Our Furniture Moves In the White House

Michelle Obama selected a Vanguard Settee for Malia and Sasha

Conover, North Carolina - Doug Jones is focused as he wraps the sturdy wood frame with fabric. He's making a sofa for the First Family - Barack, Michelle, Malia and Sasha Obama. Jones has a long way to go and a short time to get there. The order came into Vanguard Furniture late Tuesday. It's Thursday morning, and the sofa must be on its way to Washington, D.C., in just a few hours. Today, the sofa will go to the White House.

"This sofa is built totally from scratch," said Steve Gaddy, manager of Vanguard's upholstery division. "We built the frame from the ground up. We'll ship it right after lunch," Gaddy said Thursday, "the fastest way possible." The piece Barack and Michelle Obama chose is a reproduction of an antique for their daughters, with different color fabric and buttons allowing a little fun to be sewn in.

"They chose one of the most time-consuming pieces we make," Gaddy said. All of Vanguard's furniture is custom-made. Store that sell Vanguard get the specifications from the customer and place the order. "It's personalized furniture," Hubbard said.

Turnaround from order to delivery is usually about 30 days. "This is not ordinary," Gaddy said about the rush order for the White House. "We made an exception for President Obama," interjected Dixon Mitchell, company president. He's checking on progress. On time, he's assured.

All the while, Jones is busy placing padding just so, smoothing the linen fabric and punctuating his movements with the rat-a-tat-tat of his staple gun. He's a master upholsterer, a 27-year employee at Vanguard. Jones says little, smiles often. "I enjoy what I do," he said. "Been here forever. It makes a big difference to be able to do what you like to do." The seat is done. Jones pushes long, thick needles through the back of the sofa. They're threaded with stout yard to tie down the buttons. The yard, of course, matches the fabric. Jones doesn't waste motion, and he doesn't stop moving. "I'll have something in the White House," he smiles without breaking his focus. The shop is a beehive of activity with the hum of the air handlers and staccato of the air-driven staplers keeping a steady, if uneven, beat.

The workers know the importance of the sofa, but they have their own specialities to produce. "We're busy," Gaddy said. "We're working." Recent years haven't been kind to the furniture industry. Thursday, however, saw assorted sized of sofas and chairs, some with woven fabric, some with leather, being framed up and covered. "Everybody's excited about having a pieces in the White House," Gaddy said. "It's our first one," Mitchell said.

"It takes four-and-a-half to five hours to upholster a piece like this," Mitchell said. "That's after the frame is finished." Jones never lets up, deftly placing the big needles with the kill of an acupuncture expert. Gaddy and Mitchell watch with approval. "We're honored to do this," Mitchell said. "The orders mean producing and shipping faster than normal, redoing your schedule. But everybody wants to beat the deadlines. This is special."

Jones allows himself a grin. It's a Vanguard sofa that's going to the White House, but his handiwork is what everyone will see.

- Excerpts from the Hickory Daily Record, by Larry Clark, published January 15, 2009

Relieving The Pain of Your Utility Bill with Higher Efficiency Window Coverings

Did you know energy loss through windows is ten times greater than through walls? If you have older windows and are not ready or cannot replace them, energy efficient window treatments may be your answer to savings. Some carefully selected window treatments can reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer.

Shades should be mounted as close to the glass as possible with the sides of the shade held close to the wall to establish a sealed air space. You should lower shades on sunlit windows in the summer. Shades on the south side of a house should be raised in the winter during the day, then lowered during the night.

For greater efficiency, use dual shades—highly reflective (white) on one side and heat absorbing (dark) on the other side—that can be reversed with the seasons. The reflective side should always face the warmest side: outward during the cooling season and inward during the heating season. They need to be drawn all day to be effective.

Quilted roller shades, and some types of Roman shades, feature several layers of fiber batting and sealed edges. These shades act as both insulation and air barrier. They control air infiltration more effectively than other soft window treatments.

Several manufacturers have designed two- or three-cell pleated or honeycomb shades with dead air spaces, which increase their insulating value. These shades, however, provide only slight control of air infiltration. You need to caulk and weatherstrip around windows to reduce air leakage.

Also, layered treatments, like layered clothing, can trap dead air helping to control the temperature but effectiveness depends on the number of layers and degree of air penetration. Drapery panels are the most common window treatment. More folds and fuller panels result in more trapped air. Lined, even interlined draperies are better insulators than unlined while separate linings are slightly better than attached linings. Combining several kinds of energy saving coverings such as draperies or cornices with blinds, shades or shutters help you get the most energy efficient solution possible.

Additional sources: U.S. Department of Energy, J. Simpson

What makes an upholstered sofa or chair “Green”?

How to Buy a Sofa - Part III

There is much controversy over the definition of green, so consider these things if you are buying furniture with an “eco-conscience”:

1. Frames: The newest green development is discontinuing the use of solid hardwood and using cross-laminated veneers. Some believe the lamination process adds even more strength to the piece. An alternative is using wood from sustainably harvested forests, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) which certifies forests with the affiliated Rainforest Alliance.

2. Manufacturer Location: Buy from a manufacturer that limits the travel time required to make, sell and deliver you a piece of furniture. The large furniture manufacturers are generally located in North Carolina, Michigan, and Los Angeles.

3. Glues and Wood Stains: Water-based wood stains and glue are as protective and supportive to wood as chemical based replacements for the most part. In place of petroleum-derived solvents, they use water, making then preferable in terms of health and environmental impacts.

4. Seat Cushion Foam: The latest eco trend is replacement of traditional latex foam core with cushions that combine a soy-based foam core with a mixed down or feather fill around the center cushion, and covered in a down-proof cotton cover.

5. Eco-green fabrics: Upholstery fabrics manufacturers are offering all types of new options.
Modal is made with reconstituted cellulose from beech trees.

• Modal is a luxuriously soft and extravagant eco-friendly fabric. 100% biodegradable, this bio-based fabric is 50% more water-absorbent than cotton, but it dyes just as well, holds color fast, and is resistant to fading.
• Quickly renewable, bamboo grows easily without the use of pesticides and fertilizers, and can even be used to stabilize erosion and deforestation. Bamboo pulp is bleached without chlorine and is easy to dye, thus lessening the environmental impacts of cloth production.
• Hemp is eco-friendly, sustainable and much easier to grow (without the use of pesticides) than cotton. Cotton fields account for 50% of the world’s pesticide use; hemp fields don’t even register on the scale. Hemp has many uses, is easily renewable and highly versatile.
• Organic cotton is grown in soil that is certified free of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for at least three years.
• Buyer beware...fabrics should be "organic fabrics" not simply fabric from organic fibers. More on sustainably "Green" textile choices in a subsequent newsletter.........

So, what have we learned in Part I, II and III about How to Buy a Sofa?

Quality isn’t a luxury…it’s a necessity. And, good quality means long-lasting construction, long-term value and sustainability.

According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), over 8.7 million tons of furniture and home furnishings are dumped into municipal landfills annually. Junk furniture ends up in landfill.

Quality furniture becomes an antique that is passed on and appreciated for generations…

Upholstery Fabric Considerations

When choosing fabrics for upholstered furniture, keep in mind that tightly woven fabrics tend to wear the best. Durability is determined by the number of threads per square inch rather than the thickness of the yarn used. Generally, fabrics that have their pattern woven in will wear better than printed fabrics. For a nice selection of quality fabric, check out mastercraft upholstered furniture. There are many types of fiber used in the manufacturing of upholstered fabrics. They each have unique attributes that must be considered in making a selection based on the planned usage of the upholstered furniture. In addition to their look and feel, factors to consider are wearability, cleanability and sensitivity to direct sunlight. Natural fibers Prized for their soft "hand" and versatility, the natural fibers remain popular as coverings for upholstered furniture.

Cotton
Cotton takes color well (soft and pliable), blends well with other fibers, and is durable with unlimited styling potential. However, continuous exposure to direct sunlight will cause the cotton fiber to disintegrate on your upholstered furniture. In damp climates, cotton may tend to mildew. It is somewhat less stain resistant than synthetics.

Flax/Linen
With a strong, cool, crisp "hand", linen is one of the most durable fibers available for upholstered furniture. It has a tendency to resist color and is often found in natural coloration's as a result. Linen reflects heat somewhat better than cotton, but will disintegrate in intense sunlight. It is at the higher end of fabric cost.

Wool
Naturally springy and resilient, wool is extremely durable for upholstered furniture. It tends to take color softly and has good resistance to abrasion. Wool has natural stain resistance, but should be mothproofed before using.

Silk
Without question the most beautiful, yet fragile, of all upholstered furniture fabrics. Soft and lustrous, strong light will tend to discolor and disintegrate the fiber. Difficult to clean, the fibers will tend to mildew in damp climates.

Rayon/Acetate
Made of processed cellulose, it can be woven to emulate silk or linen. Its low cost and blendability with other more expensive fibers make it a popular choice for upholstered furniture. The fiber is reasonably colorfast and abrasion resistant, but will tend to rot under long exposure to direct sunlight.

Synthetic fibers
These petroleum-based fibers have been developed over the last sixty years as an alternative to natural fibers and are often blended with them in an effort to achieve the best properties of each in upholstered furniture.

Polyester: a polymer that takes vibrant colors well. Polyester is strong and cleanable and stands up well under direct sunlight. Flame and abrasion resistant, this upholstered furniture fabric is often blended with natural fibers to soften its feel. Recent developments have led to a finely extruded polyester fiber that resembles the look and feel of silk.

Olefin: known by many people by the trade name, Herculon. Strong, with natural stain resistant properties, olefin is a bulky fiber with a coarse "hand" that does not hold up well to direct sunlight. Often it is used to create heavy textured causal fabrics in upholstered furniture. These fabrics when loosely woven require a latex backing for added strength.

Nylon: The strongest and most dirt resistant fiber, nylon is used often in commercial applications where it will take a beating. Until recently, nylon upholstered furniture typically had a high luster. However, now it is often available with a delustered wool look and feel. Its only drawback is its sensitivity to sunlight.

(Source: About.com)

What Do I Get For My Money?

Part II of How to Buy a Sofa
What you get for your money:

• $1,000 or under
  This sofa is headed for landfill…how “green” is that? At this price you usually get plastic legs screwed into the frame instead of wooden legs that are part of the posts or bolted into the frame, a webbed seating support system with no springs, low-density-foam cushions that will break down quickly under normal wear and tear, inexpensive single-color fabrics, or inexpensive prints where the pattern is machine-stamped on--not woven into the fabric, cheap zippers on the cushions…and you’re lucky if you will get five years of use out of this sofa before it looks pretty bad. The cushions fill will start to fail after about 1 year of normal wear and tear, so considering a $2,500 sofa will last 5-7 years, you just wasted a lot of money.
  
• ~ $2,000
  Some corners might be cut to meet this price point. Instead of eight-way hand-tied springs, some manufacturers use a sinuous wire spring suspension system. Watch out for construction shortcuts like using cardboard instead of wood to form the rolled shape of the arm (it WILL break down under normal wear) and nailed or tacked on fabric (like you may have seen on the 1-hour TV show sofa transformations on Trading Spaces and the like) instead of hand sewn seams. Ask questions before you buy in this price range.


• Above $2,000
  You should be getting a quality product from a time-honored manufacturer. This price range should give you solid frame construction with a lifetime warranty, 8-way hand tied suspension, your choice of seat and back fill, and a quality, durable fabric. If you are buying from a private-label store, ask them who manufactures their product and how long they have been in business. If they are a newcomer, delve into their manufacturing techniques and warranties to insure quality for your money. Much of the cost at this price point (40-50%) is the fabric, and it’s worth careful consideration.

Decide How much to Spend:
Ask yourself:

1. Is this sofa for a seldom-used “ceremonial” living room?
   If so, almost any upholstery-grade fabric will do.


2. Is this sofa for the family room of an active family?
   If so, select a tightly woven, easily cleaned fabric. Mohair wears like steel, but is expensive. (Watch for new improved versions coming soon at a better price point.) A high quality Micofibre or ultra suede is durable and practical as spills sponge off. Tightly woven linen, linen/cotton blends, cotton/polyester blends are appropriate. Be careful of chenille fabrics that are not backed for upholstery use as they are too soft to withstand the wear and tear of an active family with kids and pets. Read more on upholstery fabric considerations here.

Where Should You Buy Your Sofa?

The Internet Yes, there are literally hundreds of websites but how do you know that the cushion feels right for you, the seat depth matches your body type (you don’t really want your feet dangling as you try to look cool impressing the boss, do you?), the fabric feels soft to the touch (called the “hand” in the fabric industry) and the size is really as you perceive it. In other words, unless you are a furniture designer who can evaluate these details, or you are buying for “show” and not for personal use, this is not recommended.

Department Stores As you can imagine, the big guys buy in bulk so get great prices, but before you go there, do your homework. Ask who manufacturers the sofa, how long the company has been in business and what is the warranty on the frame and the cushions. Department store prices are notoriously inflated (how else can they do those incredible 50% off sales?), so if you must, wait for a sale and then ask for an additional discount.

Specialty Furniture or Home Décor Stores Smaller stores are probably a good bet since they have done their homework on the manufacturer(s) they represent, have made a considerable investment in filling their showroom with samples and are interested in customer satisfaction for their limited customer base. Once again, ask for the warranty on the frame and cushions, and how long the manufacturer has been in business. Just be sure you are buying at your price point from a reputable supplier, and most important, from a trusted manufacturer who stands behind their product even if the local merchant stops representing their line.

Interior Designers Designers work closely with the local furniture manufacturer showrooms (at the San Francisco design center area there are over 100 in a 3-block radius) so offer they widest variety of styles, price categories and an unlimited selection of fabrics from this plethora of resources. If you have engaged a designer, use him or her to narrow the choices for you based on your needs, your personal style and color preferences, and budget, then go for a test drive of 2 or 3 pieces to make your decision and the final fabric selection. The designer will then order both the fabric and furniture for you, coordinate delivery from the manufacturer to a local receiver, inspect the piece for accuracy to your order, then make arrangements for local delivery to your home. If you believe the saying “variety breeds confusion”, then hire an interior designer to guide you to make the right choice for your lifestyle and your budget.

Not All Sofas Are Created Equal

Part I of How to Buy a Sofa

So your old sofa is looking pretty sad after all living through all those 49ner games, birthday parties, kids using it as a trampoline, and afternoon naps? But where do you begin and what should it cost? How do you find one that will fit in your budget, be good quality and get here before the Holidays? Here’s some information to help you on your quest.

Quality First
When making big purchasing decisions for your home, consider their life in your life. For the big things that most people don’t change on a whim like sofas, kitchen appliances, and window coverings, buy the best quality you can afford now, consider how long you will own it, and then divide the cost over that timeframe to judge if you can afford it. For a sofa, it should last and look great for a minimum of 10 years. If you buy the best quality, it will last for 20 years, but you’ll probably be tired of the fabric after 10, so you can decide then to either replace it or recover it.

What’s Inside? A quality sofa has:

mortise and tenon frame joints,

corner blocks with both staples and screws.

Are you eco-conscious? Look for companies that have switched from hardwood to cross-laminated veneers to reduce dependence on declining sources of old growth timber. These are actually more durable than hardwood due to the multiple layers of glued wood. Caution here, be sure the glues don’t contain toxic formaldehyde.

Seating Suspension System. The suspension system which hides under the cushions makes a big difference in how the sofa feels when you sit on it, just like the ride in a car. Think about it. The more support that is provided, the more comfortable the seating will be…and the longer it will last.

There are three types of suspension system under the cushions and fabric decking that you see when you go shopping. The most important question to ask when buying a sofa which will have a big impact on the cost is what type of suspension is in the sofa?

Eight-way hand tied is the time-honored method of building lasting furniture, and provides the most long-lasting supportive construction. This construction can only be done by hand, so it takes time and labor. In this construction technique every individual coil in the spring seat system is joined by twine that is hand-tied with 8 knots.

Some manufacturers claim that steel sinuous wire spring systems are equal, but look at the difference in construction, and then you decide.

For sure, a fabric webbed seating system is guaranteed to fail…don’t even consider this unless you want to create some future land fill.

Before you buy, ASK, and if the salesperson does not know, move on to the next store.

The right seat cushion for you depends on what type of “sit” you want! (Photos examples courtesy of Vanguard Furniture)

“Soft and Cushy” Standard cushions usually feature a polyurethane foam core wrapped in polyester fiberfill and a cloth cover. The industry “standard” is a 2.0 support factor, but look for a 2.5 factor or higher if you can find it for additional longevity. Anything less than 2.0 won’t last more than 5 years with active family wear and tear.

“Firm but Cushy” Extra-firm cushions are preferred by older customers who may need a firm seat to make it easier to get up and out of the seat. This is accomplished by using higher compression foam and a tighter wrap of the polyester and muslin cover or adding an extra crown of foam in the center of the cushion.

“Solid and Comfortable with Resilience” Spring-Down cushions offer the best resilience and pliability. The center of the cushion contains a “Marshall Spring unit”, a series of individually wrapped springs each sewn in muslin bags. This set of springs is then surrounded by a foam core, then a wrap containing a mixture of polyester fiber-fill and down, and finally a down-proof cover. This construction is usually the most expensive and will last the longest without front breakdown of the cushion. It is a firm sit that may not be the most comfortable to everyone.

“Shabby Chic – Sometimes looks slept-on!” Ultra-Down cushions. These cushions are usually found in very high quality furniture. The center of the cushion is a foam core, surrounded by a generous combination of polyester fiber, duck down and feather down encased in its own zippered case. The down is quite thick so over time it will flatten out. The case has a zipper so you can remove it from the cushion and toss it in the dryer to “fluff” it up. If you’re a neat freak, always running around “karate chopping” your throw pillows, this is probably not the fill for you.

“Eco-Friendly” Cushion – Look for cushions that combine a soy-based foam core with a mixed down and feather fill around the center cushion, and covered in a down-proof cotton cover.

The right Back Cushion for you. How much back support do you need?

Standard back cushions are usually constructed with channels of polyester fiberfill to keep the fill from slipping around with use. This material stays in place inside the channels and provides a medium level of support.

Ultra-Down (or Ultra-Plush) back cushions are a good match for the Ultra-down seat cushions, but will look the most “sat-in".

Tight-back Cushion

This is a sofa without loose back cushions. The frame is padded with polyurethane and a layer of fiber or down fill and attached for the frame. This is a very neat and contemporary look. It’s a great choice for a guest bedroom sofa-bed where it’s always a question where to throw all the cushions to open up the bed!

2008 Color Forecast: Purple Alert!

Purple Alert!

Check it out…just pick up a magazine and start counting the pages overflowing in all shades of violet, lavender, lilac, and plum. This is the beginning of a trend that will lead us BACK to mauve…yup, your old friend mauve! Purple this time will have a new twist when paired with varying shades of yellow, the color wheel compliment to purple. Where will you see the purple trend? Everywhere from clothing and home textiles to wall coverings, paint and even in the plants in your garden. To make lavender livable, remember that as the darkest color in the spectrum, it will absorb light rather than reflect it as yellow does. If you are going to paint with it, start by trying a soft and light color, or stick to accents like pillows, vases, a table cloth, or even a lamp. For an eco-friendly and earthy feel pair purple with a brown tone like sand or bamboo to tone it down. For glamour, mix it in big doses and multiple layers of intensity with gray and metallic silver. For example, paint the ceiling a deep purple, the walls a soft lavender, use brown on the floor and silver metallic accessories. Wow! !