giving much more luxurious and formal appeal.  I often think of a tufted sofa as a timeless classic, perfect for a library or office. Upholstering it in a bright turquoise with raspberry accents changes that theory though!

 Photo: Couch

The seat of the sofa has similar composition and terminology to the back.

• A tight seat has no individual cushions. It most often is more tailored and sleek and less ideal for lounging or relaxing.  Although, as seen above, there are always exceptions!.
• A loose seat is the most comfortable type of seat and the most common seen in rooms where comfort is the primary concern. A word of caution when purchasing leather: a quality sofa will have leather on both sides of the cushion.  I have seen instances where a heavy-weight muslin is used on the underside - it reduces cost/price.  The problem with this is that you will never be able to flip the cushions. You want to be able to flip your cushions!
• A single cushion allows a look close to that of a tight seat but with the comfort of a cushion. The drawbacks to this style are that the fabric can sometimes buckle in the middle the cushion can pop up on one side when you sit on the other if it is not dense enough. It is much easier to provide stability to smaller cushions than one large one. If you decide to buy a single cushion, I recommend a firm density for the insert to allow the cushion to maintain its shape.

Photo: HGTV

A change in the arm styling creates a completely different silhouette to a sofa.  Though sometimes not seen as obvious a consideration as the back and seat of a sofa, the arms are an essential part in creating the "look" as well as the amount of space the pieces takes up in a room.  Some squared and rolled arms, for example, can create a heavier look, both in appearance and actual measures.

Photo Capture: Sherrill Furniture

The skirt or lack thereof is also an important element of style.

• A skirt can give a sofa a traditional appearance, yet within the category of skirts, we can have everything from a tailored conservative skirt to one that is much more feminine. Kick pleats, box pleats, and dressmaker skirts all create different looks.

 Photo: Duralee Fine Furniture

• Exposed legs can also run the gamut of styles. Squared wooden or metal legs can appear contemporary, modern and clean-lined, while carved wood and casters can cross lines of traditional to retro.

Photo: House to Home

Six of the basic sofa styles most often seen on showroom floors include the English, Tuxedo, Camel-back, Chesterfield, Lawson and Mid-century Modern.  

• English Sofa: The English sofa typically has a tight back and loose seat cushion, with a roll to the arm and a back that has a slight curve away from the front. When you sit in an English sofa, you will notice that you sit back in it. Though you can certainly have an English sofa made with a skirt, traditionally only casters are seen.

Photo: House Beautiful
• Tuxedo Sofa: If you are in the market for a contemporary sofa with lasting appeal, the Tuxedo could be the perfect fit. The Tuxedo’s arm seem to blend into the back as they all come to the same height. With extremely clean lines and a modern yet timeless feel, the Tuxedo sofa is a sophisticated choice.

 

Photo: Storibook Designs

• Camel-back Sofa: One of the most traditional sofa styles, the Camel-back, also referred to as a Chippendale, dates back to 18th Century London and the furniture maker Thomas Chippendale. The serpentine curve on its tight back is its distinguishing feature.

 Photo: Martin Tharp

• Chesterfield Sofa: For your office or library, an iconic choice would be the Chesterfield upholstered in leather. Tufting throughout the back, and sometimes seat, the Chesterfield is the quintessential masculine sofa.

Photo: Apartment Therapy  
• Lawson Sofa: The Lawson has a low squared off back, with lower square or rolled arms. Usually seen in loose seat and loose back, the Lawson sofa is a comfortable choice for a family room and is seen with or without skirts.

 Photo: Baer's

• Mid-Century Modern Sofa: This sofa looks like it would be at home in a space with retro appeal. The clean, square lines seem to float on thin legs giving it a sophisticated and streamlined, yet fun, look.

 

Photo: Spacify

I could continue this already very long post, however I think I've covered a lot of ground! You see the point:  no matter what your taste, style, or needs, there is sure to be a combination of back, seat, arms, and skirt that will look fabulous in your room!

I hope you have a better idea of what to look for in a quality piece and this has helped you to hone in more closely on what you like.  Happy shopping!