May 15, 2006

• Our Sofa Quest

  I went to 10 furniture stores this weekend looking for a sofa!  Who knew sofa shopping was such hard work???  On Saturday, Mr. Bee and I went to Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, Jennifer Convertibles, Design Within Reach, and The Door Store.  We also briefly popped into The Silk Trading Company and West Elm.  

  
  

  This sofa is pretty much my first non-Ikea purchase so I was super excited!  Mr. Bee was looking for one main criteria – comfort.  I was more focused on design.  It was a challenge finding a good compromise.  Our other criteria was a smaller scale sofa (smaller than a standard sofa, bigger than a loveseat) otherwise called an “apartment sofa” (which is around 78 inches) that was also a sofa bed (because we plan on having a lot of guests). 

  
  

  Nothing really captured our fancy at Crate and Barrel and Pottery Barn (except for the luscious sectionals Mr. Bee dreams of that we could never fit into our apartment).  Jennifer Convertibles was a logical choice since we were looking for a sofabed.  This slipcovered, cotton-twill fabric sofabed had down-filled cushions and was so soft – you just sank right into it.  Mr. Bee loved it. 

  
  

  

  
  

  Yes it was comfortable – it even looks soft, but I didn’t like the design… too casual.  Plus it was only available in white unless we wanted to wait 6-8 weeks for another color (I have a gray cat; a white couch is a no-no but I think these slipcovered sofas look best in white).  Actually most of the places we visited told us it takes 6-12 weeks for a sofa to come in unless we purchase the exact floor model without any deviations in style or color (and of course if they have it in stock).  Turns out it’s pretty standard procedure – I’m used to Ikea style instant gratification

  
  

  
  

  I liked this sofa better - a little less comfortable, but more designed in a sage, suede velvet fabric.  It comes in an apartment size (without the chaise lounge) but it takes 6-8 weeks to come in.   

  
  

  

  
  

  Then it was over to The Door Store…  Their sofas take up to 12 weeks to come in.  This one was my favorite, it was available in an apartment size and it was in stock!  But Mr. Bee didn’t think it was comfortable enough and alas no sofabed.  Do we get it and just buy an aerobed?  I’ve heard great things about aerobeds actually…

  
  

  

  
  

  We went home sofaless.  I don’t think Mr. Bee can handle the rigors of super shopping.  I, on the other hand, am a seasoned pro having trained for many many years.   So on Sunday I went to 3 more furniture stores by myself – Carlyle Sofabeds, Jensen Lewis, and Room & Board.  This sofa at Jensen-Lewis is a bit more modern than my taste.  I don’t think it would pass Mr. Bee’s soft and comfortable test.  But it is an apartment sized sofa…

  
  

   

  
  

  and it does come with a sleeper (the sleeper design is slightly fatter and lower to accomodate the bed).  But it is in stock and available for delivery next week.  $1946.

  
  

  

  
  

  Other possibilities – the Frederick Full Sleeper from Room & Board – $1549.  It’s in stock in this color… but I would prefer a biege or sage color which would take about 6-8 weeks to come in.

  
  

   

  
  

  Ideally I want a sofa with round arms, wooden legs, in a neutral color.  The round arms make it a little warmer, feminine.  I don’t like metal legs, and I think a sofa looks more elegant with wood legs showing rather than having no legs at all.  A nice, warm, inviting, traditional sofa – I’m not a fan of the modern aesthetic.  And of course comfortable with a sofabed too. 

  
  

  My parents are coming in 2 weeks so I’d hoped to have bought a sofa by then…  But my parents have no problem sleeping on the floor though – in fact they prefer it anyway.  I just wanted the apartment to look nice…  I’m gonna sleep on it  – pretty much every sofa I’m interested in takes 6-8 weeks to come in.

  
  

  Brief review of the places I visited:

  
  

  1) Crate and Barrel – I really like this store.  I think the furniture is well made and reasonably priced.
  2) Pottery Barn – They have some nice pieces, a smaller selection than Crate and Barrel and priced a little higher as well.
  3) Design Within Reach – A lot of people love this store, but everything is very modern in design… just not my cup of tea.
  4) Jennifer Convertibles – Very affordable – most everything is around $1000.  And if you’re looking for a sofabed – they definitely have the largest selection.
  5) The Door Store – Some nice affordable pieces – sofas we looked at were around $1000.
  6) The Silk Trading Company (part of ABC Home) - Pricey as is ABC Home.  One day we will shop here.
  7) West Elm – Their stuff isn’t the sturdiest, but it certainly is affordable – on par with Ikea.  And if you like the whole Asian, Moroccan aesthetic – this is definitely the place to shop.
  8) Carlyle Sofabeds – Pricey… the stuff I looked at was over $3-4000.  But I’ve heard that they make some of the best sofabeds around.
  9) Jensen-Lewis - Also a modern aesthetic but I found a couple of pieces I liked including a coffee table I’m going to buy (but that’s another post).
  10) Room & Board – I loved this store!  I thought everything looked nice, was of good quality, and very reasonably priced.  The furniture was nicer than that of Crate and Barrel, but comparably priced.  Modern but not too modern.

  • 11:43 am
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