Furniture selections can be overwhelming

Your house is your biggest investment, but making it look and feel like a home may be your biggest challenge.

Walk into any furniture store as a new homeowner and be ready to be overwhelmed. Do you want a case piece made of chip core or one with corner blocks? Hardwood frames or high-pressure laminates? Upholstery or leather? New or antique?

Straitjacket or Prozac? Because it's enough to drive you crazy.

Joanne Will, design team manager at Peoria's Ethan Allen store, knows "there's a lot of really bad stuff out there" when it comes to furniture.

Cheryl Bradley, who used to own an antique shop and now teaches about antiques, agrees.

"Anything vintage or antique, it was made solid to pass down through the generations. Today, it's a throw-away society. It's particle board and plywood. It's not going to last," says Bradley of Normal, who teaches classes at Illinois Central College on furniture styles from the 1400s to modern day.

But what if your style is more contemporary? How do you make sure you're not buying disposable junk?

Bradley has two pieces of advice: Adapt or educate yourself.

"I would encourage people to visit antique malls," says Bradley, adding that many pieces of the 1940s through the 1960s "were still built solid" and can fit into a more modern decor.

If that's not an option, seek out quality brands, like Ethan Allen, Bradley says.

"You have a right to ask how something was made. Is it solid wood? One hundred percent oak? Maple is a good wood too.

"You want your home to be your retreat. I would discourage people from buying something just because it's on sale. That doesn't mean it's a treasure."

And Cathy Craig of Craig Upholstery in Peoria equally discourages people from throwing things out just because they are tired of the fabric.

An "old" hand-me-down couch from your grandparents might be better made than something brand new off the showroom floor, she says. If it has classic lines, a new slipcover or new upholstery can make it look fashionable again for $1,200 or so. Dining room chairs can be reupholstered for $50 to $75 each.

"It's often less than people think," Craig says.

Craig asks customers on the fence about reupholstering what they know about the piece. If it's a solid, hardwood frame with eight-way hand-tied spring seats, that is usually a good indication of quality. Still, Craig suggests finding out how many coil springs are in the sofa.

"Are there 20 or five? You want somewhere around 20 in a sofa," said Craig, noting that there was a local furniture store, now out of business, that was advertising hand-tied spring seats that "were basically shams."

"I will follow a client over to The Attic or Goodwill. I've met people at garage sales before," says Craig, who will use her professional eye to advise them on what the piece is worth.

She recalls one client who found a 1960s teak armchair on the side of the road. "They were selling for hundreds of dollars on eBay."

But, if buying new, Craig's advice echoes Bradley's. "Price is a big indicator. I'm real leery of the box stores. That is definitely disposable furniture."

Will at Ethan Allen notes that every sales associate is also a designer with a degree so they understand about construction and quality.

"Look for a kiln-dried hardwood frame. We dry (ours) to a moisture content of 6 percent to 8 percent, which is the average moisture content of an American home. This process ensures that the frame will not warp," says Will, adding that the springs they use are made of heavy gauge coil and oven-tempered "for strength and memory."

Ethan Allen, founded in 1932, has its own forests and 65 percent of their furniture is built in the United States.

"We recently introduced a variety of 'green' products including accessories made from recycled materials, organic fabrics, and a collection of wood furniture with water-based finishes. Our aim is to provide 'well-designed rooms' for our clients."

The company also guarantees its products - something Will, Craig and Bradley all stress as a plus.

"There is still some great stuff to be had out there," says Craig. "You just have to be smart."

Jennifer Davis can be reached at (309) 686-3249 or jdavis@pjstar.com.