Frame Construction

Just like our painted furniture, all of our upholstered pieces are made right here in America. We work with family owned companies located in the foothills of North Carolina's Appalachian mountains, where men and women have been crafting exceptional furniture for generations. From an aesthetic standpoint, our new upholstered collections were designed to uplift spirits and fit seamlessly into an uncomplicated, relaxed lifestyle. Our take on cottage style combines clean contemporary lines with whimsical curves and brightly colored soft cotton fabrics. Each piece is built to order by highly skilled craftspeople who take pride in their work and in the Russell & Mackenna brand. They utilize the latest technologies in producing frames made of 5/4" or thicker kiln-dried select hardwoods with joints that are double-doweled, glued and block reinforced for extra strength.

Hand Tied Springs - Good Bones

In the furniture industry, some manufacturers can brag about building upholstered furniture that is eight-way hand-tied. And we're proud to be one of them! We use tempered steel double cone coil springs supported by polypropylene sheeting and steel bands for extra support.These coils are eight-way hand-tied with the finest twine available and the coils are clinched to prevent shifting. For comfort, a heavy covering is then places over the spring base in addition to our special insulator pad and soft batting. Padded arms use foam and a high grade batting to insure lasting comfort and proper overall shape. All this talk comes down to two things, a darn comfortable seat that is going to last a long, long time!

Signature Deck - More Than Skin Deep

Just lift up any of our cushions and you will see our signature decking. Look a little deeper and you'll find standard seat cushions that are made with a core of high resiliency environmentally friendly foam. This is then wrapped in fiber and encased into a soft fabric ticking. Padded arms use foam and a high grade batting to insure lasting comfort and proper overall shape. Our standard cushions will have moderate firmness with good recovery for a tailored look - great for conversational sofas and chairs. If you are more into luxury lounging, we also offer a comfort down package upgrade for a plumper cushion that will have a softer, more casual feel. A high resiliency polyurethane core is surrounded on top, front and bottom by a layer of super soft foam. This is inserted into an envelope of polyester fiber, feathers and down and then sewn into a down-proof ticking.

Saddle Stitch - Defining Details

The double saddle stitch on our non-welted pieces (see the Hariette chairs on page 16) is a great example of how we encorporate top notch upholstery methods and timeless design. The result is a very subtle and understated detail that bespeaks quality in both the form and function of the piece.

Cord Welt - Accessorize an Armchair

We offer the optional detail of a contrasting fabric on all welted pieces of upholstered furniture. This is an element that our designers use when they want to add dramatic emphasis to the curvacious silhouette lines of a particular frame.

Diamond Tufts - Button Up

Diamond tufting is a highly specialized skill that creates hallmark depressions held in place by firmly anchored buttons. Historically, this aesthetic detail was born in the mid-19th century (think Louis XV), and has had several resurgences of popularity most profoundly in the 1920s, with the revival of Victorian upholstery. Historical relevance aside, tufting adds a firm support, lumbar comfort an air of unusualness and well, here at Russell & Mackenna we just love the look.