Article Testimonials

Cushions Find a Unique Dwelling at Tallulah's Shack

By Frank Gran

My partner, Russ, and I are registered nurses who have been fortunate to travel and work all over California. We've explored decorating styles from the rugged Gold Rush era of small towns in the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Spanish colonial influences in San Diego.

Eventually we headed back home to northern California for good. As a result, we now live a mere 12 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge. From here we enjoy the modern casual influences of San Francisco and the entire Bay Area. Living in Marin County affords us the opportunity to easily take regular trips to wine and recreational areas north of us located in Sonoma County.

The Russian River Resort area in Sonoma County has always been a popular vacation area for residents of San Francisco since late 1800's. The tiny town of Guerneville on the Russian River offers visitors an eclectic selection of stores with fine and collectable artwork, to selections of some of the area's finest wines and cheeses. Several restaurants in Guerneville and other surrounding hamlets feature notable chefs who use the area's fine organic produce and meats to create their wonderful table fare.

The beautiful beaches of the Pacific can be reached in less than 30 minutes due west of town. Kayaking at the mouth of the Russian River and viewing wildlife really connects us to nature and certainly offers up a serene respite not to be forgotten.

Russ and I enjoy renting vacation homes in this area, and have done so for more than 20 years. Eventually, we decided to search for a perfect vacation home we could convert into a vacation rental. After searching for six months, our real estate agent Valerie Pritchard, found a sweet cottage located in the local redwood forest just 10 minutes from town.

Built in 1927, the quaint house is nearly 1,100 square feet, has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. A charming veranda surrounds three sides of the house and has six sets of original French doors. The original fireplace and hearth are still intact. The previous owners had recently completed a high-end remodeling project in the kitchen and bathrooms which included stainless steel appliances and blue slate flooring with radiant heating. We were hooked, and closed in November 2009.

Many homes in this rural area have names. After considering the saucy style and character of this seductive 1927 cottage, we christened it "Tallulah's Shack," with a nod and wink to actress Tallulah Bankhead who was a star in the 30's and 40's. The cottage has many autographed photos of Miss Bankhead and a replica of an Oscar.

Additionally, the house has been casually furnished with a mix of oriental pieces, and upholstered 40's seating, including pillows in smart fabrics. An extensive collection of artfully framed photography is found throughout the house. The connection with the forested area surrounding the home is maintained by extensive use of windows, French doors and skylights.

The cushions are of great construction, beautiful fabric, (Legacy Onyx) and are being much admired by "Tallulah's" guests on the veranda of this upscale Northern California Wine Country retreat. The pre-made bolster cushions made with Parallel Lines Black fabric, are a perfect accent to "Tallulah's" indoor decor. We're glad we found your company!

All of these features make the home a wonderful destination for visitors during throughout the year and is the pampered personal getaway for its owners!

Edited By Daniel Dye

Custom Throw Pillows Bring Comfort to a Cushion Source Customer

By Anita Winter

This photo comes to us courtesy of Carol Pires who lives in the heart of Salinas Valley, "The Salad Bowl of the World," as she and other residents refer to it because of its high production of lettuce, strawberries and mushrooms. The climate is ideal for many beautiful grape vineyards and wineries. Salinas Valley Calif., was also a great setting for many John Steinbeck novels but this quaint setting provides us with another story, one that is authentic and real to many families across this great country.

Salinas Valley is home to the River Road Wine Trail where Carol has lived happily for many years. She had wanted to provide an outdoor area for her family and friends to gather, so she had a Trek deck built four years ago. The only thing that seemed to be lacking in this outdoor area was that extra comfort that only cushions could provide. She had ordered these custom cushions made with beautiful Sunbrella Outdoor fabrics and has enjoyed them ever since.

What makes Sunbrella fabric unique is its durability and strength. These fabrics are made with 100% solution dyed material. Solution dying is a process that adds color to the acrylic fibers during the liquid state. This is what keeps the color true and resilient, without fading. These cushions are also filled with a poly fiber material that helps water run through the cushion during a hard rain which allows the cushion to dry quickly, in turn can help prevent the growth of mold and mildew. Most store bought cushions wouldn't last one season in the outdoor elements but with Sunbrella fabrics, you can enjoy them for many years without worry and constant maintenance.

This deck bench is adorned in Brannon Whisper Sunbrella fabric with coordinating fabrics, Spa and Birds Eye. These cushions provide incredible style and color to this Trek deck along with a cozy casual feel for anyone to enjoy. Carol now says that her outdoor area is perfect for special occasions and annual events. "Our favorite family tradition is during the month of July, when all of our kids and grand kids come to visit for a week, during Pacific Groves Feast of Lanterns celebration. We put 2-6ft tables together along the L bench and eat all of our meals outside. Our favorite time is about 9:00 pm at night when the grand kids are having their final night swim of the evening and the adults are lounging on the cushions, enjoying a last glass of wine under the patio heater".

Indoor living moved outdoors has really become a part of our culture and like Carol, a tradition. The ability to bring loved ones together in a homey comfortable environment is what outdoor living spaces make available. When you decide to invest in your home you are ultimately making an investment in your family.That is priceless.

Chaise Lounge Chairs Complete any Backyard Patio

By Anita Winter

Tucson Arizona was originally an Indian village called "Stook-Zone", meaning water at the foot of black mountain a volcanic mountain adjacent to the village. Tucson is sometimes referred to as "The Old Pueblo" or The Sunshine Factory. It is also one of the oldest towns in the United States. Recent archaeological excavations near the Santa Cruz River have located a village in Tucson dating from 4,000 years ago. It wasn't until 1854 that Tucson officially became part of the United States. The progress and innovation of this urban community has still been able to stay true to its roots. Tucson's rich cultural heritage centers on a blend of Native American, Spanish, Mexican and Anglo-American influences. Tucson has the natural beauty of the Sonora Desert and the beautiful forests of the Santa Catalina Mountains. A dry sunny climate that stays consistently clear from the normal ebb and flow of most places is appreciated by its residents.

Carol Johnson is no exception. The great outdoors is where it all begins for her. Living in an environment where you are crazy not to own a pool is one that Carol loves and appreciates. The Arizona is hot and intense in the summer dry heat and requires shade, water and relaxation. This is a picture of exactly that; a beautiful pool, surrounded by breathtaking scenery. Carol extended the size of her patio which allowed more room for this outdoor getaway. She purchased chaise lounge chair cushions to add comfort and style to her patio. She said We added on to our patio and had more room for chaises and ordered cushions from Cushion Source. Outdoor fabrics have to be strong and durable when put under extreme heat conditions. We went with a white (natural #5404) Sunbrella fabric because of our intense sun, because we have lots of color from the surroundings.

Sunbrella fabrics are known for their fade free quality. They are made with solution dyed yarn which means the fibers are colored during the liquid state. This allows the color to penetrate throughout the fibers instead of just one layer. If you compare a radish to a carrot, you'll see what we mean. When you slice into a radish you'll notice that the red color stops at the first layer while a sliced carrot shows color throughout.

But Sunbrella doesnt stop there. It comes with a 5 year warranty against staining, fading and mildewing on outdoor fabrics and a 10 year warranty on awning grade materials for umbrellas, awnings and boat covers. Carol is proud of her purchase. We love our cushions; they stay out year round and are easy to clean. We guarantee that you'll love our cushions as well!

Custom Seat Cushions Enjoyed by Intrepid Travelers

By Anita Winter

Peggy Cochran and her husband, Fred, live in close proximity to the beautiful Yosemite National Park. Yosemite spans several eastern counties in east central California and for this retired couple, is an incredible place to enjoy their outdoor lifestyle, revel in the lovely weather and take in the glorious views.

The park stretches an area of approximately 761,268 acres and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains which explains the unique features and geography of the landscape. 95 percent of Yosemite is wilderness and is admired for the giant Sequoia groves, huge waterfalls and impressive granite cliffs.

The Cochran's home sits on a bluff overlooking gorgeous views and wonderful sunsets."We are enjoying this part of our life and wanted to move close to the Sierra Nevada Mountains because we love to hike and backpack, Peggy said."Our evenings here are usually peaceful and calm, we love sitting on our new custom cushions as we watch the California sun set in the distance and look at our piece of paradise."

Peggy, the wife of a former Navy commander, has lived in many different places and has traveled with these unique set of chairs inherited from Peggy's father-in-law.

"These chairs belonged to my husband's father, and for many years were situated on a beautiful lanai in Honolulu, Hawaii. We eventually inherited many pieces of furniture from 'Grampa Frank' and the wrought iron was part of the batch."

Peggy would have sewn homemade cushions for these special chairs herself but after watching television and seeing our commercial she thought she would let Cushion Source handle constructing the custom-made cushions.

"The quality of these custom cushions is incredible! First, I studied the Cushion Source website and its numerous fabric selections. I had a tough time deciding on the perfect fabric so I ordered a few samples which arrived in a few days. After picking THE right fabric, I measured the seats, plugged those dimensions into the custom cushion tool, chose the fabric and options and submitted the order."I had to let go of my concerns about ordering from a source I was not familiar with. I am thrilled I did! The cushions are exactly what we wanted and the entire process from the time I saw the television commercial until the finished cushions arrived took less than two months."

Peggy chose an indoor fabric called Reflections. This fabric is a great match to her grey antique wrought iron chairs. These cushions give a more subtle, monochromatic look but complement the stone floor. With plenty of extra time to spend with the grandkids this sweet couple will enjoy making even more memories with their new seat cushions and classic wrought iron chairs in a gorgeous setting.