I'm confused. If you require white, why do you have the beige and gray options? Anyway, to me it's a toss-up between the two on the right.

Ferrara sofa - not sure why you'd spend $2k on a sofa, so I ended up picking one of the cheaper ones.

My eye was immediately drawn to the Bantam Sofa.

Vinyl? Really? Have you test-driven any of these sofas? You don't mention comfort at all in your list of requirements.

I think the Spencer sofa looks vintage and modern. Its a beautiful sofa. I wish it had wooden legs. I think it has the flexibility to go in a casual and dressy room. In addition I think the color is fabulous. Would work well with browns, greys, camels.

Agreed, the actual size is important. I'm way short, so finding a couch that I could sit on and still touch the ground was a bit of a hunt. After that, take into consideration additional benefits/costs like warranties, delivery costs, etc. Looks alone? I'd go with the Petrie.

I like the two that have a full bottom and top cushion (top left and bottom right) rather than two of each w/a divide in the middle. I think this is more comfortable for lounging and for seating multiple people. It also gives the sofa a cleaner look. But, that said, I don't think you can go wrong with any of those!

If it's about quality and price, then I believe there are ways to determine how sofas are constructed and the quality of the materials used. Certainly, in that case, the best quality sofa wins.

I do agree with Bibliovore that you really ought to feel comfortable both sitting and lying down on your sofa.

If it's about how these sofas look, then the answer is subjective. (I personally prefer a single cushion.)

I prefer the look of the beige one with the dark legs but, as other have said, comfort matters.

gotta have a bench cushion! i hate the crack between sofa cushions, uncomfortable and usually unattractive.

Comfort matters.

I just purchased a couch from clubfurniture.com, similar to the options your posted. $951.00 plus $99.00 delivery. They do offer a 30-day in home trial. Our is in pumpernickel velvet - looks like they have a few white options including linen.

http://www.clubfurniture.com/madstcofaupc.html

I've ordered other furniture from this company and have been very happy. Plus they are made in NC.

I think the Petrie sofa is the prettiest....its white, which is a requirement for you and definitely mid-century modern. If I didnt have kids, I would get the Petrie sofa!

Maybe if you can't choose between them on looks or comfort you should consider some other "bigger" factors e.g.:

~ Where they're made (i.e. in a country with/without good labour regulations, how far they've been shipped to reach you, etc.)

~ What they're made of (natural/recycled/recyclable materials?)

~ What the ethics of the company are (do they have a social/environmental responsibility statement on their website? Is it independently verified? Does the parent company make political donations or engage in lobbying that you disagree with?)

Your sofa's going to have an aesthetic impact in your home, but its production and eventual disposal will have far bigger impacts on the planet and other people, so it's worth thinking about these things.

I have the petrie and I couldn't be happier with it! It's really comfortable and after a year it still looks like new. I recommend it!!

The Spencer Sofa from GUS is your best choice. I love the one from DWR, but GUS gives you that same streamline look of the single cushion all the way across, adds in the great square bolsters, and for a price that will be easier on your wallet. Plus, I love GUS furniture, so wouldn't be woried about quality.
Good luck!

On a practical note I would get something with cushions that can be flipped. We have a three year old so the benefits are obvious, but even if you just wanted to 'freshen' your place for company a nice cushion flip makes your couch look brand new again.

I own the full size Petrie in mocha and I find it to be really comfortable. It's all allows one to flip the cushions regularly.

#2

Do NOT buy the Petrie. The buttons come off and if they don't come off they easily snag in your clothing when sitting down. The Petrie fabric is also of an extremely poor quality. My 6-month old Petrie looks like it's 60 years old. Stay away from the Petrie...

I would get something with a stationary back. I despise my current couch because the cushions NEVER look neat.

I've had a GUS Modern Jane sofa for 2 years, and it still rides like it's brand new (You may want to look into that, as it has 3 cushions). The materials they use are soft and durable. It cost only 1500 but was worth it in the fact that I don't have to buy another sofa for the next few years. I think when people look at price points, they forget about quality. 2 years ago, I would have never considered Gus, but now that I have one, I won't look elsewhere. Great foam in the cushions, and really durable fabric.

These are all great choices, but you might want to add the Corona sofa to your list from Macy's. It is totally budget friendly and really comfortable. I purchased the Corona sofa last year in gray and love it. The other nice thing about this sofa is it has three separate seating cusions so you can flip as necessary. I always find that a single long cusion wears poorly over time, and puckers easily.

www.handjobsforthehome.com

I absolutely love Macy's Chloe sofa and their Corona is very similar to the Bantam.

http://www.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=351407&cm_mmc=Google_Feed-_-7-_-85-_-MP785

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=251335&CategoryID=30249

Both have good reviews and are cheaper than the ones you posted if budget is an issue.

Check out the Dexter sofa by Mitchell Gold/Bob Williams http://www.mgandbw.com/dexter_sf.asp

I just can't wrap my head around paying over 1k for a sofa. I have been looking for a sofa like this as well...
Macy's has many many mid century sofas that look very much like these for way less. And I'll bet they are more comfortable...thats what matters most!

I like the 1st and the 4th one.

We have a different GUS couch - I just wanted to say that we're VERY happy with the quality. 3 1/2 years of use by a family of 5 and it looks and feels fantastic.

I have the Petrie for my small East Village apartment. It doubles as a guest bed and I've been happy with it. White has been a difficult color for me to keep clean and I was dismayed when I realized that the tufted buttons meant I couldn't remove the cushion cases and wash them. I would definitely recommend you get something with removable cushions--I can always get slip covers or even buy new cushions, and these are great options to have.

Late to the party, but needed to throw my 2 cents.

The Spencer sofa is awesome. Unless you want to actually sit on it.

The buttons get caught on everything. I've ripped almost all of them. And you can't flip the cushion. And replacing them is a huge Pain In The Ass.

Also, it sags. It doesn't retain that rectangular shape.

ps it is also worth checking out how the legs are attached. The new C&B Petrie has legs that screw off. This is a BIG HUGE DEAL because if they require a lot more the couch will either cost a lot to disassemble and move or if you do it yourself you can put it back together and it will squeak.

pps. for anyone who thinks 1k-2k is "alot" for a couch, read the apartment therapy book discussion about furniture price vs. quality. If I had 3k to pay for a DWR couch or whatever, I would gladly do it.

All other things being equal, I'd go for one of the top two since their legs are more MCM to me.

Spencer sofa...do it

What about the Karlstad sofa from IKEA? You can get it in white leather for $900. You could change the legs to something a bit more MCM but that's relatively easy.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00139120

Dudes, they posted the couches in whatever color they were in the photo. I'm sure they're all available in white.

I have the longer Bantam sofa (got on super sale eons ago). We LOVE it. It is super comfortable and has worn well. We have the olive-ish color. We did, however, have to get the cushion cover cleaned after an elderly dog incident and it shrunk. We knew that was the danger. It still works, but looks slightly squished. Someday, we'll just get a new cover for it.

I am pretty persnickety about furniture, and it took me about two years to find a couch that met my "exacting requirements."

I got a Petrie late last year because I could actually sit in it comfortably. The legs screw off, so getting it through a tricky door was not a problem, and I can flip the cushions regularly.

I also had gotten about $450 in C&B gift cards, so that made the Petrie a good deal from a financial standpoint.

i like the grey,

I like the design of the Bantam and Corona the best. I own the Corona in Pear and it is awesome for the price. Plus I like the separate cusions. If you're ok with shelling out the dough for the Bantam, also consider the Patterson by American Leather - it's a sleeper sofa, but looks great. http://www.americanleather.com/Comfort-Sleeper/Comfort-Sleeper-Styles/Patterson.aspx

Petrie.

I once heard that if you were going to splurge on any piece of furniture in your home, make it the sofa. You can always change the feel of the room around it if you get tired of what you're seeing, for less than buying a whole new sofa. Since it sounds like you have been doing your research, if you have the budget, I wouldn't worry about price, but quality.

Here is a petrie, a few years old, looks like it hasn't worn well at all.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/plushaholic/5450150656/
I have a Bantam, it is almost 6 years old and construction-wise it's nice and has held up well, BUT the upholstery is the pits. It's all cotton, and impossible to clean. Dabbing it with distilled water *stains* it (and so does everything else). I have contacted DWR several times seeking advice how to clean this sofa and they have never responded. Perhaps they have changed the material in the last 6 years. Other than that, it's a lovely couch and I hope to get it reupholstered in a couple of years.

First choice: Bantam. Second choice: Spencer. I much prefer the one long back cushion to a split one. It adds to the long, low look. The one row of tucks on the Bantam adds to that too, as does the absence of a third row of legs.

Based on available info the Petrie looks like your best bet. Sinuous springs (more supportive and longer-lasting seating system), kiln-dried hardwood frame (prevents warping), eco-friendly materials and stain-resistant fabric (especially for that white). Plus, it's BEAUTIFUL.

The others are admittedly cheaper, but you get what you pay for. It's not 100 percent but a lack of information sometimes indicates lesser quality materials (as in, they'd rather you fall in love with the look and not tell you what it's made of). Or, you could always find a quality, well-made vintage sofa with good bones & have it recovered - potentially for cheaper.

And @brittanykate I know, right! I don't know why that's so hard to understand about the color thing :) I'm glad you said something...

I'm also couch shopping at the moment. The Bantam is probably #1 on the list at the moment not just b/c of looks but for the customer service that comes along with the sofa. We have also been looking at the Gus Modern line and several from Room and Board. I assume we will either do with the Bantam or Room and Board just b/c we have stores in town and the customer service can't be beat. If you have the money I would swing towards the Bantam (although wait a month or two for their semi-annual sale) or Room and Board if you haven't already checked them out. Plus both DWR and RnB are made in the USA.

i have the dwr sofa and it does look great.
However its really not a great sofa for lounging. Also, the fabric gets really dirty esp. if you have pets. if i was going to buy another sofa i would look for something a bit more comfortable. This sofa has a very small profile. It seems better suited to being a secondary or den sofa.

We have the Petrie & love it. We've only had it for 4 months, so can't really comment on wear just yet. However, we didn't go with the standard Petrie fabric, which we had heard wasn't so great, and had it custom done by C&B with fabric we provided.

I would go with the Petrie sofa because I prefer split cushions, and I think it's visually the most inviting without sacrificing sophistication. The rest are still beautiful to look at, but I'd be hesitant to sit on them and relax.

These are not in order "clockwise from left to right"....

This post should include the prices of these sofas if we're being asked to weigh cost.

OMG, you guys complaining about the colors are hilarious! Some websites don't show their furniture in every color they offer it in.. this is COMMON KNOWLEDGE. Do people really not understand that? Have you guys never shopped online before? Come on people! Use your imagination! You sound ridiculous!

This is sort of like asking someone else which shoes to buy.

I like the beige, keeping everything white tends to make a room feel sterile and uncomfortable (at least to me) and the fewer buttons mean the fewer can fall off, get caught on your clothes, etc

I have a thought on the Bantam, which at first glance is my favorite. Single seat cushions like that, do not look neat for long, in fact most of the time they look incredibly sloppy.

Found something in the archives about it:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/boston/blu-dots-bonnie-clyde-beautiful-yet-imperfect-076350

spaceystacy-- The linked names take you to a page for each sofa, with pricing.

fwiw: we found the spencer sofa to be uncomfortably hard/stiff. make sure you spend some quality time lounging on them in the showroom.

And by the way, have you seen this sofa at IKEA? I'm in LOVE with it. You can get a chrome base as an option, and it comes in white leather, which will wear much better than fabric! This is #1 on my list.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00139120

With 2 and 3 you have de facto seating for two people. With 1 and 4 you're more likely to get three or more people on there.

Gus is a great company for quality + price. I actually sold their products for awhile at my last job and people were consistently pleased with what they got.

While I love DWR, their prices often seem high. Not that I don't appreciate what they do with the modern classics...it just doesn't appeal to me as someone who wants to use their furniture rather than keep it as a museum piece.

They all look beautiful and fit the style you mention, so I'd think about the company. Many companies have different lead times and policies for if something wears wrong over time (which sofas can do...even if they're expensive). Maybe that can help you decide! Good luck. :)

Personally, I like the look of Bantam because I really really like the single undivided cushion. The split cushions are just hiding places for dog hair and crumbs to get into the spots in between. :-)

Add me to the list chuckling at those complaining about a beige and a gray sofa being shown.

I agree with redneckmodern: I've had the Bantam for about two years now. It still looks great (I love that you can flip the bottom cushion), but in retrospect I wish I'd spent a more time in the showroom lounging on it (like, splayed out, dead to the world, bad posture lounging) because I've found the seat isn't quite deep enough when I'm slouching (sorry, Mom). I suppose that depends on your height; I'm a little over 5'7".

I think the first one. And I prefer couches with wooden legs over metal legs.

Bantam is beautiful. If I could have any couch for my own house right now it would be Bantam. The others miss the mark.

Dipthi: Which of these short-listed options have you sat on, lounged on, tried out your napping position on? Are there some that are online-only? I think we need to first establish that the fit is right and the cushion density feels right to you, so if there's an online-only option, I'd probably take that out of the mix. The depth of the sofa is really, really a make it or break it thing; my sofa is just a few inches too deep to make it 100% comfortable.

Also, I think we all have immediate visceral reactions on furniture legs-- wood vs. metal. Although there are so many online sites selling replacement legs that you might be able to switch wood legs out for metal or metal for wood.

I loved the Petrie sofa until I saw it IRL. The fabric is quite cheap looking IMHO, even for the price, and the White Petrie even in the store was filthy - every tiny mark showed.

There are so many lovely mid-century options that you have excluded because of the (have you really sat on one for an extended period of time?) tufted button restriction. Why must it be tufted?

Top left or bottom right.

The other two are only 2-cushions. When you have guests over, more often than not, only 2 people will feel comfortable sitting on a 2-cushion couch. Eliminate this restriction by going with a bench couch.

I'd go with encore and room and board
http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/product/detail.do?productGroup=3090&catalog=filter&menuCatalog=room&menuSubcategory=201198

I also have a mid-century modern house and own the Petrie sofa in the aqua color and two matching chairs in white. Crate & Barrel assured me that the white material was resilient and wouldn't stain easily, but the arms quicky became discolored. I had to have the furniture professionally cleaned after only one year but it's no longer a bright white. I don't have any indoor pets and I'm a clean freak so I'm disappointed in the fabric but I absolutely love the couch.

from the appearance - the grey and beige ones look much more elegant, not having two cushions but one single piece in the back...

If you want a vinyl sofa from an uncertain source - then get the one from Chiasso.

If you definitely want your money to go to China, then get the one from Gus Furniture.

Personally, I'd select one that I know is Made in the USA from someone such as Room and Board, Crate and Barrel or your local Mitchell Gold, Rowe or Lee Furniture retailer.

my friend said that she's had that Crate and Barrel one for a while and it's not that great. Not really comfy.

the legs on the bottom two are horrific. They remind me of a folding cot.

I loved the petrie until I actually sat on it. Not comfortable at all.

I have a gus modern sofa, but one with three cushions instead of the bench cushion. It's very comfortable and the cushions have held up well, but the buttons come off SO easily. The first one came off just a couple months after I got the sofa. Three years later, there's at least one button missing from each side of every cushion. I really need to find myself an upholsterer to fix them.

p.s. Gus Modern is made in Canada, not China.

I have the Petrie in white. It's about two years old. I love the way it looks but of course it's hard to keep anything white clean. I ended up draping a pretty wool blanket on the cushions and back but imagine if I hadn't, it would need cleaning every six months. I use a handheld steam cleaner on the arms. Regarding comfort, it's comfortable! This applies to sitting and napping. I also love that the legs can come off as I had to utilize this function after my recent move. Regarding others comments about the buttons, I've had no issues. This refers more to the matching chair as it is not covered by a blanket.

I think you should check some of your smaller retailers in your area. The furniture store I work at in Seattle carries two custom upholstery lines, and both have many sofa options that have an MCM feel. We have a very popular one on our showroom floor that looks almost identical to the Bantam [ours is in white and starts at just over $1000].

It's more than a little likely that smaller locally owned stores will have more options for prices below or comparable to what you're already considering paying. FYI, both upholstery companies we carry are crafted in the LA area...

Yes--try local before going online. I'm all for reupholstered vintage couches as a first choice. But if this isn't your thing, I would look into places that custom build couches to your specifications. You can choose the fit and comfort, the fabric, as well as the look. You'll be able to see for yourself what kind of materials it's put together with. My mom just got a sleeper sofa built by a N.C. company (for half what these sofas cost--with an extra set of custom slipcovers and an inflatable pillowtop for the bed to make it extra comfy) and they had many MCM-friendly options in their design pages. For hers, they built it based on her drawing of what she wanted.

I've seen a lot of Petries around on craigslist that look old beyond their years. I have a Room and Board Jasper (via craigslist) which is similar, but no tufting. Super high quality. I think they have one with a tufted back, no loose back cushions.

DO NOT GET A PETRIE. Especially in white... it's what I have had for the last three years and I've regretted it since day one! It gets so much dirtier than other couches, you can't take off the covers to wash, it gets super lumpy and old looking in like two months. Just don't get it.

The bantam was a close contender when we were buying a few years ago --it is amazingly and surprisingly comfortable ... however, FWIW know that DWR(NOT) has seriously jacked up the price from once reasonable <$1100 to now over $1900. I can't imagine that the quality has gone up that much.

I have been shopping for this same style sofa for a while and have sat in quite a few. I would stay away from the C&B Petrie and Macy's Corona (not much cushion, will not hold their shape). Here are three better options (highest to lowest$). I'm going with the Jane bi-sectional from Gus Modern.

http://www.mgbwhome.com/gabriel2_sofa.asp
http://www.allmodern.com/asp/show_detail.asp?sku=GUS1006&PiID=3933069&refid=FR81-GUS1006_3933069
http://www.raymourflanigan.com/product.aspx?zpid=12958

@Rachael - Nexus 88

I'm curious as to what furniture store you work at in Seattle. (If you don't want to mention, I'd understand.)

It sounds like somewhere I'd like to check out...

I am very happy with my Bantam. It looks great and the Maharam fabric I had it upholstered in is quite durable. I did check out the Macys one too but it was far less comfortable than the Bantam.

Gus furniture is headquartered in Canada. Their products, however, are rumored to be made in China. Their website and product spec-sheets does not state country of manufacture, which might lead one to believe it is indeed of Chinese manufacture (because if it was domestically made, it'd certainly be a marketing bullet point).

Not only are they not the right colour but they look a little small... being a bout two inches long and two dimensional I'm pretty sure they'd be uncomfortable to sit on. :-)

Eh, I had the Petrie. Basically, the cushioning on the seat is not spongy or foamy material - it's more like the firm layers of a futon. But unfortunately it compressed even further with daily use and became a little less hard than sitting on the ground with the buttons acting like rocks you can't move.

Also the fabric was a cat hair and lint magnet.

Forgive me, I'm a little bitter because that was the most expensive sofa I've ever purchased and I was terribly unhappy with it. I thought buying quality was a safe bet. It truly is "well made" - the stitching was smooth and perfect and the whole thing was solid. But that didn't make it comfortable and good looking for long.

Surprised by all the Petrie negativity. We've had ours only since November. It's very comfortable, the fabric looks quite nice and the buttons are all holding up so far. We have 2 young boy children so opted for the dark graphite color, but if you want white, you know what you're up against. The Petrie is relatively deep and tall. I'm 5'9" and my feet just touch the floor when my back is against the cushions and I'm barefoot.

I think everyones houses and apartments look the same because everyone is buying the same furniture & accessories.I brought a Ashley furnituree sofa. This is just my opion :)

Macy's has several in the $700 range:

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=530501&CategoryID=35419#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D413

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=485298&CategoryID=35419&LinkType=#fn=sp%3D4%26spc%3D413

Petrie! It's the classiest and won't look dated in a few years.

We have Petrie in charcoal and its awesome. Though cats try to claw at it, I keep a blanket over the arm and it keeps it safe.
Pics here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/olya/4602640831/in/set-72157624050757770/

you have to imagine more than one person sitting on the sofa.... IMO its better to have one large cushion rather than two which creates that seam that no one likes sitting on!

after that I would pick whichever is more comfortable.

Bantam....but don't think you can get white.....if white is final final then petrie......you really should test drive in person if you haven't already

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and useful tips:) We finally went for the ivory Bantam from DWR (took advantage of the 15% discount)...cant wait for it to be delivered!
Thanks,
Dipthi

Often, no more than two adults share a sofa, so split seat cushions may be fine. With no middle person, you can have side tables and no coffee table, making the sofa accessible. Or, if you have crowded parties, you may want well-padded arms for perches.

I have had a white Petrie for a year and a half and have really been very happy with it. I *prefer* the loose seat and back cushions because they can be fluffed and flipped regularly, which keeps it looking fresh. Also, with the back cushions removed it becomes VERY roomy and makes a fantastic guest bed in a pinch. I've also been really pleased with how well it cleans up. It seems to be fairly stain resistant own its own accord and I've not encountered a spot I couldn't remove. It is very comfortable for both my boyfriend and me but we're perhaps slightly above average in height and a shorter person might find it too deep. As long as we vacuum and flip the cushions ~1x/2wks -takes about 10 min w/ tank vacuum and upholstery brush- it looks like new.