http://blog.stretchandcover.com/index.php Copyright 2010, Stretch & Cover Stretch & Cover en-US SPHPBLOG 0.5.1 http://blog.stretchandcover.com/index.php?entry=entry100125-092815
Stretch and Cover slipcovers have just the right amount of stretch to provide a smooth FIT that will stay in place. We also offer optional seat and back cushions in various sizes to give your furniture a custom look that is closer to upholstered but at a fraction of the cost. Stretch and Cover cushions are made for each cushion of the furniture rather than the more common one-size fits all oversized cushions.

The combination of smooth fit and separate cushions separate us from our competitors. This, ultimately, translates to “fashion for furniture” – a look that is sleek, stylish, and moreover, rivals custom-made at a fraction of the price.

Nonetheless, there are four things you should consider when you’re ready to buy a slipcover – style, size, fabric and color .

On our Build Your Own shopping tool, we’ve narrow this down to a three step process.

Step One: PICK YOUR STYLE

At Stretch and Cover we offer three styles of sofa, loveseat and armchair covers which are as follows:

1.Full arm depth
A full depth arm accommodates most furniture, has a casual look, and fits most arm sizes. Usually a full-depth arm style has a box seat cushion.

2. Set-back armrest
A set-back armrest has arms that are a few inches away from the body of the furniture. A set-back arm rest usually has a t-shaped seat cushion.

3. Skirt style regular arm
Like the full arm depth, the skirt style regular arm fits most sizes. The skirt style, however, features a center pleated look for a more formal look. Additionally, at Stretch and Cover our skirt style sofa slipcovers work for sleeper sofas.


STEP 2: PICK YOUR SIZE

At Stretch and Cover we offer two sizes of slipcovers for sofas (small and regular), a standard size loveseat slipcover, and two sizes of slipcovers for armchairs (small and regular). While most competitors offer three sizes, our five sizes offer you more custom look variations, more options, and better selections.

All our covers fit furniture up to about 36 inches high in the back. We also allow about 20 inches for the arms in all our items. We do not fit most camel back, sectional or oversized furniture
We recommend measuring your furniture and choosing the size that is closest to about the middle of the range. Remember (with the exception of our leather slipcovers) there is 10-15% stretch to fit even larger sizes.

Hint: More customers complain our covers are too big than too small, so don't be afraid of a tighter fit. For example, we recommend a small sofa for up to about 71" and a regular sofa above that.

For more information on choosing a style and size that works brst for you, we recommend you consult our size and style chart.


STEP 3: CHOOSE YOUR FABRIC AND COLOR

Stretch and Cover's design and quality control team uses the most popular fabrics and patterns from the upholstery market. Our fabrics are treated to resist stains and are machine washable, which means they are child, pet, and spouse friendly. When decorating your space, ask yourself what kind of texture works with the feel and sense of comfort you are looking to achieve
• Our heavy-weight washable stretch soft canvas (twill) fabric available in seven colors (burgundy, denim, latte, spring green, white, linen leaves, birch), is a casual fabric designed to be used in virtually any setting.
• Our washable heavy weight micro suede fabric (camel, burgundy and, chocolate), offers a durable suede type look and feel for both formal and casual settings.
• Our chenille fabric, available in three colors (ivory, tan and cordovan) offers a very soft, comfortable fabric with an eye-catching traditional design.
• We offer an elegant diamond jacquard pattern in five colors (latte, ivory, olive, burgundy, and denim).
• We also offer a variety of prints and special fabrics (some of which are in our clearance section ) for a more designer and special look.

For more detailed information on purchasing a slipcover, we recommend that you refer to our buying guide.
]]> http://blog.stretchandcover.com/index.php?entry=entry100125-092815 Stretch & Cover Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:28:15 GMT http://blog.stretchandcover.com/comments.php?y=10&m=01&entry=entry100125-092815 http://blog.stretchandcover.com/index.php?entry=entry100105-123825
First, you have the going green aspect. You’re giving new life to your furniture and not throwing it out. Reuse, recycle – that’s environmentally conscious isn’t it? Second, you’ve got the frugal and thrifty thing going on. After the recession of the past few years, most of us have reexamined our spending habits and aren’t throwing money away. Repeat after me - slipcovers are a fiscally responsible and fashionable choice. Why buy new furniture just because you’re bored with your old stuff? At Stretch and Cover we’ve introduced advancements in textile technologies and have a better fit, so slipcovers really are fashion for your furniture at an affordable price. Once again, repeat after me – slipcovers are an environmentally friendly and fiscally responsible choice. And third, it resonates house and home. And home is where the heart is.

But wait there’s more. We’re bringing in a new decade so why not a new approach to how we think of poor underrated slipcovers. They’ve changed a lot since grandma put plastic over the couch and your butt would stick to the plastic and make all sorts of squeaky noises. The poor underrated sofa cover even changed from mere few years ago when ready made slipcovers either looked like bed sheets draped over your couch. They’ve even moved beyond those stretchy ones made that pretty much looked and felt like panty hose. (Yeah, we know they’re still on the market – t’sk, t’sk. But new technologies have brought about changes in textiles, fabrics and fit.) And here at Stretch and Cover , we also offer seat and back cushion covers to give your furniture a whole new look and feel. So, out with the old (well actually let’s just recycle) room décor and in with the new. It’s simple, it’s easy, it’s responsible.

There you have it. 2010 – The Year of the Slipcover. The responsible way to change your home. It gets my vote.
]]> http://blog.stretchandcover.com/index.php?entry=entry100105-123825 Stretch & Cover Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:38:25 GMT http://blog.stretchandcover.com/comments.php?y=10&m=01&entry=entry100105-123825 http://blog.stretchandcover.com/index.php?entry=entry091218-093141
So what does this have to do with slipcovers and home decorating? Truth be told, not a whole lot, at least not directly. In my humble, yet sometimes jaded opinion, the spirit of the holiday season no matter what religion you worship is about graciousness, appreciation, community and for those of us who are fortunate, family, loved ones and friends. That’s what ties this together. Because for many of us that is brought about through our homes, through entertaining, through creating and sharing traditions and happy memories with those we care about and those in our communities. So, here goes…

When we were thinking about photography when we bought the company several months ago, we thought about a variety of styles and room scenes which could encompass a variety of styles and tastes. We wanted to make it easy and fun for people to redecorate given their existing furniture – we thought of the product as fashion for furniture. We thought about our values and what we values we wanted to impart to modify the business. Service bar none. Better product, better fitting product. Something that would allow people to express their own tastes and styles without having to spend a small mint. Whether it is contemporary, classic, traditional, romantic, or eclectic – it doesn’t really matter. With a foundation of basics and personal touches you create your own look and experiences to last a lifetime. It’s about the feelings you want to foster, making your home an expression of you and who you aspire to be. Feeling welcome, warm, spirited – whatever mood grabs you. That’s what the holiday season and slipcovers have in common…

We recently launched Twitter and Facebook pages to foster in a sense of community. So please follow us, become a fan, or make suggestions. Post pictures of your home, add a comment, tip, suggestion or start a discussion or two. Or even tell us your wildest slipcover fantasy… I’m already thinking about New Year – out with the old, in with the new.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous holiday season filled with peace and love.


]]> http://blog.stretchandcover.com/index.php?entry=entry091218-093141 Stretch & Cover Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:31:41 GMT http://blog.stretchandcover.com/comments.php?y=09&m=12&entry=entry091218-093141 http://blog.stretchandcover.com/index.php?entry=entry091130-094216
• The most exciting result is that we introduced better and more expensive leather and heavy suede slipcovers and they are among our best sellers. Home decorators want better slipcovers that fit.

• Similarly, our new lifestyle photography which was developed to help customers decorate has produced excellent sales gains when we show the pictures in our contemporary, casual and traditional lifestyles.

• Our new product additions have also done very well. In particular our back cushion cover which enables our customers to have a total custom upholstery look has increased sales.

• The most surprising result has been the disappointments in this tough economy. Lowering the price of off-colors, running clearance sales on old patterns and lowering the price of dining room chairs were all disappointing.

The message is very clear and not being fully understood by some retailers and suppliers. While times are tough, consumers want and respond to innovation, quality and value more than just price. In particular providing great innovative products like our faux leather which looks like the real thing is more important than cheapening products. In other words, value has many components besides simply price.

]]> http://blog.stretchandcover.com/index.php?entry=entry091130-094216 Stretch & Cover Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:42:16 GMT http://blog.stretchandcover.com/comments.php?y=09&m=11&entry=entry091130-094216 http://blog.stretchandcover.com/index.php?entry=entry091117-143600
This year I am planning on entertaining at home and preparation is the name of the game. With friends and their kids or even with someone who had one drink too many, I’m banking on someone spilling something on the furniture. It’s just par for the course (especially when you have any kids under age eight in the room – although the worse are the overgrown and over-enthusiastic men over 35). So this year I am ready to defy convention and slipcover my way through Thanksgiving.

Parsons chairs are on my list. Tight fitting short covers, here I come. I’m even thinking of throwing caution to the wind and am going for white (I have more modern/contemporary furniture with lots of pop art in the room). I have my laundry detergent at hand, so why not? I have to go do the laundry at some point. Or should I go more festive with a nice cordovan or chocolate dining chair cover? Mmmm chocolate, reminds me I have to figure out what dessert to serve. That can wait.

Okay, now that my dining room is covered (excuse the pun) I still have to think about my living room. I want a new look anyway and I need something that is durable and easy to manage. Leather slipcovers with some new cushion covers it is. Great for the guys who are going to destroy my house while watching college football. Black or brown leather slipcovers? Black goes with everything and works for me – black it is and it goes with the rest of my furniture. So all I really have to do is spritz and wipe clean. And although I have to do laundry at some point, the less I do the happier I am. So to my rambunctious, football loving guests – beware, I’m ready for you. I’ve got it covered, my sofa that is and no one will know the difference.

Yes, I feel better – sleek, sexy slipcovers from Stretch and Cover can save Thanksgiving. That’s what I have to be thankful for.


]]> http://blog.stretchandcover.com/index.php?entry=entry091117-143600 Stretch & Cover Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:36:00 GMT http://blog.stretchandcover.com/comments.php?y=09&m=11&entry=entry091117-143600 http://blog.stretchandcover.com/index.php?entry=entry091008-125639 When decorating your space, ask yourself what kind of look and feel you’re ultimately going after. What this translates into is texture, fabric, and color.

Decorating with Texture

What kind of texture works with the feel and sense of comfort you are looking to achieve? With so many choices on the market, you can find slipcovers in colorful washable cotton, durable denim or faux suede, elegant velvet, snuggly chenille, faux leather, jacquard and many more.

Stretch twill fabric is a casual fabric designed to be used in virtually any setting. It is probably the most popular slipcover fabric and can be used to coordinate with virtually any decorating style or color scheme. You can even match the covers with different seat cushion colors for an even more stylish and original look.

Micro suede fabric is gaining fast in popularity, is durable and works in both formal and casual settings. These look best in browns, tans, and stone colors. And if you like the texture and durability of micro suede and want to bring in a bit of color, burgundy may be a good choice for you.

Chenille fabric, offers a very soft, comfortable fabric with an eye-catching traditional design. And if you’re looking for texture that provides a simple elegance that works with almost any décor, you can’t go wrong with a diamond jacquard pattern. Depending on the color, it provides a contemporary look (ivory) or a traditional look (latte).


Decorating with Color

Neutral or basic colors to provide you with a level of easy sophistication. You can accessorize to provide your own distinctive touch – express your personality through accessories for your own personal spin.

Think about how you like to feel in your home and what you presently have. Want to stimulate the senses? Go with bright primary colors in red, blue, or sunny yellows. Contribute to a particular style of décor such as Southwestern, Country, Traditional, Shabby Chic, or Victorian with appropriate slipcover fabrications and design patterns. Or there’s always white paired with black and red for a contemporary look or pair white with navy for a nautical look.

]]> http://blog.stretchandcover.com/index.php?entry=entry091008-125639 Stretch & Cover Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:56:39 GMT http://blog.stretchandcover.com/comments.php?y=09&m=10&entry=entry091008-125639