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Furniture Essentials

WILLIAMS-SONOMA, INC.

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Furniture Essentials

Furniture Essentials

Introduction

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Furniture Essentials

“Right from the beginning I wanted our customer to enjoy their visit. I wanted to answer their questions with knowledge and confidence. I wanted to remember their names; I wanted them to be friends as well as customers.” Chuck Williams, founder

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Welcome to Furniture Essentials !

This comprehensive furniture learning experience is a direct result of feedback received from each of you…our field teams!

As our funiture business at Williams-Sonoma, Inc. continues to experience growth, quarter over quarter, it is imperative that each of you are equipped with the knowledge, competence and confidence to speak to our quality and craftsmanship. In an age of internet and social media, our customers are entering each of your stores highly informed about online product knowledge; however, they still desire an in-store product expert that can expand and discuss additional product details - that expert is you! Furniture Essentials will provide the additional product details that you need to build your confidence during those customer experiences. At Williams-Sonoma, Inc., we believe we have the best teams in the industry, and understand that knowledge is power; power that can be translated into memorable and positive customer experiences. Furniture Essentials has been designed as an on-demand learning document, giving you the ability to learn when you’re ready.

Before you embark on your learning adventure, let’s review a few highlights of the flipbook.

• Furniture Essentials can be searched by utilizing the search bar in the upper right corner of the document. Simply enter your “key word(s)” and press enter – the book will automatically flip to all areas of the book that contain your searched word(s).

• You can flip through the pages of Furniture Essentials by utilizing the forward and back buttons at the bottom of each page.

• Printing capabilities have been deactivated, as this document is intended for internal use, and printed versions should not be shared with customers or clients.

Happy Learning!

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Furniture Essentials

Furniture Essentials

Furniture History

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Furniture Essentials

Pennsylvania Dutch 1720-1830

Marked by heavy German influences, the furniture pieces of the Pennsylvania Dutch period were simple and utilitairian, with colorful hand-painted scenes. Furniture from this period features straight lines, simple turnings, and tapered legs. Common furniture sources include walnut, oak and pine.

Sheraton 1780-1820

Early American 1640-1700

The Sheraton Period was the most widely- reproduced style of the early 1800’s. The period was named after the Engligh designer Thomas Sheraton, and relied heavily on veneers and rich upholstery. Carvings were minimal durign this period, however, intricate brass hardware caught the eye. Dovetail joints were a major hallmark of this period.

Ornamental carvings, finials, raised panels and woodturnings were hallmarks of this period. Most joinery was of the mortise and tenon variety. Hardwoods and softwoods utilized were typically pine, cherry, birch, maple, oak and fruit trees, such as apple.

Colonial 1700-1780

American Empire 1800-1840 The American Empire Period took heavy influence from the French, with a greater emphasis on curved arms, cabriole legs and ornate, paw or claw feet. Hallmarks of the American Empire Period included supporting columns on the corners of dressers and glass in place of raised panels.

Heavily influenced by pieces from England, however, American pieces during the Colonial period tended to be far less ornamental and more conservative. The dovetail joint began to make an appearacnce along witht the carryover mortise and tennon joinery from the Early American period. Typical finishes of the Colonial period were often oil varnish, paint or wax over a stain. Predominant wood sources utilized during the period were mahogany, elm and walnut.

Federal 1780-1820

The Federal period introduced a variety of ornamental stylings such as fluting, wooden inlays, and banding with contrasting veneers as decorative borders. The pieces of the Federal period exhibited a graceful elegance with heavy French and English influence. harwrdware was commonly brass in a variety of shapes found in nature.

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Mission 1880-1920

The Mission Period symbolized another minimalist period in furniture design. Upholstery items during the Mission Period typically featured leather, most likely due to practicality rather than design aesthetic. Common furniture finishes included lacquer, shellac and wax.

Traditional Revival 1920-1950 The Traditional Revival Period marked a revival of the Colonial and Federal Periods, brought back by popular demand. The Traditional Revival Period relied heavily on intricate inlays and veneers along with shapely turnings to decorate what were primarily straight lines.

Shaker 1820-1860

The Shaker period was named after a religious movement of the period, with furniture influence being simple and utilitarian. Furniture within this period features straight lines, woven or cane seat material, simple turned wooden knobs and visible locking joinery.

Victorian 1840-1920

Modern and Post Modern 1950-Present The Modern and Post-Modern periods were a stark departure from previous centuries and furniture design. The Modern and Post- Modern Period relied heavily on Asisan and African influences and featured furniture buit from a number of mass produced materials. Common building materials include molded plywood, metals and plastics.

T he Victorian Period was named after England’s Queen Victoria, and served as a sharp contrast to the Shaker period. The upholstery of this period featured needlepoint and tapestry adorning ornate wooden frames. Common building materials of the Victorian Period include black walnut, oak, maple and ash. Typically furniture featured rosewood inlays for contrast.

Art Nouveau 1890-1910

The Art Nouveau Period borrowed influence from a number of previous periods, with design typically featuring elaborate ornamental carvings and veneer inlays. Upholstery during the Art Nouveau Period featured several opylen fabrics, including velvet, tapestries, leather and linen.

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Furniture Essentials

Furniture Essentials

Wood Sourcing

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Wood Sourcing

Furniture Essentials

OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is committed to sourcing raw materials in a responsible manner. To realize this commitment, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. seeks to offer beautiful product inside and out. That means marrying quality, great design and responsible practices.

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ESPONSIBLY SOURCED WOOD

Þ Engage our suppliers to move up the chain toward higher standards of responsible sourcing. Þ Partner with stakeholders, including the Global Forest & Trade Network and Rainforest Alliance, to create cross-sector collaboration and promote broad adoption of better forestry practices. Þ Act to preserve natural forests and support local communities. Þ Work to divert wood from landfill by finding way to repurpose it in our products. Þ Educate our customer about the value of responsibly sourced wood.

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Wood Sourcing

Furniture Essentials

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. embarked on the journey to source wood more responsibly by joining World Wildlife Fund’s Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN) in 2008. With support from the GFTN, we developed our Wood Procurement Policy, began collecting and verifying data on our wood supply chain, and introduced wood certified to the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) standard. To build on this work, we developed our Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Responsible Raw Material Standard for Wood in partnership with Rainforest Alliance. Our current standard includes a tiered approach, classifying responsibly sourced wood as “good”, “better” and “best.”

“Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has established a framework that drives innovation and promotes best practices for environmentally and socially responsible forest management. This work lays the foundation for real leadership in responsible sourcing for the home furnishings industry.” Tensie Whelan, President, Rainforest Alliance

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“With its commitment to responsible wood sourcing, Williams-Sonoma, INC. is engaging customers on their sustainability journey and creating change in the home furnishings industry.” Linda Walker, Director World Wildlife Fund’s Global Forest & Trade Network – North America

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Wood Sourcing

Furniture Essentials

When a forestry operation meets certification standards, they earn the right to make certified claims and display mark on products or promotion materials. That way, when conscientious consumers see the Forest Stewardship Council label on products and packaging, they know they come from forests that met rigorous standards.

Forest Stewardship Council Certifies that the wood we use in products comes from well managed forests to preserve natural forests, protect biodiversity, and uphold social responsibility standards.

click image to watch video

So what are the benefits of sourcing FSC certified woods?

1. FSC is the only forest certification system that protects rare and endangered forests and wildlife. 2. FSC is the only forest certification system that requires consultation with local Aboriginal Peoples with the intention of protecting their rights, on both public and private lands. 3. With respect to the rights of communities and workers, the FSC standard not only requires forest managers to consult with these social groups, but to provide fair compensation; protect their health, safety and livelihoods; and allow them to organize under international labor conventions. 4. The FSC has the largest, most diverse, most independent membership of any forest certification system in the world. 5. FSC is the only forest certification system supported by major international, national and local Aboriginal, Environmental, and Social groups.

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World Wildlife Fund’s Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN) The GFTN exists to support and facilitate greater coordination of national and regional efforts to expand responsible and credibly certified forest management, including technical assistance throughout the certification process and enhanced marketing opportunities.

click image to watch video

Where we source? Although we are unable to disclose exactly where we source the wood utilized in our furniture collections – share the facts below with your customers.

18% of the wood we use within Williams- Sonoma, Inc. is sourced within the U.S.

40% of our wood is sourced

Over

responsibly.

7% of the wood we use within Williams- Sonoma, Inc. is FSC certified.

11% of the wood we use within Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is rediscovered wood, such as reclaimed or mango wood.

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Wood Sourcing

Furniture Essentials

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Responsible Product

Do your homework… Click on the images below to explore products within each of the Williams-Sonoma Inc. brands that are responsible products.

Furniture Essentials

Types of Wood

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Types of Wood

Furniture Essentials

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has established a list of approved woods that we utilize in our furniture. We are very particular about the source of our hardwood, and only use woods

that are plentiful and not endangered or included on the“red list” (soon to become endangered if not carefully monitored).

Generally speaking, wood is often put into one of two categories – hardwood and softwood.

But what exactly makes a given piece of wood qualify as either hard or soft and how did those definitions come about?

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Well, the basic answer is that classifying a wood as either hard or soft is entirely dependent on the seeds produced by the tree it comes from. If a tree’s seeds have some sort of covering when they fall from the tree, be it in the form of a shell or fruit, then the wood of that tree will be classified as hardwood. On the other hand, if a tree produces seeds that are simply left to the elements when they fall to the ground, then the wood harvested from it will be classified as a softwood.

Hardwood: Walnut Tree

Softwood: Pine Tree

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Types of Wood

Furniture Essentials

Characteristics of Hardwood The majority of hardwood species are deciduous. Those of temperate regions lose their leaves every autumn as temperatures fall and are dormant in the winter, but those of tropical regions may shed their leaves in response to seasonal or sporadic periods of drought. Hardwood from deciduous species, such as oak, normally shows annual growth rings, but these may be absent in some tropical hardwoods.

Examples of Hardwoods Include

Acacia: most acacia trees are fast growers, but they usually live only 20 to 30 years. Many varieties are valued for their long roots which help stabilize the soil in areas threatened by erosion. The sturdy roots reach deep for underground water, which explains why the tree tolerates ex- treme drought conditions. Mango: Mango trees are fast growing and plantation grown in South- east Asia region. Mango wood has unique “Tigard” stripes and multi- tudes of grain and color variations. Perhaps its best character would be the “Glow” in the wood once finished. It is a hard wood which will pro- vide durability even with everyday usage. Mango lumber is best used in a rustic finish and craftsman designs. It is easy to love this beautiful, exotic wood that is also an affordable value.

Oak: A tree that bears acorns as fruit, and typically has lobed deciduous leaves. Oaks are common in many north temperate forests and are an important source of hard and durable wood used chiefly in construc- tion, furniture and (formerly) shipbuilding. Oak is hard, stiff, strong, and shock resistant.

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Ash: a tree with silver-gray bark and compound leaves. The ash is widely distributed throughout north temperate regions where it can form forests. The principal use of ash is in furniture, interior parts of upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and architectural trim and cabinetry. Ash is straight, grained, stiff, strong, and hard. Ash also has good bending properties, high shock resistance, and it wears smooth in use. White ash shrinks moderately but can be kiln dried rapidly and satisfactorily. Maple: Commercial maples grow throughout the eastern U.S. and southeastern Canada, with the exception of bigleaf maple, which grows on the West Coast. Maple is consistently popular wood for furniture and cabinetry. As much as 90 percent of the maple lumber produced is further manufactured into a variety of products such as furniture, kitchen cabinets and flooring. Birch: a slender, fast growing tree that has thin bark and bears catkins. Birch trees grow chiefly in north temperate regions, some reaching the northern limit of tree growth. Birch wood is relatively heavy, hard, and strong and has high shock resistance. Although the wood is difficult to work with handtools, it can be readily shaped by machine and ranks high in nail-withdrawal resistance. Alder: a widely distributed tree of the birch family that has toothed leaves and bears male catkins and woody female cones. The wood of alder is moderately light and soft. In fact, Alder wood is one of the softest of all hardwoods, ranking just above pine and poplar. Cherry: Cherry wood is reddish and takes a lustrous finish. It’s a prized furniture wood and brings high prices in veneer log form. Typically found in the Eastern regions of the USA, Cherry trees reach heights of up to 100 feet, about 80 feet average, with a tall trunk of about 24” in diameter.

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Types of Wood

Furniture Essentials

Hickory: is a deciduous tree with pinnately compound leaves and large nuts. Five or six species are native to China, Indochina, and India, as many as 12 are native to the United States, four are found in Mexico, and two to four are from Canada.

Mahogany: Mahogany grows naturally in Southern Mexico southward to Columbia, Venezuela, and parts of the upper Amazon and its tributaries. Mahogany heartwood is popular for furniture, cabinets and decorative veneers.

Walnut: Walnut grows naturally over a large geographical area, extending from Vermont westward to Nebraska and southward to southern Georgia and southern Texas. In addition to finishing beautifully with rich grain pattern, Walnut wood is hard, strong, stiff and has good shock resistance. Yellow Poplar: is a utility wood in nearly every sense. It’s used for pal- lets, crates, upholstered furniture frames, paper and plywood. Though the wood is commonly referred to simply as “Poplar”, it is technically not in the Populus genus itself, but is indeed in the Liriodendron genus, which is Latin for “lily tree”. The flowers of this tree look similar to tulips, hence the common alternate name: Tulip Poplar. Very easy to work in almost all regards, one of Poplar’s only downsides is its softness.

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Rubber Wood: is a light-colored medium-density tropical hardwood obtained from the Para rubber tree, usually from trees grown in rubber plantations. Rubberwood has very little tendency to warp or crack and is a hardwood belonging to the Ruphorbiaceae family. Rubberwood is the most ecologically “friendly” lumber used in today’s furniture industry. After the economic life of the rubber tree, which is generally 26-30 years, the latex yields become extremely low and the planters then fell the rubber trees and plant new ones. The wood is therefore eco-friendly in the sense that we are now using what was going as waste. Eucalyptus : grows primarily in tree form, but many shrub-like species also exist. Trees grow from 135 to 300 feet tall, with trunks 3 to 4 feet in diameter. Eucalyptus heartwood is red to reddish-brown, and darkens as it seasons. Eucalyptus is used for all types of constructions, dine as well as utilitarian, light and heavy. It is easy to saw, sand and polish, and teaks paint well. It is a heavy wood, comparable to oak, which should be taken into consideration when shaping it into furniture. Teak: has been considered by many to be the gold standard for de- cay resistance, and its heartwood is rated as very durable. Teak tends to be a gold or medium brown, with color darkening with age. Teak is perhaps one of the most expensive lumbers on the market, at least for large-sized, non-figured wood. With its superb stability, good strength properties, easy workability- and most of all, it’s outstanding resistance to decay and rot – Teak ranks among the most desired lumbers in the world.

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Types of Wood

Furniture Essentials

The Basics of Hardwood Lumber Grades The National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) grades are based on the percentage of clear-defect free wood on a board. A defect is a irregularity occurring in or on wood that reduces its strength, durability, or usefulness. Some common defects are: 1. Knots - embedded limb or branch of the tree. It reduces the strength but might im- prove the appearance. 2. Splits/Checks - a seperation of the wood along the grain and across the grain. 3. Wane - the presence of bark or absence of wood along the edge of the board.

The measurement of this percentage are referred to as clear-cuttings.

The NHLA grades are determined on an imperial measurement system using inches and feet. A board foot is the unit of measurement. The best grade is the FAS (First and Seconds). This piece of wood cannot be less than 6 in. wide by 8ft. Long and yield at least 83 1/3 percent clear

B.F: one foot long, one foot wide, one inch thick

To determine the board feet in a board:

Multiply the width in inches by the length in feet and divide by 12. If the lumber is thicker than one inch, multiply by the thickness.

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Summary of US Hardwood Lumber Grades

NO. 2 & B COMMON

FAS

FAS 1 FACE SELECTS NO. 1 COMMON

Minimum Board Size

Same as FAS for species being graded

6”x8’

4”x6’

3”x4’

3” x 4’

Minimum Cutting Size

4” x 5’ 3” x 7’

4” x 2’ 3” x 3’

Best Face of board must grade FAS

3” x 2’

Minimum Yield

Surface measure x 10 83.5%

Surface measure x 8 66.5%

Surface measure x 6 50%

Formula to Determine Number of Clear Cuttings

Surface Measure 4

Surface measure + 1 3

Surface measure 2

Poor face of board must grade No 1 Common

Notes: This chart summarizes the main requirements for the standard grades. For complete information, consult the appropriate sections of the NHLA Rule Book. • For kiln dried lumber, .5” shrinkage is permitted for the minimum size board in each grade. • No. 2A Common requires clear cuttings. • No. 2B Common is a utility grade requiring cuttings to be sound. • When specified for export shipment, a comparison can be made respectively between export grades and PRIME and COMSEL with the NHLA grades of FAS and No. 1 Common. It is necessary to consult with your supplier as to the exact specification being applied to these export grades.

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Types of Wood

Furniture Essentials

Characteristics of Softwoods Softwoods come from trees that possess seed-bearing cones – known as coniferous trees. Coniferous trees are evergreens, meaning they keep their leaves and grow all year round. Typically, softwood trees take between 25 and 50 yrs. to reach maturity and usually have needle-like leaves. Coniferous trees are adapted to a wider range of climates than hardwoods, primarily in areas north of the arctic circle right down to the Equator in Sumatra. Softwood is the source of about 80% of the world’s production of timber, with traditional centers of production being the Baltic region (Russia + Scandinavia), North America and China.

Examples of Softwoods Include

Pine: an evergreen coniferous tree that has clusters of long needle- shaped leaves. Many kinds are grown for their soft timber, which is widely used for furniture and pulp, or for tar and turpentine.

Spruce: a tree of the pine family, the spruce tree has short, angular, needle-shaped leaves attached singly around twigs and bearing hanging cones with persistent scales.

Cedar: A tall coniferous tree of the pine family noted for their fragrant durable wood. Cedar wood is fine, uniform, straight grain, and is favored because of its exceptional cutting qualities, durability, rich color and aroma.

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The Basics of Softwood Lumber Grades

Grades of Lumber Softwood Grades are based on the American Softwood Lumber Standard. They are broken into three classifications: Boards, Dimension Lumber, and Timbers.

Boards are mostly for appearance such as cabinets or paneling.

Dimension Lumber represents 2 x 4’s and other light framing needs.

Timbers are commonly used for structural framing, cladding and panelling, benchtops, flooring, decking, joinery, beams and poles.

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Types of Wood

Furniture Essentials

Hardwood vs. Softwood Quick Reference Guide

Hardwood

Softwood

Definition

Comes from angiosperm trees that are not monocots; trees are usually broad- leaved. Has vessel elements that transport water throughout the wood; under a microscope, these elements appear as pores. Hardwoods are more likely to be found in high-quality furniture, decks, flooring, and construction that needs to last. Most hardwoods have a higher density than most softwoods. Hardwood is typically more expensive than softwood Hardwood has a slower growth rate. Hardwoods shed their leaves over a period of time in autumn and winter.

Comes from gymnosperm trees which usually have needles and cones. Medullary rays and tracheids transport water and produce sap. When viewed under a microscope, softwoods have no visible pores because of tracheids. About 80% of all timber comes from softwood. Softwoods have a wide range of applications and are found in building components (e.g., windows, doors), furniture, medium- density fiberboard (MDF), paper, Christmas trees, and much more.

Uses

Density

Most softwoods have a lower density than most hardwoods

Cost

Softwood is typically less expensive compared to hardwood.

Growth

Softwood has a faster rate of growth. Softwoods tend to keep their needles throughout the year.

Shedding of Leaves

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So what exactly does solid wood mean? Solid wood refers to lumber that has been milled directly from trees and used to make furniture; therefore, both hardwood and softwood are considered “solid wood”.

Some of our favorite collections within our brands are made from solid woods...

Pottery Barn

Benchwright Dining Table Bowry Reclaimed Collection

Pottery Barn Kids

Elliot 3-in-1 Convertible Crib Owen Dresser

Williams- Sonoma Home

Belgian Extendable Dining Table Bowen Collection

West Elm

Emmerson Collection Industrial Storage Coffee Table

There are challenges, however, with constructing furniture from solid wood. As a company, we’ve perfected our engineering process to ensure our furniture is engineered well and highlights the natural qualities and beauty found in wood. Following is some information about solid wood and how it never stops reacting to temperature. With the extreme temperature ranges our customers experience in their homes, this is important information to understand and share with them.

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Solid Wood

Furniture Essentials

Wood Never Rests

Even after it arrives at your home as finished furniture it will continue to expand and contract. It’s a fact that furniture makers have always had to work around.

To fully understand the basics of solid wood, you should know the following things –

Wood is hygroscopic. That simply means it can absorb and release water. A tree’s cells are like long tubes that run the length of the trunk. Expansion and contraction occurs as the moisture content changes in and around these cells. The movement will mostly be perpendicular to the trunk or in our case the length of a board.

MOVEMENT

Hygroscopic Cells

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Wood equalizes to the surrounding humidity. In the U.S. the relative humidity is between 6% and 11%. Williams-Sonoma, INC. aim is to ship solid wood furniture with an 8% moisture content. This is achieved by kiln drying, or baking moisture out of the lumber before production and storing assembled furniture in conditioning rooms before shipping.

All solid wood is kiln dried prior to utilizing within any of our products.

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Solid Wood

Furniture Essentials

As a rule of thumb, a board can expand about 1% from summer to winter. That means a 12-inch wide board can expand 1/8 inch in the summer and contract 1/8 inch in the winter.

In addition, any deviation from a true or plane surface is warp. The quick answer to why wood warps is simple: There’s a gain or loss of moisture content (water).Various degrees of warp have no effect on strength, but do limit usability. Types of warp include: bow, crook, cup and twist.

Furniture Essentials

Care + Durability To ensure customers fully enjoy their purchase for many years to come, remember to review the care instructions with them at the time of purchase. In addition to the enclosed product information, you should share the following points…

Indoor Woods

Solid woods are durable, but like all things will patina overtime with use. Care instructions should be noted in the assembly instructions. Generally speaking, Williams-Sonoma, Inc.. furniture is built for maintenance free use. Standing fluid should not be left standing. We build our solid wood furniture using floating construction to ensure moving elements don’t bind and split. With that said, customers should take certain precautions to ensure product quality. When receiving a new piece(s) of solid wood it is best not to place next to a radiator or air conditioner for approximately two weeks. We do not recommend refinishing Williams-Sonoma, Inc. furniture. If a quality defect or damage is found, please contact customer service. In some instances, a furniture medic may be sent to help.

Outdoor Woods

Should be covered when not in use and taken inside during off seasons.

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Furniture Essentials

Furniture Essentials

Engineered Woods

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Engineered Woods

Furniture Essentials

Engineered Woods Engineered wood is a blanket term that can be applied to many different types of product. When used in the furniture industry it generally refers to wood material that has been processed into flat, consistent sheets. The sheets are wood pulp or particles of various or layered veneers of wood glued together and pressed flat. Also referred to as substrates, engineered wood is typically 4’ x 8’ x .75” allowing for efficient use of material. There’s a common misconception that engineered woods are merely a cheap alternative to “real” wood. While there is a cost benefit when compared to solid wood, engineered woods have their own unique advantages that are important to modern furniture manufacturing. Although engineered woods have very different properties, they share 3 key advantages over solid wood: 1. Stability- engineered woods are not subject to seasonal expansion and contraction. This makes them a better, more durable choice when a high quality veneer is being applied. Furniture constructed with engineered wood is strong and won’t warp or crack. It also lends itself to clean modern lines typical in west elm furniture design.

2.

Size- most engineered wood products are available in 4’x 8’ or larger sheets. Sawn lumber is only available in narrow widths so multiple boards must be used for construction. The large width of engineered wood allows for solid piece construction in many furniture pieces. Efficiency- in engineered wood, imperfections like knots and splits are removed which produces uniformly strong and consistent panels. This is a benefit to the environment as well: very little of the raw lumber used in manufacturing engineered wood is wasted.

3.

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Types of Engineered Wood

Particleboard: an engineered wood product manufactured from wood chips, sawmill shavings, or even sawdust, and a binding agent (glue), which is pressed and extruded.

Medium-denisty Fibreboard (MDF): an engineered wood product made of fine wood fibers combined with a binding agent and pressed under high heat.

Plywood: a type of strong thin wooden board consisting of two or more layers glued and pressed together with the direction of the grain alternating.

Please note: All binding agents utilized within the manufacturing process are compliant with the standards set by the California Air Resource Board (CARB). See Repsonsible Practices for addtional information

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Engineered Woods

Furniture Essentials

Pros + Cons of Engineered Woods

Engineered Wood Type

PROS

CONS

Edges cannot be finished or sanded smooth

Inexpensive

Particle Board

Light Weight

Does not hold screws or fasteners well

Edges can be easily shaped or detailed

Very dense / heavy

Medium Density Fiberboard

Does not hold screws or fasteners well

Uniform surface for applying veneer or paint

More expensive than other engineered woods

Holds screws and fasteners well Can be easily stained

Plywood

Veneer layers show on edge

In order to maximize the qualities of engineered wood, many Williams-Sonoma, Inc. products use 5 ply construction: sandwiching a piece of engineered wood between 4 layers of veneer.

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Customer Frequently Asked Questions

Is Engineered wood treated with chemicals?

We do not provide speficic material data but all Williams-Sonoma, Inc. furniture meets the standards set by the California Air Resource Board (CARB). See Responsible Practices for additional information.

How durable are Engineered woods?

This entirely depends on the application and the types of forces applied. They can be very durable when used correctly after secondary processes are applied (like veneers or laminates). Engineered woods are even used in the construction industry.

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Furniture Essentials

Furniture Essentials

Veneers

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Veneers

Furniture Essentials

Many customers mistakenly assume that veneered furniture is inferior to or cheaper than solid wood; however, veneers are often utilized in high end furniture – including some of our collections at Williams-Sonoma, Inc.. In woodworking, veneer refers to thin slices of hardwood, usually thinners than 1/8 of an inch. Since veneer is glued with a waterproof adhesive to a stable substrate (engineered wood) it produces surfaces not prone to warp or splitting or seasonal movement (see module #1 for definition).

Types of Veneers

Solid Wood

As outlined in module one, Williams-Sonoma, Inc.. utilizes a variety of hardwoods within our furniture construction process. Veneers can be manufactured from any of the outlined hardwoods, and are especially useful when value and quality are a desired outcome. (See module one for types of hardwoods)

Exotic Veneers

Smoked Eucalyptus

A veneer that is created by fuming the wood created a dark brown tone. Eucalyptus veneer has a wide range of colors, textures and figures. Higher end furniture makers are quick to utilize this veneer, especially when a pink to golden brown color is desired.

Bird’s-eye Maple

The lumber from an American maple, typically the sugar maple, that contains eyelike markings, used in decorative woodwork. The first known use of Bird’s-Eye maple was in 1793.

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Veneer Production

Sawn timber is typically sawn into 1” thick boards. The saw cuts a kerf between boards 1/4” thick that winds up as sawdust.

Plainsawn

Riftsawn

Quartersawn

Veneer is not cut from the log but sliced with a knife (like lunch meat) into 1/32” leaves or sheets. That produces 32 veneer surfaces for every 1 that is gotten from a board and with no wood wasted as sawdust another 8 sheets where the sawblade would have gone. That’s 40 surfaces of wood veneer for every 1 of solid wood. The slicing process is composed of several techniques: rotary slicing, quarter slicing, plain slicing, rift slicing and half round slicing. Depending on the species selected, the selected slicing technique will produce a very distinctive type of grain.

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Veneers

Furniture Essentials

Rotary Slicing

A log is mounted into a lathe and turned against a blade. Thin slices of wood are peeled are peeled from the log, almost in a continuous sheet of veneer. After each turn the knife moves closer to the log by the chosen thickness of the veneer being cut. This method produces a variety of patterns as the blade slices through successive growth rings.

Quarter Slicing

Quarter Slicing involves the log being sliced into quarters prior to slicing the veneer. Positioned at approximately a right angle, the knife slices through the quartered log to the growth rings. The resulting grain pattern is typically straighter in most species.

Burls: A burl results from a tree undergoing some form of stress, commonly caus figured wood, prized for its beauty and rarity. Burls are highly sought after highly prized than others, especially those that resemble an explosion in w or on a lathe because the burls grain is twisted and interlocked, causing it

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Plain Slicing

Plain Sliced or Flat Sliced veneers are made by sawing the log parallel to the center or cut line. The grain pattern produced is commonly referred to as “cathedral” or “flame” shaped. Leaf widths vary by the distance from the center and are typically wider than quartered or rift cut veneers.

Rift Slicing

Rift Slicing is achieved by slicing the quartered log at an angle to the growth rings. The process involves placing the quartered log in a lathe and adjusting the knife angle to obtain a straight grain pattern.

ed by an injury, virus or fungus. Burl yield a very peculiar and highly by furniture makers, artists and wood sculptors. Some burls are more ich the grain grows erratically. Burls are very hard to work with hand tools o chip and shatter unpredictably.

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Veneers

Furniture Essentials

Veneer Lamination Patterns

Mismatched or Random Matching

Random matching is just what it sounds like. Typically completed with lower grades of veneer, the leaves may be of varying width, colors and graining. Knotty veneers are often laid this way. This is done to disperse characteristics such as clusters of knots more evenly across the sheet.

Book Matching

Alternate pieces of veneer are flipped over so they face each other as do the pages within a book. Thus, the back of one veneer meets the front of the adjacent veneer producing a matched joint design.

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Slip Matching

Veneer slices are joined in a sequence without flipping the pattern. If the grain is straight, the joints will not be obvious. This type of matching is most common in quarter-sliced veneers.

Quarter Matching

Quarter Matching is achieved when you take four consecutive sheets and match them vertically as well as horizontally. All types of veneers can be used for this match, however, the most striking decorative effects are created using burls and other highly figured woods.

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Veneers

Furniture Essentials

Construction Style 5 Ply Construction

In order to maximize the qualities of engineered wood, many Williams-Sonoma, Inc. products use five ply construction (sandwiching a piece of engineered wood between four layers of veneer).

Also, at minimum two layers of veneer are required on each panel face to prevent telegraphing. Telegraphing occurs when underlying wood grain can be seen through the finish. A solid frame may also be added where a more durable, shaped edge is needed.

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3 Ply Construction Three ply construction is used to make panels that offer greater stability (less shrinkage or swelling) in terms of wood movement. In order to achieve the greater stability, one layer of veneer is applied to outer faces of substrate/core material.

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Veneers

Furniture Essentials

Staining and Finishing Veneer Since veneer is real wood, it will accept stains and finishes much like solid wood. The choices of stains and finishes are many and each combination can yield a different outcome. Depending on the desired design of the product, some stains are hand applied, some are sprayed and some are sprayed and then wiped. The majority of stains used within our brands are solvent based, however, some of the stains are water based.

Typically, burls are not stained. The natural colors and patterns in the burls are usually so beautiful that applying a stain would be considered a travesty.

Care To ensure customers fully enjoy their purchase for many years to come, remember to review the care instructions with them at the time of purchase. In addition to the enclosed product information, you should share the following points. • Dust wood veneer regularly with a dry, soft cloth to keep it looking its best. Dust is abrasive. Left untreated it causes tiny scratches that dull the appearance of your furniture. • We recommend that the customer avoid using wax or oil-based polishes to prevent buildup.

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Customer Frequently Asked Questions

Does veneered furniture scratch easily?

Veneer itself does not scratch easier than solid wood. It is a thin layer though and can be scratched through. The finish or top coat may be more or less durable depending on the product.

What chemicals are utilized in the Veneer process?

Though we do not provide specific material data, we can confirm that all Williams- Sonoma, Inc. furniture meets the standards set by the California Air Resource Board (CARB) . See Responsible Practices for additional information.

Activity:

Scavenger Hunt: Take 5 minutes to search your store, locating as many veneered finished products as you can.

Hint: Utilize a catalog or iPad to assist in your search.

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Furniture Essentials

Furniture Essentials

Construction: Upholstered Furniture

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Construction: Upholstered Furniture

Furniture Essentials

Craftsmanship and quality have always been at the core of our business model, in fact, many of our products are crafted within the United States in our Sutter Street facility.

When US production isn’t available or possible, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. strives to select vendors that are “best in industry” and are committed to the same level of quality. We carefully choose vendors in countries based on a variety of factors including – material availability, technical knowhow, finishing capabilities, high-tech machinery, access to skilled craftspeople and price.

As outlined within module one, all of the wood utilized in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. furniture is kiln dried. In addition to this industry standard, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. deploys additional construction details that signify high quality and craftsmanship.

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Common Construction Details Benchmade Frame Benchmade means that a piece of high quality furniture was handmade on a workbench by a skilled craftsman. Benchmade furniture is always of higher quality.

Construction: Upholstered Furniture

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Furniture Essentials

Corner Blocked

The furniture frames at Williams-Sonoma, Inc. contain corner joints that have corner blocks that are glued, screwed and dowelled for maximum reinforcement.

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Joinery

Double Doweled Joint

A double dowel joint is usually round, fitting into holes in two adjacent pieces to prevent slipping or support alignment. The dowel joint is assembled in the same way that you would screw a regular joint together only, instead of screws, pieces of dowel are glued and inserted into holes in both joined pieces. Dowel joints are very strong and attractive when constructed well.

Mortis and Tennon Joint

The mortise and tenon joint has been used for thousands of years by woodworkers around the world to join pieces of wood, mainly when

the adjoining pieces connect at an angle of 90 degrees. In its basic form, it is both simple and strong. In addition to these quality furniture joining techniques, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. typically staples, glues and screws furniture frames together.

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Construction: Upholstered Furniture

Furniture Essentials

Cushions As a company, we have always considered a sofa a considered purchase; therefore, we take the extra time to ensure the cushions utilized with our family of brands is comfortable and durable. To achieve this goal, we utilize TB117-2013 compliant high resilience foam wrapped in TB117- 2013 compliant super soft density foam.

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In addition to a high quality foam core, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. also wraps the center foam core with either poly fill or down.

Poly Fill

A synthetic material used as cushioning in pillows and bedding, poly-fill is soft, durable, extremely fluffy and widely used in the furniture industry. Made from polyester, the material can also be referred to as polyester fiber or fiberfill. Polyfill is non-allergenic.

Down Fill

The down of birds is a layer of fine feathers found under the tougher exterior feathers. The down feather is considered to be the “simplest” of all feather types. In the United States, Federal Trade Commission regulations require that any product labeled “100% Down” must contain only down feathers, while products labeled “simple down” can contain a mixture of fiber and feathers. It is important to note that Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is committed to the ethical and responsible treatment of animals. All down used in our products are by-products of the food industry. NONE of our down is live plucked and we offer down alternatives for our products.

Construction: Upholstered Furniture

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Furniture Essentials

Springs Eight-way hand-tied springs have long been considered the premium choice for sofa construction; however, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. believes there are multiple types of superior quality spring systems. In fact, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. utilizes both sinuous springs and eight-way hand-tied springs within the upholstered furniture collection. As a company, we allow the design of the furniture to dictate the type of spring system utilized within each collection. For example, a sleek modern sofa sitting low to the ground is better served by sinuous spring construction since it requires less space in the frame.

Eight-Way Hand - Tied Springs

Sinuous Steel Springs

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Eight-Way Hand-Tied In this method a craftsman hand ties each coil spring to the other springs and sofa frame with twine. The twine crosses the frame from front to back, from side to side, and across both diagonals, thus creating the “eight ways”.

Sinuous Springs In this method, two-dimensional “S” shaped wired is run from the front rail to the back of the seat, spaced every few inches. Support wires cross laterally and provide additional stability and support... This spring system offers a somewhat softer seat and can be used in upholstered furniture that sits lower to the ground.

Note: Sinuous Springs are utilized on all PB upholstery.

Construction: Upholstered Furniture

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Furniture Essentials

Customer Frequently Asked Questions

How can I ensure the item I order will fit into my home for delivery?

Measure the location you plan for the item and compare it to the information in the Details + Dimensions tab. Better yet, offer our complimentary Design Services – a design specialist can go to the customer’s home to measure and suggest additional items to complete the space.

How does In-Home Delivery work?

In-Home Delivery is a white-glove service that includes unpacking, assembly and packaging removal in the room of your choice. Available in the 48 contiguous states only, delivery is by appointment and typically offered Monday-Saturday. Please note that our delivery partners cannot relocate or remove your existing furniture.

Are legs removable on our upholstery furniture?

It depends on the collection. Check the products’ Details + Dimensions tab to confirm whether it has removable legs or not.

Are the upholstered collections at Williams-Sonoma, Inc. tested for commercial use?

The short answer to this is NO. While our upholstered collections are not intended for business use, you can work with our Business Sales team who can help you select products that will withstand your commercial environments or that we have designed for commercial use. Laws about commercial grade furniture vary state to state, so customers will need to work with business sales to make sure the items they are interested in comply with the laws of the state where they live or will use the item.

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Are Williams-Sonoma, Inc. furniture collections made with fire retardants?

California law, which is followed by most states, set a standard for flammability known as TB-117 (2013). While the foam in of our upholstered products does not contain intentionally added flame retardants to meet this standard, some of our fabrics still do. This is because those fabrics cannot pass the new TB-117 (2013) standard without them. We are currently looking at alternatives for those fabrics. All furniture manufactured after January 1, 2015 will contain a tag indicating to our customers whether an upholstered furniture item contains any flame retardants.

See Responsible Practices for additional information.

Can you buy replacement cushions if they lose their shape?

Technically yes, you can, however, we advise against this. One, if a customer is ordering an insert, it is very hard for a person to properly remove and then replace an insert. Our vendors use a machine to do this – it is not manually done. Two, if a customer orders a cushion with a cushion cover, there is a high possibility that the cushion cover will be slightly different shade of color then the rest of the sofa/sectional as we no longer have control over what dye lot the fabric came from.

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Furniture Essentials

Furniture Essentials

Construction: Upholstery Fabric

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Construction: Upholstery Fabric

Furniture Essentials

Fabrics Williams Sonoma INC. currently offers 90+ different fabrics, which sounds exciting at first… but when you start to dig into all those choices, the customer can quickly become overwhelmed. The fabric of an upholstered piece is the most visible sign of quality and style; therefore, it is important that you educate the customer on the best fabric choice for their style/lifestyle. When choosing upholstery fabric, you should be aware of its durability, cleanability and resistance to soil and fading.