January 17, 2012

Searching For The Perfect Sofa

Sofa, couch, whatever, we’re looking for the “perfect” one to replace ours that is about 10 years old.    I’m about to embark on a big re-do in the den.      Our house was built in the 1980’s so there’s a wood chair rail that will be removed.    Also, all the door trim and baseboards will be painted as well.     Our den is pretty big, about a 20x20 with a cathedral ceiling.    I’d love to have beams added but that probably won’t happen.     A couple of years ago we did replace the carpet with hardwood floors that I love.     I have a seagrass rug with a neutral color border and have been implementing a lot of Pottery Barn-ish accessories and tweaking my bookcase.       In addition to looking for a sofa, the room is going to be painted in a color very similar to the 1st photo below along with creamy white trim.    I have an UGLY fireplace that will get painted as well.     Further down you’ll see some photos of painted brick fireplaces.     What I’d really like is to have a wood “surround” built like in this 1st picture….but we’ll have to see how much that would cost.

Here are some images I’m drawn to for the look I’m going for…

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I love EVERYTHING about this room!    (Via Milk and Honey Home)   I wish I had room on either side of my fireplace to have some built in bookshelves added but I don’t. 

 

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The ceiling in this room is much like mine….and I like that sofa too!

 

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I have a chair very much like this one that will be recovered in an old German grain sack….as a matter of fact it looks a lot like the one on this chair!    I just have to decide if I want to leave the chair stained or paint and distress it….

 

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I believe Melaine’s sofa is by Pottery Barn….but hubby doesn’t want a sectional

 

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bookcase

(via)

I’ve been recovering my books with brown Kraft paper like this for my bookcase

 

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Love, love, love this room!    I have floors this color and look at those beams on the ceiling, I’d love those too!    Plus I love that painted brick fireplace….the wall color is very similar to the one I’ll be using so I think it would look good to paint the brick in the same color with contrasting trim.    There are no windows in the den, just two openings on either side of the fireplace that go directly into the sun room so we get light from that source

 

 

cindy crawford sofa

This is the sofa I’m seriously considering…we saw it last weekend at Rooms To Go.    It’s the Cindy Crawford line.    Very comfy and I could upgrade it to a sleeper if need be.    Price was VERY good compared to PB!    It also has good on line reviews.   (I would not be using the striped pillows)

 

HomeBeautiful

 

penneys sofa

This is the JC Penney's Linden Street “Friday” sofa…which I’d get it in the “natural” color instead of red.    I actually had put this in my “cart” but the on line reviews aren’t too encouraging.    Apparently the slipcovers don’t fit too well and I’m up in the air about buying something I haven’t seen in person.

 

jc penney sofa

This is a sectional sofa by J.C. Penney…very reasonable but again, a sectional which hubby doesn’t want.   

 

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Here’s the PB sofa….can you tell the difference in this one and the one by Rooms To Go?    Me either!

 

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Now for some painted brick fireplaces….I like the idea of painting it the same color as the wall and using a white painted mantel  (mine is already painted white) or possibly stain it a dark walnut color

 

Brooke's branches

Here’s another painted brick I like…what do you think about painting fireplace brick?

 

I’d love your thoughts or suggestions on any sofas you have or could recommend.  

25 comments:

  1. In our old house we took down the wall between the living room and den to give us more room. We painted the paneling that was left in the den and all walls very similar color to what you plan on using and painted the brick fireplace the same color as the trim (an off white) and I LOVED it!! Go far it!

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  2. Loving all the pictures! We have a PB sofa covered in their microfiber suede...I wouldn't buy another sofa unless it was covered in the same fabric! EVERYTHING comes out of it with just a little dish soap and water!! Including RED WINE!!! While a bit pricey...it has MORE than paid for itself. The biggest thing when looking is to be sure the sofa has a VERY good frame, the slipcovers/fabric is just the icing on the cake.

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  3. I love it all. The colors are wonderful, so pretty and so fresh. All of the sofas look like they would be fabulous. I really like a painte brick fireplace. I had one years ago and loved it. Hugs, Marty

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  4. Oh Judy your room is going to be gorgeous. I am with you...love beams and it is funny that your hubby doesn't want a sectional and that is exactly what mine wants.

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  5. Judy,
    I would go with the sofa from Rooms To Go...how much is it? I don't think some beams should cost a lot...you might be able to DIY it...get your son and SIL to help:) Our family room has them and I do like the look of them. Painting a fireplace is fine in my book. I just wish I could get Mr.CC to let me have our red brick house painted...don't think that will ever happen...way to much brick:(


    Blessings,
    Linda

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  6. We are doing the same thing in our den - trying to make things fit in with the new plasma tv over the fireplace -ugh!
    I did a lot of research on the very same sofas and ended up thinking we would go the jc penney route when we are ready. My niece purchased it last year with the natural slip cover and they love it. I visited once since they got it and it was comfy. She said the slips were very tight but that with a helper, the job got done. They have no kids at home or pets so she hasn't had to wash it.
    The only difference I see in the RTG one is that it only has two cushions - would the middle person slip through the crack???
    I love love love painted brick! Cant; wait to hear your decisions.
    Rhonda

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  7. I've been looking at PB, Penneys and Ikea for months and months now. I was pretty sold on the Linden sofa at Penneys as a step up from Ikea's Ektorp, but I've noticed that it's not holding up well at all in the store. In fact, the Ikea floor models (and I'm there often enough that I know they're the same ones) are holding up much better than the Penneys. I would prefer the PB, but I think I'm going to go with the Ektorp. I'm completely sold on white slipcovers. You really can just throw them in the wash with some Oxyclean and they're great.

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  8. I have to sit on a sofa to get a "feel" for it. I love your main choice. It does look very similar to the PB line.

    I have painted fireplaces in at least 3 houses...and never looked back. It was such an improvment in each case. It is scary because once you put that first brush load on there is no going back~ Good luck- xo Diana

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  9. Judy, I love the inspiration pictures and your sofa choices. I say paint the brick! I know your room will be beautiful. xo, Sherry

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  10. Just a thought about the sofa....a 3 cushion bottom is better than a 2cushion bottom. With 2 cushions, the middle tends to break down faster. Just a thought. Oh, loved all the pics. I really do like the 3 cushion PB sofa - I've sat in it in the store, and it's really comfortable. Love all your ideas. Linda

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  11. I love all the ideas you have, and I think the brick would look great painted.
    I had to laugh, your husband is just like mine. Every time I pick something out for the house he wants to have a say in it.
    (We have very different taste.)
    So exciting to makeover a room, but also stressful.
    Can't wait to see it all together.
    Melissa

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  12. What fun, Judy! I love all of the pics and know that you'll choose the perfect sofa! I have heard a LOT of good things about IKEA's Ektorp sofa ... the slipcovers that they have to offer are incredibly reasonably priced, too ... making it easy to switch them out for the season! (Melanie's sofa that you shared above is, in fact, IKEA, not PB). Do you have an IKEA close to you? I can't wait to see what you do!

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  13. Hi, my name is Heather! Please email me when you can, I have a question about your blog!

    HeatherVonSJ[at]gmail[dot]com

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  14. Hi, my name is Heather! Please email me when you can, I have a question about your blog!

    HeatherVonSJ[at]gmail[dot]com

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  15. Hey Judy! You and I have the same taste! Love all the pics you showed! My living room has the white fireplace with built-in bookshelves on either side and I never get tired of the look! My wall are khaki-colored from Ralph Lauren.

    I would love to have a white sofa but I was always afraid of DIRT showing! I have a large leather sofa. It is SO HARD to make a decision on something so expensive as a sofa! Love PB but their prices are TOO high for what you get!

    BTW, so sorry about your Mom. Hope her arm is healing and she doesn't have to have surgery. Bless her heart!

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  16. I purchased the Linden St. sofa and LS from JCP a few years ago and love them. The only negative is that the slipcovers fit very snuggly. Since they are red I've not had to remove them to launder so don't know how much they would shrink. If you want me to send photos let me know. LOVE your blog. I'm one of those good southern girls as well!

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  17. This is my constant challenge- a new sofa!
    I am so glad you mentioned Rooms to Go-
    I am going to check out Cindy Crawford's line.

    Thanks!

    Laura
    White Spray Paint

    Your changes to be sound wonderful!

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  18. Great photos and love the direction you are headed with the sofa. We painted the brick fireplace white in our previous house, and it was a big improvement.

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  19. Judy--check out the 'cottage' sofa from Haverty's. It comes in great linen-look colors and the price is cheaper than PB's.

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  20. Judy...just stopped by to say thank you! I noticed I was getting a lot of traffic from your site so I came over to check it out and found I was under 'Blogs I Love.' I have added your button to my site. Thanks again!

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  21. Everything is beautiful!
    Bj
    Rose

    http://amigasqueengordam.blogspot.com/

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  22. Oh my, Judy, your inspiration photos are gorgeous! We have such similar taste! I love the IKEA sofa - I don't know anyone that didn't like it! And, my vote is to absolutely paint the fireplace! Have fune!

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  24. Loving all the pictures,Show the all inspiration photos are gorgeous,Great photos and love the direction you are headed with the sofa,The colors are wonderful, so pretty and so fresh. All of the sofas look like they would be fabulous.

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