Say goodbye to this little loveseat. Actually, say goodbye in 8 – 12 weeks. We just bit the bullet and ordered a new loveseat – or apartment sofa, as it seems to be called nowadays. I’ve had this little baby since about 1990, so that makes it nearly 30 years old. It wasn’t that well made to begin with, and it’s been, how shall I say it, well used. I had it for years. The first time Don came over to my apartment, we started kissing while sitting on that sofa, Scout and Riley used to jump up on it, especially Scout. It was her place for years. Now Don uses it on a daily basis. But the wood frame at the center of the front of the sofa is cracking. Sometimes I hear it crack some more when we’re both sitting on it, which we do every morning.
So it was time for an upgrade. We ordered through a company that has an online presence, one I’ve been familiar with for several years. It’s made to order, hence the big lead time.
But we did it! We hardly ever buy anything new, but we do buy new sofas and beds. The other sofa in the den needs to be replaced as well. It’s about 25 years old. But it will have to stay as is for a while. We only sit on it in the evenings, so it can hang on a bit longer. Money is tight, but as I watched that crack in the wood getting deeper, I knew we had to make a move.
But goodness, I ended up having at least 10 swatches sent to our house. We spent at least three weeks trying to decide. Then we found another fabric and material that we liked two days ago, so we had our consultant take photos of it because we didn’t want to wait for the swatch to be sent. It’s, shall we say, a more vivid color. Fingers crossed that it works here. We’re pretty sure it will.
Then this morning, after too little sleep again, we sat down and looked at other options with other companies, and we ended up coming back to our original choice.
Now, I’m exhausted. We’ve been awake since 4:30 am.
I always freak out a bit when we make a large purchase.
Don said there are so many memories tied up with the current loveseat that he can’t get rid of it. So it will go in our storage space. I’m sure that we’ll end up getting rid of it someday, but he just can’t handle the idea of trashing it right now. He’s sentimental, that guy.
Happy Wednesday.
“It’s, shall we say, a more vivid color.” Can’t wait to see it. More vivid surely describes both of you, so we know it will work!! I so completely understand the idea of keeping the older one for a bit. Memories are like that ~ we like to keep them close.
Have a lovely Wed. We are supposed to reach 23* today, with sunshine!!!!!!
It’s about 23 here today and will be the same tomorrow, then a gradual warming trend!
I’m anxious to see your new purchase, too, especially… the color! As long as you have room to store it, why not keep it. I get into trouble, when I keep too much.
The sun is shining brightly today…warmer even…a big 20 degrees. They say a heat wave is a comin’…yippee! Enjoy your day, ;)
Donnamae, isn’t it funny that we consider the possibility of hitting 40* this weekend to be a heatwave?? Of course, after the temps we have been having, it probably will feel like one! I bet if we drove around near campus we would see lots of people (guys for sure) in shorts. It is all relative.
Lol! Yes…I’m sure there will be those adventurous souls who will be in shorts! Spring is coming..it’s just taking it’s sweet time! ;)
I said the same thing yesterday – 40s next week and it will seem balmy!
Well, it will be just another item in our storage space…so there’s that!
I’m the same way. I basically grind my furniture [and cars] into the ground, but at the right moment [and I always know when that comes] I replace them with new. I think it’s really best to buy new when it comes to upholstered things and beds. Let’s face it – our backs are important. As is getting enough sleep. And a bad bed/mattress can ruin things for YEARS. I predict you’ll be loving your new loveseat. Can’t wait to see what color you chose. I always get nice solid neutrals when it comes to upholstered pieces, so I can change things up with colorful pillows, throws etc. I have a nice soft mushroom gray right now in the living room. I just love gray… EVERYTHING seems to go with it. Freshening pastels in the Spring, burnished golds, oranges & browns in the Fall. Even my crimson & emerald Christmas pillows look good against gray. Looking forward to seeing how you make it work! Have a good day & stay warm! Peace.
#Resist
#ProtectMueller
I love grey but not in my house. I love to wear the color grey, though! We like color, as you know! The only reason the sofa in the den is sort of neutral is because that was the only color of slip cover I could find!
Our new bed that we got a few years ago is a dream come true. My back is much better after sleeping than it was with our old mattress. Thanks, Janet!
How wonderful to almost receive your new loveseat! Letting go of something so large with big memories entwined around it sim difficult. One day you’ll be able to let it go.
I’ve had my sofa and loveseat for almost 40 years. When I remodeled a few years ago, I had a locally owned upholstery company look at the set to see if they were worth reupholstering. He said yes, indeed. I knew it was a quality set and glad to have it confirmed. We chose a neutral microsuede…neutral because my husband doesn’t prefer anything bright (if I were to reupholster today, I’d pick something cheerier), and microsuede because I heard cats don’t prefer clawing it. My current batch of kitties don’t claw furniture, but the last ones did, and the microsuede did deter them. The upholsterer was nice enough to store my set until the remodeling was almost completed. That’s what I love about family-owned small businesses…they’re willing to go the extra mile.
Yes, they are!
I’m excited for you. It is hard to get rid of furniture that has served you well and has memories but if it’s falling apart, well it’s time. It sounds like you found something you will love. I don’t love my sofa but it is functional and can take wear and tear from two Grands and Annie Belle. Large purchases make me nervous. I just spent lots of $$ on the trip to Calif for Sara and I. I also ordered new eye glasses and a 2nd pair for sunglasses $$. I figure I wear glasses every day all day so I need ones I love.
I get very, very nervous. But it’s not a frivolous expenditure – neither is your trip to CA or your new eye glasses. Necessary things. Nevertheless, shelling out the money makes me gulp.
We need a new sofa, too. I can’t order online though because I have to sit on it and feel it out first. I have back issues and pain and need firmer cushions. We also have to have a smooth material because of our cats possibly using the couch as a scratching post. The more textured the material, the more likely they are to use it to sharpen their claws. We’ve looked at a couple of stores and actually had a couch ordered through Pottery Barn, but we cancelled once we got home and gave it more thought. So here we are still stuck with our cheap-ish (La-Z-Boy), worn out, too-soft sofa. We’ll hit more stores in the next few months. Can’t wait to see what you got!
PS – You have a lot of patience. I don’t like to hold on to stuff. If Brian wanted to save this sofa for whatever sentimental reason, I’d tell him to take a photo – and the sofa would definitely go. ;-)
Well, I sort of feel the same way. It was with me in Cambridge, San Diego, and here in NYC. Don and I courted on it. Scoutie loved sitting on it. When I look at it, I think of her and I miss her terribly, so I’m not ready to give it up yet, either. That was our girl’s favorite place to sit and watch the world go by.
Oooh, exciting. Furniture does wear out after years of use. Can’t wait to see it! Our kitty, who is ailing, loves to claw up upholstery so our older sofa has a slipcover, which she leaves alone. So does the recliner, which she clawed in one spot right down to the wood frame. Her sister likes to claw wood so the dining table legs are awful looking. We love our kitties but they are the #1 reason why we can’t have nice things.
We went through that with at least one of our dogs. It eventually stopped but there was some damage done. Scoutie, interestingly, never got into anything. She was a gem.
I can’t wait to see it…especially since you said it’s a more vivid color!
Thanks, Nancy! It will take several weeks, but we’re excited!
You two are so sweet, when you told about starting to kiss I had a little heart flip❤️
It was a very romantic night, Gayle!
looking forward to seeing the new loveseat … i am sure it will be great! you have a wonderful style and way of mixing things into a very charming home. and i agree with only buying new mattresses, etc.! and i know having to spend big money or throw out something linked to so many happy memories is not fun or easy, but it sounds necessary.
here’s an idea for you … if you end up tossing out the current loveseat (beyond the shed), maybe you could save some of the upholstery and sew it into pillow covers? or if you know someone who likes to carve, maybe they could make something out of the broken wood for you?
we’re supposed to get two to four inches of snow in just a few hours, but you’d never guess it for how pretty today has been. had the day off so some of my family and i could go hear a talk by three apollo astronauts and a former director of mission control. very interesting!
kathy in iowa
If we do toss it, I’ll grab some fabric! But it won’t be tossed for a while.
Thanks, Kathy!
Dear Claudia, Greetings from the land of sunshine and butterflies! I second Kathy’s suggestion to repurpose some of the upholstery fabric for a souvenir pillow. Consider letting go as a spiritual exercise. Upholstered furniture in a shed sounds like an invitation for nesting field mice. Remember, it’s just a thing. Am I being harsh? I don’t think so.
It’s not in our shed (that would be recipe for mice disaster.) It’s in our storage space which is professionally maintained and mice-free.
Also: “Things” are important to us. We’re very sentimental. When it’s time to leave it behind, we’ll know it.
We make no apologies for that.
Dear Claudia, No offense intended, more a Lenten reflection. Second day of Lent, with knowledge gained from your postings, I found a Red Wing vase in a thrift shop for $1.00, pretty in pink. Thanks.
No offense taken, Leslie!
I’m so glad you found a Red Wing vase. It sounds lovely!
I understand not being able to get rid of the original but you will love the new one. I’ll be in sofa mode search very soon if I can’t get the cushions redone on the present one and am dreading it. Yes, I get the sleepless nights and angst!
Absolutely! I stress about the money we had to spend. But it will be worth it in the end.