Designer Review: Home Store’s

Happy Wednesday!  Today’s post is my Review of some local furniture chain stores in my area.  Yesterday, I decided to head over to Euclid St. in Fountain Valley to visit Ashley’s Home Store and Basset.  I have a client who needs a revamped space for an upcoming birthday event (Sound familiar? We do One Day Re-Vamps!) and is budget and unfortunately Time crunched, so I decided to check out some local stores to see if anything caught my eye.  Specifically, I was looking at a Sofa, Dining Table, and Lounge Chairs….what I found was mere disappointment and utter disbelief!  Let me Explain…

Aesthetically the sofas at both locations were of about the same quality and didn’t have much as far as style to go around.  Most items still take 30 days to receive.  I was thinking it was a purchase from the floor ordeal..wrong.  I wandered around and found one that caught my eye.  Is it comfy I asked myself? … NO… Matter of fact it was extremely hard!  I haven’t sat on a sofa that hard in YEARS…Ikea has softer sofas!?! What was more shocking…the Price tag! Yes! that is right…I, a designer, shuddered at the price tag…  There was absolutely NO VALUE to buying a sofa that was not made with quality at that sticker price 60″ Standard sofa with Nailhead trim= $2600. WHAT!!

I am not intending to Knock these stores.  Hey! They are still around after all.  I think the shock came from the idea that average consumers may have NO IDEA  how to judge a sofa for quality and value.  They may think that the price indicates the quality.  Not So.

HERE ARE SOME TIPS ON PICKING OUT A QUALITY SOFA:

1)  Start with the Bones

Ask the vendor what type of wood the sofa frame is made from.  Stay away from MDF.  Look for a Hard Solid Wood Frame like Alder.

2)  I’ve got a feeling

And the Sofa does too.  How does it feel when sat on.  Quality sofas will not feel like sitting on a block of foam.  Ask the associate how the cushions are made?  What is the filling?  Stay away from Foam, LOVE Down and sometimes the best is in the middle (Wrapped down for more support, but the feathers for comfort)

3)  Spring

How are the springs attached to the frame?  The best words… 8 way HAND TIED.

Enjoy! And PLEASE PLEASE make the investment of a quality sofa…Funny Thing is…Its not that much more…Not for the Value it Brings!

Blue’s that don’t get you Blue

Don’t you dare think that painting a room blue will make you blue. Its really about the gray, but that is for another post. This one is all about our recent blend of blue rooms. Our client wanted to have 3 rooms transition nicely, but it is important that they each have their own impact. The front room we left with a neutral backdrop with accents of ice blue throughout, so as you walk in it is a fresh introduction.

It welcomes you and tells you..there is more.

The office was so much fun! I have preached it over and over and I will say it again…

Be Bold With Small Spaces

The family room/T.V room boasts a dramatic deep color of blue. Even though this room has its lighting problems (Not much natural light) we went for it and it can handle it with its high ceilings. A dark room is a dark room, a small room is a small room..unless you are changing the structure..it is what it tis, so do what you want and have fun. Just don’t forget the balance. Darker rooms need white or cream to keep it fresh.

Hope you enjoy~

So Sweet..

Designer Emiliano Godoy’s Snowjob Chair doesn’t only look interesting, but IS…It is made out of recycled candy wrappers.  LOVE this Eco-Friendly Piece..Im giving it some Eco-Love!

FREE Online Design Assessment

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Concrete Flooring as Art

I do love concrete floors.  These ones are very inspiring!