apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Ten or twelve years ago I took my husband to look at Shabby Chic sofas. We priced one out, chose fabric and cushion content and received swatches. I was very excited. It was all going very well until we walked down the block and my husband said; $5300? YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR EFFING MIND.
We never ordered it.
A decade later (with a Crate And Barrel $2000 sofa) I still think $5300 might be too much.

I really guess it all depends on a person's financial situation when it comes right down to it. I would spend anywhere from $1000-$2300 on a couch if it was the perfect one. But I would probably try not to spend more than $1900.

It's too much. I'd flinch at even paying anything between $1000-$2000.

I fell in love with a Room & Board sofa and matching chair-and-a-half several years ago. I debated and debated -- not really caring for the price -- and finally bought the furniture, for a whopping $1800 for the two pieces.

That was all well and good, but I quickly lost the love for the sofa, which turned out to be nowhere near as comfortable at home as it seemed in the showroom. However, I feel trapped with this furniture choice since I paid a healthy chunk of money for it.

The sofa also seemed to quickly break down. It's far enough gone that when I move in a year or two I think I can justify finally getting rid of it.

I figure if it costs more than a half-way decent used car, it costs too much.

I haven't purchased a brand new sofa for more than $400. I've bought 2 in the last 9 months (I had to sell the first one because it didn't fit in our new house) and I've managed to stay under $400 simply because I shop the discontinued/floor model sales.

Our current couch was the best $350 I ever spent!

I agree with Jezebella...

That said, I was recently in Montreal which is supposed to be the "affordable" Canadian city and was shocked to find attractive sofas to average around $4k. Their argument? Made in Canada, locally no less! I was surprised though, everyone I know that lives in Montreal can't afford a sofa from Ikea let alone $4k for non-designer/no name crap. If it's only design claim is that it is Made In Montreal, I think I'll just drive to New York or Toronto and pick up something for half the price.

Our grandparents bought and kept the same sofa for decades...and even if the fabric became outdated, the sofa structure was still flawless. Even the cushions held up.

I would pay quite a lot for a sofa that was built like that(Not $10k though!) but I don't think even the high end companies build them very well anymore. Ironically, in response to blackbird, above, Shabby Chic is totally an exception. Their furniture is built using antique methods...I have a Beecroft chair and ottoman (yes, $3000 total) and while I loathe the style these days, I have to respect the quality. It's a tank and looks the same as the day I bought it (10yrs I think).

It depends on your budget but it also depends on what features you want.

My last sofa was $2500 - but it's leather (stands up perfectly to my overactive dogs), has down filled cousions and is built on a suspension of 8-way hand tied springs.

canadian_ginger...first of all most products made locally are going to be Much higher in price mainly because local ( canadian) co don't do the kind of volume as overseas ( ie China) manufacturers, the cost of materials is higher here and the cost of labour is MUCH higher here- the upside to Canadian or local manuf is that we are supporting local craftsmen and businesses , and eventually prices can lower.
having said that if you want a cheaper sofa go for the import pieces, ususally China or Malaysia, usuallywell made ( you'll have to check that one yourself)
What I hate is the so called European designer pieces ( ie Natuzzi etc) that are now made overseas for a very low price but sold at HUGE margins because of a brand name - but then again this happens in the fashion industry all the time, so why not furniture....best advice is SHOP AROUND!!!

I wanted a particular leather sofa, but I couldn't justify the $1600 price, so I waited until it went on clearance and snagged it for $850. It looked nice and it seemed quite well built, but I notice within the first three months that the cushions were packing, especially those in the armrests, and my kittens were able to do far more damage to it than I thought possible (considering the kittens I had when I was a kid didn't make a dent in my grandmother's leather chairs). Eighteen month later, it looks worn and tired - I really doubt that it will last 5 years. After this, I will never again pay over $400 for a sofa unless I'm making enough money that I can consider them to be essentially disposable.

Value is relative.

Folks who plunk down $12,000 for a sofa don't purchase $20,000 used cars or bother with IKEA - They're dropping $15K for the custom-fitted luggage on their new $200K Bentley.

What sets apart a $12,000 sofa: the frame is handbuilt from solid maple (no particleboard or ash) and the joints are corner blocked and doweled (no staples or screws); the seat springs are coil units that are mounted on woven hemp straps and 8-way hand-tied with hemp string (no sinuous springs stretched on staples); the seats, backs and arms are cushioned with 100% goose down (no ployester fill or foam), the entire piece is first upholstered in a fine cotton muslin fabric (no cardboard shaping) before it's upholstered over in the facing fabric, which is a heavy cotton, wool or silk-blend fabric (no polyester, acrylic, etc.)

that's like the quote i once got for a dining room table...$80,000. That's FOUR zeros. Granted, it was a work of art, but really???

Maybe they are money laundering.

Seriously, if there isn't a market for their $12,000 sofa, they will find out soon enough. There are, however, small boutique furniture lines that are highly sought after and are really not known nationally. Maybe the store is one of those.

In the end, its only matters if the furniture could conceivably be worth $12,000 to you.

sine -

Not all "leather" sofas are constructed equally. Any good sofa should last a minimum of 5 years. Natuzzi (popular Italian leather sofas) are essentially garbage but even they will (barely) last 5 years.

I've had my (Elite Leather brand) sofa for 3 years and it's still as comfy as day one. It also looks great and even through my dogs "dig" and roughhouse a lot (they're terriers) they haven't even started to damage the leather.

You get what you pay for. If you get a "bargain" sofa you are getting something disposable.

With furniture you save money by spending more, not less. As long as you do your homework first.

But $12K for a sofa is just over the top for me. That's way past the point of diminishing return.

As a college student making no more than $7.65 an hour...I wouldn't pay more than $50! And when I eventually get a real job, I don't plan on paying more than a couple hundred, $400 AT MOST. I simply can't imagine spending more than that. Perhaps I'll be making thousands in a week and can afford luxury ONE day, haha. For now, garage sales, Salvation Army, and Freecycle are what we do.

I've seen both ends of the spectrum. I had a client that refused to buy a new sofa, insisting that we reupholster his Pottery Barn sofa (which was RIDICULOUS!) When the upholsterer got it stripped he called me to come and have a look. I WAS SHOCKED!!! There were spaces between several joints that were held together by polypropylene "spanners" (I don't know how else to describe them), the central span was completely bowed and had to be replaced and the springs were shot. What a turd! I've also worked for a custom designer whose sofas sell for upwards of $15,000 COM. I know how incredibly well made they are, I know that they will last generations, and I also know how much he paid to have them made. He's making a mint. $5000.00 is the ABSOLUTE MOST I would pay for a sofa for myself or a client (and it would have to be a large sectional then).

Sally, if the sofa in question is manufactured here in the SF bay area, then, yes, it can run $$$ every easily. Remember that local labor requires a living wage for the SF area plus health benefits, insurance, work's comp, there are stricter environmental laws here so disposal of varnishes and such at the factory cost more...etc.etc. all of these things get passed on to the consumer... then, if there is craftmanship involved, well, it just keeps adding up...then the extras...oh, and you want silk velvet NOT microfiber? well, chaching chaching... you will always pay more for quality (though paying more does not insure quality work!)
if you choose to spend 10k for a couch, well, do so if you feel you can live with it for many, many decades to come and you wont feel short changed. if you plan to change your "decor" as often as you change your wardrobe, then go to Ikea and you wont feel bad when you toss it into the garbage in a few years...

You can get a VERY custom sofa for a lot less than that with fantastic craftmanship. That's an outrageous price. I can't imagine someone paying that much (even someone with a lot of money as they could get something very nice for much less) unless their goal was to tell others to "have a seat on my $15,000 sofa. Can I get you a glass of red wine?"

I paid $1,200 for a black leather Karlanda sofa from Ikea (no longer made) in 2001, changed the legs to stainless steel so it wasn't obvious that it was from Ikea and it became the most durable comfortable sofa I ever owned. I sadly had to sell it last year when I moved to a smaller space (and got $400 for it even though it was six years old). Now I have a smaller sofa/loveseat (I only have 65.5" of space) that is covered in in a lovely charcoal wool, but it's just not the same.... I would be willing to spend some real money on a replacement, but haven't seen one that grabs me.

I think now a days, a decent sofa can be had for $1,500-2,500. I think the most important thing to do is not buy a trend, but stay classic in style/color, that way in five years you will be less likely to regret/hate your purchase.

my best advice is find out who makes the sofa you love ( manufacturer) then research all the sellers in your area who carry that manufacturer ( even if they don't have your style in their store) and compare prices- smaller boutique style stores may charge more as they buy per piece and don't stock items( or feel they can ask more because they appear more exclusive or trendy)- larger stores can buy bulk from those same manufacturers or negotiate better pricing based on the volume of their business with them-and pass the savings on to you...

I have something one can sit on that cost me $12,000 when it was new...I drive it to work every day. It doesn't look so great in the living room, though.

I wonder what those customers do when their $1000 designer snack dog pees on that $12,000 couch...

If it's leather they just wipe it off.

Personally, I'm in love with Richter Designs- he does work for Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, etc. His attention to detail is amazing, and there are just oh-so-many fabrics and designs to choose from. However, those places tend to just overcharge the hell out them. Luckily, I found a store on Market st, I think it was Bedroom and More, that really offer great prices, maybe a little less than half of what I was seeing elsewhere (1,300-2,000 for leather). I wouldn't pay much more than that for a sofa... even in fine leather.

A sofa that will last a lifetime will cost ya about 5 grand.

Sure you can by that $1500 sofa but it will not last ya as long as the 5 grand one will.

When ya put it all together the 5 grand sofa we just bought will be around till we croak if we choose. The $1500 not a chance.

In the long run, the 5 grand on is cheaper if you can afford the up front cost.

My family has had experience with both the low (Ikea) and the high end (Italian manufacturer, well known designer, custom fabric, etc).

Low End: Over the past 20 years we've gone through two fabric and one leather sofa from the Ikea "As-Is" department. It took about 10 years for the frames, springs and/or leather to go on the first two but the third one is still in presentable condition 10 years on. Not bad for sofas that cost $300-600 each. As with all Ikea furniture, you have to chose carefully, as the quality and durability vary from piece to piece.

High End: Due to greatly improved finances, last year we gave ourselves permission to find the "perfect" sofa. After a long search that involved sofa sitting in furniture showrooms in 5 countries, we spent $12,000 for two. These weren't even half the price of some of the sofas we had seen, but it did make us think about what we might be getting for 10 times the price of our old close out Ikea sofas. Part of the answer was that for $6,000 you didn't have to compromise about anything. We got the design, fabric, size, and cushiness that we wanted. We also got furniture that clearly is built to last much much longer than our Ikea sofas (easily recoverable, built like a tank, etc). Was this too much? Depends on your circumstances. We love our new sofas, but we both know that spending $6,000 for a sofa is a major indulgence.

I bought a slipcovered sofa from Pottery Barn ( a Mitchell Gold design) eleven years ago for about $1200. I subsequently bought two more slipcovers and I rotate them seasonally. It is the best money I ever spent. It didn't clash with my other furniture and make everything else look old and drab. I love love love it, and want more slipcovers for it!

My oh my. This was quite a surprise. I figured everyone was spending that much, because of what is shown on this site. Things like these rugs:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/rugs-carpets/tibetan-rugs-by-martha-stewart--052890

The big ones are $10,000.00. I might like a rug, but I'm not spending that much. Ditto for a sofa or chair or artwork. It's not part of my life and lifestyle.

See, I'm of the kind who wants to live in my home. Not live for my home and be a slave to my home. What that means to me is that I don't want to fuss and worry about rugs and chairs and sofas that have two names and five digits before the decimal point.

I know there are people that can adapt to that kind of life very well, and they wouldn't have it any other way. I admire that in some ways, wondering what it's like to have these things.

My mum had many things that were dust and scratch free. Delicate things. And when she died, I didn't take on any of them. I would rather give them away to someone who would appreciate them and take care of them the way she did, because I can't.

Every single glass in my home broke, from me, and my nerve problem. Like one minute I'd have a glass in my hand and the next minute it would be on the floor and I didn't purposely let go of it.

So all that pretty, delicate "makes a *TING*" sound crystal stemware, it went to the hospice thrift store.

I figure the best furniture for me should be able to withstand beating by a chain, bear attacks, and a torrential downpour. That ought to work out well between my clumsiness and the cats.

I paid $200 for my fabulous vintage (no one seemed to know just how old it was, so I'm going with "vintage" over "antique") sofa. Yes, it should be reupholstered when I'm no longer a starving college student, but that will totally be worth it because it has fabulous lines and is built like a rock.

In terms of new furniture, I would want to keep it under $1000 for an average sofa, and even then I'd have to really be in love with it (and making better money than I am now...). Yeah, you could buy a nicer, better quality sofa for a lot more, in the end it all depends on what you're willing to pay more for and what sort of budget you have.

In the USA, and to a large extent Canada, that is a large portion of the population who are the first generation of their family to have so much disposable wealth. They equate price with quality. $20K sofas as an extreme example, but it happens.

A friend was making custom Teddy Bears and selling them on line for $50-$75. She was not doing well until another friend (in marketing) told her to raise the price. She now has a lucrative business selling the same bears for $500-$600. Simply by raising the price she elevated her product from craft to art. As Barnum said, "there's a sucker born everyday."

I bought a hideous couch at a used-stuff store -- well, actually, it was a store based out of a storage unit. It was $20, upholstered in awful, scratchy, nubby plaid. But I liked its lines so I bought less than $100 worth of chocolate chenille (on clearance) and paid $200 for the reupholstery work.

It looked awesome when I got it back. And it felt even better. The upholsterer told me that it was an "orthopedic" couch, so it had twice as many springs or something and it was really solid and well made.

My previous couch was $75 at a charity thrift shop -- it was vintage and looked like it had never been sat on. Super solid and comfortable in a neutral taupe fabric. I couldn't bring it when I moved so I sold it to a friend.

These experiences have spoiled me, so my limit is $500. I'd be willing to go to maybe $800 if it was an investment piece. But I have a dog, so I'm not looking for anything expensive or high-maintenance. I just want it to look decent and be comfortable and able to tolerate the occasional paw print.

I kept my eyes open for MONTHS--literally--when we started shopping for a new sofa. In the end, I found one that I loved for about 800 bucks. It's beautiful; it's stain resistant. It's the most comfortable piece of furniture I've ever owned. (as it should be, seeing that it's the most expensive piece I've ever bought).

I don't expect it to last a lifetime--between pets, parties, and maybe even kids someday, well, I'm looking for something that will last about 10 years. All indications are that this will, provided that I care for it properly. Perhaps someday I could spend $2000 on a sofa, but that would be my upper limit. As much as I adore high design, there are a lot of more worthy destinations for my cash.

My dream sofa is the (Canadian-made) Montauk Scroll Sofa and I priced it at about $6000, which was WAY more than I could spend on any one piece of furniture. So I shopped around....A LOT! After what seems like months of searching and shopping for price, I finally found one that I liked for $1450 and pulled the trigger on my purchase a few weeks ago. It's another Canadian-made sofa, actually, it's locally made in Toronto and I can't say that I ever thought much about buying Canadian...but if given the option, and the right price point, I totally would. To think that some Ikea sofas are selling for that price! I'm sure the quality is better now then it once was, but I just can't bring myself to spend $1000 on a sofa from Ikea!

1. Sofas don't last.

2. Remember that and you'll be happier as your hind end does its damnedest.

3. That understood, just go and buy the prettiest thing money can buy. Years from now when you're in the ground, somebody will have bought it at the estate sale and feel like she's found the bargain of the century as she nestles into your ancient gullies.

For $12k, you could always just buy a used Audi, maybe a 2003 or so. Figure nobody drives around with more than 1 extra person, and you can't fit a normal human who isn't a yogi in that back seat anyway. Pull the back seat out, put some legs on it, and stick it in the living room (it now has leg room and becomes quite comfortable). You then not only have a stylish custom sofa, but a slick 2 seater with lots of cargo space ;)

Years ago I dated a private equity manager who was having his house decorated by Nate Berkus, right before he started going on Oprah. ANyway, one day his new curtains arrived, and I saw the bill...$14,000. I was like, dude, these are from Restoration Hardware. They weren't, but my bf called Nate (his assistant actually) and asked her to check it out. SHe called back that day and admitted that RH sold the exact same curtains for $400. The point? When you are insanely rich, like this guy, you literally don't even look at the price. He wasn't showy, just didn't care, and was *SHOCKED* that 14,000 was excessive for one window of curtains.

Oh, I want the RH Maxwell sofa, which is like 5000. Ive been convincing myself for 2 years now that the price is OK...still not there yet.

For the most part, you get what you pay for, of course that's not always the case. There are a few places out there were you can get great quality for a small amount of money and even more places where you get horrible quality for a lot of money (relatively, of course). Since you spoke with the salesperson and still weren't impressed I would just imagine they are a ripoff.

I agree with Bepsf.

Well built, high quality sofas cost a fortune. Since the sofa is expected to outlast 5 or more normal sofas, the buyer expects to keep it 30 years or more or hand it down to appreciative relatives. Hence the sofas come in limited, timeless designs which are worth recovering. Frankly, I wouldn't buy anything less. If you have the patience and wait for a sale you can often scoop up that $12,000 sofa for at least half off or more.

High price does not necessarily equate high quality construction. A number of famous, contemporary furniture manufacturers offer trendy furniture at very high prices, however unfortunately these pieces frequently lack the construction which will insure durability. In my opinion, if one is spending enormous money on any furniture piece, the construction, finishes and fabrics should justify the price. After spending 5-10K your beloved freeform couch should not become trash.

Buyer beware.

Perception of value does not equal actual costs.

How much do you think those Panton plastic chairs cost to make? Seriously? I don't know.

But there is a PERCEPTION that they are valuable. Because of the name, because a person is told that they have value.

OK, then what is the perception of the chair that are virtually the same design, but cost much less, $149.00 for two:
http://www.overstock.com/search?keywords=flowform&taxonomy=&SearchType=HP_Header

Another reproduction, $250.00 for two:
http://www.mpodesigns.com/product/MA603:

At Target, the Reno chair is $259.00 for two.

a little more, $299.00 for two:
http://www.inmod.com/pantonchair.html

Keeps going up, with $245.00 for ONE regular chair and $1,315.00 for the "classic" chair:
http://www.highbrowfurniture.com/seating/products/panton/

Why is it that Overstock can have a matte Panton style for $75.00 each and a matte Panton goes for $245.00 elsewhere?

Or the glossy one at Target is $130.00 each and it's a whopping $1,315.00 elsewhere?

It's just like greeps says, some people are not that concerned with what something may have cost in reality to produce, they are concerned with it being showy and having a name.

Or like quiltmaster says, about the teddy bears.

And it's indicative of disposable income. I'm just too darn thrifty to consider purchasing plastic chairs for even $75.00 each. Because they are PLASTIC CHAIRS.

And the first time the cat yaks up a tuna hair ball, that $12,000 sofa becomes a $12,000 tuna-scented sofa. I don't need the sofa to last forever, I need readily available cushion replacements. A sofa whose legs or arms cannot be destroyed by said four-legged creatures or by my own clumsiness.

Right now, I'm sitting in a computer/office chair. The cat frequently uses the back of the chair as a scratcher. I don't know what the condition of the foam under the top is, but the top fabric shows no sign of cat attacks. No snags. No pulls. Why isn't THIS material being used for sofa covers? It's stretchy, and it's held up to the efforts of the cat to destroy it.

Seems like a no-brainer.

I would spend a lot to re-buy the sofas that my parents have. I don't know where they came from (I should ask) but they are finally showing some wear and tear after 20 years of 2 kids and a 90 pound dog using the couch as her bed. And even then, they're my favorite couches of all time.

As a student, I think people are crazy to spend more than a couple hundred.

phoenixc, where did you get your couch from? montauk is so fabulous but definitely out of the range.

We just had this issue, because it's time to replace my mom's 15 yr old Macy's couch/love seat in a R.I. beachhouse. I was looking at $1,500 Crate & Barrel couches, while my interior decorator sister-in-law wanted to order $2,000-$2,500 models. Luckily some other beachhouse owner recommended $1,200 couches to my other sister-in-law. We had to buy 2 couches and spent $2,500 vs. $5,000 for couches that get used no more than 8-10 weeks a year.
I'm looking to spend around $1,200 to replace my 10 yr old $800 couch (which is in great shape - just out of style/too big)

Platypus and mollymargarita - please post what type of sofas you purchased - I am intrigued by the prices and the quality you describe!

I wish I could find a nice sofa, but, due to the incredibly oddly-placed doors and narrow hallways of my SF apartment, nothing can fit through unless it can be assembled or is modular with one dimension less than 23 inches.

So, I just keep buying inexpensive Ikea sofas every two years or so (two big guys who spend a lot of time watching tv/playing games/reading really destroy the cushions in a sofa FAST).

nobhillbilly-

We settled on Piero Lissoni-designed Family Life sofas manufactured by Living Divani (http://www.livingdivani.it/). I'm not sure we would have bought them at the price our local dealer wanted. However, we saved a considerable amount of money by going through European Living, a small Michigan-based Net merchant. We didn't feel particularly guilty about this, as the sales staff at the local dealer were not helpful in working with us on custom fabric, and Steen Grundahl at European Living was quite willing to FedEx us multiple sample swatches of Kvadrat fabric. Our sofas are quite long (250cm), so we were careful to measure our building's elevator several times before ordering.

Living Divani has several modular sofas. Perhaps one might be small enough to fit. Alternatively, have you thought about going through the window?

Thanks, Platypus! The window is not an option, we rent, and the window cannot be taken out, but it was certainly an idea we had considered!

Hi Platypus, I was just searching for European Living but couldn't find it online. I like the Box sofa from Living Divani and was just curious what it would cost to have it made and if it would work for my small ground floor apartment in San Francisco.

Sofa shopping is becoming a nightmare for me. I was considering the Pottery Barn Square but I'm just not sure if it's comfortable enough and worth the money. Thanks!