apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I bought recently a media station that looked perfect. With special place for some CDs and selves that looked that DVDs would fit. And it was huge enough to fit all my equipment. It was very cheap so I bought it, pretty much on impulse only to find out its quality was very low, it was large and it didn't look good on the spot the TV is and DVDs couldn't fit. Finally I turned an IKEA middle table into the perfect media station, and the crappy media station into a perfect small bookcase that really adds to my place.

What couch is that? Is it a sectional?
I am desperately trying to find the perfect couch and want something similar to that.

We went for a firm sofa instead of a comfy one because we liked the look. We spent a lot of time in stores lounging on various modern sofas to see if we were sure it would be comfortable enough. Glad to say we love our sofa - and it has softened up in the year or two we've owned it. We also have some comfy pillows and blankets on hand and I consider it a success that we have been known to snuggle up on it for a movie only to pass out half way through :)

Our couches are only three years old, but they're already falling apart (we have a lot of overnight guests who just crash on the couch). Next time we plan on investing in something a little more firm. Good to know that pillows will add the comfy aspect back in.

It looks like the Kramfors sofa from IKEA. I only see the leather option online, but they also sold it in a fabric option.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S69829040

i am regretting a tanker desk i bought off cl. It's this crappy yellow and is just to giant and huge. Along with my yet to be reupolstered harvest gold velvet couch i own, it brings this horrible mustart yellow all up into my living room.

I've always wanted a tanker desk but didn't put any research into refinishing until after i bought it. Spoke to a refinisher and he told me it would cost 700 to do it. Just thinking about relisting it on cl, but i just cant seem to let go of it.

wondering if i can just spray paint it in the mean time, or would that look absolutely replusive?

"What couch is that? Is it a sectional?
I am desperately trying to find the perfect couch and want something similar to that."

Its the IKEA Kramfors...
...and according to the post above, it's apparently NOT the perfect sofa.

On impulse, I bought an Art Deco buffet to use as a TV stand. Once I got it home, set my TV on it and sat on the sofa, I realized it was too tall to watch comfortably. I eventually found a better (lower) piece of furniture for the TV, but was at a loss as to what to do with the buffet since it didn't fit in the dining room and it wasn't practical in any of the bedrooms. I ended up re-arranging the living room and using it to store file boxes of important papers and miscellaneous little things (spare keys, flashlight, vacation lamp timers) in the drawers. I hung a large piece of art above it and it brought the whole room together.

"Perfect" is all relative, bepsf.

We have two leather Kramfors in our family room and we're extremely happy with them.

I'm dealing with this right now. Well, almost. I have a huge slipcovered "shabby chic" style sofa. It is so comfy but is just big and messy-looking because of the slipcover and pillows and the cushions are kinda flattened. I desperately want a new sofa but am so afraid of giving up the comfort! Especially since I have no money and I'd likely be trading it for an Ikea Karlstad. Which is not exactly "cushy."

But every time I look at my sofa I get angry. It makes my whole (tiny) apartment look messy.

We bought a red chair and ottoman from Room & Board only to realize once it came home that it didn't go at all with the couch. We tried putting it our bedroom but it didn't work there either. Now it just sits in the guest bedroom collecting dust until we can afford to have it reupholstered in a better color.

Our dining table. I had really wanted one with a leaf that could be inserted to make it longer, but I went with a solid table instead and it barely fits six people.

We're moving cross country soon, so I only have to deal with it six more months.

Chusmabilly; years ago Martha Stewart had info in one of her catalogs on how to paint a desk like that yourself. It would cost a heck of a lot less if you were able to do it yourself. Worth a look see maybe.....

i love my kramfors... just unhappy that i didn't buy an extra cover in the color i have (myrby yellow) because it is now discontinued and i'm not ecstatic about the quality on the cover. but i sleep on this couch a lot of nights and it was a way more affordable option that fitted what i wanted.

i'm currently trying to figure out my dining room chairs. they were cheap and are hideous and i can see painting them making them a score plus i can't afford anything ideal... so now it's how to make them a score because if i paint and re-upholster them they run the risk of looking goofy :/

I bought a carved sleigh bed of CL that I thought was lovely. Got it home, and while it was still lovely, it wasn't *really* my style, and, more importantly, it was way too large for my bedroom. It just dominated the space...and was so tall that I could only put it in 2 locations...it forced a terrible furniture arrangement.

It's in the basement waiting for someone to grab it (re-listed on CL)...I put my mattress on a cheap metal frame, and love the light that streams in from the windows above the head...though, it would be nice if I had something a bit more stable to lean against when reading in bed.

it forced me to think hard about my furniture styles and scales...and what would be most restful in my room, as opposed to in a magazine.

I love modern furniture -- cool, clean lines.

But I also love lounging around on a couch or chair for hours. I need things to be soft and cushy. Comfort wins out, just the same way as I never wear that pair of $400 heels I once bought in a mistaken belief that beauty was worth it...

Just this Tuesday I had my new Crate & Barrel Troy Sofa delivered. So far, I am thrilled with my decision. It's the perfect mix of clean/modern and comfy design. I highly reccomend checking it out!

I almost ended up getting the IKEA Kramfors but I found that the sofa felt drastically different from piece to piece. The leather Kramfors I sat on in a display was incredibly comfortable. The leather Kramfors I sat on where there they have all the couches together was incredibly uncomfortable. The fabric option was out because I found it much too rough. I decided not to take my chances.

I went to C&B (for the first time no less) and fell in love with the Troy. At $999, it just hit the ceiling on the budget I was trying to keep myself to.

I purchased a American Upholstery sofa bed on Craigslist. I could live with the fact that it is a bit big for my living room and the seat is too deep to sit in except that my parents won't sleep in it.

I bought a cabinet off Craigslist that seemed to be the perfect size for a buffet. Sadly, it is a bit too short for that purpose, but it fits nicely in my bedroom as extra storage.

Just wondering, where did you get the great buffet with the TV on it in the picture? I love it.

I too have a very well built shabby chic looking couch and have consulted a upholsterer who told me that he could change the arms from curved to straight and make a few other alterations. I think it is possible to have both clean and modern AND comfort.

JessR, I snapped up that credenza at the Rose Bowl flea market in March. It's my fave piece too, partially because it was such a deal!

Very calm room, Rebecca, I love it, love the wallpaper, love the colour scheme. But it could use some art!

HLI, we do have a lot of art on the wall to the right of the doorway - a 15 frame gallery. It's just not featured in this photo :)

Two years ago, I bought a beautiful chocolate leather couch that's about as comfortable as a concrete bench. Plus, it's so slippery that I slide right off the couch. I've been hankering to buy a new one, but can't bring myself to pony up the money for one that I like.

Same goes for all the college-quality crap that I need to replace, like IKEA bookshelves, etc.....basically, I just need new, better stuff, but don't want to pay for it.

Hi - just wondering where you bought your glass coffee table? It's exactly what I am looking for!

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.


Susan
Modern Furniture