Landscape Lovely

 

Makes a lady want to hopscotch…

 

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!

Must Have Halloween Decor Sources

Its no secret that Halloween is my absolutely favorite holiday. I have always thrown my baby (Now 10) his birthday party on Halloween (His actual Birthday is the 29th) and always par take in the dress up, both personally and at home. I also enjoy seeing other decorations and rooms as I walk around all throughout October. If you have a great Halloween Decor Source or some Fun Party Decorations, please Share! I am way too excited for Halloween for this to be my only post! It is so hot outside, I almost forgot it is sooo close!

Grandin Road Catalogue

 

Ballard Designs

 

Please leave your comments/links to some of your favorite Halloween Decor or Inspiration!  I love to hear your feedback!

HGTV’S Casting!! – Need Some Hgtv Love!?!

Is Your Home a Design Disaster?

Was This Decorating Catastrophe Caused by You or Someone Else -
a Friend, Relative, or even a Hired Designer?

Then HGTV is looking for you!

Did the dream room makeover YOU attempted yourself go horribly wrong?
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Have you taken a friend or relative’s decorating advice against your better
judgment & now you’re left with the room from hell!!
Did you hire an interior decorator or designer thinking the experts could do
no wrong? Instead, you were left with a horrible color scheme, decorating
theme gone wrong, way-too-loud design or the most tacky & tasteless
makeover ever. Now what do you do?!?

Our design expert will deconstruct this decorating disaster and help you see
where things went horribly wrong. Then, let the fun begin! Our host will bring the
room down to the bare bones and help you redecorate it- the right way this time!
This includes furniture, window treatments, finishes and accessories—and this
time end up with a room you can finally be proud of!

HGTV is NOW CASTING energetic, fun-spirited homeowners in LOS ANGELES area
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A sense of humor about the room is required, & you should be up for
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The room must have been designed and decorated by the homeowner,
a friend/relative, or even a hired professional.

NOTE: rooms that were
decorated by the previous homeowner will NOT be considered.

Home must be within 60 miles of Los Angeles.

If you think you might be a victim of your own self-inflicted design wounds, apply
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To Apply:
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The Latest Before and After

What is your latest interior quest?

Do you have any before and afters to share?

What do you think about this before and after?

~Leslie