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This article about Sofa Outlet™ appeared in
Today's Home Magazine
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ARE YOU SITTING
COMFORTABLY? If the springs in your couch's cushions have sprung, or
the fabric on your chair is more unintentional retro than modern
throwback, perhaps it's time for a new sofa--one that not only provides
you with a relaxing place to watch television, read or talk with
family, but also adds a touch of design flair to your favorite room.
The Sofa Outlet in San Mateo specializes in custom sofas and offers
more than 450 different styles in 700 fabric choices. Established 10
years ago by Mary Seaton, the Sofa Outlet also works with clients to
replicate designs similar to those found at popular retail stores such
as Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel. All sofas canbe made in specific
sizes and lengths, with options including arm style and cushion
construction.
"Popular designs this year tend to lean toward clean lines andmore of a
contemporary look," says Mary. "And the new microdenenier fabrics are
in great demand. They are polyester but feel very soft and luxurious.
Most important, they are stain resistant and very durable.
Mary's knowledge of current trends allows her to provide superior
product advice. Her background in architecture and construction also
lends itself well to the task of furniture design. "I've worked with
houses from the foundation up," she says. "and it helps me to visualize
a space and see how furniture futs in it." Whether a customer comes in
with a specific style in mind or is in need of artistic direction, Mary
is able to help pinpoint the right look and fabric based on the
client's home, and incorporate the homeowner's color preference and his
or her comfort requirements. "My favorite part of the job is to come up
eith the right peice for the customer. It's always satisfying to see
how the perfect sofa can pull a room together."
Customer satisfaction is a direct result of the care that goes
into making each product. After Mary comes up with the custom design,
experienced craftsmen hand-assemble the sofa at the outlet's factory in
Southern California. They use only the finest kiln-dried hardwoods
and contruct the frame to ensure structural integrity and long
lifespan. The company offers a range of seating options from soft to
firm, and uses superior qaulity padding to upholster each piece with
great care. Every section is padded individually to offer the correct
level of support. All of the softas are even available with queen or
full-size sleepers, and love seats can accomodate a twin sleeper.
Sleepers come with either a foam, spring, or pillow-top matress. Each
frame is upholstered with attention to detail and slip covering is
available on most frames. All frames are covered by a lifetime warranty.
Typical turnaround time on a custom order is two or three weeks, a much
shorter wait compared with that of furniture ordered from a retail
store --and the Sofa Outlet offers wholesale prices to customers. The
company has been featured on KPIX Channel 5 Consumer Reports, Eye on
the Bay, and in The Wave Magazine as one of the Bay Area's best
bargains for furniture and "as many as 50 percent of our customers come
through referral and repeat business," says Mary.
In addition to its sofa, loveseat, and chair options, the Sofa Outlet
carries occasional tables, entertainment centers, armoires, and bedroom
and dining room sets. With the help of Mary and the experienced design
staff, as well as the outlet's broad selection of products, clients may
just find they not only need to replace that outdated couch but are
inspired to add a new piece of furniture to just about any room in the
house.
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| Originally published in Today's Home magazine September/October 2006 issue. Reprinted with permission. |
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