Thank you, Judy - your link and input are very useful. I will likely start with CR Laine and go from there.

How is the quality of the Crate and Barrel pieces manufactured by Lee Industries?

Your comparing apples to oranges. The link is to a high-end reupholstery business. The manufacturers you pointed out are middle to lower end, for quality of materials including fabrics. A high-end upholstery shop will take days to build a sofa, using only the best materials and meticulously in every bit of quality. A sofa using Lee as an example will be built on a "paid by the production" line by trades-persons that specialize in each phase, from frame assemble - springup- cutting of fabric- sewing- inside upholstery and trim upholstery. If you add up the total price paid to these 6 different persons to build one sofa it will be around $100.00. They dont have time to spend to get anywhere near the same quality and attention to detail as the high-end reupholstery business will have.

Their are less expensive upholstery shops in just about any part of the country and with purchasing fabrics from a local or online discounted fabric stores, you can easily get a much better quality sofa at a lower price when re-upholstering. Thats even comparing the fact that todays sofa frames are made from stapled together plywood. Your older sofa from 15 or so years ago will be solid hardwood frames with double-doweled construction. With much better spring construction. They dont make them like they use to is true for most upholstery manufacturers now.

I was told that unless the sofa was premier quality, like Baker, it was best to buy new and not reupholster.

I'd maybe reupholster. Make a pros and cons list. It depends on how much you want to spend for a new one. I think there's a large lump of furniture (and applinaces, etc.) at different price points from inexpensive to, IMO, expensive that are of poor to just mediocre quality. You didn't ask this but FWIW, Ethan Allen's quality went down hill after production went to Mexico a few years back. I was planning to order a sectional from them and was shocked at more recent reviews. Some even had photos.

I just went through the same thing...but my sectional was from 1995 and Thomasville. I LOVE my sectional, it's the perfect size and shape for my room and it held up very well. I did want the arm style updated and I had them use latex foam because I wanted to limit off gassing and I used Crypton fabric, so some elements were a little pricier than some other options may have been. My upholsterer has done a few jobs for me and I trust her, so when I asked if it was good enough quality to reupholster, she assured me it was.

I did look at new pieces, but didn't want something made in China or Mexico and I also found it pretty impossible to find sectionals to actually sit on in person - and I just couldn't custom order something I didn't actually sit on - I don't live in a large city, so options were limited. Even in Seattle, the closest large city, I had a difficult time finding good quality furniture stores with the pieces I was interested in. I love Room and Board quality, made in USA, but they are a little modern for me and I wanted something that sits higher than theirs do. If they had "fit" me better, I probably would have bought one from them.

My sectional in 1995 was around $3K I think, with a nice quality cotton/rayon blend fabric and it cost me a little over $5,500 to have it reupholstered. I'm very happy with my decision.

This is all helpful. While I haven't used a local reupholstery shop, there is one that comes highly recommended by several neighbors, who say they do a fabulous job for incredibly reasonable prices. So that makes reupholstery a more viable option.

A big outstanding question is how was Ethan Allen's quality from the early 2000's? I know it's gone way downhill more recently, but when did the real decline start?

I just ordered 2 new sofas because my Ethan Allen sofas both broke within a short time of each other. I think I bought them in 2004. If you opt for reupholstering really check your frame out!

I don’t know when E A lost its cheerleaders. I do know that a friend, who researches everything to death, decided to reupholster her vintage (early 2000) and like Mimour-GW’s experience, her upholsterer told her not to bother. The frame was a mess, something about green wood when it was made, She finally bought leather from either Bradenton-Young or Hancock & Moore.

iccustomsofa, I made it clear that the link was for prices in a metropolitan area.

As a designer, I am interested in the info you posted, but I can’t find any reviews for your business, either here on your houzz, or on-line. I did read that your furniture is not delivered assembled, but you include the tools necessary.

Assembling furniture is a big issue for a lot of people. I think it is important that Kristen and the other posters have that information.

Olychick, I have two very vintage Harden wing chairs which belonged to my dad. Besides the sentimental value of them, the chairs themselves are superior quality. I have spent a good amount over the years recovering them. I could never find better chairs in a fabric I loved for the price of upholstering.

custom slipcovers?