To buy or not to buy, that is the question

[girlyswot]

I am coveting very much these chairs (scroll down to see more of the fabrics available). I think one of these would look perfect in the Old Shed. And there are some Cath Kidston ones available for just £99 + p&p. Now, admittedly, that's £99 I haven't got. But I expect I could scrape it together from somewhere. Though I'd really been wanting to save up for a sofa. Maybe this one. Or, in my wilder dreams, this one.

I'm not sure how comfortable the chairs look. But they're so pretty.

What would you do?

ETA: Okay, a bit more hunting round the internet and I've come up with this alternative. It claims to be available in over 2000 fabrics, but they don't have samples online. Looks cosy and is only 150cm wide. By comparison, the John Lewis Portia sofa is 136cm, and the pretty Delft one is 141cm. The IKEA sofa amamama suggested is 177cm which I think is going to be just too big for the space.

Comments

[tdu000.livejournal.com]

It's your decision but they are very pretty. I love the second sofa with the big flowers. Having got two sofas, one with straight arms (like the first one) and one with curved arms, I think curved arms are a lot more comfortable when falling asleep of an evening.

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

I agree that it looks more comfortable, and also lovely. And also three times as much money...

[tdu000.livejournal.com]

There is that little, insignificant detail!

[crumplehornedki.livejournal.com]

nice comfy looking chairs, could definitely see them in an old style cottage. I'm not a spotty or pink or flowery furniture type girl but in the old shed I'm sure that it would look fantastic.

also I was so happy when I saw you had signed up for Charlie month at the helmetfest!

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

*grins* I couldn't resist...

[zia-montrose.livejournal.com]

I like the sofa of your wilder dreams more than the other two. Why not find an antiques dealer and reupholster something similar? Usually that turns out to be eco-friendly and affordable. Plus, you seem good with that sort of task.

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

I like it, too, though really I think it is a bit too grand and formal for the look I'm going for. Generally in the UK, antique = way too expensive for me. But we'll see.

[amamama.livejournal.com]

Agree with Zia - why not be on the lookout for a piece of used furniture? Garage sales, barn sales, yard sales, flea markets, curbs... I just passed a fantastic old sofa that was being thrown away, and wanted to grab it, but that's a project I don't have time for at the moment. And if buying a new sofa, why not get a sofa bed? Our sofa is a sofa bed, and I'm very happy it is. We wouldn't've had beds for visitors otherwise. And no matter what you do, I'd say the most important thing is how comfortable are they? I think you should test sit before buying.

What will you colour scheme be like? *looks innocent*

[amamama.livejournal.com]

Of course I had to trot over to IKEA. What about this one (http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/58674_PE164159_S4.jpg)? There are other fabrics available too, of course. And if I recall correctly, the sofa's rather comfy.

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've seen that before.

[ladywhizbee.livejournal.com]

Oh, this looks cozy! I could curl up on that and read a book any day. I wonder how big it is? Is it smallish in length and width or bigger--like a full-size sofa?

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

It's 177 x 88cm. The little blue one is 136 x 84cm. That 41cm difference in width doesn't sound like a lot, but I think would make quite a lot of difference in where the sofa could go in my room.

[ladywhizbee.livejournal.com]

You're right, that differenc is *huge* in a small room.

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

I've decided against a sofa bed. There really isn't going to be room for visitors in the Shed anyway.

The look I'm going for is 'cosy and cluttered'. And the colours in the main room will be pink, green and blue.

[amamama.livejournal.com]

There really isn't going to be room for visitors in the Shed anyway.

With one significant exeption, I guess. Though, Charlie would hardly count as a visitor, would he?

Green as in spring green/apple green? Or leaf green, bottle green, moss green, British racing green? Blue as in lavender, indigo, azure, royal...? Soft pink, baby ping, cerise...? Need more detail. Is your icon a good palette to look at?

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

Well, I am going for an 'eclectic' look, so not everything has to be exactly the same shade. But something like this:

[ladywhizbee.livejournal.com]

Oh! I like the idea of 'cozy-cluttered'. That sounds lovely, romantic, and very appropriate given the size and ambiance of the shed.

Hmmm...because you won't have a lot of furniture (or a lot of space), everything that's there wants to serve a specific purpose and function while still meeting your decorating needs. So as far as the sofas and chairs are concerned--what do you see yourself doing in them? Entertaining guests? Curling up with a good book? Watching TV? Writing? Think about the function first.

To me...and this is just my opinion...these seem like entertaining chairs/sofas. The type of furniture appropriate for sharing a cup of tea with a friend, but I do not think I'd want to curl up with a good book on them. Of course, maybe you have a different place where you like to read, or maybe this is your idea of a perfect reading chair! :-) I guess, I'm just cautioning you to think about function before deciding for certain...all three choices are lovely, but will only remain so if they meet the right needs.

That's just my 2 cents...

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

Good questions! I see what you mean about the 'entertaining' vs. 'cosy' chairs. The problem is that space is so limited and that the really comfy, cuddly furniture tends to be significantly larger. I'd love a really snuggly sofa, but I wouldn't want to have to climb over it every time I wanted to get to the kitchen!

[ladywhizbee.livejournal.com]

Yes, those types of cozy-furnitures do tend to take up a fair amount of space. And no matter how 'cozy' no one wants to have to climb over anything to have to get to the kitchen or the bathroom! Perhaps one cozy chair that can go in the corner (for you!) with another streamlined chair or sofa beside it for guests? Even better, a cozy chair that has a foot rest (so that you can put your feet up when by yourself) but that can also double for a coffee table if it has a tray on top?

Just a thought.

I can't *wait* to see what you come up with. *grins*

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

Also, 'cosy and cluttered' is definitely achievable in a way that, say, 'minimalist' just isn't for me. I'm always cluttered anyway, I might as well make it a deliberate style choice!

[ladywhizbee.livejournal.com]

Your preferences for fabric and this kind of 'cozy-cluttered' style, reminds me of what we call 'Shabby Chic' in the US. It's a sort of romantic, ecclectic style that's grown and changed dramatically since it first began. I tried to find a good link to send you just for grins...but so much of it *isn't* what I think when I think of your taste I hesitate to send the links to you. At it's essence it's truly romantic Victorian, very female, and the idea is one of taking 'old things' and making them interesting and new by fixing them up or repainting. Perhaps it's the fabrics that are used that really makes me think of you. Here's one site that I found you might find interesting, it has those types of design elements available to see:

http://www.cottagechicstore.com/

Also, I really like this blog for exploring design in general. It's decidedly female as well, but I love exploring these design posts for inspired ideas...

http://theinspiredroom.wordpress.com/

[megan29.livejournal.com]

Seems to me that you won't have space for both sofa and chairs, anyway. The pair of chairs is less expensive than either sofa, so if you look at it that way, they sound cheap, right? :-) But as others said, if you have to make a choice b/c of space and/or money, think of function first, furniture placement second, and only after that, your preference about style.

My style is contemporary and minimalist, so I really can't venture an opinion, as it's clear our tastes won't align. But from my own experience shopping, I highly recommend trying out the furniture for comfort. We gave up on a sofa and loveseat combination that were very much to our taste (and relatively cheap), b/c they just weren't comfortable enough. If ever I furnish a room for guests, I'll make it a showroom - and if it's uncomfortable, so what? :-). But for day-to-day living, you need to strike a balance. We ended up buying sofas with curved arms and high backs. Their lines are not as clean as we would have liked, but boy can you fall asleep on them! :-)

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

No, that's right about the space. I think there'll be room, possibly, for one small sofa and one chair, but no more than that.

[alkari.livejournal.com]

That latest sofa looks nice and comfortable, and I think it's a good size for curling up and reading. I had one almost the same as that in a small flat for years and it worked very well (mine was 158cms). Totally agree with the advice to try out sofas for comfort before buying - some of those 'stylish' sofas are terrible to sit on for any length of time, or rather, you sit 'on' them rather than 'into' them, and you'd never, ever curl up with a good book, LOL.