For someone known for personally designing using handmade means, John Derian uses only a handful of people to unleash the oversized and dramatic designed sofas that are suitable for dividing a large space. Based on 17th century classic pieces, the sofas which range between $1,950 to $5,100 are certainly a costly but worthy investment for people who want a trendy and classy home that has limitations of space to boot.

The first collection from Derian includes the Cove sofa, the Geranium sofa, the Dromedary loveseat, the Fritillaria chair and the Field bench. The styling is based on 17th century French pieces and mid-century designs. Retail prices range from $1,950 to $5,100.

The line will be offered in upholstered or slipcovered, except for the tufted bench, which only comes upholstered. Only two colors - oyster, a soft white, and flax, an ecru - are offered in a linen made by a Belgian company that has been making linen since the 1850s.

(Source) Furniture Today bench, century designs, Couch, flax, furniture, handful, john derian, linen, oyster, sofa, Sofa Bed, sofas, sofas and futons bench, century designs, Couch, flax, furniture, handful, john derian, linen, oyster, sofa, Sofa Bed, sofas, sofas and futons

At times, we find ourselves content with the standard furniture but may eventually look dull. While it does serve its purpose initially, as creative artists for home designs in our own right, we have an idea or two we are sure to have in our heads to which we cannot readily do mainly because we find it something not needed today.

But we can make a difference if we try. All it needs is one task and the rest will follow. For sure one of them is turning to possible reupholstering or having slipcovers that can brighten up an old couch or chair.

Consider this approach. It may be the secret to spicing up certain areas of your home or not the home as a whole:

Consider the suitability of fabric weight (thickness), weave and texture for the intended use.

A fabric with texture, versus a smooth finish, is less likely to show dirt, wear, and spots.

Durability: including an understanding of the natural life of some fibers is key.

Ease of cleaning and overall resistance to wear, dirt, and spotting is another important factor.

(Source) Hamptons.com

Before the Playstations and the X-Boxes there was Pac Man! A game we all obsessed about (are we really that old?) and played for hours. Italian company Qayot pays the ultimate tribute to this Cult game by designing a modular seating set that can be arranged in various configurations.

Via Home Tone

The backyard or the pool side if you have one would certainly be something else if you had the right perspective and furnishings to go with them. Apparently, Roberti’s Rattan Furniture should blend in well, providing an elegant look and enticing place where people can relax if they want to stay outdoors.

Rather than look for that place in your home where you can find time to relax, rattan furniture creations are sure to be a good consideration for people who don’t really have to go far from the confides of their home.

(Source) Luxist

Alcove Highback sofa is a little too tall for my comfort. But as they say different strokes for different folks! Ideal for offices and lounge areas, the tall back seeks to provide privacy and the padded side and back panels have a pronounced sound dampening effect.

Via Inewidea

So you have the proper setup for your own home theatre. You have the large screen LCD or Plasma Television and the great sounding home theatre speakers. What is there left? Well for one, have you ever considered where you would be sitting?

Sure there will always be the couch or the standard bed, depending on where you setup your home theatre. But what If you had a suitable recliner made from green descent like the typical Lazy-boy you always envied?

It was inevitable that we’d soon see green home theater furniture. Start with new line of totally green Royal home theater recliners from CDGi (Cinema Design Group International). According to Carey Schafer, vice president of engineering, the wood used in the framing is Baltic birch, there are no formaldehydes, the foam in the cushions contains no CFCs, and leather contains no chromium, which is often used in tanneries.

(Source) Electronic House

A home may not always be complete without the traditional sofa and depending on the design preference, it could be costly. But a good alternative is to perhaps contract good designers and furniture makers to create a copycat image to which you may have to pay less.

There are a lot of upholstery makers and designers out there who can get the job done and among them include the likes of Ameer Radwan who manages Couch, a shop located in Fremont. With more than 200 custom made models in their wing, you are bound to find a sofa that may be familiar but costs less. If not, you can perhaps ask them to make you one based on the couch or sofa that you are aching to have but unfortunately cannot afford.

Radwan is proud to be able to provide eco-friendly couches as well. He tells me that to be considered eco-friendly, a couch must be made with Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood, organic latex instead of standard polyurethane foam, and water-based glues and stains on any exposed wood, as well as sustainable, non-chemically treated fabrics. An eco-friendly sofa from Couch will run you about $2,000, much less than the $5,000 $7,000 his competitors ask.

(Source) NWSource

When we hear biodegradable attached to certain items such as furniture and bed ensembles, the immediate notion is they can waste easily. But depending on how you understand it, there is more towards them that meets the eye. For one, biodegradable does not immediately pertain to the finished product such as sofas or chairs but rather, it may point towards materials used that has a recycled or organic light bulb towards it but not necessarily the entire product concept.

For products like this biodegradable Montauk Sofa, it has that biodegradable tag but as far as raw materials is concerned. But while people are being encouraged to be more environmental friendly, perhaps treating new concepts and designs that have that biodegradable feature should be looked upon a whole lot closely.

“I see a new generation of marketers who are looking at biodegradability as a panacea to solid waste,” said Steve Mojo, executive director of the Biodegradable Products Institute, remembering the “biodegradable” diapers and trash bags of decades past. Mojo continued, “There is no data that I’ve seen to support manufacturers’ claims that any plastics will completely biodegrade under landfill conditions.” Tightly packed, covered and relatively dry, landfills are not exactly designed for biodegradation, he said.

(Source) Projo

The Tub Sofa has been designed by Jens Juul Eilersen and no prices for guessing what the source of inspiration is. The designer wanted to replicate the comfort of a gigantic “sofa bathtub” and wanted it to be as comfortable as a bed.

“My goal was to create a well-being sofa where you can sit as if on a soft bed. And I succeeded! I actually fell asleep the first time I leaned back into the prototype, which was the deepest version,” tells Jens Juul Eilersen. “