Furniture-Again!

[famorose]

I should have posted this question under the previous discussion on sewing room furniture but having searched out the site, & several others, the answer I needed was not there.

How does one get to see & touch some of the Horn/Koala sewing cabinets? My collection of web site pictures & catalog ads just isn't enough to make a decision.  If I could just see some of the cabinets sitting in a room it would be a lot easier than trying to measure my existing space & compare that to the measurements in the ads. I will be using a long, narrow den with very little clear wall space so whatever I buy might have to sit in the middle.

I would also like to check out the construction because there are some big price differences between some manufacturers for the same type of cabinet.

I live near the area where the MD, PA & DE lines all come together. Does anybody know if there's a showroom or a warehouse that might have something on display in that general area? Or, is on line buying the only option?

Thanks,
famorose

[Lisa]

I live near the area where the MD, PA & DE lines all come together. Does anybody know if there's a showroom or a warehouse that might have something on display in that general area?

Hi Famorose!

For Horn furniture, their US web site has a dealer locator, and I happen to know that while some of their dealers may sell long-distance, Horn won't even quote their suggested prices!   They want you to go to a dealer...most of whom also won't quote prices.   If you're like me, not only will you get to "see" furniture in person, but you'll get very irritated about having to drive to various dealers in your area to get pricing.   (I've been trying to get the time to find/price/buy this table for over 3 months now!)

I haven't been trying to find Koala furniture, but know that my SM dealer seemed to display similar policies with respect to the Koala furniture they sell.  No quotes over the phone.  Perhaps someone else knows where to find a Koala furniture dealer finder?, but most SM dealers seem to carry one line or the other.  So "check w/ your area SM dealers" is all I can offer on Koala.

Good luck!

Lisa

[PatPrende]

Koala is imported by:

SCS USA
19018 NE Portal Way
Portland, OR  97230
800.547.8025 Toll Free

I purchased mine at one of the Bernina dealers in my area, both of whom have the funiture on display.  My girlfriend, in Southern California, also made her purchases at a Bernina dealer.  We both have found the Koala pieces to be very "user friendly".

I would be happy answer any questions.   

[Pina]

This link
http://www.horn.com.au/contactus.php
is helpful to give you the name of your nearest
retailer.

[Kathleen C.]

Hi Lisa! I was wondering just the other day if you had made your table desicion yet... sounds like it's a lot more work than it should be. But, recently we've tried two other new table systems here at work and I dislike both. The right table height, depth, shape and set-up really matters. Famorose, I think you're right... take your time and insist on seeing the furniture.
Kathleen C.

[famorose]

Thanks all, for the information. Looks like this is going to take awhile!

Lisa, I looked at the table you want. It's not what I had in mind but certainly has some good attributes.
I'm beginning to think that these few companies have the sewing market tied up, what with not posting prices & having items in stores to look at before buying.

Pat, I'll check on a Bernina store next week. Even seeing just one cabinet would help a lot.
I need one with drawers & as much storage as I can get. I have too many individual tables!

Pina, Will go back again to the site & double check but at first glance I didn't see anything in this area.
And, Kathleen, you are right. It takes time.

Believe it or not, just posting this  question, & your answers, has really helped me to narrow my focus down to exactly what would work for me. Thanks.
Famorose

[Towanda]

If you have an idea of what you are looking for check out a local cabinet maker. They may be able to custom make just what you are looking for at a reasonable cost.

[Ann C]

Famorose,

I belong to a Yahoo group   http://groups.yahoo.com/group/yoursewingroom/  that might give you some ideas.  There are tons of pictures of sewing rooms and  lots of pictures of different types of sewing furniture actually in sewing rooms.  You might actually check with a cabinet maker and see about custom countertops just the sizes you need with kitchen-type cabinet under/above them.  My DH built my sewing room cabinets just to my specifications and I have loved it. 

Well - I thought I knew how to insert and url!  Back to the Sand Box! 

Here's a link to pictures of my sewing room with the custom made cabinets. http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/loves2sew25901/album?.dir=84b4&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

[PatPrende]

Pat, I'll check on a Bernina store next week. Even seeing just one cabinet would help a lot.
I need one with drawers & as much storage as I can get. I have too many individual tables!

Famorose

Was it is just a coincidence that both myself and my girlfriend made our Koala purchases at a Bernina dealer?  Do phone the US distributor in Portland, OR, whose contact info is in my earlier post, to locate a dealer near you.

[Lisa]

Pat, I'll check on a Bernina store next week.

Was it is just a coincidence that both myself and my girlfriend made our Koala purchases at a Bernina dealer?  Do phone the US distributor in Portland, OR, whose contact info is in my earlier post, to locate a dealer near you.

Pat, I suspect so, as my Pfaff dealer (who doesn't carry Bernina) carries Koala—even though the Pfaff-USA web site seems to feature Horn.  So I think your suggestion to get in touch with the US distributor is a great one!

Lisa 

[AnnRowley]

I haven't visited this thread before as I didn't think that furniture from the US would interest me.
However, of course I was wrong!. Sewing tables are sewing tables the world over.

I've had a Horn table for years and there is one thing I'd llke to suggest you consider - are you sitting in front of the needle, where all the action is, or is your chair centered on the middle of the machine?
Take a look at the girl in the wheelchair at the bottom of this page and see how she has to twist round - I can feel that back ache! - to get at her sewing. It would apply equally to the office type chair that most of us use.
I suspect it was designed by a man who didn't sew!

At a recent show I saw a new design with much more space to the left of the chair so that you could sit directly in front of the needle - rather like this one where the needle is in the centre of the space.

One more thing to think about...?

[PatPrende]

At a recent show I saw a new design with much more space to the left of the chair so that you could sit directly in front of the needle - rather like this one where the needle is in the centre of the space.

One more thing to think about...?

Absolutely!  The Koala catalogue specifies if the cabinet allows the sewer to sit "center of the needle".  If that phrase is omitted in the copy  . . .   

The Horn of Australia cabinets are the same, sometimes with different model names, as the Koala cabinets sold in the US.  Horn of America is a competing line of cabinets sold in the US.  Are they somehow connected corporately?  I have no idea . . .   

[famorose]

Thanks to all.
What this little exercise did was to force me to focus much more closely to what I'm trying to do here. It really helped to narrow things down.

Conclusion:
I need a cabinet for my Pfaff with a right angle extension for the serger. At the same time I wanted some drawer space for those little utensils that get so much use. I only found one that had drawers but figured that those oblong storage trays, on the doors, would do just as well.
The Horn 2178 fills the bill but it might be too high in price. I will check on that.
The Sylvia 1000 is a bit high too & with shipping would probably run over $1000.
The Perfection PXD 550/551 is posted at $699. plus $35. for the insert. Big difference??

I have no idea who makes the last two but does it really matter? In the old days a company's brand name was it's guarentee but with overseas contracts, who knows any more?
Many years ago my DH, now deceased, built several tables for the 3 machines but didn't add any storage in them. Had to leave my home of 40 years & lost my familiar "sewing digs". Now I have to "squnch" all these things together & make room for a desk & computer/printer too, in a different house. Not an easy task!

I visited all the sites & links in all your replies except the Yahoo. The more I got into it the harder it got to make all the choices but will try again later.
Ann C. What a beautiful set up you have. Really nice.
AnnR. Good point about the needle centering.

Happy Fourth!
Famorose




 

 

[fzxdoc]

My Horn of America sewing/serger desk allows me to sit directly in front of the needle.  Since both of my sewing machines (Bernina and Janome) have knee levers to lift the presser foot, I must sit slightly to the left of the opening center, which positions me directly in front of the needle.  There is plenty of room for me and my sewing chair to sit there comfortably.  Ann raises a good point, I think.  How awful it would be to have to twist!

Ann C, ever since you described the construction of your new sewing room a few years back (what a handy DH you have there!) I've been dying to see it in its full glory.  It certainly has exceeded my expectations.  It's gorgeous!  You must feel like sewing royalty, living in such a marvelous sewing space!  Enjoy every minute there!  Thanks, too, for the link to the sewingroom group on Yahoo.  I'm am in the process of designing a new sewing room as well, so that link and your photos come at a perfect time.

[cmarie12]

Ann C. ~ if I had your sewing room they would have to drag me kicking and screaming out of there!  It is beautiful!  I am sure that you enjoy working, dreaming and creating there.  What a wonderful DH to make so many of the beautiful pieces in there!

[Ann C]

Carolyn,  you're right - I really don't care if I ever come up for air when I'm down in my sewing "dungeon"!     I haven't seemed to get much sewing done down here in the past few weeks with all the planning for our 50th anniversary celebration!  Hopefully, now that it's (almost) history, I can get back down to the basics of learning my new Janome 11000.  I've had a sewing room for probably at least  40 years, in several different forms, getting better each time.  Nothing like experience in helping one to find out just how to configure things to make them more useful and more handy!   

Kathryn, you mentioned about DH who built my room - in the process, he bought tons of really great woodworking tools that he had wanted but really had no need for previously!  We figured that for the money saved on him doing the building, he could afford all those tools, router bits, etc., and learn how to use them in the process!  Shades of us and our sewing equipment purchases - right?  Of course, there are lots of them that he hasn't used since while I use most of mine at least weekly, if not daily!

[Marianne]

Ann, I hope you have a WONDERFUL 50th celebration. Are you doing it right on the date on Thursday?

[Ann C]

Marianne,  We actually have had the biggest celebration the weekend of the 25th - relatives came from Texas and Colorado, but our kids are sending us for a romantic stay at Graceland Inn at Elkins, WV (an old, turn of the century mansion/turned bed & breakfast-conference center) at Davis & Elkins college this weekend as part of our anniversary gift.  We are going to be in the Ellen Bruce Lee suite with all the accoutrements of the time (marble bathroom with large claw foot tub, sitting room, etc., etc. ).  We've been there several times and absolutely love the beautiful, old mansion.  Oops - sorry for getting completely off topic here!  I think I'm still on a high here!

[quilteddogs]

I'm late in joining this discussion but I just got a new Koala cabinet yesterday and it is beautiful.  I already had a very small Horn.  Once everything gets reorganized I will post new photos.  My dealer has Horn, Koala and Sylvia.  His price is very good but I was waiting for the Christmas in July sale and so received a substantial savings.  They were happy to give me prices over the phone.

Love your sewing room Ann C.

[Lisa]

Congratulations on your new cabinet!  I'm looking forward to your pictures...

Lisa