A few decades ago most couches and sofas built in the U.S. were made in small shops with 50 or fewer employees. Products were primarily built one piece at a time by a single highly skilled upholsterer working on an entire piece. Most of the upholstered furniture seen in large U.S. chain retailers today is … Read more
There is a wide variation on the cost of replacement sofa cushions. Some of the variables include: Size of the cushions (length and depth.) Thickness of the cushions. Type of material used in the cushion core. Foam Down/feathers Coil springs, etc.) Foam density Type, quality and quantity of feathers/down (if used.) Shipping costs. (Replacement cushions can … Read more
It depends on whether or not the cushions are removable. Non-removable cushions are most often found in: Low and mid-priced reclining furniture. Leather seating. One sided cushions can save several hundred dollars when expensive leather is used. Some lower cost stationary couches have non-removable cushions. Replacing the foam in non-removable cushions is major surgery. It is … Read more
Repairable, sustainable, recyclable furniture costs far more to make. Most customers are not willing to pay hundreds (or thousands) of dollars more for sofas that have these features. Simplicity Sofas has been building repairable, sustainable, recyclable (and affordable) furniture over the past 12 years. The company uses a modular system with a total of 40 different … Read more
Latex foam is a natural product made from the rubber tree. It is extremely heavy and durable. It is also extremely expensive. As a result, latex foam is rarely used for sofas. Polyurethane foam is the standard type of foam used in upholstered furniture for both cushions and padding. PU foam should not be confused … Read more
High quality top and full grain leathers are unbeatable for comfort and durability. If you can afford the high cost and If you are willing to put in the time and effort necessary to clean and maintain the leather on a regular basis. Unfortunately most leathers actually sold are: Top grain “corrected” leathers, which have an artificial … Read more
Furniture Terms and Descriptions Furniture Glossary Acrylic: Synthetic polymer fiber made from natural materials, such as coal, air water, petroleum and limestone. Fibers are strong, durable and resistant to strong sunlight. They make soft, bulky, wool-like fabrics and carpets. Apron: Decorative panel that connects the surface or legs of a table or chairs. Armchair: Chair … Read more
Buying reclining furniture can’t be that complicated, right? You just need a chair or sofa that leans back. But when you have the discerning eye of a furniture insider, you know there’s more going on that just kicking back. As it turns out, you don’t need to be a furniture insider to get the perfect … Read more
Bassett and LaZBoy are pretty much identical in terms of overall quality. Due to competitive pressures, the quality of both companies has drastically declined from what it was 15 years ago. The biggest problem with almost all mass produced reclining furniture is the use of non-removable seat cushions. Bassett’s warranty is very confusing. In one … Read more
Simplicity Sofas has been building repairable, sustainable, recyclable (and affordable) furniture over the past 12 years. The company uses a modular system with a total of 40 different replaceable, interchangeable components in the entire system. 80% of the products sold use the same 25 component parts. Those 25 interchangeable parts can create thousands of different sofa, … Read more
In June 2018 American Reviews, an independent review site dedicated to finding the best American made products, published an article designating its selections for Best American Made Sofas. The top recommendation for the category of Best American Made Sofa Sectional went to Simplicity Sofas, a small North Carolina furniture manufacturer that sells direct to consumers. The company offers a uniquely … Read more
Flexsteel is an American furniture manufacturer. The company has made mid-priced upholstered seating for more than 100 years. Flexsteel Tomkins Power Reclining Sofa and Chair The company has multiple U.S. factories. Flexsteel’s Latitudes line is manufactured in China. Flexsteel’s South Haven line is manufactured in Mexico. Retail salespeople will rarely inform you about where … Read more
All articles & reviews published in this blog are based on the experience & opinions of Jeff Frank, a 45 year furniture industry veteran..
If you feel that any of the information or opinions are outdated, incorrect, or misleading, please notify Jeff for a prompt correction.
