I have an eggplant purple velvet sofa from Crate and Barrel, and when I bought it the salespeople were horrified - really kept pushing some khaki tweedy thing. I've never been happier with a purchase in my life! Take that, C&B!

Not everyone wants beige or microfiber. I bought a light aqua colored sofa and it's the best thing in my apartment. Salespeople are probably just trying to avoid customer returns and buyers remorse, but the blue velvet looks great. When you know what you want, you know what you want.

Now that's a room that is functional, cozy and inviting.
Well done.

Ohh... now I'm all nostalgic for my last sofa: a ginormous vintage number in a similar shade of blue. We had it for ten years and it moved with us three times, and it magically suited every single room we put it in. It died a slow, graceful death two years ago. I don't think I'll ever feel that way about a sofa again.

doppleganger, i know how you feel!
i walked into jenson & lewis (nyc) 20 years ago and tried to purchase a pink sofa, a pale pink sofa.
the sales guy said, weeeeell, that color pink is okaaay, but what about this! and showed me a hot hot HOT pink version which i ordered without a second thought.
i had that hot pink sofa for 20 years and it slowly faded to the color pink i originally wanted. but, the hot hot HOT pink was missed.
it has been recycled now, but not forgotten.
go with your guts, was the lesson. or go with someone else's guts as long as it resonates in your own guts... or something like that. i'll shut up now.

This is the most stunning, balanced, well organized space I've seen in a long time. Thanks for the post.

Thanks for the lovely link to Abbey Goes Design Scouting -- I love the couch and would highly recomend it! The only thing I would say is to make sure you buy the extra pillos for the arms -- makes it perfectly comfortable.