Doing more with less is a trend we will see more of in the near future, likely for years to come. Here in Maine, that often means learning to live well in less space. Some make a change for convenience; others must do so out of necessity. For a small percentage of people, motivation comes from a sense of moral duty to reduce our impact on the planet’s resources.
Plenty of blogs and columns offer design tips for people with smaller spaces. Rather than offer more design tips, or comments on products you can’t find nearby, we thought instead to present solutions we’ve made available here in southern Maine. Some of the simplest ideas can seem impossible to find. As a partial punch list, here are a few winning products we’ve found or developed:
1.We had to design a line of sofas and chairs to meet an unmet need: attractive upholstery that is comfortable without being bulky or oversized. With help from our customers and favorite suppliers in North Carolina, we created a line of smaller pieces just for smaller spaces, built for lifelong use and affordably hand-crafted from eco-friendly materials.
2.Comfortable sleep sofas: downsizing for seniors often means reducing material needs to a few well chosen, high quality pieces of furniture, yet affordable sleep sofas were inadequate: too firm for sitting and far too uncomfortable for sleeping. By improving the innerspring mattress, fold-out mechanism, and seat cushions, we created premium quality USA-made sleepers comfortable enough to sit and sleep on every day. Unfortunately, better quality comes at a higher price, and today that’s out of reach for more people than ever.
3.Sleep sofas at lower price points, however, tend to be uncomfortable and poorly made. Not so any longer: new designs derived from luxury RV’s now offer comfort, durable American construction, built-in storage, and smaller footprints. Firm, rugged air mattresses inflate and deflate in 45 seconds, and prices start under $1000!
4.Modular furniture was never comfortable, attractive or affordable until recently. Now you can fit a huge sectional into an attic or basement, and it won’t sit or look like a futon.
5.Murphy was onto something, but few fold-up wallbeds are worth the investment. We’ve tried many, and now offer a range of American- and Maine-made models for everyday use that combine style, quality, efficiency, and value. With our convertible desk beds, you can effortlessly turn a study or spare room into a proper guest suite in just a few seconds.
6.Our own platform storage bed designs came from studying others we found lacking from a safety or design standpoint. Available in any size, we transform underutilized space into cavernous, dust-free and easy-to-access storage.
7.Smaller bookshelves, entertainment centers, and tables are hard to find.We’ve assembled an assortment of smaller coffee tables, end tables, dining tables, and bookcases, and can custom-size many of them, too.
From built-ins to multi-purpose furniture, there are many ways to make the most of limited space!
For more information contact Ross Endicott at Endicott Home Furnishings (207) 883-3264 or online at www.condofurniture.com