Anatomy of a Chair

Kiln drying is a process whereby sap and other moisture is removed from the wood prior to construction. This process reduces the chances that the frame will crack or warp. The moisture content of the wood should be below 7 percent.

2. Is the chair double- or triple-doweled?

Dowels are small pegs that hold upholstery at the joints and are glued in place with white glue. The more dowels, the sturdier the chair.

3. Does it have corner blocks?

Corner blocks add stability. If the piece wobbles (particularly a dining chair) when you shake the corners, chances are that it does not have corner blocks. Look under the dining chair where the legs meet the seat for the blocks.

Upper-end upholstery is usually made with eight-way-hand-tied coils. Eight-way-hand-tied coils look like hourglasses tied in place. This coil system is more labor-intensive than other types.

Eight-way-hand-tying amortizes well; it costs more upfront but lasts longer, therefore being cheaper in the long run.

Fabric wears better on eight-way hand-tied pieces and the ride (how it feels when you sit on the piece) is more luxurious. An eight-way-hand-tied piece of furniture can be restrung by a good upholsterer and should last 10 to 13 years before sagging is noticeable.

5. What is a zigzag coil system?

There are coil systems available other than eight-way-hand-tied; one is the zigzag. Think of the inside of your car seat when thinking of zigzag. Many contemporary pieces can use only zigzag as the eight-way-hand-tied will not fit in the lower profile frames of contemporary designs. Expect about eight to 10 years of wear.

6. What is industrial webbing?

Industrial webbing construction consists of fabric straps crisscrossed in the bed of the piece. These are generally stapled to the wood frame. Expect eight to 10 years of wear from a chair with industrial webbing.

There are several fill options available for chair seat cushions. The type of cushion core you choose will have an impact on how long the piece lasts, what it looks like and its price. Cushion fill options generally consist of the following:

• down: goose or waterfowl feathers; ultimate comfort, flattens down easily.
  
  
• polyurethane foam: an entirely foam core. A good foam core will have a density of from 1.5 to 1.8.
  
  
• spring down: a combination of feathers, polyurethane foam and spring coils. This is an older form of cushion construction; upholstery today generally does not have springs in the cushions.
  

The particulars of how a piece feels is called the ergonomics of the piece. Upholstery must fit like clothing. Find the upholstery that "fits" the most members of the family, or, if it is for a particular person, be sure that person sits in the piece before you buy.

A piece can look scrumptious in the catalog but be ergonomically unsound, uncomfortable in the seat, shoulders and the small of the back once it’s delivered. Also, take a quick look at the arm height to see if it is comfortable as well.

9. How well is the piece tailored?

To check the tailoring of the piece, answer these questions: Are the welts (strips of fabric that hide seams) straight? Does the skirt at the bottom lay flat? Are the seat cushions attached to the frame with small clips? Are all the wood corners of the piece padded to prevent the wood from poking through the fabric?

10. What back options do I have?

You have several back cushion options. Do you want a semi-attached back (less fluffing, the kids can’t take them off) or loose pillow back (cushions can be reversed in case of disaster)? Ask for the options available and determine which is best for your lifestyle.

Mark McCauley is a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and is author of Color Therapy at Home (Rockport Publishers) and Interior Design for Idiots (Great Quotations Publishing Company). He is senior designer at Darleen's Interiors in Naperville, Ill.