Drowing in a sea of swatches...

[castalianspring]

Since getting my raise and having things settle down a bit at work to the point where I think I might be able to deal with staying here for a while (until something else in the organization comes open or a better thing comes along, anyway), I've been, well, nesting, I guess. I like my apartment, if not the location, so I've been trying to make it

Comments

[krzykat]

have you checked out Value City Furniture, I can't remember the other name the company uses... American Signature Furniture? I got my apartment size couch, a chair and ottoman all for under $1200 with the stain treatment. I know they had several couches in shades of green, but the inventory has changed since then. Good luck!

[castalianspring]

I've seen American Signature here, but didn't like any of their style options. I'm being very picky, so it makes it tough.

[belleweather]

Can you do Ikea, or is that too college-y for you? I'm reasonably sure that the Ektorp + a non-Ikea cover from one of the many places that sell them would run a good bit less than $2000. And while they're light, they're built like tanks. Although if tufted means what I think it means, it might not qualify...

[castalianspring]

I don't mind Ikea sometimes, but I can't do their sofas. I'm holding out for made in the US, preferably bench made and with more custom options than the big box stores tend to offer.

Tufted is like this. I'm an utter sucker for it when it's done well, and tbh I love chesterfields in general and am considering one of those if I can find a fabric option that's affordable.

[belleweather]

Oh yech, no offense.That's not a style that is for me, and alas most of the furniture we get in our assigned housing is tufted like that, but in terribly paisley upholstery, which is much worse than perfectly reasonable leather.

[castalianspring]

Oh dear. Tufting is horribly lost when patterned fabric is used, so I can understand hatred of that. If I got one, it'd likely be in velvet or something, a soft option to help make up for the heavy lines of the rest of the piece.

I also like when chesterfields get a modern update. I sat on something similar to this one today and really liked it, but again, price. *sigh*

[keeperofthekeys]

idk if you have RoomStores down there, but I know a lot (all?) of their stores are closing down, so stuff is pretty cheap.

I feel you in the wanting a grown-up place. I'm still in the hand-me-down stage, where my apartment is cobbled together from items that were either purchased from a yard sale or my parents owned previously, with the exception of my couch and ottoman. I also still have one of those 5-bulb spider lamp things from my freshman dorm room. It's horrendous, but the lighting situation in my living room sucks. Some days I consider sitting in the dark an acceptable compromise to not having to look at the damn thing anymore.

[castalianspring]

I haven't heard of them before, but that doesn't mean they're not down here. I'll have to look around.

I'm just now finally getting out of that hand-me-down stage, and it really makes a difference. What finally clinched it for me was getting rid of the cheap particleboard bookcases. Good luck on finding a lamp! Lighting is tough, too, and I'm always surprised at how expensive those can be.

[nzraya]

Have you tried: roomandboard.com, cb2.com, or (gulp) J C Penney? Beyond that I have no ideas...

[castalianspring]

I have! I actually like a few at R&B, though I'd have to order some swatches to see if they have any color options I like, and I'd like to know more about their construction. I ordered some swatches from C&B, but am not liking them, tbh, and the one sofa they had that I liked has some bad reviews about quality.

I've also found some similar loveseats at Thrive Furniture, and they're seriously at the top of the running for me right now. They have a turquoise fabric I may be falling in love with.

Furniture is so complicated, I swear. It's very daunting.