THE BASICS

Hi Friends!

We talked in this post about how designing your home, is kind of like dressing yourself. Over the next couple of weeks, I'll break down each step for you in a bit more detail.

Let's start with STEP 1: Start with the Basics: (think: trousers, a great top, shoes) = Sofa, Chairs, Tables

Your space should have "good, solid" pieces. This will save you from having to replace pieces too soon. When pieces wear out, they can be refinished or reupholstered.

If you don't have the budget for new, quality pieces, you can often find pieces at a yard sale or flea market, that have been loved, but the owner's taste has changed. If they are good pieces, you can have them refinished or reupholstered for a fraction of the cost of buying new!

Here's what to look for in a good piece:

CASEGOODS  (dresser, armoire, etc.) 
1. A cue that a casegood has good construction, is the presence of Dovetail or  Mortise and Tenon Joints. 

2. Look for solid wood pieces.
3. Say "yes" to pieces secured with screws, and dowels.  Say "no" to nails and staples. Also, if you can see glue, that might mean there was not enough attention to other details. 
4. The bottom of drawers should "float" in a groove, rather than be glued to the piece. This helps with expansion and contraction.
5. The piece should not creak, rock, or wobble.
6. Stay away from particle board.
7. Doors/drawers should hang straight.














UPHOLSTERY (chair, sofa, ottoman, etc.)
1. An easy sign to see if the upholsterer gave quality attention to a piece, is if the fabric patterns line up from panel to panel. Notice how the stripes on the right chair, line up from base, to cushion, to chair back.

Source

2. If the piece has a skirt, it should be lined and/or have weights in the bottom to help it hang nicely
3. Eight-way hand-tied springs are a great sign that individual care was put into the piece. 

Baker Furniture

4. Make sure the piece has a comfortable "sit." Ensure there are not areas that sink you into the piece.
5. Check inside the cushion to see that the foam/fill is wrapped in padding.
6. Check for reversible cushions! They can be fluffed/flipped and turned if the filling starts to settle.
7. Also check these pieces to see that they don't creak, rock or wobble.


Good Luck!
xx.
Stacie

Stacie | EDIT design HOUSE