Saturday 1 February 2014

Let technology help you choose your next mattress

Need help choosing your next mattress maybe try bringing this into the bedroom!

www.halstead.ca

3-D Pressure Imaging

Halstead Sofa and Mattress Makers ergonomic pressure imaging systems identifies the optimal mattress design to meet YOUR unique body type and sleep positions. We have you relax on a variety of different mattress combinations and the pressure imaging software captures your different sleep preferences on each mattress and compares the results. Mattresses are compared and ranked based on peak pressures and contact area (mattress support) This will also show you and your partner how to alleviate your pressure points that can cause discomfort and ensure proper orthopedic support by measuring the mattress surface contact area. This technology will fit each person to a mattress based on their unique body profile. Again showing how two personalize sleep zones may be right for you.

MATTRESS PRESSURE IMAGING SYSTEM
How pressure imaging helps!
A tool to help customers and patients get a better night sleep by selecting a better mattress for
Your unique body type and sleeping preference
Provides tangible information to help make a decision with confidence.
Helps ensure customers choose a comfortable mattress the first time.
Take the results back to the health care provider to discuss the results.
Exclusive to HALSTEAD Custom Adjust System. This enables you to change your comfort level
AFTER you take the mattress home without changing the entire mattress.
403.259.4444

Monday 20 January 2014

Upholstered Headboards - Not all Squares are Created Equal.


Halstead Sofa and Mattress Makers
Stylish Upholstered Headboards
stunning, glamorous, luxurious, simple
www.halstead.ca

 


Upholstered headboards can be a staple in different ways as there are many different designs & styles that your room can be built around. As an example squares are not all created equal, changes to the fabric, thickness and finishing touches can be modified for a unique take on the basic square headboard. There are so many affordable options, check out some of my favorite square styles. 

Upholstered Headboards
Square Upholstered Headboard

A simple square headboards can be made in any height or width. You can also have a matching base. Standard square headboards start at $399.99 plus fabric.

Upholstered Headboard
Sharp Square Upholstered Headboard

You can change the look of a square headboard with nail head trim. Nail head comes in many different styles, colors, sizes and shapes.
Upholstered Headboards
Soft Square Upholstered Headboard
This is a beautiful square headboard with simple buttons
Upholstered Headboards
Soft Square Upholstered Headboard


The fabric is wrapped on the frame to give this a soft square appearance and not the sharp square corners.
Sharp Square Upholstered Headboard
This is a beautiful simple headboard with off set buttons to give some dimension and visual interest. 

Upholstered Headboard
Square Headboard with sewn square construction
This headboard can be framed in any height and width. To achieve this look you want a minimum 5 inch depth frame with extra poly wrap to give the depth of the buttons and the deep pillow look. 

Upholstered Headboards
Upholstered Headboard - Diamond Tufting
Upholstered Headboards
Diamond tufted with a stylish crystal



Diamond tufting is a dramatic stunning application. The buttons can be done in the same fabric or kick it up with a metal finishing nail or crystal. 



  
Upholstered Headboards
Square Upholstered Headboard 

This is a square picture frame headboard. You can achieve this look with piping or nail head. If you want to change the look, use one fabric on the outside and a complimentary fabric in the middle. 

Upholstered Headboards
Square Upholstered Headboard
This is a sharp square headboard that has nail head to frame the button tufting.

Upholstered Headboards
Square Headboard - Vertical Channel
This look can be achieved with vertical channels or horizontal. There is no limitations on height or width.
Upholstered Headboards
Square Headboard - Tiles
This tiled headboard with directional fabric gives an interesting dimension and focal point to any room. 




CUSTOM UPHOLSTERED HEADBOARD custom made by Halstead Sofa and Mattress Makers in Calgary Alberta come in a variety of styles and         coverings and range in styles from contemporary to modern. You can choose a headboard and upholstered frame or just the headboard. You also have a choice in some incredible fabrics and leathers

As you can see there is no standard square headboard and your imagination is our blueprint.  

If you would like a quote or chat about your headboard projects please give us a call or email us your thoughts. 

403.259.4444









Friday 8 June 2012

How much sleep do kids really need?



Baby Sleeping, Halstead
While a small percentage of children have disrupted sleep because of sleep apnea, a far greater percentage are exhausted, irritable, and distracted throughout the day because of poor sleep habits. Dr. Dennis Rosen, associate medical director of the Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders at Boston Children’s Hospital, blames the digital age. “It’s always tempting to send one more text or check one more thing on Facebook but that distracts kids from relaxing and keeps them from going to sleep.” Compounding the problem: teens’ growing reliance on caffeinated energy drinks and Starbucks, which often keeps them wired into the wee hours.
Here are some rules Rosen sets for his own children to improve the quantity and quality of their sleep.
No bright light for two hours before bedtime. “It has a direct effect on the body’s internal clock,” explained Rosen, “and tends to push back falling asleep time” by fooling the body into thinking it’s still daytime. Blue light backgrounds on computer screens tend to pose the biggest problem, he added.
Disengage from electronic media at least hour before bedtime. Rosen shuts off the wireless router in his house so his kids can’t use the Internet after a certain time each night. Parents can also confiscate smartphones so they’ll be fully charged in the morning (if they need an excuse).
Keep temperatures moderate and pets out of bed. Rosen recommends keeping the thermostat set at 65 to 74 degrees F. “Pets also shouldn’t be jumping in and out bed when a child is trying to sleep.”
Ban caffeinated beverages after noon. Drinking these later in the day can interfere with a child’s ability to fall asleep at night.
Set a regular sleep schedule, even on weekends. Kids should wake up and go to bed at the same time each day, which is especially tough for sleep-deprived high schoolers who want to sleep in on Saturday. At the very least, get them back on schedule on Sunday.
Get bright light in the morning. A dose of sunlight helps reduce morning drowsiness and improve sleep at night, said Rosen. No, morning cartoons are not bright enough to shut off sleep-inducing hormones. Getting them to the bus stop a few minutes early is a better idea.

www.halstead.ca                                                                                                         403.259.4444

THIS STORY APPEARED IN  THE BOSTON MAIL - JUNE 4, 2012

Wednesday 30 May 2012

To Grey or not to Gray


A mix between black and white, gray is by definition a neutral. But its varying shades, from light dove to dark charcoal, make gray versatile as any color. According to some Grey and Gray are the same thing just spelled differently, according to others it’s a completely different color swatch, and to others it’s not a color at all. For the simplicity of this post, I will refer to this color as G.R.A.Y as Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary says so.
Gray is still hot and one of the most popular colors clients request for all their upholstery needs. 

Some hints and tips with decorating with Gray
  • Add plenty of texture, or pattern
  • Add different shades of grey together
  • Add variety of light sources, gray is already the color of a shadow. Position lights throughout the space at different heights by using a mixture of table lamps, floor lamps, scones and pendants.
  • Add a punch of color in the room.
As for different color combinations that include gray, purple is always a good choice. Red, blue, brown or yellow are also nice options. Since gray a black and white combined, you can also use it with the classical black and white and maybe with some subtle touches of red.

Halstead Sofa and Mattress Makers - Gray Sectional
Gray no longer needs to be saved for stuffy offices and come off as drab; it has become the new tan and is proving to be stylish in both modern and traditional decorating schemes. Enjoy using this versatile color in your room; just remember to identify the right gray color scheme for your space. Pair cool gray with blue for a crisp, classic look or coordinate warmer gray walls with purples and plums for a rich, cozy feel.

Enjoy…..send us your pictures and tell us how you have decorated with this new neutral!

Check out our website for all your upholstery needs. 

Monday 14 May 2012

Wedding Disaster!
Your wedding is meant to be the happiest day of your life it’s supposed to be a day to remember and hopefully for the right reasons.
Our family was invited to my cousins wedding Saturday May 12, 2012 and it’s a story that needs to be told!
My cousin Kevin and his beautiful bride to be Jodi have been together for 12 years and like many young couples have gone through so much and have fought for their love and strength of their relationship. When a wedding date was set we all celebrated in this union as whenever you were in a room with these two you could see the love and admiration they had for each other. The sheer shock and disappointment started Friday night May 11th with the arrival of the wedding party to the venu1008 in Inglewood for the wedding rehearsal. The excitement was apparent with everyone involved as there were two families coming together to support and celebrate this union. However, there was another wedding party there with the same excitement and joy in their eyes. How could this be two wedding parties, two brides, two grooms, and one venue, there must be some mistake…..yes there was a mistake two contracts signed and the venu1008oblivious to this development. Soon it became apparent that only one family was going to be celebrating at the venu1008, contracts were pulled out and scrutinized and the bride and groom that signed first would be granted the venue. Kevin and Jodi at 6:00pm Friday night were told they would have to find another venue for the wedding that was scheduled for the following day! The wedding party and families came together with cell phones in hand calling every place they could think of that might be able to help out! Another venue was found that evening and all invited guests were called with the changes.  PHEW, the next morning at 9:00am the NEW venue called and said they made a mistake and would not be able to accommodate the wedding…..SIX hours prior to Jodi walking down the aisle to marry her best friend and the man of her dreams she is being told once again, “we are sorry” how can something like this happen, how cruel and unfair! 11:30am another venue was found. Port O’Call Calgary Airport Hotel http://www.bwportocallhotel.com/first thought was how sorry we felt for Jodi, and how hard this is on her,Kevin and the families. Second thought was how are they going to pull this off,ceremony and reception with limited time? 
We arrived at the Port O’ Call in at2:30, and the hotel had the wedding posted on their event board and we went to find the ceremony room, WOW it was beautiful, chairs, alter, flowers, music,decorations. We must be in the wrong room; this wedding venue was just decided on a couple hours ago! As family started to flow in we knew we were in the right room and at 3:30 the guests stood as Kevin played his guitar and serenaded his bride down the aisle, there was not a dry eye! At 5:00 the reception doors opened and supper was too be served at 6:00, we found out throughout the evening what this venue did to accommodate this wedding on short notice and it was clear they are committed to customer service and going above and beyond. Port O Call, brought employees in by taxi to get the reception room set up and the meal prepared, and what an unbelievable job they did. The room was beautiful, the supper fantastic and the night was truly magical. I am not sure what would have happened if the Port O' Call wasn’t called, but what I do know is this is an establishment that really went above and beyond and showed that it is a first class wedding facility. 
Brides and Groom plan for months to pull the perfect wedding together and this one with the help of an army of people was planned and executed within hours and proved to be a wedding that will not ever be forgotten. 

Looking back Kevin and Jodi will see that this was one day in a long life together as husband and wife. It didn't go as planned, but it's a sign of the resilience they have as a couple. And they now have a story to tell that is unique and always memorable. 

As a family we are very proud of this couple how they showed that love will conquer all and once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale

Sunday 13 May 2012

This mother’s day I was fortunate enough to spend it with my mother, and there is no other present which is as beautiful as the presence of your mother.  I enjoyed watching my children interact and spend the day with my mom and I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful sight. I remember being a young girl and my mom sharing this poem with me that she clipped from the newspaper. At first I was a bit offended by what she was trying to say but now being a mom of two teenagers I find myself on this mother’s day sharing the same poem with my children.

I HAD THE MEANEST MOTHER IN THE WORLD

WHILE OTHER KIDS HAD CANDY FOR BREAKFAST, I HAD TO EAT CEREAL, EGGS, AND TOAST.
WHILE OTHER KIDS HAD CAKES AND CANDY FOR LUNCH, I HAD A SANDWICH. AS YOU CAN GUESS MY DINNER WAS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER KIDS DINNERS, TOO.

MY MOTHER INSISTED ON KNOWING WHERE WE WERE AT ALL TIMES. YOU'D THINK WE WERE ON A CHAIN GANG OR SOMETHING. SHE HAD TO KNOW WHO OUR FRIENDS WERE AND WHAT WE WERE DOING.

I AM ASHAMED TO ADMIT IT, BUT SHE ACTUALLY HAD THE NERVE TO BREAK THE CHILD LABOR LAW. SHE MADE US WORK! WE HAD TO DO THE DISHES, MAKE THE BEDS, AND LEARN HOW TO COOK. THAT WOMAN MUST HAVE STAYED AWAKE NIGHTS THINKING UP THINGS FOR US KIDS TO DO.

AND SHE INSISTED WE TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. BY THE TIME WE WERE TEENAGERS, SHE WAS MUCH WISER, AND OUR LIVES BECAME MORE UNBEARABLE. NONE OF THIS TOOTING THE CAR HORN FOR US TO COME RUNNING;

SHE  EMBARRESED US TO NO BY INSISTING THAT FRIENDS COME TO THE DOOR TO GET US. I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT MOST OF OUR FRIENDS WERE ALLOWED TO DATE AT THE MATURE AGE OF 12 OR 13, BUT OUR OLD-FASHIONED MOTHERREFUSED TO LET US DATE UNTIL WE WERE 16. SHE REALLY RAISED A BUNCH OF SQUARES. NONE OF US WERE EVER ARRESTED FOR SHOPLIFTING OR BUSTED FOR DOPE.

AND WHO DO WE HAVE TO THANK FOR THIS? YOU'RE RIGHT OUR MEAN MOTHER. I AM TRYING TO RAISE MY CHILDREN TO STAND A LITTLE STRAIGHTER AND TALLER, AND I AM SECRETLY TICKLED TO PIECES WHEN MY CHILDREN CALL ME MEAN.

I THANK GOD FOR GIVING ME THE MEANEST MOTHER IN THE WORLD. OUR COUNTRY DOESN'T NEED A GOOD FIVE- CENT CIGAR: IT NEEDS MORE MEAN MOTHERS LIKE MINE.

Author Unknown



Thursday 26 April 2012

As soon as the sun begins to shine and the BBQ is being used on a regular basis I get the urge to make a summer salsa! This is one of those recipes that the entire family looks forward to. We have incorporated it as part of a meal or an appy! I also love bringing this to a friends house. 

 

Don't be afraid of the tequila, I dislike tequila immensely and have made this recipe with and without it and I must say it DOES add to the flavor and shouldn't be missed!

Please try it and let me know what you think! 

SUMMER SALSA

Ingredients

  • 3 cups seedless watermelon, cubed
  • 1 cup diced cantaloupe
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded and diced
  • 1 cup peeled, seeded and diced cucumber
  • 1/2 cup purple onion, finely diced
  • 1 jalapeño, stemmed, seeded and minced
  • 1/4 cup  finely chopped cilantro
  • 2 tbsp lime juice
  • 2 tbsp orange juice
  • 2 tbsp  tequila
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • Salt and pepper

Directions

Combine watermelon, cantaloupe, pepper, cucumber, onion and jalapeño in a large bowl, leave in fridge for approx 1 hour. In the meantime in a separate bowl, combine cilantro, juice, tequila and oil, whisking to mix. Season with salt and pepper. After the hour pull the fruit mix out of the fridge and drain any of the liquid off. Pour sauce over watermelon mixture. Gently stir to mix. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes before serving. Use as a dip with tortilla chips or serve on top of grilled chicken or white fish.
Makes 5 Cups