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. : . I : I t «I 8 The Canadian .Statesman. Bowmanvillc. September 21. 1988 Section Two When shopping for upholsteredfurniture, wise buying saves both time and money Buying a wood stove today: Heat5 good looks combined Buying upholstered furniture requires an understanding of how sofas, loveseats and chairs are made. Once you get an idea of how the fabric meets the frame and what goes between, you will be in a better position to discern value in meeting your needs. The attraction of upholstered goods is frame and fabric. Sleek contemporary or romantically traditional, the style is only as good as the wood frame. Better quality frames are made of seasoned. seasoned. kiln-dried hardwood that is connected connected firmly with screws, glues and dowels. For added strength, all frames are reinforced reinforced with corner blocks, which must be screwed, glued and doweled, in order for you to get your money's worth. Ask the furniture salesperson to show you the underside of the piece, if possible. possible. The foundation will be covered but the legs will be exposed enough to evaluate evaluate quality. On chairs, inspect as much as possible on the joining of the legs to the frame, usually a good indication of quality. Simple Simple screwed-on legs could be a sign that you will want to consider a more securely fastened chair. Be sure to sit in as many varieties of sofas and chairs as possible, paying close attention to the feel. For instance, on sofa arms can you feel the wood frame under the padding? If so. /ou might want to consider a better model. On sofas, sit on both sides and the middle. You will be testing the springing. One test is to remove the side arm pillow or bolster and sit deep into the corner. Better quality sofas will place springs Hush to the arms. The springing will tell you a lot about the quality of the sofa or chair. Ask questions about the quantity of springs, how they are fastened to the frame and how they are tied together. Better quality sofas have more springs, and they are hand-tied together eight ways, to assure comfort. Due to style, some contemporary sofas are unable to provide eight-way. hand- tied springing. Good quality chairs and sofas have tightly woven bands of webbing beneath the springs. Look closely, at tailoring, usually a good clue to quality. Stitching is better than stapling fabric to frame. The cushioning can be synthetic, but it must be dense enough to provide comfort. comfort. When you are sitting on the sofa, see how much the corner of the cushions "kick up." Better cushions will kick up slightly to compensate for the weight of the person. Another clue to quality is strip decking. decking. When the corners kick up. you should be able to see the same fabric in the gap on better goods. Much of what you are unable to see on upholstered goods determines the price. But so does what you can see. especially the cover. Most sofas and chairs are priced according according to the grade of fabric. And a choice of grades is usually available. With this in mind, a good suggestion is to learn about the various fabrics, with an eye especially to durability. Tightly woven fabrics usually resist soil better than loosely woven fabrics. Know what kind of use to expect. Cost and quality also are determined by the application of the fabric. See if it is straight. With patterned fabric, the job of matching the cushions is more time- consuming and requires more material. But the end appearance is usually worth it. ELMERS FURNITURE 253 Bloor St. E., Oshawa Established Since 1963 5 piece CHROME SET $149. 00 c 3 piece LOVESEAT, *)> SOFA and CHAIR a,$695. 00 DRESSERS AND CHESTS SPECIALLY PRICED c BUNK BEDS $299. 00 . and up Mattress included 39" MATTRESS AND BOXSPRING Start at and up $ 150. 00 FREE VINYL HEADBOARD WITH EVERY SINGLE (39") BED Quality for less! VISA FREE DELIVERY 728-3473 PERSONAL SERVICE AMPLE PARKING A crackling fire generally is recognized recognized as one of life's most enduring pleasures. pleasures. Just as appealing (if not even more so) in today's complex world as in centuries centuries past, the soothing warmth of fire is an important source of comfort to body and soul. And, today, wood stoves provide the pleasure of lire viewing, as well as heat, making the enjoyment and ease of owning owning one even greater. Unlike the austere "black box" design of the majority of wood stoves of decades ago, today's wood stoves are available in many different shapes, sizes, styles, colors colors and finishes to complement--and add to--any interior decor. No longer are wood stoves just considered considered "appliances" for healing the home, to be tucked away into a basement or some unobtrusive corner. Today, many of them have proven themselves to be worthy worthy of the "position" and status of fine pieces of furniture. Many stoves offer the added benefit of being as cleaner-burning and energy-efficient as they are beautiful. beautiful. Choosing the right slow With the new selection in wood stoves, many people would enjoy owning a stove as a supplemental source of heat for the entire house as well as for the pleasure of lire viewing--versus the traditional masonry fireplace which is heat-losing. According to Peter Comart, director of Team Fireside, Vermont Castings' consumer service resource, choosing the right wood stove for your home--just like choosing the right furnishings and appliances--is critical. "Choosing a stove that is correctly matched to your heating--as well as decorating--needs decorating--needs is vital to the successful use and enjoyment of the stove," said Comart. "A stove that is too small may fall short of your healing expectations, while one that is too large actually may result in uncomfortably warm room temperatures temperatures and inefficient heat supply." Comart advises that you consider the following key factors before buying a wood stove: • As a rule, it is better to select a slightly undersized stove and burn it hotter hotter than to select the largest size available available and burn it at low temperatures. "Bigger is better" may be a good guideline guideline when buying a snowblower--but it doesn't pertain to stoves. • Stoves often are rated by the amount of cuh'c feet they can be expected to heal. Closely match the size of the area to be be heated to the stove rating. • Climate is important. Consider how many "heating degree days" your area experiences. Residents in northern states generally require greater heating capacity capacity than do their southern counterparts. • Is your house energy-efficient? Age, tightness, amount of insulation and similar similar factors affecting your home's energy efficiency should be considered. An older, draftier home in Virginia actually may require a larger stove than a newly built, well-insulated home of the same size in Minnesota. • How will the stove be used? Many stove owners prefer to use a stove as a primary source of heal--to supply 50 to 75 percent of total heating needs. Others prefer using a stove as a supplementary source of heal, or to provide heal for a part of the home that a main system cannot cannot reach effectively. The choice of a stove to he used mostly for recreational lire viewing can be made more on the basis of aesthetic preference than on size. • Consider the wood stove dealer and the manufacturer. Buy a wood stove from someone with whom you feel comfortable--someone comfortable--someone you can rely on for service service and to answer any questions that may arise. ELMIRA MAKES YOUR WINTERS WARMER IN EVERY WAY! 34 Models to match your heating and decorating needs. THE | Fireplace Plus' 900 Hopkins St. at Burns Whitby 668-3192 6UMNSST c ^ »S I 1 vr" y Window and Door Products (Oshawa) Ltd. Est. 1961 SUPREME AÜTmmum «nuiniWUHummJ Siding Fascia Awnings Repairs and Service Railings Doors Soffit Eaves 4" x 5" Seamless (All colors available) Replacement Windows Aluminum Windows Vinyl Windows Tilts Casements Double Hung Swing Sliders r.' v/-S'» it A & tVM. i r>4 Cash and Carry • Prompt Service • Installation • Free Estimates Showroom open Weekdays 8--6; Saturdays 9--1 894 Simcoe Street North (at Switzer Dr.) Oshawa 723-9843 NEWCASTLE RENTAL 987-1039 Every Saturday is Discount Day 10% OFF All Rentals pi , VSw Mji <t'H. if .... v. r i ( U, " the Snow Flies 123 King St. W., Newcastle /. If You're Planning A ► New Home ► Room Addition ► Reconstruction » Repairs » Energy Saving Improvements or 1 Remodelling Think Of Us For All Your Building Needs Fora Free Estimate Call: Orono Fuel & Lumber Orono 983-9167 PRE-WINTER WARM 6\> S RATED CANADA'S No. 1 ENERGY EFFICIENT WOODBURNING STOVE JIERITAGEà THE STOVE DEN • Self-contained • No plumbing • All you need is an outlet • Guaranteed 6 years • Canadian made • Portable spa • Use indoors or outdoors • Fully pre-plumbed • Size 80" x 80" x 26" • Temperature control • Deluxe filter • Heavy duty pump • 6-Year guarantee on spa shell • Extra durable heater Not exactly as illustrated Royal Spas are Canadian made. SUPER SPECIAL FREE SKIRT Everything complete for: $ 2895. 95 THE SPA STUDIO Both a division of Taunton Pools 133 Taunton Rd. W., Oshawa 571-0189