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To me, since they're so similar, it kind of makes the difference a certain kind of obvious:

For the Dexter, since the arms are lower, it makes KIND of a cleaner overall line, but you'll have to figure out whether leaning your head against that while lying down feels right versus resting your arm on it, and whether that feels natural.

The seat cushions: the DWR one has one big seat cushion which is KIND of a cleaner line, but it might also make it harder to keep its shape. Hmmm....

The legs... well, the DWR one has the most pointy legs, which are very vintage-y -- kind of late-60's, which is kind of fun, whereas the last one the Room and Board one has a leg situation that's a little bit more reminiscent of things you'd find at West Elm, style-wise.

They don't all look like they're the same size, so I think that would be a huge factor, unless you have acres of space under roof.

The Dexter is less boxy.

I hate two cushion couches. If you're lying down there's a hole where you need the most support. If you're sitting your cheeks straddle the abyss.

Oooh boy!! Sofas. I get obsessed.

I considered two of these when I was buying for my place recently, and these are my feelings about them:

Andre: I absolutely HATE the legs, but I like the proportions of the rest of the sofa. Also, it's cheap. However, my feeling upon repeated sittings (in the store) was that it just isn't as comfortable as I'd like a sofa to be. I also couldn't find a single R&B fabric that I was totally happy with (be forewarned, they are going through a MAJOR shift in textile mills right now, and many of their fabrics will not be available for several months). That said, the price is good, and if you like the legs...

Bantam: I was really disappointed when I saw this in person. The seat is very shallow, and the construction just wasn't as sturdy as I'd expect a DWR sofa to be. The fabrics are also very different in person than they look online. If you want the Bantam, try the DWR Annex in Secaucus! I was there a few weeks ago, and they had quite a few for a pretty hefty discount.

I've never sat in the Dexter, but every MGBW sofa I've sat in has been majorly comfortable, and really nicely built. Very sturdy.

By the way, I disagree with Maxwell's statement about these three companies' sofas being of equal quality. I suspect that if you compare the materials and construction of a R&B sofa to that of one made by MGBW, they will not come up even. (And good luck finding out exactly what R&B sofas are made out of!)

I ultimately wound up buying a different sofa from DWR (the Parcel, no longer on their site), and am very happy with it. The best suggestion I can give you is to SIT and LIE DOWN in all of the sofas you're considering, in every position you can imagine. Smoosh the pillows around. Turn the cushions over. Look underneath. Ask about exact materials and construction.

Good luck!! I know how agonizing it is to pick out a sofa!!

I agree with Anna. I considered the Bantam sofa from DWR and I was let down when I saw it at the store. The unicushion had already sagged and deformed from people sitting in it, and this was just the floor model! Imagine how much worse it would look if it were in your home over years of wear.

I have the 75" Dexter sofa from MGBW. In fact, it was just delivered a few weeks ago. I chose it after an exhaustive hunt for the perfect small scale sofa, and I LOVE it.

I love the lower arms because it makes it a bit easier for a taller person to lie down on it.

It's a very firm couch, but comfortable too.

I have gone over these sofas a few times each in the showrooms. My findings are as follows

Bantam- Great look, crappy cushion, seat not deep enough

Andre- GREAT look, nice cushions, stock color is nice, seat doesn't feel deep enough, and a little too firm.

Dexter- This was the winner for me. I purchased the 85". It is a great look, feel, and finish. I got it in a Gargoyle Gray. I wasn't crazy about the stock dark brown.

I've had a Dexter sofa previously. I don't think I had a problem with the low arms, except when I tried to sleep on it pillows would frequently fall off. It was never a pleasure to camp out on on sick days. Mine was a heavy, scratchy, vintage sleeper sofa but it looked exactly like the one pictured.

The lips/overhang of the 2 cushions are pretty short and one thing that always annoyed me was the way the cushions would slip back, farther underneath the tufted back piece and I'd constantly have to pull them forward. When I didn't, the front brace/structure would cut off circulation to my legs. That may have been a result of it being sleeper sofa, but you should test out this new one and see if it could be prone to doing the same (over time).

When I owned one I always received compliments on its mid-century modern lines. Now, whenever I see a Dexter sofa I always feel guilty for having chucked mine into a dumpster on a rainy moving day rather than having it refurbished and sent to a good modernist home. :(

I have a unicushion at home and it hasn't worn well at all. It does sag and the fabric has gotten stretchy as well. I will never get another unicushion sofa. I paid $1500 so it isn't a cheap sofa.

We got the Porter from R&B, which is similar to the Andre, but without a tufted back. Our main concern was to have tall arms, because we lean against the arms when watching TV (like many NY apartments, our TV is not directly in front of the couch, but to the side).

I was just at the DWR outlet in NJ last weekend and saw the Bantam--it was only about $600--it looks great and if we hadn't just ordered jasper from room and board we would have snatched it up (at a fraction of the cost)
I didn't love the fabric choices--but it was waaaaay more comfortable than it looked.

dexter has by far the best proportions - and two cushions. i would avoid one long one. it'll look awful after a few months.

I haven't actually sat on any of these but from a looks standpoint I like the Dexter best. I also dislike the Andre legs, and the Bantam has just always looked off to me.

And I have a couch (fairly new, so we'll see) with 2 cushions and I haven't had any issues with sitting on, or laying across, the cushion divide.

i love this sofa

hi--i'm new to the site...but had to give my input. I have the BAXTER sofa (82") from MGBW in--Cognac (velvet fabric). It's similar to the Dexter but has 2 rows of tufts with no buttons. VERY comfortable and stylish (or so i'm told). No problem with the "low arms" and 2 cushions.

I love it.

Another option?

http://www.eq3.com/cat-eq3/process/locale/en_CA/currency/en_CA/30058-01.html

I prefer the bench seat, it looks better after sitting on it and doesn't shift like a see-saw when two people are sitting on it. It is also easier and cheaper to replace or recover. That's why I prefer the Bantam.

I'm very interested in this thread - we have been hemming and hawing for at least two years over which sofa to buy - the bantam (dwr) or the andre (room and board) or ?

I've been waiting with bated breath for Kara, the author of this Good Question (http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/good-questions/good-questions-how-do-we-pull-all-the-colors-together-035551), to respond with where she got her sofa - oh the agony!

dang comments.

This is the Good Question url I was referring to:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/good-questions/good-questions-how-do-we-pull-all-the-colors-together-035551

We have a unicushion sofa and it's worn beautifully. No sagging after several years and it gets fairly hard use.

I reallly really REALLLLY love the Bantam. I want that sofa so badly, and in that color even. I have an almost fetishistic obsession with it, it reminds me of my grandparents' couch (but way better) from the 60s/70s.

Looks aside....I like everything about MG BW....the price/quality equation, their advertising, social responsibility, and Lulu.

These guys ROCK!

I own the andre and, unfortunately, within weeks of having its arrival, the fabric came off the buttons and some of the buttons broke in half.. However, I am happy to report that R&B was great about it. They have agreed to let me exchange the sofa for another one-- and since I did not want a repeat experience of the Andre button fiasco, I chose a different model. However, it is true that the fabric selection is problematic right now due to the loss of a major producer.

I've had the Bantam sofa in the cotton olive fabric, for approx. 2 years. I bought it mostly for the single seat cushion and overall simple form. I considered the André but couldn't come to love the legs.

While the cushions haven't sagged, I'm not sold on the cotton fabric; spot cleaning with water slightly lightens the fabric and it does stretch a bit. I still like the look of it, but might consider the poly/cotton/rayon blend fabric offered by DWR instead of the cotton.

Also, the seat is quite shallow so don't expect to snuggle lying down with someone (unless you're both supermodel-thin!).

Good luck!

I almost purchased the Dexter last spring, as a floor model at MG in Philadelphia. I thought it was very comfortable and stylish. The only reason that I didn't purchase it was because it was upholstered in a pale aqua velvet with ivory piping, and my husband just wouldn't go for it.

You should have a look at the Neo 2 seat sofa by Bendtsen. DWR has the bigger version if you want to try the comfort but Retro Modern sells the two seat version. I have the 3 seater and love it.

I didn't know there were so many other people out there going through the desperate search for a sofa. Our quest is a little different. We want a Dexter/Andre mid-century type sofa with a chaise.

Has anyone out there seen such a sectional? Desperation has set in...

kpottersf: try gwwilliam.com, quebec mfr of modern. great designs and construction.

all: unicushion, or bench cushions, if you will, all end up wrinkled along their length from front to back. Foam and down are inherently materials that soften with use, and cover material will stretch with use, too. As surface tension under the fabric or leather lessens with use, a covering will wrinkle. The greater the surface area, the more prone to wrinkles. It's unavoidable, unless you "re-inflate" the seat cushions. I design and contract OEM in NC for my own business and this is a chronic issue - love the looks, not everyone can stomach the reality after a few months of regular use