Q1: During moving season, you start to re-think your bed situation, especially if you’re moving into your first small apartment or downsizing – beds take up a lot of room, any ideas?
A: Some space saving options for sleeping are sofa beds and futons. I used to say that futons were an uncomfortable couch which turns into an uncomfortable bed – but that was before I slept on one made by Ungava Duvet. The futon was seven years old when I got my chance, and it was surprisingly quite comfortable. Having said that, I slept on a newer futon at my aunt and uncle’s house in Florida, and it was lumpy and quite uncomfortable.
Q2: So what should you look for when buying one?
Desiree Tucker, co-owner of Ungava Duvet, says this about the cushioning: “there needs to be four to eight layers of interspersed cotton and foam”. The more layers, the more malleable it is. Most important, too, is that the cotton be pre-compressed. Ask the salesperson if the cotton has been compressed from three inches to one inch. If they don’t know, I’m not sure I’d buy it there. Two futons may look like they have the same thickness of filling, but if one is made with a single chunk of foam, it will be less flexible, and within from six months to five years, you will see it flatten out and become uncomfortable.
As for the frame, is it made of pine or hardwood? Are there metal reinforcements in the heavily used areas? Is it easy to open – on a glider mechanism?
Q3: Sofa beds are another space saving option what are the things to check when buying one?
Again you have to know who you are buying it from and how it is made. We were the first ones to sleep on a brand new one (again bought in Florida by my in-laws), and could not even lay down for an hour – our bodies flattened it right down to the wire frame which then pressed into us.
However here in Montreal, at Cameo a local manufacturer, I learned that when buying them, you look at the mattress itself as the most important item. This is what is supporting you as you are sitting on it, since it absorbs all the weight. Many people go in to buy a hide-a- bed at their showroom and don’t even look at the mattress, because “it’s only going to be used a few times a year when we have company”, but that is the wrong attitude. If you are sitting on the couch in your den, you are using that mattress every single day.
To compare the quality of the mattress, ask how many springs there are (it can range from 500 to 700, and the more the better) and especially what gauge or thickness they are. That can range from 13 to14, which may not seem like a huge difference, but at the14 end, it means the wire is as thin as spaghetti. You should also feel some resistance when you close the bed.
Q4: But don’t you have to look at how the frame is made too?
Is the frame made out of hardwood or is it plywood or pressed board? Is the wood screwed together (better) or glued or stapled (both no-nos). If you can’t see the frame because it is covered by upholstery, remove the cushions and pull up the bed and look inside the front board (the one your calves lean against). There you can take a peek at the inside wood. The quality of the wood and method of construction is the first place where manufacturers cheat, because they are hidden.
Q:5 Where can we find these reputable places and do they sell anything else?
Don’t forget to bring your teddy bear and take the time to lie down for a while.
If it’s sofa beds you want, then go to Cameo and buy direct for every kind, style and price of sofa (and chair) bed you can imagine. The couches can be made into singles, jr. doubles, doubles or queen size beds and can be made to fit through most any doorway.
You choose your own fabric to match your decor and budget, and they will turn it into a well-made piece of furniture as well as a comfortable bed with an extra firm inner spring or memory foam mattress. You can also order made-to-measure couches, sectionals and chairs. A super place! Even better, there is a “they cover the PST” event happening now.
Location: 7905 Transcanadienne
Corner: Boul. Cote Vertu
Phone: 514-337-2933
Other location: 1150 Union (514-861-0537).
Hours: Mon-Wed & Fri 9:30-6, Thurs 9:30-8 (eve only VSL), Fri 9:30-6, Sat 10-5, Sun 11-5
www.cameo-sofa.com
At L’Avenue du Sofa you can have your sofa bed made to measure and still not have it cost a bundle. This friendly husband and wife team offers a selection of fabrics and styles which you can modify by length, depth of the seat, legs, type of cushioning (hard, soft, foam, feather) and type of mattress. You can add matching arm chairs, lounge chairs or “fainting couches”.
Location: 2282 Mont-Royal est
Corner: Fullum
Phone: 514-524-1953
Hours: (call first) Mon-Fri by appt., Sat & Sun 12-5
www.avenuedusofa.com
Better quality futons made with 1.5 cu. ft. density foam and hardwood frames can be bought right here at Ungava Factory Outlet. You can dress them up with futon covers and bolsters.
The company, right off the Main, is well known for manufacturing duvets, so they can sell high end quality at low prices – starting at $59. They do special constructions, create made-to-measure sizes (even for cribs), feather mattresses and can re-stuff your old one. You can buy down pillows, wool mattress covers, wool pillows, duvet covers and even… silk duvets.
Location: 10 Pine Ave. West, Suite 112
Corner: Boul. St-Laurent
Phone: 514- 287-9276.
Hours: Tues & Wed 10-6, Thurs & Fri 10-8, Sat 10-5
