Online Seating
Online eye candy: the Kandi Modular Sofa from Essential Home
Jay Johnson - The Internet gives you access to amazing design resources. Each of our clients gives us links to online catalog pages, Instagram photos, and room shots - these links are accompanied invariably by the words, “So tell me what you think about this…”
Rocky Rocket Sofa/Chair from Circu Magical Furniture
Homeowners like to “be in the hunt” and actively look for resources. The Internet beckons, and everyone with a computer or a smartphone excitedly searches for hidden gems, unique finds, and good bargains. We’re all fixated with the thrill of online discovery!
Bardot armchair from Essential Home
We encourage clients to show us what they’ve found online. They may be doubtful if what they’ve uncovered will work for their home and a particular design scheme, but Irwin and our designers won’t hesitate to give them an honest reaction, ranging from “that will definitely work” to “let me tell you why that would be a bad idea” or “that trend has come and gone.”
Klaude Sofa from Essential Home
But one of the hardest resources to okay online is seating. We encourage clients to visit a physical retail location or furniture showroom to try out the merchandise before making a commitment.
Does the seating - sofa, armchair, dining chair, etc. - sit comfortably for you, or is it too low or too high? Can you get in and out of the item easily?
Are you able to sit upright, and can your feet touch the floor?
Do you need extra firmness or less firmness in the cushions?
Do you need extra lumbar support?
Do the fabrics appeal to you? For instance, there are many grades of leather, and some grades will feel supple and buttery while others will feel hard and plastic-like.
We like to have our clients visit our custom sofa workrooms so they can do a “sit test” before the item is upholstered. They can tell us they want to sit up higher, firmer, or more supported. And this all boils down to the problem of purchasing seating from an online-only resource. You can’t test-drive the seating if it’s an overseas resource or if you’re unable to sit-test a physical sample.
Tellus Dining Chair from BRABBU Design Forces
But let’s be clear: Feel free to buy online seating if you’re willing to waive all the fine-tuning we’ve just described. You may not be particular about how you, your family, or your guests feel in seating. You’re going for good looks, perhaps a good price, and you’re willing to forego a little tire kicking before making your purchase.
By all means, make an online seating purchase if you’re not the princess who feels the pea under a mountain of mattresses. If you’re not super sensitive, you just might want to take the plunge and buy from an online-only resource.