Samuelson Furniture Blog

With HD Expo upon us, we want to reflect on some of the best experiences amazing Las Vegas has to offer. Sure, this massive trade show is a great place to get business done, but it’s also a place to let loose, have fun and enjoy the incredible amenities Sin City has to offer. We spoke to loyal HD Expo attendees Pam Niemann, Principal Designer & Owner of Niemann Interiors; Katie Novelen, Senior Interior Designer at Tandem Interior Design Studio; and Britni Flores, Interior Designer at Studio McCormack.  We had them disclose their insider info, because what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas!

Hotel design has inexorably shifted to highlighting the look and feel of the community in which the property is located.  This has change the way in which projects are conceived and executed.

It’s no longer about fungible design that simply checks off a series of boxes. Rather, it’s about understanding the cultural, historical and visual cues of the individual community; then creating a visual and functional aesthetic highlighting those elements unique to that neighborhood’s character.

We spoke to Lois Goodell, principal, director of interior design, with CBT Architects and Ronnie Bray, founding partner of Bray Whaler, to see how their roles have transformed due to changing design demands.

The notion of what furniture is, and should be, is changing. Sure, visual appeal, comfort, quality and usability remain important. But now there is an additional feature to consider; technology. At Samuelson Furniture, we’ve been ahead of this trend, adding electronic elements to our pieces for years. But it’s not as easy as it looks.

As we all get set to maximize opportunity in 2018, it’s critical to understand the trends which could potentially have the most positive effect regarding your business. To get a sense of areas of opportunity in the New Year and the trends behind them, we tracked down some of the hotel industry’s top designers to see which emerging trends they find the most relevant and those they are personally excited to explore.

They say the hotel business is one big happy family. That rings true both figuratively and literally. Here at Samuelson Furniture, we proudly carry a family tradition spanning four generations and 82 years.  While the distinction of being a generational business is uncommon today, we know others in the industry who have accomplished this.  A strong sense of identity in combination with hard work, integrity and commitment to the ideals set before them are just some of the components necessary to endure the challenges presented in the world of our business today.

Keeping ahead of the trends is paramount here at Samuelson Furniture, and to accomplish this we must continually invest in our business. After all, being in a family owned and operated business for more than 80 years means we never rest on our laurels. We must continually invest in our future to provide our clientele with the most exceptional results and ensure our position as industry leaders for many more decades to come.

The upholstery trade as a craft evolved throughout many centuries and various eras as it gradually integrated into the furniture making process.  While stages of comfort levels increased, tradesmen provided materials for the covering of chairs, seats and sofas. 

The coordination of padding, springs, webbing, fabric and/or leather materials covering a wood frame or platform is the essence of this artistic skill.  Fabrication of seating furniture requires design aesthetic with the essential components of comfort and function.   

Unlike residential seating, hospitality/commercial standards require materials with greater durability to withstand the environmental stresses of continuous daily use.  This includes heavy-duty hardware, thicker wood frames, greater density of foam and more resilient fabrics.

The following are the underlying components holding to industry standards for hospitality and contract seating.

This month we are investigating how those tasked with purchasing furniture approach their role in delivering a long lasting product that pleases both ownership and guests, all while anchoring the in-room experience. We connected with two industry superstars; Joe Motley, Program Manager at Walt Disney World, and Neil Locke, principal at Neil Locke & Associates, and asked them to share their thoughts on the importance of buying the right quality furniture at the right price.

There has been a big shift in hospitality during the last five years. Public spaces in hotels, especially the lobby, are officially the front and center attraction.  While they have always been the first thing guests see, there is a new focus. This relates to setting the stage for experience while simultaneously creating engaging spaces where people want to hang out, and importantly, spend money.

Purchasing Pro Tips: From P.O. to Delivery

We all know what purchasers do, they purchase! But knowing what they do is very different than understanding how they do it. So, we spoke to a couple of purchasing experts to find out exactly how they spend their days.

Hint: It’s a lot more involved than shopping for pretty things.

Turns out, there’s a lot of management and skill required to ensure projects come in on time, on budget, and feature products that can live up to the rigors of hotel living. Here’s some tips gleaned from these pros: