What do you think of this sofa?

[boiler717]

I need two sofas for my great (two of the same sofa). I am having a REALLY hard time finding what I want if you recall -- I've been looking for over a year. This still isn't exactly what I want, but it's close. Ideally I would change out the legs to turned legs, but I'm not sure how hard that is to do. The arms are okay -- I wanted something low profile and "swoopy", but I would love if they flared out a bit. I love the nailhead and the back of the sofa (it has some curved detail which is great).

My main objection to it is that it has 3 bottom cushions instead of two. Ideally this couch should seat at least 4, if not 5 people (109 inches long). I'm afraid that with 3 cushions, only 3 people will sit on it. Are there structural advantages to having 3 cushions?




Here's another sofa I really like, but I'd have to find a larger version of it (it only comes in 89 inches), with different legs and nailhead trim:


The top sofa is from Haverty's, manufactured by Berhnardt, $1600 before sale. Bottom is Room & Board, $1300 but we'll have to get national delivery since the closest one is Chicago. Our room is 25 feet long so I think it's too small though.

[lys]

Go to a higher end furniture maker where you choose the different elements (feet, fabric, arms, back, cushions). You will pay more than wh)at you are posting. (actually I think a sofa at your price will not last long if used on a regular basis)

[lys]

Go to a higher end furniture maker where you choose the different elements (feet, fabric, arms, back, cushions). You will pay more than wh)at you are posting. (actually I think a sofa at your price will not last long if used on a regular basis)

[katecoop]

I really like the first one (and we have a sectional from Haverty's and we LOVE it) but if it is not exactly what you want, then I would pass. I don't think 5 people would sit on it because someone would be sitting in a crack.

[boiler717]

Feb 25, 2013 8:24:00 GMT -5 lys said:

Go to a higher end furniture maker where you choose the different elements (feet, fabric, arms, back, cushions). You will pay more than wh)at you are posting. (actually I think a sofa at your price will not last long if used on a regular basis)

Do you have a specific place you can recommend? I've been to just about every furniture place I can find between Indy and Chicago and haven't found a place that can put together a sofa I want. I have no problem spending around $3k per sofa, I just haven't found one, even one where I put together the pieces, that has the options I want. All of the the places where I piece together elements don't typically have the type of arms I like or don't come without back cushions, and they don't have nailhead. I'd love to have some recommendations!

However, both Room & Board and Bernhardt have fantastic reputations for furniture manufacturers. I'm pretty confident in a piece I buy from them. I am pretty picky about who I would buy pieces from for this room and they are a few of of the companies who would make the cut.

My original plan was the drop some serious change on these couches and have them for a very long time. They are going in our great room, but our great room is not our family room, it is more like a formal living room. It will not have a TV and is more of our area for spending time with people when entertaining, not for every day watching TV type of furniture. So I'm wondering if I should find something more basic from a quality manufacturer and move on since I'm getting so frustrated.

[munkii]

Not a fan of the first, but second seems very short for what you need. Here are some suggestions, but none of them meet your exact wants:

108", tight back, low arms, nailhead trim, but it has 4 cushions:
www.kittles.com/Bernhardt-Interiors-Palisades-Sofa/478214-1257/ItemInformation.aspx

102", low arms, nailhead trim, but it has 4 cushions and back cushions:
www.thomasville.com/Furniture/All-Furniture/Upholstery-Leather/i319322-Highlife-4-Seat-Sofa-with-Nails.aspx

6", nailhead trim (on arms only), 1 seat cushion, tight tufted back, but it has high arms:
www.zgallerie.com/p-13900-roberto-sofa.aspx

100", nailhead trim, tight curved back and seat, but it has high arms and is completely tufted:
www.thomasville.com/Furniture/All-Furniture/Upholstery-Leather/i322014-Ella-Sofa.aspx

I'm adding this one just because. It's not something I would buy just because I'm iffy on buying furniture from Overstock, but here it is:
www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/JAR-Designs-Flynn-Mocha-Sofa/3147332/product.html

[boiler717]

Feb 25, 2013 9:13:36 GMT -5 munkii said:

Not a fan of the first, but second seems very short for what you need. Here are some suggestions, but none of them meet your exact wants:

108", tight back, low arms, nailhead trim, but it has 4 cushions:
www.kittles.com/Bernhardt-Interiors-Palisades-Sofa/478214-1257/ItemInformation.aspx

Thanks, Munkii! I like the first one too. I was just at Kittle's last week and didn't see it there. Here's a PIP for those playing along at home:

I think it looks much taller than the one I posted but they are actually the same height -- I think because the one I posted leans back. I do think 4 cushions is probably more practical, though.

[katecoop]

Ohhhh I really like that one, boiler!

[spankswife]

I really like all of them!! I agree about the 3 cushion issue, the one from Munkii is great!

One thing I noticed, with a long sofa like that, I prefer it to have the leg in the center as well. It will add much more support, so it doesn't bow, or even crack in the center.

[ssmjlm]

Feb 25, 2013 10:35:14 GMT -5 @callmefia said:

Also, do you think your groups are likely to stuff themselves on a sofa 4 or 5 wide? I notice that some people are cool and some aren't. My family would be unlikely but my friends family normally jumps in. I considered the amount of seating and how comfortable people would be all sitting with each other.

This would be my question. I love my friends, but we're not the type to pile 4-5 deep on a sofa. So 2 big sofas would look great, but in the end, probably 3 people would be on them.

[sratsey]

Having both, I found that, especially with a sofa that long, the 3 cushions hold their shape a lot better than the two large cushions.
When the time comes to replace my sofas, I'm definitely going with 3 or 4 smaller seat cushions even though, aesthetically, I prefer the look of two.
I also love the tight back. I bought loose backs because I love to sink into a sofa, but I feel like I'm constantly fluffing the large pillows.

[boiler717]

Feb 25, 2013 10:41:35 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

Feb 25, 2013 10:35:14 GMT -5 @callmefia said:

Also, do you think your groups are likely to stuff themselves on a sofa 4 or 5 wide? I notice that some people are cool and some aren't. My family would be unlikely but my friends family normally jumps in. I considered the amount of seating and how comfortable people would be all sitting with each other.

This would be my question. I love my friends, but we're not the type to pile 4-5 deep on a sofa. So 2 big sofas would look great, but in the end, probably 3 people would be on them.

I think for a normal size sofa, 3 people would be max. But I don't think it's unreasonable to think 4 people would size on a sofa that's 9 feet long. That's a really big sofa! Most sofas where 3 people sit are 6.5-7.5 feet long. We had four people sitting on the first one in the furniture store, and both my mom and I plus sized and no one was even close to touching but it was awkward with 3 cushions.

I definitely want no back cushions on the sofa. I wouldn't style it the way the first one is done, more like the second one.

ETA: I will size 5 people would be cozy. That would be for girl's night or with my cousins . But four people would be cool with strangers.

[boiler717]

Feb 25, 2013 11:12:04 GMT -5 sratsey said:

Having both, I found that, especially with a sofa that long, the 3 cushions hold their shape a lot better than the two large cushions.
When the time comes to replace my sofas, I'm definitely going with 3 or 4 smaller seat cushions even though, aesthetically, I prefer the look of two.
I also love the tight back. I bought loose backs because I love to sink into a sofa, but I feel like I'm constantly fluffing the large pillows.

That's good to hear! The sales person for sofa 1 was telling me that, but I wasn't sure if it was just because they didn't have any with 2 cushions or because it was actually true.

I'm leaning toward finding something with 4 cushions now instead of 1-2. That will probably reopen some doors I had previously shut. I think for something this long I need 4 instead of 3.

[boiler717]

Feb 25, 2013 11:24:29 GMT -5 @callmefia said:

Feb 25, 2013 11:12:23 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

I think for a normal size sofa, 3 people would be max. But I don't think it's unreasonable to think 4 people would size on a sofa that's 9 feet long. That's a really big sofa! Most sofas where 3 people sit are 6.5-7.5 feet long. We had four people sitting on the first one in the furniture store, and both my mom and I plus sized and no one was even close to touching but it was awkward with 3 cushions.

I definitely want no back cushions on the sofa. I wouldn't style it the way the first one is done, more like the second one.

ETA: I will size 5 people would be cozy. That would be for girl's night or with my cousins . But four people would be cool with strangers.

Ok. I notice that people usually sit at the ends. Not many people like to be sandwiched so it wasn't so much size as being comfortable. I generally only sit in the middle if my H is next to me so I can lean on/invade his space. Otherwise I'm uncomfortable between my SIL and FIL etc. lol. You can see I've thought about this! Ha! 

If this doesn't register with you, then you must be a jump in person! Lol. I decided on a sectional after being at my friend's house with her fam and like, 20 people cram in on her sectional. I usually am not one of them. Lol. And I tried to consider how many people could comfortably sit on our sectional. It's probably got more real estate than your couch but I still figure only 5 max - 3 on the long side and 2 on the short. Nobody counted in the corner.  

LOL! The sectional corner is my favorite spot So cozy!

[sratsey]

Feb 25, 2013 11:20:41 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

Feb 25, 2013 11:12:04 GMT -5 sratsey said:

Having both, I found that, especially with a sofa that long, the 3 cushions hold their shape a lot better than the two large cushions.
When the time comes to replace my sofas, I'm definitely going with 3 or 4 smaller seat cushions even though, aesthetically, I prefer the look of two.
I also love the tight back. I bought loose backs because I love to sink into a sofa, but I feel like I'm constantly fluffing the large pillows.

That's good to hear! The sales person for sofa 1 was telling me that, but I wasn't sure if it was just because they didn't have any with 2 cushions or because it was actually true.

I'm leaning toward finding something with 4 cushions now instead of 1-2. That will probably reopen some doors I had previously shut. I think for something this long I need 4 instead of 3.

I have to flip those bottom cushions EVERY.SINGLE.DAY

[pitterwoo]

Feb 25, 2013 9:22:17 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

Feb 25, 2013 9:13:36 GMT -5 munkii said:

Not a fan of the first, but second seems very short for what you need. Here are some suggestions, but none of them meet your exact wants:

108", tight back, low arms, nailhead trim, but it has 4 cushions:
www.kittles.com/Bernhardt-Interiors-Palisades-Sofa/478214-1257/ItemInformation.aspx

Thanks, Munkii! I like the first one too. I was just at Kittle's last week and didn't see it there. Here's a PIP for those playing along at home:

I think it looks much taller than the one I posted but they are actually the same height -- I think because the one I posted leans back. I do think 4 cushions is probably more practical, though.

I love this one!  And now that I see the look of 4 cushions I really like it a lot.

[tarheels]

So I'm really late to this party, but I'd love to give my thoughts:

- Phoebe Howard does back to back couches pretty often. Maybe check out her site/blog/image google for inspiration pics if you're in need of any.

- Have you ever had a 2 cushion couch? It's lousy for just one or two people. When you lay down at night to watch tv, the gap is right where you want to sit or tuck your feet. In theory, more people could fit on it, but people seem to look at them and think "loveseat" and only 2 people fit on it.

- That brings me to my rec: 1 cushion. I have it now and LOVE it. Great for parties bc people smush on and don't feel awkward about being in each other's space bc there's not really.

- I confess I don't care for the 4 cushion couch PIP'd in the thread. It doesn't look comfortable for everyday living.

- The couch you first PIP'd is called an English Roll Arm. I think it's a great, classic style that you can reupholster for 50 years and you won't regret purchasing it.

- These couches all look HUGE. I assume if you're planning 2 of them, you have a really big space to begin with, but I just want to be sure you've got the scale right before you order something so expensive.

[lys]

Smith Brother of Berne is an excellent company that does custom furniture - great quality and a bit pricey -
Norwalk and Flexsteel also do semi-custom at a moderate price range

[boiler717]

Thanks Tarheels! Your post was very helpful.

The room they are going in is a two story, 20x25 room. I'm planning on the two couches (across from each other) and four chairs. I'd love opinions on the right size couch for the room.

Our great room is not going to have a TV or really be our lounging area. We have a sunroom right by there, too, and we have our comfy sectional TV and TV in there. We also have a TV in the game room. This room will kinda function as a formal living room, but more as a giant entertaining room.

I would LOVE to find a single cushion. The was my first preference. I just haven't been able to do so yet. I agree they are awesome.

[boiler717]

Feb 25, 2013 19:40:11 GMT -5 lys said:

Smith Brother of Berne is an excellent company that does custom furniture - great quality and a bit pricey -
Norwalk and Flexsteel also do semi-custom at a moderate price range

Quote!

[tarheels]

Feb 25, 2013 20:11:54 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

Thanks Tarheels! Your post was very helpful.

The room they are going in is a two story, 20x25 room. I'm planning on the two couches (across from each other) and four chairs. I'd love opinions on the right size couch for the room.

Our great room is not going to have a TV or really be our lounging area. We have a sunroom right by there, too, and we have our comfy sectional TV and TV in there. We also have a TV in the game room. This room will kinda function as a formal living room, but more as a giant entertaining room.

I would LOVE to find a single cushion. The was my first preference. I just haven't been able to do so yet. I agree they are awesome.

Ohhh, ok. Misunderstood about the couches, but PH often works in large scale, so i still think she's worth checking out. Have you checked my Pinterest decor board? Since I'm a pretty dressy girl, I have a good number of more formal spaces that I think would apply here. Oh, I'm on my phone, but I know I just pinned one a couple days ago that was for how to bring 2 story rooms down to human size - on my decor board - a pic with tan couches and blue curtains - click thru to read the blog post it came from.

[boiler717]

Feb 26, 2013 0:55:22 GMT -5 tarheels said:

Feb 25, 2013 20:11:54 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

Thanks Tarheels! Your post was very helpful.

The room they are going in is a two story, 20x25 room. I'm planning on the two couches (across from each other) and four chairs. I'd love opinions on the right size couch for the room.

Our great room is not going to have a TV or really be our lounging area. We have a sunroom right by there, too, and we have our comfy sectional TV and TV in there. We also have a TV in the game room. This room will kinda function as a formal living room, but more as a giant entertaining room.

I would LOVE to find a single cushion. The was my first preference. I just haven't been able to do so yet. I agree they are awesome.

Ohhh, ok. Misunderstood about the couches, but PH often works in large scale, so i still think she's worth checking out. Have you checked my Pinterest decor board? Since I'm a pretty dressy girl, I have a good number of more formal spaces that I think would apply here. Oh, I'm on my phone, but I know I just pinned one a couple days ago that was for how to bring 2 story rooms down to human size - on my decor board - a pic with tan couches and blue curtains - click thru to read the blog post it came from.

I'm on my phone too but I'll take a look! What do you think about that size couch for the room?

[lys]

Have you considered working an interior designer? I did 5 years ago (for a charge of $75e /hr with no obligation to buy from her -- mostly advice on furniture scale, placement, color, artwork size & pancement, area rugs etc)
Some have no houry fee if you buy from them--might be helpful and worth it to you when you are spending alot or have many decisions that need to work together. (or if you are a "decorating dummie" like me)

[tarheels]

I'd have to see the room. While yes, technically the room CAN take a 9' couch, I don't know that it should. That almost reaches airport terminal seating proportions to me. I think 9 ft sofas, plus end tables, will spread the area out so big you'll have to shout to talk to someone on the other side. I'd want to bring the seating area in to be cozier - ground it with a rug, an upholstered ottoman, some chairs - and you need shorter sofas to do it.