See the couches in this 2004 photo?
(don't mind the unfinished trim...it is finished so don't worry)
These are what we currently have
(I know, I know what was I thinking with the Mission Style back in 95').
Sadly these have seen better days. 14+ years & 5 kids later they are showing their age. As with any aging process her springs are starting to show like wrinkles on a 100 year old face. And gravity is starting to take over and there's some sagging in her pillows & cushions......
So I am on the hunt for a good set of Furniture.
Do I want Leather? Slip covers? There are too many choices! I know all of you fellow bloggers out there have a few opinions on this subject so
PLEASE share any Furniture Tips you may have!!
(don't mind the unfinished trim...it is finished so don't worry)
(I know, I know what was I thinking with the Mission Style back in 95').
Sadly these have seen better days. 14+ years & 5 kids later they are showing their age. As with any aging process her springs are starting to show like wrinkles on a 100 year old face. And gravity is starting to take over and there's some sagging in her pillows & cushions......
So I am on the hunt for a good set of Furniture.
Do I want Leather? Slip covers? There are too many choices! I know all of you fellow bloggers out there have a few opinions on this subject so
PLEASE share any Furniture Tips you may have!!
These couches & chairs are from IKEA, yes they have slipcovers (bonus) and I love the look of them alot. I found the same type of couches from Pottery Barn &
JC Penney's that have rave reviews but my pocket book doesn't love the rave as much as I do. So I would compromise with these instead. But in order to compromise I would have to travel to Portland 4 hrs away to our "local" Ikea.
But then I'm swayed by Leather and it's long life.... And these I could get for the same price as the Ikea set, thanks to a lovely furniture connection my hubby has & they can be delivered to my door no travel needed! :)
Oh what to do..... Come on ladies help a girl out, I need advice!
PS. Am I the only one who finds Blogger take FOREVER to publish my post?
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JC Penney's that have rave reviews but my pocket book doesn't love the rave as much as I do. So I would compromise with these instead. But in order to compromise I would have to travel to Portland 4 hrs away to our "local" Ikea.
But then I'm swayed by Leather and it's long life.... And these I could get for the same price as the Ikea set, thanks to a lovely furniture connection my hubby has & they can be delivered to my door no travel needed! :)
PS. Am I the only one who finds Blogger take FOREVER to publish my post?
Leather for sure...classic
ReplyDeleteNo matter how many times my leather furniture has been thrown up on, spilled on, leaked on, etc. etc, it always wipes right up and no smells or stains.
ReplyDeleteLeather all the way- I find with kids it's just so durable. Also, it is a classic look through the time. I find that you can change all the other stuff, like cuchions and throws easily- Dara
ReplyDeleterachel i have a friend that is a designer that says if you have little ones (like we all do) go for he ikea, and you can even do slip covers which are easy to clean, and you won't worry so much about having over the top expensive sofas with little ones jumping on them and wiping things all over them. i say pick something WASHABLE such as a slip cover if you don't want to spend on leather! i hate cleaning our couch. its microfiber (not the suedish kind) but it take so much cleaning!!good luck!!
ReplyDeleteI am in the same situation and am looking for a new couch and loveseat. Possibly a new couch and couch for more seating.
ReplyDeleteI say LEATHER. That leather couch looks 3 times as much as the Ikea one. And by the way can your husband swing me the same deal on those couches. ;) They are beautiful!!!
Also on my priority list is attached back cushions. Man am I sick of picking those up. If I remember right the Ikea ones come off. Something to think about as well.
Good luck
LEATHER w/ out doubt! ;)
ReplyDeleteIkea is great but that does seem like a very long trip to make for couches. If you love the leather and it is very convenient I would definitely choose that.
ReplyDeleteRuth
we have leather and I find it chilly. not cozy. however once you layer on a blanket or 2 you can snug right in.
ReplyDeleteIf I were shopping for a couch I would look at micro fibre. It is incredibly durable and totally stands up to staining! love it!
I love Ikea but you can't pass up the leather. It's a classic.
ReplyDeleteleather all the way. we had leather at out old house and then got rid of it when we moved. they were hand me down and 15 years old. we sold them for a great price and i am sad to say i hate that we got rid of them... i hate not having them anymore. they wipe off with baby wipes and are so great... go with the leather, you will be happier in the long run. the only thing about leather (espically dark) is that is scrathces... so make the kids keep those feet off when shoes are on...
ReplyDeleteHave you checked Costco? They have great furniture even online and it holds up well...
ReplyDeleteI too love the way the ikea couches look, but when you see them in person they are really small (as in short). Just thought you might want to know before you make your drive:)
ReplyDeleteI love me some Ikea...But with the hook up you have with the leather..gotta do it! The possibilities are endless with pillows, etc!!!! I am currently saving for leather myself!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone above. If you are not ready to make a big financial purchase you could check craigslist. The IKEA Ektorps appear on there quite often for usually half the price. I also have a friend who has the Ektorp loveseat and she swears by the removable cover!!
ReplyDeleteLEATHER all the way. It never goes out of style, it is easy to wipe down and it looks good even after it is worn. When I was deciding between the two with a newborn somebody told me that it would take a lot more work for a kid to stab a hole in leather than it would in a cloth couch because we were worried that we were spending too much getting leather. That and how easy leather is to clean made my decision final and here 6 years later I am still so satisfied with how they look and I get compliments on them by almost everyone who enters my house.
ReplyDeleteWhatever you do I am sure it will be beautiful, but even after all the comments, do what YOU want to do to achieve the look YOU want.
I bought leather furniture when I bought my condo almost 5 years ago and I've been very happy (though I don't have any sticky-hand kids). :)
ReplyDeleteI dont have little ones yet but I agree about the wipe-ability of the leather, however who says you have to pick just one? I love the ideas I find from anthropologie.com. I like the idea of mixing mediums. Your living room would look great with some nice leather couches and a little color in some cloth accent chairs or something fun like that! Get both things you want! ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm a lurkere but had to comment today! I love the ikea couches but.....we live minutes away from ikea and go there often and after seeing them in person....the slip covers slip all over and they don't look neat.
ReplyDeleteOh and you must try windows live writer to post to your blog!! Its free, easier to use, can be offline while writing, AND you can edit your pics and move them right inside the post sooooo easily!
Good luck
Well, you realize if you come to your local IKEA in Portland, there would be a fan club of Made-With-Love-And-Glue readers ready to have lunch with you, join you in your shopping & selection, and hang out for the afternoon.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't that sound like fun? I think it does!
~MMW,
a Portland resident
I saw your last comment about Blogger taking forever to publish ... You HAVE to do Windows Live Writer. It is so fast and so easy to post. There is NO way I would do as many posts as I do if I didn't have Live Writer. Just google and download it!!! You will LOVE it!!!
ReplyDeletego for the leather... it's sooo durable and stain resistant... we have had the same leather couch for 10 years and I'm getting sick of looking at it... but there is NOTHING wrong with it.. so it stays.
ReplyDeleteI have 5 kids ages 9-7mos and I have had that same Ikea couch and ottoman for a year now and I love them...BUT if I could have got leather for the same price, I would have leather. The wipe-ability would be awesome. I can throw my slip cover in the laundry but a quick wipe down would be sooo much faster.
ReplyDeleteLEATHER! You'll be SO happy you did! :o) And no travel.. always a bonus when you live in LG! :o)
ReplyDeleteWithout a doubt-go with the leather. EVERYTHING just wipes right off, even throw up, yep, it has really happened. We love ours and they are so comfy, I would never do any different. Even the microfiber that they claim wipes up, wears out after a little while and stuff doesn't wipe off anymore. So just go for the leather, you won't regret it.
ReplyDeleteI have never had a leather couch, but my friends who have them, love the leather. How about leather chairs and a fabric couch? Love & blessings from NC!
ReplyDeleteMy Mom has those exact couches and she loves them. They stand up to my two little ones. She loves that they wipe right off no matter what gets spilled on them. the only thing she is worried about is them being scratched by little trucks or toy horse hooves:) we have the micro fiber couches and i would not reccomend them, yes they clean up easy but after five years the cushions are starting to get shiny from where we have sat and slid off the cushions to get up. Drives me crazy!! I will def be getting leather next time we get a couch. Good luck with your choice.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Blogger is being slow for me today too. Not good! Well, my two cents is this: we have had leather couches for probably about 10 years now. This year they got a hole in the cushion that we use the most. I think the leather fianlly just got dried out and worn too thin. I think for the most part, you will get sick of your leather before it actually wears out. Ours was comfy and super easy to clean. I don't think you can go wrong with leather (especially with 5 young kids). We need new one's too (obviously - the hole). I kind of want white slipcovered one's but I am sure my hubby won't go for it with 2 kids and all. For durability reasons, we'll probably go with leather again. I like the soft look of fabric so maybe a fabric ottoman and some beautiful pillows will do the trick. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteLurker here that had to comment on this one. PS--love your blog.
ReplyDeleteAnyhow....I own the Ektorp line and while it has been great for the past 5 years, it doesn't look so hot anymore. I have 5 little ones and it gets washed ALOT! After a while the covers start to not look so great and the cushions NEVER stay put. If you sit on the couch for a while soon it is out from under you. Wasn't like this at first, but over time and washings it has become this way. Plus, I don't think the couch is really made that well. They are short (close to the ground) which is nice for kids to be able to get on. Also, most of my zippers in my slipcovers have broke and are being held together by safety pins. I hope to soon buy leather. I wouldn't make the long trip for the Ektorp line....it looks great in the catalogs, but after years of use.....well, not so great. And I highly doubt it will last another 10 years and look even remotely as good as your 15 year old ones do! Good luck!!!
WHEW! I just read ALL these comments, because I'm in the same boat. Looking for great furniture, and up in the air with what I want.
ReplyDeleteHere's my two cents... since you asked. :)
And of course, I have to go against the grain.
I LOVE me a slipcover, Pottery Barn, Ballard Design, LOOKING couch.
Leather always seems so... cold, and... should I say, slippery? lol.
We had a leather love seat when we first got married and I HATED trying to cuddle or get comfy on that sucker! We ALWAYS had to put a blanket down BEFORE we sat... or your legs stick, you start to get hot/cold sweats, and you slide all over the place, and do I DARE say... sometimes make that weird "sticky leg or arm, leather slide against skin fart noise"... BLAHHHHK. What's the POINT! Ya... it washes and keeps well, but if you can't enjoy it........
ALSO, I'm a FREAK about the way things look, and I felt like I was constantly putting throw pillows BACK in place, after they would sliiiiide down the couch, because there was no "grab". I finally just tossed THEM in the closet!
I'm ALL for a slipcover couch, but MOSTLY because I LOVE that comfy, fabric look. Yes they are harder to take care of, and might need a bit more straightening... but I say, go with YOUR style. If you want a leather look... then go for it! Maybe opt for a soft, worn leather material... I've seen those before!
If you want a slipcovered look... then do it! It's just a couch... right? It's not like you're buying a car or house.
I have three little girls under the age of 4 and for me... anyway... I tend not to sacrifice the look I want, just because I have three crazy, sometimes sticky handed, messy little kids. lol. That's no way to live!
For the LOVE of STYLE! :)
Good luck, girl. I'm sure whatever you choose, it will look GREAT!
Shelley Smith
houseofsmiths.blogspot.com
Why not mix and matcH? I have the Ikea...in both the beige and white...have not used the white yet...they were giving them free when I bought...I LOVE my sectional and the chair. You can take them off and clean them...and I love that shabby relaxed look...but I also have seen a leather chair mixed with the slipcovers and think that look wonderful too.
ReplyDeleteI also vote for leather. We have had ours for almost 9 years and they still look new. They are great with kids and babies; I will spare you the details about how many times I've wiped spit-up off the couch.
ReplyDeleteWhen I bought mine, I was told the quality of the leather is important. If it's good quality, it doesn't feel as cold, and you shouls not stick to it when it's hot. Poor quality doesn't breathe properly. Hope this helps!
I'd go leather. My friend has the couch from IKEA, has only had it for like 6 months and it doesn't look so great anymore. Don't buy anything from Ashley, I bought a couch and love seat from them in October. Turns out you can't get water on it. Not an easy thing when you have 4 kids. It looks like crap. I bought the 200 dollar fabric warranties and they wont do a thing. It's been a nightmare.
ReplyDeleteI would NEVER buy anything other than leather. We have had our leather couches for 12 years and they look brand new. They really wear well, and everything just wipes of with a damp (Almost dry) cloth! You won't be sorry if you go leather.
ReplyDeleteI have the Linden Street Friday slipcovered sofa from JCPenney. I had been eyeing it and then found it at JC Penney outlet for ... drumroll please...$199.00!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love it! CHeck to see if there is a JC Penney outlet anywhere near you.
love love LOVE that leather furniture. i vote leather.
ReplyDeleteLET HER get LEATHER. 'nuff said.
ReplyDeleteThe IKEA furniture will fall apart way too soon. Especially with kiddos.
my advise, Rachel, (and so glad you asked :)) is to not settle. Take your time in deciding, and don't decide only on convenience of shipping/purchasing. You don't want to always wonder or wish or regret. Maybe there is something else in between those two styles and distances.
ReplyDeleteThat's probably not what you wanted to hear, but I had to say it. I hate regretting BIG purchases.
k.
I am a leather girl all the way. It only took one 'cloth' couch to be thrown up on and I was sold on leather. It is cold and I don't like that, but that's all the more reason to make MORE quilts!
ReplyDeleteNot a huge fan of IKEA unless you like buying new cheap stuff often. So, is it really cheap then??
Ha! You have asked the wrong girl as I have a ruined cloth couch and chair thanks to my two heathens. Seriously. 4 yr old colored on the arm of the chair two nights ago in a HUGE way. Ruined. Slipcovers here we come as it is less than 5 years old. Sigh....
ReplyDeleteGO LEATHER! I will next time.
Blogger---have you tried Windows Live Writer? I am hooked. It makes posting in Blogger ssssoooooo much easier. I highly recommend it!
Leather. Hands down. Slip covers are washable, but they are always moving around and need to be smoothed, etc. Leather is washable and NEVER has that problem. I LOVE leather.
ReplyDeleteGo with the leather. IKEA furniture is fine if it isn't what you are sitting on day in day out. It isn't that cushy and while the slipcovers are appealing for their washability, the furniture itself is not that durable. We were nervous to take our leather chair out of storage with our little ones and their always leaking cups and bowls of golfish, but it has held up really well. Go for the leather!
ReplyDeleteI've had it all and LEATHER, hands down. If the kids have messy hands, no problem, it wipes right off. If someone drops their plate or a piece of pizza (which always lands upside down and gets tomato sauce everywhere), no problem, it wipes right off. If someone barfs on your couch, no problem, it wipes right off. You get the pic. These are all hypothetical scenarios, of course ;) Whatever you do, avoid microsuede, you'll hate it. It shows everything.
ReplyDeleteOh, I forgot to tell you, and this is important... If you choose leather, make sure it is a smooth leather. Some of the less expensive leathers look smooth, but if you look closely you will see all kinds of nooks & crevices. Dirt will get in there and you'll never get it out. Make sure your leather is as smooth as you can afford. We've had light leather & now dark leather (coco brown). LOVE it. OK, I'm done now, lol. ;)
ReplyDeleteHey Rachel! I do sell the blocks but I did a giveaway and announced two different winners and never heard a word back from either one...I'll tell you what, I will GIVE you the Luck blocks if you will email me your address!
ReplyDeleteprojectspinchingpennies@gmail.com!
Thanks for the comment love :)
LEATHER!! We just recently purchased furniture very similar to what is in the picture you posted. We love it. We have 3 kids under 4, so it wonderful for sticky fingers and runny noses :) It wears well, and I find it very cozy. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteLeather is my vote! It is so durable and slipcovered tends to get sloppy looking and you will have to worry about stains. Leather looks good even when it is worn a little. And it is so comfortable. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteWe converted to leather with our current sofa & will never go back. Love, love, love it!
ReplyDeleteLeather. We have it & it's durable, warms up quickly, and anything that can last with my 3 boys is worth it! With your connection, you need to go with it! Best wishes:)
ReplyDeletePersonally I like the look of the more casual set, but I totally see what the other ladies are saying about the leather. Two different styles for sure!
ReplyDeleteI think you can find some pretty great stuff at IKEA for a fraction of the cost of Potterybarn (though I LOVE their catalog for inspiration!!).
Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting. Love your blog too!!
Lindsay
Oh if only there were more options than $$$$$$$ or Ikea! Where is the competition for Ikea? Someday.
ReplyDeleteI always buy sofa's that are not too expensive because I get tired of them and it's easier to get rid of them if I haven't paid too much. We have a leather sofa and it does clean up pretty well but it does puncture (keep the football cleats off the couch!!) and it's not always that comfy cozy. That's my 2 cents for whatever it's worth. Mimi
ReplyDeleteI too just had this dilema and decided to go with brown leather couches...Love them! We have 4 kids and I just couldn't do the fabirc couches. I love them but with the kids leather was much more practical. Did I mention that I LOVE my new brown leather couches?!? Go with the classic brown leather, you won't be disappointed! Good Luck :)
ReplyDeleteI have all of those pieces (except my couch is the corner sofa) and I heart them. Wash up great...get to change the look/color scheme for a very minimal amount of money when I need an update.
ReplyDeleteWell I'm not a fan of leather...it just isn't comfortable to me. After having a couch with slipcovers I don't think I'll ever go back to anything else!
ReplyDeleteLEATHER!
ReplyDeleteVery classy and you can change pillows and quilts for a whole new look. You can dress it up or down. We are about to move overseas and my only quirk was I would not move to a place I could not take my beautiful leather furniture.
♥ I LOVE the leather! Plus they're much harder to stain... :)
ReplyDeleteLeather all the way. We just got new furniture this summer and while I spent HOURS and HOURS searching, the Leather is so awesome if you have kids or pets.
ReplyDeleteIKEA SLIPCOVERS FALL APART!!! Weʻve been through two sets!!!! AND, the foam in the covers is loosing itʻs plump. Weʻve had our IKEA couches for only 18months and feel that they need a replacement. I wanted so bad to love them :( Go leather. With kids..itʻs no question. Just ask my car seats!
ReplyDeletemy next go around I am going w/ leather, we purchased a leather chair when we got our velvet couches (yes not kid friendly) and the couches are trashed chair looks brand new
ReplyDeleteI love the ikea ones and have eyed them many times as well, but I have leather and absolutely love them. They have survived two children, which includes numerous throw-ups, blowouts, potty accidents, spilled milk, etc... and our dog. Leather is quite comfy too. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteWe have 2 white Ikea Ektorp armchairs with a storage ottoman and have loved the flexibility they have in our home. We used 1 chair and ottoman in my son's room when he was newborn and I loved it as a nursing chair.
ReplyDeleteWe've had the pair flanking our fireplace facing into the room as well as both facing the fireplace at one time.
Currently we have one in our living room and one with the ottoman in our family room.
That to say - we've been pleased with the flexibility and durability. Plus, I love being able to bleach the heck out of them with a baby (now 3-year-old) around. :) They still look great!
We also have a leather sofa (bought at Big Lots!!!) and a Pottery Barn Manhattan leather armchair - these all float around our home. I love to rearrange.
Okay, long comment just to say that my advice is to not go too matchy (unless that's what you like). I shy away from buying furniture sets and prefer to buy pieces that I love. It makes a house look more like a thought-out home than a furniture showroom.
Can't wait to see what you decide!
Have a lovely day!
Raechel
leather lasts longer, classic, and easy clean up... someday when I am grown up and get to buy furniture instead of have my hand me downs (which I am sooo greatful to have for now!) That is what I am going to buy! LEATHER! but that is me. Good luck. Costco often has great stuff to. Or they have the last few weeks when I was in. But delivery is awesome!
ReplyDeleteLeather is never comfortable. The IKEA sofa looks super comfortable.
ReplyDeleteCheck out Craigslist for some kickass deals on sofas like that and other awesome deals. They have a Craigslist for nearly every city and for every state in the country. I have used them to buy and sell and I always save $ when I buy from CL. Not sure if you have tried that site yet. :)