Before You Shop
For Furniture……
By Carol Carr
A
ssess your needs carefully. Do you
need the furniture for the living
room which is used infrequently or
for your family room that is used all the
time? Think about the size of the room and
measure carefully. Will the furniture with-
stand the wear and tear of pets and chil-
dren? Knowing your families’ living habits
and how long you expect this furniture to
last is very important. I believe it’s better to
spend more money for the room that you
use most often, i.e. the family room.
UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE
Speaking of how long your furniture will
last brings up an important point about
sustainability. Furniture that has “good
bones” can be re-covered and refreshed. By
good bones, I mean solid wood construc-
tion, frames that are made with seasoned,
kiln-dried hardwood. The lumber is placed
in a dry kiln under controlled conditions
which removes all the moisture. The
springs can be repaired or replaced, the fill
can be replaced and voila you have a new
look and feel in your once expensive sofa
and nothing is going in the landfill.
The frame provides structure and unity
the springs provide shape and support.
High quality cone springs or coils are close-
ly tied together to provide comfort and are
usually supported with webbing.
What is your preference,