We are all home a lot more now and it needs to be comfortable! My clients are getting new comfort chairs and sofas to make the nest better. Swivel chairs are everywhere! Move to talk, watch the screen or socially distance and face another person – just twist and all directions are possible. After an extensive search here are a few that don’t look like Grannie’s swivel rocker. Working with an interior designer, custom options available in some cases.

How attached are you to your furniture?  When I paid $1000 each for Kindle Queen Anne dining chairs in the ‘80s I expected them to be with me forever! But the next house had 12-15’ ceilings and they looked like dollhouse furniture. Our son moved back to Arizona and the problem was temporarily solved as his new home had low ceilings! I found the perfect chairs for my new move at a great price during the recession and now we’re into contemporary! Maybe the younger generation has the best idea – inexpensive furniture that gets dumped every time you move!  Or if you furnish the home perfectly the new owner may want to purchase the furniture. 

AND what about the family pieces that have memories? I had to part with the Bentwood rocker my husband gave me before we were married, but no one had ever sat in it – too deep!

So what is your goal?  A breathtaking space that is perfect or room full of memories?

One of the take-aways from my recent visit to the High Point Market was how important stain resistant fabrics are becoming in the furniture industry. In the Henredon showroom wine was flowing freely onto the white fabrics they are now using to show that simply blotting it off with a paper towel is all that is necessary. Vanguard had many whites to choose from that had the same capability. Upon returning to the local fabric showrooms indeed these fabrics under many different names are available. You see them mainly in solids but patterns are sure to follow. Manufacturers are making a point that light, even white, upholstery can be maintained to look great. The prices vary but many are a lower price point than the indoor/outdoor fabrics that have been widely used for interiors (especially homes with pets and children).

The technique for coating the fabrics may be applicable for your own fabrics. Ask your interior designer to research the treatment on your fabric.

In researching current trends, the topic of custom furniture came up and, yes, there has been a huge increase in custom furnishings! Why? A designer is trying to achieve the most continuity possible within the confines of the home. This does not mean everything matches but there is a flow to materials that are good together. If your eye catches or you are thinking about an object in the room, the flow is not as good as it should be! Good interior designs are best at interior materials! Yes, Frank Lloyd Wright did customize furniture and adaptations of his case pieces are still available. (Stickley Furniture)

However, many homeowners want a more cushioned look that invites sinking in and relaxing. From a custom sectional to fit the shape of the room to wall mounted shelves instead of free standing console tables, the options are limitless! Built-in cabinetry instead of freestanding? More storage? A better look customized for you? Custom everything? There are so many chair options for both dining and relaxing that you can usually find great chairs. Check your spaces. Are they working for you? LuxeSpecs.com is adding a furniture section soon!