C4 - Wednesday, December 12 , 1984 - North Shore News NOT AN EASY TASK In search of quality furniture Consumer reporter Jim Hog gan writes about his search for good quality, hund crafted furniture. By JIM HOGGA™ I SPENT the last few weeks looking for a good sofa and chair to furnish the bare liv- ing room Linherited from my ex-roommate It started as a casual shopping imp and developed into a-major education. If you're a fussy type, as | am, it’s probably not news to you that they don’t make upholstered turniture like they used to — with a few ex- ceptions, upholstered — fur- nmiture manufacturers are mass-produced. Craftsmen are out and assembly lines are in Most of the sotas | looked at had two things in common - cheap materials and poor workmanship. I'd heard about the sofas that last 10-20 years, but 1 couldn’ even find one with a decent warranty. Then there was the problem of getting the right combinatuion of fabre and style Fortunately, | made a discovery (one of Van. couver'’s better kept secrets) There are a_ handful of custom furniture manutac- turers in) Vancouver who cater to the fussy. These craftsmen not only build it like they used to, they build it better A combination of tradi tronal craftsmanship and the latest developments in materials will build a piece of furniture that is even more durable and more comtor- table than upholstered fur- niture of the past.) This tur- nitureis built by hand, not by machine In a good hand-made tur- niture shop, a sota will pass through the hands of five or more journeymen a trame builder, a cutter, a seam stress, a springer, and an upholsterer. The result is well made, world class furniture every bit as good as furniture one might get from New York orl A One of the most intor mative parts ot my upholstered turniture educa- won Was spent in one of these shops with Jim Bone Bone took me on a tour of Grege’s Furniture, a custom furniture manufacturer that has been making hand-made furmiture in Vancouver for over 30 years | highly recommend a tour like this for anvone planning to invest in tur. FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS Garden transformed to winter wonderland VAN DUSEN Gardens ts opening its Christmas parcel early take a peek 3 Festival of Laghts Ower five acres of garden transformed nto a sparkling wonderland, strung with over 8,000 lights View a lite size. fhaltivity secne and wander through a Christmas tree forest. whale you lasten to beautiful C beastanvas pryusin Childrens’ taces will light up when they see the miniature Tyrolean village, the ohtldrens’ garden with its radiant sasquatch and. of course, Santa Be sure to see the green house filled with Colorful hanging baskets of pormrset tas. and imagine yout own xrcenhouse your pate Tecetpl makes vou eligible to Wi one Take the mip out of the waintet alt with toasted chestnuts, a hot drink. or oa vasit tor the wife shop where niture {Us quite an education to see how a sofa is con- structed and how much fine work 1s involved. If you are looking for upholstered furniture you might tind the tollowing analogy usetul in judging the quality of the piece. Bone says you should look at a sota as a ‘‘hving thing "" It has a ‘skin’? — the fabric sutching and piping. It has flesh’? the padding It has ‘‘guts’’ ~ the springs and cushioning And wo has oa skeleton’) — the trame Lach of these parts must be suited to its yob and produce a comfortable, durable piece of furniture. Tf they do, your sofa should look good 10 years down the road The “‘skin’’ of fabric should tit. The stitching and piping should be straight and neat. The patterns should match The ‘‘flesh’’ or pad- ding should give the piece a healthy look, at shouldn't look emaciated or bloated The *'guts’’ or springs should work, that means comfort. A soft or spring-front edge is synonymous with good quall- ty furmture Springs should be coil, not serpentine and there should be no sagging. The ‘‘skeleton’’ or frame should be made from good you can find beautiful and unusual gifts, and see a magnificent 14 foot Christmas tree, hung with nalural ornaments Lights, musi, and the magi of C hristinas Van Dusen Gardens) © hristmas wrapping a Festival of December 14 January |, (except © hrastinas Dav) 89 BO pm $1 S80) adults $1 semiors, dain bight, Admission children, members, $4 families Visit FASHION HOME INTERIORS, where you will receive prompt, personal attention and benefit from the experience of our qualified staff. BLINDS 1”’ Mini-Blinds Vertical Blinds Woven Woods Pleated Shades Se cape bs 5O pores CUA AEC So nvalits prrem dire Leon \ de ir acy soo Ma, Yo Off mfg list proe Abbey blinds LO) working days oO yS sO 10 OO ty Oe ceortaten Ebates ay North Vane ower YAN 1925 YNN 12270 quality kitn-dried wood and should give a substantial teel to the sota. A good sofa should not feel flimsy; the backs and arms should not wobble. Last, but not least, the piece should look and feel like good furniture - an easy subjective test for the habitually fussy. | found this acid test of Bomne’s very helpful. | hope you do as well. Good luck shopping - and buyer beware! t's beginning to look a lot like Christmas and Canyon House is open 7 days a week. O.: gift to you A ll dinnerware in stock 30-50% off QUALITY FURNITURE FOR EVERY ROOM Choose from the Leading Brands! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE ED FIND IT ADVERTIS ; Oe LESS — WE: LL REFUND PATHE DIFFERENCE - z | 9:30am-5:30 pm CANY ON HOUSE Saturday-Sunday 3590 Capilano Rd., N. Van. 988-5169 0% DISCOUNT ON TRACY Lica TOL. 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