I would go w/ the R&B. We have the Wells and have been very happy... had the R&B version of the Maria Yee Mendocino before that and loved it too... Just rotate and plump the cushions regularly (weekly or so...) and I think you'll be fine. Some AT readers have had complaints w/ the R&B foam cushions, but weekly maint. seems to work for us. Also, I'm pretty sure that R&B will replace one cushion for free down the line, then around $130.00 for each extra one... So, you might end up spending another $260.00 in 3-4 years, but as you said, since you may not be in the same space for even that long to begin with, why not save the $1K now and see if you need it to replace the cushions.... that's even if you want to bring the sofa with you when you move again. In all, the R&B profile is nice, the construction is good and you could keep it, replace the cushions, get it re-upholstered and have a brand new sofa for your next place for differential in cost between the R&B and the Mitchell Gold...

Don't settle on any sofa just because you are "only going to be in a place for only a couple of more years."

That said, I don't think either MG BW or R&B is a compromise, brand- or quality-wise.

THAT said, those two descriptions sound remarkably similar... once you take the marketing spin off them, so I'd give both places a second call and get them to spell out exactly what the cushions are made of. They both sound like wrapped foam.

The difference may only end up being the density of the foam. Which is a personal thing.

All things being equal, I do like the styling of the R&B sofa better...

The R&B sofa has better lines. We've had R&B sofas ever since we can remember. They have held up well and my tastes seem to change before they wear out.

If you are really not thrilled about either sofa you may want to take a look at what Macys offers. There have been lots of posts here about one or two of their sofas priced at $699. They have the 3 cushion problem but readers have said the same as Kellen above. Turning cushions on a regular basis really seems to help.

I would be relying on the expertise of the companies selling the furniture. Have them tell you the difference and which is better quality. If they can't tell you then shop somewhere else where they know their product.

We looked at the R&B sofa and the Macy's Corona. We ended up going with the Corona because we have giant dog and a messy baby, so the thought of having a $699 sofa possibly ruined in a couple years was more palatable. The cushions are also foam wrapped and seem to be holding up quite well, so if you're only going to be there for a bit, you may want to check it out.

You should NEVER purchase a sofa without first sitting on it and the cushions you propose to purchase, especially having the lower back problems you mentioned. Although cushion composition is important to a sofa's comfort, so are its dimensions, arm height, back height, frame construction, springs, etc. For instance, a shallow seat sofa can prove very uncomfortable for tall people, a deep seated sofa high-chair like for short people.

Unfortunately, you didn't note where you live, but before plopping down $1000 or more, you should take the time to visit a showroom and sit on the candidate sofas and others, even if it means traveling a distance to see them. If you discover the sofa you like is unaffordable at this time, ask the salesperson about sales, especially end of season clearance sales usually occurring in Spring, and keep an eye on Craigslist and your classifieds.

Good Luck!

I don't know. If you really don't think you're going to keep the sofa longer than 5 years, and you don't feel an incredibly strong pull to the R&B one--I'd go with the less expensive one. I mean, it's about half the price. That's a big ol' difference.

And for the record, I agree with Patrick. I would say you shouldn't settle for a sofa at all (at least not at these price points). To me, any purchase that big should be something you're really comfortable with and won't have a problem being committed to for a long time.

I find the room and board one far more attractive.

I agree with the comments regarding the comfort. I'd also add that you should test the fabric itself for stain resistance and durability. I just take a swatch and drop some water, milk, wine, rub a little chocolate (!) whatever suits your lifestyle. Also, look at it with light behind to see how tight the weave is. The tighter the less likely it will stretch and eventually look less tailored. With a tight couch like this that is important. Both brands are of good quality. The Reese is a little more classic and would fit in an apartment that is more "Domino" and eclectic, and the Murray is definitely mid-century, so consider your style and existing pieces too.

I own the R&B Burke, which has been discontinued. It looks just like the R&B sofa above. In my opinion, the Burke was really poorly constructed. Out first Burke started creaking horribly and the seam of one of the cushions started to split within a month of owning it. We lived in Chicago then, so Room & Board just replaced it (the next day!). It took a little longer, but three years later this sofa also creaks terribly and sometimes feels like it is going to break in two. While R&B was great, I have to say that I am wary of ever purchasing from them again.

I think the Murray one looks better too!

The Mitchell Gold sofa also has spring suspension which will prolong the life of the sofa considerably.

I would choose a Mitchell Gold produce over Room and Board any day, simply for quality reasons.

MAJORLY support the people above who said you need to sit on them first!! I never would have concerned myself with an uncomfortable sofa until we house sat for my old pastor. They had raved about this expensive new leather sofa they'd just bought- SO UNCOMFORTABLE! In fact, the only really uncomfy one I've ever sat on (although obviously they loved it). We had to watch movies on the floor it was so bad...

Try them out- that right there might make a difference in your decision.

John H and Cozy - she DID sit on them. She said they were both comfortable.

Will never purchase a upholstered furniture from R&B again. Have had two sofas and two chairs. The first set (The Flynn) fell apart within a year, the upholstery tore on both pieces.... R&B repaired the sofa, then the chair started falling apart. After the second incident, R&B just decided to replace/credit us for a new furniture. The sofa, by the way, had two cushions which never met up in the middle, always a little off, which drove me nuts.

The replacement was "Tulane". Was comfortable for a few months, and then the cushions flattened. My husband and I now call it the "torture" sofa. It is INCREDIBLY uncomfortable. When you sit on it, that back of your thighs painfully rest against the the wood frame, and your butt sinks to the bottom.

I wish I would have just bought the MG in the first place, and MG will most likely be my next purchase. They have some new, more affordable sofas, the Love program, and, I believe they offer 20% off custom upholstery twice per year. I am sure to take advantage of one of these programs.

In defense of Lisa (whoever she is, I don't know):

I think Lisa has obviously sat on both sofas, her lower back comment to me was a direct reference to her sitting on sofas and these being the two that were the most comfortable. In fact she specifically says both couches were comfortable and comments on the feel of the cushioning. Sorry, the posts that are all "you need to sit on the couch blah blah blah" irked me and seem to miss the point. Does anyone actually know anything about the construction of the cushions? I don't, but would love info from someone who did.

I've got a 7 year old R&B Jasper Sofa and a 4 year old R&B Metro chair/ottoman. While both are very comfortable, neither of them looks very nice any more, and one of the sofa legs broke not too long after I got it. I'm looking for another chair right now and even though I love the R&B Cole, I'm very hesitant because of my experience with their upholstered pieces so far. These are the first "grown-up" upholsetered pieces I've ever bought, so I don't have anything to compare them to, but it seems like my parents never had furniture wear out this quickly before. If you do go for the R&B sofa, be aware that it likely won't look anything like it does in the showroom after a few years of daily use.

Comparing between MG and R&B, MG is far better constructed and the fabrics are higher quality, in my experience. As far as the cushions, MG seems sturdier to me.

If you really *liked* both couches, rather than were meh about them, I would say to definitely go for the MG one. But considering you only want to keep for a short period, I suppose I'd get the cheaper couch.

When buying a sofa keep in mind what kind of usage it's going to get. Is it for daily family usage or more decorative only? If it's mostly for get togethers, style over substance could work for you and save you a fair bit.

However, if you're looking for a workhorse choose quality! Quality upholstered goods are generally solid hardwood. They're glued and screwed together to prevent joints coming apart and squeaking (unlike gluing and stapling). Legs are usually incorporated into the frame which prevents them from breaking off. Wire spring suspension is a given.

As for the cushions, the measure of resiliency is an indication of how long the foam material will hold its shape. High resilient foam will have a longer useable life than low resilient foam material. Lastly, is the quality of the fabrics comparable?

A good quality sofa is always worth reupholstering.

If you're going to spend $2000 on a sofa, you'd better love it - You may be sitting on it far longer that you think...

If you're not in love with either sofa, keep looking!

That having been said, print out Kayvene's comment and take it with you to the store. Inspect them both carefully before you make a decision, if you're set on deciding between the two of them.

Thanks so much everyone! I am from NY, close to Manhattan, and yes, I did try the sofas. I am going in to test them for a 2nd time. From what I can tell, it is difficult to find out the REAL difference between cushions (who knows if the sales people are giving you the right info). I am going to measure the depth of the cushions to see if there is a big difference. And yes, I printed Kayvene's comments. My room is somewhat long and very narrow, that with a bad back has made it hard to find a sofa.

I have been rubbing swatches against jeans to see if the dye rubs (I had this problem with my current couch). I had 2 year old jeans that stained my sofa! I do not want to worry about that - it seems like the dye rubs off onto microfiber also but not as easily. Does anyone have any experience with this? Thanks again!

@bepsf

Honestly, I think that should apply to nearly any dollar amount. Otherwise, to an extent, it's simply throwing money away.

In my opinion, quality construction is a big deciding factor. If you love the piece, reupholstering it down the road is still much, much cheaper than buying another sofa. Figure if it costs N now, in 20 years it'll cost 0.7N to 1.0N to reupholster and do any necessary reinforcing. Granted... a new one will be 2.5N! For heavy duty usage, replacing seat cushion foam is actually very reasonable.

I think its all been said.

Warning about microfiber and not all are created equal, some of it is just plain cheap and when you sit or touch it there will be a mark so you have to brush it all the time. The very high quality ones are not microfiber and will not leave impressions and look more elegant but they are 80.00 plus a sq. yard.

These companies like R&B use a lesser quality microfiber for 20.00 per yard this is how they make a profit.

Microfiber can be very dated looking very fast. I would stick with a nice wool blend or do a COM.

I have a Mitchell Gold sofa and can't say that I'm particularly impressed with the quality.

Definitely sit on both before you decide!

I bought the Digby sofa from Flexsteel (my first non-hand-me-down) when I moved last summer: http://www.flexsteel.com/home/products/SpecPage.do?prodSkuId=3966-31

While it's not the ultimate design, it's a quality sofa (with lifetime cushion guarantees), has clean lines, and fits great in my long, narrow apartment living room.

If you're actually not going to keep the sofa more than two or three years I am wondering why you don't look for a good used sofa. Invest as small a sum as possible and use the saved funds for a new one when you know you will be using for the next couple decades. Craigslist, consignment furniture stores, classified ads are all places I'd look first.

agree with bb99 that Craigslist should be your first stop, it seems like there are frequently year old, lightly used sofas for sale for 25-50% of retail, after a quick steam cleaning, good as new

Very good points Kayvene. I would certainly agree that buying the best quality that you can afford will pay off through the years. I have had my sofa for over 25 years. It has a glued and screwed kiln-dried hardwood frame, 8-way hand tied coil springs and high density foam cushions. It has been restyled twice and recovered three times. The foam in the cushions is the same as the last recovering and is still perfect. There are certain furnishings that are worth the investment. A bed is one and a sofa the other. At least in my opinion.

I did not see any comment about how one feels about having a sofa for an extended length of time. While good quality is something is certainly desirable, one need to consider the price in the light of changing taste. If the circumstances change, taste change, moves etc, it is hard to bring one to throw away something that is still in perfect condition. While I carted my leather sofa I bought from Harrods (London) through 3 continents and finally gave it up after 20 years, I have always eyed the lovely sofas in the show room and wonder if I should shell out more money for a change of scene.

We inherited a Room and Board sofa made some time in the mid-late 90s. (we've tried to find when, but couldn't find an old enough catalog) Its held up beautifully, even after all those years.

Hello Everyone,
Thanks for your help. It took me a while, but I eventually order the Mitchell Gold Reese and very happy with my decision. I was not crazy about the fabrics at R&B, especially the microfiber. I really liked the microfiber at Mitchell Gold, you don't see the swoosh marks (I ordered a light color). The sofa came a few weeks ago - the quality of cushions is much much better too. You can actually remove the cushion covers and wash if you want (I'll do my best to avoid that). All in all, I am very very happy with my choice. Thanks for everything. Now the coffee table...
Lisa