Can a furniture maker double as a builder?

A good furniture maker will have many of the skills needed to build homes or other structures.

Several furniture makers I know of have built their own homes or shops.

• But there are many aspects of building construction that they have to learn on the fly (or subcontract out to others with more knowledge and skill.)

 

Furniture makers are not qualified to be professional builders, working as independent contractors.

• Aside from lacking some basic skills, they will not have required licenses or be aware of local building codes and regulations.

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What is the coolest furniture you’ve come across?

Coolest furniture ever!
An amazing combination of antique craftsmanship, art and magic… David Roentgens’ Berlin Secretary Cabinet!
To truly appreciate this piece you need to see the 2 minute video.

Abraham Roentgen’s Writing Desk

Abraham and David Roentgen built amazing pieces for European royalty during the 18th century.

Their furniture featured amazing hidden storage and mechanisms
Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration

In 2012 the Metropolitan Museum of Art discovered a particular type of Roentgen table with removable legs for easier transport.

That table is now considered the earliest form of flatpack (Ready to Assemble) furniture.
Conventional wisdom is that RTA furniture was invented by Gillis Lundgren in 1951 for IKEA.

Now its origins have been traced back 200 years earlier by David Roentgen.

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Should end tables be shorter than couch?

Your question does not specify whether “shorter” refers to the depth of the end tables or to the height. I will answer both.

End tables are never as deep as the couch. They are taller than the seat height, but lower than the arm height.

Below are some general guidelines regarding how occasional tables are sized:

A basic set of occasional tables typically consists of a coffee table (also known as cocktail table) and end tables.

• If the coffee table is rectangular the end tables will also be rectangular.
• If the coffee table is round or oval, the end tables will also be round or oval.

Occasional table sets may have additional pieces.

Some occasional table sets have two different end table sizes, with the larger end table referred to as a “lamp table.”)

• Lamp tables are typically wider than the matching end tables.
  • They are often square in shape, rather than rectangular.
  • Lamp tables are less commonly found in table sets with rounded shapes.
• Sofa tables are longer and narrower than end or lamp tables. Sofa tables are also higher. They are usually placed behind the sofas.

Table dimensions:

• End tables are typically rectangular or rounded. When they are rectangular, the width will be less than the depth.
• End table depths (or diameters) generally range from 22″ – 24,″ (although there are exceptions above and below this range.)
  • End table widths are typically a few inches less than the table depth.
• Larger end tables, commonly referred to as “lamp tables,” can be found in some table sets.
  • Lamp tables will have the same depth as the end tables but will be a few inches wider.
  • In many cases lamp tables will be have square shapes (width and depth are the same.)
• Smaller end tables are sometimes called “chairside tables.”
  • Chairside tables will also have the same depth as the other end tables in the set, but may be several inches less in width.
• Sofa tables are typically about 6″ less deep than their matching end tables. Widths can vary from 48″ – 60″ or more.

End tables depths are usually at least 12″ less than the sofa depth.

• Sofa depths generally range from 36″ – 42″. It is possible to find couches with overall depths as small as 32″.

Table heights:

• Coffee (or cocktail) tables are usually found in heights ranging from 16″ – 18″.
  • The coffee table’s height should make them easy to reach when seated on the couch.
• End and lamp tables are usually several inches higher. The most common heights are 21″ – 24″.
  • End tables are accessed by reaching over the sofa arm. The additional height is needed to make this practical for most people.
  • End tables should be lower than the height of the sofa’s arms.
• Sofa tables are taller than the other tables. The top surface is usually slightly below the height of the sofa back.

Liberty Furniture Lake House 3-Piece Coffee Table Set, Oak

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What size end tables will fit my sofa?

A customer recently asked, “Should end tables be shorter than the couch?”

This question did not specify whether “shorter” referred to the depth of the end tables or to the height, so I will answer both.End tables are never as deep as the couch. They are taller than the seat height, but lower than the arm height.

Below are some general guidelines regarding how occasional tables are sized:

A basic set of occasional tables consists of a coffee table (also known as cocktail table)and end tables.

• If the coffee table is rectangular the end tables will also be rectangular.
• If the coffee table is round or oval, the end tables will also be round or oval.

Occasional table sets may have additional pieces.

Some occasional table sets have two different end table sizes, with the larger end table referred to as a “lamp table.”)

• Lamp tables are typically wider than the matching end tables.
• They are often square in shape, rather than rectangular.
  • Lamp tables are less commonly found in table sets with rounded shapes.
• Sofa tables are longer and narrower than end or lamp tables. They are also higher. Sofa tables are usually placed behind the sofas.

Table dimensions:

End tables are typically rectangular or rounded.

• When they are rectangular, the width will be less than the depth.
• End table depths (or diameters) generally range from 22″ – 24,″ (although there are exceptions above and below this range.)
• End table widths are typically a few inches less than the table depth.
• Larger end tables, commonly referred to as “lamp tables,” can be found in some table sets.
  • Lamp tables will have the same depth as the end tables but will be a few inches wider.
  • In many cases lamp tables will be have square shapes (width and depth are the same.)
• Smaller end tables are sometimes called “chairside tables.”
  • Chairside tables will also have the same depth as the other end tables in the set, but may be several inches less in width.
• Sofa tables are typically about 6″ less deep than their matching end tables. Widths can vary from 48″ – 60″ or more.

End tables depths are usually at least 12″ less than the sofa depth.

Sofa depths generally range from 36″ – 42″. It is possible to find couches with overall depths as small as 32″.

Table heights:

• Coffee (or cocktail) tables are usually found in heights ranging from 16″ – 18″.
• The coffee table’s height should make them easy to reach when seated on the couch.
• End and lamp tables are usually several inches higher. The most common heights are 21″ – 24″.
  • End tables are accessed by reaching over the sofa arm. The additional height is needed to make this practical for most people.
  • End tables should be lower than the height of the sofa’s arms.
• Sofa tables are taller than the other tables. The top surface is usually slightly below the height of the sofa back.

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Is It Popular To Buy White or Cream-Colored Fabric For Your Couch?

White, off-white and cream colored fabrics have become increasingly popular over the past 5 years.

Stain resistant white and off-white “high performance” fabrics can now be found everywhere. They are available in a huge assortment of textures, shades and patterns.

White and off-white colors can be matched with practically any other color scheme within a room. Despite their versatility, many furniture purchasers avoid whites.
Dirt and stains are easily visible on white toned fabrics. Cotton and linen fabrics are difficult to clean. Many types of stains cannot be removed, even with professional cleaning. Polyesters (including microfibers) are more stain resistant, but could become discolored by dirt.

“High performance” fabrics have built-in, permanent and effective stain protection. Even for white and off-white colors.

There are several different “high performance” fabric technologies currently available. Brand names include Crypton, Sunbrella, Revolution, Bella-Dura, LiveSmart and several others.

• Cryptons are primarily 100% polyesters and polyester blends, available in a wide price range
• They offer extensive fabric lines, consisting of thousands of different high performance fabrics.

• Crypton fabrics are available in a huge range of different textures, colors and patterns

• They can mimic cottons, linens, silks, wools, velvets and other fibers in both light and heavy weights, with both rough and smooth textures

• Crypton also licenses its high performance technology to other mills, including Valdese Weavers.

• Sunbrella fabrics are 100% acrylic. These have been primarily outdoor fabrics until fairly recently.

• Sunbrella high performance fabrics are available in a wide range of colors and patterns. The line is very popular with interior designers.

• The acrylic fibers used in Sunbrella are sometimes not as durable as the polyesters used by Crypton and have lower abrasion test ratings

• Revolution fabrics are 100% olefin (also known as polypropylene.)

• Revolution is a generally a “budget priced” high performance fabric line.

• These have a rougher texture than most of the Cryptons, Sunbrellas and Bella-Duras.

• Revolution has a far more limited color palette than the other high performance brands. Although there are some patterns, most of the fabrics in the line are solid colors.

• An advantage of Olefin high performance fabrics is that difficult stains can be cleaned with bleach

• Most Revolution fabrics have loose weaves. Some compete in pricing with low cost microfibers.

• Bella-Dura uses the same 100% olefin fibers as Revolution. The denser woven fabrics look and feel very different. They also have substantially higher prices.

• Bella-Dura olefins are far more durable than the Revolution fabrics. Many meet the 100,000 double rub test level for commercial and institutional use.

• Bella-Dura textures are more tightly woven and feel smoother than the Revolution fabrics. They have a much wider color palette.

• Bella-Dura emphasizes brightly colored patterns. The cheaper Revolution fabrics are primarily neutral solid colors.

High performance fabrics were first introduced in the 1990s. At that time they were suitable only for outdoor fabrics.

• Outdoor high performance fabrics repel water and are virtually stain proof.

• These outdoor fabrics, but were not suitable for use on indoor, residential furniture.

• They were stiffer and less comfortable than people preferred for indoor residential furniture.

High performance fabrics for home use, with a “softer feel” took longer to develop.

• Residential “high performance” fabrics have become widely available only within the past 5 years. They are softer and more comfortable than the outdoor fabrics.

High performance fabrics are currently available in all price ranges.

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Are there any chairs with 3 legs?

Chairs with three legs are usually called stools.

From a safety standpoint 3 leg stools are usually less sturdy than chairs with 4 legs.

New office chairs with casters (wheels) are required to have 5 legs according to current safety regulations. 4 leg chairs with casters resulted in many tipovers and injuries.

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What’s a recommended process for an independent furniture designer to take their designs from sketch to manufacture to retail?

I have been through this process – twice!

It requires skill, financial resources, contacts, luck and extreme amounts of hard work and perseverance.

Your best chance of success is with custom designs that fill voids in small niche markets with minimal competition.

Lower cost furniture designs, suitable for mass production and widespread retail distribution, are far more difficult, unless you already have established a solid reputation and name recognition.

• The more commercially successful your design is, the more difficulty you will have protecting it against competitors.
  • If you do not have patent protection they will copy it.
  • If you have patent protection they will simply ignore it or design around it.
    • Individuals and small companies cannot afford patent litigation, no matter how strong their case is. Large companies know that and take advantage.
  • Licensing designs to a larger company comes with its own perils.
    • The more successful your products are, the more incentive your licensee will have to find a reason to stop paying you.

    True story – I was once in an elevator at the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, North Carolina and overheard a conversation between two sales reps.

    • The reps were discussing an exciting new sofa design that had just been introduced by a competitor.
    • It was still the first day of the market. Already their company had sent a designer into the competitor’s showroom to study the new sofa.
    • The reps were expecting to have a prototype of a similar sofa ready for their showroom within 48 hours.

    25 years ago I put together a team that designed an entire line of unique modular sofas and sleepers. 

    • I was the marketing expert.
      • I started the design project after becoming aware of a major niche market that had no existing competitors.
      • My responsibility was determining what special features and functionality would be needed to create products that would fill this market void.
    • The second team member was the prototype builder.
      • His job was to create actual furniture from a theoretical concept that had never before been tried.
    • A third team member was a professional furniture designer.
      • He fine tuned the styling so that our functional pieces looked attractive to furniture purchasers.
    • Equally important to the success of this project, was excellent patent and legal representation.
      • Getting a patent is not the difficult part.
      • Crafting a patent that is strong enough to defend against companies that try to design around you, requires an extremely high level of skill and experience.
      • Legal expertise with lease agreements and contract negotiations is also critical.

    When we had 20 prototypes ready for presentation, we hired a furniture industry mergers and acquisitions specialist, who had contacts with the top executives of several manufacturers.

    We licensed our designs (and patents) to a major manufacturer.

    • Over $25 million of our furniture was sold over a three year period.
    • In addition to royalties and consulting contracts, the manufacturer also assumed the (substantial) costs for the 5 U.S. patent applications we had filed, in addition to multiple international patents.
    • Before signing the contract, we held out almost six months until the company agreed to pay us a royalty based on sales, rather than profits.
      • That decision was critical. The manufacturer had complete control over how costs were calculated for our product line.
      • They chose to do it in a way that made the product line unprofitable.
      • If we had accepted their original contract proposal, we would have received very little compensation for for our time and effort.
    • Several years later we discovered that the company had also attempted to design around our patents almost immediately. They even filed their own (unsuccessful) patent application less than a year after signing our license agreement.

    Lessons learned from this experience:

    • Design expertise alone was not sufficient. We needed a team with a variety of skills. That team included extremely competent patent and legal assistance.
    • My team worked for over 2 years without pay before launching our designs into the marketplace. We incurred costs of over $50,000.
      • There was a very high probability that our designs would never be commercially successful. (Over 95% of patents do not result in sellable products.)
    • Furniture design is highly competitive and can be extremely frustrating when starting off.
      • Originality is not always appreciated. Your best ideas may be knocked off and copied by others.
    • Education, experience and skills may get you in the door. Long term success requires a genuine passion for what you are doing.

    10 years after the events described above, I put together another team and created another product line.

    • This time we decided to the do the manufacturing (and retailing) ourselves.
    • The resulting company, Simplicity Sofas, has been in business since 2007.

    For those who are interested, here is a description of the furniture concept that resulted from what is described above. High quality sofas, sleepers and sectionals that fit through impossibly narrow doors and stairways (and also last forever.)

    

    Modular sectional by Simplicity Sofas.

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