Couch Surfing
The good news is we’re not hosting an American Thanksgiving this year. The bad news is that we can’t just crash on the sofa after eating too much pie because…
We don’t have a couch. We’re totally fine with that fact. To be honest, this whole hangar loft home we built still feels like a dream. Am I really out of the tire house? Am I warm without long underwear? It’s bliss, I tell ya. Martin has taken to napping on the floor thanks to the radiant floor heating. Who needs a couch just yet?!
Here’s the view of our future living room from the bed.
Sometimes we push that cedar chest around to sit at the counter. Maybe Santa will bring us a few stools. I think those are higher on our wish list than a couch. They cost less. They’re more of a finishing touch all by themselves. (With a couch, you have to start thinking about rugs, coffee tables, side tables, lamps, pillows…) With stools, all you need are the stools themselves. And it’s done.
Tell me what you know about couches and stools. Things to stay away from? Companies you love? The only couch we’ve ever shopped for was this wild yellow one in Germany when this ol’ blog was brand new.
For the first year we were dating, Ryan didn’t have a couch. We Hung out on his floor. :)
I chose a Crate and Barrel sofa because they are made locally (NC) and use kiln dried hardwood. Even though they’re a chain, they make some solid stuff and have a decent enviromental policy.
Of.course after all that research I ended up getting my Crate and Barrel couch used on Craigslist. I really think that is a good way to go. I have also had good luck with IKEA couches for years. The Karlstad is a simple modern one that people give great reviews to. Easy to keep clean if loss are maybe on the future. That, and slipcovers vs. Upholstery are something to consider.
Ikea sofas do not move or wear well and are not as comfortable for tall people. The seats are low and the construction, while functional, is not great. I love Ikea for other things, just not upholstered furniture.
I’m an interior designer and I bought a Crate & Barrel sofa for my home, too. I like to buy American and I like the quality construction. You can find good deals (hundreds of dollars in savings) when stores sell floor samples, Katie. Just call to ask them when their next floor sample sale is. You can ask other stores for floor sample sale times, too.
Thanks for the tips, Cathryn! The closest C&B is about a 12 hour drive from here. IKEA, too. A floor model might not be obtainable, but there’s always the internet. And your tips are a huge help since we can’t test a couch via internet. Thanks!
our favorite couch is a vintage piece from the 60′s that is SOLID! My in-laws had it recovered locally in a thick brown corduroy (along with matching chair and ottoman) and it is comfy, has modern lines and way more life in it than our cheaply made couch upstairs. We are considering recovering it a second time as it is starting to show some wear on the fabric (after another 25years of use) Absolutely unbeatable in my opinion.
oooh that sounds like such a beautiful treasure, Leanne!
I’m too old to sit on a floor. ;) A couch would be at the top of my list.
haha! My mom had the same perspective, Lisa!
Our Ikea sofa has totally faded in the sun. Of course, it is Ikea…and they don’t make this model anymore. But then you can also get a slipcover replacement either at the store or from a place like Bemz. Karlstad is supposed to be their good model (not ours, of course!). Btw-I’m tall and really like the Ikea couches, but people shorter than me often say they are too deep for them…?
I’ve learned I love a chaise…or a very well-hidden recliner feature in a sofa. I also love the coziness of a sectional. The functionality of a sleeper sofa is also fabulous and if you’re in doubt about the mattress you can easily just slap on a foam egg crate.
CB couches are supposed to be good, but another good stop is Macy’s. A friend got a great sofa there when they had their floor sample sale and I’ve heard others have similar stories. You might try researching who makes US couches by searching furniture makers in the High Point, NC area.
Just stopping by to say I’ve been following you for a couple months know and I really enjoy your posts and your desire to purchase US/local made products. The hanger home looks beautiful with a genuine but lovely simplicity that I really enjoy.
Good luck on the couch/stool hunt!
Kate
We just bought a new couch. I wanted one that would last and that was American made. We bought our new couch at Room and Board in Denver. Their employees don’t work on commissions so you don’t feel pressured, the furniture is high quality but expensive. Our last couch (15 years old) which we moved into the basement to replace the 35+ year old couch my mom handed down to us was also expensive but it’s still in very good condition. Here’s a link to Room and Board, we have the moss green couch that’s displayed in the add: http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/category/category.do?catalog=room&category=rm_living_spaces
Oh! I never would have thought to check them out. Thanks Diana!
I second the Room and Board couch nomination. We have had ours since March 2000. It has some wear now (finally) but it is the ONLY couch we have (we only have one living room; it is heavily used). I am thinking of just getting our couch reupholstered instead of buying new….but if we do buy new I will be going back to Room and Board. They’re not cheap, but you can TELL they’re not cheap when you’re using them.
(We bought 2 custom-made living room chairs from a local place 2 years ago. They will never outlast the time our couch has made it from Room and Board. Now I see the real difference and why we went with R&B the first time.)
I’d better stop before I start sounding like a commercial. Don’t get me started on Cutco knives! (love them, haha)
I don’t know anything about the company, but we’ve been happy with our laz e boy reclining arm chair. My in laws also have several of their chairs and a couple sofas, including an air mattress sofa bed and are very happy with them.
I forgot to say that with as handy at the two of you are, I bet you could build a couple stools in whatever style you like.
We have a flexsteel sofa and it is great. It is made in the US and it has stood up to 10 years of kids bouncing around on it and making forts out of the cushions. It is still sturdy and comfy. We bought it at a local furniture store.
I wasn’t familiar with flexsteel. Thanks, M of P! I’m surprised/excited by everything popping up on a quick Google search.
I too have flexsteel. Mine is 16 yrs old and is still in great shape. Problem is that the furniture will last long after it is so out of style. I love a chair and ottoman much better than a sofa.
Katie, have you thought of looking for a used rocking chair and maybe a used chair and ottoman that could go with a sofa later on?
Good idea, Charlee! I’m still trying to wrap my mind around how to best organize this space. You could be on to something here with the chairs….!
OK….can’t vouch for a sofa because mine is 122″x88″ and you would probably have to jump it to make it into your bedroom! As for the stools…this is what I love. A counter height dining set from K-Mart. Yes, K-Mart. It is solid wood and you could use 2 at the breakfast bar and 2 with the table against the wall. The only way you could have all 4 pushed under the table is if they are all to the far right anyway. Also this price is cheaper than 2 solid wood stools. They always have it set up in the store too.
http://www.kmart.com/jaclyn-smith-5-pc-mahogany-high-top-dining/p-021W018474420001P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1
Here’s a pic of the table with 2 stools: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29996837@N08/5797195429/in/set-72157624888359742
And 2 stools at the breakfast bar:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29996837@N08/5797770984/in/set-72157624888359742/
Good luck!!
Would I have thought of Kmart? Ummm…. NO. Thanks for this tip, Jill. Those stools look sharp!
I’m 5ft 4in. Although I love my corduroy reclining sofa, I don’t like that my feet don’t touch the floor because the seat is too deep. Thus, I need to sit forward if I wish for my feet to be on the floor. I have had our set for 10 years now. I get them professionally cleaned every year or every other. I recently purchased a sofa off of craigslist for our livingroom. I sat on it for 10 min, played with the cushions and even stretched out on it before saying, I’ll take it. I just warned the owner I made a bad purchase before and I want to make sure this time. Tip- measure the vehicle you will transport your sofa in. Measure the width of your front door so you know how wide the sofa can be to get through it. I really miss our futon. It was really comfortable and it was an instant guest double bed.
I told the salesman I wanted the best futon mattress possible. He had me try out 3 different ones and told me the pros and cons of each before I decided. Also 2 drawers on wheels were available for underneath it that stored the linens for the guest to use so I purchased those as well.
Oh and I hope you and Martin were guests somewhere for Thanksgiving. You deserve to celebrate all that you to have accomplished this year. It’s Amazing what you two have done.
We bought a new couch two years ago and went to 11 furniture stores before we found one that was not one big pillow.
We ended up with a pretty solid lay-z-boy that we found in a bigger store and had our local canbyland store order in at a much cheaper price.
It’s lovely – buy the sofa…..
My mom gave me a chair and a half (tiny bit smaller than an actual loveseat) when I was a teenager. I had it in my room. When I got married last year, the chair and a half came with me – and that has been our couch ever since.
I’ve seen plenty of couches I like… but just don’t want to spend the money yet. We’ve had numerous friends over this past year… sometimes up to 12-15 at a time… we have plenty of chairs (kitchen table chairs, a mini bench, an actual bench, rocking chair, computer chair, etc). We don’t NEED a couch yet… and we have more important things to spend money on at the moment (like paying back my husband’s school loans!! he just graduated in may).
When the time comes, you’ll find the perfect couch that suits your needs :) and the price will be right!
your comments and suggestions sound spot-on!
we bought an inexpensive simple sectional from American Signature Furniture in 2009 and (other than a few toddler-hand-shaped stains) it’s still our favorite spot to relax. here’s a link to what looks to be the same couch, still for sale there, for even cheaper than what we paid 3 years ago!
not sure where their stuff is made though.
plus, most american-style furniture is WAY oversized. i’m curious if/how you’ll find something to fit in your cozy little loft.
good luck to you!