Can we talk about Sofas?

[wawa]

I know this is a frequent topic, but I need to organize my thoughts.  Instead of actually doing that I'm going to try and get you guys to do it for me. 

So...we have come to terms with the fact that our sofa, which was never intended to be a forever piece of furniture anyway (craigslist purchase that I recovered 5 years ago) is falling apart faster that I anticipated.  

we want to get something actually nice.  Well.  Niceish.  We have a dog and two cats and an infant and a budget.

MH and I both agree that we prefer clean lines/squarer styles.  No skirt on the bottom.  No big round arms. No poof. Beyond that we're all over the place.

The biggest style constraint is that I have a sideboard and a rug that are staying.  Sideboard for sure.  Rug for now at least.

PIP of existing stuff:




So...we don't want to spend a TON of money, but we don't even know what a ton is.  I've never bought a new sofa that wasn't from ikea.  How much do you have to spend to get something that will last?  What should I be looking for in terms of fabric and other features?  Brands?    

And just any suggestions in terms of style?  I don't necessarily want something that fits period-wise with the style of that sideboard, but I do want it to play nice and not look like a hodge podge.  At the very least I want it to qualify for "eclectic in a good way."  We're not in any rush.  This is something we're gong to have to save for for a while, so I have time to shop around and contemplate.  Help me with a starting point?

Thanks!

[lb2006]

We have this sofa - it's in 3 parts and super comfy:
giorgibros.com/products/?c=sectionals

we bought it at a steal, but it's a quality Thomasville furniture piece.  i think leather looks timeless and can carry with many themes.

[munkii]

Price: IDK, $2-3K? Obviously, find out when the sales are to go lower.
What to look for: www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/decorating-ideas/sofa-buying-may07
Style: Anything, or try to stick to cleaner transitional pieces if you want direct advice
Brands: Ethan Allen, Thomasville, (I personally like) Thrive (shown below in order)

For example: 

This is mostly clean but adds tufting inside which adds visual interest

Retro, clean, and visually interesting

[wawa]

Dec 17, 2013 16:32:50 GMT -5 munkii said:

Retro, clean, and visually interesting

MH actually just sent me the link to the nixon chair on the thrive website the other day.



So...yes? mid century modern + reproduction federal is not a terrible idea, right? both can tend toward straight lines with pretty wood. It makes sense to me, but I don't trust my own taste with big furniture.

And I'm glad to hear that the quality there is good since I like a lot of the stuff on their site.

[wawa]

anybody have any thoughts on numbers of seat cushions? 2 sounds like a terrible idea even if I like the look since it means that a 3rd person on the sofa is sitting on the crack.

So one giant cushion vs. 3? Pluses and minuses?

[my4girls]

Dec 18, 2013 8:40:06 GMT -5 wawa said:

Dec 17, 2013 16:32:50 GMT -5 munkii said:

Retro, clean, and visually interesting

MH actually just sent me the link to the nixon chair on the thrive website the other day.



So...yes? mid century modern + reproduction federal is not a terrible idea, right? both can tend toward straight lines with pretty wood. It makes sense to me, but I don't trust my own taste with big furniture.

And I'm glad to hear that the quality there is good since I like a lot of the stuff on their site.

I am in love with that chair! I've never heard of thrive before, I'm going to check it out now. That chair is pretty much exactly what I have been looking for 

[Deleted]

www.bassettfurniture.com/Custom-Designed-Sofa--DZ2498.asp

www.bassettfurniture.com/Sofa-DZ29688.asp

www.bassettfurniture.com/Sofa-DZ35645.asp

[demandypants]

our last sofa purchase was 10 years ago and an Ethan Allen "Tribeca" sofa and loveseat. They have held up really well. The back cushions are a little destroyed thanks to some little dogs who like to bury themselves in them. If it wasn't for the fabric being a mess I wouldn't be so ready to replace it. Recovering has crossed my mind- but even that is costly and my husband would like to switch over to something leather figuring it will not show dirt so easily.

[munkii]

Dec 18, 2013 8:40:06 GMT -5 wawa said:

So...yes? mid century modern + reproduction federal is not a terrible idea, right? both can tend toward straight lines with pretty wood. It makes sense to me, but I don't trust my own taste with big furniture.

And I'm glad to hear that the quality there is good since I like a lot of the stuff on their site.

People in the fifties didn't hide their antique pieces away; so, why not? As long as you stick with the simpler forms of MCM and not go crazy, I think it should be fine. Others will disagree and say you can go wild, I'm sure.

[wawa]

Dec 18, 2013 9:23:58 GMT -5 munkii said:

Dec 18, 2013 8:40:06 GMT -5 wawa said:

So...yes? mid century modern + reproduction federal is not a terrible idea, right? both can tend toward straight lines with pretty wood. It makes sense to me, but I don't trust my own taste with big furniture.

And I'm glad to hear that the quality there is good since I like a lot of the stuff on their site.

People in the fifties didn't hide their antique pieces away; so, why not? As long as you stick with the simpler forms of MCM and not go crazy, I think it should be fine. Others will disagree and say you can go wild, I'm sure. 

I actually think the piece I have is from roughly the same time period as the MCM stuff anyway...my old boss gave it to me, and I think it came from her parent's house? something like that anyway. She's in her 60's and she told me that she did her homework on the secretary in the same style that she gave me at the same time. Of course I'm assuming the secretary and the sideboard came from the same place. I have no idea. It has no labels or anything on it anywhere. Not that I'm trying to sell it, so I don't care - but I'm nosy and I like old stuff.

[msmerymac]

Dec 18, 2013 8:41:11 GMT -5 wawa said:

anybody have any thoughts on numbers of seat cushions? 2 sounds like a terrible idea even if I like the look since it means that a 3rd person on the sofa is sitting on the crack.

So one giant cushion vs. 3? Pluses and minuses?

We have 3 cushions, and since we have throw pillows to the sides, people always sit in the middle of the couch, which means the middle cushion wears out faster. The end cushions have small t-shapes, so we can't re-order the cushions and move the right one into the middle or anything. 

So from that perspective, I'd get a style that allows you to switch the cushions around for more even wearing. Either 3 with all of the cushions the same, rectangular style, or 2 that you can flip so whoever sits in the middle isn't always sitting in the same spot. 

Granted, my couch is probably at least 15 years old. I got it second hand on Craigslist in 2007 along with a matching loveseat, coffee table and 2 end tables for $300. I've replaced the slipcovers and pillows since then.