One of the things I hate the most: Furniture Shopping

When we moved into new house in 2003, we got rid of almost all of our old furniture. I was swamped with work at the time and my wife went to one of our local stores and bought six rooms all at once. Aside from pasying the bill, I didn't have to participate. I could care less.

So now, the last bit of furniture from our old house is going to be replaced. Tired of my wife's complaining about our fabric couch, loveseat, and chair. Apparently they are not good enough for her, although she has no trouble taking naps on them every Sunday afternoon. Not to mention I have spent many a night on them after a fight. So to assuage her *****ing of the past few months I have decided to bite the bullet and get what she wants: leather couch & loveseat with a fabric accent chair.

Holy cow do I hate this process. The leather will be uncomfortable, a PITA to take care of, and all of the stuff she has found is about $5k AND ugly as hell. Five thousand dollars to be uncomfortable and not improve the look of the room one bit. It is not just the three pieces of course. A new rug will be required along with a bunch of custom pillows that match the fabric she will pick out for the chair.

We are still in marital negotiations, but man I hate this process. What a waste of money.

 

For that much it better be made of some sort of endangered species.

 

Leather furniture just plain sucks.

 

I have a leather couch, love it!

but yes, furniture shopping does blow

 

Why not re-upholster the couch?

Like all their upholstered furniture, my folk's couch is over 100 years old. Reupholstered in 2008, for 3rd time just for comfort's sake, as the pattern remained same, but is damask, rather than extruded. The other pieces also got reupholstered for 3rd time, as second go-round was in '76, first in '57. All not only look, but feel as if they are new, with original woodwork as it was meant to be, beautiful form and function intact, and they're not afraid to sit on it, Fonzie.

 

Regarding leather, there IS some VERY nice leather on the market that is super soft, but you pay for it. Our living room couch and love seat was one of those (along with the recliner) that the wifey just had to buy. After beating the bejesus out of the owner of the store (The manager called him at home to come down to the store because he was at the end of his rope with me) was $7K. Personally, I like the ultra suede the best. A third the price and more comfy.

 

I have a leather sofa but it was a pain in the butt to find one I liked, because most I didn't. I got mine at Halpern's, but I think they are just a local store. I think it's really comfy and all I ever do is just vacuum it every so often if it gets dust in the little cracks. I'm no neat freak though. And as for price, it was much more than I wanted to spend, but to me, worth it since I actually like it enough to keep it a while. I think it was like $2500 on sale at 40% off.

 

Wait a minute,isn't that what Ferrari uses in their ''seating''? And always has?[Alcantra is leather...]
I'm just ask'n...
cheers,
RE

 

How about Naugahyde from the rare and elusive Naga of the Gobi desert? I'd suggest a Husker couch, but that would probably be well out of your budget!

 

No, Alcantra is a man made composite/material...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcantara_(material)

 

Come visit me and Hoodude in the NC hills. Best deals in the world, especially now!!

I got my Michael Gold Sofa Sleeper, Queen Ann chair and Ottoman in leather for less than $2.5k total at their outletl!!

Here is the chair and ottoman:

http://www.restorationhardware.com/rh/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=114&navCount=1

{edit: Found the sofa!}

http://www.restorationhardware.com/rh/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1185001&navAction=jump&navCount=5


Special note: THE Michael Gold is a BIG Ferrari fan here in NC, but he is also a BIG speeding fan!!! (So his license is deader than than Iraqi Dictator!)

 

IT IS?? LIB...I live'n'learn...well at guy at the MB store done toll me a tale...
So I'll edit my previous story and say that 98+% of Ferrari's seating material is leather and the other stuff comes from a nice machine,and it may even be Italian.
cheers,
RE

 

Only if yer a redneck...

I don't count CAR SEATS AS HOUSING FURNITURE.

 

And a clodbuster too,Doc,,,,
But the engineering is similar but the goals are different as there are few 'g' forces on your den club chair so it's rare for one to slide off the seat so to speak. But both are made at least in one parameter to sit on comfortably for awhile,even a racing seat much less the den chair.
But let me ask you,what is it you don't like about leather furniture? Upholstery wise...
RE

 

And JR is right,deals can be had from here in the hills to HighPoint and beyond.There's not as much made as in years past but there are some dealers/retailers and manufacturers outlets that aren't averse to a discount and sometimes the stratch&dent stuff is a relative steal....[ie $199 for a RalphLauren pencil-post bed queen or king...they sold quickly] The factory sales usually occur once or twice a year and more and more are at the Hickory convention center. Lots of the stuff is not such a great price imho but a gem can be found...cases<wood furn>&uph,leather and fabric.
Some of the names that have these sales are Baker,Century,EJVictor,,,Henredon,Drexel,Thomasville[there are lots others] have outlets at the FurnMart in Hky.
So fyi submitted respectfully and cheers,
RE
ps,I myself could not buy a piece of upholstery without sitting in it,leather or not...sorta like test driving a car,huh?

 

That henredon stuff is crap!

p )

 

awww man,cut that out...jeez

 

If there was a center bench full of cigarette burns from a Plymouth Voyager in the living room, I would tend to agree with you.

However, to every rule there is an exception...
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I bought my 2 bedroom condo back in November, and have yet to decorate it or buy furniture for it. Gave away a 2 seater couch and 2 old dressers before moving in. Having lunch with an interior designer tomorrow, and she'll style it up!!

 

Yeah, buttery soft leather is really nice. Yet, I need something that can be cleaned so I'm not so paranoid of food & drink on it. Do you have pets w/ claws? However good leather should be resilient. Good luck & post pix.