The perfect couch: dream or reality?

Looking for a statement sofa, such as this showstopper 

from legendary Barrymore Furniture? Or just a comfy 

sofa for you and your family? Read on for some tips!

So you are on the lookout for a new couch. You know what size and colour you want. And you know it has to be comfortable and practical. But how about the rest: shape of legs and arms, style of cushions and backrest? Not to mention details such as piping and nail head trim? Let's start with the legs.

Skirted couch from Lee

Industries, available through

the Great Room, North Bay.

Look at the legs of other pieces in the room and repeat the same general shape on your couch. If the other pieces have exposed legs, consider breaking that trend and opting for a skirted couch, or a couch with an upholstered or recessed base with no visible feet.

Arms: Are there already many soft, round shapes in the room? Then go with a couch with a rounder appearance. Stricter lines in the room often require a straighter sofa. Choose narrow, low armrests if space is tight.  

Alger Furniture and Appliances 

in North Bay sells this two-cushion 

sofa. 

 

Seat and back cushions: There are many options; a three-seater for example can have three individual cushions for each seat, it can have two, bigger cushions, or one single seat and backrest. The cushions can be loose or tight. Consider this: each cushion creates vertical lines in the couch. So if you want a clean and streamlined appearance, a sofa with fewer (and consequently larger) cushions is preferable. Couches with individual cushions for each seat have a tendency to look more traditional, and that might be exactly what your are after.

Three-cushion sofa available 

at North Bay's Home Furniture.

Nail heads are decorative metal buttons applied to edges and arms. Available in different finishes and sizes, they give your couch a somewhat formal appearance. Match the nail-head finish to your cabinet hardware, and your space will read as coherent and pulled together. Achieve the same effect with the piping, the fabric that covers the cushion seams. Make it stand out by using a contrasting fabric present elsewhere in the room. These embellishing details will make your couch stand out from the rest!

Ten slick sofas (plus an armchair)

Hunting for a couch can be challenging. Not only does it have to look stylish, it also has to be comfortable and practical. And, the price tag must be right.

Here are a few tips to make your next sofa purchase a lot easier:

- Know in advance where the couch is going. Take measurements and determine the maximum width and height of your future sofa.

- Be specific about your functional requirements. How many should the couch seat? Should it stand rough treatment from little ones? Pets?

- Think about what style of couch would look good. Does your room call for an ornate couch with rounded arms and back, or should the sofa have simpler lines?

- Determine if you want a solid-coloured couch or a patterned. If there is already a lot of pattern in the room, on curtains, rug, etc, it will look better with a solid colour. When visiting stores, ask for samples of different upholstery options to try at home.

- Shop around. Take photos, write down measurements and price. Then go home and look at the photos, try the upholstery options and make a decision.

Here are 10 slick sofas (plus an armchair) from North Bay stores:

I'm a big fan of "condo-sized" couches. They have

a much more "human" scale than the typical over-
sized sofa. The proportions are also slicker. This
couch is from the Great Room and costs $1620.
Look how great it is with orange and red!

This Canada-made couch is "a designer favourite" 

at Alger Furniture & Appliances. It costs $1499,
has clean lines and a variety of upholstery options.
Imagine how beautiful it would look in these fabrics:

Leather is practical if you have kids and pets
(watch out for sharp claws though!). This leather
sofa is from Sears. $2249.

Elegant lines on this sofa with nailhead details. 

And the upholstery options are almost endless! 

It is part of Leon's Cobistyle selection. You should

check it out! $1299.

I like the curved arm and nailheads on this couch. 

Below are some of my upholstery favourites:

A three-seater with rounded arms from Sears.

$1099.

A sectional couch is a good choice if you have the

space and need a lot of seating, like in a family 

room. Different modular pieces are often joined 

together to create a sectional. This gives a lot of

flexibility, since you can move the pieces around 

and try various configurations. This piece is from

the Great Room and costs $4486.

This sectional is from North Bay Home Furniture.

$2999.

With two seat cushions and one single piece as back

rest, the look of this sofa bed is clean and stylish.
$1099 at Sears.

A Brentwood Classic, now 40% off at Cleopatra

(originally $2400). Instead of the tray which is
seen in this photo, you have the option to include
a third seat cushion and back support. The couch
comes with beautiful upholstery options. See two
examples below:

If you have a tighter budget, you might be 

interested in this contemporary, faux-leather 

couch from the Brick. $399. And why not add

a fun chair to go with it, like the zebra print 

below. Also at the Brick. $179.

Which couch is your favourite?

Mirror, mirror on the wall...

Mirrors are often used to bring light to dark corners and to make a small space look bigger. They are perfect for that! But mirrors are not ideal just anywhere. Avoid putting them right in front of a window or a door, especially if it is the front entrance. In those locations, mirrors act as barriers and detract from the welcoming feeling that you want to create. Also think twice about putting them in any area of your home where you want to feel completely relaxed. 

On the other hand, what better way to capture a beautiful view or to reflect a nice plant or candlelight than a mirror! Try a round or oval mirror for a change. Homes are mostly rectangular and square anyway, and cupboards, windows, and so on add to that. Break up the shapes a bit! 

So, who in the land is fairest of all? Here are my North Bay picks.

I found this mirror at Winners. if you want a touch of glamour, this one is for you. Its sparkly, mosaic frame is sure to bring light into your home. And the price tag is right: $59.99. 

In general, I like the range of mirrors that Winners offers. It covers oversized show stoppers, smaller accent mirrors and everything in between. 

The Great Room is another good place for mirrors. I have seen these two from Renwil there. Aren't they gorgeous? I would buy two of the rectangular mirror and put them side by side, for even more of an impact. Winners has also carried a similar mirror, so watch for it in the store.

The distressed wood look is in, we saw that at IDS11 in Toronto. In North Bay, you can find this style at Vested Interest and Winners. Alger Furniture also has a unique wood-framed mirror which I envision in a front hall in a home devoted to a modern cottage style.

Square mirror at Vested Interest.

Rustic mirror à la Winners.

The frame almost looks like twigs. Alger Furniture.