Kristin Drohan Interior Design

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm headed off to Florida to spend Thanksgiving with my parents and brother.  I'm feeling very thankful these days.  We are through the move and are settling in.  My business has gathered steam.  We are all healthy (knock on wood).  Does anyone else do the knock on wood?  I hate verbalizing anything positive, so I always knock on wood.  I don't really care how crazy that makes me either.  Back to the thankfulness... The kids are transitioning with new friends and sports teams.  As rough as the past few months have been, I'm just so glad we are all through it.   I'm really looking forward to relaxing with my family and enjoying some warm weather.  A side note on the weather.  Apparently, Boston has been trying to impress me with some really amazing fall weather despite the very negative rumors I heard to the contrary.  So for that, I'm also thankful.  Lastly, I'm thankful for blog readers who leave comments. 

Here's some Thanksgiving table eye candy for you.

So, which table would you want to be sitting at for Thanksgiving?

Free Advice Friday...How to Pick Good Upholstery

 I so often get asked why one sofa is $995 and another $3500.  Well there is a reason.  Fortunately, I will be able to illustrate this for you since I witnessed the fabrication process at Hickory Chair U.  The most important aspect is finding out where the sofa was made.  Bench made upholstery is made in the US, usually in North Carolina. 

HC first starts with a kiln dried 1 1/4 in hardwood kiln dried frame that has been glued, screwed, and doweled in each joint.  They use 3-4 dowels instead of the industry standard of 2. 

Notice how they shape the frame instead of using padding which shifts over time.

8 way hand tied coils add support that will last for years.  Cheaper methods employ no-sag springs or just one size coil.  It was truly fascinating to watch them tie the coils. They were really fast, I got exhausted watching them.

Time to get some padding, cushions, and upholstery. I won't put upholstery in a clients house unless it has pocketed spring coils inside the cushion.  This is another way some manufactures will skimp to keep the price down.  With out the springs, a dacron wrapped piece of foam will start to break down fast.  I've had spring down cushions last 16 plus years.  HC Spring down cushions are standard.  Nice!

How about some fabric?  Not only does HC stock lots of fabric they will COM too.  COM is an acronym for Customer's Own Material.  I will be honest.  I COM almost everything.  Fabrics are not created equal and I need to know the rub test numbers.  Wyzenbeck in a rating system on fabric durability.  30,000 double rubs is considered heavy duty.  I have many in my repertoire with 100,000.  What can I say.  My clients have kids and pets.  That doesn't mean you have to give up the pretty though.  There are many durable, stain resistant fabrics that look sumptuous.  Again, this is yet another place where companies can really cut costs by using inexpensive fabric.

 

Nail head trim is done one at a time at Hickory Chair.  Some of the imports and less expensive furniture brands use a strip of nails where only every fourth or fifth nail is real and tacked in.  The ones in between are faux nails.  It is way less labor intensive, and the strips are cheap.
  

Almost done and ready to ship.  When that much labor and attention to detail is applied to each piece you know you're getting  quality, long lasting furniture.   I hope that explains why there is a price difference to upholstery.  There are so many ways to cut corners.  The old adage holds true.  You get what you pay for.  I hope you find this helpful when you head out to buy your next sofa.  I'm joining Met Monday over at Between Naps on the Porch .  Jump over and see amazing transformations.

Boulevard Interior Design In the Press

Okay, it is almost 10PM, and I've been on my computer over 8 hours today.  I wanted to complete a post,  so I headed over to the Typepad blogging site and they decided to "upgrade" aka "toy with me" on the configuration of everything.  Thanks, Typepad, you have stellar timing. 

I have been pondering how to blog about some recent press I received lately without coming across braggy.  Here's the thing.  Interior Designers love press.  Any press...well, as long as it isn't the police blotter.  If you've been following my blog, you know I was invited to do a design seminar by a local realtor for recent home buyers.   The event was very fun and Patrick Ball of the Concord Journal published a very nice article that ran last Thursday (attached below).  So first, thank you Patrick.  He is young guy who was subjected to a night of cocktails (which he didn't get to partake in) and Interior Design.  I'm sure that wasn't his idea of the perfect night.

Then yesterday, Laura Holland over at Hickory Chair blogged about a recent post I did on my latest Before and After utilizing HC furnishings.  So, Merci Merci, I feel so fortunate. 

 

If you missed the "before" of this room here is the original post.  Thanks for humoring me.

Hickory Chair University..More Evidence of Blue

It has been so crazy lately.  I'm still recovering from my trip last week to Northern Va and North Carolina.  I have tons to post.  So last week, I attended Hickory Chair University.  What's that you ask?  The Hickory Chair Company happens to be one of my preferred vendors.  Every month they invite designers, retailers, students, even bloggers to attend a two day training seminar conducted at their facility in Hickory, NC.   The intent is for attendees to gain an in-depth education about their products and company.  I have to tell you, it was impressive.  In my quest to Green up my business, I had targeted HC as a resource simply because they were one a few companies fabricating their product in the US.  I was very happy to learn that the level of sustainability they are operating under currently is far more than I had anticipated.  In fact, it is far more than many that are at the lowest membership level in the Sustainable Furnishings Council.  This is something they need to start shouting from the rooftops.  Over the next few days, I'll do a post on what I found to be the most noteworthy.  Topics will include, Case goods...They Aren't Created Equal.  Okay, I'm going to have to digress here.  For the record, in the biz, we call wood products (ie chests, tables, armoires, etc.), case goods.  My husband always tells me I need to explain this term.  He has explained that even though he has heard the term several times and knows what it means, he still envisions a case of beer.  I'm also going to cover Upholstery... The Anatomy of a Sofa, and A Comfortable Sofa Bed...this isn't an Oxymoron. 

On the first evening, we went to their showroom at their facility for a catered dinner and chance to check out some of their stuff.  I immediately zero'd in on the Blue pieces in the showroom.  I think I'm definitely on to something. 

 Paired with Red.  Ummm, yes please.

Blue pillows, Blue headboard

More Blue pillows and some bedding

I think I hit the mother-lode in this showroom

 

Okay no Blue, but so pretty I had to share.

I'm of course going to have to link to Smiling Sallie's Blue Monday for obvious reasons.  If you love the color, Blue, it doesn't end here.  Jump on over to her website and check it out. 
So what do you think of the pics?  Are you loving the Blue or not so much? Do tell.  

More High Lights

I have so much going on right now and there is so much to write about from Market.  Tonight, I have several dozen clients of a local realty company coming to my house for a cocktail party and design presentation.  Robert Allen, Peyton Home, and Sherwin Williams have all contributed to the swag bag.  So, I thank them all for that.   On Monday, I head to NC to attend Hickory Chair University.  I'm really excited, I've heard it is phenomenal.  We spend two jam packed days going through their manufacturing facility to receive education on how everything is fabricated.

Back to High Point.  Another popular look that was repeated in several showrooms was the use of linen.  Linen linen linen.  It was everywhere.  Check it out. 

Haute House

 

More Haute House

 

Palecek

 

Aidan Gray

 

J. Douglas

 

Van Guard

 

 
Cisco Brothers

I'm really curious to see what you think of this look.  It is in Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware, Ballard Designs, and Wisteria.  Is anyone buying it?

 

New Before and After

As promised here is a project I recently finished in Va.  I want to point out that even with a modest budget you can get completely custom pieces with high style and function if you have great resources.  

 
Family Room Before

Family Room After

Every piece of furniture in this make over, we had custom made.  The upholstery pieces were made in NC.  The sectional is from Boulevard Eco Upholstery (my collection).  The case goods were made in PA by one of my fabulous vendors.  I had to talk my client into the curtain panels.  The budget had been exhausted and my homeowners weren't convinced they wanted them.  I purchased ready made cotton duck panels and used the left over ottoman fabric to add a band to the bottom--something they could readily afford.  The rug is a sisal from Surya.  All in all, the result is pretty and sustainable.

 

Living Room Before

 
Living Room After

These chairs are from Hickory Chair.  I think this is one of their styles that gives you a lot of bang for your buck and it is super comfy.  The silk panels were made by my workroom. I bought the silk directly from the mill in a bolt, which kept the price wayyy down.  We used the rest for coordinating panels in the dining room across the entryway.  I have to merchandise the bookcase in the dining room, so it hasn't been photgraphed yet.  The wine cabinet is a custom piece I designed and had made by a company located in MI.  We painted the old mirror and...WAH LA, you can't even tell it is the same piece. 
The wool rug is one of my favs from Surya (I've used it in a different color for another project), and is 100 percent wool.  I reused the client's chest, added Candice Olsen lamps, some fresh flowers and a tray on the ottoman and the makeover is complete.   So what do you think?  I'm participating in Met Monday at  Between Naps on the Porch and Blue Monday at Smiling Sals.  Hop on over and see amazing transformations at BNOTP and cool Blue at Sals.