<p>Im planning to redecorate/rearrange my living room and Id like to get some new furniture. Im thinking about a couch, love seat, chaise, and/or bench. I havent decided exactly what to get yet. However, Im not sure what stores would have the type of furniture I want. I want something that is stylish (not bulky) and comfortable. I have a lot of windows in my living room, and I dont want to block the light/view. So Im thinking that I need furniture that is low. Could you guys give an idea what style of furniture and stores would carry the type of stuff Im looking for. Thanks!</p>
<p>where do you live?</p>
<p>Location and price range could help us narrow down your choices. If you were in Vermont, I’d suggest Ethan Allen furniture’s more contemporary or Shaker-like line, but if you’re in North Carolina there are a million choices more.</p>
<p>Since I just came from Boston after moving my daughter into an apartment for the first time this past weekend (before the Blizzard came and closed everything), I’d also say go to Ikea, but I’m still recovering from being at the Stoughton Ikea on the last day of their huge sale … it was the only day we were Boston so we didn’t have a choice except to not go at all and it was my H’s and my first visit. That place is huge, but it was impressively laid out but so many people and cars. </p>
<p>Good luck with the remodel project. We won’t be doing that anytime soon due to college costs, but I look forward to it in 4-6 years.</p>
<p>Lots of folks would like to help you decorate, but not enough info. Style, price, location?</p>
<p>search here: [Houzz-</a> Home Design, Decorating and Remodeling Ideas and Inspiration, Kitchen and Bathroom Design](<a href=“http://www.houzz.com/]Houzz-”>http://www.houzz.com/) and build a look, a price range, and what “not to do”.</p>
<p>After a lot of research, I ordered “pet proof” furniture from a small company called Comfy1. I bought from them because they make couches and loveseats with low backs (we too have a lot of windows that come down lower in the wall than most couch backs will accommodate.) Also, their stuff is extremely sturdy. Our household consists of four people and four dogs and I needed something in a tough, washable fabric, that would hold up to abuse for a long time. The furniture is hardly cheap, though certainly, I found, you can get furniture that is a lot more expensive but not as well-made.</p>
<p>Comfy1 has a very limited product line–it really seems to be one guy plus a few employees manufacturing the stuff himself. However, since the furniture is basically custom-made you can modify the designs in many ways–making it softer or firmer, bigger or smaller, taller or shorter, using almost any conceivable fabric you might have in mind, etc… Check out the website to see if their prices/styles suit. They will give a substantial discount if you are willing to wait six months for your order.</p>
<p>Though it took us a while to save up for our furniture purchase–while the old couches meanwhile got more and more hopelessly dilapidated–we’re very happy with the results. A picture of one of our dogs on one of the new sofas is now on the Comfy1 website. Look for the pale green sofa/loveseat combination accessorized with black, white, and tan Australian shepherd.</p>
<p>Furniture shopping is a nightmare for me! I tend to hate 95% of what is out there. I don’t want overstuffed, huge armrests, sectionals, frumpy looking furniture! I find that my taste runs often “Pottery Barn” but my wallet can’t afford it - unless I get a good find at the outlet store. </p>
<p>One place I have found some decent pieces (not the matchy-match stuff , but individual pieces) is Pier I. Don’t think their papasan (?) chairs, but nicely shaped leather or suede-ish classic, comfy pieces.</p>
<p>If you have a Dania or Scandinavian Design in the area, they have plenty of modern comfortable furniture. You might try looking for a sectional couch and love seat - they tend to be lower and less bulky.</p>
<p>I absolutely second what Marilyn said. I love Dania and ScanDesign (Marilyn, these stores are very popular here in the PNW - a hint ;)). If you are thinking about couches combining style, function and comfort, check out furniture made by Stressless/Ekornes.</p>
<p>I was just looking at furniture… I was horrified by the terrible quality and high prices I found at Dania. I ended up buying a very nice recliner at La-Z-Boy, of all places. In stock, less expensive, and made well.</p>
<p>It might help to know what your budget is.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your feedback so far. I really appreciate your williness to help me. I don’t have a clue, and I don’t even know where to start. Mafool, snowflake, dragonmom, abasket - I’m in CA. Price range? i don’t even know how much furniture cost, but i’m willing to spend some $$ since I want furniture to last for many years…so I say i’m looking medium to high-end furniture. Style? i’m not sure about it, but i’m open to ideas. By the way my living room is full of frech arch windows and french arch glass doors. I only have one solid wall and the fireplace is in this wall.
jingle - i’ll check out comfy1. It sounds interesting.
Marilyn and Bunsenburner - we have scandinavian so i’ll go to the store and see
I don’t want to have an overcrowded living room. We like to see space and light. If someone has any ideas about type of furniture, style, etc., please share with me.
I need to add that I want the fireplace area to be the accent of my living room. It’s a huge area. And, i’m looking to redecorate 1/2 of it. The other half is already set with the TV, couch, etc.,
many thanks!</p>
<p>I’d suggest you go online to potterybarn.com, crateandbarrel.com, Martha Steward furniture, Ethan Allan furniture, ikea.com (or any site you know of; some suggested above). Find a couple of styles you kind of like the look of… then give us the links. Once we have an idea of what appeals to you, we could give better advice.</p>
<p>Furniture prices vary widely, even on better quality items. I’ve seen some made-in-USA sofas of reasonable quality for <$2K on sale and others for >$10K. Sometimes, price is determined more by designer name or prestige than by quality.</p>
<p>If you like contemporary or transitional Scandinavian, I’d suggest looking up Ekornes (they have an online catalog of styles and options.) It’s very sturdy and comfortable. If you prefer something more traditional, maybe Hancock & Moore would appeal to you for sofas and chairs. </p>
<p>A great online resource is the Home Decorating forum at GardenWeb. You’ll likely be asked to post photos of your room(s) when you request help, so you may want to set up a photobucket (or similar) account. Some very helpful professional decorators and designers offer free advice there, along with many house proud amateurs. Be sure to check out the gallery section for lots of photos.</p>
<p>My taste runs towards Pottery Barn. When I needed new kitchen chairs, I asked the most senior salesperson to let me know when sale was to begin. Two chairs were 25% off cuz had minor scratches, and she sold me the other 2 perfect ones for 20% off.</p>
<p>In honesty, my g/f was looking for furniture and likes the glossy, mirror stuff at that poster/furniture store. Its amazing how 2 friends who often buy same/similar clothes have such disparate taste in furniture.</p>
<p>Jmom, thanks for the suggestion. I like Ellen a than furniture. I guess unlike the more classic styles. However, I wonder if the furniture is really comfortable. I don’t want furniture just for decoration.
Silpat …good point. Im not into brand names…if I could get same style and quality for less $$, itd make my day. I tried garden web, but couldn’t get any home decoration pages…maybe I’m doing something wrong.
Bookworm…I wouldn’t mind getting little imperfections in furniture. I think it’s a good way to save $$</p>
<p>I found the style I want, classic. How do I match the pieces? I want to two chairs with ottoman to go next to the fire place. A sofa and a bench to be in the fire place area too. Do I need a center table? Or a side table is enough…I don’t want the space to look overcrowded or to look empty…any ideas for me?</p>
<p>(I’m on my iPhone so excuse my misspellings)</p>
<p>I like a place called “American Signature Furniture”… Not sure if they are out in CA or not. They always have a really nice mix of furniture and decent prices… I got some bedroom furniture there. If I hadn’t already gotten living room furniture elsewhere, I probably would have gotten it there as well. I picked out my kitchen furniture at Boscovs, and my living room furniture is a mix of Unclaimed Freight (a local store out here) and Ikea.</p>
<p>To know if the furniture is comfortable, you have to sit in it! No substitute for that.</p>
<p>Now that you’ve found a style you like and are wondering how to “match” it, I’d suggest relying on a good salesperson in the furniture store. Many of these are talented in terms of interior design (my SIL is one and her clients love her; no extra charge for this type of service in most furniture stores - including that they will come to your home to see the room and better advise you).</p>
<p>Personally, I think you don’t want too “matchy matchy”; rather things that work well together because they are compatible in scale, color and style, as opposed to a “suite” or “set.”</p>
<p>If it were me- wait, it was me, once- hire a decorator. This doesn’t sound like your forte, and if you can afford mid-to-high end to last a very long time, you can afford the small amount a professional charges. </p>
<p>Flip through magazines, and cut out random pieces you like, over and over again. A decorator will ‘get’ your style, show you options, match it to your room, AND it will all go together. Not in a perfect match cheater-way, but I mean as a professional would be able to make it hang together. A good one will also be ahead of the curve style-wise and it will mean you’ll get more years out of something that doesn’t look dated. They will also know quality.</p>
<p>I, too, would suggest a decorator. Go to some stores and look for a store that carries some styles that you like. If it is a decent store, they will have decorators on staff who will work with you. They may even come to your home. We just redid our living room. We had a pretty good idea of what we wanted but worked with an in store decorator to suggest upholstry combinations and point out accent pieces we might like. We ended up with a room we are quite happy with.</p>
<p>As a decorator, I second the advice to work with a professional. Ask around, interview a few. A good decorator should be able to work within your budget and help you find your style. I am proud of the fact I frequently save my clients money. I also have access to the New York Design Center and the D&D building.</p>