I recently had the pleasure of spending some quality time in an absolutely great sofa from Ekornes, a Norwegian manufacturer that specializes in ergonomic seating. The Stressless line is a very high quality versatile grouping that offers high and low back recliners with articulating headrests and lumbar supports. With a simple push the seats recline without any levers or gadgets and glides into any position for a truly conforming fit. On the high back models the headrest smoothly curves forward allowing for a perfect television viewing or reading position. In the same motion the inner lumbar support changes position to allow for optimal lower back support. The Paradise model even has a height adjustable headrest to accommodate people of various sizes. A sleep mode can be engaged by simply pulling the headrest forward and laying the chair almost flat. The Ekornes Stressless line comes in sofas, love seats, and chairs and most sets are sold in a combination of high and low backs to fit the ideal needs of the consumer. Ekornes has been producing the line since 1972 with a very close attention to detail, and are always on the cutting edge of innovation. Find a dealer close to you and discover real comfort!
In my recent post about rising fuel costs and its impact on furniture prices I pointed out how retailers are trying to recoup some of their increased costs. What does that mean for the consumer? It means that you should always ask for the final DELIVERED price when considering a purchase.
I contacted several prominent furniture stores and asked them what it would cost to have a normal size sofa and matching chair delivered to my house. Delivery would be in the same city and not a far out of the way location. It was interesting what I discovered.
Continue reading "Shoppers Should Ask About Furniture Store Delivery Fees" »
It has been 20 years since I started in the retail furniture market, and in that time there has been a huge shift in manufacturing. Production that was once dominated by the United States and Eastern Europe is now shifting more towards Asia, and the trend will continue. With no help from the high Euro dollar, companies that formerly sold their wares in a very competitive market have fallen to cutting corners and following suit with Chinese production. Don't get me wrong, there are some very strong companies like the Ekornes Stressless line from Norway that have fought off any changes in there quality line of seating groups and recliners, but they are the shrinking exception. The good news is this. The Chinese production has gotten better and better with modern automation and the need for cost conscious production around the world.
Continue reading "Asian Furniture Competes in World Market" »
For many years the furniture industry has worked to develop durable and price effective upholsteries for the general consumer market. Of course if money is no object, premium leathers and fine fabrics are available in a multitude of colors and textures. For the average person a much more usable and cleanable covering is usually required. When guiding consumers at the retail level I always inquire about traffic levels and expectations to create a happy experience. One of the commonly used fabric options of today includes micro fibers. When I was first introduced to this seemingly to good to be true option I did have my reservations, but time has proven the product to be a very good alternative.
Continue reading "Micro Fibers Give Furniture Longer Life" »
If you're looking for a sleek, exotic look perfectly suited for smaller apartments and living spaces, Oriental-styled furniture is a definite option to consider. Chinese and Japanese offerings have had a great influence on Western furniture and modern design. Bedroom furniture pieces such as the platform bed and futon, as well as stacked chests and trunks are examples of Asian-inspired furniture that is practical and compact, and at the same time stylish and sophisticated.
Lacquered surfaces are a key attribute of the Chinese furniture style, creating luxuriantly deep finishes that are paradoxically subtle and striking in their elegance. Comprised of ebony, teak and rosewood, Chinese furniture often bears an inlay of semi-precious materials like lapis lazuli, jade and mother-of-pearl. Symmetrical construction, miter joints and copper, brass or pewter brackets are often employed to create a clean profile that enhances a modern, cosmopolitan living space.
Space-saving savvy puts Japanese-inspired furniture high on the list of city dwellers and dorm room denizens alike. If you love your sleek, streamlined platform bed and couldn't live without your stowaway futon, you owe your admiration to the ingenuity of a culture that traditionally shuns large, overwrought furniture. Other recognizable items that hail from Japan include the stacked Tansu chests and Nagamochi trunks. Like Chinese furnishings, furniture influenced by Japanese design is defined by its joinery, with master artisans taking years to learn the construction of these complex, durable joints. Great pride is taken in the general lack of nails or glue that holds the structure together, and in the joint's shock absorbing properties.
Much contemporary furniture owes its inspiration to ancient Oriental designs. The beauty of a piece was found in its usefulness and construction. Simplicity of design was valued more than ostentatious and gaudy overindulgence. The same can be said for today's modern furniture, especially bedroom furniture, where sleek and simple equals stylish and sophisticated.
Submitted by: James Allen
TAGS: Furniture Styles and Trends
