Green and Durable Furniture Begins with a Solid Foundation

Savile Sofa - EcoSelect Furniture

In every conversation I have with customers about how we make our sofas sustainable and without toxic elements, I always begin at the very beginning with our frames. Like a house, the design and durability of our product depends on a good foundation.

In the January 2017 issue of Southern Living, there was an article by Deb Schwartz outlining, “Sofas Deconstructed.” There is a sidebar feature on page 103 titled, “The Anatomy of a Sofa: The Frame.” Schwartz noted, “The most important part of any sofa is the frame.”

We couldn’t agree more!

Having spent four decades in the furniture business, I have always believed that a superior frame construction is essential to the longevity and comfort of a chair or sofa.

It all starts with solid hardwood frames with a lifetime guarantee.

At EcoSelect Furniture, we begin by using top quality lumber from locally certified sources. One and a quarter inch (5/4”) kiln dried maple or poplar hardwood are our woods of choice. Both are abundant in the eastern forests of the United States, grow relatively quickly, and are “straight grained” which allows them to resist warping. One of their top qualities is their density, a plus for holding screws and adhesives well.
To ensure security and strength, we double-dowel the joints and secure the connections with a non-toxic glue. Every element is important!

Furniture can take a beating, and we build ours with an eye to that inevitability. To ensure that corners and high stress areas are exceedingly resilient, we use hardwood corner blocks. For increased strength, both glue and screws are applied to secure them.

A drill down is given to the issue of what Schwartz calls “the second-most important construction consideration.” That is the “sofa’s suspension system,” otherwise known as the springs. I was thrilled to see the reference to “eight-way hand-tied springs” as the definition of a “quality product.” This method of tying springs in eight directions is a cornerstone of our production methods. In addition, we put a second set of springs inside our seat cushions for added comfort and durability.

Just like the article outlines, I always ask potential buyers about the situation that the chair or sofa will be placed in. Is it a formal setting? Will it be a family room with kids and animals as regular users? This helps them pinpoint the best choice.

There was no specific mention of flame-retardant materials in the run down, but by now, you know that is non-toxic materials is the key feature of an EcoSelect piece of furniture.

Oh, and by the way, if you check out the magazine, I would say that our designs fall into the category of Classic and Handsome!