1. A quick vocabulary check. Upholstery: any frames covered with fabric, leather or wicker. Sofas, chairs, love seats, chaises, ottomans, benches, beds, cushions.

2. Wanted: caring, one-on-one relationship. Every single one of our upholstered pieces is benchmade start to finish by craftsmen, not an assembly line. Every arm, seam and tack.

3. Study the construction. You can be framed by a chair without even knowing it. At Crate and Barrel, our frames are constructed from kiln-dried hardwood. We insist on this for two reasons. One, only hardwood has the durability and weight necessary for long-term satisfaction with your purchase. And two, kiln drying reduces undesirable movement and eliminates warping. Key joints are also doubly reinforced for rigidity and long-term stability.

4. Don’t judge a piece by its cover. Look under (and in) the cushions. Of course we all want the piece that catches our eye. But get in between the seams and examine the construction details. Check out the spring systems. Different suspensions are used depending on the style, size, and function of the piece. Get hands-on knowledge about the padding and cushion fill. At Crate and Barrel, we use a variety of fills. From all-down to down blends to high-density foam. We incorporate layers of padding on the frame to add desired shape, required comfort, and to minimize fabric wear and tear.

5. OK. You’ve decided you can’t live without “Frame A”. There are three ways to order your upholstered piece.

Stock: “Frame A” is available and in stock for quick delivery in the fabric color shown on display. Stock colors offer the quickest delivery time and our best value.

Stock Plus: Order “Frame A” in your choice of pre-selected colors, for the same price as Stock. Delivery will take a little longer, but you enjoy the value advantage of Stock pricing.

Custom: Choose from hundreds of fabrics to cover “Frame A” at one of our Furniture Collection stores near you. Tweeds, stripes, florals, linens, leather. You can even bring your own fabric (Customer’s Own Material, COM). Because these options are special orders, there are usually additional costs incurred, as well as additional production time.

6. What if you like “Frame A” but need it in a different size? Stock Plus Frames are now available in many of our upholstery collections. These special-order pieces, in a choice of pre-selected colors, offer different frames and sizes to accommodate your room’s specific needs. We are pleased to offer these special order frames with the benefit of Stock Plus pricing. Please allow extra production time.

7. Have you hugged your sofa today? Our furniture is made for living. With minimal but regular TLC (see Care), your upholstered pieces should be right at home for many years to come. So kick back, have a seat, and enjoy.