Craftsman and Artisan Sculpted Furnishings





Craftsman & Artisan Sculpted Furnishings. Why they make a difference.

At LJID, we look for the best quality furnishings for our clients. It is a delight to commission a handmade piece that is designed specially for the homeowner.

We want the furniture we put into each client’s home to last.  A work of art, lighting, or a piece of furniture that we create, is something that can be passed on to their family.  We start by sourcing the finest quality materials and construction for our given budget.

This is the kind of collaborative experience that I look forward to

Every year I attend home furnishings industry trade shows in Las Vegas and High Point North Carolina, giving me great opportunities to meet with manufacturers and craftsmen and discuss their work and the vision behind their new collections. The insight and information on the quality of the materials they use in construction educate and inform me while keeping me up-to-date with the best options for our clients.

While there, I am eager not only to learn about the craftsmanship, but to try out how that chair or how that sofa feels

Is it comfortable?  Is the pitch of the seat too far back or is it just right to support someone sitting for a period of time?

Thom Filicia living room for Kravet
thom filicia for kravet

One of my favorite manufacturers Kravet, celebrated their 100 year anniversary at High Point with several new well crafted furniture introductions.

Furniture Construction

The chair featured below shows the use of an 8-way hand-tied coil springs system which is an age-old method of counter-tensioning each of the steel springs inside the chair with jute cord in an intricate network of hand-tied knots. Each spring is braced to draw support and share the load across the entire network. This makes the furniture incredibly durable, resistant to sagging, and comfortable.  This technique is considered the best for seating as it will insure that your springs will not come loose for decades.

The wood here is typically a hardwood construction such as a maple, oak, cedar or cherry known for its strength and stability. Kiln-dried maple is used most often, free of knots, bark, and any compromising defects. Woods to avoid in construction are softer woods like pine. Engineered woCutout of chair from Ambella Home furnitureod is a newer introduction in frame construction.  Created by pressing wood chips and glue together, engineered wood can be used successfully in some furniture applications, but it is not recommended for seating frames as it lacks the weight-bearing durability and stability of a hardwood frame.  While engineered wood frames can be priced a bit lower, they are commonly considered by furniture insiders as “disposable” because they wear out and often end up in landfills.The chair below is from Ambella Home. Their craftsmen use wood dowels in the  construction which add stability because they move with the frame. In a good-quality frame, the joints are glued, dowelled, and screwed. The corners may be further strengthened by the addition of reinforcing blocks for extra support and strength.

You will want to check for, or add upholstery lining to the underside.  It helps form the final shape, keeps dust out of the fill materials and prolongs the life of the outer  upholstery fabric. It also makes it easy to reupholster.

 

The graphic below is from Lee Industries and is a great illustration detailing how fine furniture is constructed.

Lee Industries’ chair construction image

lee industries

Padding

The main types of upholstery padding are cotton; foam and dacron; foam and feather down; and horsehair. Fine antique furniture will use horsehair because of its durability and springiness.  It can last for centuries and you can wash and re-wash it when reupholstering.  It is the most expensive upholstery padding and only used in a few factories in Europe these days.

In modern-day cushion construction, we have plenty of high-quality options from which to choose based on seating preferences, wellness considerations and price point. The most common are high density foam wrapped with polyester fiber or feather down. You will want to consider allergies before choosing the filling materials.  For example, some people are allergic to latex, or to down.

Buying the finest seat interior and fabrics will help the furniture cushions hold their shape.

Sustainability

There are several environmentally conscious businesses that build sustainable furniture and upholstery using natural, non-toxic and locally sourced sustainable materials.  The Witford showroom at the Pacific Design Center showcases many fine pieces from several carefully selected manufacturers on their showroom floor.  One of those companies is Lee Industries.  Their line of naturalLEE furnishings includes chairs, sofas, sectionals, beds, dining and outdoor furniture. They use soy-based renewable seat cushions, padding made with soy-based polyol, recycled fibers made from clear and white plastic bottles, regenerated fibers and wood from certified sustainable forests and bonded with soy-based resin.  Their springs are 80% recycled metal, and their finishes are all very low VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds).Some fine artisans will bench make custom furniture using green products.  One such custom enterprise is Eco Balanza.  Their craftsmen use organic cotton, wool and latex to construct pieces that carry a lifetime guarantee on every piece they build.

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A recent project has me working with the artisans at J. Betanco Furniture in Los Angeles. Creating a piece with craftsmen and women who skillfully produce and reupholster custom furniture continues to expand my education in designing furniture for both ultimate quality and longevity.

J. Betanco Furniture artisans

j. betanco furniture

As a design professional, I know I have done my best when each room I create is infused with the timeless appeal of great design and remarkable craftsmanship as seen in the architectural elements, the furnishings and the finishing touches.

Lauren Jacobsen livingroom design

That’s what makes a space really special.

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About the Author: Lauren55