SOFA STYLES – Know The Lingo

Hey – can we talk?

Interior design language or furniture language doesn’t usually come tumbling out of the average person’s mouth. There’s no real use for it in everyday conversation. When the time arrives to purchase furniture is when that vocabulary becomes, not only a handy tool, but a time saver.

Today I am going to help you know the lingo!

I am going to keep it simple and I am going to stick to sofa styles.

TRADITIONAL 

 

 

Classic in looks and largest in selection: 

These pieces may have:  Skirts, nail head trim, rolled arms, fringe, tufted backs, lots of throw pillows, opulent fabrics, including leathers.  Terms you might hear to describe the look: Tuscany style, Heirloom, French Country, Old World, Old English, Men’s Club, Cottage, Library, Rustic or Elegant, etc. The most wonderful thing about Traditional is the range and scope of flexibility available to the consumer.

It can be incredibly boring or rich and sassy!

                                                                                                          

TRANSITIONAL

 

 

 

These pieces are a bit more stream-limed. The style leans toward a  modern look without really committing to it. The word, itself, is telling you that the style is transitioning between traditional and contemporary. Terms you might hear to describe this look: Urban, Fresh, Lifestyle, Casual, Michigan Avenue, Global,Young, Relaxed, Inviting, Clean lines and nothing fussy.

These sofas mean business and probably have set of ear buds resting on a cushion!

 

CONTEMPORARYThese audacious pieces are recognizable by their simplicity of design. The lines are low in profile, unencumbered and gutsy.

 Common terms describing a contemporary sofa: Modern, Ultra-modern, Soho Loft, Stark, Industrial, Strong, High Tech, Retro, Mid Century Modern, Funky, Architectural, and, are you ready for this? Classic.    

 

Hope you now have a better working vocabulary for distinguishing and naming styles of upholstery. The same lingo holds up for bedroom furniture, dining rooms, media rooms, and well, you get the drift, right?!

To give honors: the top two photos are sofas from Bradington Young and the contemporary piece is from American Leather.

Available at Phelan’s

 

Now get out there and talk the talk!

 

Dianne Ross

Interior Designer/Phelan’s Interiors

363-9634

Exposed Leg or Skirted?

  Ivanka Trump showing some skirt AND exposed leg!

 

 I really have a tough time passing up a cheap shot.  But it’s such a cool photo. Okay, okay – I know -

On this blog we are supposed to be talking about furniture!

Sorry. Back to business!

Previously, we have been talking about WHAT defines a quality-built sofa and  WHY to buy a quality-built sofa, so maybe we should just take a quick little peek at some options. Options are choices that quality sofa manufactures offer in the way of design elements.

So what are these exposed legs and skirted pieces all about?

Today I promise not to be wordy! Let’s look at pictures, instead.

Exposed leg:  Wooden or Metal legs showing. Several styles  are available beginning with the clean look of a  Tapered Leg

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course there are Queen Anne legs, French legs, and Chippendale legs, but next I’ll show you a sofa leg called a foot. It’s quite low to the ground, it’s round, and it’s called a Bun Foot

One more (leg) foot coming up. This style can be utilized in nearly any type of setting. It doesn’t really make any type of design statement other than it is harmonious: A Wedge Foot

And the last image for today is the standard skirted sofa – well, almost standard. This one is called a Waterfall Skirt because it falls to the floor without any horizontal seams. It is fluid and quite elegant. Sorry, I’m getting wordy again.

All of these styles are from Thomasville,  just one of our custom vendors. There are other choices of exposed legs and skirts, as well. Take a peek online or stop in and check out the show room! We’d love to show you our exposed legs and skirts!

 

Dianne Ross

Interior Designer/ Phelan’s Interiors

363-9634

secrets and tips about sofa buying(Couch versus Sofa)

 

Hey everybody!  

Given a few furniture facts, you can make sense of why one sofa costs $699.00 and another costs $1899.00. My intent, this week, is for this blog to  clear up some of that mystery. COUCH vs  SOFA

First thing you need to know is that NOT all sofas are created equal. Some don’t even have springs inside. Some don’t have hardwood frames – actually some have “no wood” frames. . . plastic is used in the very worst couch construction. And staples. Honest.

 

  Corner blocked, doubled doweled, screwed and glued?!!  No, it’s not a dirty joke , but sounds like it could be, right?   It’s a bit of information describing fine construction. Only in the very best! Yes it costs more. And most likely it is made in the USA. I could (and might ) write lots of Blogs about the hows and whys to quality furnishings, but today I am giving some BASIC information that could save you hundreds of dollars over a 10 -20 years. Well, I mean if you like buying a couch every couple of years then this blog probably isn’t for you.

 

But  if you are like most of us who expect a piece of upholstered furniture to be comfy AND durable read on, read on!

 

                                       Quality built in America, Norwalk Sofa: “Ollie”

 

An Anatomy Lesson

No matter which form or function you choose, the comfort and quality of upholstery is based on what’s hidden: the frame, springs and padding. The following is a general guide to better understanding what’s beneath that seat.

Frames:

• Kiln-dried, hardwood frames are traditionally the best for ensuring long-term stability and shape retention. (Soft woods are rarely used as they are more likely to warp or split.)
• Quality hardwood frames are joined with some combination of dowels, screws, glue, staples and corner blocks … and the best examples use a combination of these methods. Properly built furniture will not rack or twist when you lift it by one corner.

Springs:

• “EIGHT-WAY” hand-tied: A time-honored construction method using a series of coils, each tied — from front to back, side to side and diagonally — eight times. This system creates even comfort and prevents “give” in the frame. This traditional method is believed to offer superior comfort, but has lost ground in recent years due to the advent of equally durable systems that are more cost-effective and less labor-intensive.
• “DROP-IN” machine-tied: A pre-assembled, machine-made coil system designed to simulate the hand-tied version. It drops into the frame and is typically fastened at the corners.
• “NO-SAG” or sinuous: A popular system using S-shaped steel components fastened to the frame from front to back. The highest quality versions use sturdy 8-gauge wire closely spaced and reinforced with horizontal steel supports. This method is used in many contemporary and traditional style frames.

Beneath all coil systems is a web of tightly woven jute strips or so-called sheet webbing, reinforced with steel straps under each row of springs. In the best upholstery, you can’t see between the strips.

	Eight-Way Hand-Tied	Sinuous Wire

Want more nuts and bolts? Drop me a line! We have sofas!

 

Dianne Ross

Interior Designer /Phelan’s Interiors

363-9634

Great Eastern Iowa DUCK RACE

Once again Cedar Rapids is gearing up for an event to bolster our community.

 

Not only is PHELAN’S INTERIOR’S hoping our adopted duck floats across the finish line in first place, we are absolutely convinced he is the best decked!

This guy is sporting his bling and his pizazz. Check out that top hat -

 His winner’s attitude is on full display!

 

  Yup – he is all about floatin’ his stuff and living the dream!

 

Paul Phelan Jr will be downtown Saturday for the highly anticipated launch! Come and join us.  You’ll be supporting the 2009 beneficiaries:

FOUR OAKS, BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS,  POLK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

This event is all about having a great time!

Saturday, June 6,  1:00PM

 

Dianne Ross

Interior Designer/Phelan’s Interiors

363-9634

PS Is it just me or has anyone else noticed a striking resemblance of our adopted duck to J R ?!  I don’t know – maybe it’s the tie.