The Sofa Wars

LBeau and I once had a sofa that we both loved. When I spotted it in Macy's furniture showroom about 15 years ago, I knew I wanted it in my home.

It was comfortable, I loved the fabric, and LBeau didn't object to the pink roses. The fabric was called "Queensland Crimson" and was very popular at the time. I have seen it in other homes on everything from cushions and window treatments to duvet covers. You can see it in this picture (and I even get a chance to show off my grandson).

The sofa served us well, but about two years ago I began to think it was looking a little "tired." The color was fading, and the cording was just beginning to wear. Working with the colors in a new chair that we had recently purchased, I began looking at fabrics with the help of my decorator friend Connie. We weren't sure if we were going to cover "Queensland Crimson" or go with something new, but we needed a plan.

One day on a buying trip to Market in Atlanta, Connie took me into a showroom where you could select a sofa, pick out a fabric and have it shipped to you. I found a sofa I liked, and I could get it in the fabric I had already selected, so on impulse I ordered it. Big mistake, as you will soon see. In another showroom, we even found window treatments I could order in a fabric that worked perfectly with the other things I had picked out for pillows and a topper for a skirted table.

When the sofa arrived a couple of months later, LBeau hated it from day one. Keep in mind that LBeau never sits on the sofa, but he does like to nap on it frequently. Growing up, my boys were always afraid they would come in with friends and find LBeau asleep on the sofa in his boxers and sunglasses. He said that the new sofa was too hard and too narrow and was trying to throw him onto the floor. Although I kept it to myself, I didn't think the sofa was as comfortable as the one in the showroom, but I also thought it probably needed to be broken in. I figured if I waited him out, LBeau would come around.

It didn't happen. One day a sales circular arrived from Macy's. LBeau spotted a leather sofa that he thought might work, and he wanted me to look at it. He had always wanted a leather sofa, so I reluctantly agreed. Fortunately, it worked with the new pillows, window treatments and table topper.

So the "market" sofa now sits in my basement. I still think it looks nicer than the leather sofa, but looks aren't everything, and some battles you just can't win.

Now that you know the story of "The Sofa Wars" you can hop on over to Between Naps on the Porch where you'll find links to other Befores and Afters.