Need furniture opinions....

[MisssAshby]

So, we are closing on our house in a few weeks and our living room furniture is going to the trash can. We are looking for some new stuff and the husband and I aren't really agreeing on much. I like the simple, sleek, more modern stuff and he likes the heavy, larger stuff.

So, we finally found a couple of couches that we agreed on, but I'd like some opinions about them.

I like the furniture, but I'm thinking instead of doing the whole set I'd like to do a couple pieces of it and break it up with something else. Ideas? Our living room is going to be pretty large once completed.

This is what our living room will look like once completed.

http://www.thetownsleys.com/house/showphoto.php?photo=139

This is the furniture (it comes in a color called silver or brown. The silver color is kind of a cross between green and silver. The website picture of the silver can be seen here: http://www.mathisbrothers.com/ic280frm.asp?prodno=KFI-46200/S/LL

What do you think?

Thanks,

-Ashley

 

[bubbatd]

Really can't tell from the pictures ......I like simplicity rather than mass though .

 

[noludoru]

I think it looks nice. If you both agree on it, I don't see why not, and breaking it up with somethign else sounds like a good idea.

If you like modern and he likes heavy.. how about this? http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/fur/721326258.html If I could convince my mom to spend $400 on a used loveseat (I doubt I could negotiate it down to a *reasonable* price considering it's listed so high, maybe 350.. still too much for a used couch) I'd be snatching that thing up RIGHT. AWAY. I love it. And I think that style sounds like a nice compromise between what the two of you like! (I like the white one, too, but both of us think spending money on white furniture is idiotic).

 

[Renee750il]

It's pretty.

Look at the frame. Klaussner makes a few good pieces and a lot of crap pieces. Mostly crap now, truthfully.

All the different manufacturers copy the same styles over and over. There's a good chance you can find the same look manufactured better by a small manufacturer in the Tupelo, Mississippi area, at a better price.

Most of the old name furniture manufacturing companies have been sold and they bear no relation to the original company. The quality is long gone. Lane is one of the few big names that still maintains their overall quality.

Edit: Nolu, the used price on that loveseat is pretty damnclose to what it should be NEW. UrbanEssentials is a box-store type brand - barely a step up from what you find in Rooms that Blow. I expect to sell a SOFA in that style, with a hardwood or oak frame, for about $600. A similar loveseat would run about $100/150 less. NEW.

 

[Nefarious]

I'm her husband -

The Klaussner set includes a lifetime warranty on the frame and a 1 year warranty on the fabric. The sales guy was pushing the name as a good brand, but I did some research about the company and found they've had some issues.

With the warranty being a key point, we may look at getting the set.

 

[Dizzy]

I'll ask the sofa what it thinks, but I'm not sure it'll tell you. Very stubborn those seats are.

 

[Renee750il]

I'm her husband -

The Klaussner set includes a lifetime warranty on the frame and a 1 year warranty on the fabric. The sales guy was pushing the name as a good brand, but I did some research about the company and found they've had some issues.

With the warranty being a key point, we may look at getting the set.

Ask to see the warranty policy. That's a pretty standard answer, and it can mean just about anything, including, after a lengthy run-around, that you get sent a bag of parts and told "have a nice day."

Seriously.

Also, it's a manufacturer's warranty and it's no skin off the salesperson's butt if it ain't necessarily so. He/she's already got their commission and the store is going to tell you that they're sorry, you must have misunderstood, or that the person who sold it to you is no longer with the company.

Kinda like buying a car

Once upon a time, Klaussner made really stellar furnishings. The old man died, and the company's been sold out and is just another holding of a larger group. According to the trade mags, they're moving heavily into the rental furniture market and are, like Ashley, aiming at a more disposable market now.

The one major company I know of that still honors their lengthy warranties is Lane. You'll pay a little more for a Lane piece, but you'll get a lot more for the money.

Bushline and Stacy (S & S Manufacturing) are two small, privately held companies that manufacture real quality. The owners are in the factory every day and know what is going on. They still use plenty of heavy oak and hardwoods in the framing, when most of the majors have gone to subbing particle board.

 

[Nefarious]

Thank you Renee. We will look at Lane and some other brands as well. After buying a leather couch that is falling apart after only 6 years, I really want something that will hold up.

 

[Renee750il]

Welcome

Sometimes all the trivial crap I learn gets to be useful to someone

These links might help you

www.lanefurniture.com
www.stacymanufacturing.com (they have a lot more fabric choices available, and you can order nearly all of them on any frame, with the exception of some of the patterns that won't run on sofas and loveseats, but can be used on pillows and chairs).

www.bushline.com

You can get an idea of what's available.

Kincaid also still builds nice pieces, but you'll PAY for that name.