Want a new couch.

[zoebartlett]

Gypsy -- Rowe is a quality manufacturer (at least in my opinion). If there's a retailer near you who sells Rowe, it might be worth checking into). My parents and my husband and I have had Rowe sofas for years and they always hold up really well.

 

[kenny]

I'm reading this thread with great interest because we are also about to buy a couch.

I don't want to spend over $500 but want the best quality possible in that price range.
Any suggestions?

 

[davi_el_mejor]

I'm reading this thread with great interest because we are also about to buy a couch.

I don't want to spend over $500 but want the best quality possible in that price range.
Any suggestions?

The Carmen Sofa at Pier 1 is going to be on sale even more in the next few weeks. If we didn't have an exorbitant amount of furniture already, we'd buy that sofa.

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Hi, Gypsy!

My husband's family is in the furniture business; they've owned family furniture stores for over 20 years, and they've been doing custom work for even longer than that. SO, I asked him about these companies for you.

He said GENERALLY, with furniture, pieces that are in the same price range (from competing stores/designers) will be of about the same quality.

He said Room and Board has middle to low end quality pieces. He said Bassett is better known for their wood cabinetry in the furniture industry, but their work is generally the same quality as Room and Board, maybe a tad bit nicer.

Of course, he said Ethan Allen has higher quality pieces, but the prices definitely reflect that.

I guess what he's saying is: You get what you pay for. Helpful, huh?

All that being said, even though DH's family is in the furniture business (and thus we pay cost) we ended up getting sofas that would retail for under $2,000 each. They were the style and upholstery that we liked best, and nearly three years later we still love them.

DH's biggest tip once you find the style you like, pay very close attention to the upholstery. The stronger and tighter the knit, the better.

Great advice. I would second the you get what you pay for, and add to that...

Get boxed, piped cushions, and for durability and neatness, get attached back cushions. (Unless you like to adjust pillows constantly.) Get the best quality cushion material you can afford. I have wrapped batting laminated around a latex foam core. I have had my sofa since 1993. It is a classic style, built like a tank, and so I've had it recovered, and the cushions are STILL good after nearly 2 decades.

Ex-hubs sister worked at a high-end furniture store. We took her advice. Or rather I did. HE wanted to go cheap. She told him I was right to go higher. Nearly 20 years later, I can say I'm glad I insisted. Oh, and the brand I have is Massoud. Not such a great website IMO: the furniture is MUCH better looking in person, but if you can find a dealer, that brand is worth a look. They have a gazillion fabrics....

ETA - I had the manufacturer spelled wrong. As Moussad. No, Israeli Intelligence (badly spelled) is NOT branching out into sofas!

The Raymour and Flanigan sectional with chaise is the same way if that helps.

 

[tannet]

BTW...this is the couch we have.
http://www.bassettfurniture.com/L-Shaped-Sectional-Sofa-Custom-Sectional-Couches--DZ5987.asp

I love this and the color is gorgeous!

Thanks Zoe. We actually have a green fabric and the arm rests have a slightly different shape. This is somewhat what ours looks like. IRL the green color is a deeper shade and that was closest fabric to the actual pillows we chose.



GYPSY: Any luck shopping today??

 

[Gypsy]

My husband is watching the Jets game, so for now... no shopping progress at all. We have an appointment at Basset after the game.

Lots of interesting information in this thread. Haven, thank you for the information from your husband.

My problem is that I am going from extra high quality couches that I inherited (20 year old Italian leather, kiln dried hardwood, hand tied... you name it) that I don't care for the look of.. and switching to lower quality couches that I do like the look of. So... I'm not sure it's a good move.

The couches we have now cost my parents 15K in the 80's. And still look brand new.

I'm just not 100% we're even going to change them. I did want Thomasville or Ethan Allen quality, but... I just don't want to spend that much.

 

[atroop711]

My husband is watching the Jets game, so for now... no shopping progress at all. We have an appointment at Basset after the game.

Lots of interesting information in this thread. Haven, thank you for the information from your husband.

My problem is that I am going from extra high quality couches that I inherited (20 year old Italian leather, kiln dried hardwood, hand tied... you name it) that I don't care for the look of.. and switching to lower quality couches that I do like the look of. So... I'm not sure it's a good move.

The couches we have now cost my parents 15K in the 80's. And still look brand new.

I'm just not 100% we're even going to change them. I did want Thomasville or Ethan Allen quality, but... I just don't want to spend that much.

Before we got our current sectional from R&F (that I posted), we had a Thomasville Down Sofa. It was to DIE FOR..but when we bought it it was 3k...we didn't want to spend that much so we opted to buy the floor model. We saved so much money that way (the floor model was in perfect condition). We ended up paying $1900 for the floor model. I mention this because maybe this may be an option for you since you like Thomasville and Ethan Allen.

 

[Gypsy]

Yeah, I thought about a floor sample. I don't find too many of them in the style I want with cat friendly fabric. But it's a great idea and I will keep my eyes out.

I called Ethan Allen and went for a less expensive configuration but it still came to 3600. Way over budget I'm afraid. I have too many things I want to change around to invest that much in one piece.

I just re-did my bedroom and bought all new pillows, sheets, everything-- but on a budget. It looks nice and I am thrilled with it. I just got new towels (our towels were crap) for our bathrooms. And I need at least two extra chairs in the dining room (we only have seating for 4 and really need seating for 6). So.... The less I spend on the couch, and still get good quality, the more I can revise the rest of the house.

We'll see. All the information and ideas and experiences are great... so please keep them coming!

 

[rockzilla]

My husband got his first "real" couch at room and board. It was fantastic quality (even though it was the entry level, ~$1k sofa) and it survived many moves. We brought it all the way from California to Boston with us, and were devastated when they were unable to fit it into our very old apt building. As in, I seriously cried when we had to leave it on the sidewalk (where some lucky person immediately snapped it up and I am sure us still enjoying it) it was both beautiful and comfy, and we ended up with a blah ikea sectional because it was the only thing we could assure would fit down the hallway since you assemble it yourself.

So, +1 for room & board!

 

[Gypsy]

We bought a couch at Bassett. The service was very good, and the sale was great... it was 25% off plus and extra 10% for paying cash. They walked through the construction of the piece with us and were pretty knowledgeable.

The couch was comfortable enough for my husband and structured enough for me. It has the tightback I wanted and we upgraded the seat cushions. They had a lot of custom options that let us get just what we wanted for little or no extra money. And they had a lovely microfiber in the shade of gray I wanted. Plus it was large enough for us both to lie down on the couch together.

Overall, very happy. 6-8 weeks to get rid of the old couches.

 

[librarychickie]

Which one did you end up getting? We're in the process of buying new sofas for our new living room, and we're looking at the same stores. I just got back from EA, and lordy, lordy, it was expensive! About $2k over what I would get at Thomasville or Bassett.

I have had a couple of Room and Board sofas (actually, they were from the "Retrospect" line of R&B) for 7 years now, and they're in wonderful condition -- especially considering that they've been moved across the country four times. If I can't find anything else that's in affordable range, I'm seriously thinking of reupholstering them. They've held up remarkably well.

~LC

 

[Gypsy]

http://www.bassettfurniture.com/Left-Chaise-Sectional-Custom-Living-Room-Sectionals--DZ20241.asp We ended up getting the one I went there to see.

It had everything I wanted. We upgraded the fabric, cushions and got the stain protection plan. The dimensions were just right and the comfort versus style balance was one that worked for both of us (hubby prefers comfort over style and I prefer style over comfort).

I wasn't sure which arm I wanted, I waffled back and forth, then just kept the original arm on the couch (which is very traditional, but makes a nice head rest). I'm generally pleased.

I need to get a new rug and possibly a new coffee table. But will be looking out for deals on those pieces.

 

[zoebartlett]

I'm glad you got the one you wanted! Isn't it fun shopping for furniture?

 

[Gypsy]

I'm glad you got the one you wanted! Isn't it fun shopping for furniture?

Honestly, I'm not terribly patient with it.

I love rugs. So shopping for a nice rug is fun. But the rest of the stuff... I just want to put all my requirements in a program and have it spit out possibilities for me.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Yay! I like the one you picked and visually is a *huge* improvement from your old ones. No offense! They are comfy so I understood why you had them Like I said previously my ILs are very happy with their Bassett's furniture. It is cool are you can customize the sofas. I really like their recliners b/c they don't look like recliners. Can wait to see what else you pick out!

 

[luv2sparkle]

Gypsy, I don't know if you have kids, but the next couch I will buy will be by Flex steel. We had one couch when we first got
married that was absolutely fantastic but I don't think the manufacturer is still in business. We had a basset love seat we
bought from JC Penney and it had problems with the wood cracking. About 5 years ago we bought a whole houseful of
Thomasville furniture and I will never buy another piece from them. I don't know what they do to the finish of their wood but if it
gets a scratch you cannot touch it up with anything. It won't take stain or a furniture repair stick at all. It makes me nuts.

We have a large L shaped leather couch in our family room. DH has taken it apart and repaired it at least 5 times. The part that
attached the arm to the sofa had three small screws. Seriously. Recently my son simply sat on it and we heard a big crack, and
one piece of wood in the dumb thing split. Mind you, this couch was in excess of $6000. I think a couch that expensive
should last longer than 5 years.

If you don't have kids you probably won't have the problems, but it is not because my kids were in any way abusing it, it
simply got more use.

 

[Gypsy]

luv2sparkle, I'm sorry about your bad experiences with Bassett and I certainly hope that mine is better. I don't have kids, but I do have cats. Never heard of flex steel I'll have to look them up.

My niece broke our first couch bouncing on it and so I know that having good quality is important.

I am very good about making sure I get value and have no qualms about asking for returns on merchandise that isn't what I expected it to be.

Case in point, two years ago we bought a coffee table from a national retailer. When we bought it we were given care instructions that we followed. Well, they were crap. And so this week I am returning a coffee table I have had for two (aggravating) years for a 60% refund off the purchase price (minus 20% per year for use).

And I just bought this coffee table to replace it: http://www.ethanallen.com/product?productId=567&categoryId=8001 (love it!)

I generally am a good advocate for goods that are quality. If they aren't quality, well I am a great advocate for myself and making sure that I can get what I was promised. One way or another.

Now I just need a nice rug to round out my coffee table and couch purchases. I am either buying lamps at target or painting some table lamps I currently have to work with my new decor.

So, we'll see. It's coming along. Now I just need to figure out what to do with our old couches.

 

[zoebartlett]

Beautiful coffee table, Gypsy! I love Ethan Allen.

I started clicking around on EA's site and I found a lamp that I love. Too bad -- we're not in the market for new ones right now.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

You could sell them on CL or donate them. Love the new coffee table.

 

[Gypsy]

I don't like strangers in my house so CL is out. We have a local furniture consignment chain, so we're likely to just get a Uhaul and take the couches and the a pair of nightstands I'm not using down to them. Losing a portion of the funds but keeping my home safe is a worthwhile trade off for me. I've already been robbed once, no desire to put my feeling of safety in my home again.

I love the coffee table too. It's really lovely.

 

[movie zombie]

the consignment store near the REI off of saratoga avenue? let me know when you do the drop off as i'm not opposed to quality castoffs!

MoZo

 

[Gypsy]

the consignment store near the REI off of saratoga avenue? let me know when you do the drop off as i'm not opposed to quality castoffs!

MoZo

What city is that in hon? Palo Alto?

The place I was going to drop off to is in Pleasanton. It has a branch (where there are great finds, honestly) in San Rafael too.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I agree about strangers in my house. CL is a bit scary. It would be nice to donate them to a women's shelter or something.

 

[movie zombie]

on the border of san jose and campbell near highway 85. [lawerence expressway, saratoga avenue meet together there]. i was hoping you were in san jose......

MoZo

ps same group has one in los altos..........and did have one in mountain view as well but not sure if that one is still there.

 

[Gypsy]

MZ, I will have to check it out. I live in the East Bay though and tend to be extremely lazy about getting to the south bay or the penninsula. LOL.

The couches are great quality. But as Tacori (who has seen them) knows I hate them and their style is well, it's early ninties leather. They are NAVY leather and just won't freaking DIE. I'm so tired of blue couches. They are comfy and the leather quality is amazing but I consider them eye sores and pretty much have for the last 15 years.

The nightstands are gorgeous. I adore them and just bought them. Unfortunately once I changed all the bedding, lighting, and draperies in my room I realized that my Pier One black nightstands that I bought for 30 bucks each (and they are real hardwood and have great drawers that are flawless) work much better with the decor than the new nightstands would. So the new ones never got used.

Tacori, I might donate the couches. The nightstands I'd like to recoup my investment on. But the couches... if the donation place will pick up, then they might have a deal. I could stick the nightstands in my uncle's truck and drive them to consignment.



Zoe, I have been so into lighting... which lamps did you like at EA (I shouldn't ask but I am going to)? Also, I meant to mention earlier that I had fallen in love with a Rowe couch like 5 years ago and had heard nice things about them and loved thier style.

I enjoy Z-gallery very much but I really wanted something with a tight back AND a sectional and they didn't have anything. Ultimately it's what made me decide against the Room and Board trip too. It was one or the other and I just wanted it ALL! I will be browsing there looking for accessories though. They have great stuff.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Glad you found a sofa at Bassett, Gypsy!!! Show us a picture when you get the room arranged!

 

[zoebartlett]

Gypsy -- I don't really know if I have a style, so these lamps are an eclectic mix. Sorry there are so many, and sorry to threadjack.

http://www.ethanallen.com/product?productId=3613539&categoryId=4141856 (although I don't like the shade because it's pleated)

http://www.ethanallen.com/product?productId=500&categoryId=4141856 (I'm not sure why I like this one, I just do.)

http://www.ethanallen.com/product?productId=511&categoryId=4141856 (pretty)

http://www.ethanallen.com/product?productId=526&categoryId=4141856 (I love this one.)

http://www.ethanallen.com/product?productId=521&categoryId=4141856 (pretty. I think I like this type of shade slightly better than the one on the other glass lamp I linked.)