The Chesterfield Shop’s clients share their unique story about a furniture purchase that led to a skydiving experience:

“A few weeks ago, my boyfriend Dave and I moved into our first place together. We were in desperate need of a couch for our living room. So two weeks ago on a Friday night, we were determined to find a couch as we only had a futon and recliner in our living room. We came across The Chesterfield Shop in Mississauga and decided to go in and look. Dave found a couch and love seat in our budget and called me over to show it to me. I liked it and we talked to our sales rep and told him we would like to take them, and a coffee table and end table. Then my boyfriend had a huge grin on his face and laughed. He then tells our rep about “the deal”. Dave is a recreational skydiver, and has been trying to get me to jump out of a plane since last summer. He got the brilliant idea that if he purchases the living room for our new place, I have to jump out of a plane, the next opportunity available. The rep has a nervous laugh, and I don’t really think he believed us. Fast forward to Sunday, I then travel up 10,500ft into the sky, stick my feet out of the plane, get a little push and AWAY I went! I think I got the best deal though, a couch, love seat, coffee table, end table, a great story, and an amazing thrill!”

Jana and Dave

From Homes and Condos, The Toronto Star
, Saturday, May 4, 2013

Thanks to Colin and Justin for “A bit of cheeky advice about sofas”.

Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan Special to the Star

Big bums. Small bums. Medium bums. Aye, the human derriere comes in a flush of sizes, making it fair to observe no two are entirely alike. Think ample (a la Honey Boo Boo’s Mama June), pert (Posh Spice, at her leanest) or curvy like Latino lovely Jennifer Lopez.

Each bottom, regardless of spread, shares a common denominator: a requirement for somewhere to sit.

To properly service the gluteus maximus, the sofa should be an all-giving, all-yielding plonk zone that welcomes, cossets and supports, no matter the proportion of the invader. So, are you sitting comfortably? No? Guess you should read on . . .

We often opine that certain elements of home design (flooring, kitchens and bathrooms) require extra investment. Upholstery, too, falls into the “must endure longer than a passing fad” category. A chesterfield, in most cases, requires planning to tempt stylistic longevity.

So what looks best where? A clean-lined tuxedo sofa (with arms and back arranged at the same height) will probably appeal to both traditionalists and modernists, whereas an outsized squashy option with fat, rolled arms may attract those who enjoy country style interiors. At the other end of the spectrum, a mid-century Danish couch may lure historical purists or admirers of the avant-garde esthetic.

Standard chesterfields? These are typically 203 to 218 centimetres long, whereas two-seater sofas or loveseats, generally speaking, measure 147 to 193 centimetres in length. Bear in mind that a lavishly filled sofa will appear eminently more cumbersome than a tightly tailored chaise and be mindful that the overall length of your couch doesn’t always relate to its seating capacity. Wide arms, for example, mean less sitting space, so do the math and spend — and then sit — wisely.

Other options? Let’s see. Space permitting, a sectional or L-shaped sofa is a perfect solution to amplify the number of people who can be accommodated. In larger spaces, sectionals can be used as room dividers. But take a tip: always think of the sofa orientation and, crucially, at which end the ‘corner’ will turn in relation to other furniture.

Sofa beds? While not their biggest fans, we observe that when space is tight (or has to double as guest accommodation), sofa beds make useful problem solvers. For sporadic use, a foam fold-out design will probably suffice. But for regular use, we strongly recommend a wire-sprung option with a mattress measuring at least 10 centimetres thick.

It’s now easy to buy from home with the surge in online and catalogue shopping. But always read the small print and heed this counsel: Appraise return policies and guarantees. Many e-commerce companies, eager to capitalize, will happily take product back but not all will pay for return delivery or shipping.

If you’re feeling adventurous, it’s well worth considering custom upholstery to tweak your vision and max up or reduce arm size, adjust length or change the fill of cushions as required. Flexibility is key. We provide around 75 per cent of our client roster in this way, both on-and off-creen. In the GTA we send our work to N’shape Design; they have exacting standards, fair pricing and offer good turnaround from planning to delivery.

With that, we offer you Sofa 101 — the ultimate guide:

•Be spatially aware. Measure, make a paper template and play around with different room layouts before purchase. We like to re-arrange furniture each season. Will the size and shape of your new sofa allow you to do this?

•Check that doors are sufficiently wide to welcome your new upholstery. The last thing you need is the prospect of window removal to fit everything in. Believe us, we’ve been there.

•Think ergonomics. Better lumbar support will be offered by a sofa with a shorter seat depth — and a fixed back — than from a loose-cushioned alternative.

•Don’t select by form alone. Decide if you need something upon which the whole family will gather, or a more formal sofa for cocktail parties and coffee mornings. One man’s meat is another man’s poison.

•Use focus. Space permitting, centrally arranged seating creates a better impression. The dentist’s waiting room look is so last year. If a wall is where it must go, choose a settee no longer than three quarters the length of that wall.

•Don’t be afraid to try before you buy. At the very least lounge, stretch out and cuddle on potential options to be assured you’re buying an appropriate model. In an ideal world, make joint-buying decisions with anyone else in your household who’ll be using the sofa.

•Ask how your dream sofa is sprung. The last thing you need is coiled metal prodding you. Springs should provide yield and support, but should be barely there as far in the final feel.

•Enquire about padding. Feather-wrapped foam is a perfect combo as opposed to foam alone, which can be too hard, or feather alone, which can be too soft.

•Look for certification that assures filling and all associated materials have been safeguarded against combustion. Check out Canada’s consumer product safety website (for furniture, décor & garden) at www.hc-sc.gc.ca

•Inspect stitching and be on the lookout for good pattern matching. Well-made pieces should never display sloppy tailoring.

•While we’ve specified ostentatious design (at our clients’ behest) we advise choosing sofas that lend themselves to longevity. Trends pass, but classic pieces stand the test of time.

•As a general rule, plain colour is best. This choice allows you to switch up detailing, on a seasonal basis, with scatter cushions and throws.

•Don’t be scared of remodelling. As long as your sofa can meet current safety legislation, what’s stopping you? Just look at today’s before and after. As we found it, the worn-out sofa looked like it smelled of formaldehyde and cat pee. That said, with a good clean, new padding and 15 yards of pink linen, the light of potential shone and Granny Grey Hips sofa was immediately reborn.

The bottom line, if you’ll excuse the pun, is simply this: a well-thought combo of style, size, construction and comfort will always win out.

Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan are the hosts of HGTV’s Colin & Justin’s Home Heist and the authors of Colin & Justin’s Home Heist Style Guide, published by Penguin Group (Canada). Catch them every Monday on Cityline (9 a.m. on City). Follow them on Twitter @colinjustin or on Facebook (ColinandJustin).Check out their new product ranges at candjhome.co.uk. Contact them through their website colinandjustin.tv

Our buyers at The Chesterfield Shop are on our way to the Highpoint Furniture Market, in Highpoint, North Carolina!

High Point Market is the largest furnishings industry trade show in the world, bringing more than 85,000 people to High Point every six months. There are over 180 buildings measuring over 10 million square feet of every kind of home furnishings imaginable- picture how our feet feel at the end of the day, showroom after showroom, it’s a wonderful massive marathon of furniture!

We’re going to see what’s fresh and hot in beautiful designs, styles and trends to hit the marketplace…and bring back our favourites to you at our five great Toronto locations.

Click here to visit the website showing some pre-market items that our Style Spotters have flagged at the show.

We’ll keep you posted!

This year’s National Home Show & Canada Blooms at the Direct Energy Centre brings a unique and amazing “Hockey Fan Cave” to life! We’re excited to be a part of this popular show with our beautiful white leather Canada-themed home theatre recliner seating.

Excerpt from The National Home Show:

Hockey Fan Cave

By Jackie Morra Interiors & built by Canada Builds Homes & Cottages

Visitors Unleash Their Inner Hockey Fan at The National Home Show

Hockey Fan Cave by Jackie Morra Interiors & home built by Canada Builds Homes & Cottages

“Why dream it, when you can live it?” is Jackie Morra’s motto behind the creation of The Hockey Fan Cave, a hockey inspired space that allows your inner hockey fan to feel at “home”, coming to the National Home Show March 15 to 24, 2013.

More than a model home decorated with the normal finishes, the 2400 square foot Hockey Fan Cave is decked-out from top to bottom with unique, signed hockey memorabilia courtesy of Frameworth Sports Marketing, and replica locker room complete with hot tub from Hydropool Hot Tubs. This space is a hockey fans dream, designed by Jackie Morra of Jackie Morra Interiors, and built by the Canada Builds Company the Hockey Fan Cave includes a 1000 sq. foot custom home and 1200 sq. foot Xtraice synthetic ice rink.

With no shortage of entertainment, there is something for everyone. Visitors will have a chance to skate on the synthetic ice rink with skates provided by Xtraice, or try their hand at Super Chexx bubble hockey or check out the state of the art Sony TV with home theater seating provided by The Chesterfield Shop and no fan visit is complete until guests have taken their picture with a replica Stanley Cup to commemorate their experience. Get great ideas for sports team home décor with official NHL licensed products such as Shade-O-Matic NHL window coverings installed on Gentek Regency Windows, the goal light from Fan Fever, custom murals, score clock lighting and more.

Jackie is a supporter of The Canadian Women’s Foundation, which is Canada’s public foundation for women and girls. They empower women and girls in Canada to move out of violence, out of poverty and into confidence. 100% of proceeds for the CWF will be generated through the sale of Avon Canada’s NHL licensed products for the family.

From the Small Spaces March issue of Style at Home:

Paolo Regular sofabed in Avant Garde Rosen sofa fabric,
Nubia piping fabric and extase toss cushion fabric, from $1498.
Available exclusively at The Chesterfield Shop.

Are you getting a good night’s sleep? Do you worry about company coming and having them sleep on a sub-standard sofabed mattress that you have had lying around your place for years? Or maybe you are giving up your bed for your company- and YOU will be sleeping on an old paper-thin mattress!

Worry no longer.

The Chesterfield Shop is proud to introduce the development of the new gel-infused memory foam mattress, available exclusively to us.

This introduces a whole new level to the sofabed comfort experience. The advanced foam technology quickly responds to individual body weight and temperature. By conforming to every curve of the body for better support and even width distribution, there is less of the “sink in” feeling found in more traditional memory foams. With 100% gel infusion, this foam reduces your sleep surface temperature by an additional 1 to 2 degrees, providing a luxuriously cool sleep in an ultra superior product. Comfortable, cool and refreshing, this gel is made with no CFC’s or fillers and passes the requirement of California Technical Bulletin 117. The gel is made of urethane, so it is infused down to the molecular level- it will never flake or leach out.

Sofabeds are our specialty, since 1948. Ideal for condos, lofts, apartments and homes.

$1198 – 77” Queensize Sofabed- Contemporary & comfortable to sit and sleep!

Come into any of The Chesterfield Shop’s 5 great locations in the GTA, Mississauga, Downtown, Uptown, Scarborough and Newmarket.

In stock for immediate delivery, or choose from leathers, fabrics, microfibres and special order yourself a custom piece to suit your room- and your lifestyle.

The Chesterfield Shop – your leather and fabric superstore- and more!

Hope to see you soon!

The winter solstice is on December 21st, 2012- this is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. And then the days start to get longer…and we love sunlight, especially for the holidays!

It’s the month to buy gifts, entertain friends and family and make soup! Nothing turns fall into winter like a delicious squash soup! (See recipe below).

I know it sounds early to talk about the Spring 2013 colours- but really- who, including me, isn’t already waiting for the leaves to bud again? The Pantone Fashion Colour Report for spring has just come out and there are some lovely new introductions. The chatter is all about “balancing” and “harmony” while allowing for “individuality, self-expression and excitement.” I know this sounds like a lot of “marketing-speak” but in the end, it’s always fun to look ahead and see what our spring fashions are going to look like.

There are lots of greens with names like “Tender Shoots,” “Greyed Jade” and “Emerald” followed by African Violet, Poppy Red, Nectarine and Lemon Zest, in keeping with last season’s vibrant fruit shades. And it finishes off with a lovely nude- like basic Linen paired with a Dusk Blue and a Monaco Blue.

So there’s something for everyone to work with, a lovely combination of earthy tones and subtle hues with jolts of colour to tie it all together. Keep your eyes open for some early clothing sales to find some colour to wake up your dark winter closet.

Spruce up your home by simply changing a wall colour or add a new “throw” or some fresh toss pillows to your sofa. Pick up a sweet new contemporary chaise to watch all your PVR’d TV shows.

But most of all… don’t fall on the ice; eat delicious comfort food, and have a very healthy and HAPPY HOLIDAY – from all of us - to all of you.

Best wishes, The Chesterfield Shop

 

Squash Soup Recipe

1 tbs butter
2 leeks sliced and cut into large pieces
2-3 pears, peeled and diced (ripe Bartlett pears are delicious)
1 clove garlic
1 1/2 pounds butternut squash cored and diced
1/4 tsp thyme
1 tsp rosemary
salt/pepper to taste
4 cups chicken broth (vegetarian broth makes an excellent substitute)
1/2 cup milk (optional, will make it creamier, but not necessary)

In a large pot, melt butter, add leeks and garlic to pot and coat with butter but do not brown.
Add squash and pears and mix well. Cook for 5 minutes over medium heat
Add chicken or vegetarian broth, rosemary and thyme.
Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 50 minutes.
Puree soup, and then stir in milk.
Serve with a few crunchy croutons in the centre, or with a crusty bread. Enjoy!

Article Source: Freshhome.com

Winter is dark, cold, long and, well, expensive at least where heating a home is concerned. The cost of heating oil climbs each winter and electricity is not cheap. Each year people everywhere begin to contemplate the best ways to save money and still keep the house at a comfortable temperature. Thankfully, there are a number of ways to curb heating costs and most are easy to implement. My ten tips will help you to enjoy the season and worry a little less about the expense of heating your home.

Energy Audits

It’s hard to know what changes can be made to help lower your bills, but help is a just a phone call away. The local electric company is happy to assess your needs, family lifestyle and patterns of energy usage. They will go through your home to check for areas to be improved. They will survey your appliances, inspect the home’s structure, and measure your insulation. Once done they will make suggestions and help implement needed changes for more efficient energy consumption. Often times the suggestions will come with rebate incentives that will help reduce your bill.

Air Leaks

Whether you are in a new house or an older one, drafty windows, doors and attics will allow air to sneak out and along with it heat. It is important to seal up any air leaks to keep heat inside. Start by checking the weather stripping around your windows and doors; replace if it appears worn. Next, check for any leaks where hot air can seep out into an unfinished attic space. Cuts made into the drywall to install lighting fixtures and ceiling fans create easy escape routes for air too. Seal the openings using a silicon or latex caulk. By sealing air leaks, you can realize about thirty percent in energy savings.

Thermostat

It is very tempting to set your thermostat for a comfortable seventy-five degrees during the winter months, but it is a sure fire way to boost your energy expenses. The lower the setting the more savings you will realize. The commonly agreed upon lowest comfortable setting is sixty-eight degrees. If you keep it at sixty-eight during the day your savings can be 6.2%, and for every degree above that, costs will go up. For example, a room that is seventy-five degrees can cost fifteen percent more. While sixty-eight may seem chilly, you can always wear a sweater and comfortable socks to stay warm. Setting the thermostat at sixty-two overnight will also save on your energy bill. If you leave for a few days turn the temperature down to fifty-five, it is the lowest setting without the pipes freezing.

Proper Insulation

Insulation is perhaps the most important feature to keeping a home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. To save money make sure you have the proper level of insulation in both the attic and between the inside walls. Insulation has an R-value measured by the amount of heat allowed to pass through it. The higher the value the less likely heat will escape, resulting in lower energy bills. Heat rises and easily escapes through an attic if not properly insulated. Heat losses can add close to thirty percent to your energy bill too.

Fireplace

Fireplaces are excellent sources of heat and can warm a room in a matter of minutes. Snuggling with a cup of hot cocoa and a good book in front of a fire is a relaxing way to spend a cold winter evening too. Fireplaces do have their drawbacks though. Similar to air leaks in drywall and unfinished attic spaces, a fireplace damper left open when not in use is a welcomed invitation for heated air to escape and cold air to funnel into your home. After every use close the damper and more importantly, open it before you decide to enjoy a cozy fire or your home will fill with smoke.

Air Vents or Radiators

Air vents and radiators can be eyesores in a room; designed to be functional not pretty. In an effort to be pretty, furniture or window treatments often hide the air vents. Pretty screens can cover the radiators to hide the unsightly monsters also, but these methods only serve to obstruct the airflow, making the furnace work much harder. It is best to accept that they are rather ugly and keep the airflow moving freely throughout the space. One trick that will help to hide these while not hindering airflow is to paint them the same color as the wall or the flooring so they fade into the background.

Ceiling Fans

High ceilings are wonderful features in a room, but can increase your heating bills as warm air rises, trapping it close to the ceiling. If you have a ceiling fan, change the direction of the blades. Instead of it circulating to cool the hot air set it to push the air downward along the walls by reversing the flow of the fan. Circulating the air back through the room will heat the room more evenly and ease the effort your heater needs to keep the room at a comfortable temperature.

Window Treatments

Window treatments are beautiful features in a cozy living room or romantic bedroom, but they can serve a great purpose besides adding color to a space. Full drapes made of a wool cotton blend, when open will let a natural source of heat, the sun, into the room and warm it up. In the evening as the sun goes down and temperatures dip, closed curtains help to insulate a room from the cold air seeping through the windows. Line the window treatments and you will provide more insulation and another layer to keep out the chill in the evening.

Space Heaters

It may seem like a great idea to turn on a space heater for a little extra warmth in a small space, but they pose several threats. First, they are expensive to run regardless of the type. Electrical ones just run up your bill and kerosene can be costly. Secondly, they are dangerous. All it would take is for someone to knock it over starting a fire and causing personal injury too. The perceived savings is not worth the risk of burning down the house.

Area Rugs

Area rugs often used as a design element in a room, add color and style while unifying a space. During the cold winter months, they serve an important function too. Rugs add another layer of insulation to the floor, trapping the cool air underneath and keep it from seeping up and cooling the room. The warmth of the rug will keep your feet toasty too.

The best way to hold your heating costs down is heat your home efficiently while keeping the cold out. A little more insulation in the attic, heavy window treatments or an extra layer on the floor will help to keep a room warm. Keep hot air flowing, moderate the temperature and before long savings will be realized. Then take the savings and venture somewhere warm or invest in something special. Either option is a better than paying high heating costs. What would do with the money you save?

From September 2012 Flare Magazine:

Fashion Trending: Ryan Korban is the designer’s designer. From overseeing the look of Alexander Wang’s stores and residence to the abodes of supermodels Jessica Stam and Natasha Poly, Ryan Korban is the go-to interior designer of New York’s fashion crowd. This décor whiz is only 28 and is said to be very unpretentious (don’t we love that?!) His feelings on House Proud: “Your mattress might be on the floor, but a gorgeous set of linens adds opulence. Splurge on home accessories the same way you would on shoes or a handbag.” Top Tip: The perfect shade of grey paint can make an apartment feel much chicer. My favourites are Pavilion Gray and Cornforth White by Farrow & Ball.”

We’ll definitely put Ryan on our radar.

Ryan Korban
Photographer: Richard Perry
Source: The New York Times

September is a time of change. The “dog days” of August are over and we anticipate the Canadian “Indian summer” that hopefully lies ahead – shorter days, but deliciously warm and sunny. With our climate, it’s best to stave off winter as long as possible!

It’s back to school, the start of new jobs and new beginnings… time does not stand still.

And The Chesterfield Shop does not stand still! Gorgeous merchandise is pouring in from last April’s Highpoint Spring Market, and the fresh new styles and colours match and mirror the colour palettes of your favourite clothing retailer! Leafy greens, navy blues, metallic sheens and winter whites all figure prominently in leathers and fabrics. Carpets, tables and wall art personalize your individual space.

Sofabeds are hot for the month of September! With so many new leases being signed all over the city and space at a premium, there’s nothing like an amazing sofabed that’s both comfortable to lounge on – and incredible to sleep on. Thin mattresses and pokey metal frames of yesteryear are gone, replaced by sumptuous mattresses and frames without bars and springs. Hello comfort! A sleeper’s dream comes true!

The Chesterfield Shop has Canada’s largest selection of sofabed styles and price points to choose from! In leather or fabric, they come as sofas, loveseats, sectionals and chair-beds to fit your individual space and hundreds are in stock for immediate delivery.

This month we are featuring American Leather Sofabeds – all with an extra 5% discount off of our already guaranteed lowest prices. American Leather Sofabeds come in 13 styles and 6 sizes, with high resiliency foam mattress, no bars, no springs and a huge selection of fabric and leather covers.

The Chesterfield Shop has five great locations to serve you in Toronto’s GTA and beyond!

And with our Mississauga store moving soon (only a couple of blocks down the road), we are featuring a SHOPWIDE MOVING SALE for the entire month of September!

Come into any of our stores for full details, we are looking forward to seeing you!