image via crate&barrellOk, let's talk furniture.
I don't spend a lot of money on furniture.
In the 10 yrs that Aaron and I have been married, we have purchased 1 sofa. (remember Big Red?) It was a floor model from Pier1 and we bougt it as a clearance item for $175. It lasted us 6 1/2 good years, and we finally said goodbye a few months ago. Funny thing, we couldn't give the thing away, but managed to get $50 for it on Craigslist. Not bad.
The Big Chair is still in our living room. It is plaid. We bought it (also a floor model) at a liquidation sale for a furniture store in Provo 9 1/2 years ago. It has been well loved, but it has worn out it's welcome in our home and the time has come for it to go.
The black chairs were reupholstered by yours truly, and I am proud to say that a year and a half later, they have not fallen apart. (go me.) Chairs, fabric, and supplies totaled $60 for each chair.
Just about everything else in our house has been free or purchased at a garage sale/craigslist/flea market and repainted/refinished, or straight up built from scratch.
We've been pretty thrifty so far, and feel 100% justified in our decision to buy some sofas for the liging room.
Aaron's birthday gift to me was a grand gesture.
I get to pick whatever the crap I want to put in our home.
I know, right? NO limitations.
Ok, SOME limitations. I can't spend $10,000 on one piece of furniture.
That's a pretty decent limitation. But Aaron knows how cheap I am, and how gross our kids are, and that I would never do that anyway.
But Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware have not been ruled out.
That makes me sick with happiness.
But also a little sick because I don't think I can do it. It's too much. And our kids are too gross.
Don't you agree that this beauty belongs in my home?! (Image via RestorationHardware)
I got to sit in it when I was in KC and let me tell you...that Christmas song "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" could have been the theme song for the occasion. Rest. Comfort and Joy.
And of course, glad tidings, free shipping, and no sales tax.
What do YOU think about it?
Hate it? You can say so. It's not in my home yet.
I don't know if I can drop that much cheddar on a sofa. I just don't. I'm too cheap. I might explode.
But it's sooooo pretty, and sooooooo comfortable. I know this because I sat in it after running a marathon (like how I slipped that in there?), and my legs stopped screaming (well, at least until I had to get back up and move them again).
Alas, it's 2k.
That 2nd sofa is to die for.
The Urban Outfitters Gramercy Sofa.
The original from Urban Outfitters is better looking colorwise, but it costs a little more.
I think the IKEA sofa would need a loveseat that is also a little more boxy.
Maybe this?
So, tell me. What do you think? So far I have one "I hate those", one "really? those are...different" and one "Look great, but totally uncomfortable" from friends and family members. But they are friends and family members that haven't ever visited a home of mine, so to them I can say, "good thing you'll only be looking at them through my computer then, huh?"
I'm torn. I could always go the typical (read: less exciting, boring, cheap, uninteresting, practical) route with something like THIS
I don't spend a lot of money on furniture.
In the 10 yrs that Aaron and I have been married, we have purchased 1 sofa. (remember Big Red?) It was a floor model from Pier1 and we bougt it as a clearance item for $175. It lasted us 6 1/2 good years, and we finally said goodbye a few months ago. Funny thing, we couldn't give the thing away, but managed to get $50 for it on Craigslist. Not bad.
The Big Chair is still in our living room. It is plaid. We bought it (also a floor model) at a liquidation sale for a furniture store in Provo 9 1/2 years ago. It has been well loved, but it has worn out it's welcome in our home and the time has come for it to go.
The black chairs were reupholstered by yours truly, and I am proud to say that a year and a half later, they have not fallen apart. (go me.) Chairs, fabric, and supplies totaled $60 for each chair.
Just about everything else in our house has been free or purchased at a garage sale/craigslist/flea market and repainted/refinished, or straight up built from scratch.
We've been pretty thrifty so far, and feel 100% justified in our decision to buy some sofas for the liging room.
Aaron's birthday gift to me was a grand gesture.
I get to pick whatever the crap I want to put in our home.
I know, right? NO limitations.
Ok, SOME limitations. I can't spend $10,000 on one piece of furniture.
That's a pretty decent limitation. But Aaron knows how cheap I am, and how gross our kids are, and that I would never do that anyway.
But Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware have not been ruled out.
That makes me sick with happiness.
But also a little sick because I don't think I can do it. It's too much. And our kids are too gross.
Don't you agree that this beauty belongs in my home?! (Image via RestorationHardware)
I got to sit in it when I was in KC and let me tell you...that Christmas song "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" could have been the theme song for the occasion. Rest. Comfort and Joy.
And of course, glad tidings, free shipping, and no sales tax.
What do YOU think about it?
Hate it? You can say so. It's not in my home yet.
I don't know if I can drop that much cheddar on a sofa. I just don't. I'm too cheap. I might explode.
But it's sooooo pretty, and sooooooo comfortable. I know this because I sat in it after running a marathon (like how I slipped that in there?), and my legs stopped screaming (well, at least until I had to get back up and move them again).
Alas, it's 2k.
I knew I had expensive taste when I began my search for a tufted sofa and these lovelies appeared in my search. All yours for only 4 grand. Beautiful, but not happening.
That 2nd sofa is to die for.
So check out the less expensive/totally practical option, that I also love.
The Urban Outfitters Gramercy Sofa. 1/6 of the cost of the Haute House sofa (above) = Yes, please.
1/3 the cost of the Restoration Hardware sofa = kids can destroy it and I will cry less.
It also comes in a color similar to the RH sofa, but I like the darker in this style.
The RH sofa also comes in this darker color, so the fabric is certainly not a deciding factor. It's purely comfort and cost.
Ikea has something I also like, HERE should we go the totally kid friendly route. It's $50 less than the Urban Outfitter sofa and looks more cushion-ey, but honestly, it is nowhere near as awesome. I wonder if I could change the legs to something more spindly. Plus, the downside to IKEA is that we have to drive 5 hrs to Dallas, hauling a trailer, to pick it up. Boo to that.
Ok, now LOVESEATS:
I am really pretty mad that this settee is no longer available at Target.com.
Ok, now LOVESEATS:
I am really pretty mad that this settee is no longer available at Target.com.
You snooze, you lose. I've been eyeing this baby since October, and now it is unavailable.
Aaron says it isn't meant to be, because he refuses to sit on furniture that was purchased from the 'evil empire'.
Aaron says it isn't meant to be, because he refuses to sit on furniture that was purchased from the 'evil empire'.
The original from Urban Outfitters is better looking colorwise, but it costs a little more.
I think the IKEA sofa would need a loveseat that is also a little more boxy.
Maybe this?
via Urban Outfitters
Or this one (from Target shhh....)
So, tell me. What do you think? So far I have one "I hate those", one "really? those are...different" and one "Look great, but totally uncomfortable" from friends and family members. But they are friends and family members that haven't ever visited a home of mine, so to them I can say, "good thing you'll only be looking at them through my computer then, huh?"I'm torn. I could always go the typical (read: less exciting, boring, cheap, uninteresting, practical) route with something like THIS
but how often do I get new sofas? Oh, that's right, never.
What would you choose?
SOFA: RH Kensington? URBN Gramercy? IKEA? Something more traditional (not my style) from Hanks fiiiiiiiiiine furniture?
LOVESEAT: URBN Fainting Sofa or slipper settee? I like this from World Market, but wish it came in a sofa rather than loveseat.
Or just bag the new furniture idea and let our kids destroy what we've got until it is fit to be posted on this blog?
Please discuss. I want your opinions.
11 comments:
I like the RH sofa best of course. I would worry that the spindly legs on the UO sofa might not withstand the abuse that children and their friends will give it. I'm not a friend of the Target one and I do visit. I'm also sure that you will make the best choice for your family.
I look at my furniture every day and wonder if I should have waited until the kids were a bit older. They have destroyed my entertainment unit. My mom covered our couches with sheets everyday after school until I was ten, but hey it worked. (She would also put a tissue between our faces and the throw pillows when we were teens saying she didn't like the oil getting on them...THANKS MOM! explains alot right?) I have bought target furniture in the past and have not been a big fan of the quality. I would not trust them with a couch. I used to frown at places like Hanks, and you do have to search a bit, but you can find modern stuff that doesn't look like a bark-a-lounger. (I suggest going by yourself, without Aaron so he doesn't fall in love with some big sectional.) The quality at stores like Hanks CAN be better then RH and PB and the price cheaper. I love your choices, but remember with PB and RH you are paying extra just for the brand name. As for anyone complaining that they don't match, sofa and loveseat, THAT IS A GOOD THING! Nothing more boring then matchy matchy. I adore my yellow accent chair. I never let the kids near it.
I say the Urban Outfitters Gramercy Sofa, and the dusty turquoise love seat from Target. Trent ALWAYS hates the fact that I buy so much from "the enemy." I say go for whatever you want. Aaron got a raise, it's your birthday, you haven't bought furniture in forever, and you ran a marathon :) Do it do it do it!
I like the Gramercy better than the RH, but it's not my house. The green love seat looks like good bedroom furniture and the more square love seats look like they'd fit in your LR. I am also on the search for the perfect loveseat for my bedroom...still looking.
I don't think I could spend more than 1K on a sofa I knew would be destroyed by kids. I'd wait 10 more years for that, but still get something new that YOU love.
I think you want better quality than Target. We love what we got 7 years ago at Furniture Row. Good quality/fair price.
My idea = I watch your kids while you peruse furniture stores BY YOURSELF and narrow down your top 2 to 3 choices. THEN take Aaron and get his take on your top picks.
My two cents:
I love love love the first couch, but is it too big for the space? The Ikea one is just this side of awful. It reminds me a of a hotel couch. The World Market love seat is cute. It needs red or pumpkin orange accent pillows, though. I love the arms on the UO love seat.
Target furniture is quite sturdy and easy on the eyes. We have a nice chair from there and it has withstood Hurricanes Alaina and Isla. It does have some dents in the wood arms from the "Thomas the Tank Engine is also a hammer" phase, but I still like it.
Just a thought (well, another one); Joanne's has this spray for microfiber material to make it stain repellent. We were so happy we used it on our couch.
I looked at the "S*** My Kids Destroyed" site. I now live in fear. :)
Love the blue loveseat from urban outfitters. I actually don't think it would be very comfortable to sit on but it would be a perfect prop for picture taking. So pretty.
I adore the Haute House Drexel sofa and the Urban Outfitters love seat. SO awesome. Not loving the really expensive Restoration hardware sofa. Something about it just looks disproportionate to me. However, I am certain that you would make it look amazing.
But I totally understand how you feel - I'm so cheap that the $120 I plopped on our new bookcase/ room divider haunts me over a month later. And I have a hideous sofa in my livingroom that smells funny because it was free and I am not spending money on another sofa.
I think all those choices are beautiful! But, I wouldn't go with IKEA for anything. Their stuff is cheap, and crappy in my opinion. And I'd probably also stay away from Target. They have great knock-offs, but the quality just isn't the same as RH or Urbn. You need to look at it as an investment. Most of the time, good, quality things/furniture costs more, and it's worth the money. Good luck in your search!!
These are beautiful! I fear I will never own something like this....Jared is more into function than form! If it doesn't allow him to prop his feet up, it's a no go!!!!!!
I'm looking into getting some new couches as well. The best advice to give is will it hold up with kids. It's one thing if you have a living room and the kids are off limits but I know that would be happening for me. I only have a family room. It's going have to be kid tough. I like your style but you don't want to be crying if the kids are jumping up and down on the sofa and the legs break off. Good luck!
the ikea one is the only one id let anywhere near my house. Simple always wins for me.
Post a Comment