I'm so inspired by the January Jumpstart projects that I'm starting my own project. I have a great built-in window seat in my East Bay apartment and I'd love to make it a comfortable place to read, drink coffee and web surf. I'd like to find a place that sells good, sturdy foam and hopefully will cut it to my specified dimensions. Know of any places? I plan to cover it myself, I have a simple idea that I think will work well.
Thanks,
Adriana
Adriana,
We did a similar project a few years ago and had a good experience a few years ago with The Famous Foam Factory in Berkeley. We also had them make a removable cover for our foam mattress with fabric we supplied. Three years later both the mattress and the cover are holding up well. They carry a large selection of different foams, and will help you select the type and thickness appropriate for your project. They're located at 2397 San Pablo Ave in Berkeley and you can call them at 510.841.9001.
We've written about Foam Order before; they have locations in San Francisco and San Rafael, as well as online ordering.
We've also heard good things about Bob's Foam Factory in Fremont, but don't have any experience with them ourselves.
Anyone else have a recommendation for Adriana?
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the only place I've ever bought foam in the bay area is at the surplus store in mountain view. they only sell them in bed sizes, though, but they come in varying thicknesses. you might get a better deal if you buy online...
view tomahto's profile
I have a similar window seat space I wanted to do the same to... though I'm in New York. Any suggestions?
view mikey_hong's profile
I've heard some bad things about The Foam Factory and also from yelp:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/famous-foam-factory-berkeley#hrid:PHs_bXuQ9Yso7AKXOGSvdQ/query:foam
I just went to Foam Creations in Albany for the third time in a few years. Great service and selection.
1120 Solano Avenue
Albany, Ca.
510 526 7186
view oakland's profile
Try your local fabric stores. Up here in Portland, OR we have Fabric depot, and they have a variety of sizes of foam, and they cut it to your specifications. Maybe you can call around local upholstery stores to see where they would go.
view aphrodite's profile
I agree... The Famous Foam Factory in Berkeley.
A "cold cured foam" is long lasting.
Add a layer of cotton, then a layer of down feathers and you'll have a super-comfy window seat!
view Kryz's profile
Ditto aphrodite's comment about fabric stores. I've even bought foam mattresses there.
view Lisa Hunter's profile
There's also "House of Foam" (best name ever) in downtown Palo Alto on Hamilton. They've got a large selection and they'll cut to whatever size you want.
view MayaOnFiya's profile
JoAnn Fabric also has cheap decent foam and they have an electric knife at their cutting table....the only difficult thing is they have a "one cut" rule to save them $$ so you have to complain and say you'll buy the extra scrap and then they'll do the second cut.
view lisanhough's profile
We purchased a foam cushion from foamorder for just this purpose and it was great. Although this was a few years back, we called them and got a break on the delivery by going to the SF location in person to pick up the foam instead of having it shipped. I found their website very helpful, although the store itself is pretty shopworn.
view dot's profile
In case you do need to cut or trim foam use an electric carving knife. Cuts foam like buttah! My upholsterer uses one and all my stuff turned out nice for the tour ;-)
view JamesinSF's profile
mikey, I've purchased foam for chair seats at AAA Economy Foam & Futons, at 175 E. Houston.
view greer's profile