Smaller Scaled Furniture

It seems at this recent High Point Market in North Carolina, the emphasis was on smaller scaled furniture for those downsizing to condos, smaller homes or even folks looking for some nice second bedroom furniture.

At Almira, we've been working with a Collection called Perfect Balance for over a year now and the customers choosing it have all been very happy with the items they have purchased.

 The Perfect Balance Collection is scaled to smaller rooms and offers Traditional, Transitional and Contemporary designs in your choice of finish and your choice of hardware. The scale is also great for youth bedrooms too.

The beds are the big story with this collection. While the standard bed is offered, you can also get beds with storage drawers on one side of the bed rails, two sides of the bed rails or even a lift bed, where the whole mattress lifts to provide complete hidden under bed storage. Great for keeping seasonal items in a smaller apartment.

In addition to Perfect Balance, Almira offers a number of other smaller scaled items including occasional furniture and upholstery. Plan to visit and see all that is available. 

Upholstery Cleaning Codes

The exact method for cleaning upholstery depends on the fabric code. Here are the four codes to look for and an explanation of how to clean these particular fabrics.

Code W
The "W" code refers to fabrics that are man-made. Examples include nylon, herculon, acetate, olefin and polyester.
These types of fabrics can be cleaned with water-based cleaners. Spot clean, using the foam from a water-based cleaning agent such as mild detergent or non-solvent upholstery shampoo product. Apply foam with a soft brush in a circular motion. Vacuum when dry. Pre-test a small area before proceeding. If the upholstery is badly soiled, use a professional furniture cleaning service.

Code S
The "S" code refers to fabrics made of organic fibers like cotton, rayon and linen, as well as fabrics manufactured from animal origin like wool or silk.
Additional code "S" fabrics include denim, velour, brocade, tapestry, damask, acrylic and plaid (cotton/olefin blend).
These fabrics should be cleaned with a solvent or dry cleaning product. Spot clean using a mild water-free solvent or dry cleaning product. Pre-test in a small area before proceeding. Be sure not to over- saturate, and allow the area to dry completely and use a clean, white cloth. Blot out the solution. If the stain persists, rub lightly in a circular motion using a clean part of the cloth. Reverse the circular motion using a clean part of the cloth each time. You also may use the cool setting of a dryer, or fan the area dry once the stain is removed. For cleaning a cushion, clean the entire surface.

Code S-W
Fabrics with the "S-W" code may be spot cleaned with a mild solvent and/or water-based cleaner such as shampoo or the foam from a mild soap or detergent solution. Techniques mentioned for "W" or "S" coded fabrics should be followed with these fabrics.

Code X
Fabrics with the code "X" should only be cleaned by vacuuming or light brushing or professional dry cleaning. Water- or solvent-based cleaning agents should not be used, as they may cause excessive shrinking, staining or distortion of the surface pile.

Caring For Upholstered Furniture and Fabrics

To keep the fabric on your upholstered furniture looking bright, new and inviting for as long as possible, follow these suggestions:

Periodically, lightly brush or vacuum the upholstery to remove soil particles and dust and prevent them from imbedding between fibers.

Turn and rotate cushions after vacuuming to prevent excessive wear and soil deposits.

Avoid placing newspaper on fabric. The ink will permanently stain and discolor the material.

Keep fabrics away from direct sunlight if possible.

Do not use acids, dyes, paints or nail polish near fabrics.

Do not cover fabrics with darker fabrics when having work done in the home, since dyes may rub off.

Liquid spills should be absorbed immediately. Blot with white absorbent cloth or paper towel.

Spills such as jelly or soft spills should be scooped up with a soft edge spoon. If the spill has dried up, scoop it gently and vacuum the rest.

Never throw your fabric in the washer or dryer unless the fabric says it is machine washable. 

Remove the pillow forms before washing.

To spot clean, always test an area of the fabric that is not seen first, such as under a chair/sofa skirt. Let it dry, and then proceed if the results are positive. Do not oversaturate an area with any cleaning solutions.

Do not rub strongly and try not to let a stain dry.

Professional cleaning will prevent the gradual buildup of dirt and grime, but discuss with the dry cleaner any fire retardant finishes that may not endure through some methods of cleaning.

Furniture Consumers Looking For Better Quality

For 30 years Almira has been proud to offer only the highest quality solid wood and upholstery to our customers. Those folks who choose to buy a lesser quality product are now starting to rethink their decisions, looking for a better quality product next time around. A recent survey by the leading industry magazine, Furniture/Today bears this out.

Seven out of ten customers will do something different next time they purchase furniture with 40% of those planning to buy better quality. Over 25% plan to buy more durable furniture.

Here are some comments received during the survey.

"I couldn't find the perfect sofa in my price range and ended up settling. Knowing what I know now I would have invested more time into research and allowed myself a bigger budget"

"Good quality furniture lasts much longer with normal everyday use. Uncomfortable furniture may look good, but it really just takes up space."

"My current furniture has worn quickly because I bought it discounted. Next time, I'll invest more so that it lasts and remains comfortable."

"As we have gotten older, it has become a priority to spend more money on things that will last as opposed to cheap things that have to be replaced often."

The survey also showed 83% of consumers research their future purchases by visiting retail stores or retailers websites. This is a statistic we love. At Almira we welcome the opportunity to show you the benefits and features of our quality solid wood furniture. Furniture built to the highest standards and built to last.

We welcome you to drop by the store, enjoy a coffee, chat with a sales consultant and discover all we have to offer. We look forward to seeing you.

2013 Design Colours

The results are in. A survey by Furniture Today concluded that the hot design colours for 2013 are Blues, Grays and Greens.

Blues topped the consumer choices at 29%. Comments included; "It's always blue with another colour. Blue is the colour of the sky, ocean and in my opinion, looks good in every shade", "Beautiful, deep, calming, lovely", and "It can be elegant or whimsical".

Grays came second at 18%. Some say "Grey is the new Beige" while others say "Grey is neutral, but not boring". Additional survey comments included; "Gray is so timeless, and works with everything including my natural wood pieces" and "It's a way to add mood without permanently dictating my colours of the future".

Rounding out the top three are Greens. Nature is a definite influencer. Comments included; "It provides a pop that is refreshing", It calms me and feels fresh, clean and warm all at once" and "Colour of nature, calming and peaceful, feels like a sanctuary, feels like me".

Additional comments and directions coming out of the survey were that 76% of consumers preferred an unplanned, eclectic look while 24% preferred a complete coordinated look. 97% think it's important that their home reflects their personal style and creativity.

A Sea of Blue Brought to You

By Allison Kahn  - Hooker Furniture

There is nothing more relaxing and enjoyable than taking a trip to the coast and staying at a cozy beach bungalow with family and friends. Owning and decorating a beach house is a luxury not everyone can afford, but you can easily bring the beach to your own home—even if it’s far from the seaside. Hooker Furniture’s coastal cottage collection, Harbour Pointe, brings the vintage beach look to your home in fresh, light colors. I’ve put together some ways to create the perfect coastal-themed living room using the Harbour Pointe collection.

When decorating a living room, choosing a focal point is important. Be sure to work around this piece and only place items in the room that will complement it. In this case, I think using the sectional as the focal point would be a good choice because comfort is key to coastal decor. The sectional from Harbour Pointe in the Lindy Natural fabric is a great starting point. The upholstery fabric closely resembles the color of sand—how perfect!

Blue is a popular choice of color when furnishing and decorating a beach house. When decorating your home in a coastal cottage theme, choosing earth-tones, sands and browns with a contrasting color– such as blue– can really give your home an organic feel. Accent the sectional sofa with some comfy throw pillows in the fabulous blue Spicer Lapis fabric to make it very inviting. Strategically place ottomans in a blue hue around the room for some added comfort.

Transform your living room into a beach-themed getaway with a sand-colored upholstered sectional sofa, blue ikat patterned ottomans, and a rustic white cocktail table and entertainment console. Together they work in harmony to create a relaxing environment.

A relaxing coastal living room

Along with the essential furniture pieces, another way to bring the coast to your home is with accessories. Buy a large glass lamp and fill it with seashells—the seashells are easy to find in bulk at little beach shops.  A lovely white sailboat on a sofa table would make a great conversation piece. Strategically place some blue glass bottles on a shelf or use a blue lamp base with a large white lamp shade to tie in the blue theme.

Blue glass bottles on a shelf make a great accessory

It may not be in the plans for you to decorate a beach house anytime soon, but with Hooker Furniture’s Harbour Pointe collection and some simple accessories, the beach can brought to your house!

For Great Taste At Home, Pick Boyz-n-Berry!

By Mary Wynn Ryan - thanks to Hooker Furniture

In ancient days, purple was a color reserved for royalty only.  Today, this rich color is still right for a look that’s both elegant and exciting. The color forecasters at Color Marketing Group have flagged “Boyz-n-Berry” as one of the year’s top shades, and no wonder: This passionate hue is surprisingly versatile.Check out how regal Boyz-n-Berry looks when paired with gold or other warm neutrals, as in this inviting room

photo courtesy Calico Corners’ Calico Homes

Why not take it beyond a girl’s bedroom to a dramatic library or media room and harness the theatrical power of purple? Or mix it with warm neutrals (gold, bronze, beige) for a complementary scheme that’s refreshing and regal. For a contemporary twist, pair it with silver, chrome or light gray and an icy pastel such as mint or aqua. Or jump in with a mix of flower hues grounded in sophisticated shades of taupe, tan, gray or green.  Use a fabric you love as the basis for a room’s color scheme: A goof-proof plan is to color the walls in the lightest, quietest hue; flooring and some furniture pieces in darker or mid-tone hues; and other furniture and accent pieces in the brightest hues. Here are a couple of fabric choices from Sam Moore Furniture in the Boyz-n-Berry shades:
The “Elodea Berry” upholstery fabric from Sam Moore makes pink and lilac living room-ready with the savvy and surprising addition of hot golden-orange and cool, pale gray.

Elodea Berry fabric from Sam Moore

Classic medallion motifs make a splash in adventurous-but-elegant color schemes like the Lilac fabric from Sam Moore. Lavender takes a dramatic turn when used with deep red, bright gold, pale gray and black.

Lilac fabric from Sam Moore

The Boyz-n-Berry trend is even influencing housewares. In fact, check out this stand mixer in the Boyz-n-Berry shade sold at many outlets including Sears and Lowes! Why not mix  up your next cake in style?

A mixer in the Boysenberry shade