Designer in China. Christopher Guy.

I went on many shopping adventures while in China in March. I can't believe I haven't continued to share until now. So here is the resumption of Designer in China. On my second trip to Hangzhou a new friend from Markasia Limited (a major importer/exporter of design home goods & hospitality design company) took me through several high end showrooms. To that point I'd only been to the China Furniture Markets (really you won't believe your eyes...I'll show that soon). I was extremely excited to meet up with the Markasia designers as well as to see that US brands do sell in China. Although the prices are about 40% more there due to the taxes. Crazy. The showrooms in Hangzhou were very much like the showrooms in the US. Here are the shots from the Christopher Guy showroom, beautiful furniture. The showroom was stunning. The furniture is more impressive in person than online & in catalogs. The curves of the wood, the details of the upholstery...simply elegant.

I absolutely LOVE those little yellow mustard chairs! The proportions are perfect. The finishes are nearly unlimited as are the fabrics.

THAT sofa! I liked it in the catalog & online, but in person it just takes your breath away. I know I know it's just a sofa...it's not often that I get to see such a well designed, well made sofa. I love good furniture.

Christopher Guy furniture pieces can easily move from traditional to transitional to contemporary with just a change of fabric or finish. NOW some of the pieces are pretty wild Alice & Wonderland style, but most of them are like the pieces shown above. Simple, classic & classy.

XX,

Jamie

Furniture as Art- The Poltona "Diz" Chair

some furniture pieces are designed so well, so well loved & executed that they actually increase in value over time. your grandchildren will be able to sell the piece for more than you originally paid for it.

this beautiful classic chair is the Poltona "Diz" Chair (27.75"H x 29"W x 34"D). it's actually still in production. the designer, Sergio Rodrigues, is 1 of brasil's leading modernist designers. his vintage furniture pieces are rapidly increasing in value.

the poltona "diz" chair is constructed out of imbuia wood with a hand-applied oil finish. sergio designed this classic piece in 2002. it's sexy & masculine. a comfortable chair that will always be classic. it currently retails for around $10,000.00. definetly out of the price range for most people i know, but an investment piece none the less. i'll just lust after it from a distance;)

xx, jamie

Is this sofa worth it?

1 of the questions I get the most of questions about is the quality of furniture & if it's worth the price. Obviously i want you to purchase the best quality you can, for durability, quality, health etc. Your sofa is a quite the investment piece. It's one of the largest pieces in your home. You & your family use it everyday. Your kids use & abuse it. Your animals snuggle into it. Your sofa is a big decision.

So what IS the difference b/n a $500 sofa & a $2,500 sofa?

The Frame:

$500 Sofa- Most less expensive sofas are made of a combination of particleboard, hardwood & plywood. The easiest way to determine the sturdiness is to lift one end, the heavier the better.

$2500 Sofa- Frames made from kiln dried hardwoods & at least 1-1/4" thick are the sturdiest, again lift one end.

Seat Cushions:

$500 Sofa- The price of the sofa is most easily seen in the cushion quality. A $500 sofa will generally have foam cushions wrapped in batting, but unzip the cushion to check. The batting increases the softness.

{Sofa cushions have a foam density rating, less costly sofas will have a rating of around 1.8 or higher. The higher the rating the longer the cushion will last. Lower end foams can start deteriorating in as little as a year. On a side note most foams start giving off VOC's when they start deteriorating.}

$2500 Sofa- Several options are available in more expensive sofas. I most often recommend a high-resiliency foam core wrapped in a down envelope. This is a cushy comfortable cushion that doesn't require fluffing like down cushions.

Springs:

$500 Sofa- The no frills version features S-shaped steel springs running front to back. Be sure to sit in the sofa in the store & check for comfort & quiet. The springs should never squeak.

$2500 Sofa- Good springs extend the life of your sofa. The best springs for a sofa are the eight-gauge steel wire that are set into the frame and hand-tied with twine in eight places. A good sofa can be reupholstered a few times before the springs need retied or redone.

Legs:

$500 Sofa- They're often metal screwed into the frame.

$2500 Sofa- Wooden legs will be a part of the frame to ensure stability.

Ultimately the decision is yours. Sometimes a less expensive sofa is the way to go. But if you use your sofa like I do a quality sofa is important! It's my main seating, lounging, snuggle time furniture. Daily use will deteriorate a less expensive sofa in no time. Keep these things in mind when you go shopping for your next sofa! The more you know the better deal you can work;)

xx, Jamie