How to grow houseplants without
By Nicolás R ivero
The Washington Post
HOUSEPLANTS
ever having to buy one
Where should you cut your plant?
have gotten something of a bad rap lately, with climate advocates citing the energy-intensive greenhouses they’re grown in, the harmful emissions produced from shipping them long distances and the environment-depleting peat they are often packed in.
But there’s a greener — and cheaper — way to expand your plant collection. Local plant swaps offer a chance to trade plants and get tips for how to care for them. You may also have a friend, neighbor, relative or co-worker who has the plant you want and will give you a cutting free.
“They’re the ultimate renewable resource,” said Chad Husby, chief explorer at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables, Florida. “You can take one piece of a plant and get a whole new plant. It’s miraculous.”
Some species can be grown from saved seeds, divided bulbs or offshoots. But many common house plants can be propagated by cutting. Here’s what to know before you break out the shears.
When is the best time to take cuttings?
Spring is the ideal time. Plants respond best to pruning at the beginning of their growing season, and cuttings intended for propagation have the best chance of thriving when there’s plenty of warmth and sunlight to fuel quick root growth.
After you cut, be prepared to move quickly to the next steps.
“Once you take a cutting, it basically has to rely on whatever sugars it has stored until it can start to … generate roots to supply leaves with nutrients,” Husby said. “You’re working against time. The more you extend the process, the more chance there is your cutting will get exhausted or infected because it’s in a weakened state.”
Snip right above a growth node: one of the knobby joints along a plant’s stem that leaves or buds grow from. You don’t want to cut so close that you damage the node — that’s where a new branch will form. But any stem beyond that point will wither, so you don’t want to leave too much, either.
You should also think about the cutting you’re creating. Ideally, you’ll have a few leaves near the tip of the stem, which will collect sunlight and give the plant energy to grow roots.
“Save the tips because those are the best things to root,” said Tim Pollak, plant production manager at the Chicago Botanic Garden. “They’ll grow faster than some of the older parts of the stem.”
You also want to leave one or two bare nodes at the bottom of the cutting that new roots can grow from. You might have to cut off leaves at the bottom to clear space for roots to grow.
How to root a plant in water
Some hardy plant cuttings root well in water, but most do better in soil. It depends on the species, so you should look up what works best for your plant.
“There are some plants, for instance a pothos, begonia or coleus, that, given enough time and the right conditions, they’ll root on a wet floor,” said Marc Hachadourian, director of glasshouse horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden. “They really don’t need much to propagate.”
If you’re rooting in water, your job is pretty easy: Just fill a glass or jar with enough water to cover the growth node you’d like to grow roots from, and then change the water every two or three days.
Soon you should see pale roots starting to poke out. When the roots are an inch or two long, you’re ready to put your new plant in a pot with soil.
How to root a plant in soil
If you’re rooting your cutting
directly in soil, you’ll need to dote on it a bit more. Fill a pot with dirt, use your fingers to clear a hole and place the cutting so that the lower nodes roots will grow from are covered with soil.
Over the next few days, you’ll have to keep the soil moist — but not too wet. Using a pot with drainage holes helps avoid overwatering.
You can raise the humidity around your cutting by misting it a few times a day — or you can place a clear plastic bag over the plant and its pot to create a miniature greenhouse. Just keep it out of direct sun to avoid overheating.
You won’t be able to see the roots grow beneath the dirt, but you can look for signs they’ve arrived. If you see new shoots or leaves growing above the soil, the plant has probably rooted. Or you can take a more hands-on approach.
“Just take your fingers and right at the base of the stem, where it meets the soil, you give it a little tug — lightly,” said Pollak. “If you feel there’s some resistance, that means it’s probably starting to root.”
At that point, your cutting is established in its new home and you can start treating it like any other houseplant. Don’t worry if some of the old leaves fall off.
“As long as new leaves continue to grow, you’re going to be fine,” Husby said.
Other propagation techniques
Everything you’ve just read about taking stem cuttings and rooting them in water or soil will work for most common houseplants. But there are other propagation methods.
Pothos will sometimes grow roots at the nodes along its long, trailing vines. You can bury these roots in a new pot while the vine is still attached to the mother plant, in a technique called “layering.” Once the new roots are established, you can cut the vine and split the plant in two.
Many houseplants are simple to propagate, offering a greener and cheaper way to add plants than ordering online.
The succulent known as mother of thousands will grow fully formed baby plants, complete with leaves and roots, in a ring along the edge of its leaves, and drop them when they’re ready to grow on their own.
“Some plants, like begonias, can be propagated from leaf cuttings,” Hachadourian said.
“If you did that with a monstera, you’d wind up with a dead leaf.”
So, look up your particular plant before you start cutting. And if you want to learn much more about propagation, the botanists say, you may be able to find a hands-on class at a botanical garden, nursery, garden center or park near you.
(PHOTO / COVER PHOTO BY SARAH L. VOISIN / THE WASHINGTON POST)
GARDEN NOTES
STOCKBRIDGE
Upcoming program at Berkshire
Botanical Garden
Berkshire Botanical Garden presents the following upcoming programs.
“Landscape Design II,” Thursday, March 27, to May 1, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Learn skills essential for functional garden design that honor the site and meet client needs in this six-session class.
Led by Chuck Schnell and Walter Cudnohufsky of Cudnohufsky Associates, this course will cover a different topic or technique focusing on the importance of getting to know the client and site as a basis of effective and appealing design. Essential and easy-to-grasp design principles will be introduced throughout the course, with a form-finding approach to garden design. Acquire the vocabulary essential for assessing a property’s potential and problems, and the right questions to realize a client’s wishes while avoiding common design mistakes. Learn how to make well-considered and sustainable choices for the elements and materials commonly used in the residential-scale garden. Cost $310 members, $350 nonmembers;
Saturday, March 29, “Crafting Wellness from Nature: Fire Cider and Elderberry Syrup Make and Take Workshop,” 1 to 3 p.m. Join herbalist, artist and ritualist Nicole Irene for a delightful, hands-on workshop featuring the enchanting world of herbal medicine. Embark on a journey to create two powerful plant remedies, fire cider and elderberry syrup, time-honored elixirs celebrated for their immune-boosting properties. This immersive experience combines traditional herbal medicine’s rich lore and wisdom with the joy of creative expression. In this make-and-take class, you will: Discover the history, medicinal properties, and health benefits of both fire cider and elderberry syrup; Participate in detailed step-by-step demonstrations on how to make these recipes from scratch; take home a bottle each of elderberry syrup and fire cider, along with the
knowledge and confidence to recreate them on your own.Cost $45 members, $50 nonmembers. To register or for more information, visit www.berk shirebotanical.org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 W. Stockbridge Road.
WESTFIELD
Spring garden workshops
The Western Mass. Master Gardner Association presents spring gardening workshops on Saturday, March 29, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Westfield South Middle School. Featuring 10 classes designed to educate and empower the home gardener. Visit www. WMMGA.org for more information and to register. Each participant will get to choose two of the 10 presentations. Cost $30 through March 27, walk-ins day of event $40 (cash only). Other features include pH soil testing, vendors, “Ask a Master Gardener” table, informational tables, raffle with garden-related products, used books, complimentary refreshments.
WILBRAHAM Garden Club scholarship
The Wilbraham Garden Club announces that applications are now being accepted for two $1,000 scholarships to financially assist graduating seniors who are residents of Wilbraham or Hampden, as they transition to an institution of higher learning.
All applicants must be planning to major in one of these fields of study: Botany, Horticulture, Conservation, Environmental Engineering, Environment Science, Earth Systems, Forest Management, Natural Resources, Plant, Soil and Insect Science, Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable Horticulture, Food and Farming, Turf Grass Science & Management, Landscape Design & Management Technology, Landscape Architecture, Oceanography, Clean Energy Technology, Floral Design or Land Management.
Applicants must include
a personal essay of 100-200 words, official high school transcript(s), two letters of recommendation, college acceptance letter(s) if available, along with the completed Wilbraham Garden Club Scholarship application. All required documentation must be received on or before March 31. Notifications will be made by early May and the recipients will be awarded their scholarships at the annual meeting of the Wilbraham Garden Club on June 5. Scholarship
applications will be available at the Wilbraham and Hampden Public Libraries, Minnechaug Regional High School and Wilbraham Monson Academy. Please contact howella413@ gmail.com with questions or to receive an application.
AGAWAM Garden Club scholarships
Applications are available for
the Agawam Garden Club 2025 scholarship. To qualify for the scholarship students must be a graduating senior of Agawam High School or a college student who graduated from Agawam High School and is planning to attend an institution of higher learning in the fall. Applicants must be majoring in or planning on majoring in one of the following: botany, environmental engineering, environmental science, earths
Lee Reich | In the Garden
time to sow the poppy seeds
WITH SEEDS HARDLY
finer than dust and flower petals as delicate as fairy shawls, it may seem harsh to sow poppy seeds directly on melting snow or frozen ground. But early sowing is a must, because the seedlings thrive during the cool, moist weather of early spring. And because poppies don’t transplant well, their seeds are best sown right out in flower beds.
Members of the poppy family, Papaveraceae, span the globe from the Arctic to the tropics, but their flowers share a common quality. “The poppy is the most transparent and delicate of all blossoms. Other flowers rely on the texture of their surface for color. “The poppy is painted glass; it never glows so brightly as when the sun shines through it,” wrote John Ruskin over a hundred years ago.
Corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) is aptly named, for it once dotted the corn fields of Europe with its brilliant
red flowers. (“Corn” means “grain” in the queen’s English.) This annual’s translucent flowers are born on sprawling stalks 2 feet high. The variety ‘Flanders’ is named for the poem Flander’s Fields, in which the blood-red flowers symbolize lives lost in war. On Memorial and Veterans Day, red tissue-paper poppies still are distributed in memory of wars’ victims. Shirley poppies are a type of corn poppy with white lines along the edges of their petals. Corn and Shirley poppies begin blooming shortly after spring-flowering bulbs have finished their show, and continue blooming through July.
California poppy (Eschscholtzis californica) was named in honor of Dr. Eschscholtz, a Russian ship surgeon who found these bright orange flowers blanketing California hillsides. Our winters are too harsh for this perennial, so I treat the plant as an annual and sow the seed yearly.
From June to October, the three- to five-inch blooms of California poppies stare out above their lacy foliage. New varieties are available in a range of colors — cream, carmine, orange, yellow, and red. I plant these flowers in the sunniest spots of the garden because the flowers stay closed at night and even in shade.
Iceland poppies (P. nudicaule) have delicately ruffled and sweetly scented flowers and are borne on slender stalks above rosettes of deeply-cut leaves. Like California poppy, Iceland poppy is perennial in its native habitat. This one’s habitat is the Arctic, though, and here it loses its perennial character to behave like a biennial. Plants from spring sowings bloom from midsummer into fall of their first year. The second year, the luxuriant blossoms unfold shortly after daffodils bloom, then continue throughout the season.
systems, forest management, natural resources, plant soil and insect science, sustainable agriculture, sustainable horticulture or food and farming, turf grass science and management, landscape design and management technology, clean energy, technology studies: wastewater or other environmental related studies.
The recipient will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship at the clubs annual May meeting. Completed applications along with transcripts and references must be submitted to Denise Carmody, 40 Primrose Lane, Agawam MA 01001 by April 1. Applications are available through Agawam High School or can be found on the website at agawamgardenclub.com.
WEST SPRINGFIELD Garden Club scholarships
The West Springfield Garden Club has an-
nounced that two $2,000 scholarships are available for qualified high school seniors or post-secondary students during the spring of 2025. Applicants must be West Springfield residents. Scholarships are available for students with a focus of study in one or more of the following areas: horticulture, agriculture, ecology, botany, environmental studies, landscape design or forestry.
Applicants must submit a completed application along with a written onepage document which explains their plans for after graduation in any of the above-mentioned fields and how the grant will assist in their career choice.
Applications forms are available at the Guidance Offices of Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative, West Springfield High School, or on the West Springfield Garden Club web site, www.wwsgardenclub. org.
Applicants from WSHS or LPVEC will submit their completed application and
written entry to their Guidance Office. Postsecondary student applicants can submit their materials directly to: WSGC Scholarship Committee, c/o West Springfield Park and Recreation, 26 Central St. suite 19, West Springfield, MA 01089.
All applications must be received by the Scholarship Committee by April 11.
The successful candidates will be notified via mail in mid-May.
SPRINGFIELD Garden Club scholarship
The Springfield Garden Club is accepting applications for its annual $2,000 scholarship awarded to a graduating high school senior, undergraduate or graduate college student majoring in a full-time plant science or environmental studies program, such as horticulture, floriculture, landscape design, conservation, forestry, botany, agronomy, plant pathology, environmental control, land
management or other allied fields.
The candidate must be a resident of Hampden County, demonstrate financial need and have adequate academic standing. High school seniors, undergraduate and graduate college students are eligible for consideration.
For additional information and to request a copy of the application contact Daniel Sheehy at SGCscholarship@ gmail.com.
Scholarship applications are to be complete and meet the submission deadline of April 1 to be eligible for consideration.
The SGC has awarded over $90,000 to more than
60 students during the past 30-plus years. Funds for the scholarship are raised at the annual plant sale held each year in the spring. The annual plant sale this year will be held at Forest Park on Sumner Avenue in Springfield on Saturday, May 31, from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information on the Springfield Garden Club events, go to www.spring fieldgardenclubma.org or visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/SpringfieldMAGardenClub.
Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub.com two weeks prior to publication.
Corn poppy is one of many species of annual poppies, all with delicate, boldly colorful blossoms. (LEE REICH PHOTO)
Terry & Kim Kovel | Antiques & Collecting
These old decoys still make the grade
WHEN SPRING RETURNS, mallard ducks are a common sight on the water. In any season, you can find them in duck decoy collections and auctions. This mallard drake decoy sold at Guyette & Deeter, Inc., specialists in sporting collectibles, for $1,125. It was made by the Mason Decoy Factory of Detroit, which operated from 1896 to 1924 and is still celebrated by decoy collectors today.
Founder William James Mason had been making decoys by hand for years when he started his company. When he died in 1905, the company passed to his son Herbert, who used his business skills to expand the operation. One of Herbert’s innovations was the introduction of the inexpensive Standard grade of decoys. Before that, the company had made only two grades: the highest quality Premier and the slightly less detailed, less expensive Challenger. The decoy pictured here is Challenger grade.
All grades of Mason decoys are sought by collectors today. Because the company produced so many decoys — calling itself the “Largest Manufacturers Of High Grade Decoys In The World!” — they are some of the most common at auctions. But, like the ducks they emulate, being a common sight doesn’t make them less valuable.
Q. My father sold auto parts and accessories from the 1960s through the ’80s and accumulated a significant amount of automobilia including decals. Ideally, they were to be distributed to customers, but my father collected them himself. I’ve seen STP 4 3/4-inch’ oval singles for $2 to $5. How rare are sealed packs of 50 and 100 and what would they be worth?
A. STP, initially standing for Scientifically Tested Petroleum, started selling its oil treatment in 1954. Its popularity exploded in the 1960s, thanks to strong marketing and its association with racing. In addition to its tie-in with racing, STP was popular because it marketed itself as a product that could significantly reduce engine wear by providing an extra layer of lubrication between moving parts, thanks to its high-viscosity formula containing zinc anti-wear agents (ZDDP), which helped fight metal-to-metal friction, particularly in older engines; this was
Decoys by the Mason Decoy Factory, like this Challenger-grade mallard duck, are some of the most famous and most desirable among collectors. (GUYETTE & DEETER, INC.)
perceived as a way to extend engine life and improve performance, especially for drivers who drove in demanding conditions. Oval decals and, later, stickers with the STP logo were favorite merchandise. We occasionally see unopened packs for sale online, where they sell for about $100 to $150. You have something of value to many automotive collectors.
Q. I have two antique firearms that I would like to have valued. One is an antique rifle. Its markings are “1873 Torino.” The other is a shotgun marked “1879 Piepee.” Of course, these firearms are no longer usable. They have been used as an interesting display where my husband (now deceased) mounted them on a brick wall above the fireplace, where they got a lot of attention from any workmen in my home. There are a couple of people who are interested in purchasing them, but I have no idea of what they are worth. Can you help me with that, or tell me where I can get this information?
A. If you intend to sell your antique firearms, the first step is to check your local and state laws. Laws about selling firearms, even antiques, can be very strict. The gun marked “1873 Torino” was probably made at the Turin arsenal in Italy in 1873. Many guns made there were later modified for use in World War I. “Piepee” may be “Pieper,” for Henri Peiper, a Belgian company that made guns from the late
1800s to early 1900s. The 1879 reference on your shotgun may be the year the gun was made or the year its design was patented. We suggest you contact a local gun dealer and tell them what you have and that you would like to sell your guns. A dealer who specializes in antique firearms can help evaluate yours. To find a reputable dealer, check reviews and ask for references. You could also contact an auction house; there are many that hold firearms auctions and provide appraisals. Military Trader magazine militarytrader. com, owned by the same company as Kovels Antique Trader, may have more information. Your situation is a good reminder to all readers to discuss with their spouse and loved ones the value and significance of all prized collections while still alive, providing supporting paperwork if possible. It is far easier to determine what to do with an item while we are alive, rather than leaving it up to a loved one to deal with it after we’re gone.
TIP: Do not store papers near sunlight, heaters, radiators, furnaces, stoves, lamps, television sets or any other heat-producing device.
Kovels answers readers’ questions sent to the column. Send a letter with one question describing the size, material (glass, pottery) and what you know about the item. Include only two pictures, the object and a closeup of any marks or damage. Be sure your name and return address are included. By sending a question, you give full permission for use in any Kovel prod-
CURRENT PRICES
Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.
Castor set, six bottles, cut glass, stoppers, silver plate frame, center handle, pierced crest, bell, etched flower skirt, pedestal base, 18 inches, $60.
Purse, mesh, art deco style, black and white chevrons, fringe, metal and enamel frame and chain, black and white, satin lining, interior pocket, 6 x 5 inches, $70.
Barometer, thermometer, McAllister & Bros., mahogany case, banjo shape, C scroll trim, Phila., early 1800s, 39 inches, $90.
Toy, boat, ocean liner, red and white, two stacks, lithograph deck, painted hull, tin, propeller, windup, Bing, Germany, c. 1920, 7 inches, $95.
Furniture, chair, midcentury modern, maple, split barrel back, upholstered back and seat, arms, marked, Italy, 29 1/2 x 26 inches, three pieces, $160.
Advertising, bin, McLaughlin’s Coffee, No. 99, dome top, multicolor graphics, coffee cup, leafy branch with berries, red trim, tin, 22 1/2 x 18 inches, $235.
Majolica, umbrella stand, turquoise blue ground, two birds, storks, raised leg, fish in beak, cattails, brown trim, 1880s, 21 inches, $750.
Cut glass, lamp, mushroom shape shade, peaked top, hanging prisms, baluster base, spread foot, electric, 26 inches, $840.
Silver-Asian, tureen, dome lid, elephant finial, raised trunk, rupee coin, relief figures, handles, footed, ladle, leafy handle, Southeast Asia, 11 x 12 inches, $975.
Furniture, sideboard, R.J. Horner, oak, carved, mirror back, upper shelf, lion supports, two drawers over two doors over long drawer, paw feet, 79 x 66 inches, $2,520.
uct. Names, addresses or email addresses will not be published. We do not guarantee the return of photographs, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. Questions that are answered will appear in Kovels Publications. Write to Kovels, The Republican, King Features Syndicate, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803 or email us at collectorsgallery@ kovels.com.
Average US rate on a 30-year mortgage rises slightly
Rate rises for second straight week
By A lex Veiga Associated Press
The average rate on a 30year mortgage in the U.S. rose slightly for the second week in a row, a modest setback for prospective home shoppers as the spring homebuying season ramps up.
The rate rose to 6.67% from 6.65% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.87%.
Including this week, the average rate on a 30-year home loan has risen only twice in the past nine weeks, a welcome
trend for aspiring homebuyers struggling to afford a home after years of soaring home prices.
“The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has stayed under 7% for nine consecutive weeks, which is helpful for potential buyers and sellers alike,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.
Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also rose this week, pushing the average rate to 5.83% from 5.8% last week. A year ago, it averaged 6.21%, Freddie Mac said.
Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including bond market investors’ expectations for future inflation, global demand for
Deeds
AGAWAM
Alyssa Fini and Damen Fini to Kathleen Moore, 92 Plantation Drive, Unit 92, $245,000.
Eileen F. St. Hill to Natasha Salgado, 520 North Westfield St., $250,000.
Eleanor O’Donnell, representative, and Eleanor R. Miller, estate, to Michael Oberther and Malinda Govoni, 418 Meadow St., Unit E-10, $195,000.
Igor Banar and Zlata Banar to Igor Banar, trustee, and 1673 Suffield Street Trust, trustee of, 1673 Suffield St., $510,000.
Marc Bolduc, trustee, and Marie Bolduc Revocable Trust 2008, trustee of, to Brandon A. Clement and Samantha A. Clement, 7 Centerwood Drive, $290,000.
Patriot Living LLC, to 4M Property Solutions LLC, 7 Spring St., $365,000.
Ryan J. Rackliffe and Emily M. Rackliffe to Christopher Gadoua, 91 Regency Park Drive, $165,000.
SCM Corrugating Machinery Inc., and SCM Corrugating Machnery Inc., to Moylan Lane Properties LLC, 65 Moylan Lane, $650,000. Sheryl L. Karolinski to Shavone Gauthier and Paul Gauthier, 163 South Westfield St., $256,000.
Wendy S. Abraham 2022 Trust, trustee of, and Wendy S. Abraham, trustee, to Amanda L.
Lecrenski and Kyle C. Griffith, 63 Hunters Greene Circle, $620,000.
Yegor Muravskiy to John Steedle and Elizabeth Anne Steedle, 10 Elm St., $660,000.
U.S. Treasurys and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions.
After climbing to just above 7% in mid-January, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage has been mostly declining, loosely following the moves in the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.
The yield, which was nearing 4.8% in mid-January, has mostly fallen since then, reflecting worries about the economy’s growth and the fallout from the Trump administration’s decision to impose tariffs on imported goods from many of the nation’s key trade partners. The yield was at 4.23% in midday trading Thursday.
Tariffs can drive inflation
John E. Tobiason and Leslie E. Johnson to Tobiason Johnson Family Trust, John E. Tobiason, trustee, and Leslie E. Tobiason, trustee, 350 Potwine Lane, $100.
Tetty E. Gorfine to NPJ Realty Trust, 664 Main St., $21,373.
Alan S. Goldberg and Irene J. Hill to Eric Nathan Sommers and Lee Meredith Jennings, 226 Strong St., $750,000.
Paul C. Shumway to 314 College LLC, 314328 College St., $3,175,000.
Paul C. Shumway to Jason M. Kicza and Desiree R. Kicza, 330-336 College St., $1,825,000.
Wu Li Xun and Lixun Wu to David Robinson and Lydia-Jane Robinson, 32 Owen Drive, $815,000.
Eleanore E. Gray, Eleanor E. Gray, Amy L. Gray, personal representative, and Robert B. Gray, estate, to Biodynamic Farmland Conservation Trust Inc., South East Street Off, $270,000.
Robin A. Fordham to John J. Clegg, 15 Taylor St., $543,455.
Neal B. Patel, Bharat Patel and Meenakshi B. Patel to NP Amherst LLC, 48 Belchertown Road, $100.
BELCHERTOWN
Alexander Scalfano and Alexandra Scalfano to Karen Ann Van Hook and Susan Deborah Radovsky, 22 Raymond Drive, $385,000.
Henry R. Martin Jr., and Elizabeth D. Martin to Stephen P. Robinson and Wendy Beth Robinson, 414 Allen St., and 414 Allen Road, $285,000.
Christopher A. Rivers and Misty L. Haynes to Christopher Rivers, trustee, Christopher Rivers Revocable Trust, Misty L. Haynes, trustee, and Misty Haynes Revocable Trust, 16 Waterford Drive, $100.
higher, which could translate into higher yields on the 10year Treasury note, pushing up mortgage rates. That’s because bond investors demand higher returns as long as inflation remains elevated.
The Fed has been holding its key interest rate steady this year, after cutting it sharply through the end of last year. While lower rates can help give the economy a boost, they can also stoke inflation.
On Wednesday, the central bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged. It also signaled that it still expects to cut rates twice this year, even as it sees inflation staying stubbornly elevated.
While the Fed doesn’t set mortgage rates, its actions can ultimately influence borrow-
Barbara E. Vanasse to Jared S. Valadares, 9 Metacomet Circle, $260,000. Bell Property Corp., to Andrey Korchevskiy, Woodland Lane, $42,000.
John Edmund Ryan to John E. Ryan, trustee, and John E. Ryan Revocable Trust, 5 Lake Drive, $100.
Aura Suarez Oviedo and Belinda C. Oviedo Medina to Aura Suarez Oviedo, 189 Michael Sears Road, $100.
Marlene A. Goodwin and Thomas L. Scott to Zhongfeng Ye, 189 Allen Road, $410,000.
BRIMFIELD
Juan Francisco De La Cruz Sosa and Manuel De Jesus Reyes to 38 Sturbridge LLC, 38 Sturbridge Road, $131,257.
BUCKLAND
U.S. Bank Trust NA as trustee of 1900 Capital Trust II, to Manal Cruise, 200 Lower St., $115,000.
Lesley A. Reid and Satto R. Rugg to Adrianna Sutfin, 10 Fox Road, “aka” 10 Fox Hill Road, $700,000.
CHARLEMONT
James Greelish and Daniel Langford, trustees of Charlemont Realty Trust, to Almost in Florida LLC, 122 Main St., $610,000.
Debra J. Dehoyas, “aka” Debra J. Dehoyos, Bette Dubuque, Tammy J. Dubuque and Brenda L. Paulsen to Deborah A. Bimbo and Edward A. Bimbo, 24 Avery Brook Road, “aka” Heath Road, $399,000.
CHESTER
Donna Lee Sweetman to Ernest G. Carbone
ing costs for mortgages and other consumer loans.
“In the near term, we expect mortgage rates to remain in a fairly narrow range, between 6.5% and 7%, which should support the spring housing market,” said Mike Fratantoni, chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association.
The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell last year to their lowest level in nearly 30 years. They rose 4.2% last month from January, but were down 1.2% from February last year, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday.
IV, 0 Skyline Trail, $5,000.
CHESTERFIELD
James E. Brisbois and Kathleen E. Brisbois to Shannon K. Brisbois, trustee, and James & Kathleen Brisbois Irrevocable Trust, 61 South St., and Bisbee Road, $100.
CHICOPEE
David Rivera to Mohamed Abdul-Baki, 621623 Springfield St., $347,000.
Davila Enterprises LLC, to Mount Olive Properties LLC, 29-31 Wintworth St., $240,000.
Davis M. Foster and Diane D. Foster to Dario Vicedomini, 137 Partridge Lane, Unit 6094A, $220,000.
DI & L LLC, to Molley Kathleen Shea, 32-34 Harvard St., $491,000.
Fernando A. Goncalves and Ewa W. Goncalves to Sergio F. Goncalves, 127 Carriage Road, $550,000.
Gary Desimone and Nancy Ann Desimone to Shirley R. Stephens, 180 Beauchamp Terrace, Unit 12C, $210,000.
Jason R. Welch to Christopher J. Castellano, 46 Kaveney St., $370,000.
Jospeh Duensing and Amanda Duensing to Andriana Marino, 20 Sullivan St., $320,000. Mark S. Wheeler, trustee, Carol A. Wheeler, trustee, and Wheeler Revocable Family Trust, trustee of, to Hamad Khan, 125 Ruskin St., $435,000.
Robert J. Arcott, Robert A. Arcott and Jeanne M. Arcott to Jaime R. Mota and Rozineide Vieira Mota, 526-530 Springfield St., $440,750.
Sergio F. Goncalves to Nicholas R. Morrison, 9 Mayflower Ave., $395,000.
Deeds
EAST LONGMEADOW
Ebak Projects LLC, to Lexani Rodriguez and Gianna Rodriguez, 622 Prospect St., $450,000.
Happy Acres LLC, to Vladimir Kulenok and Irina Kulenok, Happy Acres Lane, Lot 8, $199,000.
Louise M. Disa and James T. Doty to Ryan D. Doty and Danielle E. Fryer, 11 Cedar Hill Road, $190,000.
EASTHAMPTON
Nancy K. Sise and Nancy L. Sise to Paul J. Sise, trustee, and Nancy L. Sise Irrevocable Trust, 45 Pomeroy St., $100.
Norman F. Glenn and Gail Glenn to Patrick Gooden Glenn and Danielle Marie Glenn, 18 Ashley Circle, $800,000.
Chad D. Willard and Todd F. Willard to Todd F. Willard, 1-3 Searle Ave., $250,000.
John A. Kubasek and John Kubasek to Deborah Carney, trustee, Laura Grindle, trustee, and Kubasek Irrevocable Trust, 74 Northampton St., $100.
GRANBY
Gerald R. Archambault Jr., and Melissa Ann Archambault to Brian Hession and Cassia Hession, 68 Amherst St., $830,000.
GREENFIELD
John Mitchell to Dylan J. Husted and Morgan E. Smith, 560 Country Club Road, $420,000.
OV Properties LLC, to Benedict Williams, 44 Briar Way, Unit 6F Briar Knoll Condominium, $245,000. Pioneer Valley Redevelopers LLC, receiver for Dawn Marie Lamagdelaine, to Pioneer Valley Redevelopers LLC, 216 Elm St., $230,000.
HADLEY
Stephen J. Grader to Courtney Kielion and Justin Chaffee, 172 South Maple St., $389,500.
HAMPDEN
Jacquelyn Weaver to Anne Mac Private Equity Cash2Keys, 5 Southwood Circle, Unit 5, $408,000.
HOLLAND
Homebuilding LLC, Cormier & Sons
Construction & to Ronald A. Holmes Jr., and Heather N. Holmes, 525 Old County Road, $453,000.
HOLYOKE
1109 Dwight LLC, to SGS Holdings LLC, 1109 Dwight St., $705,000.
Anthony Witman and Anthony R. Witman to Jillian Bourguignon, 95 North East St., $260,000.
David Roffo to Nicholas Berube, 8 Arbor Way, Unit C, $188,000.
Gallagher Capital Group LLC, to Western Massachusetts Training Consortium Inc., 16 Maple Crest Circle, Unit D, $225,000.
K. Gunner Gillberg, trustee, and Renaissance Realty Trust, trustee of, to Boccio Capital Group LLC, Maple Crest Circle, $50,000.
Kathleen M. Wohlers, representative, and Hugh E. Hurlburt Jr., estate, to Warren A. Walsh, 12 Steven Drive, $320,000.
Kyla A. Prior to Katiria Gonzalez Roman and Hector L. Torres Velez, 655 Homestead Ave., $300,000.
Lynn A. Wheatley-Beaupre, representative, and Mildred Wheatley, estate, to Brendan M. Leahy, 453 Mountain Road, $251,000.
OneHolyoke Community Development Corp., to Carmen M. Rivera Matias and Abiezer Montalvo Ruiz, 278 Pine St., $225,000.
Pah Properties LLC, to Wilma Eileen Tynes, 75 Pine St., $249,000.
Patrick Bauer to Highpoint Asset Management LLC, 33-35 Hitchcock St., $260,000.
Shawn Prince, representative, and Irene M. Downie, estate, to Danju Pan, 38 Mount Tom Ave., $369,000.
Walter J. Serewicz Jr., to JJJ17 LLC, 1-3 Monroe St., $182,000.
HUNTINGTON
Jason Burke, Jason Burke, personal representative, and Wayne Thomas Burke, estate, to Cornerstone Homebuying LLC, 14 Rocky Brook Drive, $85,500.
Sandra L. Dunn to William Minnis and Michelle Bonita Minnis, 2 Allen Coit Road, $415,000.
LONGMEADOW
Fred M Cocchi Jr., to Margaret A. Becker, 22 Inverness Lane, $425,000.
Jerry W. Roberts and Donna L. Roberts to Henry B. Gibbs Jr., 140 Laurel St., $380,000.
Phyllis S. Dindas, trustee, Phyllis S. Dindas Family Trust, trustee of, Mark E. Dindas Family Trust, trustee of, and Mark E. Dindas, trustee, to Aylin S. Roeben and Bryse W. Roeben, 30 Chatham Road, $609,000.
Rosaline Horowitz to Shirley Graziani, 25 Brooks Circle, $205,000.
LUDLOW
Alex Jendrysik and Alex M. Jendrysik to Peter E. Miccoli Sr., and Tamara Miccoli, Deroche Circle, Par B, $10,000.
Ashlie M. Hurley and Derek R. McCray to Mariia Dolhova, 5 Victoria Terrace, $300,000.
Brendan J. Hurst to Yaritza L. Robar, 147 Reynolds St., $340,000.
Brian Leonard and Judith Jorge Leonard to Fernando Jorge, Maria Manuela Jorge and Alexander M. Jorge, 19-21 Munsing Ave., $208,000.
Catherine A. Zimmerman and Yvette M. Talenda to Joseph Marcel Dacosta, 127 Bridle Path Circle, $82,000.
Cheryl Walker to Joel Brissette, 151 Posner Circle, $100,000.
David J. Minney Sr., to Janusz Szlosek and Christine Szlosek, Colonial Drive, Lot 58, $100,000.
Douglas Roberts and Sarah Roberts to Samantha Wiggins and Tyler Poirier, 70 Moody St., $255,000. Dreambighomes LLC, to Michael S. Manganiello, 48 Baker St., $305,000.
Jennifer L. Coelho and Melissa M. Rocker to Andrew Doane and Isabel Doane, 4 Greenwich St., $339,000.
John Rudolph Norden IV, to Nathan Chenaille, 58 Georgetown Road, $315,000.
Mark A. Maruca to Dylan Torrence Gordon and Aviella Gordon, 73 Prospect St., $401,000.
Whitetail Wreks LLC, to MHI Builders LLC, Balsam Hill Road Lot 67, $177,900.
MONSON
Wayne Hull, trustee, and Hull Family Trust, trustee of, to Frank W. Hull, 294 Main St., $235,000.
MONTAGUE
David William Galvin III, and Matthew Benjamin Lee to Emmajune Botelho Ayres and Banjamen Allen Delozier, 61 Central St., $280,000.
NORTHAMPTON
Carol Karney to Christopher Vaughn Karney, Hatfield Street, $100.
4 Aces Realty LLC, to Tempie Ann Hayes, 107 Williams St., $565,000.
Leonard A. Brakey and Alexander Brakey to Sovereign Builders Inc., Glendale Road Off, $15,000.
NORTHFIELD
EDS Enterprises LLC, to Martha Rullman and John Schuster, Gulf Road, $30,000.
Ruby Glaser and John Loranger to Benjamin Paly and Andrea Tosi, 50 South Mountain Road, $193,780.
ORANGE
Megliola Realty LLC, to Justin Fellows, 120 Putnam St., $133,000.
Quinn P. McAuliffe to Brandon Bhola, 14 Highland St., $300,000.
Katalex Properties LLC, to Joseph Dejesus Jr., and Ashley Xiomara Molina, 25 Benham St., $379,900.
James G. Hunkler and Katie B. Hunkler, “fka” Katie B. Odenbaugh, to Michelle Thompson and Tomas A. Zayas, 48 Memory Lane, $330,000.
Courtney Mitchell to Cody Denning and Margaret Pomerleau, 13 West River St., $364,900.
PALMER
Alexander A. Berezkin and Gail M. Brown to NP Amherst LLC, 13-19 South St., $310,000.
Andre J. Sample and Jenna L. Sample to Ramon A. Madsen and Sarah E. Gordon, 3053 Palmer St., $425,000.
James W. Beshaw and Donna M. Gamache to Paige M. Murray, 42 State St., $339,900.
Laura Lacrosse and George Frangenes to Nelson Marquez, 3092 Pine St., $350,000.
Ruth Flynn to Josiah Negron, 2001 Pleasant St., $340,000.
West Jam Man LLC, to Cindy L. Benoit and Adam M. Marderosian, 263 Wilbraham St., $309,000.
Wicked Deals LLC, to Haley Remodeling LLC, 248 Ware Road, $135,000.
SHUTESBURY
David C. Brooks, trustee of the Deerfield Valley Management Trust, to Christopher A. Frantz Belldale and Lillian Grace Delphine Belldale, 399 Leverett Road, $383,500.
SOUTH HADLEY
James Pisciotta to Greg McNulty, 7 Edison Drive, $405,000.
Heather J. Lacey to Heather Jane Lacey, trustee, and Heather Jane Lacey Revocable Trust, 1 Marcel St., $100.
Michael J. Fizell, David J. Fitzell, and Michael J. Fitzell, to Joel A. Prough and Kimberly S. Prough, 75 Pine Grove Drive, $385,000.
Stephen H. Rehm to Conti Investments LLC, 1 Conti Drive, $1,157,500.
Beverly A. Gagne and Peter A. Gagne to Beverly A. Gagne, trustee, and Revocable Indenture of Trust of Beverly A. Gagne, 455 Amherst Road, $100.
PAH Properties LLC, to Zamel Al Haron, trustee, Al Haron Family Revocable Trust and Al Haron Zamel, trustee, 19 Priestly Farms Road, $700,000.
Annalese B. Guerin, Annalese B. Nohelty and Raymond Guerin to Brittany M. Lawler and James Vagenas, 189 Woodbridge St., $409,900.
Daniel North and Brittania Weatherspoon-North to Ashley E. Tocchio, Ashley Tocchio and Colin Tocchio, 15 Kimberly Drive, $402,000.
Joseph A.P. Wilson and Michelle D. Trim to Brittania Weatherspoon North and Daniel North, 275 Brainerd St., $457,000.
Penny L. Dyer to Nicholas C. Dyer, trustee, Tiffany L. Dyer, trustee, and Dyer Irrevocable Trust, 53 Alvord Place, $100.
Heather J. Lavigne and Andrew W. Rogers to Richard D. Gallo and Jacqueline Gallo, 103 Alvord Place, $280,000.
SOUTHAMPTON
John E. Tobiason and Leslie E. Johnson to John E. Tobiason, trustee, Leslie E. Johnson, trustee, and Tobiason Johnson Family Trust, 6 Parc Place, $100.
Gil Farm Road Estates Inc., to Pamela Collins, Gil Farm Road, $170,000.
SPRINGFIELD
Anthony Maloni to Samantha Ramos, 80 Vadnais St., $275,000.
D Home Improvement Trust Inc., to 71 Real Estate LLC, 70 Grenada Terrace, $1,980,000.
Daniel Scagliarini to Anthony Joseph Piteo and Emily Grace Adams, 95 Bairdcrest Road, $317,500.
Davila Enterprises LLC, to Mount Olive Properties LLC, 35-37 Ozark St., $235,000.
DevelopSpringfield Corp., to JV Properties Inc., 213 Pine St., $22,500.
DiFranco Realty Inc., trustee, and TwoMarks Nominee Realty Trust, trustee of, to Norberto A. Bracero, 55 Penrose St., $259,900.
Edith Parker to Brian L. Maryott and Michele L. Maryott, 6 Sparrow Drive, $290,000.
Elizabeth A. Steedle and John C. Steedle to Joseph C. Placentini, 53 Elwood Drive, $475,000.
Emtay Inc., to Alexander Rios, 168 Allen St., $305,000.
Grace B. Snow to Donald M. Snow and Grace B. Snow, life estate, 15201526 Carew St., $100.
Gracy Y. Dyson, representative, Herbert Mimns Dyson, estate, and Herbert M. Dyson, estate, to Donnalee Stewart, 26 Jonquil Drive, $275,000.
Grecia Fleury Andrews to Peter Ton and Linh Huynh, 70 Temple St., Unit 4, $80,000.
James A. Barbieri to Angel Jimenez Cruz, 17 Griffin St., $270,000.
How to buy a high-quality couch at (almost) any price point
By D ina C heney
The Washington Post
ALTHOUGH THEY’RE meant for sitting, sofas wear many hats, at times serving as beds, dinner tables, even trampolines. To withstand all those greasy fingers, leapfrogging toddlers and jumpy sports fans, they need to be high-quality.
Identifying which couches are high-quality is the challenge — one made more difficult by changes in the industry and price tags that don’t necessarily correlate with comfort.
“Most budget-friendly sofas are getting worse and worse in terms of quality,” Frida Ramstedt, author of “The Furniture Handbook” and “The Interior Design Handbook,” said in an email. “On the other hand, high-end sofas have become ridiculously advanced in terms of materials in recent years, yet many of them sacrifice comfort. Oddly enough, the best balance between quality and comfort is usually found in the
Deeds
JJJ17 LLC, to Maria Rodriguez, 193195 Leyfred Terrace, $365,000.
Joel M. Marrero to David Walter, 139 Eddy St., $265,000.
Kelnate Realty LLC, to Onstar Properties AA LLC, 744-746 Carew St., $385,000.
Northern Flooring & Remodeling LLC, to Homes by Harambe LLC, 217-219 Pine St., $470,000.
London Realty LLC, to Shan Maung and Ma Tay Way, 149-151 Lebanon St., $450,000.
Luis Gonzalez and Marisol Gonzalez to Oscar Xavier Reyes Rodriguez and Crystal E. Reyes, 41 York St., $324,500.
Manfred K. Karori to Guillermo A. Querubin, 108 Marble St., $350,000.
Marla L. Miller to NRES LLC, 100 Haskin St., $180,000.
Nelson Franco and Beatriz Franco to Hanniel Victorino-Mejia, 124-126 Johnson St., $295,900.
Nestor Luis Chevere to Andrew Emilio Wheeler, 99 White Birch Drive, $314,000.
Nicholas E. Hurlin, trustee, and Donaldsons Development Trust, trustee of, to Jose A. Portorreal, 108-110 Commonwealth Ave., $320,000.
Norman J. Lachance, Marie-Martha Lachance and Marie-Marthe
mid-price range.”
To simplify the shopping process, here’s a primer on how you can differentiate the shoddy from the stellar, whether you’re shopping new or used, plus a list of expert-recommended choices at various price points.
Benchmarks of quality
“One of the biggest mistakes I see clients make when sofa shopping is to
Lachance to Rafael Humberto Lendof, 0 S S Waverly St., $420,000.
Padam Gajmer, Shova Gajmer, Shova Lagoon Gajmer, Damber Biswa and Subash Luhagun to Charles Obutu and Hussein Sendegaya, 463-465 Belmont Ave., $393,000.
Pah Properties LLC, to William Eben Duncan, 77 Clarendon St., $339,000.
Roberto Galvan to Murtadha Alhakeem, 183 Jewett St., $360,000.
Round Two LLC, to Patrick Johnson, 394-396 St James Ave., $481,000.
Seattle Bank to Maria B. Ventura, 73-75 Kenyon St., $285,000.
Shayne A. Spencer and Katherine M. Ortiz to Leanna Bushey, 69 Silas St., $205,000.
Shkeya Brittle to Innovareno Llc, 14 Adams St., $160,000.
Ursula Forgette to Pah Properties LLC, 32 Cottonwood Lane, $219,559.
Vernon Griffin to Jose R. Lopez Gonzalez, 84 Navajo Road, $240,000.
Victor M. Jimenez to Maringeline Marquez and Alexus Delgado Marquez, 3 Mortimer St., $285,000.
SUNDERLAND
Elaine Goodhind, trustee of the Klemyk Family Trust, to Pamela J. Korenewsky and Peter Korenewsky, South Plain Road, $140,000.
consider looks first, with construction second,” Australia-based Sarah Brown of Dreamy Decor said in an email.
“A well-constructed sofa may not always be the most glamorous option, but it’s truly the craftsmanship and longevity that will make for a better investment.” Good couch construction comes down to four elements: the frame, supporting foundation, cushions and fabric.
Elaine Goodhind, trustee of the Klemyk Family Trust, to Wild West Meadow LLC, Plumtree Road and South Plain Road, $10,000.
TOLLAND
John K. Smey and Lynn E. Smey to Donald H. Hansen and Lisa Hansen, Rivers Road, Lot 15A, $35,000.
Lynn E. Smey and John K. Smey to Donald H. Hansen and Lisa Hansen, Rivers Road, Lot 102A, $100,000.
WARE
Sara Spooner, conservator, Faith Malinowski, Faith R. Desrochers, Sara Spooner, personal representative, and Kenneth Malinowski, estate, to Market Ready Homes LLC, 25 Westbrook Ave., $175,000. Julianne Rabschnuk to Julianne Rabschnuk, trustee, and Julianne Rabschnuk Revocable Trust, 10 Berkshire Circle, $100.
Olusola Paul Ekundayo to David Trudeau and Teresa Rogers Trudeau, 14 Wildflower Circle, $340,000.
Gerald C. Smith to Neal R. Pruchansky, Robin F. Luberoff and Eli A. Luberoff, 28 Shoreline Drive, $900,000.
Legacy Property Investment Group LLC, to M.S.G. Group LLC, 22 Church St., $230,000.
Daniel Bruso to John Rudolph Norden IV, 93 Greenwich Road, $350,000.
The frame
“The backbone of any quality sofa is a solid hardwood frame, ideally made with kiln-dried wood,” Brown said. Hardwoods are strong, while kiln-drying eliminates interior moisture, reducing the likelihood of warping or cracking. For responsibly sourced options, look for frames made with woods certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). That said, it’s difficult to find couches with solid hardwood frames for less than $1,500, said sustainability expert L. Christina Cobb, founder of UrbisEco Home. Steel, engineered wood and hardwood plywood are also solid options (particleboard and softwood tend to be weaker).
Along with the material, construction is key. Generally, frames with mortise-and-tenon joints are strongest and most durable. But because most sofa frames aren’t visible, you’ll need to check furniture websites and ask salespeople to find this information.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Francis Wheeler Constr Inc., and Francis Wheeler Construction Inc., to Raymond L. Saegaert and Wendy L. Steinberger, 659 Piper Road, $115,000.
Hong X Hang and Thi Huong Ngan Phan to Thi Huong Ngan Phan, 181 Circle Drive, $100.
Westside Professional Building LLC, to DDMNS Realty LLC, 112120 Westfield St., $500,000.
Lou Lou Holdings LLC, and LouLou Holdings LLC, to Christopher Edward Klaus and Heather Ann Klaus, 73 Herrman St., $376,000.
Michael N. Nigro, Frances A. Nigro, Joseph M. Nigro, Michael A. Nigro and Frances V. Nigro to Powder 8 LLC, 18-20 Cottage St., $150,000. Nicolle Serafino and Gary Megliola to Lockhouse Development LLC, 24 Colony Road, Unit 24, $150,000.
WESTFIELD
Ann E. Singer, Ann E. Boardman and Gary Singer to Nancy S. Beswick and Jeffrey Beswick, 78 Western Ave., $280,000.
LIR Holdings LLC, to Christopher Broderick, 79 Mechanic St., $670,000.
Lucas Giusto, trustee, Dominic Santaniello, trustee, and Naples Home Buyers Trust, trustee of, to MHI Properties LLC, 51 Washington St., $205,000.
Marie A. Jones to Matthias Kas-
janov and Mikhail Okhrimenko, 20 Joyce Drive, $247,000.
Patricia A. Kallfa and Gregory Kallfa to Westfield Technical Academy Inc., 0 St. James Avenue, $50,000.
WHATELY
Barbara A. Konstantopoulos to Darren Hall, 42 Long Plain Road, $579,559.
WILBRAHAM
Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Waiwai Realty Trust, trustee of, to Kelly R. Crotto, Samuel B. Crotto, Mark C. Edstrom and Elaine N. Edstrom, 7 Ruth Drive, $505,000.
Steven Gregory Otto and Samantha Mitsuye Otto to Joyce Ndagire, 351 Springfield St., $500,000.
Timothy Spafford, Alison E. Spafford and Alison E. Shimel to Robert Hawley and Wendy Hawley, 7 Jewell Lane, $365,000.
WILLIAMSBURG
Frederick K. Goodhue to Catherine Savage and Emily S. Goodhue, 47 Conway Road, $100.
Frederick K. Goodhue to Frederick K. Goodhue, Catherine Savage and Emily S. Goodhue, Conway Road, $100.
Frederick K. Goodhue to Catherine Savage and Emily S. Goodhue, Conway Road, $100.
Good couch construction comes down to four elements: the frame, supporting foundation, cushions and fabric. (ADOBE STOCK IMAGE)
What you can do is peek at a sofa’s underside. Look for corners reinforced with glued-on or screwed-in blocks, another sign of strength. While you’re down there, make sure legs are securely attached with “substantial hardware,” Cobb said. Overall, if a couch is wobbly or lightweight, it probably lacks a substantial-enough frame and reinforced corners, she said.
The foundation
If you’ve ever tried to sleep on a sagging pullout couch and felt coils digging into your back, you’ve experienced a shoddy sofa foundation. To avoid subpar support, investigate the substructure beneath the seating, typically coil springs attached to the frame. Because you won’t be able to see this component, ask salespeople or search furniture websites for details. Ideally, the foundation will feature eightway hand-tied springs or sinuous (S-shaped) springs.
The cushions
When it comes to sofa quality and comfort, what’s on the inside is just as important as what’s on the outside. That’s why you’ll want to know which materials are in the cushion fill. To find out, read the tags on sofa cushions (or consult salespeople or furniture websites). Although fill can include a mix of materials, polyurethane foam is most common. With foam, high-density is ideal because it helps maintain shape. (Low-density foam should be avoided because it will sag more quickly.) Natural latex is a durable, eco-friendly alternative. For a supportive yet luxurious and plush feel, consider a combination of down and springs, Phyllis Harbinger, a Connecticutand Florida-based interior designer, said in an email.
The fabric
“Often, when you see the price of a sofa jump, it’s because the fabric
is much better quality,” Cobb said. Many high-end options are natural, like top-grain leather, 100 percent linen or wool. Full-grain, distressed leather “looks better with age and holds up to daily wear while developing a rich patina,” Harbinger said. In quality and price, cotton and cotton blends tend to be middleof-the-road; vinyl and polyester are lower-end.
If durability is a priority, look for removable, washable slipcovers and tightly woven performance fabrics. These materials (like microfiber, Crypton and polyester-linen blends) are engineered to resist water-based stains and fading. If you’re concerned about toxins, seek out certifications, like Greenguard Gold, Oeko-Tex and Global Organic Textile Standard, or GOTS. Whichever fabric you choose, it should be sewn with double-stitched seams, which are less likely to rip. They’re easy to spot: Just look for two parallel lines of stitches next to each other.
Consider your comfort
Finally, reflect on which silhouette and proportions will best suit how you lounge, whether you sprawl out, sit upright or tuck into a corner, said Harbinger. “Look at the relationship between seat depth, backrest angle and seat height,” said Ramstedt. “A wider backrest angle usually
requires a lower seat height for balance, whereas a more upright sofa should have a seat height closer to that of a dining chair to support the whole body.”
15 solid sofas
With the caveat that these figures are intended to serve as rough guidelines and reflect starting prices for standard sofas, here are expert-approved picks across the price spectrum. (Prices reflect the full price at time of publication and can vary depending on sofa size, style, fabric and features.)
1. Ikea Kivik ($750): Solid wood and composite frame, high-density foam cushions with springs and polyester. Removable, washable polyester cover.
2. Article Abisko Sofa ($1,200): Kiln-dried larch, plywood and brushed-aluminum frame. High-density foam and polyester cushions.
3. Burrow Arch Nomad Sofa ($1,360): Hardwood frame, galvanized hardware, firm-core cushions.
4. Article Sven Tufted Velvet Sofa ($1,500): Kiln-dried solid pine frame with solid rubber-wood legs, high-density foam cushions, polyester fabric.
5. Sabai Essential Sofa ($1,545): FSC-certified wood frame, non-
toxic recycled fabrics, high-density foam cushions.
6. PB Comfort Modern Square Arm Slipcovered Sofa ($1,600): Engineered-wood frame with mortise-and-tenon joinery, removable solid rubber-wood legs, sinuous springs, poly-wrapped foam or down-blend cushions, removable and washable cover.
7. Crate & Barrel Lounge Sofa ($2,000): Benchmade hardwood kiln-dried frame, soy-based poly-foam cushions wrapped in fiber-down blend.
8. Medley Rio Sofa ($2,300): FSC-certified solid wood and engineered-hardwood plywood frame with corner blocks, cushions with natural latex or high-density low-VOC poly foam, eco-certified fabrics.
9. Maiden Home Ludlow Sofa ($2,625): Kiln-dried maple legs, sinuous springs, high-density foam core cushions with fiber wrap, topstitched seam.
10. Room & Board Metro Sofa ($2,200): Benchmade hardwood frame, down-fiber blend high-density foam cushions.
11. Sundays Movie Night Sofa ($2,700): Solid wood and foam frame, feather-fiber blend foamcore cushions, nontoxic removable and washable fabric cover.
12. Sixpenny Devyn Sofa ($2,700): Kiln-dried hardwood and plywood frame, solid rubber-wood legs, sinuous spring suspension, high-density foamcore cushions (with feather, down or vegan poly fill).
13. BenchMade Skinny Fat Sofa ($4,500): FSC-certified engineered-wood frame with reinforced, interlocking joinery. Standard or down high-density foam cushions.
14. RH Cloud Sofa ($5,000): Kiln-dried hardwood frame with reinforced, corner-blocked joinery, high-density foam-core cushions (feather, poly fiber and down), washable and removable covers.
15. Serena and Lily Slipcovered Norfolk Sofa ($6,100): Mortise-and-tenon frame with removable maple legs, eightway hand-tied steel coil springs, spring-core cushions with poly foam and down.
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F4
The old-fashioned Oriental poppy (P. oriental) is the “only garden perennial among the poppies. Propagate it either from
seed or by root cuttings. With huge, flamboyant, brick-red flowers having purplish-black splotches at the bases of their petals, this poppy has few rivals for intense color in the flower garden. The blossoming period
is relatively short, in early summer.
Soon after the blossoms fade, the leaves die back, and the plant enters a period of dormancy until late summer. To mask the dying foliage and carry on a succession of bloom, I plant zinnias
and calendulas amongst the poppies.
All these poppies — corn poppies, Shirley poppies, Icelandic poppies, California poppies, and oriental poppies — thrive on neglect. Sprinkle the seeds onto well-drained soil, then forget about them. Poppies are flowers of cottage gardens and meadows, rather than neatly groomed, formal flower beds. Let them sprawl, their flowers flopping about on the ends of stalks splashing bright colors against mute green foliage.
If durability is a priority, look for removable, washable slipcovers and tightly woven performance fabrics. (ADOBE STOCK IMAGE)
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