Posts Tagged ‘lincolnton home decor’

Antique upholstery trends

Monday, January 11th, 2010

Upholstery Journal |by Dionne Cordell

     Antique Trends are more varied today than they were in the past. George Evans of Bond & Bowery notices specific trends in pieces ordered from his online antique marketplace. Evans says the more history we have to influence trends, the more variation there will be in styles.

IN

Antique pieces, such as Biedermeier, Georgian and Regency styles. Classic Chippendale, Louis XVI pieces, Swedish painted pieces, Jansen pieces and fine Art Deco pieces are also hot.

Mission-style oak rockers with straw-filled leather seating.

1880 Eastlake styles and 1890s, 1920s chairs.

Well-proportioned legs on sofas and loveseats rather than skirts.

Animal prints in small quantities. A leopard-print footstool or ottoman works well as an accent piece.

Silk and wool fabrics, and down and feather cushions with sumptuous trims work best with traditional frames.

Rich chenille tapestry along with classic damasks.

Jewel and earth tones. Terra cotta reds, sage greens and flaxen golds are popular.

Tone-on-tone damask fabrics.

Sumptuous trims and cording in Bullion fringe.

Neat trim and a well-done cover never fails.

Nickel nailhead trim.

OUT

Arm covers. These should only be used when taking to the paint or fabric store for color matching.

Living room sets. The classic sofa, loveseat and chair set is out of style.Use two sofas or a sofa and a pair of chairs for a versatile and stylish alternative.

Loose slipcovers.

Mattress sales rise 6.2% in October, Industry notches first monthly gain this year

Monday, December 14th, 2009

The mattress industry got a double-barreled dose of good news in October, with bedding units posting a 3.5% gain and dollars increasing by 6.2% from the same month last year. It was the first time this year that the dollar value of bedding shipments broke into positive territory.

Despite the October uptick, unit sales are down 12% for the year to date, while the dollar value of shipments is down 12.9%, according to the International Sleep Products Assn.

The trade association reported the results in its October Bedding Barometer. They reflect the business done by 18 mattress producers that account for about 46% of the industry’s unit sales and about 56% of the wholesale value of the market, ISPA said.

Bedding executives cheered the positive results in October as an indication that the industry is finally shaking off the effects of the recession.

Mattress units were up 5.9% in October, ISPA said, with foundations posting a 1% gain. The dollar value of mattress shipments was up by 6.7%, while the dollar value of foundations was up by 4.3%, according to ISPA.

The average unit selling price of mattresses increased by 0.8% in October, while the average unit selling price for foundations was up 3.3%. Overall, the average unit selling price in October was up by 2.6%, ISPA said. That was the first monthly increase since July, and it marked only the third time this year that the average unit selling price has been in positive territory.

ISPA also released a second set of industry figures for October and for the year. But those figures include “certain anomalies” that distort year-to-year comparisons, ISPA said. Furniture/Today has elected not to report those figures because they are not as representative of industry performance as the figures that remove the “anomalous cases.” All figures in this story are those that provide apples-to-apples comparisons with the previous year’s results.

Source: www.furnituretoday.com

www.HowardsFurnitureandDecoratingCenter.com

Quest for Quality

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

Three-fourths of home furnishings shoppers are looking for quality product. That’s one of the key findings from the more than 8,500 U.S. consumers responding to Furniture/Today and HGTV’s exclusive survey, The 2010 Consumer.Here’s what several home furnishings shoppers have to say about quality.

“I’m looking for better quality products that will last longer for the price rather than cheaply-made items.” 41-year-old from Ohio

“We’re buying quality things to last and changing the smaller items to give an updated look.” 61-year-old from Utah

“I’m looking for items that are very well made.” 30-year-old from Washington

“I try to be a little more rational on pieces that what will last longer while remaining stylish and functional.” 24-year-old from Maryland

“We’re buying furniture that will last a long time – product that’s not too trendy to become outdated quickly.” 33-year-old from Georgia

“The economy has made me even more apt to buy quality rather than quantity.” 56-year-old from Colorado

“Our furniture needs to last because we consider it an investment.” 40-year-old from Texas

“I look for more value and quality – a piece that will last over the years yet look great.” 43-year-old from Illinois

“I save the money before purchasing and I only buy good quality that will last.” 50-year-old from Texas

“I am saving to buy one piece of furniture at a time. Now it’s about value and quality.” 38-year-old from Alabama

“Now I think about quality and whether the furniture I purchase will stand the test of time.” 44-year-old from Missouri

Results of The 2010 Consumer will first be presented during Furniture/Today’s Leadership Conference and look for results in Furniture/Today’s December 7, 2009, print issue.

 

Source: www.furnituretoday.com

www.HowardsFurnitureandDecoratingCenter.com