The Furniture Blog

INNER CONSTRUCTION

The construction and inner workings of an upholstered piece of furniture can be as mysterious as an episode of Murder, She Wrote (ask your Grandma).  But hidden under the decorative fabric or cover lies the secret to the piece’s overall function, comfort, and longevity.  No need to call Angela Lansbury in to solve this case, read on as we uncover what makes your chair or sofa tick.

The frame is the single most important component in determining whether or not a piece of furniture is going to stand the test of time.  You probably figured wood as being the most commonly used framing material, and this, of course, if true.  But any old hunk of tree won’t due if you plan on passing this wonderful chair, sofa, love seat, or whatever on to your children or grandchildren (they’ll probably just put it in storage or sell it at a yard sale anyway).  Hardwoods such oak, alder, ash, beech and birch are what you’re looking for in a frame.  These hardwoods have a tighter grain and allow for screws, pegs, and nails to be set securely.  Also, the best-made frames use wood that has been kiln-dried.  This process consists of heating the wood in an industrial oven to remove excess sap and moisture.  The process also makes the wood resistant to absorbing any outside moisture.  If you’re wondering what the problem is with moisture, I’ll tell you.  If you already the answer to this then go ahead and skip down a little Mr. or Mrs. Smarty-Pants.  Moisture can cause warping and swelling, can lead to loose joints and fastenings, and in severe cases can cause mildew or rotting, other than that, it’s great.

Read the rest of this entry »

Your furniture sets the mood, tone and overall feel of your home, much the same way your wardrobe conveys this same information about you.  Upholstered furniture is perhaps the most telling sign of these characteristics as the use of color, texture and design come into play more here than with any other type of furniture.  Pieces that generally fall into the ‘upholstered’ category include chairs, couches, love seats, sectionals and sofa beds.  While you won’t find any leather upholstered items on the GREENCulture furniture website, you will find a host of other options that may seem overwhelming.  This multi-part guide is designed to make your decision less daunting by defining some technical terms and giving you some insight into what lies beneath the cloths and cushions.  We’ll start with an overview of some of the more common types of fabric used for upholstered furniture.

WOVEN FABRIC COVERS

Woven fabric means simply that the fabric is woven by a machine that interlaces two yarns running at right angles to each other.  The most widely used group of decorative upholsteries sold in the United States consists of woven fabrics.  These woven fabrics can be natural, such as linen and cotton, or man-made fibers like polyester and olefin.  In most cases, fabrics are blends of various fibers like the popular cotton-polyester blend.  The most common types of weaves are as follows:

Jacquard weaves are fabrics with differently colored yarns or fibers woven into highly decorative designs.  These weaves are most often found in traditional furniture styles.

Pile fabrics have loops or cut fibers standing up densely from the surface to form a three-dimensional texture.  Depending on the color and design, pile fabrics can be appropriate for traditional or contemporary furniture.

Textured fabrics are woven from yarns that have been processed to give them more bulk, crimp, stretch, or an overall altered state.  Chenille is an example of a popular textured weave.  Textured fabrics are often woven to resemble antique, homespun cloth.

Plain-woven fabrics consist of one color with their character resulting from the type of yarn or fiber used.  Depending on the texture, plain weaves can be used on formal or informal furniture and with a variety of styles.

Printed fabrics are first woven then printed with a decorative design.  Chintz and polished cotton are examples of fabrics that are often used for prints, however, textured fabrics with blends of nylon, rayon, cotton, and polyester fibers are also often printed.

NON-WOVEN FABRIC COVERS

Non-woven fabrics are produced by the bonding and/or interlocking of fibers.  These fabrics can be made by mechanical, chemical, thermal, or solvent means, or with an adhesive, or any combination of these.  Examples of non-woven fabrics include:

Vinyl, which may or may not be laminated to a fabric backing.  Vinyls are preferred on furniture that is subject to hard usage.  Also called Naugahyde, vinyl is often thought of as a substitute for leather and can be printed in a variety of patterns.

Flocked fabrics are made by gluing pieces of cut fibers onto a flat woven cloth base.  These fibers form a three-dimensional surface much like pile.  Flocked velvet is an example of this kind of fabric.

Knitted fabrics are made by interlooping one or more sets of yarns.  This is a relatively inexpensive way of manufacturing fabric.

Suede-like fabrics, such as Ultrasuede are often used in decorative upholstered furniture covers to give the look and feel of genuine suede without using animal hides, and usually at less cost.

In Pt.2 we’ll look at the inner construction of upholstered furniture, so be on the look-out.

If you haven’t figured it out, furnishing your home can be quite expensive. Always one for dual functional furniture, I’ve found that the daybed is making a huge comeback in interior design. Think about it for a second: daybeds serve as seating during the day and as beds during the late hours. How innovative! And if some of you are cringing at the thought of those period-piece metal day beds and how they would completely clash with your decor, you may breathe a sigh of relief. A lot of daybeds now come in contemporary designs and styles, and some even come upholstered and are made to look like fainting couches. So consider this, if you’re looking to get your money’s worth in furnishing your home, contemporary daybeds may be the way to go. Check out top sellers like the Passantino Daybed and Romeo Daybed from Eco-Furniture.com for ideas.

Deforestation or Slash and Burn are phrases that describe the destruction of vast areas of forest.  Many countries around the globe have lost a significant portion of their rain and temperate forest and the inpact of these mass land clearings echo throughout the world. Mounting temperatures caused by Greenhouse gasses and the extinction of many spiecies of animals are two very real consequences of Deforestation.  But you can sleep soundly at night knowing your Khyber Bedroom set is made from sustainably harvested wood.  Meaning the material that your beautiful sleigh bed and exquisite armoire are made of come from a plantation that only yields timber at a rate in which it can be replenished.  So no more degradation of the soil,  destruction of wildlife habitats,  or any other harmful abuses to the environment.  Another plus is that the Khyber collection only uses solid wood!  So many companies out there selling rinky-dink plywood bed frames, or pressed wood dressers are looking to make a quick buck; but at Eco-furniture.com you will only find high quality products.    

Summer brings to mind backyard barbeques and lazy days spent splashing at the beach. Yet sooner rather than later, the earth tilts towards the inevitable signs of autumn. The weather shifts from sweltering heat to breezy zephyrs and children begrudingly trot back to school. In fact, the whole season evokes a sense of change. Maybe it’s trading in your old car for a clearance-event one, or finally purchasing that new home to cozy up to in the winter. The expression is really “spring cleaning”, but why not give fall a chance? Throw out that bed and dresser of a decade worth of summers and update it with the Autumn bedroom collection, a set of 100% solid wood bedroom furniture. Made of sustainably harvested solid wood, this eco-friendly bedroom set comes all together or as separate pieces. The curvaceous platform bed, armoire, dresser and nightstands all share a harvest colored finished that challenges the best foliage to a pretty color contest. It is at once both contemporary and casual, lending an elegant feel without being overly stuffy. Fill your bedroom with warm warmth during the upcoming coldest months with the Autumn bedroom furniture. For more selection on eco-friendly furniture, check out eco-furniture.com.

Decorating an apartment can be an enormous challenge.  One normally has more ideas than space to work with, making the challenge to whittle down those ideas into a design that works.  There are simple guidelines to follow that can make your apartment or condo more livable while making the most of the space, no matter what style décor you’re going for. 

A decorating style that’s been gaining in popularity over the past few years, especially for apartment dwellers, is the open floor plan.  This option allows for multiple walking lanes and creates a more natural flow to your space.  The secret here is to minimize your furniture and the size of the pieces you choose.  Use a chair or two to substitute for a bulky sofa or loveseat, and avoid large coffee tables, opting instead for a small cocktail table or two end tables.  A small sofa or loveseat can work if it’s against a wall and doesn’t constrict the flow of the room.  This decorating option is ideal for younger people who entertain regularly as it allows a larger group to move easier around your place without feeling cramped and restricted. 

Have your child reach for the stars with the Heritage Baby Crib. Radiating with modern yet classic sophistication, this elegant piece is perfect for both sexes and can even be converted into a toddler’s bed with the help of the Heritage Toddler Bed Conversion Kit. Constructed from solid Asian hardwood that has been sustainably harvested, the Heritage Baby Crib emanates an aura of ‘enlightenment.’ Hand painted to give it that extra vintage appeal, the crib also comes in four different finishes and various ball finials, including stars, airplanes, bunnies and flowers. Add a little personality to your baby’s room by presenting him/her with this versatile and enchanting little piece. You can even add the Heritage Open Changer or the Heritage Bookcase to further enhance the little guy’s room. No matter what your preference, the Heritage Baby Crib is an adaptable and charming addition to your child’s sanctuary.