How about the Duo convertible sofa from Chiasso? $748 and I love the design. I ordered a swatch of the fabric.. it's vinyl that mimics marbled/pebbled leather, if you know what I mean.

http://www.chiasso.com/store/Item.aspx?DepartmentId=36&ItemId=47912

Along the same vein, here's another adjustable sofa, the Kiel Futon. Microfiber. $349

http://www.grassrootsmodern.com/2005/09/23/349-sofa/

Hope that helps!

I just went through the same process but my goal was to get a sofa bed that was at least a queen. The best I could do was the IKEA PS sofabed. It was not the look I wanted, but sleeps two and the price was right. The Kiel and others will not sleep two and they have a giant crack down the middle.

Skip the sleeper sofa and get a regular sofa and an Aerobed or similar air mattress (mine's an Eddie Bauer from Target). If you get the normal-bed-height air mattress they are pretty comfy. No flabby mattresses or hard supports in your back.

Do yourself and your guests a favor, and do not buy a sleeper sofa. They are very uncomfortable for either sitting or sleeping. I found that a high quality air mattress works great for guests and takes up very little room when not in use. I bought two twin size air mattresses (the self inflating Eddie Bauer version) at Target on sale for about $20 each. The benefit of two twin size mattresses is both comfort and versatility. Two people on one air mattress can be a bit bouncy. The singles eliminate the bounce and accommodate different guest situations.
With the air mattresses, you are then free to buy whatever little funky couch you desire! Or, no couch at all.

I don't know what your price range is, but Crate and Barrel has one good apartment sofa. Unfortunately they mainly cater to the "large home dweller", but the Troy sofa here is a queen and because of its trim arms, its not the normal queen length. (78")
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=936&f=8678&viewall=1

I like it now that they changed their basic fabric that it comes in to something a bit heavier than the twill canvas of last year's model. Oh, and after (or is it during?) christmas time they normally have an upholstry sale that would help with the price, too!

They also have a bunch of twin sleepers.

After saying this, you should know that I went the route of craig's list to get my sofa and plan on getting an aerobed. Here's my reasoning: 1.$$$$$. 2. so many people have said that sofabeds get to be uncomfortable after sitting on them for a while. if you take into consideration how often your butt is going to be sitting on it versus how often someone is going to be sleeping on the bed part.... it wasn't worth it to me. 3. i've slept on an aerobed (the kind that are normal bed height) and it shockingly comfortable. i've heard the same feedback from others as well.

good luck!

Jennifer Convertibles have floor sample "as is" couches that are often perfect, but at half the price. Call before you show up, though, as some have more than others.

A daybed is a good thing if you're thinking of having one guest because you wouldn't have to fold it out into the kitchen, plus you'd get to buy alot of pillows.

http://ww2.westelm.com/cat/pip.cfm?template=8grid&pkey=cfrnbed&gids=p054&cid=frnbed&area=shp

I'm with Katie in wanting at least a queen for a *comfortable* guest bed if you have the room.

I'm in total agreement with "me" and John! I think that sleepers are too expensive, too heavy and never good enough for a comfortable sleep. Save the money and get inflatibles. Then stuff them under the bed when not in use. If you really need a sleeper then get a twin sleeper ottoman.

I fought against buying a sofabed for years and then I was given one (new) by an older brother and I must say it is great - very comfortable. It has a thick mattress which is very key. I flop down onto or into this sofa every day and it is very comfortable. The sofa came from Crate and Barrel - yes big furniture but somehow my little apt. can take it. Another key to maintaining a comfortable sofa bed is replacing the mattress every two years, oh, buying the thickest mattress pad you can find.
Kate

Thanks for all the input, folks--the arguments in favor of an airbed are compelling, but since I still have a minor roach problem and my living room is functionally my kitchen, I'm just not comfortable asking anyone to sleep on the floor. (Before I got a bed to go with my mattress, I did in fact wake up with a roach on me. I DO NOT WISH THIS ON ANYONE.) I also wish I had room for any kind of sofa that folds out to a queen, but I'm really having to focus on the twin sleeper option.

I just went to apt actually this weekend and it was awesome. I was looking for a sofa bed and found one thats so cool but it doesnt open onto the floor its on metal and sits a few inches above the ground. I also found a really cool carpet to go in my room. I would definately reccomend stopping by.

What about Carlyle?

I've slept on an air mattress, which deflated during the night, and an Aerobed, which I didn't find comfortable, but it appears I'm the only person who hated it . . . Personally, I'd do something like a cool daybed or a couple of the Ikea Karlanda upholstered benches, for versatility, and then add a featherbed for comfort.

Never, ever buy from Jennifer Convertibles. Their customer service sucks. Once they have your money, they don't care how long it takes to fix sofas that were delivered broken! Avoid them at all costs.

Has anyone tried the day bed from IKEA that is black metal and looks kind of retro?

I think you should go with JEnnifer convertibles. They have some really nice inexpensive stuff and great service where I went. My mom bought mine about 400 for a full sleeper. I had some guests over and we got a lil happy with out festivities. My mom told me she bought the lifetime guarantee. A cleaning guy came out a week later and left it looking brand spanking new! awesome. The salesgirl even told me that if they can't clean it they replace it. LOL i think i'm in love.

I just bought a cabinet from arhaus furniture(www.arhaus.com). I thought there customer service was great and their prices were better than restoration hardware or pottery barn and in some cases crate and barrel and I thought their quality was great. Alot of their sofa models seem to come with lots of options (like armless sleeper loveseat) which may let you customize it to fit a tight space.

Anyone know where the sofa in the pic is from? I didn't see it on Pier1 as mentioned in the intro question. Thanks!

I love this web site! Found some great resources. I went to 'apt' two days ago and bought the Delta model and they just delivered. It's off the floor. In fact, they have 7 models that are off the floor, but I really liked Delta. Would totally recommend this place.

I came across your question while looking for something similar myself! I saw a ottoman at Storehouse that opens up to a twin sleeper for 799. I was just looking to see if I saw any cheaper. The cool thing about the Storehouse one though, which we will probably end up getting ourselves, is that the bed part is made of wooden slats rather than metal bars, so it felt much more comfortable than the traditional sleeper sofas, plus was a much more multi-functional piece of furniture. Good luck!

I plan on buying the ottoman sleeper (with wooden slats) made in Italy.

Just saw a great apt. solution to your problem. Found MurphyBedsNationwide.com, which sells a sofa that has behind it a murphy bed, so you would get both! Pretty cool idea and you could customize it w/fabric of your choice, etc.

I have a sofabed and I would like to make the sofabed more comfortable. Is there any way to modify the sofabed into a regular couch?

I lived in a small studio for 5 years and recently have found myself signed up to live in another small studio.

The sleeper sofa made all the difference. I don't like asking guest to sit on my bed, the apartment felt roomy and nice, and the only issue was the 2 minutes it took to open the couch (left the sheets on) and pull out the pillows and duvet from the closet.

The deal with sleeper sofas is you get what you pay for. I dropped 1400$ on mine, and yes, the matress was as comfortable as any bed I'd ever slept on, but needed replaced after about two years. Sleeper sofas aren't really intended for big guys to sleep on them every single night. Certainly, with the mattress wear, not only did the bed get less comfortable, but the couch did as well.

Let me be clear, a good couch is going to be nothing in feel to the IKEA 600$ couch (which wasn't horrible and is probably fine for guests now and again), but if you are really relying on it for sleeping every day, you've got to be prepared to drop money.

I'd like to afford a wall bed or even find an old Murphy to set up, but that makes even less sense in a rental.

Till then, I like the sofa sleepers for balancing out my day time space needs with the reality of small space living.

I just moved into a new place, and I am up late researching sofabeds while the glue is drying in the hole on my aerobed... Please do not get an aerobed. I thought it was a great idea too, and liked it a lot at first-- but it will leak, nothing like waking up next to a wooden floor. And patching is not easy.

Does anyone have information on the "apt" store or website people keep referring to? I've tried to find it on Google, but you can imagine how many hits come up for "apt" and "furniture"! Thanks!

Jennifer Convertibles ! STAY AWAY ...
Defective Merchandise - Jennifer Convertibles - DO NOT BUY
I lost close to 2K to this company..
BBB found me right..But they ignored BBB as they did before...
--------------------------------------------
This is the company with one of the worst BBB report. They just ignore customer rights, and BBB's requests..
------------------------------------
Government Actions

In December 2001, New Jersey State's Division of Consumer Affairs sued Jennifer Convertibles in response to consumer complaints regarding defective merchandise, false advertising claims, non-delivery of goods, failure to honor product warranties and failure to provide refunds.

http://jennifer-furniture.blogspot.com/2005/12/defective-merchandise-jennifer.html

Do Not Buy a Sofa or Sofa Bed from Jennifer Convertibles!

A Jennifer Convertibles Sofa May Cause You Physical Pain!

A Jennifer Convertibles Sofa Produces a Foul Odor!

Jennifer Convertibles has Sub-Standard Manufacturing Techniques!

Jennifer Convertibles Staff Are Rude And Unwilling To Help!

The Jennifer Convertibles Contract Is Vague and Meaningless!

Jennifer Convertibles is a Cowardly and Unreliable Organization!

Jennifer Convertibles Lies in Their Contract!

and more.......

http://www.stanford.edu/~dru/jenniferconvertibles.html

Troy
http://wirefan.com

Your issue has probably been resolved by now, but can't help responding to your space and bedding delima. Have you considered looking in a camper and RV catalog. The furniture made for this market is smaller in scale and generally made for more 'abuse'. The sleeper sofa in my RV is comfortable to sit on, very narrow and space saving as a sofa, yet has a full queen size bed on a metal frame. It has a thin foam mattress, but we put an air mattress we bought from Walmart on top. It is very comfortable and we fold the deflated air mattress up in the bed to store. Just unfold the bed, inflate the mattress, and voila, there's your bed!

thanks for warning.

a pretty good article by a designer on sleeping two in a small studio... saved me a lot fo grief and I think she's right about the convertible sofa thing.

http://www.areaaesthetics.com/rental_studio_sense.html

Hi: I am here to give my two cents. I paid a trip to Jennifer Convertible this weekend, to some of their NH locations as well as their showroom in Boston. I think it is defintely a great place to visit if you need comfortable, cheap and space saving sofa beds. I consider myself as very picky: I want the bed to be comfy, obviously. I also want the sofa to be very soft, high back, space saving etc. And I have a personal favor of cotton surface rather than lether or microfiber. In Jennifer, there are a lot of choices. And for the same product, they are very competitively priced. I see the same stuff in Jennifer selling between 1000-1500 while sold for 2500 in Pottery Barns, no joke. After much shopping, talking (tried about 100+ sofa, sofa bed and futon in the past week), I finally found a lovely softie sofa bed for only $500 including all delivery and tax. It is amazing. This is the price for a futon. And as I said, I am very picky, so I know that piece is of decent quality given the price. And it is a full sleeper only 65' wide.

My point is: Try Jennifer Convertible if you are very picky about quality while also have a tight budget. And try a few of their showrooms coz each carries different products. Generally those in the city would carry more than those in the suburbs coz of higher demand. So good luck!

Mei,

Go read BBB's report about Jennifer Convertible. Jennifer Convertible is the worst company I have ever dealt with. Their own guy accepted the manucaturing defect, but they do dnot replace my leather sofa set. The color of the leather came out in first 5 months. I hardly used my sofa set. I do not have kids, pets etc etc.

You sound like a marketing person of Jennifer Convertible..: )

Do not buy from Jennifer Convertible...
If you do not belive me then try
http://www.stanford.edu/~dru/jenniferconvertibles.html
still do not belive.. go check http://BBB.ORG ...

Again do not make the mistake I made...I wish they were a decent company with decent products.

http://www.newyork.bbb.org/reports/businessreports.aspx?pid=44&page=1&id=200

Government Actions

In December 2001, New Jersey State's Division of Consumer Affairs sued Jennifer Convertibles in response to consumer complaints regarding defective merchandise, false advertising claims, non-delivery of goods, failure to honor product warranties and failure to provide refunds. The case is currently pending. Under a 1998 consent order by the New York Attorney General, this firm agreed to resolve all outstanding complaints previously filed with the Attorney General's office and the BBB. The company also agreed to pay a _$70,000 civil penalty. By entering into the consent order, the company has admitted to no wrongdoing. In April 2004, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer announced the filing of a motion of contempt against Jennifer Convertibles for its alleged non-compliance with a 1998 court order forbidding the company to engage in deceptive business practices. Complaints filed with the Attorney General's office before and after the 1998 order alleged that Jennifer Convertibles failed to provide refunds for damaged or defective furniture, failed to repair or replace defective merchandise, and did not honor guarantees and warranties. In July 2004, NY Attorney General Eliot Spitzer announced a consent order and judgment against this firm. The judgment permanently enjoins this firm from engaging in deceptive, fraudulent or illegal business practices, and requires the company to make significant reforms to its sales practices and customer service operations. In addition, the company will pay $277,000 in penalties and costs. Under this judgment, the firm must: 1) give consumers full notice of their rights for damaged or defective goods or to choose to have the merchandise repaired or replaced 2) honor its warranties and guarantees and disclose any restrictions 3) maintain a toll-free telephone number for consumer inquiries. In October of 2005, the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs sought over $185,000 in total fines and consumer restitution from this firm and three other major other furniture retailers in the New York Metropolitan area. Responding to a pattern of complaints from consumers, the DCA cited a number of violations including bogus return policies, deceptive promotions, defective merchandise, missed or non-deliveries, selling used items as new, and failure to resolve consumer complaints.

Thanks
Troy

Try
Plaza Furniture
470 7TH Ave Ste 12
New York, NY 10018-7193
(212) 947-3283

Their prices are good, good range of small couches and sleepers, delivery times a bit long but worth the wait.

Just purchased a sofa bed, from Mattress Storehouse. They have great prices and a nice selection. They also carry low price name brand mattresses. www.212mattress.com

When I was visiting in West Palm Beach, FL this weekend, I went to a Jennifer Furniture Store to look at a small sleeper loveseat that was on sale for $299. I really liked it, but was told that since I live in a state where there are no Jennifer stores, the cost of delivery would be $399. Why would anybody consider buying a piece of furniture that cost less than the delivery charge. Also, the salesman was the rudest person I have ever met.

This is late but for anyone, DO NOT BUY FROM JENNIFER CONVERTIBLES. THE SALES SUPPORT IS POOR, CUSTOMER SERVICE IS POOR, DELIVERY IS POOR. SIX MONTHS LATER AND I AM WAITING FOR LEGS TO GO ON THE SOFA THEY DELIVERED--6 MONTHS. I EVEN TOLD THEM JUST TO GIVE ME THE LEGS AND I WOULD PAY SOMEONE TO FIX IT MYSELF. NO GO. AFTER 6 MONTHS THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF MY SOFA NEEDING LEGS (DESPITE NUMEROUS IN-PERSON VISITS TO THE STORE) AND SAID I COULD FILE A CLAIM AND HAVE THE LEGSS MAILED. FILE A CLAIM? THE MERCHANDISE WAS DELIVERED DEFECTIVE AND IF YOU KNOW THEIR POLICIES, REFUSAL WAS NOT AN OPTION. I GO TO THE STORE IN PERSON BECAUSE THEY NEVER REMEMBER THE NOTES THEY SUPPOSEDLY ADD TO THE ACCOUNT ON THE COMPUTER AND THE "WAREHOUSE" CAN'T BE REACHED AND DOES NOT EVEN RESPOND TO THEM (THEY CAN ONLY E-MAIL, NOT CALL, THE WAREHOUSE).

Where can I get sheets for a love seat sleeper?
Or do you use standard twin size sheets?

Look at these convertible beds! Out of sight cool - ooooh I want the double decker couch!

http://areaaesthetics.typepad.com/airings_on_design_by_area/2009/06/wheres-the-bed-cleis-incredible-convertible-furniture.html

Look at these convertible beds - out of sight cool - I want the double decker sofa!

http://areaaesthetics.typepad.com/airings_on_design_by_area/2009/06/wheres-the-bed-cleis-incredible-convertible-furniture.html