The Sofa Blog

In the Art Element, Risk is Style!

tiffany@thesofaco.com — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:21:20 GMT

Heyyyy everyone !!!! I'm one of the new girls here at the Santa Monica showroom. My name is Tiffany and I'm from Pasadena. I am 27 years old but surely I don't feel like it. I have trained and worked very hard to require the skills and proffesionalism it takes to be a interior designer. From my first job at 11 years old sweaping and mopping classrooms to being a receptionist and then to doing visual merchandising for many furniture stores and then to even being someones personal lifestyle coach. I really enjoy assistng in their design process. I graduated FIDM 2011, the best years of my life happened at FIDM. My saying is " In the art element Risk is style " With no color in a room I feel no life. A rooms should always have live plants as well; but in my fashion its about wearing all black !!! I take my job and career very serious but once you get to know me I am perty goofy and the funniest things always seem to happen to me ! Like getting beaten up by an old women for parking in her parking spot. I am happy to be working with The Sofa Company and especially working with other designers.

Comfort Sleeper Sale!

chad@thesofaco.com — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:05:37 GMT

Come down to any Sofa Company location through October 4th for substantial savings on the world's most comfortable sofa bed!

Hello World!

edwin@thesofaco.com — Mon, 30 May 2011 15:05:19 GMT

Hello Everyone! My name is Edwin and along with Kaytie we are the newest members of The Sofa Company team in the Downtown Los Angeles showroom. I have an extensive background in Home Furnishings/Interior Design, Ive worked for many high end Home Furnishing stores dealing with Designers and common people just like yourselves who want to add a design aspect to there home. I have a passion for art & design, and aspire to design my own sofa or my own furniture in the near future. In my spare time I like to paint, rummage thru design magazines, and I am also in the midst of learning the artistry of cut & sew.

My favorite styles are the Ivan, Turner, & Charles because of the Mid Century Modern look but i also like the Timeless look of the Essex(something about the English Roll Arm).

I look forward to working and providing you with great customer service aswell as a creative vision. Stop by the Downtown Showroom today!

Ekornes Promotion!

andi@thesofaco.com — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 17:09:54 GMT

The final week of the by Ekornes Free Leather Upgrade Promotion is approaching!! Take advantage of this awesome offer and get a leather upgrade free of charge on any Ekornes product including Stressless Recliners! Promotion ends March 20, 2011.

Now at Redondo Beach

andi@thesofaco.com — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:20:12 GMT

Hi everyone! I am now located at the Redondo Beach showroom location from Pasadena. I am very excited to be here on my home turf and looking forward to meeting new clientele and coworkers. Come down to the South Bay Redondo Beach location where we display different styles of custom sofas from slipcovers to fully upholstered, dining and accent chairs, as well as Ekornes and BDI products.

Blast From The Past!

jeannie@thesofaco.com — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 17:26:09 GMT

History seems to always be repeating itself. During this years fashion week, we are seeing a lot of familiar trends; trends from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Not only do we see history repeating itself through fashion, but we also see it being repeated in design. Rewinding back to over a hundred years, we see classic revivals in architecture and design;Gothic Revival, Greek Revival, Rococo Revival, just to name a few. When designing your space, hit the books and get inspiration from the past, cause it’ll probably make its second debut in no time.

Just in time for the Holidays!

andi@thesofaco.com — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:12:29 GMT

The Holidays are here and The Sofa Company is making the pressure easier on you in getting your home in-law ready by waiving our rush charge! Order your furniture before November 28, 2010 and receive your brand new sofa before Christmas! Visit our showrooms in Pasadena, Downtown, Redondo Beach, or Santa Monica for details!

Vinyls!

andi@thesofaco.com — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:52:12 GMT

On a budget but love leather because of its softness, durability, and easy maintenance? Now is the time to consider Vinyls. Vinyls aren’t what they used to be and come a long way from hot, sticky, shiny mess. They are rising in popularity and come in a large variety of colors and textures, from matte finishes to glossy alligator. Work great for households with kids and pets where accidents do happen and for those who do not have the time to condition their leather. Vinyls and faux-leathers are incredibly affordable and can transform any sofa or chair without breaking the bank.

Sofa Sleepers!

andi@thesofaco.com — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:05:13 GMT

Family or friends visiting soon and need a comfortable place for them to sleep? Look no further! The Sofa Company offers an array or styles and options for making a custom-made sleeper sofa in either single, full, twin, or queen. After picking a suitabe style for you and your home, you can chose from 4 different bed options: Innerspring, Pillowtop, Air Dream, and now introducing Memory Foam.

The Innerspring is going be your most basic bed option, most recommend for light usuage for a guest spending a night. If you wanted something a little cushier, we have the Pillowtop. This is the innerspring with an inch of soft foam to comfort you. This option is best for a guest spending a weekend or a few days.

If you are looking for something in which your guest can spend a week or have frequent visitors we recommend chosing the Air Dream or Memory Foam sleeper!

The Air Dream is complete air mattress bladder placed on top of a traditional innerspring. This comes with a self inflating/deflating remote which makes it almost effortless to set up. Roughly after one minute, the mattress will be completely inflated and ready for use, and when your guest is ready to leave, simply press deflate and let it do the work for you then just put the bed away.

Lastly, we have our newest member of the sleeper beds: Memory Foam. This soft, form fitting mattress feels like the real deal bed. No worries for spring or bars poking you in the middle of the night, just pure comfort!

Come into one of our showrooms today to see our sofas and sleepers!

Stressless Ekornes!

jeannie@thesofaco.com — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:16:04 GMT

Less than a month left before the Stressless Ekornes sale is over!

FIRST! pick a size that fits your body...(either Consul or Ambassador)

The Consul Recliner (medium) PRICED $995

The Ambassador Recliner (large) PRICED $1195

SECOND! Choose one of the three colors available.

Cream

Carmel

Black

LAST! Pick one of the 5 wood finishes available.

ALSO! Recieve a FREE Swing Table (Valued at $160) with a purchase of any Stressless recliner.

Decisions, Decisions

jeannie@thesofaco.com — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:20:43 GMT

With all the different options that The Sofa Company offers, it’s sometimes overwhelming and difficult to narrow down that one special style. My biggest recommendation is to pay attention to the arm styles.

1.   What type of look are you going for?
a.   If you're looking for a traditional style you might want to look for styles with a rolled arm like the Jean, Victoria, or Bentley.
b.   If you're looking for a contemporary style, you might want to look for styles with a square arm like the Gia, Horizon, or Charles.
2.   How do you sit on your sofa?
a.   Do you like to lean against the arm using it as a back?
•   You might want to look for a style with a high arm that you can use as a back. Styles like the Chloe, Trevor, Tribecca, or Colby to name a few.
b.   Do you lay across your sofa using the arm as a head rest?
•   You might want to look for a style with a low arm rest so that you are able to use the arm as a pillow; styles like the Jenny, Oscar, or Teri.
c.   Do you sit on your sofa with your feet up?
•   You might want to look for a style with a deep seat depth so you have room to position yourself however you’d like.
3.   Is space a concern?
a.   If you looking to furnish a small space, look for styles with a smaller arm width so you are able to maximize your seating space without the arm taking up 50% of the room.
4.   Pet peeves?
a.   Do loose pillows bother you? are you looking to minimize any type of clutter? Look at all the different tight-back styles we offer where the pillows are already upholstered into the frame. No more straightening or fluffing pillows……ever.

ME:
1.   I like the look of a contemporary style sofa (square arm)
2.   I sit on my sofa with my legs up (Indian style) or I lay across the sofa using the armrest as a pillow (low and deep)
3.   My space is large enough to fit a decent sized sofa.
4.   I love being hugged by mounds of pillows, the more the merrier.
= GIA. The Gia has nice square, low arms, deep seat, and with scatter back pillows I am able to snuggle up when reading a book or watching TV.

Holiday Decorative Pillow Ideas!

andi@thesofaco.com — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:49:22 GMT

Summer is in full swing and the holiday season is right around the corner. Thinking of easy, fun decorating ideas? Decorative throw pillows are the best ways to change the look and feel of your room with minimal effort. The Sofa Company not only makes sofas, but custom pillows in an array of sizes, fabrics, and fills. For the fall, warm colors such as deep oranges and yellows will get you in the mood for Halloween through Thanksgiving.

As Winter approaches, interchange warm hues for fun, festive colors and prints to ring in the holiday cheer and New Year.

Come on in to any of our locations to view more fabrics and fun decorating ideas for year round option, too!!

More Eco Friendly Options from The Sofa Company

victoria@thesofaco.com — Thu, 27 May 2010 15:13:06 GMT

So I am super excited about TSC’s two newest additions to our continuing effort to bring you as many green, eco-friendly and renewable options as possible to help you in your never ending struggle to reduce your carbon footprint via your new sofa!

In addition to our many standard and optional eco-friendly options such as FSC Certified Wood frames and legs, water based glues and stains, recyclable steel legs and springs, jute webbing, cotton batting and soy based foam, we have introduced Kapok Fill and Regen Fill for your seat and back cushions!

KAPOK FILL

Kapok is an all natural, unbleached filling derived from the seed pods of the massive, tropical kapok tree that produce a fluffy, down-like vegetable fiber. Kapok has a silky floss like texture, making it a great type of pillow filling. It provides the same type of soft cushion that some synthetic fillings provide, but in an all natural and environmentally friendly manner. The Kapok Tree is native to areas including Mexico, Central America, and Indonesia.

While Kapok is an excellent alternative for your seat cushion fill, it has had many interesting other uses throughout history, and was even used in the U.S. Navy's life preservers in World War II. The kapok fiber was sealed in vinyl plastic packets to prevent exposure to the water. The waxy coating which covers the kapok fiber provided the necessary buoyancy and Kapok is naturally water repellent.
Kapok provides similar comfort to Down filling and has a similar lifespan.

REGEN FILL

Nowadays we are finding more and more use for post consumer and recycled materials, and plastic has proven to be useful to the upholstery trade by providing us with an Eco-Friendly and Green cushion fill called Regen. The fibers used in our Regen fill are derived from the re-engineered Polyethylene terephthalate,( commonly abbreviated PET, PETE) which is a thermoplastic polymer resin found in plastic beverage bottles. PETE is of the polyester family and is used in synthetic fibers in addition to many other things.

Each pound of the fill created uses the equivalent of nine 1-liter plastic bottles and is made using a minimum of 95% post consumer recycled plastic. The Regen fill is also manufactures in the USA using less electric power than other virgin fibers and is made consuming no water. In addition to being infinitely recyclable it is also hypo-allergenic.
Regen provides similar comfort to Dacron and has a similar lifespan.

Stay Green!

Newest to Pasadena Showroom!

andi@thesofaco.com — Fri, 21 May 2010 14:46:51 GMT

Hey Everyone! My name is Andriana (Andi for short!). I was born and raised in beautiful Los Angeles and am a recent graduate of UCLA with a concentration in Art. I am privileged enough to become the newest member of the Sofa Company family in Pasadena! I have also had an attraction to design and interior decorating and am very excited to have found a job where I can be both creative and surrounded by things I love. Lately, I have fallen in love with Mid Century Modern design and can’t get enough of the styles Charles, Trevor and Yoshi mixed with bright, outstanding colors. My favorite solid fabric at the moment is Hollywood due to it’s tailored, texture look while still being soft, and print is Twiggy in both Wasabi and Cherry. I look forward to meeting all of you!

STAIN/PET/KID PROOFING YOUR FABRIC

victoria@thesofaco.com — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:31:55 GMT

While in a perfect world we would all choose a stain resistant microfiber fabric for our sofas, the bottom line is some of us just do not like them! I have had quite a few customers come to me looking for a durable fabric to hold up against their pets/kids/spouses /friends (you know who you are!) and when I show them microfibers they cringe. If this is an all too familiar scenario for you – FEAR NOT!! Fortunately at TSC we not only have a HUGE fabric selection that offers a wide variety of fabrics that are durable without being microfibers, but we also have two really cool fabric PROTECTION choices that take a durable fabric (even microfiber) and make it BETTER:

Option #1 – CRYPTON FABRIC PROTECTION

This option is a winner for most of our customers. This water based, eco friendly spray can be applied to any fabric. Crypton does not change the feel or look of the fabric as it is both odorless and colorless as well.

It works by creating a barrier between your fabric and would be mishaps by encapsulating each fiber of the fabric to repel stains while preventing bacteria growth as well! As an added bonus, Crypton helps to keep your fabric safe from UV rays that can cause damage and fading. Still skeptical? Crypton is backed by a 5 year FULL REPLACEMENT warranty that covers a wide variety of commonly occurring stains such as:

-Accidental stains caused by food and beverage (It’s like they know my husband…)

-Grass

-Crayons

- Pets (it’s safe for the new, not quite potty trained puppy to be on the sofa again!)

- Grease

- Cosmetics

-Ballpoint pen ink (I can never find a piece of paper when I need to write something down…)

Everyday maintenance of your Crypton protected fabric is simple. Should a spill or stain occur, simply blot up with a clean dry cloth. If your stain persists, Crypton will send a professional out to your home to clean the stain. If the affected area cannot be cleaned or repaired they will REPLACE your sofa!

Option #2 – NANO-TEX

Nano-Tex is on an entirely different level and is for the seriously stain conscious customer. It is a worthwhile one-time investment that uses NANOTECHNOLOGY to bring you the absolute best in fabric protection. Rather than just sitting on the surface of the fabric, Nano-Tex attaches itself to the individual fibers of the fabric on a MOLECULAR level through the process of Covalent Bonding- which permanently transforms their actual molecular structure (which is probably the coolest thing ever...to me at least). Some of the benefits and features of this process are:

-Stains will be both repelled and released

- The life of the fabric will be extended

- The fabric will now breathe naturally

-While on the fabric, your body temperate will be balanced by wicking away moisture

-It also resists static permanently, and repels dirt, dust, lint, and PET HAIR!!!!!!! (PET HAIR, PET HAIR, PET HAIR!!!)

Everyday stain maintenance is simple. If a liquid spill occurs, gently blot (don’t rub) spill with a dry absorbent cloth, then wipe off with clean water and clean dry cloth if necessary. Nanotex is not a warranty it simply gives you the peace of mind and freedom to choose ANY fabric in ANY color without the fear of stains. Life should be about getting what you want at least some of the time.

So come on into The Sofa Company and check out our stain protection options and chose the one that is best for your dream sofa!

*Note: Actual dream sofa may vary…unless you wanted a lime green Chesterfield, then there you go!

Stressless Ekornes!

jeannie@thesofaco.com — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:25:32 GMT

Stressless Ekornes has come out with two new styles called the ErgoAdapt™ E200 and E300! “Two designs with ErgoAdapt™ will be available during first half of 2010: Stressless E200 and Stressless E300. Both models come as 2-seater, 3-seater and Long Seat. The Long Seat can be attached to the 2- or 3-seater or used free-standing, and is of course also equipped with the ErgoAdapt™-system.”

“The new ErgoAdapt™ system is hidden in the seat of the sofa. When seated, the angle of the seat will automatically adapt to give you the best seating comfort. When you lie down on the sofa, the seats stay completely flat. ”
When you lie down on the sofa, the seats stay completely flat, offering exquisite comfort and giving you the full advantage of the generous seat. "
"The new Stressless ErgoAdapt™-system automatically tilts the seat as you sit down - providing the perfect degree of comfort and support."

Coming soon to your nearest TSC location!

Awesome New Mod Loft Products at The Sofa Company!!!!

victoria@thesofaco.com — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:31:28 GMT

Here at The Sofa Company we have just started carrying some great new products from one of our newest vendors: Mod Loft. They offer a wide selection of modern and contemporary case goods like TV stands, end tables, dressers, nightstands, beds, coffee tables, dining tables, dining chairs, occasional chairs and even bookcases. If your style is more clean lined oriented and design elements like chrome, glass and wood make your heart go pitter patter, then these products are for you! Below are some of my personal favorite styles, but I encourage you to check out their full product line!

AMSTERDAM BUFFET

The Amsterdam buffet is a beautifully designed storage unit featuring an innovative sliding glass panel which runs on dual chrome rails. Single door covers one side of the unit exposing three tempered glass shelves for additional storage and display. The Amsterdam also features a frosted tempered glass top shelf, mounted on four chromed feet, Solid hardwood construction.

ALLEN TV ENTERTAINMENT UNIT

Designed to make the most of its space, the striking Allen TV entertainment unit seems to be suspended from the polished stainless steel legs which run from top to floor. Contains two center drawers for extra storage, and two outer cabinets with drop down doors to allow for easy A/V access with rear ventilation/wire holes. Solid hardwood construction, Available in wenge or walnut wood finishes or white lacquer finish.

ELDRIDGE ENTERTAINMENT UNIT

The Eldridge entertainment unit, with its ultra modern clean lines, spans a little less than 5 ft. long - a perfect fit for any space. With two center sliding drawers and two side cabinets there will be plenty of room for storage. The two side cabinets flip down and are A/V-ready with rear ventilation/wire holes. Solid hardwood construction, Available in wenge, walnut wood OR white lacquer finish.

BOND COFFEE TABLE

The Bond coffee table = geometrically flawless. The Bond's staggered black and aqua glass panes create two tiers of contrasting brilliance. Each square "floats" on a cross-sectional stainless steel frame with rubberized feet for excellent support and no-scratch maneuverability. The Bond's asymmetrical design and unique detailing make the perfect cocktail table.

MOTT COFFEE TABLE

Basic + Simple. Refresh your living room furniture with the Mott modern coffee table. This low profile rectangular table offers spacious table top, flat steel feet, and a clean, sleek design - giving the Mott a minimalist image with a bold flair. Available in wenge or walnut wood finishes, hardwood construction.

BARCLAY BOOKCASE

The Barclay bookcase features glass shelving in a solid hardwood frame with chrome accents. The floating layered design is created by alternating sturdy wooden blocks with frosted tempered glass shelves. The unit is supported by running steel rods for excellent support and seamless continuity. The Barclay's open back creates an airy decor, and acts as a natural partition between adjacent rooms in the home. Solid hardwood construction, available in wenge or walnut wood finishes.

HOWARD DINING CHAIR

Ultra-modern in style, the Howard arm chair's unique shape will inspire great dining conversation. Crisp white-stitched leatherette framed in a rich wenge veneer, the Howard commands instant attention. With legs that taper at the floor, you will find stylistic durability. Solid hardwood construction.

HOWARD DINING TABLE

Two sleek and modern pillars in a wenge finish make up the base of the beautiful Howard dining table. The Howard has a minimalistic look, simultaneously clean and classic and perfectly fit in any dining room. An extra long clear and solid glass top reveals all. Available in wenge wood finish. Solid hardwood construction.

LUDLOW BED

The awe-inspiring Ludlow bed commands instant attention when entering a room. The lavish button-tufted headboard stands five feet tall, and elegantly framed in a rich wenge border to match any decor. The headboard seamlessly blends into its matching frame with a wenge border along the floor. The mattress (not included) sits snuggly atop a solid pine-slat mattress base for stylistic durability and added comfort. Available in king or queen sizes and in white or black faux leather upholstery. Solid hardwood construction.

THOMPSON DINING CHAIR

The Thompson dining chair takes a step closer to ergonomic perfection. A perfectly balanced steel frame with a rich white leatherette upholstered seat and back make this chair visually inspiring. Solid hardwood construction.

MONROE DRESSER

The Monroe three-drawer dresser with stainless groove handles matches any modern bedroom decor. Available in wenge finish. Solid hardwood construction.

VARICK DINING TABLE

The large Varick square table provides a perfect blend of modern style and elegance. The Varick features a thick table top with glass inset flush in the center of the table to become one with the wood and create a beautiful piece of art. The fixed legs rotate position giving a modern impression at first glance. Each leg is accented with a polished chrome edging. Table measures an impressive 55" square, comfortably seating eight people and is the perfect dining table for an intimate dinner party. Available in wenge or walnut wood finishes.

Donate $50 and Receive $200 Off Any Stressless Recliner!

peter@thesofaco.com — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:19:35 GMT

They say it is better to give than to receive, but how about both?

From now until January 19th, if you donate $50 towards our chosen charity, you will receive a $200 discount off any Stressless Recliner from Ekornes.

Stressless Recliners are the world's best recliners and are the only recliners approved by the American Chiropractic Association. The Sofa Company is proud to showcase this line of seating in all of our four locations: Santa Monica, Pasadena, Downtown LA, and Redondo Beach. Please stop by and ask for a demonstration. You are sure to be awed by the amazing comfort of these chairs.

For this promotion, The Sofa Company is pleased to have selected the Ettie Lee Youth and Family Services charity. Since 1950, Ettie Lee Youth & Family Services has been helping children, Today, Ettie Lee Youth & Family Services provides a continuum of services for abused, neglected, and emotionally troubled boys and girls and their families in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange Counties. You can learn more about them by visiting their website: www.ettielee.org

Twitter @thesofaco about our Small Part of the Los Angeles Furniture Scene

nick@thesofaco.com — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:51:02 GMT

Has anyone heard about this little social media craze called twitter.com?

Yah, ok, we may be a bit late to the game and not quite as cool and hip as in our younger days, but TSC wants to play too! The Sofa Company's new twitter account can be found @thesofaco.

Starting in 2010, The Sofa Company will begin to appreciate our loyal following in more creative and fun ways. Secret "Tweet Specials" will be announced periodically which will give away free new items, and special custom discounts.

If that is not exciting enough, we will also share news about cool charities throughout Los Angeles that we will be helping to decorate, furniture tips and thoughts, and quick updates on hip designer clients that work with us on new projects.

Tweet to you soon.

Mid-Century Classics!

jeannie@thesofaco.com — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:54:59 GMT

I don’t know about you, but I am a huge sucker for classic modern designs. These classics employ simplicity and lightness in form. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe once said, "An interesting plainness is the most difficult and precious thing to achieve". The Sofa Company now carries tons of mid-century modern influenced pieces.

Florence Knoll inspired Wombat chair

Charles Eames inspired Deco Loung and Rocker Arm chair.

George Nelson inspired Classic 5 foot wooden bench

All these fabulous pieces can be found on our website! www.thesofaco.com

Floor Model Sofa Sale!

chad@thesofaco.com — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:29:43 GMT

Every year The Sofa Company stays on top of the most cutting edge style and fabric trends. Keeping up with style trends requires us to sometimes clear out our floor models to allow space for the newest, latest, and greatest.

Now is that time! We have dozens of clearance sofas, sectionals, and chairs at all four of our Los Angeles area locations with savings from 10- 50% off! We also have a great selection of recently discontinued fabrics that we are promoting at $595 on almost any of our top quality sofa styles. There will not be a better time to get your new custom made sofa or take advantage of one of our many floor models. Get a comfortable start to your holidays here at the Sofa Company.

http://www.thesofaco.com/furniture-store/Clearance.aspx

Chat with The Sofa Company Online

nick@thesofaco.com — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:45:50 GMT

Who said we don't like to chat?

The Sofa Company has implemented a cool new feature for all of our web traffic called LIVE CHAT by LIVE PERSON.

Our Design Consultants in our Downtown Los Angeles showroom are excited to be the team dedicated to fielded the online questions & comments.

You can find all of the many ways to "CONNECT" to The Sofa Company community by clicking on the tab on the right at any time throughout your website experience.

Your preference...IN STORE / ONLINE / BY PHONE....and now BY ONLINE CHAT.

What's next?

Red Orange Yellow Green Blue! HELP!!

jeannie@thesofaco.com — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:12:22 GMT

Can’t decide your color scheme for your space or sofa? Not sure what color truly defines you? Stress no more! Here are 3 simple ways to help you decide the right color for you.

Mood: Are you looking to come home to a relaxing, calm and quiet space after a busy day at work? Or are you trying to add some loud excitement in your life? Here are a couple pointers

The color red is an emotionally intense color; it stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing. If you’re looking to create a focal point, the color red might is a great option.

Yellow is cheerful and an attention getter. While it is considered an optimistic color, people lose their tempers more often in yellow rooms (and babies might cry a little more than usual in a yellow room). It is the most difficult color for the eye to take in, so it can be overpowering if overused. Yellow enhances concentration, hence its use for legal pads. It also speeds metabolism.

Green is probably one of the most popular decorative colors. Green symbolizes nature and is easiest on the eyes. Green is a very calm, relaxing and refreshing color. People waiting to appear on TV sit in "green rooms" to relax. Hospitals often use green because it relaxes patients.

Blue causes the opposite reaction as red. Peaceful, tranquil blue causes the body to produce calming chemicals, so it is often used in bedrooms. Blue can also be cold and depressing. People are more productive in blue rooms.

Brown is the color of dirt, giving it an earthy, environmental quality which is popularly coupled with green. Shades of brown represent skin tones and produce a comforting feeling.

Clothing: Flip through a magazine or go through your closet and pick out your favorite outfit. Let these outfits be your inspiration and work with those colors!

!?!? Just down right have no idea? Look through our large fabric library, find a pattern that catches your eye and let that be your inspiration!

What's My Style?

victoria@thesofaco.com — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:37:37 GMT

Here at The Sofa Company, I have had a lot of customers in the store that tell me how much they love the fact that they can design their own sofa, but are at an impasse because they have no idea what style to pick, or would work best in their home. It’s actually much easier than it seems! Even though we have over 75 styles to choose from, they can all pretty much be broken down into three categories: Traditional, Modern or Contemporary and Transitional. Below is my guide for helping you pick your style! As an added benefit all of the pictures are customer photos from some of our hapy TSC customers :)

TRADITIONAL:

Traditional styles are typically going to have a rolled arm and will have more of a dramatic, yet tailored emphasis. TSC styles that I would classify as traditional would be the Alberta, Autumn, Bentley, Cambridge, Chloe, Donna, Elaine, Jenny, Promenade, Summer, Sydney, Victoria and the Zuma.

Depending on how traditional you want the sofa to look, turned decorative legs are great for keeping the style looking very formal, and a skirt is a nice option for making your style a little more casual. Nailheads can also add a little bit of drama and elegance to your favorite traditional style and are a beautiful and classic addition.

MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY:

Modern or Contemporary styles are going to be much more linear and clean in aesthetic. These sofas are boxier, and less organic in form, with tight, tailored features and will usually feature a square arm. The TSC styles that I would classify as modern or contemporary would be the Archie, Carson, Charles, Cubix, Daly, Dawson, Dexter, Diva, Envi, Felix, Horizon, Ivan, Joe, Kahuna, Lex, Lucy, Prima, Quincy, Uno, Vincent, and the Yoshi.

Buttons on your style can add a very mid century modern aspect to it, as well as tall or cone legs, possibly inset for another layer of visual interest. Metal legs also add a very chic and contemporary look and combined with double stitching on the seams is sure to be an instant hit!

TRANSITIONAL:

A Transitional style will have aspects of both traditional and contemporary stylings. These sofas will typically feature a combination of structure and organic flow. Flared or slightly rolled arms are common in transitional styles because they do not lean firmly to traditional or contemporary and can easily go either way. Straight clean lined arms are usually broken up by large over sized pillows and plush inserts, and rolled arms are dressed down with tailored and clean lined legs and cushions. If you can’t commit to a theme, then Transitional is perfect for you! The TSC styles that I would classify as transitional would be the Chelsea, Colby, Devin, Gia, Hannah, Laura, Maestro, Malibu, Metropolitan, Riley, Roper, Rupert, Sunset, Trevor, Vienna and Valencia.

Fun ways to dress up a transitional style are to traditional and contemporary features like buttons, wood bases, bench seats, scatterback pillows and piping! This way you can blend the features that appeal to you from two very different styles and make one sofa that is sure to be a hit smash!

Live a little.

jeannie@thesofaco.com — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:55:15 GMT

Afraid to go big by reupholstering your sofa in a big print or color? Here are a couple ways to stay safe but still give your space some character and life.

Add a fun accent ottoman! Pick a neutral or a solid color for the larger pieces (sofa or loveseat), then jazz it up with an ottoman upholstered in a fun pattern or texture. It’s also a way to bring in all the accent color in the room together. The Sofa Company can customize any size ottoman with any fabric.

Add some accent pillows! Use the same fabric from the ottoman and make some matching pillows. This is a good way to tie in the ottoman to the rest of the upholstered furniture. The Sofa Company can make pillows in any shape and size!

3. Not looking to get an ottoman and your pillows aren’t cutting it? Add an accent chair! Get matching pillows to tie everything in; mixing and matching patterns are always fun! Don’t be afraid to go bold with your chairs! The Sofa Company can upholster an chair with any fabric or leather!

Living with pets and fabric

victoria@thesofaco.com — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 13:14:40 GMT

How many times have you caught yourself screaming "NO!!!" at the top of your lungs like a crazy person while your cat Mr. Tinkles uses the back of your new family room sectional as his own personal scratching post? Or your new puppy Princess refines her biting and chewing skills on the arm of the settee in your formal living room? As pet owners, we have experienced these scenarios far too often.

What is it about upholstered furniture that brings out the worst in our normally well mannered and loveable pets? You may have said to yourself numerous times as you walk past the tattered shell of a cat clawed sofa you once held dear (fighting back tears) "I want to replace it but it will just get ruined again". Well this is actually not true. There can be a harmonious balance when living with pets and fabrics - it's all about the "type" of fabrics you choose. In my experience as the owner of three cats and being in the industry for 7 years, there are some key things to look for and to stay away from in order to get the most out of your furniture. Below are some suggestions that through trial and error, I have found to be useful.

1. MICROFIBER, MICROFIBER,MICROFIBER! Fido is no longer man's best friend - microfiber is. No matter what pet related accident shows up on your sofa as an early morning surprise, it will come off of microfiber! This is because the "fibers" in microfibers measure less than one denier and are woven so tightly together, that stains literally cannot penetrate them. All you need is a mild hand soap and a damp cloth, rub stain in a circular motion and VOILA crisis averted!! Another plus for microfibers are that they are made of 100% polyester, which is a synthetic fiber. Synthetic fibers do not hold odors the way natural fibers such as cotton do.

Microfiber Cross Section View

2. COTTONS AND LINENS AND WOOLS - OH NO! Unless these types of fabrics are your absolute favorite in the world, try to stay away from them. Anything that is made completely of a natural fiber tends to stain, break down, and "smell" much faster than a blend or a synthetic fabric does. While these fabrics can usually be machine washed, with time the machine washing will break down the fibers – so if you find your self needing to wash these once a week, this is going to compromise the strength of your fabric.

Microscopic views of individual fabric strands

3. BACK IT UP Choosing a fabric that has a backing (or can have a backing added to it) is always a good idea. The backing gives the fabric a little extra strength and support, which is an advantage in the war against claws and teeth.

4. CHENILLES? A lot of blended fabrics such as chenilles are usually ok as long as they have a stain resistant application added to them (such as our Teflon Fabric Protection). However, if you have a cat that is proned to scratching and clawing your furniture, then I would not suggest chenille as a fabric that will stay "un ruined" as long as you may like. Some chenilles are woven very loosely, which makes it easy for claws or teeth to pull at it.

Ultimately, you know how your pets react to what you have had in the past so keep that in mind when you are selecting your fabric. The fabric that has held up the best in my three cat (and messy boyfriend...but who's pointing fingers) household is the BELLA faux velvet microfiber. Despite the best efforts of my cats it has not shown any signs of damage.

The culprits Snicker, Bunny and Sebastian trying to look innocent - don't let them fool you!

I hope this has helped guide your fabric selection, but please feel free to come and see me with any questions. I hope you enjoy your furniture for many years to come!! (Unless that’s you dog in the picture below) :)

TSC At The Pasadena Home Show!!

chad@thesofaco.com — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 11:58:06 GMT

The Sofa Company is proud to be an exhibitor at the 33rd Annual Pasadena Home Remodeling and Decorating Show this weekend! The home show is a huge event held around the country annually that features vendors from all aspects of home industry and is also featuring an Eco-Expo (building and living green) this year! Come check us out and say hello!

http://www.thehomeshow.com/pages/visitor_info.html

Green Ways to Get Rid of Your Old Sofa

nick@thesofaco.com — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:20:16 GMT

Ok, so you need a new sofa or make that, you WANT buy a new sofa? To top it off, you have the pressing need to be an environmentally friendly shopper in your new choice and want to shop for some "greener" furniture as you feel a bit guilty.

Well, you are not alone....but before you go and toss your old sofa or couch in the back alley to await the neighborhood milk man (do they still have those guys?) to come run over it and haul it away to the junkyard, make sure you dispose of your sofa in the eco-conscious, green method.

Well, here are my tips for disposing of your sofa in an earth friendly method (you can obviously apply these tips to any type of furniture - except credenzas....for one of those, call Nick's grandma....she has never met a credenza she didn't need :)

1. Craigslist - This is truly the greenest way to get rid of your used sofa and it normally works in almost any neighborhood across the country. You turn your unwanted sofa into the hands of a stranger, and make a few GREEN bucks and possibly a new friend from the neighborhood. One of the original social network sites in that sense.

2. Sofa Reupholstery - Who says this industry is dead? I think the cool age of getting your furniture reupholstered is just on the cusp. Maybe we just needed the green environmental movement to teach the world that something a bit used, beaten down, or sponging up wine couldn't be reinvigorated with a local shop's sofa reupholstery love. Give the business to a local labor force and don't waste all those good internal furniture parts that you really don't need to throw away. Face it, you are only really tired of the fabric (maybe the cushioning), but spare the frame from hitting the waste yard.

3. Local Charity Donation - In my experience, most people think it is fairly difficult to find a charity that will haul away their large over sized items due to no delivery truck availability. They are probably right...HOWEVER, just look at this another way....there are many charities that actually need donations for their own use. Many small local neighborhood charities are just waiting for someone to donate some good (even used) furniture so they can redecorate their facility even a bit. Call around to some local - smaller charities where you can actually speak to the charity founder. Even if this takes a few phone calls, you may find yourself a tax deductible charitable donation and a happy new home for your custom designer sofa. Guilt be gone....go buy a new one and feel like you helped the earth, a charity, and your desire for the latest and greatest green upholstery product.

4. Interior Design Student - Call the local design school. Every year, every semester there are classes that require students to give a good furniture design makeover. If your sofa is as bad as you say it is, let's just see what a future interior designer can do to it. You will probably be surprised, slightly disappointed that you still don't own it, and invited to the class presentation. Put a smile on a deserving and starving design student's face by giving an easy way to get some furniture to redo.

5. Kids Furniture - give it to your current ones, or save it for your future ones. This is contingent on the opportunity to store this somewhere like a small outhouse, garage, or storage unit. Usually people don't think about 3-5 years down the road when their kids are going to demand a new couch for their school apartment or even small bedroom...why ditch $500-1000 at that point if you can actually store your sofa and then have the pleasure of giving them Mom or Dad's family sofa. Come up with some sentimental stories about it and it's going to be hard for them to be all that disappointed. Well, they probably will still be disappointed, but you can discuss this guilt with your spouse while flying to Hawaii with the money you saved.

(Last, but not least....fire wood. One last night with your sofa keeping you warm. Hey, it's better than the milk man plan.)

Now go buy some mean, green custom eco-friendly sofa, loveseats, and chairs and keep this planet churning.

That's all I know and now you know it.

Guess what else we can do?

victoria@thesofaco.com — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 10:34:44 GMT

Did you know that The Sofa Company also specializes in Beautiful Custom Upholstered Headboards and Platform Beds? If you didn’t, your reaction was probably the same as mine - Awesome, right?!!

Upholstered Beds are hot, hot, hot, right now and are a design trend that we’ll be seeing for many years to come. It can be an easy way to add a soft, elegant touch to your master suite or a way to replace that tired "hand me down" bed in your guest bedroom without worrying about trying to match styles and wood colors with your existing casegoods. If you are looking to add a fun splash of color, or a little touch of drama to your bedroom, then upholstered beds are for you! Check out some examples of how beautiful fabrics on your headboard can transform a blah bedroom into dazzling design. In fact, did you know that large upholstered headboards and beds are a trademark style of Fendi Casa (that’s right- Fendi’s furniture line, and who doesn't trust Fendi when it comes to style)?

You can get in touch with your inner designer by customizing your headboard with the same fantastic options that made you fall in love with The Sofa Company in the first place! Choose your style, size, fabric, and design details like button tufting, nailheads or double stitching!

Now…let me blow your mind again. The Sofa Company also builds upholstered dining chairs!! You can choose your style, fabric, and leg finish for these beauties as well. Adding upholstered dining chairs to your dining room is a fantastic way to add some pizzazz and softness to a room that may feel heavy from dark, dominating woods. Upholstered dining chairs are extremely versatile and can work in any setting from formal to casual, traditional to contemporary. Whatever your style, rest assured that we have the dining chair for you! Check out these spectacular pictures below for some examples and maybe a little inspiration. Happy Decorating!!

Thank you Pasadena!

chad@thesofaco.com — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:30:20 GMT

They like us! They really really like us! Three weeks have gone by since opening the doors to our new location in historic Old Town Pasadena and the response from the local folk has been huge! We are so excited to be part of this vibrant community! We not only want to be your destination for that sofa you can imagine but haven't been able to find but also your neighbors and friends. If you want to know what is currently in fashion , what the hottest colors are right now , or how to make the best of your living area we are the place to go. Our talented staff of Design Consultants are here for you seven days a week! Thank you for the warm reception Pasadena!

Let Me Help You Create The Sofa of Your Dreams

victoria@thesofaco.com — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 17:50:50 GMT

Hello Everyone!! My name is Victoria and I am one of the Design Consultants at the Sofa Company's beautiful new Pasadena Showroom. I have over six years of experience in the furniture industry, four of which is in custom furniture design consultation. I also attended The Art Institute and majored in Interior Design, so please feel free to come to me with any questions on style, colors, fabrics and space planning. Helping my clients create a beautiful home is my passion in life, so I can't wait to help you create the sofa of your dreams that makes it all come together!! See you soon :)

A Little Color and Creativity

jeannie@thesofaco.com — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:17:08 GMT

Hey guys! My name is Jeannie and I’m new here at The Sofa Company at its new location in Pasadena. I have recently graduated from UC Riverside with a BA in Sociology and Administrative Studies. After graduating I realized that my life needed a little color and creativity. I've always had a passion for Interior Design and decided to finally pursue my dream. I am now attending Fullerton College majoring in Interior Design and very excited to work in the industry. I love the idea of being able to build a sofa that reflects your personality and I'm here to help you build that perfect sofa. With 50 styles and thousands of fabrics with which to play, the possibilities are endless! Let’s build something beautiful together!

In The Works - The Real Deal Sofabed

jim@thesofaco.com — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 08:39:12 GMT

The Sofa Company is working on a revolutionary sofabed sleep system that will erase any negative connotations towards sleeper sofas entirely. Just imagine, no more complaining from sleepover guests about how uncomfortable their accomodations were. There will be one less reason for your in-laws to be so cranky in the mornings.

Towards the end of the year, The Sofa Company plans to unveil a robust 8.5" pillowtop mattress that folds away into your sofa. For the first time ever, we'lll provide real bed comfort in a sofabed.

The challenge has always been creating a sofabed mattress that can fold away into an 8-10" profile. This dictated that sofabed mattresses be made very thin(roughly 4"-5"). Our new sleeper will have a different spring and a different way the mattress springs will fold. The result is a 8.5" extremely pleasing mattress.

This new mattress will also be a bit longer. 76" length will offer much needed additional sleep area for anyone over 6 feet tall. You six footers out there won't need to sleep diagonally or dangle your feet off the mattress any more.

Barring any design or production setbacks, we should have this available by year's end. Check it out!

Don't bother me, I'm watching TV!

peter@thesofaco.com — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 04:59:53 GMT

Well, it’s March Madness time, and for all you sports junkies, I hope you have a nice comfy couch to settle into for the next couple of weeks.

Here are a couple of tips to finding that nice comfy couch.

Find your depth and height. There is no universal depth and seat height that is going to make everyone happy. More or less, trust your judgment. Personally for me, I like a deep couch with lots of pillows and something with a seat height of around 17-18".

The right fill. Essentially, there are 3 different options that we offer:

Soft – down

Medium – standard foam

Firm – firm foam

Since I sleep on my couch often, I find our standard foam feels the best. However, if you want the ultimate in luxury, nothing beats down seats. Our down seat cushions consist of a foam core wrapped in a down envelope, giving you the perfect blend of softness and support.

Ultimately, a comfy couch should allow you to state defiantly to the world: "Don’t bother me, I’m watching TV!"…..or whatever you do on your couch.

** My final four picks: UCLA, North Carolina, Georgetown, Memphis **

Pasadena Where Art Thou?

nick@thesofaco.com — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 20:40:35 GMT

Pasadena - here we come....shortly I hope!

Good progress has been made with our new showroom space near old town Pasadena. Within a few short months, we have been able to turn a somewhat deserted shell of a classic '50s building into a future home of a new age furniture company - that's us! :) Additionally, we are welcoming a new concept to our Pasadena building....a neighbor. The Daily Grind Coffee Shop and Cafe will also soon be taking their fresh coffee shop approach and moving in right next to us in the near future. Now, no more quick runs to another competitor will be necessary as our staff and employees will have cappucinos and lattes within an arm's reach. We will have an outside eating and relaxing area right in front of our doors, so after an exhausting "design your own sofa" experience, you can chill under the trees and Pasadena people watch as the neighborhood walks by.

Unfortunately, we have hit a few snags with some of our interior construction due to some strict building requirements in our new city, but we should be able to open at least a 'partial' showroom within the next 6-8 weeks. We were hoping to quickly expand the space into a 2 story urban loft experience, but this may be part of our phase 2 expansion at some point after we open our doors.

Anyway, check it out....we do have a sign. TSC is now in 3D in Pasadena....

Up in Arms with Arms!

peter@thesofaco.com — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 19:47:15 GMT

Did you know that many of our styles can be made armless?

If you have a tight space to work with, consider going “armless”. Armless styles have the same seating space as their armed counterparts, but just without the bulky arms.

Armless styles tend to be more contemporary because of their clean lines and minimalist feel. They work great for downtown lofts and studio living environments.

The top styles I recommend going armless would be the Daly, Paige, Joe, Dexter, Metropolitan, and Felix.

On the flip side, there are some downsides to NOT having arms, as well. Some people feel “exposed” when they sit on a sofa without an arm. Also, arms provide support…something to lean against for reading a book and watching TV. It is sort of like an anchor.

Whereas armless sofas have a cooling effect, armed-sofas conversely have a more warming effect.

So, if you have a small space or if you are just trying to create a certain mood, consider going armless!

Comfy?

jim@thesofaco.com — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:49:48 GMT

I am often asked, “How do you come up with the designs for the sofas?” It seems every furniture company has their own recipe for making a great sofa, but for me, the first ingredient in designing a sofa is the aesthetics. Is the sofa appealing to the eye? Does the style speak to you and do you like what it has to say? Our designers spend most of their time searching for design inspiration and innovation. We’re constantly looking for the next hot trend in home furnishings. As a result, we are able to offer a wide array of fashion forward fabrics, cutting edge designs, and hip materials for the furniture leg options.

Once we have the design nailed down, we then look to make the furniture comfortable. While you are able to choose the overall sizing of the furniture, it is we who make sure the sofa has the right relative dimensions to achieve the most widespread comfort and appeal. The first point we consider is supporting the weight of our clients. In other words, comfortable seating should distribute weight evenly with respect to the lower back, two triangular seat bones in your buttocks, and arms. This is where the seat rake(angle of the seat back to the seat pan) becomes very important. A good seat rake will distribute body weight very evenly.

The second consideration is the need to minimize pressure points. Pressure points can constrict blood flow through the body and cause discomfort. In some cases pressure points will lead to the sensation of pins and needles and eventually lead to numbness. The area behind the knee is relatively sensitive to pressure. But the greatest point of pressure when seated occurs on the two triangular seat bones inside the buttocks(ischial tuberosities if you want to get technical) . Research shows that 65% of one’s body weight is transferred through these bones to the seat. This makes the shape, angle, and curvature of the seat pan key elements in minimizing pressure. In most of our sofas we use a robust 7” thick Dacron-wrapped foam seat cushion to help mold the seat shape and curvature to the body. We also offer down envelope casings that further help in the molding of the seat to your specific body form. When choosing a comfortable sofa another component in your choice is choosing the correct seat height. When seated on the sofa, the distance between the underside of your knee to the ground should be slightly greater than the height of your seat pan. This will allow your feet to rest on the floor. The ANSI(American National Standards Institute) recommends the seat range between 15 to 20 ½ inches. This is why you see most mass produced chairs with a seat height of 17”-18”(The middle of the ANSI recommended range)

A third point to consider in getting comfortable is allowing your body proper movement. Your posture is not a static condition. Your body is always moving, seeking comfort at different positions when resting. Your furniture should allow the ability to move freely and adjust your posture while still distributing weight. Depending on your use and how you position yourself when resting, the height of the furniture arm will come into play here. Arm height is even more crucial when sitting in a chair as space is more confined in a chair than when seated in a sofa.

The fourth aspect to consider in supporting your body’s weight is maintaining lumbar lordosis while seated. Lumbar lordosis is the natural curve of your spine when standing. When lower lumbar vertebrae are compressed forward, they become pinched. This can be painful and harmful over time. Using kidney and throw pillows behind your lower back will rotate your pelvis forward and help maintain the natural spine curve.

So when you’re out shopping for that perfect sofa, it is important to really dive into the comfort of the sofa. Sit in the corners, lean against the arms, check if your feet touch the floor, give it a test “sit” much like you would sit on your couch in the privacy of your own home. You’ll thank me later.

GIVING BACK

peter@thesofaco.com — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:04:01 GMT

As the holidays approach, I find myself reflecting on all the people in my life that have helped shape me into the person I am today. I also think about the number of organizations out there that exist for the sake of making our lives and the world in which we live better. It is with this in mind, that I am proud to announce to everyone our new Charity of the Month program.

The Charity of the Month program is our way of recognizing and thanking all those organizations locally that help make our Community better.

Each month, TSC will recognize one charity selected by a TSC representative. For that Charity, the TSC representative will visit the site and help design the particular room setting and spec out a custom built sofa. TSC will then build them a custom built sofa or sectional. When the sofa is completed and delivered, that Charity will then be featured on our website and their information will be displayed at our showroom sales counter. In addition, for that particular month, TSC will make a $5 contribution for each debit transaction processed in that period.

For November, our Charity of the Month is the Exceptional Childrens’ Foundation.

Sofa Smiles

nick@thesofaco.com — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:47:10 GMT

It just seems like yesterday, Jim, Pete, and I were running around trying to sell, order, produce, deliver (and sometimes HOIST) our own sofas. Whatever it took to sell a sofa, we were willing to do...well, we did have our limits - though Jim did have to "hug" a few customers. :)

Flash ahead to 2007 - on factory photo day, I realized how many wonderful people go into producing and delivering every single sofa we sell now. Who said sofas were easy, right?

Anyway, from all of the staff here at our factory facility in Commerce, we would like to thank all of our loyal customers for keeping us busy throughout the year. Hopefully we can keep upholstering for years and years to come..

Thanks L.A.!

Green Pasadena

nick@thesofaco.com — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 19:48:59 GMT

The Sofa Company is proud to make the announcement that we will be opening our next location by the end of 2007 in Old Town Pasadena.

As long time Pasadena fans, we had hoped to find a location which fit in the historical elegance which the area showcases to all visitors. Fortunately, we got notice that an architecturally significant building which once housed the Friend Paper Company was the focal point and inspiration behind a new condo development right in the retail heart of Old Town.

Before we can open shop, we will be restoring and remodeling the interior showroom so it can effectively feature our line of sofas for the new community. Although we will certainly have our hands full, we are extremely excited to have such a project and will be unveiling new details soon as the opening gets closer. Undeniably, our new building will be renovated with a mind on renewable, recyclable, peaceful materials. While we would like to take all the credit for the idea, it is on Green St., so this sort of helped "plant" the seed...

More to follow.

Containers on the Brain

nick@thesofaco.com — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 19:40:10 GMT

Just the other day, I was walking around my neighborhood and I came to a cool new modern beach bungalow. Looking for inspiration for my own place (and lots of inspiration, it's going to take!), I stopped for a minute to soak in a lot of elements I generally appreciate in architecture and probably in life for that matter. Clean lines, mixture of materials, and functional live-work layouts. I think I even spotted a place for a treadmill - my dream house, I thought...

Well, embarassingly enough, I was caught staring. I got a tap on the shoulder and a man asked "Do you like the house?". "Yea" I replied. (That's about as excited as I usually get :) ) Unfazed he said, "Good, because I designed it."

Long story short that is how I met the talented Mr. Peter Demaria who is currently busy designing plans for our next one, but maybe two showrooms in TSC's near future. When he is not figuring out how to best showcase our new sofa lines, he is working to unveil a new line of "Packaged Architecture" which will incorporate shipping containers as a key building fixture in the homes.

Yes, I agree, as creative and forward thinking as I want to be, thought that also sounded a bit far fetched a concept until I actually saw some sketches like the one above. Logical Homes will be rolling (shipping?) to a neighborhood near you soon. Not only will we soon all be getting most of our products from a container, but living in them.

psssssh....someone email Peter and recommend a few Logical Sofas (yes ours!) to be prepackaged inside. :) www.demariadesign.com

Thank you!

peter@thesofaco.com — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 09:55:31 GMT

Thank you to all of our loyal customers that have made our transition to the Santa Monica showroom a success. Closing of the Culver City location was difficult, but we believe it was the best decision for the Company. We are still anxiously waiting for the new locations to open, but in the meantime, it meant a lot to have our faithful Culver City customers come to our Santa Monica showroom. I know some of you even went to the Culver City location first before realizing we had moved.

For all of you that have not visited our Santa Monica showroom, let me give you a little description…

The Santa Monica showroom is nothing less than BEAUTIFUL. Besides having the familiarly laid out arrangement of sofas, it showcases even more sectionals and vignettes. Additionally, it features an even more extensive fabric gallery with large hanging swatches which you can drape over your sofa of choice, and a multitude of new designer books from Kravet and Robert Allen.

So, if you haven’t visited our Santa Monica showroom, I ask you, “What are you waiting for?”

Yahooos, where are yoo?

nick@thesofaco.com — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 18:39:50 GMT

Yes, I know, I know...it's been awhile, right? What kind of message am I sending as the trumpeter of sofa blogging, if I can't even do it regularly myself. Since the last time, I have received literally 1000's of emails from around the world from acclaimed physicians promising to deliver cheap drugs if, and only if, they get to hear more about TSC's ongoing efforts to create the best website ever. (or my credit card...I forget which they wanted exactly :)

In order to keep them and you better apprised of our recent efforts, I have been on a mission to figure out

1) what users would like out of an online sofa factory

2) how to virtually deliver the sense of fabric depth and texture to your lcd 300 miles away

3) the mystery behind why everyone is GOOGLING for sofas...

If you will so kindly refer to the graph below -

Before I can really tackle 1 or 2, I am going to figure out why GOOGLERs are outnumbering everyone else at least by 2x. While obviously all traffic is good traffic as they say on the www, it would be nice to see our friends get delivered from a more equally proportioned web site base. So, I would like to hear any and all tips concerning spreading the word to farther, more diverse regions of the web. Google cant be the end all, can it? So those of you browsing the web from http://www.wabbadabba.com/, our arms are open and we are expecting you...

FYI - To be fair, I google too...

Sofa land speed record eclipsed!

peter@thesofaco.com — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 02:44:27 GMT

Wow! and they said it couldn't be broken....

Well...to all you naysayers... here it is...another sofa land speed record - 92 MPH!

Check out this article from the Sun Online.

Looking Ahead

jim@thesofaco.com — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 18:47:21 GMT

Hey Everybody,

A new home furnishings season is upon us! And we are ushering in the new year with fresh new designs and cutting edge production techniques. Memory Foam Sleepers, Environmentally Safe (GREEN) Sofas, Customizable stainless metal accents to style out your sofa.... sound interesting? They will all be here soon enough. Come check out what tons of designers and happy customers already know. The Sofa Company is the place to shop when looking for a couch.

If you think you've got the next hot idea in furniture and like to share it with us, we'd love to hear it. You can email me. Jim@thesofaco.com

Neigborhood (Link) Watch

nick@thesofaco.com — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 13:51:28 GMT

As any responsible web neighbor should offer, we'll watch your links if you watch ours!

Within the next month, we will be adding a community link board to our site to share recommendations and web links from our loyal customer base. As our web traffic is rapidly growing month to month, we hope to add a great jumping off point to many community members businesses and sites of interest...

If you are interested or know someone who is, shoot me over an email with a link to an interested website and a couple sentence description.

nick@thesofaco.com

Mid-Century meets Animal Velvets!

peter@thesofaco.com — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:26:20 GMT

Hi Everyone! Just wanted to introduce myself...My name is Peter Lien and I'm the Manager of the Culver City showroom. I'm new to the whole blogging phenomenon, so this first entry will be a short one.

Most of you know that you can design your own sofas. But, did you know that you can design your own headboards? Dining chairs? And Classics? Yes! You read correctly….Classics. Now you can have your very own inspired Barcelona chair! Mid-century meets Animal Velvets!!

So, for all of you that have heard about us, but have not stopped in, I'd like to say: "What are you waiting for? Believe the hype!"

Remember: 2007 – Year of the Sofa!! (Nick, our fearless leader behind the scenes, gets credit for this tag line)

The Rhino vs. The Meerkat

nick@thesofaco.com — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 13:37:53 GMT

Hello and apologies. I have been meaning to introduce The Sofa Company's profile and blog pages for quite some time, but it took me about a month of a non-stop struggle to chase away that pesky meerkat which hijacked my profile page temporarily. Promises of free ottomans to scratch didnt seem to work. Threats of commission deduction went through one furry ear and out the other. Even assigning him his own clever (?) nickname of Major Meerkat didnt seem to be enough. I know, I know, this stuff did work on Peter...that's why I was so puzzled. Hmmm...

Anyway, being pressured to get this thing off the ground, so Team TSC's brilliant minds could begin to share with customers-clients some of their own personal views on furniture trends, store events, design insights, and promotions, I had to come up with something more ingenius than buttonless tufting (Lieutenant Loveseat's claim to fame).

So without further ado, and with a little scare/help from my Rhino friend, I finally can now proudly launch and announce "The Sofa Company's 2007 Team Blog" is open for comments...

Bye, bye meerkat...

(I promised him one last hoorah. www.meerkats.com)