Why Do These Two Chairs Look Alike, But Don't Cost the Same? Designer's Guide

What’s hiding underneath the fabric? And why it matters

UPHOLSTERY UNCOVERED

Has the hunt for the elusive sofa available in less than 6 to 9 months enticed your clients to go rogue? Have they sent you random snapshots of upholstery they “helpfully” found online or in a local retail store? And now they’re questioning you because they found something that looks EXACTLY like the one you recommended, but maybe thousands of dollars cheaper?!

Great…now what?

Hang in there with me. When you get to the bottom, I have an upholstery reference guide just for YOU!

The urge to replace a sofa after what feels like a lifetime of binge streaming feels universal, Collectively, we’ve created a butt-shaped divot from sitting in one spot. Your clients really WANT a new sofa NOW! But you just can’t get your hands on one!

Even after 2 years, this remains a real problem. I’m sure you‘ve seen the various posts, newsletters, and announcements explaining why. So I'm not going to add to that here. Unfortunately, it appears it’s not going away any time soon. ARGH…

I’m genuinely empathetic. I’m tired of looking at my sofa too.

So how do we help our clients here? How do we explain to them that the wait will be worth it when you might not even understand the difference yourself? As I write this I can hear my mom in my head - finger gently wagging - “Patience is a virtue, My Dear” But I’m not sure that clients would respond favorably to that admonition.

It’s not your fault that we weren’t taught the intricacies of upholstery construction in design school. Maybe there was a chapter about what is considered the gold standard, kiln-dried and 8-way hand-tied, but that’s about it. As a design professional responsible for our client’s best interests aesthetically, functionally, and financially it’s important to understand the competition.

I’m not going to sugarcoat this.

People are weird about their seating in a way they aren’t about a coffee table. Get it right and you’re a rock star! Get it wrong? Well…you know what happens next.

Can you confidently express to your clients why what you’re recommending is worth both the wait and the dollars over what they found online? Believe me when I tell you they’re finding similar items to that piece you carefully selected for them because value-engineered pieces are rampant online. RAMPANT! (voice raised, fist in the air)

What’s a good-intentioned designer to do? Read on Dear Design Professional. Read on.

Richelle Plett, designer and UPHOLSTERY UNCOVERED educator

Hello! It’s nice to meet you!

I’m Richelle, I’m a practicing interior designer and I also teach design professionals about the science of upholstery construction - how the construction materials work together in tandem to create the best seating experience for your clients’ needs. I previously owned an upholstery workroom that specialized in restoring vintage seating and believe me when I tell you, I’ve seen exactly how different construction methods and materials used over generations wear in real life. If you’re a design professional, I invite you to check out my upcoming UPHOLSTERY UNCOVERED sessions. Link HERE

Today I’m here today to share a few key points that are never discussed in design school. Get ready. I’m going to spill the proverbial tea.

That pretty fabric is covering a multitude of VALUE-ENGINEERING construction “sins”

You can’t compare apples to apples here when you’re looking at a cute blue swivel chair from a Barn-Barrel-Mart Big Box retailer to a well-crafted piece that is reupholster-able. This is where I inject my personal bias. For me personally, the litmus test for the BEST quality of construction is “does it make sense to reupholster it?”

Georgina Swivel by Kristin Drohan Collection

Donovan Swivel by AllModern

Now before you tell me “Richelle! My clients are afraid to invest in trade upholstery because their kids are going to trash it!” I’m going to reply (with my mother’s wagging finger) “that’s exactly WHY they should have a well-made piece”. The insides of that bargain piece will fail your clients long before the little terrors ruin that hard-as-nails, family-friendly fabric. Trust me on this one.

I was reminded last week during a call with a designer who’s been established in business FOR YEARS and had no clue why she should even care what’s going on under the fabric. (Yes, I may have gasped and clutched my pearls)

Here’s the reason you should care. It’s called Value Engineering, and, in a nutshell, it means that in order to reach a predetermined price, manufacturers will remove various elements of “quality” construction that inherently make a piece durable.

Have you ever bought a piece of clothing that looked ah-mazing online and was such an incredible bargain? And then you washed it - and it came out of the dryer looking like a shadow of its former self? That’s because it was Value Engineered. Corners were cut in both materials and construction to produce that product at that price point that made you think it was a good deal.

Cabinet and plumbing design specialists know this trick too

Barn-Barrel-Mart Big Box manufacturers have done a fair amount of market research to know what the average consumer will PAY for a cute, blue swivel chair. Their next step is to Value Engineer the construction. Where exactly do you think they make those quality cuts? I’ll give you a minute…

Here’s a little behind the scenes for you.

The first level of construction manufacturing to go to attain a price point is the frame. Plywood and OSB (Oriented Strand Board) are cheaper both in materials and labor than solid lumber frames. A CNC machine can route out thousands and thousands of the same shape with a little bit of variation here or there. Tweak that length here, change that arm shape a little bit there. Staple those puppies together? Boom. Done. Next.

An important note here - not all ply frames are “bad.” When they are jigged together, they are often incredibly sturdy. But plywood frames are rarely “worth it” to reupholster if that’s your client’s future intention.

The second construction material engineered out is the foundational spring-up system. Typically, you won’t see 8-way hand-tied coil springs in a plywood frame because they require solid lumber to nail into, plywood will delaminate when nailed into the layers. Some manufacturers have added solid lumber to their ply frames, but that’s a story for another day.

The most cost-effective spring-up systems are sinuous and elastic webbing. Both are less labor-intensive and lighter in weight than 8-way coil springs. Does “free shipping sound familiar?” Nothing is free - a compromise was made.

Here’s what that looks like in real life.

Have you ever been in a restaurant booth and the seat just kind of sunk beneath you? That’s a tell-tell sign that the sinuous spring has given way. Granted, that typically happens when the sitter’s weight exceeds the capacity of the steel wire. And in case you’re wondering, that amount is 250lbs. (Ummm…Covid 20 anyone?)

But the place where minimum quality meets acceptable quality is in the seating cushions. Here’s the thing. Many manufacturers - especially those found rampant online - build PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE into their products so that you buy them more often. What does that mean? It means it’s DESIGNED to fail.

Ever notice that your phone works fine up until the warranty wears out? Then suddenly, it’s a piece of technology poop that you have to replace. It’s the very same thing with upholstery. There’s an anticipated life span built into that Barn-Barrel-Mart Big Box sofa and it’s shorter than you probably think so that you’ll come back – and buy another one.

Side note - just because a foam cushion is firm, that doesn’t mean it’s going to last longer. This is a popular topic in my UPHOLSTERY UNCOVERED class.

That sofa your client found for about $1500 has an anticipated life span of 3 years with “average” daily use. Average means that you sit there nicely like you would if you were meeting the in-laws for the first time. No jumping or squirming around. No sitting on the arms. No Superman lofting off the back. No pillow forts. In other words - no kids.

So how did I arrive at that $1500 number? Because it’s the sweet spot manufacturers want to meet because consumers have made it a ranking search term as “sofas under $1500.” And how did consumers arrive at that magic number when they really don’t have a clear understanding of what goes INSIDE an upholstered piece. See why your clients need you to be educated?

It’s all up to YOU dear Designer.

I know that lead times are long right now, but have you heard the saying “short-term sacrifices for long-term gains?” My Mom may have said that one too. Feel free to use it.

PEACE AND LOVE,Richelle

Thanks for reading all the way to the end! Here’s my Thank You Gift!

And if you’d like more information on upcoming UPHOLSTERY UNCOVERED sessions, feel free to hop on over and check it out!

Week 3 Spring 2021 One Room Challenge - What have I DONE?!?

Here we are at WEEK 3 of Spring 2021 One Room Challenge and all I can say is…

OUCH!

If you’ve followed along with my first two write-ups and my Instagram or Facebook posts, you’ve seen what I’m talking about.

Blister and Splinters!

My thoughts for this week are centered around the fact that this much manual labor is probably better suited for the young. Or maybe the young at heart who spent Covid in their home gym instead of their home sofa sipping red wine and cheezits. I’m outta shape! But the job MUST roll on and I’m fully stocked in Ben-Gay and over-the-counter pain relievers.

So far, the hubby and I removed all the kitchen cabinets, the counters, the lighting, the appliances, and the floor. With it came 2” worth of concrete that the dated travertine was embedded in. Seriously, Hubby deserves some kudos here. I will be hard-pressed to get him to do any renovations in our own home after the memory of this one! But now he has taken off for his annual trip down south and I’m hanging sheetrock.

One thing I did that I’m super pleased with is reselling many of the items that were still usable! I sold the stove, a few cabinets, refrigerator, lighting, countertop, and even the kitchen sink!!! I’m not kidding. It seemed such a waste to me that these still usable products would just go in the dumpster. That goes against every fiber of my being.  If I have the ability to help out someone in need, that’s exactly what I plan to do! I know those things will have happy new homes to live out the rest of their useful lives. Thank you, Marketplace!

What I’m struggling with most with this project is the dribbling in of my kitchen cabinet order! Please keep your finger, toes, and any additional appendages you have available crossed for me that I’m actually able to get all the pieces received in time to have the counter templated and meet the ORC deadline. One other thing I’ve learned through this somewhat rushed process is that hired tradespeople don’t want to (or dare I say NEED to) do jobs that are a bit of this, a bit of that. I get it…why spend time doing part of a job when people with larger budgets are clamoring to get their projects finished too?

So that leaves me as the person doing #allthethings and frankly. I’m sore. But I think I mentioned that already? Exhaustion is clouding my mind lately. So I’ll keep this short and sweet.

I have all the finishes selected. The paint colors are shades of oatmeal and mushroom. Neutrals that play well with others. What I haven’t yet decided is if I will do a bolder “pop” on the island. It’s a major design feature in this small home and it could be fabulous, or it could be polarizing.

That’s the thing about renovating for resale. The finish choices aren’t about ME. They’re about what will make this little home most appealing to buyers. As much as I would LOVE a black kitchen with super sleek and sexy appliances, that’s probably not a good idea in this situation.  So, I have been doing some market research and I think I’ve come up with a plan that will allow the new homeowners to have some fun with the finishes without completely remodeling the most expensive and prominent room in the house (the kitchen).

But you’ll have to wait til next week for the write up on that little tip and trick. Feel free to follow my adventures on Instagram and/or Facebook to see the progress firsthand!

Come On Spring! Let's Get This Party Started

My favorite thing about winter? When it’s over.

Spring! I’m so happy to have spring right around the corner this year…its been a long winter and I’m tired of looking at my grey wool sweaters. I need COLOR! I need fresh! I need something new that feels hopeful.  How about you?

Spring 2020 Trends

What’s in for this spring?

This spring is all about layering. Layering color and layering texture. A simple thought about how to refresh for spring is to think “How can I bring the outside in?” Here are a few easy to achieve ideas.

Here is where I put in my little disclaimer. I’ve selected a few things that I think capture the idea of this post. If you like them and choose to purchase them, I will receive a small (very, very small) commission.

Forsythia are the first flowers of spring!

Add fresh flowers to your home

I’m a firm believer that whatever the question, fresh flowers are the answer! They just feel happy, don’t you think? My personal favorite is to snip a few branches off a Forsythia shrub (note I said “shrub” and not bush because that’s the fancy way to say it)  Forsythia is bright, airy and a bold yellow that most everyone can incorporate into their color scheme regardless of whether they have yellow in their décor or not. Fun fact: Did you know that the best time to trim your roses is when the Forsythia bloom? It doesn’t matter what your growing zone is, when you see the yellow buds peek, its time to trim off the deadwood on your roses. I think we can stand a little deadwood pruning, don’t you?

Seasonal pillows add a much needed punch of color

Change your decorative pillow covers

Did you know that a super simple way to tackle your décor is with seasonal pillows? No. I’m not talking about adding bunnies and tulip themes unless that’s your thing. I mean to swap out those heavy, rich velvet pillow covers with something lighter in texture like linen or polished cotton. Linen always feels so fresh! I’m really crushing on seersucker right now and linen pillows with the frayed edge feel very easy. But these pillows with juicy color make me feel summer is almost here.

Try a fresh new home scent for spring

Update your home fragrance for spring

How about changing up the scent in your home? When designing a client’s home, I like to think about all the 5 senses. The one to follow sight is scent. Heavy spicy fragrances that encourage us to snuggle in and remind us of baking cookies should be lightened up with something like a fresh lavender or lilac. Nothing too heavy or sickeningly sweet though. Clean Cotton has been an all time favorite of mine, plus it smells like I’ve been spring cleaning when I’m really just sitting on my sofa.

Update and swap out your art for spring

How about swapping out your art and accessories? No one ever said you have to keep up the same artwork year-round. Even just changing out your family photos from ski trip mementos to a beach trip will have you thinking sunshine warm thoughts in no time!

Take a quick scroll through a few of the items I selected below and see if they might help bring a little light and breezy feeling to your home!

Not sure you can do it on your own? That’s okay. I’m here to help with Kansas City local and totally online design plans! Click the button below for a quick and complimentary Discovery Call to find out more about your Spring Project!

WEEK 6 - THE REVEAL →

Whew! That was fun!

To get caught up on all the participants and previous weeks, click on image

My first participation into the ORC realm was like a roller coaster ride. Remember when you were a kid and the Theme Park opened for the season and there was so much hype about the brand-new roller coaster? Everyone wanted to ride it. The few who had a chance to get on first loved it so much they were lining back up again just for the thrill of it. But no matter how much they tell you to be prepared for the first drop, you still feel your stomach in your throat. Your head whips around the corners and before it’s done, you’re either gripping on for dear life or throwing your hands up hoping to stretch out time and embrace the thrill of the screeching halt into the station.

I’m a both hands in the air kinda girl.

Enjoy the ride because it is over before it began. In fact, I’m one of those nut jobs that enjoys the anticipation of the unknown better than the actual event. I know you aren’t here to read about my roller coaster analogies and you really just want to SEE THE PICTURES already, but ya’ll…if you miss the lead up and the anticipation…you miss where the fun really happens.

For me on this ORC project, there was always something to do to move forward!  

And when a project just falls into place for you like that? It’s magical. Oh, sure there are things I wish could have been different about this space. I really, really wish that we could have skim coated those textured walls and used wallpaper instead of paint because I adore the extra interest that wallpaper adds, but oh well. Maybe when they are ready to do the next phase of the project, we can think about it. But overall, I’m happy with the results and the homeowners are seriously pleased – so in the grand scheme of things, that is all that really matters!

We started with a rough budget of $5000 to furnish this room. I like to think of this amount as a dartboard rather than a bull’s eye to account for the inevitable overages and last-minute accessories needed to fluff a space. But I intentionally did NOT over design this room. My goal was to select key, quality-built pieces that reflect my design mantra (adopted from the incomparable Sheila Bridges) to “Furnish Forward.” Invest in the best quality pieces you can afford and keep them for the long haul. For this budget and this project, found vintage and Facebook Marketplace were the ideal places to source key pieces.

The sofa is built by Rowe, a good, solid trade upholstery source that is re-upholster-able when the time comes to freshen the space. The fabric is a tough wearing performance fabric that had some surface fuzz that was easily remedied by an upholstery shaver found at JoAnns. A standard sweater shaver will do the same thing for you but take a bit longer. I also freshened the cushions with some Dacron to erase all signs of previous use. At $300, this was the piece I most worried about finding early on. Luckily, I know what to look for in well built upholstery, so score one for team ORC!

My second found piece was a 9’ x 13’ wool area rug by Karastan.  The colors were perfect! With a border edge and the apple green, teal, pinks and coral shades I knew it would anchor the conversation area. I priced this rug. This was a $5000 rug…found for $275!

I found a few accessories and an Ethan Allen Glass, brass and stainless coffee table that I replaced the glass on and a pair of $20 Asian inspired lamps that turned out to have solid brass finials! There was a fair bit of DIY on multiple pillows, painting an older dresser the client had in a back room, gilding a Facebook marketplace mirror and frames, and refinishing the tops of a pair of $75 vintage Hekman end tables. I also added after-market nails to a $179 storage bench I found at Home Goods that desperately needed something to make it more special.

But I really feel like the personality pieces of room are vintage armchairs I found for $200 and reupholstered in a geometric digitally printed velvet, was worth the splurge! With elegant legs, coil spring construction, classic lines and most importantly, a budget friendly tight back- tight seat shape, I wish these chairs could go home with me! I’m now obsessed with this fabric and walk around my house with the sample wondering where I can use it!

Now the entry area. Not a lot of available space to play with and not technically part of the challenge area, but I couldn’t very well ignore it, right? Besides that boob light was killing the mood. The church pew bench was one of the few things to stay, very sentimental for the family. I found an extremely low pile rug to clear the front door that had opening “issues” again, $75. I had a piece of street art the clients found in Paris professionally framed.

But that light fixture.

It was a piece I had been gifted from an ASID event and it was just sitting in my basement collecting dust. When I couldn’t find anything I liked for the space or for the budget? That fixture kept calling to me. The dramatic light and shadow play it throws off just makes me smile and makes me even happier to know it has a good home.

Let’s put it all together. The piano anchors the large bay window. The new bench doubles as both piano playing and extra seating when Jill entertains. The back wall balances the piano with the black storage dresser and will eventually have a cozy reading chair with ottoman to create a second seating area.  But for now, the Thibaut covered side chair and dresser hold down the far side of the room. I’m not opposed to a little breathing room in a space. Are you?

So the nitty gritty you are all waiting for. The final total number.

I spent about 35 hours of client interaction and DIY work on this project. I’m not counting the travel time to the project, because visiting my folks was the bonus there. I’m also not factoring in the amount of time it takes me to write these blogs and do #allthethings for marketing.

So, the big question here is, “Would this concept be a value for a consumer?” Let’s do the math:

My hourly rate at a flat $125 = $4375

The products cost for the room $5229.

Grand total = $9604 

For what would have been less than $10,000 (again, if I had charged for my time) my clients got a living room they now feel good about. One that they know will still be relevant and reflect their style in the coming years. Upholstered pieces they know will stand up to plenty of book club parties and family functions. A space plan they can add to in their own time and their own budget – for example – if someday they find a different piece to replace the dresser on the back wall, they know what size and function they need. Furnish Forward.

True, my fees would have been comparable to what was spent in product and you can certainly pull a project like this off on your own with time and diligence.  But here is the difference. When working with a design professional who knows their stuff, someone who can identify what is good vintage, good quality furniture you can rest assured. There’s a game plan. Confidence it all works together. That’s what I do. If you would like help with your next project, I’m here to help!

This season’s media partner is Better Homes and Gardens

Photography credit; Rodney Moore, Images by Moore

Photo editing credit; Linda Holt, Linda Holt Creative

SWIPE LEFT for upholstery

SWIPE LEFT

A random analogy came to me the other day and I’ve been really pondering on it. Is it too “cliché,” too tacky? My mom says its, “potentially off-putting” At this age, I really should listen to my mom, but here goes. Because...well, I like analogies and I think it’s funny.

What if we picked our spouses or significant others the way we pick upholstery?

When you start shopping, everything looks beautiful!

 I can imagine the scenario now, late-night chardonnay shopping on your phone (you know you do it – I do too)

“Hey. You’re looking good! I’ve been searching for YOU for-ever! That navy velvet looks really hot on you, and I’m loving your curvy arms and super sleek legs! Yeah baby. Single cushion? Tufts everywhere? No problem – I like high maintenance! Plus…at that price? With free shipping? I’d have to be insane to not want you!”

Fast forward a year or so.

“I’m just not sure how this is working out for us. Clearly this relationship isn’t going anywhere. Somehow, I thought you were going to be more supportive! More durable. I didn’t really expect that every time I sat on you I’d have to fix you. I had no idea your tufts would be so, how can I say this nicely…wimpy. You looked so plump and luscious in your profile picture! You know, It’s okay. It’s not you…It’s me. (but really, it’s you)”

Hold on. Just bear with me a minute. This is where I’m going to lose a few of you.

Yes, I know that’s a super simplistic analogy and that many lovely, high quality people are both incredibly trendy AND well-built, thank you very much. And yes, I understand that for many people, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and they don’t bother to even pay attention to the outside – because “true beauty is found within.” And to those of you uttering that phrase to yourself, number one, your momma raised you right and number two?  I thank you for making my point for me!

So how about THIS honest approach instead?

“You know. I’ve really taken the time to think about who I am and what I need in my life. I’ve been around the block a bit and I’m comfortable with who I am. I know what I want, and if you fit into it…great!

I like long Netflix marathons, so I’m going to need you to need be supportive for hours on end. Fair warning, this is a potential deal breaker for me. Sometimes, I’ll even fall asleep on you and maybe I’ll just stay there all night. I expect comfort and I won’t settle for less!

I drink red wine and coffee and I tend to spill. But here’s the thing, I MUST be able to clean you up. Look, I know that’s asking a lot and I realize that will take some effort on my part. I’m just being honest here.

I’ll admit, I’m a bit of a commitment-phobe so that means you need to be both classic and flexible. I just can’t make any promises about what your surroundings are going to look like in a few years. I’m sure you’re lovely and popular, but too trendy and I know that I’ll get tired of looking at you…and neither one of us wants that. I just don’t have time, energy or money to keep doing this “thing” over and over every few years! I want one and done, can we do this? Did I mention I have 4 children and a dog?”

If you want your upholstery to be a long-term commitment, there are a few things it MUST have in its construction. I’m not going to talk today about how we live in a disposable society, or how 9.8 MILLION TONS of furniture account for American trash. That’s a soap box for another day. But if you want to know how to make informed buying decisions about your upholstery, check out my online courses here.

I want you to be an educated consumer!

We spend more time reading the labels on our cereal boxes than we spend really researching about what is going on inside our sofa. Why aren’t we taking the time to learn about what is happening underneath that pretty fabric on our upholstery? Consumerism. Fast fashion. Keeping up with the Jones – or Kardashians or whatever. Sorry guys. That’s just NOT my thing and I’m unapologetic about it!

First let’s talk about the frame. A great chair relationship starts with a great frame! Stylistically? Stripped down, it’s just a box with different components added to create differently shaped arms, different types of backs, maybe even fancy legs. But without a good, solid lumber frame, the stress and weight of daily wear will cause it to crumble under normal couch potato usage. Frames should be built from kiln-dried hardwood, no. that is not the same as “engineered hardwood.” Not even close. Straight lumber, not warped, no knot-holes and preferably oak or maple. The purpose of kiln dried is to reduce moisture within the grain.

Vintage MCM chair being reglued at Sitzen workroom

Joints should be double doweled, glued, blocked, and for good measure, screwed to keep that all important frame foundation square. Have you ever lifted the corner of a sofa and the rest of it stayed on the floor? Did it creak when you lifted it? It was likely stapled together. Staples don’t hold the grain of the wood together; the holes will loosen over time with weight pressure and their ability to keep the wood held tightly together diminishes. So, always choose frames that are reinforced with dowels, blocks and screws. Frames constructed this way will stand up to heavy wear, multiple superman leaps off the back (I know…no one in YOUR house ever does that) and maybe most importantly in this age, repeated moves.

Legs. Can we talk about legs for a minute? They really need to be an integral part of the frame, at the very minimum, the back legs should be part of the structure. When your seat has a long, consistent piece of wood with a solid graining pattern going from the top of the chair down to the floor, that is strength. For anyone who ever tips back in their chair, you know who you are and why this is important.

How about the foundation? Heavy jute webbing woven in a basket weave with very little space between straps is best. It is attached to the underside of the lumber frame to act as a foundation base for individual steel coil springs which come in different heights and the size will depend on the depth of the rail (the front part of the frame box) Steel spring coils can be either 8 gauge for firm or 9 gauge for medium firmness. These coil springs deflect independently and spring back into shape almost indefinitely. When reupholstering or restoring upholstery, the original springs are almost always reusable. In new construction, I’ve seen a movement toward nylon webbing to cut down on manufacturing costs, but I’m old school.

The individual coils are attached to the webbing base with a thick thread or a metal clinch-it clips. (These metal clinch-it clips are why you should be careful running you hand on the underside of coil spring upholstery.) The springs are tied together from back to front, side to side, and corners to corners to create what is often referred to as 8-way hand tied.

• RANDOM TRIVIA: Before spring tying, springs were just placed on the foundation and stuffed with wool, straw or other natural fiber to hold them in place.

Here’s Bruce in the process of 8-way tying springs.

I really prefer when coil spring upholstery has a spring front edge, and here’s why. Downward pressure isn’t only in the tush part, it’s also in the knee area. Think about how you sit. When your behind is down, it’s pretty much stuck there. But what are your legs doing? I bet they’re fidgeting, crossing, stretched straight out. All that repeated movement creates compression on the front of a cushion. When the cushion is on a solid front edge rail, it has nowhere to go except to collapse, but with a spring front edge? It can deflect and preserve the front of your cushion, allowing it to last longer and keep its shape.

Let’s talk a bit about that seat cushion, shall we? There is a lot of debate about cushion fillings. There are people who sit firmly (Ha! See how I did that?) in the camp of “spring/down cushions are the best!” There are others who feel that only latex foam is the responsible choice, followed by an equally large contingency for standard polyurethane foam. I personally think that there is no right answer. There are pluses and minuses for each option and only your tush knows what it prefers. I will add this one caveat. If you choose to use a polyurethane, only purchase HR or High Resiliency foam and here’s why.

Foam, a petroleum based product, is rated with a series of four numbers. The first two digits are for density, the next two are for Indention Load Deflection, or ILD. Density is measured by weight per cubic foot. The higher the density, the firmer and heavier the foam because there is more product per cubic foot thus fewer air holes. More product per cubic foot translates to long term shape retention because the cells of the foam can support itself with product to maintain its shape for years to come. A High Resiliency foam is 3.0lb per cubic foot. Most manufactured furniture is 1.8lb per cubic foot and accounts for the sag and compression in cushions after just a couple of years of use.

Indention Load Deflection, ILD means how many pounds of pressure will it take to compress a piece of foam to 25% of its original height. For example, most upholstery seating foam is 4” thick. How many pounds of pressure will it take to push down the cushion 1”? An HR30 foam (considered a good rated foam) will take 30lbs of pressure. For a firmer cushion, many of my clients preferred an HR50, especially elderly or those with back or hip problems. A higher quality polyurethane foam will last about 15 years with regular use

Inner coil spring cushions are my personal favorite. But I will say this…I prefer vintage coil cushions to modern coil cushions. I feel like the quality of the Marshall spring units used these days isn’t what it used to be, and my professional upholsterer friends agree with me. It seems like the coil is a lighter gauge, somehow. And are often nestled in a foam box casing anyway, that foam may or may not be a higher quality, long wearing foam. It’s hard to know. Fewer manufacturers create proper spring coil cushions with multiple layers of cotton wrapping followed by a muslin wrap with a down envelope, because frankly it is costly.

Vintage sofa in progress, fabric by Trend

A less common and much more expensive seating option is latex foam cushions. Gaining in popularity among the “green set” Latex supporters assert that Polyurethane foam off-gasses harmful chemicals into the air and that Latex is biodegradable. I’m still researching the properties of latex and I’ll get back with you on the details on if its manufacturing process. From an informal survey of professional upholsterers, they find it clumsy to work with, with a sofa size slab weighing about 50lbs. It is dense, heavy and very susceptible to degradation in heat and sunlight. Consumers will want to keep their upholstered pieces away from windows and hot air vents or risk their cushions becoming a crumbly mass of powdery dust. Those who have touched a crunchy, decomposed vintage chair know what I’m talking about.

Cushions are wrapped in either a down and feather blend envelope casing or a synthetic product called Dacron. While down has a really nice loft and creates a lovely crown effect, there are concerns about harvesting methods for the feathers and a gentler option is bamboo or microfiber filling. Which ever loose fiber is chosen, it will require regular maintenance to keep the airy loft effect. Fibers and feathers notoriously clump, leaving Dacron a popular choice for low care seating.

Moving up to the arms of an upholstered piece. We need to have a little chat here about a personal habit many of us have, (cue sad public service announcement music) Arm Sitting. Many people don’t give a second thought to perching on an upholstered arm at a party or gathering. What they don’t know is if that arm can support their weight and chances are, it can’t. Yet another reason why having legs as an integral part of the frame construction is so important!

When the front of the arm extends downward and terminates in a leg, as in a chair with a straight cushion, as opposed to a t-cushion, weight goes straight to the floor. Stress on the corner joints is minimized. But that’s a side note. Poorly constructed frames made of engineered wood, soft or knotty lumber, will buckle under the weight of a hefty arm sitter. Cardboard wrapped arms will crush, never to bounce back and short of reupholstering, they are beyond hope or repair. The same goes for an upholstered back. People perch there too! Only a kiln dried hardwood frame with vertical back rails will support a back sitter.

Side by side comparison of two chair frames

Back cushions, just like seat cushions they are a personal preference, but some materials hold up better than others. My personal preference is for a tight back style sofa or chair because loose cushions make me nutty; they always need to be fluffed or adjusted. But on a positive note if you have a loose back cushion sofa, it can double as extra sleeping for guests because the width increases when the back cushions are removed. The key to loose back cushions is maintenance. The fill needs fluffed daily whether its down or synthetic, it will tend to clump in the corners and bottom of the cushion. Pillow fight anyone?

Have I left anything out about frame construction? I hope not.  Fabric is a whole other topic and one I’ll get into soon, but this is enough to digest for today. There are great upholstered frames out there to buy, if you are an informed consumer. Don’t just trust a brand to be good quality. Every manufacturer line has good frames and not-so-good frames. Investigate or buy vintage for a sure thing! Some days it feels as though I’m swimming upstream trying to convince consumers to search for vintage pieces to restore. The same tips I’ve shared here for new frames are valid for vintage and odds are you’ll have a much better product even after the investment of reupholstery than you would have for a similar price buying new.

One last soapbox stance. Invest in local upholstery craftsmen and really understand where your dollars are going!

Hi! I’m Richelle! I teach people who sit on sofas about the construction of upholstery and how to make sure it lasts!

I owned and operated a design studio and workroom for upholstery and draperies for over 6 years in the Kansas City area. I’ve seen the insides of well known brands. I know how different fabrics wear in real life and I’m here to share my insights.

Thank you for reading!

XO - R 

What a WASTE!

Want to know WHY furniture lands in the dumpster? My biggest pet peeve, UGH! So wasteful!

From the Desk of the Designer

Interior design is a very personal thing. 

Trusting someone else to capture a vision of your space can feel intimidating, especially if you aren’t quite sure what that vision is.  Will my home look like me or like this designer?  Or worse - like a slick magazine layout that no one can live in?

So before you entrust me with your home and your pocketbook, let me demystify my design process!

For each new client, I want to design a space that will be still relevant in twenty years - classic in its bones and saturated with the character of the people living there.  Creating a comfortable home takes both time and patience.  I like to create a layered effect that looks as if it evolved naturally over years, with found treasures and heirloom pieces restored to meet modern demands. The greatest compliment I've received from clients is that I "got them" - that's my goal!

Every initial meeting with a new client feels a lot like a first date! I’ll ask questions to understand your likes and dislikes. Sometimes it’s easier to communicate what you don't want than it is to explain what you do.  I like to see what design trends and styles appeal to you, so bring photos on your phone, share links to your Pinterest board, or drag out your magazines littered with post-it notes – it all helps!

During this first meeting we’ll also discuss your budget.  I’ll guide you on how best to spend those dollars wisely, but you’ll have final approval each step of the way.  We can create a long term plan together to accommodate your time and budget needs, I can "just do it" and make it the final vision magically appear, or any level of service in between.

My design background is rooted in both education and hands-on experience.   I also have a degree in psychology – it helps more than you would think!   Interior design is more than drawing a pretty picture and playing with fabrics.  Experience has taught me how things are put together and that cutting corners just won't work.

Whether we are completely remodeling your home to improve function and flow or just freshening your fabrics and surfaces, I look forward to working with you to make your home a space where you long to be!

- Richelle, Owner & Designer