Community Chat

[Lovingq]

All the furniture in my stepmom's den, masterbedroom and kitchen were from Ethan Allen.  The livingroom furniture were pieces they already had and liked. One piece in the den was a gorgeous black leather sofa bed.  It was big and comfy and just beautiful.  So after my dad dies and my brother moved in, he slept on the leather couch only he didn't open it to use the bed...said it was more comfortable sleeping ontop of it.  

Well, needless to say, it's not the same great looking sofa.  In fact that sofa was earmarked for our house but we gladly said yes to him when he wanted to take it, after our stepmom passed away.   Geez is all I can say.  

[Irshgrl31201]

I went sofa shopping a couple of years ago and it is shocking what a good sofa costs. We go with the 8 way hand tied and we wanted upholstery that we chose so that was extra. We don't live far from some of the best furniture factories in the country (High Point) but many of them we could not get into because some of these places only allow interior designers. Luckily we used one for several things in our home and she could get in so we got what we wanted with her discount. I was shocked that many of these couches were in line with what a new cheaper car costs!! It is nuts! We did choose a fabric that we loved and it had been discontinued so we got a really good deal on that along with her discount. 

I think if you have a good sofa with good construction I would see what it would cost to get it reupholstered. If you can find something that you like at a good price, that would be worth at least looking into. Of course some of those fabrics can get quite expensive but you can find good prices on many and some fabrics that have been discontinued you can get really good deals on. 

I can't really speak on furniture chains because my last experience with one was years ago and while I got a good price (around $700 maybe 20 yrs ago) it really didn't hold up. I didn't even use it that much either because we weren't home a lot! I know a good one is more expensive but you pay less in the long run IMO. Considering yours is almost 20 yrs old, it sounds like maybe you could get away with just reupholstering and restuffing it. Good luck!

[Annabellethecat66]

Wow!  I HATE to shop for furniture.  After we had a house fire we had to get new furniture (courtesy of the insurance company).

At the time we went into a store called "the Room Store".  Furniture was set up like 'a rec room', a living room, etc.

I have absolutely no taste when it comes to decorating.  I hate it and think it's boring.  My late husband loved it and was good at it.

He picked out all of the new furniture to replace our old.  I could care less.

I wouldn't let him get bedroom furniture even though we needed it.  I just wanted to go home.  Ha!    I'm going to have to sell this house and 'down size'.  I'm going to sell all of this furniture and get something way smaller.  This furniture is huge (the dining room seats 12 people to start with!  I get wigged out thinking about it.

It's funny because my friend (another widow) is in a similar boat.  We are constantly saying, "We really need to go to a furniture store".  Ugh!  Too many other things more interesting.

I don't even know where there are anymore furniture stores these days.

[pitdakota]

@goldensrbest, another vote here for Smith Brothers of Berne.  This company was recommeded to me by a friend that is also an interior designer. According to her, their work is top notch  The furniture is made in Indiana.  I absolutely love my sofa.  I have only had it for just over a year, but the sofa is very well made.

Here is a link that discusses their construction of a sofa and I think at the top, you can see if there is a dealer near you. 

http://www.smithbrothersfurniture.com/about/constructionfeatures

You can also browse around that site to see pictures and fabrics I think.  Might give you some ideas even if you aren't interested in the brand.

Warning though, they are not inexpensive.  But I honestly think this sofa is going to be around for a really long time!  Even after a year of having a grandson flop and jump around on it, the sofa still looks brand new.  lol 

[Irshgrl31201]

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@pitdakota wrote:

@goldensrbest, another vote here for Smith Brothers of Berne.  This company was recommeded to me by a friend that is also an interior designer. According to her, their work is top notch  The furniture is made in Indiana.  I absolutely love my sofa.  I have only had it for just over a year, but the sofa is very well made.

Here is a link that discusses their construction of a sofa and I think at the top, you can see if there is a dealer near you. 

http://www.smithbrothersfurniture.com/about/constructionfeatures

You can also browse around that site to see pictures and fabrics I think.  Might give you some ideas even if you aren't interested in the brand.

Warning though, they are not inexpensive.  But I honestly think this sofa is going to be around for a really long time!  Even after a year of having a grandson flop and jump around on it, the sofa still looks brand new.  lol 

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Yes, my grandson is also our official "sofa toughness tester" too @pitdakota!