Page 138 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2025

The Perfect Sofa
story by Holly Harrison and Shannon Stage
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Sassy Bird Interiors
211 Main St. Bay St. Louis 228.344.3181 | www.sassybirdinteriors.com
Holly Harrison has been a licensed interior designer for over 35 years. Shannon Stage has spent nearly 20 years in the giftware
industry. Together they own Sassy Bird Interiors in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
Well, it is officially hotter than blue blazes. It’s August in South Mississippi, and the dog days of summer are upon
us. There’s just no getting away from the heat and humidity. And while Southern nanas may tell themselves—and any other female in the family—that this suffocating, sticky weather is good for our complexions, it certainly isn’t good for our attitudes.
On those days when the heat smacks you in the face, the waters of the Mississippi Sound feel like a warm bath, and even afternoon showers don’t knock down the temperature, all you can do is seek some air conditioning, pour a glass of sweet tea, plop down on the sofa and put your feet up.
A good sittin’ sofa is one of the three furniture must-haves for the home, along with a table for eating and a bed for sleeping. It’s typically the focus of the living area and where we relax, watch television and visit with one another. The
ability to accommodate more than one person—and the luxury of being able to stretch out when a nap calls—makes the sofa an important piece of furniture and worthy of serious thought, whether you’re buying one for the first time or replacing an old one. Sofas can be among the more expensive pieces of furniture we purchase.
Size, style and durability are all qualities to consider. Know the size of your space before you start shopping. Standard
sofas are 82 to 86 inches long. Longer sofas—around 96 to 98 inches—are
easily available, and even larger ones can be custom ordered. The back height of sofas has changed a bit in recent years, getting shorter—typically around 32 to 34 inches from the ground. Anything lower may feel noticeably short with little back support, while anything over 36 inches is considered a high back. Some newer sofa styles are deeper than you may be used to, and you might find that you need a pillow behind your back to feel comfortable.
138 | August 2025
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
Put Your Feet Up and Elevate Your Living Space