Isn’t it crazy how so many of us still lament the loss of Domino? That was good stuff.
Remember Rita Konig? She had a really great column in Domino and seemed so cool and chic. Did you know she writes for the Wall Street Journal? And she used to write for the New York Times. While she was there she did this little post about reupholstering her antique sofa. Here’s the before shot (btw can you even handle how pretty the frame of this sofa is!?):
She picked a really cool pattern from Quadrille. I’m wondering how much she still loves this sofa after a few years of seeing the pattern day in, day out? There are probably only a handful of fabric patterns out there that I would be okay with that situation.
Anyway, when she had her sofa recovered, she had the cushions filled with down. Not foam wrapped in down, like so many of us have, but full on down-filled cushions. I’ve never used that for clients, but I once had an old chair that had a down-filled cushion. It was so comfortable, but I found that I was fluffing the cushion all the time!
I’d love the hear any input you readers might have. I’m going sofa shopping with a client this week so this is a little bit of market research. Anyone with down-filled cushions want to put their two cents in? Do they get smashed all the time? Does that drive you nuts?? It seems like it might just be the most comfortable thing in the world though…
PS Today on Babble…pretty pillows out of cloth napkins
The best quality seat cushions for both aesthetics and comfort are SPRING DOWN CUSHIONS with a Blend Down wrap. The center of the cushion is made up of little Marshall coil springs, each encased in muslin–then surrounded by layers of dense foam.
The foam/spring core is then encased in a Blend Down wrap, which is a muslin-covered blanket of down, feathers and little clusters of polyester fiberfill. Then it all goes into a down-proof cushion cover so that feathers can't come through.
The springs keep the cushion from going flat or sitting out after a year or two–but you'll never feel them. They're more resilient than an all foam-core cushion.
There is usually an upcharge for Spring Down cushions from furniture manufacturers, but they're standard on most frames at the Calico Corners – Calico Home stores.
And for anyone looking for a bargain, the custom upholstered furniture at the Calico stores will be on sale in early September.
Hey Jenny,
I have a sofa with down-filled cushions and as fabulous as they look, they are a HUGE pain to have to fluff. Our house is on the market and I will email you the link so you can see.
I second what Jan says- the most comfortable, easy maintenence, long lasting cushions I have owned were "spring-down". Of course there is no such thing as a spring-down back cushion, so outside of a tight-back the back will always need fluffing.
Rita comes from a British family, and I find the brits love that lived in smushed down look. Personally, I go for the foam wrapped down. I just can't deal with fluffing all the time and on a tailored sofa I don't think it works very well.
Your point is valueble for me. Thanks!
My blog:
DSL Vergleich dslvergleichdsl.com
the sofa i had before this one was filled with down (it was my grandmother's) and it drove me NUTS fluffing those pillows, especially the back pillows. its one of the biggest reasons that sofa is in our garage now. but…i guess its possible that my couch just might not have had enough down in it? who knows, but what i do know is that i'll never get another down sofa just in case.
I am a designer. The "sofa thing" is becoming a HUGE problem. It is a sad fact, that the price of creating a sofa has gone up. Springs, cushioning, foam etc. But manufacturers of even somewhat finer sofas are trying to hold price appeal, and the result is…. junk. I want a crown that holds, comfort, pitch, etc. All are increasingly difficult to achieve, without spending huge bucks. I would do a Baker for every client, but few will choke down the price. But think of this: how long do you want to look at a hideous lumpy sofa? Three thousand dollars does not buy much, and if you want fabulous fabric, do not put that fabric on junk furniture. Ninety percent of what is available at retail is just that. This includes all the most popular catalogue "stars", and most of what you will find even in decent furniture stores. It includes all those chain stores we're all familiar with. So the answer is you can spend ten thousand once, or two thousand FIVE times, and look at ugly all during that time frame of about twelve years in the last case. You're not going to be very comfortable either. I have decided the market has a huge gap, and it is what I call the very "decent, ten year sofa that looks good for nine years, without selling a child." DOES NOT EXIST, until you get to the eight to ten thousand mark in price. Btw…. my own sofa is eighteen years old, and has been slipcovered twice. It looks like the day it was purchased, and is as comfortable. That same not- to -be- mentioned company does not put that quality into their product today, as they must assume nobody will pay. Too bad and way wrong.