Look at Room and Board. They have a variety of sofas in a variety of current styles and price points.

Have you been to furniture stores? Not Pb or C& B or those kind of stores, but places like Havertys and independently owned furniture stores.
I have a Wesley Hall sofa I love, it's so well made I would get another when I need one. Don't know the exact prices but it's not outrageous.

I would do a tight back but only saw a few of those today. No Room and Board within 3-4 hours, was at 5 furniture stores today including Haverty's. Actually was the only customer in the store and walked all the way through it and was leaving before we were even acknowledged. I question the quality based on reviews of their furniture but I guess it's a cr-- shoot wherever you buy from.

On a side note, I commented to my daughter how I feel that people probably get furniture like the style they dress in. I had a Talbot's shell on, classic leather purse, a very tailored look. My DD was dressed more youthful but in a similar style. The older sales gal kept showing us frilly sofas and chairs. I kept telling her those were not my style, I wanted a classic sofa. I would think after the first few comments and based on how we were dressed, she should have had a better clue of what we were looking for.

We drove an hour to get to the "big" city, DH just got home and asked how today was. I snarled at him! He said that good huh?

I'm sorry you had such an awful day, hope you have a relaxing evening.

It doesn't have to be a "crap shoot", there are very specific guidelines for quality sofas ( maybe someone will post a link?) , you are not the first to want a good one, and there are many furniture makers who follow such guidelines.
These sofas are typically custom order and will take 3-4 months to get. But compared to sitting on it for many years, not that impossible. And they aren't necessarily wildly expensive.

Wherever you buy the sofa, review the brand, not the store. In cases like PB, they might be the same although I think Mitchell Gold might still make some of PB's upholstered furniture.

A sofa is an excellent example of "you get what you pay for".

Pottery Barn is Lee, isn't it? Lee makes very good sofas, hardwood frames.

I love this one, with the tight back, two cushions, English roll arms, and casters:

Lee Industries

This is just a starting point (I picked Norwalk because I know they have many styles, made in America and not too pricey).

Google "Norwalk Sofa", click images, find a style you like. Once you know the style, carry the picture with you or post the pic on this board for a description that fits the style you like.

Good luck.

This is a sofa Haverty's had that I liked. The cushions are not attached and all are reversible. It sat fairly comfortably but the reviews say that a new one is hard and uncomfortable. I would prefer a 2 cushion sofa as usually 2 college kids are hanging out on it with us. I didn't think that it would be hard to find a basic sofa like this. In our Haverty's, there were not as many fabric options as online. I also am fearful of a light color like this but most of the sofas I saw and available fabric choices were light.

I custom ordered an expensive couch, chair and ottoman many years ago and it was a bust. The fabric quality I ordered was not the same as I received. It took some work but I got a new furniture. That experience has left me gun-shy on ordering a truly custom sofa again.

Tib, you are right. Tufting and nailheads are in. I just wonder for how long? I like the tight back look but the arms and legs are too curvy for me in the one you pictured.

All of the stores that we visited today were true free standing furniture showrooms, not retail stores that carry furniture like PB or C+B. I'm looking for a couch that will last 8-10 years or until I want to redecorate and give it to the kids!

pottery barn is NOT Lee. Crate and Barrel has Lee

Oh right! Yes, that is correct. I meant Crate and Barrel. Thank you, Isabel.

FYI: the sofa in the pic above is a Lee.

RN, I think the questions you want to ask a manufacturer (don't ask the retailer. If you're in a retail store, ask who the manufacturer is, then go home and call them directly) are what the material of the frame is.. you want hardwood, if it is eight-way hand tied, and if the joints are blocked and screwed, not glued.

I would take a look at the Lee site. They are well-made sofas, hardwood frames, etc., and they have a good variety of styles and mostly fairly conservative.

The real challenge, whether retail or not, is in the cushion, IMO. Seems next to impossible to get a decent cushion now. So do your homework on cushions. I did a LOT of homework, including going into a retail store that sold the brand I wanted. The cushions were GREAT in there, I gushed about them, told the salesperson that that was exactly what I was looking for, firm but not hard, doesn't sink into the sofa, supportive, etc., so I went ahead and ordered my Hickory Chair sofa. Frame is fantastic..but the dang cushion wasn't anything like their cushions on the showroom floor! I was peeved, to say the least.

As for tufted, tufted has been around forever. I don't see it ever actually being out. But I agree with you about going more conservative when it comes to sofas since they're expensive and you want them to last.

I would take a look at the Lee sofas, pick a few styles you like, then call them and ask them if there are any retailers in your area that sell Lee, and specifically the sofa(s) you're looking at.

The best way to tell if a sofa is solid, in person, is to lift it. If it's very heavy, it's a good, hardwood frame.

I have a Lee Industries sofa that was custom made with four seat cushions. Loose back pillows. Any reputable furniture store should show you the catalogs they have with available furnishings. I am very pleased with the construction. It is navy linen with nail heads.

Babbs, I want a navy sofa! That is a color I would like to have but was told by a salesperson that navy isn't a neutral. Really? What it truly boiled down to was that they didn't offer anything in navy.

I'm tired of my mucky moss colored furniture and want a nice clean color. One of the stores I was in yesterday carry Lee. I would not want to order a sofa from a catalog based on yesterdays Goldilocks experience (or maybe it was princess and the pea!)

On a side note, what happened to the picture that I posted last night? It was there when I was typing.

"Most of the sofas that I have seen have the attached pillows on the back." Okay, that kills my own personal back. Don't, seriously, never do that. Us with 4th and 5th lumbar issues will send deprecations towards that couch/sofa or whomever designed it. Make the things de-tachable, PLEASE!

I've been searching for a sofa for ages now and can't find it. I need firm cushions and firm back and a classic/casual look. Even though we're tall, I find many sofas so deep that my feet are dangling or I'm forced to slouch.

Some of these sofas are blue/grey

I will never again have a loose cushioned sofa. I told my dh that once and he said he loved the loose cushions but guess who always straightens them.

Nosoccermom, I hear you. The sofas are either too short or who the heck do these fit if they are too deep for me? And Bumblebeez I got you on the loose pillows. Been there, done that, don't ever want to go there again.

Let's try the picture again. Can I find a version of this that fits, is comfortable, has pillows that I can flip, preferably 2 cushions, will last approx 10 years but not forever, and navy would make me really happy!

Piedmont Sofa - 86 Inch


I want one like this!

RNmom, the one pictured has loose pillows on the back doesn't it?

Henredon:

Smith Bros.

Tib, SOLD! I 'll take the last one in another color. And really all of them are the style I am looking for. The gold is nice but you told me I had too much gold when picking a kitchen color.! The price tags are higher than I want to pay I am sure for the Smith Brothers or the Henredon (although I am not that far from Berne)

Maddielee, yes the Haverty's one has loose cushions. Both of the sofas sat fairlly well in the store but reviews say they are hard when you get it They have another style that I like the mcirofiber better on but it is three cushions. Not loving any of the color options, still feel like I'm settling. I need new carpet and paint. I had planned to paint a greige and don't want wall and sofa to fight.

RN, here is the link to that last sofa. The gold fabric is just what they have on the sofa for the catalog photo. You'd pic your own fabric, of course.

http://www.smithbrothersfurniture.com/catalog/ctl/detail/mid/580/a/01/c/sh/flc/f/st/0383/cv/f/bcs/sofas?flb=0,2,3

Btw, the seat heigh of that sofa is nice, 20". So many are 18", which is so low. Ugh. Knees are in your face, or it's hard to get up. 20" is a good height. It's one of the reasons I went with the Hickory Chair. I had such hard time finding sofas with seat height of 20" or higher.

You will spend quite a bit more fr the Smith Bros sofa, i think.

I got this one- the nail heads I think can be left off ( I selected antique brass which is way less noticeable than the silver ones are). I too had a real bug for a navy sofa. I looked and looked. Originally I too wanted loose back but this has attached back and I love it. It really is neater and doesn't require constant adjusting. The seat cushions all flip. I got this about 18 months ago almost 2 years, and I LOVE it. It is not as high quality as some of the ones being suggested, but for my purposes I am delighted. (and it's made in USA) editing to insert photo DUH. don't know why its only showing partially. if you click on the photo you will see the full sofa.

ROWE BLEEKER

Is there a local company near you that makes custom furniture? I live in a smaller city (80,000) and we have a local shop that makes terrific custom furniture. Any style, any fabric, change the cushions, change the arms, change the length of sofa, even put in lumbar support. We had a sofa made there about 20 years ago, had it recovered once, and then had it recovered and cushions changed. Great to have a place like that around. And the price was no more than a mid priced sofa anywhere.

I hate sofas that have no real backs, but loose pillows. That is not a sofa!

We bought a new sofa for the first time in 20 years in the last two years, and got one of those reclining sofas. I am not sure I like it, as it feels too stiff and narrow sleep on. It was hard to find a sofa long enough to sleep on, and deep enough for one other person to nap alongside.

Funny -- I hate loose cushions on the back of the sofa and would never buy one.

We just bought sofas at Laz-E-Boy. The sofa picked has upgraded seat cushions. They are firm and extremely comfortable.

I stay away from any mechanical or reclining sofas -- too much to break.

We have a Smiths Brothers sofa and it was made in America. It seems very well made.

My 15 year old leather sofas are well made and the back cushions are sewn on with no issues. The seat cushions are clipped on to the frame with elastic straps, which prevents them from pulling out too much so they only need minor adjustments. Only the leather has become worn so I'm going to get a quote for reconditioning and dying and hopefully have new looking sofas again.

I just ordered a new RH Maxwell sectional for the family room off the kitchen and it will have the indoor/outdoor Perennials fabric. It feels like nubby linen but it's supposed to be very durable and wipe clean.

IMO, a sofa is one of very few pieces of furniture worth investing $$ in.

I am lucky to have this family owned furniture store local to me here in LA. The furniture is also made right here in LA.
http://www.ciscobrothers.com/new-home-page

They also sell their furniture through other retailers across the country. Just looked and they've updated their website and now have a "find a retailer" link. Any piece can be customized in its size and/or the fabric used. I have 3 sofas, 3 chairs, 1 upholstered bed and 1 bench made by them -- all bought during the last 4 years. Very happy with the quality and service.