Custom Furniture | Nina Petronzio's Blog

TUESDAY’S TIP: How to choose the perfect sectional

A sectional sofa is exactly what its name suggests. It is a series of "sections" put together to create a connected sitting area. If you specify the right size and style, a sectional can be the perfect answer to your home entertainment needs. But like most everything in interior design, if you don't properly plan it out, it can lead to a big upholstered disaster.

The biggest mistake that people make when selecting a sectional for their space is deciding on their sectional style (L-Shape, Sofa with Chaise Return, U-Shape, etc..) before considering the actual space it will live in. This is a big NO NO that will lead to a non-cohesiveness lounge area.  

In wardrobe terms, this would be similar to buying a size 10 dress off the rack (just because you liked the color) and assuming it would fit your size 6 body....or the other way around. Like I said...NO NO.

So unless you're cool with a random fraternity lounge area look, keep reading...

A Park Avenue Sofa with a Chaise Return

Here are my top tips on choosing the perfect sectional:

- Let your space should dictate the shape. Invest in a roll of blue tape (or cut up some butcher paper) and actually lay out sectional options for you to consider. Make sure that the sectional doesn't overpower the room and become the focal point of your space. Also make sure you allow for enough space for end tables and a coffee table or ottoman(s).

- Extra sleeping. You may not want to advertise this on Facebook, but assuming one side of your sectional is large enough, you can have it custom built with a queen size pull-out bed for guests.

- Let the pillows pop. Since it's a lot of upholstery, I normally specify solid fabric on large sectionals. Save the patterns and colors for your throw pillows - this way you can switch them when you're in the mood for something new.

- Screen it. If you're using your sectional for a media space, make sure the largest portion of your sectional is facing the television.

- Lay it down. Place an area rug in front of your sectional to add symmetry to your space and complete the look.

An L-Shaped Sectional Sofa is basically two sofas connected by a corner piece

If you're in the mood for a little color, but are afraid to commit to an overall scheme that you may get bored of in a year, try adding splashes of colors in your accessories, artwork, throw pillows, and/or focal point furniture pieces. I designed our Sofia Chair just for this purpose. It's available in any lacquer color you can imagine and has been a loyal piece for me to bring character and architectural interest to an otherwise colorless and boring spaces.

Plush Home Sofia Chair

Room for two more?

If you live in the city, you are space challenged. And it doesn't matter how much square footage you have...it never ends up being enough. So for additional seating for dinners or casual lounging, my secret weapon is to incorporate ottomans into the design plan.  If you place them underneath a console, they can offer a splash of color to your scheme without cluttering up your space. And when you need extra seating in a pinch, you can pull them out as needed.

The Lexington Ottoman by Plush Home

The reeded edge of a coin is the series of grooved lines that encircle the perimeter of some U.S. coins, such as the dime and quarter. This detail was originally added to coins to prevent clipping and counterfeiting.

In furniture design, I use reeded edges to add a subtle elegance to a piece. The 3-dimensional and hand-crafted detail offers architectural interest (without being too ornate) that works well with our Plush Home transitional line. Here's an example of a reeded edge mirror frame below, but I particularly like this detail on table tops (like the Carlisle Entertainment Unit).

PLUSH HOME Carlisle Mirror with reeded edge detail

Before I opened my Melrose Avenue showroom, I was often challenged in finding fine furniture that could be made to  measure for the floor plans I was working with.  The pieces were either too large, too small, too this, or too that.

I wanted to create a fine furniture line made in Los Angeles that was completely customizable and could offer reasonable lead times to the TRADE.

Our process is simple: we don't make mistakes (well, we do...but we don't involve you in the drama).

All prototypes begin with a detailed CAD (Computer Assisted Drawing) rendering.  All measurements are to scale, and what you see on paper is the final plan that our in house craftsmen will follow.  I only like surprises for my birthday....not in my furniture.

Ming Dynasty

Our classic Ming design for wood furniture has just made the transition into our upholstery line. So watch out…it’s on! With its Asian-inspired, simple and clean lines, they are the perfect transitional pieces that work with most design schemes. I love placing these little guys at the foot of a headboard or under a console, where their sole job description is to bring a subtle and elegant interest to your space…as well as give you a comfy place to put on your heels. They also make for great additional dining and entertainment seating when those unexpected guests arrive for Thanksgiving Dinner (yes, it’s 6 months away). Varying fabric choices and finish selections change the look of this piece drastically.

In the works….

Our custom Koi Coffee Table with a flamed mahogany veneer top is in the works and will soon be ready to ship to its new home in Utah. Still needs to be sanded and obviously finished, but thought you might like a look at it in its embryo stage.

The trickiest part of customizing dimensions on a standard item is to maintain the proper scale. You may not think it, but adding a mere inch here and there could very easily throw off the entire feel, look, and integrity of a piece. All that being said, it is possible to customize as long as it is planned out strategically before the craftsman begins framing.

ASID Interior Designer, Marissa Jurado of Primabella Designs came to us with a challenge to create items in our line that would be comfortable for an NFL football player. Marissa wanted to items to be functional for her client, but certainly did not want them to look like "large furniture". After all, other than Alice, who wants their house looking like Alice in Wonderland?

Above are examples of extra-wide Marlborough Barstools and a Gatsby Dining Table from our line, that we created specifically for Marissa, keeping scale and comfort in mind.

MORE FUN DESIGN LINKS:

Back to Nina's Main Blog page

View the Plush Home furniture line

View Nina's Interior Design site

Time to E-Shop!

One of the best rewards in having our furniture line is working with fellow interior designers who customize our standard pieces to suit their client's particular needs.  Our Carlisle breakfront design is one of our most popular pieces.  Here are my 3 favorite alterations that design mavens have made to our standard Entertainment unit.

Bill Lane of Lane-McCook & Associates in West Hollywood specified this extra wide (a massive 96") dresser with lots of function drawer space for his client in Manhattan.  It's always a pleasure working with Bill because he is such a veteran and the consumate professinal.  The macassar ebony door fronts were a great selection to showcase the breakfront.  He hit the nail right on the head with this one.

For her Beverly Hills client, Anne Waite, ASID needed a very specific clear brown, walnut finish - But in mahogany wood.  Anne wanted something that would accentuate the elegance of mahogany grain, but at the same time downplay the red tones that are natural to that species.  I'm not going to lie, it was a difficult challenge that took several runs to get just the right shade and sheen. In the end, Anne's final choice was so dead on that we've since made it a standard option in our line.  I love when designers push our line to the next level and open our eyes to new needs that they may have.

Liana Blechinger Fusco and Stephanie Schweitzer of SL Interior Design in New York brought an edgy, Hollywood-Regency feel to our Carlisle dresser by opting to have it painted in a high-lacquer white finish (Benjamin Moore Decorator's White) and adding vintage, crystal knobs. The result was the perfect match for a teenager's room in the Hamptons.

MORE FUN DESIGN LINKS:

Back to Nina's Main Blog page

View the Plush Home furniture line

View Nina's Interior Design site

Time to E-Shop!

Nina Petronzio's Blog

Interior design, furniture, fashion

TUESDAY’S TIP: How to choose the perfect sectional

TUESDAY’S TIP: Where to add color

Tuesday’s Tip: Where to hide extra seating

Room for two more?

Reeded ege

It’s all part of the process

Ming Dynasty

In the works….

Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore

Carlisle Success Stories…

Categories

Archives