A home furnishings magazine that explores aspirational spaces, focused on designer insights and leading quality brands for the home.
Looking through the lens of designer Celerie Kemble. Designer Insights
LeatherTrends
A conversation with Regenia Payne from Hancock and Moore furniture.
See our Design Tips throughout the magazine.
“INSPIRING by Good’s Home Furnishings is our effort to bring you design inspiration for your home through alluring home fashion photography from the finest names in home furnishings, along with features that showcase design expertise from some of the industry’s most skilled professionals.” - Kevin Bowman CEO
Great design begins with great inspiration. The talented designers, whose work graces the pages of our magazine, understand the meaning of “Inspiring”, our magazine’s title, which is,“giving someone positive or creative feelings”. Whether the flow of a fabric on a dress for a fashion designer, or the flow through the room for an interior designer, the creativity begins at a point in the mind, or on a canvas, or today, even on a computer screen. Regardless of its origin, the inspiration for creation of room design is one that begins a process of collaboration; the collaboration of color, texture, tone, dimension, scale, mood, lighting, layering, and ultimately the love for what all of these things can produce for a client.
Please join us on this journey in our latest edition of Inspiring Our journey will introduce or reacquaint you to some of the very best furniture manufacturers in the world with alluring images, thought-provoking product designs, and carefully curated interiors that offer aspiration to our readers. Like prior editions, we return with a look into the world of textiles with our Woven feature, which includes an interview with the talented Regenia Payne, Creative Director at the venerable leather and upholstery manufacturer, Hancock and Moore. This feature has typically focused entirely on all things textiles, with a look into the upcoming trends in fabric designs; but, with this issue, we delve into the luxurious world of high-end leather, as seen through the eyes of the one of the industry’s foremost experts on this incredible, yet often-misunderstood, natural material. Our Designer Insights feature will provide a view into the mind of one the industry’s most exciting and successful interior designers, the talented Celerie Kemble, whose elegant aesthetic has been featured in countless design magazines and chronicled in her books and through her own furniture product lines with Taylor King and Woodbridge.
We want our magazine to be more than just pretty pictures and affirmations from the brightest minds of the home industry. We also want to educate the luxury consumer on the value of luxury home furnishings. In our last edition, we guided our readers through the intricacies of buying luxury wood furniture products with detailed information on the 5 tenets of quality case goods. Throughout the pages of this edition, we take you through various design tips from trade professionals. We will delve into Mood and Style, Scale, Accessorization, Rugs, and use of Upholstery Trims. At Good’s, we work very closely with our furniture suppliers right here in Hickory, NC. Our proximity to our suppliers allows us to have the most experienced and best trained sales organizations in the home furnishings industry, and we want to share that knowledge with you to help you in selecting fine furnishings for your home.
Our designers in Hickory and Charlotte/Pineville, NC look forward to helping you create the rooms of your dreams that your family and friends can enjoy for many years.
Lillian August, Sherrill and Hickory White Furniture featured on the cover and pages 2-5 SHOP SHERRILL FURNITURE COMPANIES
Made for you. Made-to-order finely tailored upholstery, dining and bedroom furnishings. Luxurious style, heirloom quality and handcrafted in Hickory, NC.
“Pretty is as pretty does.” Highland House believes the world could use more of it. More civility. More thoughtfulness. More authenticity. Call them old-fashioned, but they believe manners matter. They believe graciousness and gratitude are non-negotiable. Shop a unique selection of beautiful upholstery, seating, romanced bedrooms and accent seating.
For over four decades, Maitland-Smith has been creating exquisite and unique decorative accessories, lighting, elegant mirrors and accent furniture.
® Jessica Charles specializes in fine upholstered fabric seating. Creating quality handcrafted furniture.
Passionate artisans creating the finest leather seating in America. Custom leather choices and finishes to create your own seating style. Handcrafted in North Carolina. Shop now at goodshomefurnishings.com
UNDERSTANDING THE CLIENT’S MOOD AND STYLE When approaching a project with a client, much care must be taken to understand the objectives for the particular room; how it flows with other areas of the home, and how it will be used by the client.
For Sally Bentley, owner of Designing Women in Hickory, NC, this begins with a conversation about the space and the lifestyle of the client. She asks questions about their children, pets, and entertainment frequency and type. As Sally likes to say, “We can make it beautiful, but it has to fit their lifestyle”. Sally will ask her clients to bring photos of rooms that appeal to them, whether from personal photos, or magazines, etc…This will help to define the “language” of the client, as words like “transitional” or “contemporary” have different meanings to different people both in and out of the industry. The lines between the more structured design styles have been blurred in recent decades, and new ones have emerged, such as, “farmhouse” and “industrial”. It is important to understand what the client identifies with regarding their style preference, and an understanding of the terminology they use is critical. Once the basics of the project are understood, Sally is very transparent about the budgeting for the project, which can direct the choice of product lines selected for the project. Transparency about budgeting can avoid awkward conversations at the time the project is presented and allow the designer to prioritize where to invest in higher quality and perhaps where to save in a project. An area that should certainly be invested in is products that you sit in, particularly with upholstery and dining chairs. Sally likes to take her clients through a “tush test”, so that the client can sit in the various cushion and frame options from her suppliers, educating her clients on the benefits of each suspension and cushion type, and what to expect in quality and tailoring from each supplier. The fabric and finish selections are left to the end in Sally’s projects. Once she has a client excited about the fit and feel of their product selections, it is time for the fabrics and finishes to be applied, which Sally calls the “little black dress” for the furniture frames. From there, the art and accessories are added, and become the “jewelry” to the project.
Woven Voices In Textile Trends
A conversation with leather expert Regenia Payne from Hancock and Moore furniture.
With a B.S. in Interior Design and a minor in Marketing from Appalachian State University, Regenia began her career with Alderman Studios as a set designer. This led to her start in the furniture industry with Henredon Furniture as the Director of Upholstery Merchandising. Regenia has held upholstery and Creative Director roles with venerable high-end brands Vanguard, Taylor King and Bernhardt Furniture. She presently is the Creative Director for high-end manufacturers Hancock & Moore and Jessica Charles.
Regenia, our focus with this feature has typically been on the fabric side of the textile industry, with insight into textures, colors and trends to look for in the coming seasons. This is our first focus on leather. Can you tell our readers what is the most misunderstood thing about the use of leather in upholstered goods?
The most misunderstood thing about leather is that “all leather is created equally.” You have differences among leathers in that some are protected and some are anilines/natural leathers. Protected leathers and aniline plus leathers are more pigmented and offer more protection and service/cleanability. Aniline Leathers are more natural and a have more supple hand. The aniline leathers will showcase the hallmarks of nature which means they will mar easily and develop a rich patina over time.
Regenia, you have vast experience across a number of industry-leading product lines in your career. What is it that drew you to Hancock and Moore?
Having been a consultant/Creative Director for Taylor King, who at the time were owned by the owners of Hancock & Moore, I knew that Hancock & Moore was a great company that shared the same principles of going the extra mile to make amazing high-end furniture that has exceptional quality. The added bonus to this equation was the fact that Hancock & Moore had been purchased in 2015 by the Rock House Farm Family of Brands. I knew that it would be great to be a part of a company committed to excellence in design and who truly care for the artisans who produce their furniture.
“My favorite ways to incorporate leather into a room design is the use of embossed and decorative leathers.”
My favorite ways to incorporate leather into a room design is the use of embossed and decorative leathers. I love to shop and using these types of decorative leathers on accent chairs, ottomans and the arm panels of sofas, is like completing the outfit with a great handbag or pair of shoes. This layering of texture and pattern is what helps to create a fashionable home. What are some of your favorite creative ways to incorporate leather products into a room design?
“Leather colors have evolved from the basic brown and finally away from gray!”
In fabrics, we are certainly seeing a trend away from the muted grays and beiges and back into color and pattern, certainly in chairs and pillows and even body cloths. What are you seeing in trends in the leather color palette?
Leather colors have evolved from the basic brown and finally away from gray! We are seeing all shades of green, from moss, olive, and celadon trending in this past Interwoven fabric show. Shades of white continue to be introduced in the protected leather category. My favorite trending shades are all of the new hues of blue that have progressed from the basic indigos, to fresher and cleaner shades of sky and icy blues in the aniline category. Two other key colors on the rise continue to be teal and mulberry, a brighter merlot hue.
“My favorite trending shades are all of the new hues of blue that have progressed from the basic indigos, to fresher and cleaner shades of sky and icy blues.”
Talk to us about how leather is protected as it goes through the production process, and is it suitable for everyday use?
Our leathers are stored on wooden horses to keep them from getting wrinkled or creased before they go into production. Leather is definitely suitable for everyday use if you determine what the customer expectations are for the type of leather upholstery being used. Will this piece of leather furniture be used in direct sunlight, or in a family room, or an area of the home that will rarely be used, a more decorative space? Does the end-consumer need to have a cleanable surface for kids and pets? Answers to these questions will determine if you need a protected leather that is more forgiving to scratches/everyday wear and tear, and is able to be cleaned, or if you will be able to use an Aniline leather. Aniline leathers are more delicate like silk, they will scratch, but show the beauty of the natural state of the hide and will develop a patina over time where they come into contact with natural oils in the skin.
What are some of the exciting techniques and treatments that Hancock and Moore uses to distinguish its leather products?
Here at Hancock & Moore we have a vast tool box of exciting techniques and treatments. If you can dream it, nine times out of ten, we can create it. Being able to do just about anything to a piece of furniture definitely makes my job fun and spurs my creativity.
Some of the treatments include:
Burnishing: we take the leather hide and add to the base coat a hand-antiquing process with a series of stains.
Embossed Leather patterns add a design that has been stamped in to the leather with metal plates to give the leather a distinctive design like crocodile skins, western boot patterns, faux bois, etc.
Shearling and Hair-On-Hide skins are very popular accents that add another textural layer.
Decorative Stitching: We have sewing machines that can be programmed to do innumerable types of stitching like you would see on handbags and shoes.
Hand Lacing: Our artisans actually take thin strips of shoe-lace sized leather and lace it through leather pieces to join them in a decorative design.
“Shearling and Hair-On-Hide skins are very popular accents that add another textural layer.”
Can you give our readers some insight into the various grades of leather for upholstery? What makes certain leathers more expensive than others?
There are several variables that go into determining the grades of leather which make some more expensive than others.
Country of Origin: European hides are generally larger and are cleaner hides. They usually have a more premium price verses hides that are from South America, which are a little smaller and have more hallmarks of nature/ blemishes on them that require more work to achieve an acceptable finish for the end use. Finish: The type of finish that is applied, along with how many steps are required to perfect the hide in its natural state to achieve an Analine, Aniline +, or pigmented leather, which also contributes to the pricing and ultimately the grading of the hide.
Sophisticated and livable luxury for your home. From transitional to modern styles Vanguard Furniture inspires you. In the heart of Western North Carolina, generations of American craftsmanship continue to thrive. Shop now at goodshomefurnishings.com
Of Fabrics And Pillows
Designer Looks
Featuring 100s Of Fabrics And Special Finishes.
SCALE and proportionality in design is a critical aspect of any project. Whether a grand room with 20’ + ceilings, or a smaller city condo with lower ceilings, the proportion of the design will often determine its success for the client.
Proper scaling can be achieved in a number of ways and throughout the design of the space. With ceilings, for example, you may choose to highlight them or to draw attention away from them. Ceiling treatments, such as moldings and contrasting colors are intended to draw the eye upward, whereas continuing the wall color through the molding and ceilings will help to direct more attention downward to the furnishings and floors. The scaling of the furniture used in the room, whether through tall bookcases and cabinets, or a tall headboard are clever ways to bring the ceiling height down and to help fill in broad space. Another tip is to use large vertical artwork or even framed fabric panels to bring color and interest to large wall space. In a bedroom, the height of bedside pieces, chests, dressers, etc…should all be somewhat proportionate to the bed. In a living room, the same can be said for the upholstery, tables and wall pieces chosen. A smaller scaled sofa (80-92” for example) may be completely appropriate for a smaller room dimension, but can be lost in a larger space. Sofas from higher-end manufacturers are offered in a variety of lengths, widths and depths and can be customized in dimension. Sectionals are excellent ways to fill a room as these modular pieces can be connected infinitely and in different geometric patterns to fit the space just perfectly. Glass top tables are a great option to open up the room and let the color or the rugs and upholstery show through. High quality manufacturers will match your fabric beautifully as it moves from the front and sides to the back, but this is open space is a great opportunity for a console or sofa table to adorn the back of the sofa, which gives another great place for accessories to draw interest. These console tables are available in shallow depths such as just 10-12”. If you have a 100” sofa, a console table filling 80-90% of the back of the sofa is appropriate.
It all started in a modest facility with two employees and a perfect velvet chair. Today, over 50 years later, Vanguard Furniture is still making good on its name to be at the forefront of the furniture industry — from one perfect velvet chair to endless personalized possibilities.
From the Grandhaven bed by designer Michael Weiss to the Envision custom sectional below, Vanguard Furniture has a look for everyone.
Vanguard features new collections in fine seating. You’ll fall in love with the new Denison sectional or sofa and set the perfect table with the luxury-laced Spledor dining room and chairs. For exciting new looks in bedrooms, dining rooms, upholstery, TV consoles and home office; shop the newest Vanguard styles.
Designer Insights
Design conversation with celebrated designer Celerie Kemble
CELERIE KEMBLE is a principal in Kemble Interiors, a design firm co-founded by her mother, Mimi McMakin. Celerie has been featured in every major design magazine and has been listed for more than ten years in House Beautiful’s annual “Top Designers” list.
Kemble Interiors has a legendary reputation in the design community. You and your talented mother, Mimi, have produced inspired designs for decades and have carefully balanced whimsy and elegance for your discerning design clients. Can you give our readers some insight into how your mother’s influence drew you to interior design, and what continues to drive your passion for the craft today?
As a child I lived in a carefully crafted, but fuss-free home, full of quirk, sentiment, and garden-inspired design. My mother had incorporated her treasures and finds for us while doing decades of interior design work for others. She mixed in family heirlooms (only important because of the personal history they held, not of any financial value). She recovered, repainted, and repurposed so much, but placed it over handpainted Portuguese tiles she designed and laid herself. The alchemy of her creativity, constant shopping, and access to the top fabric houses, artisans, and craftsmen made our home, a 19th century church, a magical place filled with chintzes, pastels, wicker, and freshly painted Victorian furniture. It was hard to tell the indoors from the outdoors as our home consisted almost entirely of porches and gazebos. To grow up inside such beauty while being taught the fun of the hunt in antiques stores, auction houses, and being brought along to field trips to meet furniture craftsman; I don’t think I had a chance at any other career. It is still the transformation from before to after that holds me to this business. I love nothing more than discovering or discerning what I think is special in a piece of furniture or a textile and then finding a home for it, as well as placing supporting characters on the stage to let it shine. A long time ago, I thought I would be a writer, but instead of words as my medium I’ve found I’m better at composing stories of elements and objects.
“Successful rooms come from balancing color, tone and saturation...”
When you take on a design project with a client, what are the questions that you feel must be asked and answered first?
The first questions I ask a client beyond their timeline and budget (those are never the fun questions!), is what they want their home to feel like. It is very unusual to have a client who can describe design in any sort of accurate nuance, but they can tell me if they want the house to feel lively, different, cozy, warm, cool, striking, calm, layered, clean, orderly, colorful, restful, etc... I ask them how many people are expected to be in one room at a time, what the tone of conversation is - how dressed or undressed is each experience? This sounds silly, but knowing if it is a barefoot experience, or if others have dressed up to be there, tells me a lot about what the expectations are, and what will make the most of the room. I design more to a subconscious sense and by feeling first, then I try to add the unique and beautiful elements that make a room memorable.
Your use of beautiful color palettes in your projects is so thoughtful and invoking. Can you give our readers an understanding of how you approach color and tone in your projects?
I often start a project by finding a textile or art piece that has many colors in it, but has a composure and overall sense that is appealing to my client. From there, I will tease out colors that might dominate the room and others that juxtapose the larger consistent colors. There isn’t a color I don’t like, but successful rooms come from balancing color, tone and saturation, so I often think more of what complements each other and how using different strength of those colors helps to place some things in the foreground and some things in the background. It isn’t a science of any kind, so I’m struggling even with how to explain it - it is again, back to how it all FEELS together. I think anything can be made to work as long as it is partnered with complementary elements. You should see me on the dance floor. . . I’m an absolute disaster! But, if you give me a partner who can lead and has great rhythm, I’m magically moving as if I knew what to do; colors are the same.
photo by Karyn Millet
“I design more to a subconscious sense and by feeling first, then I try to add the unique and beautiful elements that make a room memorable. ”
Kemble Interiors has offices in NY, Palm Beach and London, and each of these locations is inspiring and enticing in their own right; but where else do you like to travel to for great design inspiration?
I shop wherever I travel - flea markets, auctions, antique stores, thrift stores. It is often in the jumble of good merchandising that I can see something in an exciting light. I love to travel and be a house guest, or a luncheon or dinner guest, so I learn what home feels like in different places. My favorite homes tend to be family vacation homes that have a few generations of use. I was just in the countryside in England, and I am amazed each time I go at the warmth of the old houses and myriad of collections inside.
“My boyfriend might tell you that the favorite part of every room in our house is the ceiling.”
Your projects always use ceiling space in such exciting and creative ways; whether through beautiful light fixtures, or ceiling décor and trim. Can you speak to our readers about how you like to incorporate ceilings into your room designs?
My boyfriend might tell you that the favorite part of every room in our house is the ceiling. That’s probably because I can’t really accessorize it more and it is the clearest surface, but I do always give it a special finish since it is the broadest uncovered surface in every room. It should be deliberately shiny, flat-finished, clad in paper, or adorned with a molding that confines it with flair. I also hunt for ceiling lights that cast off magnificent shadows and bear some important aspects of the room’s design soul strongly enough that up there and alone they still define the character of the room.
“Usually,
I am inspired by something I once admired as an antique or vintage piece.”
Your product lines with Taylor King and Woodbridge are exquisite, and your use of fabric colors, textures, and trims correlate so beautifully with the luxurious wood finishes. Our readers would love to know how you approach product design. With an upholstered item, do you start with a great design in mind and try to build comfort around that design, or vice versa?
When I am designing products for one of my furniture lines, I approach it as an opportunity to create something I can’t find in the marketplace. Usually, I am inspired by something I once admired as an antique or vintage piece. As an interior designer, to know where you can find multiples of something, or reliably-scaled furniture again and again, is a most precious tool. I think of my licensed furniture lines as a way to provide myself and other designers personality-filled furniture in exciting finishes, useful scale, or very comfortable upholstery with distinctive lines. I have decades worth of deep files of images from antique stores, auction catalogs, and sketches or photos of things that strike me; whether I can use them on a project or not. Later, the hardware, legs, or the apron may become the start of a new coffee table or bedside table scaled for today’s use. Much of my Taylor King upholstery has been inspired by the Napoleon III era because I love the small scale and handsome tailoring of the time. We worked through many revisions to bring the tight seats and backs to the comfort level I refer to as, “fall asleep watching TV in”, or at least to the level below that which I call, “happy to have a long, long conversation with a glass of wine in hand”. If I can’t look forward to sitting in something for an hour or two, I don’t want it! Luckily, both Taylor King and Woodbridge have engineers and furniture makers who are game to indulge me, while also knowing how to interpret my complex fantasies to craft them into beautiful, comfortable, well-made pieces that will last!
See more of this delightful interview by visiting our website or using this QR CODE.
Passion. Finesse. Community. These are the pillars that started Taylor King almost fifty years ago. As one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of American-made custom upholstered furniture, Taylor King attributes its success to an unparalleled commitment to quality and comfort.
AREA RUGS Ahh, area rugs; often the center point of a room, and the foundation on which many room designs are made.
A high-quality rug could be a family heirloom or simply the place where the design begins with new purchase. Starting with the rug is an excellent way to begin the process of pulling color and tone to the room, and can lead to the wall colors, fabrics, finishes and accessories chosen for the project. Area rugs can be used atop any flooring surface, but caution should be taken to use the appropriate rug pad, depending on the underlying surface. Certain rug pads are designed to be used on carpet to prevent color transfer, and all rug pads help to prevent bunching of the rug and slippage. Rug-making is an art that has been done for thousands of years, originating in countries mostly on the Asian Continent. Quality rugs are made by hand (and hand-knotted) by families in villages over several months or made by hand by artisans in dedicated factories. The use of quality materials such regional wools and silk assure longevity, texture, and rich color for many years. When using the rug as the starting point for a room, it makes the fabric and finish selections so much easier. It is much harder to find the perfect rug for a room once the fabrics and finishes have been selected. By starting with the rug, you can pull subtle colors and tones out of the rug with your fabric, finish and accessory selections.
Featuring Handcrafted Tables From Woodbridge.
Woodbridge Furniture is a high-end brand in the quality home furnishings marketplace offering stylish case goods, dining and occasional furniture.
to exacting specifications in luxurious high-quality paint and stained finish options.
18. Woodbridge Furniture provides exquisite bedroom, dining and living room items built
The art of fine upholstery making featuring over 1400 fabrics, 150 leathers, 100 trims and 45 wood finishes. Almost every item in the Taylor King line can be customized to meet your exact needs. Whether you want an item deeper, taller, longer or in a preferred fabric, they are happy to accommodate. Shop now at goodshomefurnishings.com
Over 1400 Fabric And 150 Leather Choices.
A display of exquisite craftsmanship. The Kesden wood bed features graceful curves and a rich Tamo ash veneer.
Theodore Alexanders prides itself on its fine craftsmanship, accessibility, versatility and whole home offerings in Bedrooms, Dining Rooms, Artwork and Lighting. The Kesden Collection tells a story that begins with the depth and richness of Theodore Alexander’s veneers and ends with clean and transitional lines that promote gorgeous finishes and metal accents.
Kesden Collection
The Kesden Collection Defines Luxury
The round dining table is a sculptural statement piece. Comfortably seating six, dine in elegance around Tamo ash burl veneer and an exquisite pedestal base.
ACCESSORIZATION Once a project’s wall, flooring and furniture selections are made, it is often the accessories that provide the finishing touches to a project.
In a bedroom, the bedding ensemble can be a critical component, whether purchased or made specifically for the project. There are many high-quality bedding ensembles available, but your designer may choose to use this as a custom opportunity with selected fabrics, making this one-of-a-kind. The use of contrasting fabrics and high-quality materials and pillows will make your bedroom beautiful and very comfortable for you or your guests. Accessorization is much more art than science. There are some general rules about color usage in a room and accessories can certainly help to bring those together, but the density and awareness that the designer brings to the room with their accessory choices can truly be their signature. Wall art is a typical place to start, and as we said earlier in our Scale segment, this provides an opportunity for a designer to use larger-scaled artwork to fill voids and to draw someone’s eye upward and provide proper proportion to the room. Framed artwork is an area where a designer can spend a lot, or a little, depending on the project budget. There are many high-quality art companies that offer excellent framed oil work that won’t break the budget. Other wall accessories such as sconces, mirrors and wall clocks should not be overlooked. Lighting is one of the most important aspects of design. Often the primary lighting for a space will be in the form of installed overhead lighting in the ceiling, but to provide a dramatic and artistic effect, a chandelier or other beautiful table and floor lamps can be used to accentuate and provide the proper tone of illumination to the space. An over-lit room can be just as detrimental as an under-lit room, so finding that balance is what the designer on your project is paid to achieve. Rounding out the table accessories should be a compilation of items that tell a story about the person who lives there. A certain book, items collected from journeys, jewelry boxes, an old typewriter, a vintage telescope, etc…, can all provide clues about how a person lives their life and the things that they love. These table accessories should accompany the design, not overwhelm it.
Breeze Collection
Organic modern forms are boldly re-imagined in Breeze. Across the collection, a striking elegance is conveyed through faceted angles, beveled profiles, sunburst veneers, and unique Dark Sterling hardware. Using a handcrafted wire-brushed pine, each piece is then perfectly finished in a light and subdued Sea Salt tone.
Theodore Alexander showcases over 32 collections. Available in your choice of finishes. Shop these new looks today.
This is truly the fun part of a room design; utilizing all of the many options available from manufacturers, or in many cases, providing your own material (COM) to the manufacturer and letting them apply it to your chosen products as you see fit. Most upholstery manufacturers will have 1000 or more fabrics available for you to choose for their products, and these can be applied in many different techniques for a beautiful design. However, any fabric suitable for upholstery can be sent to higher-end upholstery factories for application as well. Upon check-in of your fabric, the factory will roll out and inspect your fabric, looking for defects and pattern repeat for measuring, as well as to determine if a fabric backing is necessary. These backings can be a thin fabric, or often an application of a thin latex coating on the back to give the fabric additional support. A typical sofa will have a number of pillows that are included with the frame and you can choose a matching or contrasting fabric often free of additional charge. You will have options on these pillows, such as the welting you would like applied and whether that should match or contrast, and you will have many options (often at a charge) to change the pillow as well, whether in size, or in type. You will have endless options on the techniques used on your pillows and sofa, such as trims, cording, skirt types, etc…This is truly where the design work is done on a piece.
Higher quality pillows will have an internal muslin-encased pillow core filled with responsive, yet luxurious fill materials, such as down (the feathers from certain species of geese). These feathers provide a weighty feel to the pillow, and help it hold its shape within the fabric casing. Good quality pillows should be plump and hold their shape when fluffed from either side. For upholstered products with exposed wood and metal (whether just a foot or the entire arms, etc…), quality manufacturers will allow you to select the wood or metal finish of your choosing, and some will even allow you to select your own finish to apply. Keep in mind the material that you are finishing, as certain species of wood will accept stain colors differently (i.e. a heavy grained oak or ash, versus a clean-grained maple).
The newest looks in custom upholstery from Theodore Alexander featuring the Aiden sofa with pillows.
