Design Inspiration…..Red Living Rooms

Lately we’ve had quite a few customers come in with a red white & black living room themed designs in their minds. Personally I am a huge fan of this color scheme.  I love the muted softness of the white contrasted with the intense accents of black & red.  The color red has often been associated with passion, intensity and love.  Rooms that are filled with red typically represent people that are warm and cheery and incredibly energetic. When I think of red I think of my favorite red dress I like to put on when I’m feeling a little daring! Red always draws attention! So we scoured the internet to find some of our favorite red living rooms and posted them here.  We also found a few red living room don’ts. If used wrong or disproportionately, red living rooms can also be harsh.  How would you use red in your living room?

Red Living Room Do’s!

Red Living Room Dont’s!

Using red in all the wrong ways and wrong places.  Note to self, if my carpet is red, don’t paint my wall red too!

 

Design Inspiration…Decorative Accent Pieces

Here’s a little design inspiration for our furniture friends on this glorious spring day! With the clearing of the winter weather we thought we’d share a little inspiration from some modern accent pieces that get us into a spring mood.  Adding colorful accent pieces to a room can do wonders in adding energy and life into your space!

Extended Furniture Warranty Plans…is it Worth the Money?

This is one question we get from our customers all the time asking whether or not truthfully extended furniture warranty plans are worth the money.  In our opinion the value you may get from a warranty plan is going to be different for everyone but always worth the investment… if you’re looking at your furniture as an investment.  If  it’s furniture you only want for 6 months to a year or so then maybe it’s not that big of a deal for you but if you hope to keep the $1,500 sectional you just  bought for years, then spending a couple hundred on a warranty plan is well worth it.  I will caveat this by saying as long as the retailer you are working with sells the warranty within reason.  I’ve seen some warranty plans run $600 – $800 which I think is too much.  Our 5 year plans start at $199 so if you think about the cost per day you’re actually spending for peace of mind it’s cents on the day.

So what do these plans cover?
Over the years we’ve used a couple warranty companies and each has has their pluses and minuses.  Almost all plans cover stains, rips, tears, burns and spills. Some plans have a 5 day notification period which just means if your daughter spills her grape juice all over your new sectional, you must call the warranty company within 5 days to report the claim.  Some plans have a 15 day policy upon noticing. They do not care when the accident happened as long as you report it within 15 days of noticing the accident, so no matter what, you noticed the stain within the last 15 days.  Some companies also require you to know what the stain actually is so make sure you say something other than ” I don’t know”.

What won’t they cover?
The one thing we’ve never found any warranty to cover is pet claws and jaws.  If your pets vomit or urinate on your sofa however, they will cover that but chewing or scratching won’t be covered.  If Sparky decides to try to bury a bone in your couch, the warranty companies will not accept it but if your child accidentally takes a screw driver to you sofa than that would covered.  As a general rule, just don’t bring up your pet.

Also, most companies generally do not cover accumulated stains.  Therefore, make sure you notice each time a stain happens and report each incident separately.

What happens when I have a claim?
Most all companies to start will send out a cleaning kit to start and walk you through the process of cleaning your stain.  If that doesn’t help, they will then send out a tech.  The tech will come to clean, repair or replace whatever has been damaged or stained.  Some companies will only replace a damaged piece once some will replace them multiple times.  Always always always read the details of your plan to know what is and what is not covered.  And make sure you save your receipt and your warranty information.  We’ve told customers sometimes to tape copy of your registration and copy of your receipt to the bottom of your furniture.  That way you know where to look when something happens.

All in all,we’ve had enough incidents occur at Real Deal where either a customer was super happy they bought the warranty plan because their dog peed on their sofa the day after they got it or super bummed because they didn’t and they took a knife to the cushion opening unwrapping a sofa that we always recommend it. Just think, one accident happening without a warranty could result in a tech charging $200-$300 just to look at the damage. So we always tell our customers, it’s nice to have the piece of mind in case anything happens for cents on a day. If you have any other questions or concerns about furniture warranty plans and if they are really worth it, feel free to comment or contact us directly.

Aluminum vs. Wrought Iron Patio Furniture

With patio season almost here, it’s time to start thinking about your patio furniture and of course your kick-off to summer BBQ bash! We also know buying patio furniture can be a daunting task, with so many options and wanting patio furniture that lasts, how do you choose? Hopefully we can provide a few tips to help you decide what kind of patio furniture works for you and your budget. Today we are discussing aluminum vs. wrought iron patio furniture.

Aluminum Patio Furniture:

Pros: Rust resistant and relatively lightweight and incredibly durable. (Higher quality aluminum is heavier in weight.)
Types: Tubular, Cast and Wrought Aluminum.
Tubular – Most aluminum furniture is made from hollow tubing, often with internal reinforcing ribs for added strength. The tubing is cut and bent to form the elements of the furniture frame, which are then welded or bolted together by skilled craftsmen. Tubular aluminum is frequently the material of choice for contemporary styling. Over the last few years, finish options in metal furniture have become quite exciting. There are finishes which mimic verdigris, pewter and stone. There are smooth, gleaming finishes, textured matte finishes, single tone finishes, and some with a melange of colors. Not just good-lookers, these finishes are tough. They become a plastic skin that virtually bonds to the aluminum. They will not chip, peel or crack, and are six times thicker than paint, making them highly resistant to weather.
Cast Aluminum – Cast aluminum is usually investment furniture. Distinctive and elegant, it features classic designs with roots in the cast-iron stylings of the 18th century.This furniture is produced by pouring molten aluminum into molds and then allowing it to cool. The prototype for each casting mold is hand carved, permitting elaborate detailing. Cast aluminum is undeniably handsome and elegant. While its beauty is striking, its demeanor is classic and understated. Furniture of cast aluminum is often so exquisitely detailed that it seems to have come from a museum. But, like tubular aluminum, it is also amazingly durable and easy to maintain. Quality cast-aluminum furniture can be costly and is not for the family that craves a new look every few seasons.
Wrought Iron – Wrought aluminum marries the centuries-old craft of hand forging to the high tech performance of aluminum. Though wrought aluminum cannot duplicate the more intricate wrought-iron stylings, some believe that it represents the ideal wedding of art and technology. With wrought aluminum, you can enjoy the traditional elegance of a wrought-iron look in a material that is lightweight, low maintenance and rustproof.

Wrought Iron Patio Furniture:
Pros: Heavy, durable, with graceful, flowing designs. (however iron will rust & oxidize over time).  Available in handsome designs ranging from contemporary to traditional, iron furniture is so durable that it frequently outlasts its owners. However, if it has not been properly coated by the manufacturer and maintained by the consumer – no ifs, ands or buts – it will rust.
Types: Wrought Iron & Cast Iron
Wrought Iron – Classic wrought-iron styling with its appealing curves and elegant design is hotter than ever. Originally hand-made (wrought) by blacksmiths, wrought-iron furniture is constructed from solid half-inch round bars formed into timeless designs – simple or ornate, the choice is yours.
Cast Iron – Cast iron is the essence of romance and nostalgia. Heavy and ornate, it is often identified with the South. Weighing three times more than an identical piece in cast aluminum, cast iron is popular for public areas because it weighs too much to be easily pilfered.

At Real Deal Furniture our metal patio furniture is primarily powdered coated cast aluminum.  Taking all the pros and characteristics of cast aluminum there is also an added layer of baked on powder to prolong the life of your patio furniture and ensure it’s ability to withstand the harshness of all weather conditions.  Come check them out in our San Diego showroom!

Outdoor Furniture Care

Living in San Diego we are spoiled enough to be able to enjoy our patio furniture all year round.  However, with anything we value and want to prolong the life of there are certain ways we should care for our outdoor furniture. Here are some outdoor furniture care & maitenance tips to help you get the most life out of your patio furniture.

For Powder Coated Cast Aluminum furniture we recommend washing with a mild liquid soap. If the furniture is scratched down to the metal, we recommend lightly sanding the area then applying the touch up paint. When applying touch up paint, all surfaces must be completely clean & dry before applying.

It’s best to cover the furniture when not in use for an extended period of time.

Never leave furniture standing in water.

Never use automotive cleaners on furniture.

For granite table tops, in order to maintain and preserve the appearance and resistance to staining, reseal the table top annually using a penetrating stone sealer.  For routine cleaning, use a mild soap and water solution with a soft cloth. Rinse and dry thoroughly.  Spills should be wiped up promptly.  Red wine and citrus juice left for extended periods of time can affect the natual stones and appearance and resistance to stain.

For cushions and pillows, first clean by brushing off any loose dirt, then with a mild soap and water mixture, brush them clean.  Make sure to use a soft bristle brush or sponge and air dry.  Hand wash only and hang to dry.  Do not use a washing machine or dryer.

How to tell the quality of a sofa

So we say it all the time and we know furniture shopping can be hard, especially when it comes to sofas.  Not only are there a zillion styles to choose from but they also range from $199 a sofa to $5,000 a sofa. How do you tell the quality? Here are some of our tips to helping our customers tell the quality of a sofa and getting more when they are paying more.

1.) Ask about the wood of the frame. Is it made out of kiln-dried hardwood? This process of drying the wood removes the moisture out of wood allowing it to keep its stability over time.

2.) Check the matching of the pattern of the fabrics. Does the pattern on the back of the sofa match the cushions? Are the stripes aligned at the edges? A mark of quality construction is the careful matching of patterns.

3.) Inspect the joints. Are they glued, dowelled & screwed? Or are they glued & nailed? Are the further reinforced by additional reinforcing blocks?

4.) Ask about the spring system used.  Does it have sinuous spring construction?  Sinuous springs are “S” shaped and run from the front of the seat to the back.  These springs are supported by additional wires that run side to side, making it a strong seat.

5.) What’s in your cushions?  There are many different options for cushion fills from standard foam seats, to channel blown fiber, to feather down blends seats…you have your pick of what you want to sit on everyday.  Just make sure it’s not filled with peanuts.  Check to make sure they are reversible. If it’s foam is it dacron wrapped?

6.) Try picking up the sofa.  There is a correlation with the weight of a sofa with quality.  The heavier it is the higher quality it is.

7.) Ask about the warranty.

All in all, obviously what you pay for is often what you get.  If you are spending $500 for a sofa it might be a great deal but don’t expect it to be comfortable for a very long time or last you a very long time.  Quality doesn’t come cheap especially in sofas.

Best in Show – Pets & Furniture

If there’s one thing I learned from watching the Super Bowl commercials this year is that we love our dogs and I am just as guilty as the next.  Cute dogs, dogs with personality, dogs bribing their owners….I just can’t get enough. So we decided to scour the internet and find our top 5 favorite pets & furniture pictures! Which one’s your favorite?! Feel free to send us the ones you love as well!

Isabel Clownsnack - From Blog Modernica

Pets on Furniture contest winner No. 3. Photo: Modern

Yuko - From Desire to Inspire

Pets on Furniture Contest - Blog Moderni

Pets on Furniture - Blog Modernica

Futons San Diego – Perfect for Small Spaces

If there’s one thing I’ve found to be pretty common in San Diego apartments and condos….they are small.  Price we pay for living in San Diego and getting the beautiful weather that we do.  It’s a good thing they’ve made furniture pieces designed specifically in mind for small spaces, like futons, futon beds, and futon cushions.  Here’s a look at some of the futons and sofa convertibles we carry.  Helping those of us that live in small spaces make the most of our space.

 

Enso Mattresses – Green & Natural Memory Foam Mattress

With our entire society moving faster into embracing a greener world and way to living, we were pretty stoked when we found Enso sleep systems offering a  greener healthier twist on memory foam mattresses.  Enso mattresses uses natural technologies and processes to make their mattresses, foundations and pillows.

Enso Green Mattress Technologies:

1. Active Charcoal – filters harmful chemicals in manufacturing process and reduces odors.  Charcoal is a natural drying agent and helps fight mold & mildew
2. Aloe Vera – Promotes calmness and creates freshness in the memory foam mattress. It also promotes healthy skin.
3. Mineral Water – The Enso memory foam is washed with mineral water to reduce odors naturally.  When they wash the foam it also serves to reduce harmful chemicals and gases that could cause health risks.
4. APR Foam – Airflow pressure relief foam helps reduce pressure on the body
5. Negative Ion – helps to neutralize harmful allergens, pollen and airborne particles.
6. Bamboo – all Enso mattresses are made with natural Bamboo which helps reduce the transfer of body heat for a cooler sleep and increases the durability of your mattress.
7. Silver Technology – since Silver has been known to kill harmful bacteria and dust mites and is deterrent to bed bugs, silver is infused into the foam pouring process and will not rub off, wash off or wear off.

Our personal take:
I wasn’t lying when I said I was stoked we brought in a greener more natural mattress.   On our showroom floor we show the 10″ Dreamweaver and the 11.5″ Swan mattresses from the Enso line.  We like that they don’t feel as heavy as the traditional Visco memory foam mattress.  They actually use a lower density foam which causes a lighter feel in the mattress.  The 11.5″ Swan Mattress is actually a mattress that features a 300 thread count duvet cover, a mixture of baffled memory foam clusters.  It feels like you are sleeping on little pockets of memory foam since you technically are.  I think it’s a feel you would have to get used but would love overtime.

Make sure you come to check them out so you can judge it for yourself. 😉

Furniture Delivery – Do you Offer Free Delivery?

If we had a nickel for every time we hear this question…..well……you know how the saying goes.  We totally understand and with every other furniture store out there offering free delivery, we can also see how the customer would come to expect it.  However, we don’t offer free delivery services and here’s why.  Free delivery never really means free and if it does actually mean free it probably also means there’s not a lot of value in the service you get.

Often times stores that offer free delivery just build the cost of delivery into their pricing.  Which in turn means you pay more for the same piece of furniture whether you get delivery or not.  It also means it’s not really free.  We don’t make money on our delivery service but we do try to cover the costs of running a white glove delivery service.  Giving you guys that speak English, guys that show up when the say they will and pre-inspected, pre-assembled furniture making the overall delivery quick, smooth and completely painless.  We’re also transparent with how much you’re paying for everything. That way you know the true cost of your furniture and the true cost of delivery.

Don’t get fooled into thinking you’re saving money and experience a furniture delivery that makes you wish you just paid the extra $50 to not worry about a thing. Sometimes your sanity is worth it!

Free delivery means you get “free” service too.