Differentiating High-Quality Furniture Construction from Substandard Workmanship

Features and Tips to Help Assure That You Are Buying Quality Furniture

Many consumers can likely recount an experience when they purchased an item for a rather large sum of money and were ultimately disappointed to learn that its quality simply did not live up to their expectations. Based on such factors as marketing, outward appearance of the item, and even assurances or statistics offered by a salesperson, there was undoubtedly the anticipation of long-lasting performance and high return on investment; when this did not materialize, it left them dissatisfied, angry, disillusioned, or any combination thereof.

While the above scenario could apply to most major purchases, it can be most disconcerting when it occurs with items that people rely on every day, such as their vehicles, appliances, electronics – and the furniture throughout the rooms of their home. High quality furniture affords homeowners a number of benefits, including:

• Comfort

• Durability

• Functionality

• Aesthetic Appeal

However, when such quality is absent, the furniture can lose its charm rather quickly, not to mention its convenience and practicality, to a point where Toronto homeowners become so unhappy that their only recourse is to replace it altogether – well before they ever intended.

Therefore, to aid homeowners with the furniture buying process, the experts at Carrocel fine furniture offer the following tips and suggestions, specifically to help differentiate top quality furniture construction from inferior workmanship:

• Wood Frame and Construction
  • Look for a hard wood (oak, cherry, mahogany) not any hardwood (a class of tree)
  • If plywood, it should be at least nine layers thick, with a minimum number of knots
  • Veneer (thin layer of premium wood) is okay if base piece is solid wood or plywood
  • Pieces of good quality furniture will not wobble under pressure on any of the corners
  • Similarly, these pieces will not twist or creak upon lifting any of their sides or corners
• Drawers and Cabinets
  • Joints are best if doweled, dovetailed, or screwed; with reinforcing blocks in corners
  • Doors and drawers should move smoothly and sit flush to cabinet face when closed
  • Drawers should glide on metal rails not wood and have stops installed to limit travel
  • Drawer bottoms that float in a groove are preferred to those that are fixed in place
  • Dust panels (thin sheets of wood) between drawers add to piece’s structural strength
• Upholstery and Cushions
  • Press down on a sofa deck’s (under the cushions) to test spring spacing and strength
  • Foam cushion blocks should be wrapped not bare; with density rating of 1.8+ pounds
  • Should not be able to feel frame when squeezing padding in sofa or chair arms/backs
  • Patterns in the fabric should be well-aligned; skirts should have lining or be weighted
• Red Flags – What to Avoid
  • Pressboard, particleboard, or fibreboard construction
  • Soft woods that are easily scratched, marred, or dented
  • Perfectly symmetrical pieces of wood; likely machine-made
  • Joints that are held together with staples, nails, or visible glue
  • Wood-on-wood sliding drawers; can lead to sticking or warping
  • Very glossy or cloudy finishes that hide/mask the grain of the wood

Buying furniture, just like buying a home or a vehicle, should be considered an investment, one that is intended to deliver long-term returns in terms of comfort and performance. In this light, while top quality furniture will likely have a higher upfront cost, it will in fact prove more cost effective over time than inferior pieces that are purchased solely on the basis of a lower price tag.

Taking the time to examine the construction and composition of any new pieces or suites to ensure that they meet the standards of quality outlined above will be a very important step in making a wise furniture purchase – and investment.

A Striking Selection of Quality Pieces at One of Toronto’s Leading Furniture Stores

Toronto residents looking for the best quality furniture for their home might want to visit the Carrocel fine furniture showroom, centrally located at 245 Bridgeland Avenue near Yorkdale Mall. This showroom offers a striking selection of high-quality furniture to suit the tastes of discriminating Toronto homeowners, displayed over 20,000 square feet of floor space; here, shoppers can obtain a first-hand appreciation and understanding of the characteristics that help to distinguish superior quality and workmanship.

Examples of the exquisite furniture currently on display in the Carrocel showroom include:

Desk Type Drawers:

• Black Glass Nightstand on Copper Legs
• Modern Brass and Parchment Writing Desk
• Carrocel Custom Slim Oak Double Drawer Console
• Black Glass and Copper Three Drawer Console

Drawer Vanities:

• Black Art Deco Vanity with Mirror
• Art Deco Vanity with Black Marble Top

Standing Drawers:

• Walnut Kittenger Chest of Drawers
• Pair of American of Martinsville Chests
• Custom Grey and White Eight Drawer Antique Mirrored Commode

For a more comprehensive look at the extensive inventory of quality furniture in Carrocel’s showroom, please go to our Product Catalogue page.

Want to be sure that you are getting the best quality furniture for your home and personal needs? Call the experts at Carrocel, one of the leading quality furniture stores in Toronto, at 416-999-2525 today or Contact us for professional advice and guidance. You can also visit our 20,000 square-foot onsite showroom near Yorkdale Mall, where our representatives will be pleased to share their experience plus insightful tips on buying high-end furniture.