A Contemporary Christmas

Tradition is very important around Christmas…But making it modern and fresh is easy to do while carrying on that Christmas cheer that we all know and love! This Christmas, try a new color scheme that includes deep, rich browns, saturated apple greens and clean, snowy whites. Combine shimmery golds with shimmery grays and add steel blue accents, or go completely contemporary with more vibrant, youthful teal blues, berry reds, and neon greens wrapping around your tree.

Rather than the traditional trees and Santa’s, dress up the space with abstract forms of familiar winter shapes and figures. White statues of deer, glittering gold Christmas trees, and faux fur owls will not only bring a modern touch to your Christmas décor, but it will add in some unique and contemporary textures and materials!

Bring the outdoors in while going back to basics. Place frosted twigs or branches in vases for centerpieces or use them as part of a mantle arrangement. Use crystals along with faux snow against the natural browns and greens to create a classy pop. Use less ornaments and more natural materials, like pinecones you may find in your backyard. Keeping your décor clean, monochromatic and natural will bring a more contemporary Christmas look into your home.

Think outside the Christmas box and do something unordinary with your ornaments. These little things can be used in a huge variety of ways: arrange them in large glass vases on the dining table, hang them from a chandelier, add them to the garland running along your banister. There are easy instructions on how to make a Christmas tree accent out of ornaments – check out this link! http://www.thriftycraftygirl.com/2011/12/25-days-of-christmas-ornament-tree.html. Even just tastefully spreading ornaments along the table runner atop some shimmery organza will add to contemporary Christmas look! 

Have a very Merry Chirstmas!

Your interior designer,

Courtney Bulloch

Mattress Matters

How often should you replace your mattress? When your old mattress leaves you feeling tired or achy, it’s time to replace it. The Better Sleep Council recommends trading in your mattress every five to seven years. While it’s not surprising to see this suggestion coming from a trade group, others support this theory, both for comfort and for health reasons. (Mattresses accumulate dead skin cells and perspiration over time, which can attract dust mites and pose health risks.)

If you get a quality mattress with a high coil count, you can  expect  10 or 15 years. To prolong the life of any mattress,  buy a waterproof, breathable mattress cover, which will help shield the surface from moisture and skin cells. (They start at less than $25.)

Mattress types. The innerspring mattress is no longer the only game in town. Now you have a bewildering array of mattress options to choose from, including memory foam, gel, latex, inflatables and all natural — just to name a few. 

Innerspring is the most popular choice and the least expensive; it features tempered steel coils wrapped in layers of cushioning.

Memory foam conforms to the shape of your body, so when you move, the rest of the bed doesn’t shake (good for those bothered by a restless partner).

Gel mattresses combine memory foam with a cooling gel, so the body doesn't get so warm during sleep.

Latex mattresses blend characteristics of the innerspring and memory foam to deliver great comfort.

Inflatable air mattresses have an air-filled core that you can adjust to the desired firmness. 

All-natural beds trade engineered materials for organic alternatives like wool, cotton and latex.

Firmness. Experts no longer subscribe to the theory that a firm mattress is better for you, so go with what feels comfortable. 

If you’re over age 40, that might be a softer mattress than you've used before, since skin becomes more sensitive to pressure as we age. Firmness designations vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, so judge a mattress by how it feels, not by what it’s called.

When researching mattresses, check for brand ratings and compare mattress types. Keep in mind when dealing with innerspring mattresses that a mattress will have a different name and cover from one store to the next, even though the product may be identical. This is a longstanding tradition in the mattress world, and it makes it very difficult for consumers to compare products and prices from store to store.

Instead, try to settle on a retailer you like, and compare the merchandise in that showroom. Or narrow the field down to your two or three favorite mattresses, and choose the model with the best price. 

Testing the mattress. Do not buy a mattress without testing it in the store. Dress in comfortable clothes (pants) and wear shoes that are easy to slip off. If you sleep with someone else, bring your partner with you. You’re going to spend a third of your life on this mattress, it is worth spending as much time as needed on the mattress to assure you of its comfort. 

Gauge your initial reaction to each mattress. If you like it, spend time lying on each side, your stomach and your back, giving extra time to the position you generally sleep in. It is not unreasonable to spend 10 or 15 minutes on a mattress you’re seriously interested in. Don’t be afraid to ask the salesperson to leave you alone while you’re testing out a mattress, so you can focus on the comfort. 

Coil count. A good way to compare one mattress with another is by checking the coil count. Generally, the higher the coil count, the better the support. (That’s not the same thing as firmness.) 

There are three basic types of coils: pocketed, hourglass and continuous. Pocketed coils are individually wrapped in a little bag, hourglass have a rounded top and bottom, and continuous are made from sinuous interconnected wire ringlets. The average mattress contains anywhere from 250 to 1,000 coils. Naturally, larger mattresses will have more coils than smaller ones. If you’re shopping for a queen-size mattress, look for a minimum of 600 sinuous coils or 900 pocketed coils.  

Mattress makers may compensate for a low coil count by using a thicker wire. Wire thickness is measured in gauge, with a lower number signifying a thicker coil. 

Mattresses today most often combine coil springs with memory foam or latex with luxurious toppers of wool or silk,which naturally wickes moisture, providing a good nights sleep. Afterall, isn't that what were all looking for?

Reflections of You!

More and more, we talk to people and find that they want personalization in their homes. No more cookie cutter matching coffee table, end table, console table set. No more dining sets with the matching hutch, or even the matching chairs!  We all have a yearning to express ourselves, especially now in our ever changing world. We no longer want to look like our next door neighbor.

We dress for success, we dress to impress. 

Our home reflects who we are, and now customization in all areas of Home Furnishings await. 

While we've always had the ability to change fabrics on sofas, it's now a SNAP to add trims, nailheads, down seating ( or conversely, firm seating). We can lengthen or shorten, raise or lower the back of your sofa.

We can customize your dining table to be aubergine or even tangerine, with the help of outstanding paint lacquers on the market today.

It used to be almost be impossible to order a custom area rug that didn't take 16 weeks and be made in India. We now have an amazing custom rug line that is made in California and uses the finest New Zealand wools or the more 
affordable nylon. Your choices are only limited by your imagination!

Our lighting selections are customizable too. Burnished brass, gold, natural iron, chrome and brushed steel , that are made in America.

Here's where our interior design services come in. We can turn your dreams into reality. We can take the worry off your shoulders. We can prevent you from making costly mistakes, by measuring your home to make sure everything fits, right down to the inch.

We know color and we know style! 

We know how to mix vintage and contemporary, as well as mixing modern and transistional.

We know mid century modern and we know arts and crafts.

We know leather and we know how to blend it with gorgeous fabrics.

We are working harder than ever to create environments that truly express your vision other than our own.

Redecorating 101

Texture and Color: A Happy Balance!


Keep a few basic rules in mind when you start. Will your room be for gathering the family or will it be your private domain?  Keep the overall flow consistent by limiting your colors. A rooms textures and colors can dramatically improve and elevate our mood. Imagine coming home and decompressing to the inviting warmth of your home!














Choose a main color and from there add 2 maybe 3 accent colors. Small spaces will look larger and brighter with light colors, conversely dark colors will make a room feel smaller and more intimate. Larger spaces do well with rich warm colors that will feel inviting.  












Textures and patterns add depth and interest to your room. Pair nubby and smooth,such as leather and linen. Plush, rough, woven and smooth all add texture and depth to your room. Layering them will make your room sophisticated. Choose a geometric and a floral or stripe for contrast and POP. It's necessary to keep in mind that scale and color with patterns is a must. If in doubt, our designers would be more than happy to advise you.

The Perks of Shopping Local

Ten Reasons Hiring a Designer makes Sense!

Having design help to create something like this seems like a no brainer.  

1) Designers will work within your budget. Designers are trained to follow the "good, better, best" principle, which allows you to choose which items should be invested in and those not to break the bank.

2) Get the overall "feel and look" you want. Designers knowledge of the industry will fulfill your desired look.

3) Get the overall scale and dimensions that are right for your home, with computer renderings and hand sketched home plans! 

4) Get professional advise on color choices.  We use your color preferences to create your dream a reality.  

5) Get professional advise not only on new furnishings, but how to blend your existing pieces with new items.

6)Get professional advise on carpet, hardwood flooring,tile and window coverings. we use your color preferences to create your dream a reality.  

7) Take the fear out of making costly mistakes.

8) An Interior Designer will manage your project or remodel which will reduce stress.

9)One stop shopping. Designers working at a home furnishing showroom typically don't charge a design fee for their work, it is included in furniture purchases.

10) Save money!  Purchasing items of higher quality, because quality lasts versus throwing items out because they have fallen apart.

Would you like to meet our San Francisco Design Designers?  If you would like to know more about each individual designer, simply click on their name or picture to get a quick bio! 

Sarah Breinholt

Corinne Richards

Courtney Bulloch

Carolyn Davis

Susan Minard

Sabrina Overman

Aleece Sligar

Proud to buy American!

Spring is a very important season for us, we are refreshing the stores, and hopefully refreshing your homes!  It is important to us, and hopefully to you, that we find furniture that helps America continue to grow.

Some of the freshest designs are coming from manufacturers right here in America!  We have been trying to do our part by bringing these designs to you!  Here are just a few examples of what U.S. companies can offer to you:

First we have the Comodo sofa/sectional, a mid-century modern masterpiece, clean lines mixed with beautiful tufting makes this one of our favorite pieces!

The Menlo Park, by Rick Lee, is a stunning example of American design that is made in America!  It is flirty and curvaceous, stunningly modern with an organic shape, perfect for that spring home makeover. 

And of course not all of our American made pieces are sofa/sectionals, these bench made tables are made in New England and are as design forward as they are functional!

What better way to address a Spring makeover in your home than through your bedroom, you  do spend allot of your time there, why not make it a place you always want to be! 

You should never have to sacrifice design and styling to buy an American made product!  They go hand in hand if you know where to look!  American designers and manufacturers are putting out some of the most gorgeous furniture on the market these days, (and trust us we go all over the world looking for new products), we would love to show you! 

March Madness

Looking for the Perfect Sofa

With winter rounding its final corner, spring is closing in fast!  Everyone wants that new great look for spring, including your home.  A new sofa can be a great way to update your home!

First; take the stress out of picking your sofa by first laying out a game plan; lets decide what style of furniture you enjoy!  (Remember that just because you live in a Victorian home doesn't mean you have to decorate with doilies!)

Traditional;

Rustic,

Transitional; containing both contemporary and traditional style elements!

Modern;

Contemporary; 

Second; figure out what the main purpose of this sofa will be.  Will it be in the main family room with a TV  or will it be in a formal entertaining area, or would you like it to be made for both?

Third; define your color pallet.  Are you looking for a neutral base color, which allows you to dress up the room with colorful pillows, rugs and art?  Or are you looking for a bright colorful and flirty sofa to be the focal point of the room?

Fourth;  know your budget and compare materials.

Once you have identified the above four, then you can start shopping!

A well-made sofa should last at least ten years!  (Trust us, you will probably tire of it before it will wear out) 

Purchasing from a reliable furniture store that has a warranty allows you the peace of mind throughout the ordering process and the life of the sofa.  

Make sure your sofa has a hard wood frame.  

Compare the tailoring on the sofas you are looking at! 

Come in and talk with one of our knowledgeable people, to experience our quality, design and versatility in making your sofa purchase!

Color Your World

Color Your World!

Looking around your home and not quite seeing the color scheme you had envisioned?  It is a common occurrence among home owners.  Color pallets are hard to master, and if you are not an interior designer  they could be lost on you.  The Pantone 2013 color of the year is emerald, and it is easy to go out and find an emerald accent piece and simply place it in your home.  However, it is quite another to refresh your home making emerald or any other color weave seamlessly throughout your home.

If you are a fan of big bold colors then what you choose for your home is something you can see yourself loving for an extended period of time, fortunately paint is an affordable! Accent walls can be a first step, even  bold color on your ceiling! Paint or wallpaper acts as a focal point for your furnishings, allowing creativity within your space, whether it your great room, dining room, bedroom or kitchen.
 Dress up a neutral home with color, transforming your space from blah to WOW! A tastefully done home with color is always in fashion.  The best thing about color is the endless opportunities you have within your home.

Never shy away from color thinking you can make a poor decision!  Color is always in style, and if you are nervous come in we will help you out!

Our New Year's Resolutions to You!

It is that time again, the time were everyone in America is striving to make themselves over and better for the new year!  Well here at San Francisco Design we are going to make ourselves over too, and continue in our pursuit to not only offer you the highest quality of furniture at low prices, but also the highest quality of customer service as well. 

Here are our resolutions for the New Year! 

Better showroom lighting that shows true colors. We are investing in the latest LED bulbs that enhance while using less electricity and cut down on carbon emissions.
Our new bulbs consume 8 watts of electricity compared to 70 watts that our old bulbs we were using!  That is allot of saved power per bulb!

Our designers are ASID Allied members who bring you professional guidance,
so you won't make costly decorating mistakes. They will help you no matter what size your project is; whether choosing a sofa or a whole room plan. We make house calls too! Let one of our designers help and take the worry out of decorating!

Our new delivery truck runs on clean natural gas.

Our drivers are licensed professionals that make every attempt to give you
excellent service and quality time to have your purchase placed just where you want it. We'll even remove your old stuff if you choose!

Our cookie and coffee bar is getting a makeover! Soon we'll have new wenge
door fronts that matches the warmth of our fresh baked cookies.
We are also enhancing this area to include a lounge area and new desks and computers that makes for more comfortable order processing.

Our guarantee to make your furniture purchase as easy and stress free as possible. 
We guarantee our prices to be the best on quality furniture anywhere! If you find the same item at a lower price, just tell us and we'll match or beat that price!

We want to be the best at what we do!

Also, the Color of 2013 will be Emerald, it is so versatile and fun, we could not think of a better color for 2013!  "Lively. Radiant. Lush… A color of elegance and beauty                        
  that enhances our sense of well-being, balance and harmony."