Journal

A tabby cat's paw resting on the arm of a sofa upholstered in a smooth, tightly woven fabric
Cats, claws and weave: why the fabric's structure matters more than its finish
No upholstery is immune to a cat's claws, and anyone who says otherwise is selling something. But the structure of a fabric decides whether a claw hooks a loop and... Read more...
Hands unzipping a removable off-white cover from a sofa seat cushion
Washable covers or stain-resistant fabric: which one matters for your dog
The two most common pet-friendly claims solve different problems. A stain-resistant finish buys you time; a removable, machine-washable cover fixes what the finish couldn't. Here is how each works, where... Read more...
A piece of woven upholstery fabric, new on one half and worn thin from abrasion on the other
Rub counts explained: what 15,000, 30,000 and 100,000 actually tell you
Every performance fabric comes with an abrasion number. Here is how the Wyzenbeek and Martindale tests work, why the two cannot be converted into each other, what counts as enough... Read more...
Water droplets beading on a stack of tightly woven upholstery fabric swatches in oatmeal, sand and warm grey
What "performance fabric" actually means, and what it doesn't
Performance fabric is a category, not a guarantee. Here is what the term covers, the three ways a fabric earns it, how to read the spec sheet behind the label,... Read more...
The Haven hardwood-frame dog bed by Mafé
Modern dog beds and dog sofas that don't ruin the room
How to choose a dog bed by the way your dog sleeps, when orthopedic or raised beds make sense, why the cover decides how long a bed lasts, and how... Read more...
Fresco furniture-style dog crate used as a side table in a living room
A dog crate that looks like furniture: what to check before you buy
A furniture-style crate lets your dog keep a quiet den in the room the family uses. Here is how to size one from the inside, why two doors matter, what... Read more...