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Good Questions: Is This Too Much Sofa for My Livingroom?

5-3-sofa.jpgHello AT,

I am a design novice and feel totally overwhelmed with furnishing my new apartment. I am especially struggling with my living area and am hoping that the style savvy readers of AT can help me.

While looking for seating, I fell in love with the Flexform Groundpiece couch. It's a very low profile sectional (the back is 22" high) that comes in two seat depths- 38" and 48". The picture of the couch shows it in the 48" depth...

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5-3-sofa2.jpg

I want to configure the sofa with one side of the sectional (the side against the wall) with a 48" depth and the other side (against the windows)with a 38" depth. The 48" deep pieces are soooooo comfortable and great for reading/tv watching. On the wall opposite the couch, I plan to install a floor to ceiling bookshelf/media cabinet that is 13.5" deep and 10' high.

My style is simple, modern and my goal for the space is for it to feel lofty, open and inviting. Is this too much couch for the size of my living room (13' x 14')?

Thanks! Newbie


Dear Newbie,

If your picture is a good indication, I would worry about it cutting off the doorway entrance, but think in all other directions it would be fine. If you can scoot it closer to the window and open up the door, we'd say go for it.

Although the sofa will be big, your room can accomodate it if you don't put much else in. One chair kitty-corner to the sofa will round out the seating area and a square or round coffee table will give you a nice center.

The nice thing about modular is that you won't have to worry about getting it into your apartment.

Anyone else??

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Comments (11)

Agree with Maxwell - do not block the door.

We have a couch that sticks out just a teeny bit into a doorway and the material on the arm that it jutting out is getting very, very warn. Plus, it's a pain.

Also, I cannot see how having such a low back is comfortable. Even with the pillows, wont it jut into your lumbar?

posted by Kah on May 3rd 2007 at 6:07am
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Maxwell's comment on the blocking of the entryway into what appears to be the hall to your bedroom and bath is key. As drawn the sofa is blocking off almost half of the entry way - creating a pinch point that will feel uncomfortably tight visually and physically.
My first thought is that this won't work even if you move the sofa. You appear to have 13' from the face of column to the end of the opening for the entryway. I assume the entryway is 3 - 4 feet in width. Assuming the smaller dimension - you have 10 feet of wall available for a 10'-6" sofa. If you could move the sofa up towards the windows - I would recommend the sofa not infringe on that entry way at all. But six inches of overhang is going to look really unfortunate.

posted by Alex in DC on May 3rd 2007 at 6:12am
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Could you switch the couch to the opposite wall? Like everyone else has already mentioned, having the sofa jut out into the doorway isn't a good idea.

posted by Sasha on May 3rd 2007 at 6:20am
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If the main concern is dimensions, I suggest using masking tape to section off the exact measurements of the couch and stacking some books or other objects in the corners in the new ghost outline of the impending couch. This helps get a feel for how it will take up space and if you continually bump into said objects...might be too big.

posted by reiskid on May 3rd 2007 at 6:44am
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I was in downtown Manhattan on the Perl Street - Wall-street area -on the 5th floor warehouse- showroom with sectional.
May be you can find new one on http://www.laflat.com/sectional-sofa-setsfabric-sofa-sets-fabricstock-c-27_77_4.html with discount price ?

posted by bignycom1 on May 3rd 2007 at 7:24am
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Get it in a neutral color or a color that makes it receed. Other wise, the bulk will make it too domineering of the rest of the room. I made the mistake of getting a large sectional in a chocolate brown (which I chose because I thought it would wear well) that just chews up the scenery. The nice thing about a super big couch, though, is you don't have to buy a bunch of furniture beyond that one item!

posted by rudopal on May 3rd 2007 at 7:55am
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I think it's too bulky and chunky and the quantity of pillows will create a busy (dare I say cluttered) feeling. But that' just my taste. I'd suggest something with cleaner lines. I think it's going to overwhelm your room. Definitely tape it out.

posted by BB on May 3rd 2007 at 8:10am
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Yes, I think this kind of clumpy thing is meant for a bigger room. What about the B&B 'Charles'?

posted by m on May 3rd 2007 at 8:34am
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Greetings,

I understand your dilemma. You basically would like something that will give you the most amount of seating area but occupy the least amount of space, since you do want that lofty look.

I actually wanted the same thing, so I went with a custom sectional from Modern Line Furniture.

I purchased a U-shape sectional sofa, which basically left me with plenty of open space and a lot of comfortable seating.
Now, in regards to the low profile lool, I've noticed that most contemporary leather sets are low in height with a smaller seating depth than most traditional sets. From my experience, as long as you pick a contemporary sofa with a comfortable higher back, I'm sure you will be satisfied. The low backs may look nice but I dont think you will enjoy lounging on the couch as much.

Good luck with your purchase. Please post pics if you can :)

posted by MikeNYC on August 29th 2007 at 5:07am
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I just listed my Flexform Groundpiece sofa up for sale on Craigslist. I live in the New York area. It's stunning, super comfortable and mint condition. Please contact me if you'd like to see pictures.

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/fuo/913949127.html

posted by jdblombe on November 10th 2008 at 3:26pm
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Updated Flexform Groundpiece listing on Craigslist:
http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/fuo/1134856076.html

posted by jdblombe on April 22nd 2009 at 1:37pm
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