Sofa, settee, couch. Take a seat.

I was reading the New York Times and they did three different articles on the topic of sofas.

Rather pertinent timing because I am in the middle of trying to replace our sofa.

 I find sofa shopping harrowing - 
almost like shopping for a new pair of jeans.

  Its almost like getting a tattoo - 
there is a lot of commitment involved.

Last time I considered buying a new sofa was a few years ago.
A decision on my own would have been hard enough but to balance another person's opinion ( my partner's ) was just too tiring and causing arguments so I chose to keep what we had instead to avoid a full on blowout.

The first article was Analyzing the Couch.  
It discussed sofa price ranges and what the reasons were for that price difference.  It was an argument that transcended sofas and that applied to most things from sofas to shoes.

Last time I bought a sofa was in 2001.

 I was so proud of myself as I finally felt like an adult and 

it was not an Ikea sofa.

I felt very mature - as in matour - not machure, dahling.

I scoured the sales for ages but like an ex-boyfriend - 

it isn't something I would necessarily choose now.

But at the time - I went into George Smith on the King's Road and they were having a sale where items were up to 70% off.

Usually, the ones on sale always seem to be bright, orange-y, floral or ultraviolet sofas in an odd shape but  instead I found this.

George Smith Standard Arm Signature Sofa in cream tweed linen

It was in a classic style and at such a good price and ready to take away immediately that I snapped it up.

But now I either need to buy a new sofa or reupholster it.

It is falling apart.  

 Feathers keep flying out and the cushions need to be refilled -

it needs an overhaul.

Because the cushions have to be lifted out and then fluffed -
 the fabric at the seam has torn.

And the feathers in the padding are escaping so when I sit on it,

I look like I had a scrap with a chicken.

Thank god I live in England where a shabby sofa is not unilaterally derided and my friends are not judgmental.
But I personally don't find torn sofas suitable in surroundings other than in a grand country estate funnily enough.

But the rest of the sofa and the fabric is still in good nick.

The fabric on the upper base is still like new.

So this next article about making over a couch piqued my interest.

They gave an overall visual guide of tools for a makeover.

I would have liked to just use a "Diversion Tactic" but 

the tear is in a place that is so noticeable.

To read this article - click here.

We are going to be adding an extension to our house soon 
so I want to be financially savvy and 
instead of buying a new sofa perhaps reupholster it, 
especially as the frame is really solid and well made.

I think if I loved the dimensions of the sofa, 
I would just reupholster the sofa and be done with it.
But ten years on, my tastes are more defined and I did get lulled to compromise on the sofa due to its sale price.

 But the cost of the fabric we need at least 8 sq m of 
would be a bit steep.

So 8 * 78 = my partner hitting the roof and

 me wanting to go on holiday instead. 

Plus the cost of the labour? Ouch.

Thank god I got the sofa on sale but having already invested money in buying the sofa in the first place makes you reluctant to give it away or sell it on eBay for a pittance.

But having to spend as much to recondition a sofa as it is to buy a new one on the high street also presents a dilemma.
That is why I could relate to this next article...

To read the article - click here.

So it seems that I should either buy a cheap sofa and decorate with lovely cushions or invest in a proper high quality sofa.

I can't justify a mid price range one as they tend to out-date 
quickly somehow and are only just a notch 
above Ikea at around triple the price.

Yet Ikea sofas seem like a false economy if they are going to bow out under constant use in a few years.

My ideal would be a Christian Liagre sofa.

( That is my mood now of course. Who knows in a few years? )

It has the cleanest lines.  

I have seen it in different settings and seems to suit most styles of architecture. But they never go on sale and 

I have yet to find one on ebay...

 Love the B & B Italia Charles Sofa - 

maybe not in this color but I never get sick of the shape.

I like this sofa with its clean and classic lines.

It doesn't lean back too much and eat into space so a few inches here and there make a foot...

And in London, space is precious so every  square inch counts! 

But this sofa has so many pillows - there is hardly room to sit! 

I have a thing against too many pillows.

In fact, I wrote about this burgeoning excessive pillow syndrome - 

click here if you haven't read it yet. 

 Um... no thank you. 99% discount you say? 

Still no thank you.

Would choosing something like this be too safe and 

a bit of a cop out?


Sorry to have just run you through my internal mental dilemma but this issue is making me think of all aspects!
I might need to go to the shrink due to all this angst but might end up analyzing their couch before I sit on it...

Sigmund Freud's couch - which I now need.

There was a nice diagram to illustrate the difference between a budget sofa versus a designer sofa.

I love Baker furniture but there is a difference of $10,167.  
Which is in fact a bit more than that because you have to earn more than ten thousand dollars before you get taxed on your salary!
I get really geeky sometimes and calculate things the way 
my father would tell me.
 To continue reading the article - click here.

Regarding the example of the picture above,

would you invest in something like the Baker or would you buy the cheaper sofa and spend the remainder on a holiday or some lamps?

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