Hi there, You have a beautiful potential of a room here...

Yes, I feel your current camel back sofa is a bit too traditional if you are looking to freshen it up. I love the tufted back sofa you have pictured here though! And it is for sure not too contemporary, it can easily go either way. (so transitional)

love the idea of pale green-blue walls too, as well as getting a larger rug... all that sounds terrefic!

One easy fix I see, is I don't care for the matching floor and table lamp. There are so many gorgeous lamps out there, have you checked out World Market, or HomeGoods? Amazingly beautiful choices. Each lamp can have it's own unique look, and offer texture or color balance options to that area too.

I also would move the sofa away from the wall at least 6-12".

And lastly, I'd consider a wood, maybe even a rustic wood coffee table. I'm not a fan of the brass and glass ones so much.

I wrote a post a couple years ago featuring my friend's living room that really reminds me of yours... maybe you can get some more inspiration from it: Cottage Style Living Room

Hope this helps! Liz www.HometoCottage.com

Hi I see your dilemma because either way I think you'll end up with an even more beautiful space. First, yes I agree that the current sofa is much more traditional in style with its camelback, rolled arms and pleated skirt. However the new sofa could still work in this space and is definitely not too modern. I've seen some much more contemporary- looking sofas in the "new traditional" style that several designers and retailers are touting these days. But, it would absolutely give your space that more updated/fresher look you're after.

So for me, my other questions would be:

What are the cost differences like to purchase new vs. reupholster?

What brand of sofa is the new one? Will it hold up as well over the next seversl years as your current Century sofa has over the last 2+ decades?

Thanks, Liz. Love the room featured in HometoCottage. Yes, it's right up my alley. Funny you should mention lamps, as I was just in Homegoods today looking for lamps. Feel free to suggest replacements.

Good point, Avery. New sofa is Smith Brothers of Berne and should hold up just as long. It's about $2800 and to reupholster the Century sofa would be about $1100. I forgot to mention that I'd leave off the skirt to reveal the tapered legs. As I'm looking at the photo of the new sofa, it's looking less contemporary than it did in the store.

That's a pretty large difference, especially if you believe you're getting a better fabric or like the new fabric more if you chose to reupholster. Visible legs on the current sofa will make it look more updated too I think. Do you have a photo of the current sofa's legs you can post?

Does your reupholsterer offer new (more updated style) leg options that can be installed on the current sofa?

Which sofa is more comfortable to sit/lie on in your opinion? Comfortability can mean a lot too IMO.

Also just in regards to style......which sofa do you like better and why?

Here is what the legs look like. Ignore the scrabble game hiding under the sofa. Yes, the price difference is significant, but if it will look a lot better for the next 20 years, then it will be worth it. On the other hand, if I recover the existing one and save some money, it wouldn't bother me to give it away in 10 years and update again, assuming I am able to find comfortable new sofas. The camelback and the new sofa are equally comfortable. With regard to the style of the two sofas, again, I like them both. The new sofa is clearly more updated, but I have seen many rooms on Houzz that have camelback sofas, yet they still look fresh and beautiful. If there is a way for the camelback to look fresh, rather than tired and out of date, then I'd like to explore it. Maybe removing the skirt and recovering it in a casual cream fabric will do the job. If not, then I'm willing to spend the extra dollars on a new sofa. I think I'm just seeking some fresh eyes for another perspective.

For me, it's easy. I love your new sofa choice with an updated traditional look. It will make a big difference in the space and I think it will may you feel "better" with the new style sofa.

Love the new sofa and the idea of a new rug and coffee table. What a fun opportunity to freshen your room and update it. The new paint will be gorgeous with the new sofa.

I like the legs on your current sofa....and really think that will make a difference in the overall look.

I personally love the style of the new sofa more.....so, for me it would be a "no brainer" if all other things were equal or close enough. I really like the cleaner lines of the new sofa arms and the tufted back. The curves at the top of the back nicely repeats the curves/shape of the back of the red chair. And honestly after 21 years I'd probably be ready for something totally brand new too and not just an updated version of what I've had.

I think that you may have already answered the question for yourself, quite frankly, too. You've checked all the boxes, know the differences in cost, and I think you are still leaning toward getting the new one (just based on some of your comments and feedback). :-)

I say go for it.....you really can't go wrong either way.

Reupholster and remove the skirt of your current sofa. It's a classic style and works well with your room. While the new sofa is nice I think the squared arms are too modern for the rest of your furnishings. From what I'm seeing with most new furniture your 20 year old sofa is probably of better quality.

Your comments echo my own quandary, and you're all making great points.

Avery, I was a bit confused by your comment that the curves at the top of the back of the new sofa repeat the curves of the back of the red chair. Actually, that is true of my present camelback sofa, but not the new sofa. It's hard to tell sometimes with a photo, but the new sofa back is straight across.

To further clarify my dilemma, I liked the tufted new sofa from the beginning, but early on in this process I had talked with an independent designer (not the furniture store sales/designer) about the sofas I was considering, and among the photos of possible new sofas was the one pictured above. She nixed that one right away, saying it was too contemporary for my space and chose a different 3-cushion sofa with a standard rolled arm and bun feet. I was very comfortable with that choice, but when I went back to the store to look at that sofa (with rolled arm), I realized it was too long and deeper than I had originally thought. I crossed off other sofa choices for similar reasons and was left with the tufted one that the designer said was too contemporary. The furniture store designer/sales woman (not the original designer) didn't think the tufted sofa was too contemporary at all, but I wasn't sure she was totally unbiased. Ideally, I'd get a new fluffy 3-cushion sofa with a rolled arm and exposed feet, but I can't find that.

In thinking more about this, I only want to invest in a new sofa if I'm sure it's right for my space. It probably is, and it gives a nice transitional look, but I'm not yet sold on it. I may wait another few weeks, see how I feel, and if I'm more comfortable with the track arms, go for it. Otherwise, I will recover my old one, leaving the legs exposed. If it's not enough of an update, I can revisit the search and hope the comfortable sofa selection is better in a few years. Thank you all for your comments. Feel free to give additional input.

Thanks, Bette P. You spoke to an issue I'm not sure I mentioned...de-formalizing the room. I also want guests to feel relaxed, but all my "stuff" is from an earlier more formal (and in hindsight, a bit pretentious) era. It does feel good to deformalize things, but I also don't like the idea of throwing everything out, just because it's "dated." What I'm going for is the right mix: enduring, classic, unpretentious, casually comfortable, in good taste, and beautiful.

I like the lamps you posted. I have shied away from drum shades because I have a lot of lamps to change, incl. 9 individual dining chandelier lamps. Also, I am old enough to remember how fast drum shades went in and out of style many years ago, and I wanted to see how enduring the style would be this time. But this room could use some straight lines, so I think it's safe enough to convert to drum shades.

I have considered a single-color-and-creamy-white large pattern for the big chair, but everything I've looked at competes with the other prints in the room. The old stripe had a sheen to it, and hence, a more formal appearance. I think the new stripe's nubby texture, minimal color, and lightness tie the other prints together without competing, lending a more casual feel.

Love the bird chair, but if you saw the dining and living rooms in person, you'd likely say, "No more birds necessary here." There are quails on the draperies and birds in several paintings.

I hadn't thought of doing single cushion camelbacks. I'll explore it with the upholsterer.

You mentioned getting a larger rug. I am keeping it small for two reasons: grandkids like to dance on the wood floor, and I want to leave a bit of room for them to do that, and since the dining room rug is 9x12, it feels like it'd be too much the same. In re the sofa feet, what would you suggest? I liked that the tapers are not curved, like all the other legs in the room. Are you thinking straight square legs? That sounds good too. Thanks for your help.

Your very good upholsterer will help you make the decision on your lovely sofa. He can totally change the style I'm sure if you want that. I would rather reupholster a quality piece that is comfortable than to buy a different newer one which would probably not hold up nearly as well.

You have a beautiful classic transitional room. I love the mixture of fabrics you have used & I think having the new striped fabric redone on the wingback will bring it more life. Please do not remove the painted piece between the windows. I love it, as well as the large piece across from the sofa.

If you have the skirt removed from the sofa when done, all of the upholstered pieces will have bare legs. I can see a butler's tray coffee table in your room instead of the glass one you now have. I agree you need a larger area rug to place the feet of the chairs & sofa onto to finish your lovely room. I would go with an Oriental or Persian either antique (if you can find one) or new if not.

You're dealing with an issue that many of us are facing. We bought excellent quality furnishings but are ready for a change, and the furniture that is available now just isn't the same quality. Once you've had it you don't want to give it up!

Most of my furniture is Century and it was purchased around 1980. Luckily I chose classic pieces that, while they may not be that up-to-the-minute look, are still relevant to current design.

So in looking at your pics, I have to say that recovering the sofa and exposing the legs would make a huge difference! It seems like you're looking for an updated traditional feel for the room, which totally makes sense to me. The other sofa is nice, but you already have the best, so why take a step down, especially since you want your family to use the room more. More frequent use calls for better quality furnishings.

Unfortunately, I have some experience with this dilemma, as I gave away my beautiful down-filled Century sofa in favor of a more updated piece that was not as well made. Big mistake.

I don't think the new sofa doesn't "fit" in the room, it's a nice counterpoint to all the other traditional shapes! Also, with the Sea Salt paint, that brings another contemporary feel into the room. Will you be keeping the window treatments?

It's really a tough decision. Personally I like the new sofa better, but it's a matter of taste and comfort. I have replaced a sofa for a different style which immediately made the 2 other chairs look out of place and dated. So I'd advise to reupholster your current sofa. As for the lamps, you can find inexpensive ones that are a bit more transitional and less formal. You don't have to have matching lampshades in every room. To make things less formal and a bit more contemporary, would you consider removing the valances and leaving the windows and the ones in our dining room bare?

Nancy W., yes, I will be keeping the window treatments. They are 15 years old, but I still really like them and think the colors flow nicely with the rest of the house. I'll post some photos. The print is on a linen fabric, so they aren't as formal in person as they may look in a photo. It's a colorful room, but I kept the upstairs rooms clean, simple, and neutral, and they look a lot more up to date. I'll post photos of the first floor for context.

Cbailie, I appreciate hearing your experience, as that's worth considering.

SandradClark, thanks for your input. The furniture pieces all have stories, and I think that may be why I find it hard to toss it all out. Yet I can certainly appreciate today's simpler style that didn't cost much to begin with. I like that everyone can afford great style.

I liked your suggestion for an oriental rug in this space, because I LOVE oriental rugs, but as you'll see from the other photos I'm posting, it may be time for a non-oriental choice, esp. with all the other patterns in this room. I just passed up a perfect oriental for this room, but I thought it may be overkill on the pattern again. The last photo below of just a rug is a 9x12 under the dining room table.

Yes, Barbara. I have thought of that and may do it. In person it looks right, but when I see these photos, I think it may look better to remove the valances. For context, the living room south windows have long draperies, the dining room north bay window has long draperies, and the west windows in the dining and living rooms all have valances.

You have a lovely, lovely home. Interesting that you mention that things look different in a photo than in person. I've heard designers say this is the best way to critique your own decor, take photos and look at them. Your eye picks out the things that need to be tweaked. I can't explain why, but it works. I love the look of things collected over time and not just from one 'decade'.

Love the dining room rug and it's great to hear you want room for the grandkids to dance. According to House and Home magazine up here in Canada, mixing prints is one of the styles that is right back in again! I do like the look of the square legs on the camel back sofa, it's worth asking your upholsterer.

Phenie, I love your style! You have furniture with great "bones!"
I love to enter a room that has a feeling of being layered over time!
It's so welcoming. A good upholsterer is a quality piece of furniture's best friend. When I was first starting my home my Mother always said you can never go wrong with traditional so we bought the best we could afford----saved us lots of $$$!

I LOVE your house! It is so warm and inviting just as it is. (I still say you should keep and recover your sofa.)

Thanks for the compliments, Cathy, cbailie, and Bette P. I'm strongly leaning toward recovering the old. It seems like a good compromise since I haven't found a sofa I absolutely love. This choice will buy me some time until I do find a sofa I like enough to invest some dollars into. This forum was very helpful, so thank you again.

Phenie ,your furniture is classic! They will never go out of style. You can update them with fabrics and not have to compromise the quality of construction. The old cliche of "they don't make things the way they used to" applies to your original choices.