HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-05-13, Page 15Jdome & Q ar den 1992
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 13,1992. PAGE 15.
Sofa beds a good alternative
Bringing back memories
When Ross Mitchell of Ross Mitchell Cabinets and
Construction attended a recent trade show, he learned that
one of the things people like the most about his Victorian
screen doors is the sound they make when closing, which
he says, reminds them of earlier times.
For ready-to-roam people, visit
ing friends and family is a time-
honored tradition and a major
reason to be up and away. But this
can present a problem for the hos
pitable host and hostess.
“With many of today's down
sized houses, tight-squeeze apart
ments and compact condominiums,
bedrooms reserved for the sole use
of guests are about as common as
servants' quarters,” Ann Britten,
design consultant for La-Z-Boy®,
notes. “Today's ‘extra’ bedrooms
are likely to serve double-duty as
dens, media rooms or home
offices.”
A solution? the sleep sofa, which
statistics indicate has risen in use
by more than 800 per cent in the
last decade, from three to 25 or
more nights use per year.
Appearance important
Often the dominant piece of fur
niture in a busy room, a sleep sofa's
appearance and durability, as well
as comfort, are especially impor
tant.
“How a piece of upholstery looks
can be an indication of how well it
is made inside,” Britten advises.
With that in mind, she has pro
duced a checklist to help choose a
sleep sofa that sits and sleeps as
well as it looks.
What to look for
First, Britten suggests, inspect
the outside. Purchasers are advised
to:
• Look for arm caps and
reversible seat cushions for long-
lasting wear.
• Pull at the buttons and seams to
be sure nothing is loose. There
shouldn't be any puckers or sags,
welting should be straight, and pat
terns and plaids should match at the
seams.
• Inspect a skirt to be sure it's
lined, for a well-tailored appear
ance that helps eliminate unwanted
bulges.
• Be sure the fabric is durable,
since a sleeper takes more wear and
tear than an ordinary sofa.
Other considerations
Next, ask about the inside, and
try it out for comfort. Check to
make sure that:
• The seat and back have sinuous
wire springs that bounce back with
Victorian doors bring
back fond memories
Remember those wonderful
country summer days when the sky
was blue, the sun bright and life as
sweet as clover. The sights, smells
and sounds of those carefree times
are imbedded in memory.
Ross Mitchell of Ross Mitchell
Cabinets and Construction has been
bringing back a little reminder of
those times with his custom built
solid pine reproduction Victorian
screen doors.
"People like old things," he says,
explaining why his product has
been so popular. "We like to
remember."
This was particularly evident to
him at a trade show recently where
he displayed his craft. "Everyone
who stopped remembered someone
from their past who had a door like
this," he said, adding, "and they
really seem to like the sound," he
added.
With the wood construction and
decorative lattice work the doors
are indeed reminiscent of simpler
times.
The Brussels-area contractor con
structed his first Victorian doors
about a year ago. He had seen a
plan for them two years before and
his wife, Julie and her mother
expressed an interest in them, he
said. Since then he has made about
20 more and has orders for several
others. In fact, he said, keeping up
with the demand has kept him
working so steadily he hasn't taken
any other jobs this spring.
Rxlss^ys he can make a door a
day or more. "Its faster if I have
several to do because it’s the setting
up that takes time."
Starting with solid kiln-dried
pine from Kurtzville, he cuts the
material to width and length. After
cutting mortise and tenons (square
pegs and holes) to fit pieces togeth
er, he then added the pattern and
fits the screen into a groove in the
back.
The frames are then sanded and
glued together using waterproof
glue. This is more time-consuming,
he says, as it needs to be mixed
with water and doesn't scrape off
easily. "But with the different
kinds of weather we get, it [the
door] wouldn't be worth doing oth
erwise."
Though there are specific pat
terns from which to choose, custom
sizes are available in as many "dif
ferent styles as you can dream up,"
said Ross. They retail for up to
$270, which includes hinges,
screws and catch. There is a one-
year warranty as well.
The interest at the trade show
proved further that the demand for
this type of work is out there.
"With the new insulated steel
doors, people don't really need alu
minum screen doors anymore.
What they are looking for is strictly
ventilation. The price is roughly the
same and the wooden ones are
nicer to look at."
Not to mentiop they can bring
back some wonderful memories.
you, and that the frame is kiln-dried
hardwood, double-doweled for
maximum strength.
• The sleeper mechanism is easy
to operate and made of fatigue-test
ed steel for long wear.
• For comfort's sake, the mattress
is of either polyurethane or inner-
spring construction.
Sure to please
This kind of thoughtful once
over will assure the host and/or
hostess a good investment, and
guests a good night’s sleep.
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