A brief primer on hand made furniture

   "Arhaus" has an excellent article on the Fine Art of American Craftsmanship that I'd like to share with you.  Bethany wrote  a great  post on inexpensive, moderate and custom sofas last December.  The key points of custom hand made quality furniture are:

The FRAME:

• kiln dried  hardwoods, double-doweled, glued and screwed and corner-blocked 
• supports span the frame front to back
• lifetime guarantee on frame
• hand built arm panels secured to frame with oversized flat head nails
• mortise and tenon joinery

The SPRINGS:

• strong, heavy gauge, sinuous springs
• connected with  coated metal clamps (prevents rubbing of metal on metal, eliminating squeaks)
• assure lasting comfort and durability.
• warranteed to be free from defects for life.
• eight way hand tied

the FABRIC:

• arms are wrapped in generous dense fiber to maintain shape. 
• all frame parts are covered with foam and fiber prior to fabric covering
• more firm high fensity foam layer is followed by a softer plush foam to create comfortable seating
• hand sewing, hand pleating, meticulous craftsmanship and finish.

So next time you are swayed by color, style or price, look below the 'surface' ( or underneath) to see if the piece is well made.  Look for a lifetime guarantee.  Even though I look for bargains myself, knowing how good furniture is made, can help me find a diamond in the rough.  As Suzanne and Lauren McGrath say in their fabulous new book "Good Bones, Great Pieces"- "Each and every piece you choose should have legs-if you can't see using it again ten years down the road, the it's not worth investing in." 

~Nancy