Located in Kingston, ON. Canada
What to Look for in
Quality Furniture
Types of Seat Cushions
A good sofa is an investment, and nothing is as important as how a sofa feels when you sit on it. We love to educate our clients on the different ways sofa cushions are constructed because this detail makes the most difference, both in feel and the longevity of the piece.
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A mid-range sofa will often have down or poly-wrapped foam cushions, and some may offer an upgrade to include steel spring seat cushions, wrapped in another material.
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Our very favorite sit is always a “Spring Down” cushion, which offers the best of all worlds — supportive springs, wrapped in cushiony down.
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This graphic from Sherrill Furniture shows the difference in cushion construction. Each Manufacturer tends to offer their own version of constructed seat cushions.
Great Components =
Great Furniture
What to look for in Good Quality Upholstery
What's the Frame Made with?
Everything begins with the frame. A furniture’s frame/foundation can be made from two primary types of wood materials: solid woods and manufactured woods, which is an engineered material that is often a composite of real wood and synthetic materials. High quality furniture is typically made from Kiln-dried hardwood. Furniture made from hardwoods are likely to withstand decades of wear and tear. Good quality furniture is typically made from a softwood or a combination of softwood and 3/4” engineered hardwood; furniture made from this combination are likely to withstand many years. Low quality furniture is made from particleboard/chipboard, fiberboard or medium density fiberboard (MDF). Furniture made from manufactured woods like these are inexpensive and low quality.
What's the Inside Suspension?
Long considered the gold standard of sofa suspension, eight-way hand tied is the most labor-intensive and costly option. It’s the mark of a high quality piece of furniture. The springs are supported by webbing on the bottom of the sofa and the top of the springs are secured by twine. This web of twine keeps the springs from shifting, providing years of unwavering support.
Sinuous or No-sag springs are probably the most common type of sofa suspension in mid-range priced sofas. Imagine many large zig-zagging pieces of metal set in rows several inches apart and running perpendicular to the front of the sofa. When looking at sofas with sinuous springs, make sure that the wire is at least 8-gauge and that there are at least two silent-tie wires running across and clipped to each spring.
Plywood platform support is the least expensive and the least comfortable. Companies that may only sell online could have these types of seating. Make sure to do research on the furniture your interested in before your purchase.
Selecting Covers
Performance fabric technology has come such a long way in recent years. It’s softer and more stain-resistant than ever. Your kids’ markers, red wine, and dirty paw prints don’t stand a chance. Some standard fabrics can be treated for stain-resistance, but we prefer to source quality performance grade fabrics whenever possible.
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Our personal favorite is Crypton, and it is truly magical. You can literally rub marinara into it, and it will wash right off! That’s a fabric that makes for quality furniture you can count on lasting. other manufacturers will carry Crypton fabric or something similar for easy cleaning. Ask your design associate for more details.
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Note: Remember that you can have a low quality sofa wrapped in performance fabric, but the cushions and frame may wear out before the fabric ever does. Be mindful of ALL of the components, not just the one!
Other important elements to consider…
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If you have pets that scratch furniture, get a tight woven fabric or a protected leather. ( remember, no cover is absolutely animal proof)
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Look at the rub count on a fabric. The higher the count the longer it may last
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If choosing leather, there's protected and unprotected, and they each have their own maintenance level. Ask your associate which leather may suite your lifestyle best.
