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rosefolly_gw

May need to search for a new sofa and chair

14 years ago

I just love my current living room sofa and chairs and was planning to keep them for 50 years, possibly reupholstering them somewhere along the line, who knows, maybe passing them down to my descendants. However (and there is always a however) recently my dog has begun to pee on the furniture while we're not around. She's an older dog and this is new behavior. We think we know why it's happening. We're working on curbing the behavior, but meanwhile, I don't know if the furniture can be saved. I've soaked it with Nature's Miracle and had the furniture professionally cleaned, but I can still smell the odor very faintly, though other family members say that they cannot. However, it makes me very self conscious when people come to visit. Perhaps it will fade completely with time, but it is too early to tell.

If we do decide to replace the furniture, I'm hoping for recommendations from forum members. My taste is for old-fashioned styles, informal and cozy but not too flowery, and of course well-built. Remember, I'm the one who wants to keep her furniture for 50 years. I have a strong preference for tight back sofas and the word "modern" used for anything but medicine and indoor plumbing sends me running for the hills. Please share with me the names of furniture makers that you think might make things I'd like.

I'm including a picture of the current unfortunate sofa so you'll see the kind of thing I like.

Rosefolly

{{!gwi}}

Comments (13)

  • 14 years ago

    Sorry about what's happening. I can't suggest any furniture makers, but when you do get a new one, you might consider lining the top with doggie pads, then tuck a sheet or blanket over it for when you leave the house.

    I keep a sheet on my sofa all year because my dog sheds all year..white hair on a red sofa. Egads! When I know we'll have company I yank it off.

  • 14 years ago

    I am sorry about your situation with the dog, and sorry that the dog is having health issues.

    I would call your couch transitional more than old-fashioned. The legs are definitely not old fashioned, nor is the upholstery.

    This might be one company to look at:

    baker furniture

  • 14 years ago

    I LOVE my Ashley furniture!!

    Here is a link that might be useful: Ashley

  • 14 years ago

    You might be able to have that sofa recovered. The upholsterer could easily replace the cushion innards (foam/down, etc) and that would resolve the problem.

  • 14 years ago

    You said you "think" you know what's happening (dog-wise). Does that mean you haven't seen a veterinarian? Older dogs frequently get serious kidney problems and must be taken care of - I hope you're not just guessing and trying to treat it yourself. You apparently are more worried about furniture than your dog. Cover the thing with plastic for now until you get the dog taken care of!

  • 14 years ago

    larke, that's a rather harsh judgement, this is the decorating forum, not the pet forum, it stands to reason that she's asking about the couch.
    It does not mean she cares more about the couch than the dog.

    rosefolly, I've had wool rugs professionally cleaned and the urine smell never went away completely unfortunately. Good luck in dealing with your dog's behavior. The pet forum might have useful hints, after medical issues are removed.

  • 14 years ago

    Whew, in the south we are taught that if you can't say something nice then don't say anything at all. I know for a fact that rosefolly adores her dog so your comments are unfounded as well as being unkind.

    We buy furniture with the intent of keeping it forever too. I have an old Clayton Marcus sofa that I love but I think they sold the company a few years ago and I've heard reports that the quality isn't the same now. There are numerous furniture companies in Highpoint NC that still make 8 way hand tied furniture and the bonus is that it is made in this country. My sister lives there, I can get some of the names for you, I haven't bought furniture in forever :-).

    Carol

  • 14 years ago

    I'm so sorry about your dog. It can be difficult when they age, and suddenly have different and destructive behaviors. I had an elderly cat that suddenly started to urinate on ME, usually when I was sitting in an upholstered chair or in bed.

    Anyway, what I would recommend, is that for now, you clean any fresh spots as soon as you find them. If this is happening mostly when you're not at home, can you cover the furniture with towels or blankets with an underlayer of plastic?

    When the problem is resolved, and you're sure there's no new activity going on, I'd just replace the furniture. You could have it recovered, and have the padding replaced, but if urine has soaked into the wood framing, then the odor is there forever.

    It does look like a transitional couch, and I would think you'd be able to find many choices to replace it with that would suit your decor.

  • 14 years ago

    If the dog is just peeing on the seat cushions, take them to an upholsterer and have the foam replaced. That is where the smell would be coming from rather than the cleaned material. Don't know what to suggest if she's actually peeing on the body though. Hopefully the odor will go away with time as replacing a sofa is pretty expensive.

  • 14 years ago

    Rose

    So sorry to hear about your doggie issues.

    I will 2nd Les' rec Baker - I love baker

    Also - I love Lee - well made in the good old USA! Very well crafted, lots of choices of styles fabrics - I find their furnishings not only hold up well but are extremely comfy

    Hendredon is a choice that you can't go wrong with

    http://www.henredon.com/rooms.aspx?id=4&page=all

    Here is a link that might be useful: lee

  • 14 years ago

    Thanks for all the suggestions. My preference actually would be to reupholster, including the innards where the smell lurks, but I wanted some brands to check out in case that turns out not to be practical. I'll be checking into all the ones mentioned here.

    Larke, I believe that your concern is sincere. Our dog sees a vet regularly -- in fact had two knee replacement surgeries last year, poor thing. This is a psychological problem, and we have consulted a dog behavior specialist.

    Carol, so nice to hear from you! Hope you'll be coming out our way again sometime soon. I still have to show you my garden.

    Rosefolly

  • 14 years ago

    Rose -

    The problem with those natural enzyme cleaners is that they have to be used "properly". Which can be difficult in well traveled areas or furniture.

    You need to literally soak the area that the pee is...til it's literally soaking wet.

    Then you're supposed to let it air dry. It can take a day to a week or so.

    Once we did that, and followed the directions to a "T", the smell went away.

    That's difficult to do on a couch because one would assume you actually use it...so I'm not sure. That's the best way to do it though. I'm not assuming you did it wrong, but we did it wrong for a while and wondered why it didn't totally work (We'd let it sit in for 10 minutes or so then dry it up).

  • 14 years ago

    I might suggest looking at Restoration Hardware or any respected local upholstery shop. I know they're generally more traditional, but they do have some styles that could work in a contemporary setting.

    If you want to buy online, You can try Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, Ligne Roset and Primera furniture

    Here is a link that might be useful: Primera Furniture