Knight Moves: hickory chair

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10/11/2011

Deep-Seated Sofas

One of the many factors to consider when you are choosing a sofa is seat depth. Old-school sofas are relatively shallow (seat depths often range between 20-24") because they were designed for use in formal sitting areas. If you're trying to be prim and proper, it's easier and more comfortable to sit up straight when the sofa back is close by.

Nowadays deeper sofas are a popular choice for less formal spaces like den/family/TV rooms. The extra depth is more conducive to lounging, especially if two people want to lay across the sofa at the same time! Also, a nice deep sofa can make a great extra bed. If sleeping is a major consideration, then focus on styles with a single seat cushion and make sure they're long enough.

Here are a few examples of sofas with deep seats...

Sofa Liljevalch - Svenskt Tenn

Belgian Shelter Arm Slipcovered Sofa - Restoration Hardware

Greyson Sofa - BoBo Intriguing Objects

Piazza Velvet Storm Sofa - CB2

Bliss Sofa - West Elm

The Theodore Sofa - Jayson Home and Garden

Silhouettes Sofa with Dressmaker Skirt - Hickory Chair

Tufted Deep Sofa in Sand Velvet - RoomService

If you're considering a sofa with a deep seat for a casual room in your house, just be sure that there are plenty of other more upright seating options in the area. The addition of a pair of armchairs or a more traditional sofa will not only accommodate guests, it can also keep the room from looking sloppy and overly lax. Choosing a structured sofa style (like the tufted ones above) will also keep the space looking orderly and put-together.

What do you think of deep-seated sofas? Do you have one in your home? Do they annoy you? I really like them but they annoy my husband which is one of the reasons why the one in our den isn't super deep!

5/31/2011

Stunning Sectionals

Ok, the adjective "stunning" might be a bit of a stretch for sectionals. These oversized sofas aren't normally considered attractive, much less stunning. I tend to think of pleather and recliners when I hear the term. I will say, however, that there are some really good looking sectionals these days which is fantastic because it's hard to beat the comfort and functionality that they offer. They provide lots of seating space and most importantly, plenty of room for lounging which is precisely why I put one in my own den.

Besides the one I have, which is made by Sherrill, these are a few of my favorite styles:

1) Sienna - High Fashion Home

2) Cobble Hill Tribeca - ABC Home

3) Clarke - Room & Board

4) Blake - West Elm

5) Agosto - Cisco Brothers

6) Jodi - High Fashion Home

7) Lampert - Jonathan Adler

8) Clifton - Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams

9) Hyde - Williams-Sonoma Home

10) Sidecar - Crate & Barrel

11) Roman - High Fashion Home

12) Jackson - HW Home

13) Cobble Hill Prescott - ABC Home

14) Phoenix - Z Gallerie

15) Brooks (Thomas O'Brien for Hickory Chair) - HW Home

16) Gramercy - High Fashion Home

17) Tristan - Cisco Brothers

18) Cody Slipcovered (Taylor Scott) - Layla Grayce

Hickory Chair is an excellent source for a quality, American-made custom sectional. I also love lots of styles from Room Service, but their product photography isn't conducive to my needs :)

Do you have a sectional in your home?

8/06/2010

Sofa Sources and Selection Strategy

Last week, I received the following question from Alison of the fabulous fashion blog, Luella and June: I'm looking to find a great, comfortable, investment-purchase couch. What stores in Dallas or online would you recommend for quality and comfort for the long haul?

This is an excellent question and to be honest, my answer is highly contingent upon budget since the range of price points is wide and retailers tend to have a sweet spot within that range. For example, if the budget is around $1,500...I wouldn't recommend Williams-Sonoma Home. They have impeccable sofas, but none under $2,000 - especially once shipping and tax are accounted for.

With that said, no matter what your budget is, quality construction is key. Sofas usually serve as both a focal point and a workhorse in a living area....so, the best sofas are balanced in form and function. Finding the perfect mix is tough and will probably make you feel like Goldilocks during the search process. The huge range of options can be overwhelming so the key is to come up with a list of parameters to help narrow it down. If you are patient and adhere to your list, the right sofa will be found and you won't need another for a long time.

When formulating the list, you must address:

Size - for both your room and the doorways/hallways/staircases it must go through when delivered! If you're unsure about how large the footprint of the sofa should be, get out some masking tape and tape off the ideal area. Be sure to take every measurement in consideration...for instance, when I was choosing our sectional, I wanted the back to be a certain height so that my console table could be used with it. Electronics might be a factor too...i.e. you wouldn't want a super low sofa if your tv is mounted above the fireplace.
Style - assess the available colors, fabrics, and wood finishes...are they what you want and need? Is the overall look one that you'll still love in five years? In this category, go for a timeless, classic style. You can always use funky pillows and throws to bring in color and personality.
Function - what is the main way that you'll use the sofa...and be honest with yourself here. If you like to sprawl out and watch TV, make sure it's deep enough to do that without falling off. Do your sofa and coffee table serve as a dining area? Make sure the seat height is on par with the coffee table and choose an easy-to-clean fabric.

Since most retailers carry pieces from various manufacturers, it's tough to make blanket statements on quality. I think it's important to see, touch, and sit on prospective purchases, however, that exercise is not possible in some cases. Don't forget that returning a sofa isn't exactly like sending something back to Zappos! So, if you're ordering a sofa from an online-only retailer, be sure to get lots of photos (pay attention to details like the seams) and be aware of their return policy and any quality guarantees.

For your viewing pleasure, I've included my favorite styles from the following recommended online retailers. I hope you have some snacks nearby because this might take you a while to go through...I love me some sofas and just couldn't stop. So, sorry about the super exhaustive list! I started with high-end, expensive ones and tried to go down in price from there. I know I'm leaving some great sources out, so please be sure to name your favorites in the comment area. Also, please share any experience you've had (good or bad) with ordering a sofa. Any retailers or manufacturers that we should avoid?

Without further ado, here is my sofa source list!

Hickory Chair makes gorgeous, high quality furniture. Most pieces can be customized...a factor that helps makes the higher cost more palatable. In Dallas, you can order Hickory Chair pieces from Rose Tree on Knox.

Leigh

You can get this armless sectional series made to measure...I am completely infatuated with the Greek key trim!

Silhouettes

Gentry

From Restoration Hardware, I love the Easton and Kensington collections.

The Easton sectional is amazing...though I'm not sure if it warrants the $10k price tag.

Quatrine makes custom slipcovered furniture. It's really expensive but it's probably worth it in the long run!
Contemporary

New Contemporary

Williams-Sonoma Home has beautiful upholstered pieces and their quality is outstanding.

Starting at $3,900 - Hyde Sectional

Starting at $2,550 - Wilshire Sofa

Although I've never seen any furniture from Layla Grayce, I know they carry premium lines and their customer service was so impressive when I ordered my cloisonne lamp, so I'll happily endorse them!

$2,721 - Lombardy Slipcovered

Jayson Home and Garden has so many fabulous sofas and they are wonderful to work with. I have such a crush on this store.

$2,295 - Rockefeller

$2,195 - Belle

$3,695 - Jordan Sectional

Room and Board has nice-looking stuff, most has a more modern vibe.
$2,199 - Hutton

Reasonably priced selections from Horchow.

$1,629 - Dusk

$1,599 - Snow

$1,829 - Abraso

Stylish and under $2k from High Fashion Home

$1,799 - Dustin

$1,529 - Jacqueline

$1,579 - Chatham

Z Gallerie has luxe looking styles at bargain prices. I've ordered lots of furniture from them and have been thrilled with the quality thus far.
$999 - Pauline

$1,199 - Oscar

Love this casual yet modern number from CB2
$1,199 - Movie Cement Slipcovered

This one from Macy's is so sophisticated and the price is amazing!
$799 - Jacqueline

6/23/2010

Sam's House

Within the span of a month, my cousin-in-law and her husband moved into a new house and had a baby boy...named Sam :) Decorating and furnishing the house is on the docket, but is such a tough agenda item to tackle when you have a newborn. I offered to help out and asked that she provide a few photos of rooms to use as a style guide.

The den is the first space to focus on. Given the two inspiration rooms shown below, I've assembled some options for furniture and accessories that would create a similar look and feel.

Room One