like you, i couldn't afford the b&b sofa. instead, i bought the west elm thomkins sectional...

http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?partNumber=WE-PRODf666&storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&parentId=WE-SH1FRNSAC&retainNav=true&cmsrc=WE-SH1FRNSAC

i took off the legs and the wood frame. then, i bought metal legs online here...

http://www.ferroushardware.com/

and the result is a pretty cool sectional. hope this helps.

Della Robbia Eaton, it's not the Charles but it is half the price.

http://www.dellarobbiausa.com/sectional_eaton.htm

i'm currently looking at ikea's kramfors or karlstad - because really, i'm nowhere near the place in life where i can spend thousands on a sofa...otherwise, there's one at bo concept that looks similar at 5k...the Quattro: http://boconcept.com/

IKEA Hamra sectional. I think the lines are very similar.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S29851537

http://www.dwr.com/product/solutions/sectional solutions/neo-sectional-chaise-left.do?search=basic&keyword=neo&sortby=ourPicks&page=1

the neo at DWR is on sale right now and very similar.

Similar to the B&B but less well-proportioned with heavier lines... but it's only $1599.

http://moderndesignsofas.com/~modernde/cgi-bin/cart.cgi/SouthBeach-Sectional.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/fud/798324877.html

This ad for a company that makes knock-offs of the Charles sofa just appeared today on craigslist (San Francisco, but maybe they ship), for what it's worth. I'm not sure how I feel about direct copies.

We have a pretty good replica at our showroom: http://www.designgallerie.com/pascal.html. In NYC you might try CITE. They show a SN sectional on their site (http://www.citenyc.com/retail/main.html?sofas#) which looks like the same thing but in a different configuration. They might be able to order configuration shown above. Good luck!

I work with interior designers and retail stores to create high end custom upholstered pieces. I can meet you, discuss what details and requirements you are looking for and have my furniture manufacturing factory in California build it for you for a huge discount.

I can have the B&B sofa copied almost exactly. Without the brand name or shipping from Italy it would already be substantially cheaper. Choosing a Pleather (I know, but they have come along way and look really great!) or an ultra suede would make it even less expensive.

contact me at TSteeleDesigns@gmail.com for more info.

-tracy

This is what you are looking for:

http://www.alchemycollections.com/servlet/ProductView?command=cp&supplierID=660&commodityID=22392&searchIndex=2

Click on "View Configurations" and then price it out by piece and fabric. I have seen the fabric choices in person, and they have a wide variety and some really nice options. The only disadvantage is that if you want something in a size and fabric not in stock, you are looking at a 2-3 month lead time. But then, the same is true of B&B Italia.

The proportions are virtually identical to the B&B Italia Charles collection options.

It's not that simple or cheap to copy the Charles Sectional, we have done few of them and reupholster several for our "high-end commercial" clients in LA....I agree that $16,000 is a lot of money, but, $1,599 from a similar sofa from Modern Design Sofas is even funny!!! Regarding Ikea and West Elm furniture, with all my respect to those companies, but, they are cheap, don't look the same and it won't last long.....you just can't compared to the B&B Italia sofas, which I am very familiar with their upholstered pieces and furniture's structures!

Few things to think about it:
- What is your budget for a similar (or copy) Charles sectional? This will narrow down your options between Imported furniture (Like: Ikea, West Elm....reads, Chinese Furniture), domestic or custom furniture!
Btw, Chinese foam was finally prohibited in US, but, still can be sold as "furniture" for a little bit longer, it does NOT comply with the Flammability standards of CA technical bulletin # 117, which it will be the US standards in a near future!
Still on the foam issue, a quality foam (HR grade) for this sectional alone based in wholesale price would cost you at least $500-$800 depending on the size, between cushions and padding the frame, which is very important to the longevity of upholstery pieces, besides, all wood materials, labor (carpentry, seamstress and upholster), springs, down, legs.....and the company's profit!

So, my point is: On the long run, "the cheap" furniture will cost you more than a good custom piece, it won't last you more than 2-3 yrs looking decently (unless, if you don't sit on it...just a display piece!) and the first problem that you might have, you could consider throwing away.....most of them, can NOT even be re-upholster.....believe me, I have been in business for while and I had similar experiences with my clients!

Anyways, If you need any advices, send me an email.....as you might have noticed, I appreciate a good design and quality furniture......not really into furniture Corporations that sells crap furniture, making huge profits building overseas and taking advantage of the poor, uneducated labor, which a lot of times are kids!

Let’s keep businesses open in America, spend money wisely having quality domestic products, instead of buying the same product every 4-5 yrs over and over……I am not saying to spend a fortune in a piece of furniture, but, you can pay a reasonable price, depending on the product and still have competitive prices compared to the Big furniture’s corporations! Let me give you a small example…..you can pay $2,000 - $2,500 for a good quality sofa made locally, instead of buying a $1,000 Ikea sofa that does NOT look as nice and it won’t last you long, so, in 3-4 yrs you have spent the same amount of money (buying another sofa from Ikea, when your first one is trashed within couple yrs) and still have a much nicer piece than the Ikea sofa w/ your custom choices!

Also, have you seen the inside (wood frame, glues on the foams, staples…..) of an Imported sofa? You don’t want to see it…..if our kids toys have “crazy bad” chemicals from China, imagine our furniture, which the inspection is not even close!

Think about it and let me know……..
Thanks,
Flave
sustainable@ymail.com

I've got a Neo at home (not the sectional - the two seater) and I love it. THe sectional was under serious consideration but we just couldn't fit it at the time.

I wouldnt get anything from Ikea in the sofa departmet - you're just going to throw your money away. At the same time I got my sofa from DWR a friend bragged about his cheaper Ikea sofa - 8 months later and his is falling apart.

I have to digest all this good information - but I see a beautiful sofa in my future. Thank you, thank you!

Try this place for the same sectional. More than 10 times cheaper.

http://sohoconcept.com/proddetail.php?prod=A_SS_160_130_Sultan_Sectional

I bought the same white B&B sofa 10 years ago for $8,000. The same sofa is $16,000 now. I think i can sell (i am not) for what i paid for it. So-It was a good buy. I just priced new covers. They velco on and off. B&B is having a sale this month so a recover will be $2,400. Still a great buy! If you cant to 16k buy the best quality made in the USA sofa you can afford. In 20 years, time flies, you will know it was great buy. Good luck.